Sole system having protruding members

• US 10,172,417 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoffer, Kevin W., Langvin, Elizabeth, Meschter, James C., Minami, Tetsuya T., Rasmussen, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US15/271,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20170006963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• 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 13/18 Resilient soles skating boots provided with resilient means A43B5/1658
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/184 the structure protruding from the outsole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/185 Elasticated plates sandwiched between two interlocking components, e.g. thrustors
• 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 13/223 Profiled soles
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/146 provided with acupressure points or means for foot massage
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/14 with outwardly-movable spikes

Abstract

An article of footwear with a sole system includes a sole member and a protruding member assembly. The sole system provides tactile sensation. Protruding members of the protruding member assembly can translate through holes in the sole member to facilitate tactile sensation. Some embodiments can include an inner member that is configured to accommodate the movement of a protruding member. Other embodiments can include a plurality of recessed portions or nub portions formed along an outwardly facing surface of the sole member.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole member having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface disposed opposite the outwardly facing surface;

the outwardly facing surface of the sole member including a plurality of nub portions, each of the plurality of nub portions comprising a protuberance that extends away from a base portion of the sole member;

a protruding member assembly positioned against the inwardly facing surface of the sole member, the protruding member assembly including a plurality of protruding members connected together by a plurality of connecting portions, at least a portion of the plurality of connecting portions being unattached to the inwardly facing surface of the sole member to allow the unattached portions to deflect away from the inwardly facing surface of the sole member when protruding members adjacent to the unattached portions undergo compression;

wherein each of the plurality of protruding members includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;

wherein the sole member includes a plurality of holes that receive the plurality of protruding members such that the distal end portion of each of the plurality of protruding members extends beyond the outwardly facing surface;

the plurality of protruding members including a first protruding member that extends through a first hole in the sole member;

wherein the first protruding member extends beyond the outwardly facing surface of the sole member a first distance when the first protruding member is compressed inward with a first degree of compression;

wherein the first protruding member extends beyond the outwardly facing surface of the sole member a second distance less than the first distance when the first protruding member is compressed inward with a second degree of compression greater than the first degree of compression; and

wherein the plurality of nub portions includes a first nub portion, and the distal end portion of the first protruding member extends outward a further distance beyond the sole member when in an uncompressed state relative to a distal end portion of the first nub portion.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nub portions are configured to provide traction to the article of footwear.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising an inner member disposed proximate the inwardly facing surface of the sole member, and wherein the first protruding member exerts a compressive force on the inner member when compressed inward with the second degree of compression.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first protruding member extends beyond the outwardly facing surface of the sole member a third distance that is less than the second distance when the first protruding member is compressed inward with a third degree of compression greater than the second degree of compression.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nub portions includes a first nub portion, and wherein the first nub portion has a rounded rectangular cross-sectional shape in a horizontal plane.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of protruding members is disposed adjacent to a nub portion.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of nub portions has a hollow interior.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nub portions are arranged over a midfoot region and a heel region of the sole member.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the plurality of nub portions disposed in the midfoot region are smaller than the plurality of nub portions disposed in the heel region.