Cut Step Traction Element Arrangement For An Article Of Footwear

• US 20130067771A1
• Filed: 09/16/2011
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Minami, Tetsuya T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,984,774 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/103
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/22 Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/223 Profiled soles
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/16 Studs or cleats for football or like boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/162 characterised by the shape

Abstract

A traction element arrangement for a sole structure of an article of footwear is described. Traction elements include cut step features. Cut step features provide a traction element with a stepped height. Cut step features on medial rotational traction elements that have a plurality of stud elements arranged in a circular grouping include arc-shaped or straight cuts. Cut step features on traction elements disposed in a heel region are aligned laterally across the sole structure. Traction elements also include raised platform members. Cut step features can be combined with raised platform members.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure including a bottom surface;

at least one medial rotational cleat disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure;

the medial rotational cleat comprising a plurality of stud elements extending away from the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of stud elements are arranged in a generally circular grouping; and

wherein at least two of the plurality of stud elements includes cut step features, each cut step feature having a face disposed below a ground-engaging face of the stud element.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the face of the cut step feature is disposed in a range from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm below the ground-engaging face of the stud element.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of stud elements includes a first stud element and a second stud element;

the first stud element including a first cut step feature and the second stud element including a second cut step feature;

wherein the first cut step feature is disposed on a portion of the ground-engaging face of the first stud element towards a medial side of the forefoot region of the sole structure; and

wherein the second cut step feature is disposed on a portion of the ground-engaging face of the second stud element towards a medial side of the forefoot region of the sole structure.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the first cut step feature and the second cut step feature are aligned along an approximately arc-shaped orientation.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the first cut step feature is aligned along an approximately straight orientation across the ground-engaging face of the first stud element;

and

wherein the second cut step feature is aligned along an approximately straight orientation across the ground-engaging face of the second stud element.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the orientation of the first cut step feature is associated with a first angle and the orientation of the second cut step feature is associated with a second angle.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the first angle and the second angle are different.

8. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure including a bottom surface;

a first traction element and a second traction element disposed in a heel region of the sole structure;

the first traction element disposed near a lateral side of the sole structure and the second traction element disposed near a medial side of the sole structure; and

wherein the first traction element and the second traction element each include a cut step feature, the cut step feature having a face disposed below a ground-engaging face of the respective first traction element or the second traction element.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the cut step feature associated with each of the first traction element and the second traction element are aligned along an approximately straight orientation.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the approximately straight orientation is in a lateral direction across the sole structure.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first traction element and the second traction element have different shapes.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the face of each cut step feature is disposed a range from 1.5 mm to 3 mm below the ground-engaging face of the respective first traction element or the second traction element.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first traction element has a major axis along a first centerline;

wherein the second traction element has a major axis along a second centerline;

wherein the cut step feature associated with each the first traction element and the second traction element are aligned with an orientation that intersects the first centerline and the second centerline.

14. A traction element arrangement for a sole structure of an article of footwear, the traction element arrangement comprising:

at least one medial rotational cleat formed on a bottom surface of the sole structure and disposed in a forefoot region, the medial rotational cleat comprising a plurality of stud elements including a ground-engaging face disposed a first height above the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of stud elements are arranged in a generally circular grouping;

at least one traction element formed on the bottom surface of the sole structure and disposed in a heel region, the traction element comprising a ground-engaging face disposed a second height above the bottom surface;

wherein at least one of the plurality of stud elements includes a forefoot cut step feature, the forefoot cut step feature having a face disposed at a first depth below the ground-engaging face of the stud element; and

wherein the traction element includes a heel cut step feature, the heel cut step feature having a face disposed at a second depth below the ground-engaging face of the traction element.

15. The traction element arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the heel cut step feature is aligned on the traction element along a lateral direction across the sole structure;

and

wherein the forefoot cut step feature is aligned on the stud element along a second direction, different than the lateral direction.

16. The traction element arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the forefoot cut step feature is aligned along an approximately arc-shaped orientation.

17. The traction element arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the first depth of the forefoot cut step feature is smaller than the second depth of the heel cut step feature.

18. The traction element arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the first depth is in a range from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm and the second depth is in a range between 1.5 mm and 3 mm.

19. The traction element arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the traction element including the heel cut step feature is disposed near a peripheral edge of the sole structure in the heel region and wherein the stud element including the forefoot cut step feature is disposed near a peripheral edge of the sole structure in the forefoot region.

20. The traction element arrangement according to claim 14, wherein one or more of the plurality of stud elements and the traction element include a raised platform member disposed on the ground-engaging face.