Article of footwear with a sole structure having support elements and an indented plate
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsTony Macey, Scott Portzline, Michael Hui
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure incorporates a support element that includes a fluid-filled chamber, a first insert, and a second insert. The chamber defines a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface. The first insert is secured to the first surface and at least partially recessed into the polymer material of the chamber, and the second insert is secured to the second surface. In addition, the chamber may be pressurized to deform the first insert or the second insert.
Claims13
A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising:
- forming a sole structure including:
- (a) forming a first plate including forming indentations extending inward from peripheral edges of the first plate and forming a plurality of raised portions located inward from the peripheral edges of the first plate, and
- (b) providing a plurality of support elements above the first plate and in the plurality of raised portions;
- and
- engaging the sole structure with an upper so that the first plate and the plurality of support elements of the sole structure are located at a heel region of the article of footwear, wherein a void is defined within the sole structure between the upper and the first plate, the void extending from a lateral side to a medial side of the sole structure, the void extending through the sole structure, and the plurality of support elements being located within the void;
- and
- wherein a depth of at least one indentation is approximately a diameter of at least one of the raised portions.
A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising:
- forming a sole structure including:
- (a) forming an upper plate,
- (b) forming a lower plate including forming a plurality of indentations extending inward from peripheral edges of the lower plate and forming a plurality of raised portions located inward from the peripheral edges of the lower plate, and
- (c) providing a plurality of support elements extending between the upper plate and the lower plate and in the plurality of raised portions, wherein the sole structure defines a void extending from a lateral side to a medial side of the sole structure and between the upper plate and the lower plate, and wherein at least one of the plurality of indentations extends between two of the support elements;
- engaging the sole structure with an upper so that the void is located in a heel region of the article of footwear;
- and
- wherein a depth of at least one indentation is approximately a diameter of at least one of the raised portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.