Article of footwear with an articulated sole structure
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsSteve McDonald, Tobie D. Hatfield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a connecting portion positioned adjacent the upper and extending along a longitudinal length of the upper. A plurality of discrete sole elements extend downward from the connecting portion. The sole elements define a lower surface, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of sipes that extend upward from the lower surface and into the sole structure. An outsole may be located within the sipes and extend between the sole elements, with a lower portion of the outsole extending beyond the lower surface of the sole elements.
Claims8
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
- a connecting portion positioned adjacent the upper and extending along a longitudinal length of the upper, the connecting portion having:
- a first thickness in a forefoot region of the footwear,
- a second thickness in a midfoot region of the footwear, and
- a third thickness in a heel region of the footwear,
- the first thickness and the third thickness being less than the second thickness;
- a plurality of discrete sole elements extending downward from the connecting portion, the sole elements defining a lower surface, and the sole elements being separated by a plurality of sipes that extend upward from the lower surface and into the sole structure;
- and
- an outsole located within the sipes and extending between the sole elements, a lower portion of the outsole extending beyond the lower surface of the sole elements to form at least a portion of a ground-contacting surface of the sole structure, the outsole having a web configuration defining a plurality of apertures that extend around the sole elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.