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US 8,505,215 B2Granted
Article of footwear for increasing stability and lateral performance
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsRobert M. Bruce, Aaron A. C. Cooper, Bo Lupo, Kurt J. Stockbridge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear with multiple cross sectional profile shapes disposed on an outer peripheral edge of a sole is disclosed. The multiple cross sectional profile shapes on the outer peripheral edge of the sole can help increase the lateral performance and lateral stability of a wearer of the article of footwear.
Claims20
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a sole including an outer peripheral edge;
- a forefoot portion of the outer peripheral edge having a first cross sectional profile shape;
- an arch portion of the outer peripheral edge having a second cross sectional profile shape;
- and
- a heel portion of the outer peripheral edge having a third cross sectional profile shape on at least one of a lateral side and a medial side of the heel portion,
- wherein the first cross sectional profile shape, the second cross sectional profile shape, and the third cross sectional profile shape are different from one another,
- wherein the third cross sectional profile shape of the heel portion includes a lower portion and an upper portion,
- wherein the lower portion has a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape,
- wherein the upper portion has a substantially concave cross sectional profile shape,
- wherein the third cross sectional profile shape of the heel portion includes a transition edge at which the substantially convex cross sectional profile shape of the lower portion transitions to the substantially concave cross sectional profile shape of the upper portion,
- wherein the substantially convex cross sectional profile shape of the lower portion of the first cross sectional profile shape gradually decreases in radius of curvature moving in a direction from the arch portion to the heel portion,
- wherein the substantially concave cross sectional profile shape of the upper portion of the first cross sectional profile shape gradually decreases in radius of curvature moving in the direction from the arch portion to the heel portion, and
- wherein the transition edge extends increasingly laterally outward from the sole moving in the direction from the arch portion to the heel portion.
10 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a sole including an outer peripheral edge;
- a forefoot portion of the outer peripheral edge having a first cross sectional profile shape;
- an arch portion of the outer peripheral edge having a second cross sectional profile shape;
- and
- a heel portion of the outer peripheral edge having a third cross sectional profile shape on at least one of a lateral side and a medial side of the heel portion,
- wherein the first cross sectional profile shape, the second cross sectional profile shape, and the third cross sectional profile shape are different from one another,
- wherein the third cross sectional profile shape of the heel portion includes a lower portion and an upper portion,
- wherein the lower portion has a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape,
- wherein the upper portion has a substantially concave cross sectional profile shape, and
- wherein the heel portion includes the lower portion and the upper portion continuously around the lateral side, a rear side, and the medial side of the heel portion.
7 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a sole including an outer peripheral edge;
- a forefoot portion of the outer peripheral edge having a first cross sectional profile shape;
- an arch portion of the outer peripheral edge having a second cross sectional profile shape;
- and
- a heel portion of the outer peripheral edge having a third cross sectional profile shape on at least one of a lateral side and a medial side of the heel portion,
- wherein the first cross sectional profile shape, the second cross sectional profile shape, and the third cross sectional profile shape are different from one another,
- wherein the third cross sectional profile shape of the heel portion includes a lower portion and an upper portion,
- wherein the lower portion has a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape,
- wherein the upper portion has a substantially concave cross sectional profile shape,
- wherein the third cross sectional profile shape of the heel portion includes a transition edge at which the substantially convex cross sectional profile shape of the lower portion transitions to the substantially concave cross sectional profile shape of the upper portion, and
- wherein the transition edge extends around the lateral side, a rear side, and the medial side of the heel portion.
8 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a sole including an outer peripheral edge;
- and
- a lower surface of the sole configured to contact a ground surface,
- wherein the outer peripheral edge comprises a forefoot portion, an arch portion, and a heel portion,
- wherein the heel portion comprises a lower portion having a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape, an upper portion having a substantially concave cross sectional profile shape, and a transition edge at which the substantially convex cross sectional profile shape of the lower portion transitions to the substantially concave cross sectional profile shape of the upper portion, and
- wherein the transition edge extends around a lateral side, a rear side, and a medial side of the heel portion.
3 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a sole including an outer peripheral edge,
- wherein the outer peripheral edge comprises a forefoot portion, an arch portion, and a heel portion,
- wherein the heel portion of the outer peripheral edge has a cross sectional profile shape that extends around a lateral side, a rear side, and a medial side of the heel portion,
- wherein the cross sectional profile shape includes a lower portion and an upper portion,
- wherein the lower portion has a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape, and
- wherein the upper portion has a substantially concave cross sectional profile shape.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.