Flex groove sole assembly with biasing structure
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsDervin James, Lee Peyton, Tobie Hatfield, John Hurd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly that is operably coupled to the upper. The sole assembly includes a first portion and a second portion that are separated by a groove. Also, the article of footwear includes a biasing structure that is elongate and nonextendable. The biasing structure is operably coupled to the sole assembly to bias the first and second portions of the sole assembly generally toward each other.
Claims31
An article of footwear having a footwear longitudinal axis, the article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole assembly that is operably coupled to the upper, the sole assembly defining a ground engaging surface, the sole assembly including a first portion and a second portion that are separated by a groove, the groove being open at the ground engaging surface, the groove extending in a depth direction from the ground engaging surface, the groove also extending transverse to the footwear longitudinal axis and the depth direction, the sole assembly being flexible to rotate the first portion about the groove relative to the second portion;
- and
- a biasing structure that is elongate and nonextendable, the biasing structure operably coupled to the sole assembly and within the groove between the first and second portions to rotatingly bias the first and second portions of the sole assembly generally toward each other about the groove.
An article of footwear having a footwear longitudinal axis, the article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole assembly that is operably coupled to the upper, the sole assembly defining a ground engaging surface, the sole assembly including a first portion and a second portion that are separated by a groove, the groove being open at the ground engaging surface, the groove extending in a depth direction from the ground engaging surface, the groove also extending transverse to the footwear longitudinal axis and the depth direction, the sole assembly being flexible to rotate the first portion about the groove relative to the second portion;
- and
- a biasing structure that includes a first end, a second end, and a middle portion disposed between the first and second ends, the middle portion extending through the sole assembly, the first and second ends extending out of the sole assembly, the biasing structure rotatinglv biasing the first and second portions of the sole assembly generally toward each other, about the groove.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole assembly that is operably coupled to the upper, the sole assembly including an outsole and a midsole that are operably coupled together, the sole assembly defining a ground engaging surface, the sole assembly including a groove that separates the sole assembly into first and second portions, the groove being open at the ground engaging surface, the groove extending in a depth direction entirely through the outsole and through a majority of the midsole from the ground engaging surface, the groove also extending transverse to the footwear longitudinal axis and the depth direction, the sole assembly being flexible to rotate the first portion about the groove relative to the second portion;
- a biasing structure that is elongate, the biasing structure including at least one end and a middle portion extending through the sole assembly;
- and
- an adjustment device operably coupled to the end to selectively adjust a tension within the biasing structure between a first tension level and a second tension level, the first portion being more rotatable about the groove relative to the second portion at the first tension level as compared to the second tension level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.