Back to results
US 8,256,145 B2Granted
Articles with retractable traction elements
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsJim Baucom, Clifford Gerber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Articles of manufacture and articles of wear may include one or more traction elements. Portions of the traction elements may be extendable and/or retractable. The traction elements have at least a two-plate construction that is designed to moderate a force that is applied to one of the plates. This construction may be used in articles of footwear having cleats or other traction elements. force applied by a wearer's foot may be moderated by the two-plate construction.
Claims74
A traction element, comprising:
- at least two plates, including a first plate that is positioned approximately parallel to a second plate, wherein a space is defined between the first plate and the second plate;
- an extendable portion attached to or integrally formed with the first plate;
- and
- a plunger attached to or integrally formed with the second plate so that the plunger is aligned with the extendable portion;
- wherein when a force is applied to the second plate, the plunger causes the extendable portion to extend from a first, retracted position to a second, extended position.
2 more elements
traction element, comprising:
- at least two plates, including a first plate that is positioned approximately parallel to a second plate, wherein a space is defined between the first plate and the second plate;
- an extendable portion attached to or integrally formed with the first plate;
- and
- a plunger attached to or integrally formed with the second plate so that the plunger is aligned with the extendable portion;
- wherein the first plate and the second plate are spaced apart a first distance when the extendable portion is in a first, retracted position and the first plate and the second plate are spaced apart a second distance when the extendable portion is in a second, extended position, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
2 more elements
traction element, comprising:
- a first plate having a plunger protruding therefrom;
- a second plate positioned approximately parallel to the first plate, wherein a space is defined between the first plate and the second plate, and wherein the second plate has a first surface and a second, opposing surface;
- an extendable portion attached to or integrally formed with the second plate;
- and
- a protrusion extending away from the first surface of the second plate, wherein the protrusion is spaced apart from the extendable portion;
- wherein in response to a force applied to the first plate, the plunger applies a force to the second surface of the second plate to cause the extendable portion to flex which causes the protrusion to extend from a first, refracted position to a second, extended position.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.