Article of footwear with circular tread pattern
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorClifford B. Gerber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear is disclosed. The article of footwear includes an outsole with a circular tread pattern. The circular tread pattern provides sufficient traction in all directions but also allows the wearer to pivot about a pivot portion. The circular tread pattern is generally large, and in some cases, the first and smallest circular tread extends less than 360 degrees. The pivot portion can include a slot that aids in flexibility. The outsole can also include a different tread pattern for the heel portion, or the circular tread pattern may also extend into the heel portion.
Claims27
An article of footwear comprising:
- an outsole including a circular tread pattern disposed on a forefoot portion;
- the circular tread pattern including a first circular tread having a first radius, the first radius being the smallest radius of any circular tread;
- the first circular tread extending less than 360 degrees in a circumferential direction around a center point of the circular tread pattern from a first end at a medial edge of the outsole to a second end at the medial edge of the outsole;
- the center point of the circular tread pattern being offset from a longitudinal axis of the article of footwear on a medial side of the article footwear at a position generally coinciding with a ball of a user's foot when wearing the article of footwear;
- and
- the center point being disposed closer to the longitudinal axis than to a medial edge point of the outsole aligned with the center point in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an outsole having a bottom surface and including a circular tread pattern disposed on a forefoot portion;
- the circular tread pattern including a first circular tread having a first radius, the first radius being the smallest radius of any circular tread;
- the first circular tread extending less than 360 degrees in a circumferential direction around a center of the circular tread pattern;
- the first circular tread comprising a plurality of tread elements disposed in a first circular groove;
- the first circular groove having a groove base surface recessed from the bottom surface of the outsole;
- and
- each tread element of the plurality of tread elements extending from the groove base surface of the first circular groove and protruding beyond the bottom surface of the outsole.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an outsole including a circular tread pattern disposed on a forefoot portion of the outsole;
- the circular tread pattern including a first circular tread having a first radius, the first radius being the smallest radius of any circular tread;
- the first circular tread extending less than 360 degrees in a circumferential direction around a center of the circular tread pattern;
- a slot extending through a pivot portion located within the first circular tread, wherein the slot improves flexibility in bending of the article of footwear;
- and
- the slot having a first open end at a medial edge of the outsole and a second closed end disposed inside the first circular tread.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.