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US 9,801,426 B2Granted
Flexible sole and upper for an article of footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorAaron AC Cooper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shoe midsole is strategically integrated or scored to produce various straight and arcuate lines. Straight lines are integrated widthwise between edges on an arch side on an outer side. Arcuate lines are integrated into various places at the top of a toe portion, with at least one extending down through a midpoint in a heel portion. The latter arcuate line maintains curvatures that parallel curvatures on the outer side at some places and the arch side at other places. Also crossing at the midpoint in the heel portion are intersecting lines.
Claims18
A footwear sole, comprising:
- a midsole, the midsole comprised of:
- a superior surface comprised of sipes incised into the midsole and extending through the midsole from the superior surface, the sipes including a first plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a second plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the first plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the second plurality of sipes;
- and
- an inferior surface comprised of sipes incised into the midsole and extending through the midsole from the inferior surface, the sipes including a third plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a fourth plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the third plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the fourth plurality of sipes,
- wherein at least the first plurality of sipes are offset from the third plurality of sipes in a lateral-to-medial direction.
2 more elements
A footwear sole, comprising:
- a midsole, the midsole comprised of:
- a superior surface comprised of a first plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a second plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the first plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the second plurality of sipes;
- and
- an inferior surface comprised of a third plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a fourth plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the third plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the fourth plurality of sipes, at least the first plurality of sipes being offset from the third plurality of sipes in a lateral-to-medial direction;
- an outsole, the outsole comprised of:
- a superior surface, and an inferior surface comprised of a plurality of treads extending from a webbing surface, the plurality of treads form at least one channel at the webbing surface;
- wherein the inferior surface of the midsole is coupled with the superior surface of the outsole.
4 more elements
A footwear sole, comprising:
- a midsole, the midsole comprised of:
- a superior surface comprised of sipes incised into the midsole and extending through the midsole from the superior surface, the sipes including a first plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a second plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the first plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the second plurality of sipes;
- and
- an inferior surface comprised of sipes incised into the midsole and extending through the midsole from the inferior surface, the sipes including a third plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a fourth plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the third plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the fourth plurality of sipes;
- an outsole, the outsole comprised of:
- a superior surface, and
- an inferior surface comprised of a plurality of treads extending from a webbing surface, the plurality of treads form at least one channel at the webbing surface, wherein the midsole inferior surface is coupled with the outsole superior surface;
- and
- the first plurality of sipes and the third plurality of sipes are substantially parallel, the second plurality of sipes and the fourth plurality of sipes are substantially parallel, and the a least one channel is substantially parallel with the third plurality of sipes, and the first plurality of sipes are offset from the third plurality of sipes in a lateral-to-medial direction and in a toe-to-heel direction.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.