# US 9,750,305 B2 · Article of footwear > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,305 B2 - Document ID: US9750305B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/269,494 - Filed: 2014-05-05 - Published: 2014-08-28 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2007-09-11 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey C. Spanks; Thomas Foxen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750305B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/12: Soles with several layers of different materials - A43B 1/0072: {made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials} - A43B 3/0078: {provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration (A43B23/24 takes precedence)} - A43B 9/12: Stuck or cemented footwear - A43B 13/026: {Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite} - A43B 13/127: {the midsole being multilayer} - A43B 23/22: Supports for the shank or arch of the uppers - C08G 2170/90: Compositions for adhesives used in footwear - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS ## Abstract A method of making a sole for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes steps of attaching a double sided acrylic adhesive film to a composite plate. The composite plate is then attached to an outer member of the article of footwear using the acrylic adhesive film. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of footwear, comprising: a sole including an outer member, a midsole, and a composite plate disposed between the outer member and the midsole; wherein the outer member has an inner portion; wherein the midsole has a lower portion facing the inner portion of the outer member; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of the inner portion of the outer member, leaving a remaining second portion of the inner portion of the outer member; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of the lower portion of the midsole, leaving a remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole; a composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive disposed between and attaching the composite plate and the first portion of the lower portion of the midsole; a midsole-to-outer-member adhesive disposed between and attaching the remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole and the remaining second portion of the inner portion of the outer member; and wherein the composite plate comprises pre-peg woven sheets of carbon fibers and is more rigid than the outer member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive comprises an adhesive film and the midsole-to-outer-member adhesive comprises a non-film adhesive. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive disposed between and attaching the composite plate and the first portion of the inner portion of the outer member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive comprises an adhesive film. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive comprises a double sided acrylic based adhesive film and the midsole-to-outer-member adhesive comprises a solvent-based adhesive. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive comprises a film having a first side facing the composite plate and a second side opposite to the first side, an adhesive disposed on the first side, and an adhesive disposed on the second side; and wherein the midsole-to-outer-member adhesive comprises a solvent-based adhesive. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive is an acrylic based adhesive film. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the midsole-to-outer-member adhesive further comprises a primer applied to the second portion of the inner portion of the outer member. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the composite plate has an outer perimeter; and wherein the outer perimeter is located entirely within an arch portion of the article of footwear. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the midsole defines a recess shaped and configured to receive a portion of the composite plate protruding above the remaining second portion of the inner portion of the outer member; and wherein the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive is discontinuous with the midsole-to-outer-member adhesive. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive continuously bonds the composite plate to the first portion of the lower portion of the midsole across an entirety of a top face of the composite plate. ### Claim 12 An article of footwear, comprising: a sole including an outer member, a midsole, and a composite plate disposed between the outer member and the midsole; wherein the outer member has an inner portion; wherein the midsole has a lower portion facing the inner portion of the outer member; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of the inner portion of the outer member, leaving a remaining second portion of the inner portion of the outer member; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of the lower portion of the midsole, leaving a remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole; a composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive disposed between and attaching the composite plate and the first portion of the lower portion of the midsole; a midsole-to-outer-member adhesive disposed between and attaching the remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole and the remaining second portion of the inner portion of the outer member; wherein the composite plate has an outer perimeter; wherein the outer perimeter is located entirely within an arch portion of the article of footwear; and wherein the composite plate has a contoured shape having a shape of the arch portion of the article of footwear by having a first flat portion, an arched second portion, and a third flat portion. ### Claim 13 An article of footwear, comprising: a sole including an outer member, a midsole, and a composite plate disposed between the outer member and the midsole; wherein the outer member has an inner portion; wherein the midsole has a lower portion facing the inner portion of the outer member; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of the inner portion of the outer member, leaving a remaining second portion of the inner portion of the outer member; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of the lower portion of the midsole, leaving a remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole; a composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive disposed between and attaching the composite plate and the first portion of the lower portion of the midsole; a midsole-to-outer-member adhesive disposed between and attaching the remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole and the remaining second portion of the inner portion of the outer member; a composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive disposed between and attaching the composite plate and the first portion of the inner portion of the outer member; wherein the inner portion of the outer member defines a recess shaped and configured to receive a portion of the composite plate protruding below the remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole; and wherein the composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive is discontinuous with the midsole-to-outer-member adhesive. ### Claim 14 An article of footwear, comprising: a sole including an outer member, a midsole, and a composite plate disposed between the outer member and the midsole; wherein the outer member has an inner portion; wherein the midsole has a lower portion facing the inner portion of the outer member; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of the inner portion of the outer member, leaving a remaining second portion of the inner portion of the outer member; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of the lower portion of the midsole, leaving a remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole; a composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive disposed between and attaching the composite plate and the first portion of the lower portion of the midsole; a midsole-to-outer-member adhesive disposed between and attaching the remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole and the remaining second portion of the inner portion of the outer member; a composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive disposed between and attaching the composite plate and the first portion of the inner portion of the outer member; and wherein the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive and the composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive are disposed on horizontal planes different from a horizontal plane on which the midsole-to-outer-member adhesive is disposed. ### Claim 15 An article of footwear, comprising: an outer member; a midsole; a composite plate disposed between the outer member and the midsole; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of an upper portion of the outer member, leaving a remaining second portion of the upper portion of the outer member; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of a lower portion of the midsole, leaving a remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole; wherein the composite plate comprises a composite sheet, a composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive applied to a first side of the composite sheet, and a composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive applied to a second side of the composite sheet opposite to the first side of the composite sheet; wherein the first portion of the upper portion of the outer member is attached to the composite plate by the composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive; wherein the first portion of the lower portion of the midsole is attached to the composite plate by the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive; wherein the remaining second portion of the upper portion of the outer member is attached to the remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole by a midsole-to-outer-member adhesive; wherein the composite plate has an outer perimeter; wherein the outer perimeter is located entirely within an arch portion of the article of footwear; and wherein the composite plate has a contoured shape having a shape of the arch portion of the article of footwear by having a first flat portion, an arched second portion, and a third flat portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive continuously bonds the composite plate to the first portion of the upper portion of the outer member across an entirety of a bottom face of the composite plate; and wherein the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive continuously bonds the composite plate to the first portion of the lower portion of the midsole across an entirety of a top face of the composite plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the composite-plate-to-outer member adhesive and the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive each comprises a film having a first side facing the composite plate and a second side opposite to the first side, an adhesive disposed on the first side, and an adhesive disposed on the second side; and wherein the midsole-to-outer-member adhesive comprises a solvent-based adhesive. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive comprises a first adhesive film, the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive comprises a second adhesive film, and the midsole-to-outer-member adhesive comprises a non-film adhesive. ### Claim 19 A sole for an article of footwear, comprising: an outer member; a midsole; a composite plate disposed between the outer member and the midsole; wherein the composite plate comprises a composite sheet having a first side facing the outer member and a second side opposite to the first side and facing the midsole, a composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive disposed on the first side of the composite sheet, and a composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive disposed on the second side of the composite sheet; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of an upper portion of the outer member, leaving a remaining second portion of the upper portion of the outer member; wherein the composite plate covers a first portion of a lower portion of the midsole, leaving a remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole; wherein the composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive bonds the composite plate to the first portion of the upper portion of the outer member; wherein the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive bonds the composite plate to the first portion of the lower portion of the midsole; wherein a midsole-to-outer-member adhesive is disposed between the remaining second portion of the upper portion of the outer member and the remaining second portion of the lower portion of the midsole; wherein the midsole-to-outer-member adhesive bonds the outer member to the midsole; and wherein the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive and the composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive are disposed on horizontal planes different from a horizontal plane on which the midsole-to-outer-member adhesive is disposed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The sole of claim 19, wherein the composite-plate-to-outer-member adhesive continuously bonds the composite plate to the first portion of the upper portion of the outer member across an entirety of a bottom face of the composite plate; and wherein the composite-plate-to-midsole adhesive continuously bonds the composite plate to the first portion of the lower portion of the midsole across an entirety of a top face of the composite plate.