Shaped Support Features For Footwear Ground-Engaging Members

• US 20150000162A1
• Filed: 07/07/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Auger, Perry W., Caine, Andrew, Cavaliere, Sergio
• Granted Patent: US 9,456,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/103
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• 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 13/184 the structure protruding from the outsole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/186 Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• 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 17/02 wedge-like or resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/14 made of sponge, rubber, or plastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/16 Studs or cleats for football or like boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/161 characterised by the attachment to the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/162 characterised by the shape

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear including an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole component fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper. The sole component may include a baseplate having a bottom surface and at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, and a first elongate support member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first ground engaging member at a side portion, and extending horizontally from the side portion of the first ground engaging member. The first support member may have a downward facing surface with a first facet and a second facet, wherein each of the first facet and the second facet are angled at different non-horizontal orientation.

Claims

1-33. -33. (canceled)

32. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper configured to receive a foot;

a sole component fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper, the sole component including a baseplate having a bottom surface, at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, and a first elongate support member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first ground engaging member at a side portion, and extending horizontally from the side portion of the first ground engaging member;

the first ground engaging member being substantially elongate in a horizontal direction having a first curvature along a ground engaging member axis, wherein the first elongate support member extends horizontally from the first ground engaging member in a direction having a second curvature, wherein the first elongate support member is substantially aligned with the ground engaging member axis, and wherein the first curvature and the second curvature are reversed.

33. The article of footwear according to claim 32, wherein the sole component further includes a second elongate support member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first forward ground engaging member at a side portion, and extending horizontally from the first forward ground engaging member in non-alignment with the ground engaging member axis.

34. The article of footwear according to claim 33, wherein the second elongate support member has a lowermost surface that extends substantially horizontally away from the first ground engaging member over a first distance, and projects further downward over a second distance to form a second ground engaging member.

35. The article of footwear according to claim 34, wherein the first ground engaging member includes dual projections, and wherein the second elongate support member abuts the first ground engaging member between the dual projections.

36. The article of footwear according to claim 32, wherein the first elongate support member extends downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate less distance than the first ground engaging member extends downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate.

37. The article of footwear according to claim 32, wherein the first elongate support member is formed of the same material as at least a portion of the first ground engaging member.

38. The article of footwear according to claim 33, wherein the second elongate support member has a downward facing surface at least a portion of which is substantially planar.

39. The article of footwear according to claim 32, wherein the first elongate support member has a downward facing surface at least a portion of which is substantially peaked.

40. The article of footwear according to claim 32, wherein the first elongate support member has a horizontal length and a horizontal width, and wherein the horizontal width of the first elongate support member tapers with distance from the first ground engaging member.

41. An article of footwear including an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole component fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper, the sole component comprising:

a baseplate having a bottom surface;

at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate; and

a first elongate support member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first ground engaging member at a side portion, and extending horizontally from the side portion of the first ground engaging member;

the first ground engaging member being substantially elongate in a horizontal direction having a first curvature along a ground engaging member axis, wherein the first elongate support member extends horizontally from the first ground engaging member in a direction having a second curvature, wherein the first elongate support member is substantially aligned with the ground engaging member axis; and

a second elongate support member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first forward ground engaging member at a side portion, and extending horizontally from the first forward ground engaging member in non-alignment with the ground engaging member axis.

42. The article of footwear according to claim 41, wherein the first ground engaging member has a hole passing substantially horizontally through the first ground engaging member.

43. The article of footwear according to claim 41, wherein the first elongate support member is formed of the same material as at least a portion of the first ground engaging member.

44. The article of footwear according to claim 41, wherein the first elongate support member has a downward facing surface at least a portion of which is substantially peaked.

45. The article of footwear according to claim 41, wherein the second elongate support member has a lowermost surface that extends substantially horizontally away from the first ground engaging member over a first distance, and projects further downward over a second distance to form a second ground engaging member.

46. The article of footwear according to claim 45, wherein the second elongate support member has a downward facing surface at least a portion of which is substantially planar.

47. An article of footwear including an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole component fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper, the sole component comprising:

a baseplate having a bottom surface, at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, and a first elongate support member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first ground engaging member at a side portion, and extending horizontally from the side portion of the first ground engaging member;

the first ground engaging member being substantially elongate in a horizontal direction having a first curvature along a ground engaging member axis;

wherein the first elongate support member extends horizontally from the first ground engaging member in a direction having a second curvature;

wherein the first elongate support member is substantially aligned with the ground engaging member axis;

wherein the first curvature and the second curvature are reversed; and

wherein the first ground engaging member has a hole passing substantially horizontally through the first ground engaging member.

48. The article of footwear according to claim 47, wherein the first elongate support member has a downward facing surface at least a portion of which is substantially peaked.

49. The article of footwear according to claim 47, wherein the sole component further includes a second elongate support member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate, abutting the first forward ground engaging member at a side portion, and extending horizontally from the first forward ground engaging member in non-alignment with the ground engaging member axis.

50. The article of footwear according to claim 49, wherein the second elongate support member has a lowermost surface that extends substantially horizontally away from the first ground engaging member over a first distance, and projects further downward over a second distance to form a second ground engaging member.

51. The article of footwear according to claim 50, wherein the second elongate support member has a downward facing surface at least a portion of which is substantially planar.