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US 9,750,303 B2Granted
Cambered sole
AssigneeNew Balance Athletics, Inc.
InventorsAndrew A. Bjornson, Marya Lourdes Chan, Patrick Y. Choe, Bernard Jankowski, Sean B. Murphy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to shoes including sole elements having a cambered profile. An example sole element includes a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion including a longitudinal arch including a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition.
Claims19
An article of footwear having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
- an upper;
- and
- a sole comprising a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion comprising a substantially longitudinal arch comprising a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion,
- wherein, in an unloaded condition, the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface, such that the medial longitudinal arch portion extends to a greater height above the ground surface than the lateral longitudinal arch portion, and, in a loaded condition, deforms towards the ground surface and elongates longitudinally;
- and
- wherein a first plurality of protruding elements and at least one first tensioning element extending between discrete protruding elements of the first plurality are located within the medial longitudinal arch portion, so as to provide separate support thereto, and a second plurality of protruding elements and at least one second tensioning element extending between discrete protruding elements of the second plurality are located within the later longitudinal arch portion, so as to provide separate support thereto.
3 more elements
A sole element for an article of footwear comprising:
- a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion comprising a substantially longitudinal arch comprising a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion,
- wherein, in an unloaded condition, the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface, such that the medial longitudinal arch portion extends to a greater height above the ground surface than the lateral longitudinal arch portion, and
- in a loaded condition, deforms towards the ground surface and elongates longitudinally, and
- wherein a first plurality of protruding elements and at least one first tensioning element extending between discrete protruding elements of the first plurality are located within the media longitudinal arch portion, so as to provide separate support thereto, and a second plurality of protruding elements and at least one second tensioning element extending, between discrete protruding elements of the second plurality are located within the lateral longitudinal arch portion, so as to provide separate support thereto.
1 more element
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- and
- a sole comprising:
- a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, wherein:
- (i) the midfoot portion comprises a substantially longitudinal arch comprising a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein, in an unloaded condition, the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface, such that the medial longitudinal arch portion extends to a greater height above the ground surface than the lateral longitudinal arch portion, and, in a loaded condition, deforms towards the ground surface and elongates longitudinally;
- and, wherein a first plurality of protruding elements and at least one first tensioning element extending between discrete protruding elements of the first plurality are located within the medial longitudinal arch portion, so as to provide separate support thereto, and a second plurality of protruding elements and at least one second tensioning element extending between discrete protruding elements of the second plurality are located within the lateral longitudinal arch portion, so as to provide separate support thereto;
- (ii) the forefoot portion comprises a substantially transverse arch that, in an unloaded condition, is at least partially elevated above the ground surface and, in a loaded condition, deforms towards the ground surface and elongates transversely;
- and
- (iii) the midsole comprises a plurality of flex grooves on a lower surface thereof, the flex grooves at least partially separating a lower surface of the midsole into a plurality of protruding elements.
6 more elements
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- and
- a sole comprising a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion and a plurality of flex grooves on a lower surface thereof, the midfoot portion comprising a substantially longitudinal arch comprising a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, such that the longitudinal arch, in an unloaded condition, is at least partially elevated above a ground surface and, in a loaded condition, deforms towards the ground surface and elongates longitudinally,
- wherein there are at least two protruding elements located within the medial longitudinal arch portion and at least two protruding elements located within the lateral longitudinal arch portion and a void is formed between at least one protruding element on the medial longitudinal arch portion and at least one protruding element on the lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the void is wider than the flex grooves, and
- wherein at least one tensioning element located within the medial longitudinal arch portion extends between discrete protruding elements, so as to provide separate support to the medial longitudinal arch portion, and at least one tensioning element located within the lateral longitudinal arch portion extends between discrete protruding elements, so as to provide separate support to the lateral longitudinal arch portion.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.