Flexible Sole And Upper For An Article Of Footwear

• US 20140259744A1
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Cooper, Aaron AC
• Granted Patent: US 9,801,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/28
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0009 made at least partially of alveolar or honeycomb material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/122 characterised by the outsole or external layer
• 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 3/0057 S-shaped

Abstract

A shoe midsole is strategically integrated or scored to produce various straight and arcuate lines. Straight lines are integrated widthwise between edges on an arch side on an outer side. Arcuate lines are integrated into various places at the top of a toe portion, with at least one extending down through a midpoint in a heel portion. The latter arcuate line maintains curvatures that parallel curvatures on the outer side at some places and the arch side at other places. Also crossing at the midpoint in the heel portion are intersecting lines.

Claims

1. A footwear sole, comprising:

a midsole, the midsole comprised of;

a superior surface comprised of a first plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a second plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the first plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the second plurality of sipes; and

an inferior surface comprised of a third plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a fourth plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the third plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the fourth plurality of sipes.

2. The footwear sole of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of sipes are substantially parallel with the third plurality of sipes.

3. The footwear sole of claim 2, wherein the first plurality of sipes are offset from the third plurality of sipes, the offset is in a perpendicular direction to the first plurality of sipes.

4. The footwear sole of claim 3, wherein the offset is equal to half of a distance between a first sipe and a consecutive sipe of the first plurality of sipes.

5. The footwear sole of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of sipes and the second plurality of sipes are integrated into the superior surface at foot-supporting region.

6. The footwear sole of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of sipes and the second plurality of sipes do not extend to a perimeter of the midsole.

7. The footwear sole of claim 1, wherein the third plurality of sipes and the fourth plurality of sipes are integrated into the inferior surface at foot-supporting region.

8. The footwear sole of claim 1, wherein the third plurality of sipes and the fourth plurality of sipes do not extend to a perimeter of the midsole.

9. The footwear sole of claim 1 further comprising an outsole, the outsole comprised of a first plurality of channels and a second plurality of channels.

10. The footwear sole of claim 9, wherein the first plurality of channels are substantially parallel with the first plurality of sipes and the second plurality of channels are substantially parallel with the second plurality of sipes.

11. The footwear sole of claim 9, wherein the first plurality of channels are substantially parallel with the third plurality of sipes and the second plurality of channels are substantially parallel with the fourth plurality of sipes.

12. The footwear sole of claim 11, wherein the one of the first plurality of channels is substantially aligned with one of the third plurality of sipes and one of the second plurality of channels is substantially aligned with one of the fourth plurality of sipes.

13. The footwear sole of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of channels is comprised of first channel, a second channel, and a third channel, wherein a distance between the first channel and the third channel is approximately equal to a distance between a first sipe and a consecutive sipe of the third plurality of sipes.

14. The footwear sole of claim 9 further comprising a band, the band couple with the midsole proximate the superior surface.

15. The footwear sole of claim 14, wherein the first plurality of sipes extend from the superior surface toward the inferior surface 1 millimeter to 5 millimeters.

16. The footwear sole of claim 14, wherein a tread of the outsole extends from a superior surface of the out sole to a distal end of the tread 2 millimeter to 6 millimeters.

17. A footwear sole, comprising:

a midsole, the midsole comprised of;

a superior surface comprised of a first plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a second plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the first plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the second plurality of sipes; and

an inferior surface comprised of a third plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a fourth plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the third plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the fourth plurality of sipes;

an outsole, the outsole comprised of;

a superior surface, and

an inferior surface comprised of a plurality of treads extending from a webbing surface, the plurality of treads form at least one channel at the webbing surface;

wherein the midsole inferior surface is couple with the outsole superior surface.

18. The shoe sole of claim 17, wherein the first plurality of sipes and the third plurality of sipes are substantially parallel, the second plurality of sipes and the fourth plurality of sipes are substantially parallel, and the a least one channel is substantially parallel with the third plurality of sipes.

19. A shoe sole of claim 18, wherein the first plurality of sipes are offset from the third plurality of sipes a first distance in a direction perpendicular to the direction the first plurality of sipes extend, the first distance is equal to half of a distance between two consecutive sipes of the first plurality of sipes.

20. A footwear sole, comprising:

a midsole, the midsole comprised of;

1. a superior surface comprised of a first plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a second plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the first plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the second plurality of sipes; and

2. an inferior surface comprised of a third plurality of substantially parallel sipes and a fourth plurality of substantially parallel sipes, wherein the third plurality of sipes are substantially perpendicular to the fourth plurality of sipes;

an outsole, the outsole comprised of;

1. a superior surface, and

2. an inferior surface comprised of a plurality of treads extending from a webbing surface, the plurality of treads form at least one channel at the webbing surface, wherein the midsole inferior surface is couple with the outsole superior surface; and

the first plurality of sipes and the third plurality of sipes are substantially parallel, the second plurality of sipes and the fourth plurality of sipes are substantially parallel, and the a least one channel is substantially parallel with the third plurality of sipes, and the first plurality of sipes are offset from the third plurality of sipes in a direction perpendicular to the direction the first plurality of sipes extend.