# US 8,539,696 B2 · Differential-stiffness impact-attenuation members and products including them > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,696 B2 - Document ID: US8539696B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/176,980 - Filed: 2011-07-06 - Published: 2011-10-27 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-11-19 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: Pamela S. Greene - Inventors: Pamela S. Greene - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539696B2 ## CPC - A43B 7/32: with shock-absorbing means (resilient soles A43B13/18) - A43B 13/181: {Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole} - A43B 13/186: {Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32)} - A43B 13/206: {provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members} - F16F 1/373: characterised by having a particular shape {(F16F9/58 takes precedence)} - Y10T 29/49863: with prestressing of part - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A differential-stiffness impact-attenuation member includes at least one spring element. The spring element has dimensions in height, length and width directions. The height dimension extends from a top surface to a bottom surface. The length dimension extends from a front end to a back end. At least one of the top and bottom surfaces is adapted for mounting. The impact-attenuation member has a first stiffness characteristic in the height direction at the front end of the spring element and a second stiffness characteristic in the height direction at the back end of the spring element. The spring element may define a cavity. A tension element may engage the spring element and be located at least partially within the cavity. The impact-attenuation member may engage at least one of a foot-covering member, a foot-supporting member and a surface-contacting member associated with a foot-receiving device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An impact-attenuation member comprising: a spring element defining a cavity, the spring element having dimensions in height, length and width directions, the height dimension extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, and having at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface adapted for mounting, the length dimension extending from a front end to a back end; and wherein the impact-attenuation member has a first stiffness in the height direction at the front end of the spring element and a second stiffness in the height direction at the back end of the spring element, the second stiffness being different than the first stiffness; and further comprising a tension element extending across the width dimension of the impact-attenuation member between a first engagement portion engaging the spring element and a second engagement portion engaging the spring element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The member of claim 1, wherein the tension element is located at least partially within the cavity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The member of claim 2, wherein the tension element is substantially planar and wherein the tension element engages one or more receptacles in the spring element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The member of claim 1, wherein the width dimension of at least one of the spring element and the cavity varies linearly along at least a portion of the length dimension of the spring element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The member of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front end and the back end is at least partially curved. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The member of claim 1, wherein the spring element is a truncated, hollow, substantially conical shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The member of claim 1, wherein the spring element is a tri-lobed, hollow, substantially spherical shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein a centrally applied load in the height direction causes the impact-attenuation member to deflect more at one of the front and the back end than at the other. ### Claim 9 A foot-receiving device comprising: at least one of a foot-covering member, a foot-supporting member and a surface-contacting member; and at least one impact-attenuation member engaged with the at least one of the foot-covering member, the foot-supporting member and the surface-contacting member, the impact-attenuation member comprising: at least one spring element defining a cavity, the spring element having dimensions in height, length and width directions, the height dimension extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, and having at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface adapted for mounting, the length dimension extending from a front end to a back end; and wherein the impact-attenuation member has a first stiffness in the height direction at the front end of the spring element and a second stiffness in the height direction at the back end of the spring element, the second stiffness being different than the first stiffness; and further comprising a tension element extending across the width dimension of the impact-attenuation member between a first engagement portion engaging the spring element and a second engagement portion engaging the spring element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the tension element is located at least partially within the cavity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device of claim 10, wherein the tension element is substantially planar, and wherein the tension element slidingly engages the spring element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, including both a foot-supporting member and a surface-contacting member, and wherein the top surface of the spring element engages the foot-supporting member and the bottom surface of the spring element engages the surface-contacting member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the spring element is a truncated, hollow, substantially conical shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the spring element is a tri-lobed, hollow, substantially spherical shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein a centrally applied load in the height direction causes the impact-attenuation member to deflect more at one of the front and the back end than at the other. ### Claim 16 A method of using an impact-attenuation member, the impact-attenuation member characterized by mutually perpendicular height, length and width dimensions, the length dimension extending from a front end to a back end, the impact-attenuation member having a spring element and a tension element extending across the width dimension of the impact-attenuation member between a first engagement portion engaging the spring element and a second engagement portion engaging the spring element, the method comprising: decreasing the height dimension of the impact-attenuation member at the front end as a function of a first spring constant; decreasing the height dimension of the impact-attenuation member at the back end as a function of a second spring constant, wherein the second spring constant differs from the first spring constant; and increasing a distance between the first and second engagement portions, thereby stretching the tension element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the tension element engages a receptacle in the spring element, and wherein the method further comprises: closing the receptacle around the tension element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the spring element is a truncated, hollow, substantially conical shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the spring element is a tri-lobed, hollow, substantially spherical shape.