ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH CLEATED SOLE ASSEMBLY

• US 20090293315A1
• Filed: 05/30/2008
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Cavaliere, Sergio, Auger, Perry W., Peter, Daniel W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,056,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/114
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/223 Profiled soles
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/087 in the bottom of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/34 with protection against heat or cold
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/162 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/167 frusto-conical or cylindrical

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly includes a sole plate having a lower surface, and a plurality of cleats extending downwardly from the lower surface. Each cleat has a central recess formed therein, a core formed of a first material, and an outer layer on the core and formed of a second material that is softer than the first material.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper; and

a sole assembly secured to the upper and comprising;

a sole plate having a lower surface;

a plurality of cleats extending downwardly from the lower surface, each cleat having a central recess formed therein, a core formed of a first material, and an outer layer on the core and formed of a second material that is softer than the first material.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first material is one of TPU and glass-filled nylon.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the second material is TPU.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the sole assembly further comprises a circulation plate disposed on the lower surface of the sole plate and defining a circulation cavity between the sole plate and the circulation plate, a first plurality of apertures extending through a front portion of the circulation plate, and a second plurality of apertures extending through a rear portion of the circulation plate.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the circulation plate extends from a heel portion of the sole plate to a midfoot portion of the sole plate.

6. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein each of the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures comprises a slot having a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sole plate.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the sole plate is formed of one of glass-filled nylon and TPU.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the sole plate is formed of a heat blocking material.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least some of the cleats are positioned proximate a peripheral edge of the sole plate.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a first set of cleats in a forefoot portion of having a height ranging from approximately 7 mm in a foremost portion of the forefoot portion to approximately 9 mm in a rearmost portion of the forefoot portion.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, further comprising a second set of cleats in a midfoot portion of the sole plate and having a height of approximately 11 mm.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11, further comprising a second set of cleats in a midfoot portion of the sole plate and having a height of approximately 11 mm.

13. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the hardness of the first material is between approximately 90 A and approximately 98 A.

14. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the hardness of the second material is between approximately 60 A and approximately 80 A.

15. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the outer layer of at least one cleat has a textured outer surface.

16. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper; and

a sole assembly secured to the upper and comprising;

a sole plate having a lower surface;

a plurality of cleats extending downwardly from the lower surface, each cleat having a central recess formed therein, a core formed of a first material, and an outer layer on the core and formed of a second material that is softer than the first material; and

a circulation plate disposed on the lower surface of the sole plate, extending from a heel portion of the sole plate to a midfoot portion of the sole plate and defining a circulation cavity between the sole plate and the circulation plate, a first plurality of apertures extending through a front portion of the circulation plate and a second plurality of apertures extending through a rear portion of the circulation plate.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16, further comprising a first set of cleats in a forefoot portion of having a height ranging from approximately 7 mm in a foremost portion of the forefoot portion to approximately 9 mm in a rearmost portion of the forefoot portion.

18. The article of footwear of claim 17, further comprising a second set of cleats in a midfoot portion of the sole plate and having a height of approximately 11 mm.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18, further comprising a second set of cleats in a midfoot portion of the sole plate and having a height of approximately 11 mm.

20. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the hardness of the first material is between approximately 90 A and approximately 98 A.

21. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the hardness of the second material is between approximately 60 A and approximately 80 A.