Article of Footwear with Indented Tip Cleats

• US 20080216362A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Gerber, Clifford B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,802,379 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/67A
• 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 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/161 characterised by the attachment to the sole

Abstract

An article of footwear including different cleat sizes is disclosed. The article of footwear includes cleats of a first size along the medial side of the outsole and cleats of a second size along the lateral side of the outsole. The cleats also include spherical indentations along their tips. The outsole also includes an internal structural plate with notches associated with the cleats.

Claims

1. An article of footwear including an outsole, comprising:

a first cleat disposed along an outer surface of the outsole;

the first cleat including a first tip portion; and

wherein the first tip portion includes a first indentation.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first indentation is spherical.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outsole includes a second cleat with a second indentation.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the first indentation has a first size and the second indentation has a second size.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the first size is larger than the second size.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outsole includes more than two cleats.

7. An article of footwear including an outsole, comprising:

at least one cleat disposed along an outer surface of the outsole;

the cleat including a tip portion;

the tip portion including an outer periphery and a central portion; and

wherein the central portion is indented and the outer periphery is rounded.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the outer periphery of the tip portion is flat.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the central portion is spherically indented.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the outsole includes multiple cleats.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the multiple cleats are associated with multiple indentations.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the multiple indentations are spherical.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the at least one cleat is disposed along a first portion of the outer surface of the outsole.

14. An article of footwear including an outsole, comprising:

at least one cleat disposed along an outer surface of the outsole;

the cleat including a tip portion;

the tip portion including an outer periphery and a central portion; and

wherein the central portion is indented and the outer periphery is flat.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the outer periphery is rounded.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the central portion is spherically indented.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the outsole includes multiple cleats.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the multiple cleats are associated with multiple indentations.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 18, wherein the multiple indentations are spherical.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the at least one cleat is disposed along a first portion of the outer surface of the outsole.

21. An article of footwear including an outsole, comprising:

a first cleat and a second cleat disposed along an outer surface of the outsole;

the first cleat including a first tip portion and the second cleat including a second tip portion;

the first tip portion including a first indentation and the second tip portion including a second indentation; and

wherein the first indentation is larger than the second indentation.

22. The article of footwear according to claim 21, wherein the outer surface of the outsole is curved along a first portion of the outsole.

23. The article of footwear according to claim 21, wherein the first indentation is spherically indented.

24. The article of footwear according to claim 23, wherein the second indentation is spherically indented.

25. The article of footwear according to claim 22, wherein the first cleat is disposed along the first portion of the outsole and the second cleat is disposed along a third portion of the outsole.

26. The article of footwear according to claim 25, wherein the first portion is a forefoot portion.

27. The article of footwear according to claim 26, wherein the third portion is a heel portion.