US 9,414,642 B2 · Cleated footwear

Abstract

Cleat structures, e.g., for football shoes, may include: (a) a cleat base; (b) a cleat free end; and (c) a concave side edge and at least two additional side edges extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end. Such cleats may be incorporated into sole structures (e.g., outsole components) that have one or more of: a base plate having a V-shaped support structure with lateral and medial support members extending forward from a base support area located in a heel or rear midfoot area of the outsole component; a base plate having a matrix structure with recesses or openings formed between rib elements that make up the matrix structure; and/or a base plate having a rear heel support. The cleats and base plates may be made, at least in part, as unitary, one-piece constructions, using selective laser sintering or other three-dimensional printing and/or rapid manufacturing additive fabrication techniques.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A cleat, comprising:

a cleat base;
a cleat free end;
a first side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end, wherein the first side edge has a first concave exterior surface over at least 50% of its height dimension between the cleat base and the cleat free end;
a second side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end;
a third side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end;
a first junction region joining the first side edge and the second side edge;
a second junction region joining the first side edge and the third side edge;
and
a third junction region joining the second side edge and the third side edge,
wherein at least 90% of a perimeter length around the cleat at a first cleat height location between the cleat base and the cleat free end is made up of the first, second, and third side edges, wherein a remainder of the perimeter length around the cleat at the first cleat height location constitutes length associated with the first, second, and third junction regions, and wherein the first cleat height location is located between 0.1H and 0.9H, wherein H is a cleat height dimension in a direction from the cleat base to the cleat free end.

7 more elements

A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:

an outsole base member;
and
a first cleat extending from the outsole base member, wherein the first cleat includes:
(a) a cleat base;
(b) a cleat free end;
(c) a first side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end, wherein the first side edge has a first concave exterior surface over at least 50% of its height dimension between the cleat base and the cleat free end;
(d) a second side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end;
(e) a third side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end;
(f) a first junction region joining the first side edge and the second side edge;
(g) a second junction region joining the first side edge and the third side edge;
and (h) a third junction region joining the second side edge and the third side edge,
wherein at least 90% of a perimeter length around the first cleat at a first cleat height location between the cleat base and the cleat free end is made up of the first, second, and third side edges, wherein a remainder of the perimeter length around the first cleat at the first cleat height location constitutes length associated with the first, second, and third junction regions, and wherein the first cleat height location is located between 0.1H and 0.9H, wherein H is a height dimension of the first cleat in a direction from the cleat base to the cleat free end.

9 more elements

A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:

an outsole component that includes:
a first lateral perimeter cleat located along a lateral side of a forefoot area or a midfoot area of the outsole component, wherein the first lateral perimeter cleat includes a concave rear edge that faces a rear heel direction of the sole structure, and wherein the first lateral perimeter cleat has a three-sided shape including two side edges engaged with and extending forward from the concave rear edge of the first lateral perimeter cleat,
a second lateral perimeter cleat located along the lateral side of the outsole component and forward of the first lateral perimeter cleat, wherein the second lateral perimeter cleat includes a concave rear edge that faces the rear heel direction of the sole structure, and wherein the second lateral perimeter cleat has a three-sided shape including two side edges engaged with and extending forward from the concave rear edge of the second lateral perimeter cleat,
a first medial perimeter cleat located along a medial side of a forefoot area or a midfoot area of the outsole component, wherein the first medial perimeter cleat includes a concave rear edge that faces the rear heel direction of the sole structure, and wherein the first medial perimeter cleat has a three-sided shape including two side edges engaged with and extending forward from the concave rear edge of the first medial perimeter cleat, and
a second medial perimeter cleat located along the medial side of the outsole component and forward of the first medial perimeter cleat, wherein the second medial perimeter cleat includes a concave rear edge that faces the rear heel direction of the sole structure, and wherein the second medial perimeter cleat has a three-sided shape including two side edges engaged with and extending forward from the concave rear edge of the second medial perimeter cleat.

2 more elements

A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:

an outsole component including a base plate at least in a forefoot area of the outsole component, wherein the base plate has a matrix structure including:
a first plurality of rib elements extending in a first direction,
a second plurality of rib elements extending in a second direction, and
a third plurality of rib elements extending in a third direction of the outsole component;
and
a three sided cleat extending from the base plate, wherein the three sided cleat includes a cleat base, a cleat free end, a first side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end, a second side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end, and a third side edge extending between the cleat base and the cleat free end, wherein one of the second plurality of rib elements aligns with a junction region between the first side edge and the second side edge, wherein one of the third plurality of rib elements aligns with a junction region between the first side edge and the third side edge, and wherein one of the first plurality of rib elements aligns with a junction region between the second side edge and the third side edge.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cleated footwear

Life of this patent

Cleated footwear

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31