Support features for footwear ground engaging members

• US 10,104,939 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Stauffer, Morgan
• Primary Examiner(s): BAYS, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US15/262,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20160374434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 36 67 R, 36 67 D, 36134
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/122 characterised by the outsole or external layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/184 the structure protruding from the outsole
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/22 Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/223 Profiled soles
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/02 wedge-like or resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/14 made of sponge, rubber, or plastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/22 Supports for the shank or arch of the uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/001 Golf shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/002 Mountain boots or shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/00 Non-skid devices or attachments apparatus for climbing poles, trees, or the like A63B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/162 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/164 having a circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/165 pointed or conical, e.g. calks, spikes, pins
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/167 : frusto-conical or cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/122 : Soles

Abstract

An article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper. The sole structure may include a sole component including a baseplate having a bottom surface and at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, the first ground engaging member having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. In addition, the sole structure may also include a tapered support structure having a substantially pyramidal shape and extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first ground engaging member at a side portion, and partially surrounding the first ground engaging member such that a portion of the first ground engaging member is exposed between edges of the tapered support structure. Also, the tapered support structure may extend downward from the baseplate less than the first ground engaging member.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, including an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole structure fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper, the sole structure including a sole component comprising:

a baseplate having a bottom surface and a longitudinal central axis;

at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, the first ground engaging member having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape; and

a tapered support structure having a substantially pyramidal shape and extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first ground engaging member at a side portion, and partially surrounding the first ground engaging member such that a first sidewall portion of the first ground engaging member is exposed between edges of the tapered support structure;

wherein the exposed portion of the first ground engaging member faces inward toward the longitudinal central axis.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the tapered support structure extends downward from the baseplate less than the first ground engaging member.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, further including a second ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, the second ground engaging member having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape;

a second tapered support structure having a substantially pyramidal shape and extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the second ground engaging member at a side portion, and partially surrounding the second ground engaging member such that a second sidewall portion of the second ground engaging member is exposed between edges of the second tapered support structure;

wherein the exposed first sidewall portion of the first ground engaging member is facing the exposed second sidewall portion of the second ground engaging member.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the tapered support structure includes a substantially triangular base where the tapered support structure abuts the baseplate;

and

wherein the substantially triangular base has a surface area that is greater than a surface area of a base of the first ground engaging member.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the tapered support structure extends more than half way around a circumference of the first ground engaging member.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein:

a base of the tapered support structure includes at least a first vertex and a second vertex;

the first ground engaging member has a central axis that extends substantially normal to the baseplate;

the tapered support structure further includes a first side edge extending from the first vertex to a sidewall of the first ground engaging member, a second side edge extending from the second vertex to the sidewall of the first ground engaging member;

the first side edge and the second side edge are oriented along axes that intersect at an apex; and

the apex is located offset with respect to the central axis of the first ground engaging member.

7. An article of footwear, including an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole structure fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper, the sole structure including a sole component comprising:

a baseplate having a bottom surface;

at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, the first ground engaging member having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape; and

a tapered support structure having a substantially pyramidal shape and extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first ground engaging member at a side portion, wherein the tapered support structure partially surrounds the first ground engaging member such that a first sidewall portion of the first ground engaging member is exposed between edges of the tapered support structure;

the tapered support structure having a substantially triangular pyramidal shape including a substantially triangular base where the tapered support structure abuts the baseplate; and

wherein the substantially triangular base has a surface area that is greater than a surface area of a base of the first ground engaging member.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the first ground engaging member has a substantially circular base where the first ground engaging member abuts the baseplate.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the baseplate includes a longitudinal central axis and wherein the exposed portion of the first ground engaging member faces inward toward the longitudinal central axis.

10. The article of footwear of claim 7, further including a second ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, the second ground engaging member having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape;

a second tapered support structure having a substantially pyramidal shape and extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the second ground engaging member at a side portion, and partially surrounding the second ground engaging member such that a second sidewall portion of the second ground engaging member is exposed between edges of the second tapered support structure;

wherein the exposed first sidewall portion of the first ground engaging member is facing the exposed second sidewall portion of the second ground engaging member.

11. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the substantially triangular base includes a first vertex, a second vertex, and a third vertex;

a first side edge extending from the first vertex to a sidewall of the first ground engaging member, a second side edge extending from the second vertex to the sidewall of the first ground engaging member, and a third side edge extending from the third vertex to the sidewall of the first ground engaging member;

a first radial wall extending from the second side edge substantially radially inward to a side wall of the first ground engaging member; and

a second radial wall extending from the third side edge substantially radially inward to the side wall of the first ground engaging member; and

wherein a portion of the first ground engaging member is exposed between edges of the tapered support structure and the exposed portion of the first ground engaging member is a portion of the side wall of the first ground engaging member between the first radial wall and the second radial wall.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the tapered support structure extends more than half way around a circumference of first ground engaging member.

13. An article of footwear, including an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole structure fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper, the sole structure including a sole component comprising:

a baseplate having a bottom surface;

at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, the first ground engaging member having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape; and

a first tapered support structure having a substantially pyramidal shape and extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first ground engaging member at a side portion, wherein the first tapered support structure extends more than half way around a circumference of the first ground engaging member;

a second ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, the second ground engaging member having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape;

a second tapered support structure having a substantially pyramidal shape and extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the second ground engaging member at a side portion, and partially surrounding the second ground engaging member such that a second sidewall portion of the second ground engaging member is exposed between edges of the second tapered support structure, wherein an exposed first sidewall portion of the first ground engaging member is facing the exposed second sidewall portion of the second ground engaging member.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first tapered support structure extends downward from the baseplate less than the first ground engaging member.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first tapered support structure partially surrounds the first ground engaging member, the exposed first sidewall portion defined between edges of the first tapered support structure.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the baseplate includes a longitudinal central axis and the exposed portion of the first ground engaging member faces inward toward the longitudinal central axis.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first tapered support structure includes a substantially triangular base having a surface area that is greater than a surface area of a base of the first ground engaging member.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein:

a base of the first tapered support structure includes at least a first vertex and a second vertex;

the first ground engaging member has a central axis that extends substantially normal to the baseplate;

the first tapered support structure further includes a first side edge extending from the first vertex to a sidewall of the first ground engaging member and a second side edge extending from the second vertex to the sidewall of the first ground engaging member;

the first side edge and the second side edge are oriented along axes that intersect at an apex; and

the apex is located offset with respect to the central axis of the first ground engaging member.

19. An article of footwear, including an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole structure fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper, the sole structure including a sole component comprising:

a baseplate having a bottom surface;

at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, the first ground engaging member having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape, the first ground engaging member having a central axis that extends substantially normal to the baseplate;

a tapered support structure having a substantially pyramidal shape and extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first ground engaging member at a side portion;

a base of the tapered support structure including at least a first vertex and a second vertex;

the tapered support structure further including a first side edge extending from the first vertex to a sidewall of the first ground engaging member, a second side edge extending from the second vertex to the sidewall of the first ground engaging member;

the first side edge and the second side edge being oriented along axes that intersect at an apex; and

wherein the apex is located offset with respect to the central axis of the first ground engaging member.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the tapered support structure extends downward from the baseplate less than the first ground engaging member.

21. The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the tapered support structure partially surrounds the first ground engaging member such that a portion of the first ground engaging member is exposed between edges of the tapered support structure.

22. The article of footwear according to claim 21, wherein the baseplate includes a central longitudinal axis that extends substantially parallel to the baseplate and wherein the exposed portion of the first ground engaging member faces inward toward the longitudinal central axis.

23. The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the tapered support structure extends more than half way around a circumference of first ground engaging member.

24. The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the tapered support structure has a substantially triangular base where the tapered support structure abuts the baseplate;

and

wherein the substantially triangular base has a surface area that is greater than a surface area of a base of the first ground engaging member.

25. The article of footwear according to claim 24, wherein the first ground engaging member has a substantially circular base where the first ground engaging member abuts the baseplate.