Ball and socket 3D cushioning system
Assigneeadidas International Marketing B.V.
InventorsGerd Rainer Manz, Timothy David Lucas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a sliding element for a shoe sole. The sliding element includes an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface so as to be slideable in at least two directions. The upper sliding surface can form a lower side of an upper heel cup and the lower sliding surface can form an upper side of a lower heel cup, wherein the upper heel cup and the lower heel cup have corresponding substantially spherical shapes. Complex multi-dimensional sliding and cushioning movements between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are made possible by the corresponding three-dimensional shapes of the two substantially spherical surfaces.
Claims19
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- and
- a sole assembly coupled to the upper, the sole assembly comprising a sliding element, the sliding element comprising:
- a first plate having an upper surface and a lower surface that extend substantially an entire length and an entire width of the sole of the article of footwear, wherein a heel cup extends from the upper surface of the first plate;
- and
- a second plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface of the second plate coupled to the lower surface of the first plate such that the second plate is configured to slide relative to the first plate in any arbitrary direction.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- and
- a sole assembly coupled to the upper, the sole assembly comprising a sliding element, the sliding element comprising:
- a first plate having an upper surface and a lower surface that extend from a rear area into a midfoot area of the article of footwear, wherein a heel cup extends from the upper surface of the first plate;
- and
- a second plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface of the second plate coupled to the lower surface of the first plate such that the second plate is configured to slide relative to the first plate in any arbitrary direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.