Sole Structure Configured to Allow Relative Heel/Forefoot Motion

• US 20130247415A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Kohatsu, Shane S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,095,190 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/88
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/125 characterised by the midsole or middle layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/127 the midsole being multilayer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/145 Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0265 having different properties in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/22 Supports for the shank or arch of the uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0073 Y-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/14 with foot-supporting parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/141 having an anatomical or curved form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1464 with adjustable pads to allow custom fit
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/148 Recesses or holes filled with supports or pads
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/14 Clamp fastenings , e.g. strap fastenings; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers

Abstract

Shoes and/or shoe elements facilitate natural foot motion and/or reduce forces tending to fight natural foot motion. In at least some such structures, a wearer'"'"'s heel is secured to the hindfoot region of a shoe (e.g., by a strap system) in a manner that permits heel/forefoot rotation and that allows the lower leg to remain straight. In other structures, a shoe can include a heel supporting component that is separate from a midsole component, and this heel supporting component can move toward the lateral side and/or medial side of the shoe along an interface between the heel supporting component and the midsole component. Other suitable shoe and shoe component structures also are described.

Claims

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:

a foam-containing midsole component providing support for a plantar surface of a foot, wherein an upper rearfoot surface of the foam-containing midsole component is curved in a manner so as to generally conform to a heel of a user and wherein a lower rearfoot surface of the foam-containing midsole component is curved;

a plate supporting at least a rearfoot region of the foam-containing midsole component, wherein an upper rearfoot surface of the plate is curved to receive the lower surface of the foam-containing midsole component and wherein a lower rearfoot surface of the plate is curved in a substantially parallel manner to the upper rearfoot surface of the plate;

a lower foam component supporting the lower rearfoot surface of the plate, wherein an upper rearfoot surface of the lower foam component is curved to receive the lower rearfoot surface of the plate and wherein a lower rearfoot surface of the lower foam component is flatter than its upper rearfoot surface; and

an outsole component covering at least a majority of the lower rearfoot surface of the lower foam component.

2. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower foam component is made from a softer foam material than a foam material of the foam-containing midsole component.

3. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein at least an outer perimeter portion of a medial side of the lower foam component is made from a softer foam material than a foam material making up a majority of the foam-containing midsole component.

4. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower foam component terminates before a forefoot region of the sole structure.

5. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the plate terminates before a forefoot region of the sole structure.

6. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the foam-containing midsole component directly contacts an upper surface the outsole component at a forefoot region of the sole structure.

7. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower foam component terminates before a forefoot region of the sole structure, and wherein the plate extends beyond the lower foam component in a direction toward the forefoot region of the sole structure.

8. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower foam component terminates before a forefoot region of the sole structure, wherein the plate extends beyond the lower foam component in a direction toward the forefoot region of the sole structure, and wherein the foam-containing midsole component extends beyond a forefoot-most location of the plate.

9. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the plate extends along a lateral side of the sole structure for a greater distance than it extends along a medial side of the sole structure.

10. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the outsole component includes a forefoot outsole member and a rearfoot outsole member.

11. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the outsole component includes a forefoot portion, a rearfoot portion, and a connecting portion connecting the rearfoot portion and the forefoot portion.

12. A sole structure according to claim 11, wherein at least some of the connecting portion has a width of less than 20 mm.

13. A sole structure according to claim 11, wherein at least some of the connecting portion has a width of less than 12 mm.

14. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower foam component is made from a softer material than a foam material of the foam-containing midsole component and wherein the foam-containing midsole component is made from a softer material than the plate.

15. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the outsole component includes an opening defined through its rearfoot region.

16. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the outsole component includes an opening defined through its rearfoot region, wherein the lower foam component includes an opening defined through its rearfoot region, and wherein at least some portion of the opening of the outsole component overlaps with at least some portion of the opening of the lower foam component.

17. A sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the outsole component includes an opening defined through its rearfoot region, wherein the lower foam component includes an opening defined through its rearfoot region, and wherein the openings of the outsole component and the lower foam component are arranged so as to expose a portion of the lower rearfoot surface of the plate.

18. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper, and

a sole structure according to claim 1 engaged with the upper.

19. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:

a plate supporting at least a rearfoot region of the article of footwear, wherein a lower rearfoot surface of the plate is curved;

a lower compressible component supporting at least a medial side of the lower rearfoot surface of the plate, wherein an upper rearfoot surface of the lower compressible component is curved to receive at least a portion of the lower rearfoot surface of the plate, wherein a lowermost rearfoot surface of the lower compressible component is flatter than its uppermost rearfoot surface, and wherein at least a medial side of the lower compressible component is softer than the plate; and

an outsole component covering at least a majority of the lower rearfoot surface of the lower compressible component.

20. A sole structure according to claim 19, wherein the lower compressible component terminates before a forefoot region of the sole structure.

21. A sole structure according to claim 19, wherein the plate terminates before a forefoot region of the sole structure.

22. A sole structure according to claim 19, wherein the lower compressible component terminates before a forefoot region of the sole structure, and wherein the plate extends beyond the lower compressible component in a direction toward the forefoot region of the sole structure.

23. A sole structure according to claim 19, wherein the plate extends along a lateral side of the sole structure for a greater distance than it extends along a medial side of the sole structure.

24. A sole structure according to claim 19, wherein the outsole component includes a forefoot outsole member and a rearfoot outsole member.

25. A sole structure according to claim 19, wherein the outsole component includes a forefoot portion, a rearfoot portion, and a connecting portion connecting the rearfoot portion and the forefoot portion.

26. A sole structure according to claim 19, wherein the outsole component includes an opening defined through its rearfoot region.

27. A sole structure according to claim 19, wherein the outsole component includes an opening defined through its rearfoot region, wherein the lower compressible component includes an opening defined through its rearfoot region, and wherein at least some portion of the opening of the outsole component overlaps with at least some portion of the opening of the lower compressible component.

28. A sole structure according to claim 19, wherein the outsole component includes an opening defined through its rearfoot region, wherein the lower compressible component includes an opening defined through its rearfoot region, and wherein the openings of the outsole component and the lower compressible component are arranged so as to expose a portion of the lower rearfoot surface of the plate.

29. A sole structure according to claim 19, further comprising:

a midsole component, wherein a lower rearfoot region surface of the midsole component engages an upper rearfoot surface of the plate.

30. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper, and

a sole structure according to claim 19 engaged with the upper.