Stability And Comfort System For An Article Of Footwear

• US 20140101973A1
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Luedecke, Tom, Spanks, Jeffrey C., Nurse, Matthew A., Avar, Eric P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,565,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/103
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/16 with heel or toe caps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/088 Heel stiffeners A43B23/10, A43B23/14, A43B23/16, A43B23/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0036 characterised by a special shape or design
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/141 having an anatomical or curved form

Abstract

A stability and comfort system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The stability and comfort system includes a bootie and a sock liner. The sock liner may include a heel counter that is contoured to fit a heel. The sole of the article may include an outrigger portion. The outrigger portion can be separated from a central portion of the sole to allow the outrigger portion to move substantially independently of the central portion of the sole.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole including a forefoot portion, the forefoot portion further including a central portion a peripheral portion disposed outwards from the central portion;

an outrigger portion disposed on the peripheral portion; and

wherein the outrigger portion is separated from the central portion by a flex groove.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outrigger portion has a first profile shape that is different form a second profile shape of an arch portion of the sole.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outrigger portion is wider at a lower portion of the sole.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outrigger portion is disposed on a lateral side of the forefoot portion.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the flex groove is disposed adjacent to the lateral side.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outrigger portion is disposed on a medial side of the forefoot portion.

7. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole including a forefoot portion, the forefoot portion further including a central portion a peripheral portion disposed outwards from the central portion;

an outrigger portion disposed on the peripheral portion; and

wherein the outrigger is configured to move substantially independently of the central portion.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the outrigger portion is configured to enhance stability during lateral maneuvers.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the outrigger portion is angled with respect to the central portion during lateral maneuvers of the article of footwear.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein a flex groove is disposed between the central portion and the outrigger portion.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein flex groove is configured to widen as the outrigger portion moves with respect to the central portion.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the flex groove extends to an outer peripheral edge of the sole.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the flex groove is approximately parallel with the outrigger portion.

14. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole including a forefoot portion, the forefoot portion further including a central portion a peripheral portion disposed outwards from the central portion;

an outrigger disposed on the peripheral portion;

a flex groove extending through the forefoot portion and including a first end portion disposed on an outer peripheral edge of the peripheral portion and the flex groove including a second end portion disposed on the outer peripheral edge; and

wherein a portion of the outrigger portion is disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion on the outer peripheral edge.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the flex groove is oriented in a substantially longitudinal direction.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the outrigger portion is configured to move substantially independently of the central portion.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the outrigger portion is separated from the central portion by a flex groove.

18. The article of footwear according to 14, wherein the flex grove extends through a substantial majority of the forefoot portion in a longitudinal direction.