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AssigneesNIKE, Inc., Nike International Ltd.
InventorsRobert M. Lyden, Ross A. McLaughlin, Henry T. Chriss, Calvin M. Buck, IV, Daniel R. Potter, Steven M. Vincent
Estimating the term…
An article of footwear comprising relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials chemically bonded together is disclosed. In one embodiment, the relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials are arranged in such a fashion to impart flexibility to the article of footwear. In particular, plastic and rubber materials are bonded together to improve the flexibility of an outsole of an article of footwear. The invention also is directed to the fabrication of new or improved devices and elements for use in articles of footwear and their associated methods of construction such as closure mechanisms comprising relatively elastic straps bonded to relatively inelastic anchor portions and vice versa, articulating inelastic and elastic exoskeleton constructions useful in skates and ski boots, and elastic or inelastic eyelets surrounded by inelastic or elastic materials. The invention also is directed to chemically bonding relatively elastic to relatively inelastic materials for contemplated use in protective athletic equipment such as helmets and protective padding, and for use in prosthetic devices.
An article of footwear comprising an outsole having heel, medial, forefoot and lateral areas, said outsole being a bonded composite of relatively inelastic and relatively elastic materials wherein the relatively inelastic material comprises an outsole plate and the relatively elastic material comprises a plurality of substantially separate, independent segments underlying and chemically bonded to only a portion of said outsole plate, and at least one of said substantially separate, independent segments being positioned along at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the outsole.
An article of footwear comprising an outsole defined by an outer perimeter and having heel, medial, and forefoot areas, said outsole comprising a polyether block amide outsole plate overlying and chemically bonded to a plurality of substantially separate, independent segments of carboxylated nitrile rubber (XNBR), said substantially separate, independent rubber segments being chemically bonded to only a portion of the outsole plate and arranged such that at least one segment extends substantially across at least a portion of the forefoot area of the outsole and at least two further segments, one on either side of the medial area of the outsole, extend from opposite portions of the outsole perimeter toward a central portion of the medial area, and such that at least one segment extends substantially along the perimeter of the outsole around the heel area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.