Sole system for an article of footwear incorporating a knitted component with a one-piece knit outsole and a tensile element

• US 10,568,383 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Cross, Tory M., Podhajny, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kinsaul, Anna K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, F Griffin
• Application Number:
  US14/598,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20160206040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• Field of Search: 36103
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/02 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/16 Studs or cleats for football or like boots
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 37/0053 Moulding articles characterised by the shape of the surface, e.g. ribs, high polish mould construction therefor B29C33/42; surface shaping of articles B29C59/00; by incorporating filler in or near the surface B29C70/64
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/31 Heat sealable
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/546 Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2437/02 Gloves, shoes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/085 spaced apart pieces on the surface of a layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/00 Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure , i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/022 Non-woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/024 Woven fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/026 Knitted fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/06 characterised by a fibrous or filamentary layer mechanically connected, e.g. by needling to another layer, e.g. of fibres, of paper
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/123 with laid-in unlooped yarn, e.g. fleece fabrics with elastic weft yarn D04B1/18
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/24 wearing apparel
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 7/14 : with provision for incorporating internal threads in laid-in fabrics

Abstract

An article of footwear including a sole system, including an upper and the sole system. The sole system includes a knitted component incorporating a one-piece knit outsole. The knit outsole has a ground-facing side, a top side, an inlaid tensile element, and a ground-engaging cleat member protruding from the ground-facing side of the knit outsole. The tensile element may be adjacent a cleat member. The upper is connected at its bottom to the top side of the knit outsole.

Claims

1. A sole system for an article of footwear, the sole system including:

a knitted component incorporating a knit outsole with a plurality of knitted courses that extend in a coursewise direction,

wherein the knit outsole has a bottom side, and a top side opposite the bottom side;

a ground-engaging cleat member protruding from the bottom side of the knit outsole; and

a tensile element having an inlaid strand that is inlaid in the coursewise direction within at least one course of the knit outsole such that the inlaid strand extends in a longitudinal direction,

wherein the longitudinal direction extends from a heel region to a toe region of the sole system.

2. The sole system of claim 1, wherein the inlaid strand of the tensile element extends from the heel region to the toe region of the sole system.

3. The sole system of claim 1, wherein the inlaid strand of the tensile element extends between at least two of the ground-engaging cleat members.

4. The sole system of claim 1, wherein the tensile element is at least partially exposed on the bottom side of the knit outsole.

14. The sole system of claim 1, wherein the ground-engaging cleat member is reinforced.

5. An article of footwear including a sole system, the article of footwear includes an upper and the sole system connected thereto;

the upper having a bottom;

the sole system including;

a knitted component incorporating a knit outsole, wherein the knit outsole has a bottom side with a bottom surface, and a top side; and

a plurality of ground-engaging cleat members protruding from the bottom side of the knit outsole; and

at least one tensile element having at least one strand that is inlaid in a coursewise direction within a knitted course of the knitted component such that it extends along the length of the knitted course, and such that it extends between at least two adjacent loops of the knitted course,

wherein the top side of the knit outsole and the bottom of the upper are affixed.

6. The sole system of claim 5, wherein the strand of the tensile element extends from a heel region to a toe region of the sole system.

7. The sole system of claim 5, wherein the strand of the tensile element extends between at least two of the ground-engaging cleat members.

8. The sole system of claim 5, wherein the tensile element is at least partially exposed on the bottom side of the knit outsole.

15. The sole system of claim 5, wherein the knit outsole comprises fusible yarn.

16. The sole system of claim 15, wherein the knitted component further comprises a second yarn being different than the fusible yarn.

17. The sole system of claim 5, wherein at least one ground-engaging cleat member is reinforced.

9. A sole system for an article of footwear, the sole system comprising:

a knit outsole having an inlaid tensile element with a first portion inlaid within a first course and a second portion inlaid within a different second course; and

the knit outsole having a bottom side, and a top side,

wherein the bottom side of the outsole includes a cleat member that is located between the first portion and the second portion of the inlaid tensile element.

10. The sole system of claim 9, wherein the inlaid tensile element is inlaid longitudinally within the knit outsole and extends in a coursewise direction.

11. The sole system of claim 9, wherein the tensile element extends between at least two of the ground-engaging cleat members.

12. The sole system of claim 9, wherein the tensile element is at least partially exposed on the bottom side of the knit outsole.

13. The sole system of claim 9, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the inlaid tensile element are formed from a continuous strand.

18. The sole system of claim 9, wherein the knit outsole comprises fusible yarn.

19. The sole system of claim 9, wherein at least one ground-engaging cleat member is reinforced.