Article of Footwear

• US 20140150297A1
• Filed: 12/04/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Holmes, Matt, Avar, Eric P., Lee, Jeongwoo, Ho, Fanny, Klug, Bryant
• Granted Patent: US 9,943,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/103
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/125 characterised by the midsole or middle layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/223 Profiled soles
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/226 the profile being made in the foot facing surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/36 Easily-exchangeable soles protecting-soles A43C13/12
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/02 wedge-like or resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/06 Running shoes; Track shoes

Abstract

An article of footwear may include an upper and an outsole bonded to the upper. The outsole may include multiple discrete lugs distributed across a bottom exterior surface of the outsole. The article may further include a compressible foam midsole contained within the upper. The midsole may be non-destructively removable from the upper.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper, the upper including a lasting element;

an outsole bonded directly to an exterior face of the lasting element; and

a compressible foam midsole contained within the upper, the midsole being non-destructively removable from the upper.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the outsole comprises multiple discrete lugs distributed across a bottom exterior surface of the outsole in at least the forefoot region.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the midsole comprises a plurality of raised regions on a top surface configured to receive a plantar face of a foot of a wearer.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the lugs and the raised regions are sized so as to be of approximately the same scale.

5. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein each of the lugs is separated from adjacent lugs by a gap region, and wherein the outsole has of thickness of between about 0.5 millimeters and about 0.8 millimeters in at least some of the gap regions.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein a top surface of the midsole configured to form a footbed lacks a top cloth.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the midsole comprises a plurality of sipes formed in a lower surface.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the midsole comprises an articulated portion comprising the sipes and a spanning portion above the sipes, and wherein the spanning portion has a thickness of approximately 3 millimeters in a footbed region.

11. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the midsole in a region configured to receive a receive a forefoot portion of a wearer foot has a thickness between about 3 and about 6 millimeters.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the midsole rests directly on an interior surface of the lasting element.

7. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the top surface lacks a liner.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the top surface consists essentially of exposed foam material from which the midsole is formed.

13. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper;

an outsole bonded to the upper and having multiple discrete lugs distributed across a bottom exterior surface of the outsole; and

a compressible foam midsole contained within the upper, the midsole being non-destructively removable from the upper, the midsole comprising plurality of raised regions on a top surface configured to receive a plantar face of a foot of a wearer.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the lugs and the raised regions are sized so as to be of approximately the same scale.

15. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the midsole rests directly on an interior surface of a lasting element of the upper.

16. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein a top surface of the midsole configured to form a footbed lacks a top cloth.

17. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein each of the lugs is separated from adjacent lugs by a gap region, and wherein the outsole has of thickness of between about 0.5 millimeters and about 0.8 millimeters in at least some of the gap regions.

18. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the lugs are distributed across a bottom exterior surface of the outsole in at least the forefoot region.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein each of the lugs has a largest width of approximately 0.4 inches or less.

20. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper;

an outsole bonded to the upper and having multiple discrete lugs distributed across a bottom exterior surface of the outsole, wherein each of the lugs is separated from adjacent lugs by a gap region, and wherein the outsole has of thickness of between about 0.5 millimeters and about 0.8 millimeters in at least some of the gap regions; and

a compressible foam midsole contained within the upper.

21. The article of footwear of claim 20, wherein the upper comprises a lasting element, wherein the outsole is bonded to an exterior face of the lasting element, and wherein the midsole rests on an interior face of the lasting element.

22. The article of footwear of claim 20, wherein the midsole comprises a plurality of raised regions on a top surface configured to receive a plantar face of a foot of a wearer.

23. The article of footwear of claim 20, wherein a top surface of the midsole configured to form a footbed lacks a top cloth.

24. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper;

an outsole having multiple discrete lugs distributed across a bottom exterior surface of the outsole; and

a compressible foam midsole contained within the upper, the midsole being non-destructively removable from the upper, the midsole comprising a plurality of raised regions on a top surface configured to receive a plantar face of a foot of a wearer, wherein the lugs and the raised regions are sized so as to be of approximately the same scale.

25. The article of footwear of claim 24, wherein the midsole rests directly on an interior surface of a lasting element of the upper.

26. The article of footwear of claim 24, wherein a top surface of the midsole configured to form a footbed lacks a top cloth.