Article of footwear with exterior ribs

• US 20050268497A1
• Filed: 06/03/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bainbridge, Bryant T., Alfaro, Charlie N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/136
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0027 made at least partially from a material having special colours
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/24 Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/146 Uppers

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole assembly and an upper secured to the sole assembly. A plurality of ribs is positioned on an exterior surface of at least one of the upper and the sole assembly, with each rib including a plurality of faces and each face having an image thereon.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:

a sole assembly;

an upper secured to the sole assembly; and

a plurality of ribs on an exterior surface of at least one of the upper and the sole assembly, each rib including a plurality of faces and each face having an image thereon.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each image comprises a color.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the color of a first subset of the faces is different than the color of at least one other subset of the faces.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein a portion of a first symbol is formed on each of a first subset of the faces.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein a portion of a second symbol is formed on each of a second subset of the faces.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein each rib includes a front face and rear face, the first symbol being formed on a plurality of the front faces and the second symbol being formed on a plurality of the rear faces.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each rib includes a front face and rear face, each front face being angled outwardly and rearwardly from the exterior surface at an obtuse angle.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein each rear face is substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one face is formed of a reflective material.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein a portion of the upper including the ribs includes a layer of knit material, a layer of a resin-impregnated non-woven material adjacent the knit material, and a layer of non-stretchable material adjacent the non-woven material.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, further comprising a layer of knit material adjacent the layer of non-stretchable material.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the ribs are formed of a layer of knit material and a layer of resin-impregnated non-woven material.

13. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein a portion of the upper including the ribs includes a layer of synthetic leather, a layer of foam material adjacent the synthetic leather, and a layer of non-stretchable material adjacent the foam material.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13, further comprising a layer of knit material adjacent the layer of non-stretchable material.

15. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the ribs are formed of synthetic leather.

16. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein a portion of the upper including the ribs is injected molded plastic.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein a first subset of the faces is formed of a first plastic material and a second subset of the faces is formed of a second plastic material.

18. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the ribs are positioned on at least one of medial and lateral sides of the upper.

19. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the ribs extend substantially vertically on at least one of medial and lateral sides of the upper.

20. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:

a sole assembly; and

an upper secured to the sole assembly; and

a plurality of substantially vertical ribs on at least one of medial and lateral sides of at least one of the upper and the sole assembly, each rib including a front face and a rear face.

21. The article of footwear of claim 20, the front faces having a first color and the second faces having a second color that is different than the first color.

22. The article of footwear of claim 20, wherein a portion of a first symbol is formed on each of a plurality of the front faces.

23. The article of footwear of claim 21, wherein a portion of a second symbol is formed on each of a plurality of the rear faces.

24. The article of footwear of claim 20, wherein each front face is angled outwardly and rearwardly from an exterior surface of the upper at an obtuse angle and each rear face is substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface of the upper.

25. The article of footwear of claim 20, wherein a portion of the upper including the ribs includes an outer layer of knit material, a layer of a resin-impregnated non-woven material adjacent the knit material, a layer of non-stretchable material adjacent the non-woven material, and a layer of knit material adjacent the layer of non-stretchable material.

26. The article of footwear of claim 20, wherein a portion of the upper including the ribs includes an outer layer of synthetic leather, a layer of foam material adjacent the synthetic leather, a layer of non-stretchable material adjacent the foam material, and a layer of knit material adjacent the layer of non-stretchable material.

27. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:

a sole assembly;

an upper secured to the sole assembly; and

a plurality of substantially vertical ribs on at least one of its medial and lateral sides of an exterior surface of the upper, each rib including a front face and a rear face, the front faces having a first color and being angled outwardly and rearwardly from the exterior surface at an obtuse angle, the rear faces having a second color that is different than the first color and each rear face extending substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface.

28. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising the following steps, in combination:

providing a sole assembly;

forming an upper having a plurality of ribs on an exterior surface thereof, each rib including a plurality of faces and each face having an image thereon, the upper formed by insert molding a first material having a first color and a second material having a second color together; and

securing the upper to the sole assembly.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein a first subset of the plurality of faces is formed of the first material and a second subset of the plurality of faces is formed of the second material.

30. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising the following steps, in combination:

providing a sole assembly;

forming an upper having a plurality of ribs on an exterior surface thereof, each rib including a plurality of faces and each face having an image thereon, the upper formed by the following steps;

molding a first layer of knit material such that it has a desired ribbed shape;

securing a second layer of a resin-impregnated non-woven material to the first layer;

molding the first and second layers such that they have the desired ribbed shape;

positioning a third layer of non-stretchable material adjacent the second layer; and

positioning a fourth layer of a knit material adjacent the third layer; and

securing the upper to the sole assembly.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the steps of applying a first color to a first subset of the plurality of faces and applying a second color to a second subset of the plurality of faces.

32. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising the following steps, in combination:

providing a sole assembly;

forming an upper having a plurality of ribs on an exterior surface thereof, each rib including a plurality of faces and each face having an image thereon, the upper formed by the following steps;

molding a first layer of synthetic leather such that it has a desired ribbed shape;

positioning a second layer of a foam material adjacent an interior surface of the first layer;

positioning a third layer of non-stretchable material adjacent the second layer; and

positioning a fourth layer of a knit material adjacent the third layer; and

securing the upper to the sole assembly.

33. The method of claim 32 further comprising the steps of applying a first color to a first subset of the plurality of faces and applying a second color to a second subset of the plurality of faces.