# US 9,775,405 B2 · Article of footwear comprising a sole member with regional patterns

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- Number: US 9,775,405 B2
- Document ID: US9775405B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/722,740
- Filed: 2015-05-27
- Published: 2016-12-01
- Granted: 2017-10-03
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-27
- Assignees: NIKE, Inc.
- Applicants: NIKE, Inc.
- Inventors: Shane S. Kohatsu; Christopher S. Cook; Bret Schoolmeester
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9775405B2

## CPC

- A43B 13/186: {Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32)}
- A43B 3/0094: {with means to differentiate between right and left shoe}
- A43B 13/181: {Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole}
- A43D 1/02: Foot-measuring devices (measuring the shape, pattern or size of the body for diagnostic purposes A61B5/103, e.g. measuring physical dimensions A61B5/107)
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43D: MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OR REPAIRING FOOTWEAR

## Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a cushioning sole system that provides customized cushioning characteristics to different regions of a sole member. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cushioning sole system for footwear, comprising:
a first sole member, the first sole member including an outer surface, the outer surface comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and a sidewall;
the first sole member having an interior portion, wherein the interior portion is disposed between the upper surface, the lower surface, and the sidewall;
a first set of apertures extending through the interior portion of the first sole member, wherein each aperture of the first set of apertures are through-hole apertures, the first set of apertures including a first group of apertures in a first heel region and a second group of apertures in a first midfoot region, each aperture of the first group of apertures having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of apertures of the second group of apertures;
a second sole member, wherein the first sole member and the second sole member are configured for use in a complementary pair of footwear;
the second sole member including an outer surface, the outer surface comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, and a sidewall;
the second sole member having an interior portion, wherein the interior portion is disposed between the upper surface, the lower surface, and the sidewall;
a second set of apertures extending through the interior portion of the second sole member, wherein each aperture of the second set of apertures are through-hole apertures;
wherein the first set of apertures is arranged in a first pattern along the first sole member, and wherein the second set of apertures is arranged in a second pattern along the second sole member; and
wherein the arrangement of the first pattern is asymmetric with respect to the arrangement of the second pattern.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cushioning sole system of claim 1, wherein the second sole member includes a second set of apertures, and wherein the second set of apertures extend between the upper surface and the lower surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The cushioning sole system of claim 2, wherein the first sole member includes a greater number of apertures than the second sole member.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The cushioning sole system of claim 1, wherein the first set of apertures are arranged such that they are adapted to correspond to a plantar pressure measurement of a user's first foot.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The cushioning sole system of claim 1, wherein the first set of apertures include a first aperture and a second aperture, and wherein a size of the first aperture is less than a size of the second aperture.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The cushioning sole system of claim 5, wherein the first aperture includes a round cross-sectional shape.