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US 8,984,774 B2Granted
Cut step traction element arrangement for an article of footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorTetsuya T. Minami
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A traction element arrangement for a sole structure of an article of footwear is described. Traction elements include cut step features. Cut step features provide a traction element with a stepped height. Cut step features on medial rotational traction elements that have a plurality of stud elements arranged in a circular grouping include arc-shaped or straight cuts. Cut step features on traction elements disposed in a heel region are aligned laterally across the sole structure. Traction elements also include raised platform members. Cut step features can be combined with raised platform members.
Claims18
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a sole structure including a partially rigid plate that extends across a majority of a bottom surface of the sole structure;
- at least one medial rotational cleat integrally formed with the plate in a forefoot region of the sole structure;
- the medial rotational cleat comprising a plurality of stud elements extending away from the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of stud elements are arranged in a generally circular grouping, wherein each stud element includes:
- a curved inner face oriented towards and curved towards an inside portion of the medial rotational cleat, the curved inner face being concave;
- and
- a curved outer face on a radially opposite side of the stud from the inner face, and wherein the curved outer face is convex and the plate is exposed at the inside portion of the medial rotational cleat;
- wherein the plurality of stud elements includes a first stud element, comprising:
- a first ground-engaging face disposed at a first height;
- and
- a first cut step oriented in a same direction as the first ground-engaging face and disposed at a second height, the second height being below the first height and the curved outer face forming an edge with both the first ground-engaging face and the first cut step;
- and
- a first vertical cut wall extending between the first cut step and the first ground-engaging face and oriented towards a medial side of the forefoot region of the sole structure;
- wherein the plurality of stud elements includes a second stud element,
- comprising:
- a second ground-engaging face disposed at a third height from the bottom surface;
- a second cut step oriented in a same direction as the second ground-engaging face and disposed at a fourth height from the bottom surface, the fourth height being below the third height;
- and
- a second vertical cut wall extending between the second cut step and the second ground-engaging face and oriented towards a medial side of the forefoot region of the sole structure, wherein the first vertical cut wall is in direct contact with the inner and outer faces of the first stud element at the second height.
15 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a sole structure including a bottom surface;
- a first traction element molded with the sole structure in a heel region of the sole structure, the first traction element disposed near a lateral side of the sole structure, and wherein the first traction element includes:
- a first ground-engaging face oriented in a first vertical direction and extending an entire width of the first traction element in a first direction;
- a first cut step face disposed closer to the bottom surface than the first ground-engaging face and extending an entire width of the first traction element in the second direction, wherein the first cut step extends the furthest rearward of the faces of the first traction element that are oriented in the first direction;
- a first side face on a medial side of the first traction element, extending away from the bottom surface, and with edges defined by the first cut step face and the first ground-engaging face, wherein the first side face is concave and curves towards the inside of the medial rotational cleat;
- a second side face on a lateral side of the first traction element, extending away from the bottom surface, and with edges defined by the first cut step face and the first ground-engaging face, wherein the second side face is convex;
- and
- a first vertical face extending between the first ground-engaging face and the first cut step face, the first vertical face extending between the first cut step and the first ground-engaging face and oriented towards a medial side of the forefoot region of the sole structure and wherein the first vertical face extends diagonally across a width of the first traction element from the first side face to the second side face;
- and
- a second traction element molded with the sole structure in a heel region of the sole structure, the second traction element disposed near a medial side of the sole structure, and wherein the second traction element includes:
- a second ground-engaging face oriented in a third vertical direction and extending an entire width of the second traction element in a fourth direction;
- a second cut step face disposed closer to the bottom surface than the second ground-engaging face and extending an entire width of the second traction element in the fourth direction, wherein the second cut step extends the furthest rearward of the faces of the second traction element that are oriented in the third direction;
- a third side face on a medial side of the second traction element, extending away from the bottom surface, and with edges defined by the second cut step face and the second ground-engaging face;
- a second side face on a lateral side of the second traction element, extending away from the bottom surface, and with edges defined by the second cut step face and the fifth ground-engaging face;
- and
- a second vertical face extending between the second ground-engaging face and the second cut step face, wherein the second vertical face is oriented towards a medial side of the forefoot region of the sole structure.
13 more elements
A traction element arrangement for a sole structure of an article of footwear, the traction element arrangement comprising:
- at least one medial rotational cleat integrally molded with a plate, the plate extending across a substantial majority of the bottom surface, on a bottom surface of the sole structure and disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure, the medial rotational cleat comprising:
- a plurality of stud elements each including a ground-engaging face disposed a first height above the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of stud elements are arranged in a generally circular grouping around an opening at an inside of the medial rotational cleat, and wherein the plate of the sole structure is exposed in the opening;
- wherein a first stud element included in the plurality of stud elements includes:
- a first ground-engaging face;
- a forefoot cut step face disposed at a first depth below the first ground-engaging face of the first stud element and approximately parallel to the first ground-engaging face;
- a first curved side face having:
- a first upper exposed edge defined by the first ground-engaging face;
- a second upper exposed edge defined by the forefoot cut step face;
- and
- wherein the first curved side face is concave and curves towards the inside of the medial rotational cleat;
- a second curved side face disposed opposite the first curved side face and having:
- a third upper exposed edge defined by the first ground-engaging face;
- a fourth upper exposed edge defined by the forefoot cut step face;
- and
- wherein the second curved side face is convex;
- and
- a vertical face dividing the first ground-engaging face from the forefoot cut step, the vertical face extending diagonally from the first curved side face to the second curved side face;
- at least one traction element formed on the bottom surface of the sole structure and disposed in a heel region of the sole structure, the traction element comprising:
- a second ground-engaging face disposed a second height above the bottom surface;
- a heel cut step face disposed at a second depth below the second ground-engaging face of the traction element and approximately parallel to the second ground-engaging face;
- and
- a third curved side face contacting a base of the traction element, having a third upper exposed edge defined by the second ground-engaging face, and a
- fourth upper exposed edge defined by the heel cut step face.
20 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.