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US 7,100,308 B2Granted
Footwear with a heel plate assembly
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorMichael A. Aveni
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an upper plate and a heel plate assembly secured to the upper plate. The heel plate assembly extends downwardly from the upper plate such that the heel plate assembly forms an acute angle with the upper plate. A medial side of the heel plate assembly has a thickness greater than a thickness of a lateral side of the heel plate assembly. An article of footwear may include an upper secured to the sole structure.
Claims47
An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
- an upper;
- and
- a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
- an upper plate positioned adjacent the upper and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the upper;
- and
- a heel plate assembly secured at one end thereof to the upper plate, the heel plate assembly extending downwardly from the upper plate such that the heel plate assembly forms an acute angle with the upper plate, a medial side of the heel plate assembly having a thickness greater than a thickness of a lateral side of the heel plate assembly, the entire heel plate assembly being formed of a single material.
3 more elements
An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
- an upper;
- a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
- an upper plate positioned adjacent the upper and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the upper;
- and
- a heel plate assembly secured at one end thereof to the upper plate, the heel plate assembly extending downwardly from the upper plate such that the heel plate assembly forms an acute angle with the upper plate, the heel plate assembly comprising
- a first layer;
- a second layer positioned on the first layer and having a width less than a width of the first layer;
- and
- a third layer positioned on the second layer and having a width less than the width of the second layer, the first layer, second layer and third layer being formed of a single material;
- and
- a layer of foam material secured to a lower surface of the upper plate and positioned forwardly of the heel plate assembly.
8 more elements
An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
- an upper;
- a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
- an upper plate positioned adjacent the upper and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the upper;
- a heel plate assembly secured at one end thereof to the upper plate, the heel plate assembly extending downwardly from the upper plate such that the heel plate assembly forms an acute angle with the upper plate, a medial side of the heel plate assembly having a thickness greater than a thickness of a lateral side of the heel plate assembly;
- and
- a forefoot plate secured to the upper plate and comprising
- a first layer extending substantially across a width of the upper plate;
- a substantially C-shaped second layer positioned on the first layer and opening toward a forward medial area of the first layer;
- and
- a substantially V-shaped third layer positioned on the second layer and having a medial finger extending along a medial edge of the second layer and a lateral finger extending along a lateral edge of the second layer.
7 more elements
An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
- an upper;
- a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
- an upper plate positioned adjacent the upper and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the upper;
- a heel plate assembly secured at one end thereof to the upper plate, the heel plate assembly extending downwardly from the upper plate such that the heel plate assembly forms an acute angle with the upper plate, a medial side of the heel plate assembly having a thickness greater than a thickness of a lateral side of the heel plate assembly;
- and
- a forefoot plate secured to the upper plate, the forefoot plate comprising
- a first spring arm having a forward portion extending downwardly and forwardly from the upper plate;
- a second spring arm extending forwardly and downwardly from the first spring arm;
- and
- a third spring arm extending forwardly and downwardly from the second spring arm;
- a first wedge of foam material positioned between a forefoot portion of the upper plate and the first spring arm;
- a second wedge of foam material positioned between the first spring arm and the second spring arm;
- and
- a third wedge of foam material positioned between the second spring arm and the third spring arm;
- and
- a fourth wedge of foam material positioned between the upper plate and the heel plate assembly.
13 more elements
An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
- an upper;
- a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
- an upper plate positioned adjacent the upper and extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the upper, a plurality of slots being formed in a forefoot portion of the upper plate, each of the slots extending transversely across at least a portion of the upper plate from one of a medial and lateral side of the upper plate;
- and
- a heel plate assembly secured at one end thereof to the upper plate, the heel plate assembly extending downwardly from the upper plate such that the heel plate assembly forms an acute angle with the upper plate, the heel plate assembly comprising
- a first layer;
- a second layer positioned on the first layer and having a width less than a width of the first layer, a central portion of the second layer being spaced apart from a central portion of the first layer;
- and
- a third layer positioned on the second layer and having a width less than the width of the second layer, a central portion of the third layer being spaced apart from the central portion of the second layer, and
- a layer of foam material positioned above the upper plate and having a plurality of grooves extending transversely across at least a portion of a lower surface of the layer of foam material from one of a medial and lateral side of the layer of foam material.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.