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US 7,204,044 B2Granted
Sole for article of footwear for granular surfaces
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsKevin Hoffer, Tobie D. Hatfield
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sole for an article of footwear to be used on a granular surface includes a sole of compressible material having an upper surface and a lower surface. A peripheral lip projects downwardly and outwardly from the lower surface of the sole. A plurality of fins projects downwardly from the lower surface of the sole.
Claims37
A sole for an article of footwear to be used on a granular surface comprising, in combination:
- a sole having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a peripheral lip projecting downwardly and outwardly from the lower surface and extending about the entire periphery of the lower surface;
- a plurality of fins projecting downwardly from the lower surface, at least some of the fins angled rearwardly from the lower surface, and at least some of the fins extending transversely across substantially an entire width of the lower surface;
- and
- an inner lip projecting downwardly and outwardly from the lower surface and spaced inwardly of the peripheral lip such that a recess is formed between the peripheral lip and the inner lip, the inner lip extending around a heel portion of the sole.
2 more elements
An article of footwear for granular surfaces comprising, in combination:
- an upper;
- a sole secured to the upper having a lower surface, a peripheral lip projecting downwardly and outwardly from the lower surface and extending about the entire periphery of the sole, and a plurality of downwardly projecting fins, at least some of the fins angled rearwardly from the sole, and at least some of the fins extending transversely across substantially an entire width of the lower surface;
- and
- an inner lip projecting downwardly and outwardly from the lower surface of the sole and spaced inwardly of the peripheral lip such that a recess is formed between the peripheral lip and the inner lip, the inner lip extending around a heel portion of the sole.
1 more element
A sole for an article of footwear to be used on a granular surface comprising, in combination:
- a sole of compressible material having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a peripheral lip projecting downwardly and outwardly from the lower surface;
- a plurality of grooves formed in a lower surface of the peripheral lip in a forward portion of the sole;
- an inner lip projecting downwardly and outwardly from the lower surface around a heel portion of the sole, and spaced inwardly of the peripheral lip such that a recess is formed between the peripheral lip and the inner lip, a portion of the recess being filled with the compressible material;
- a slit formed in a toe portion of the sole, the peripheral lip forming opposed walls of the slit, the slit being positioned between a portion of the sole configured to support a big toe of a wearer and a portion of the sole configured to support a second toe of a wearer;
- a plurality of transversely extending fins projecting downwardly and rearwardly from the lower surface of the sole, the slit dividing some of the fins into first and second segments spaced apart from one another by a longitudinal gap, the longitudinal gap being aligned with the slit;
- a pair of lateral indentations formed in a lateral edge of the forward portion of the sole;
- a pair of medial indentations formed in a medial edge of the forward portion of the sole;
- and
- a pair of transverse gaps separating, each transverse gap extending between a lateral indentation and an opposed medial indentation and spacing apart the fins positioned forwardly of the corresponding lateral and medial indentations.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.