Article Of Footwear With Adjustable Sole

• US 20150047222A1
• Filed: 08/19/2013
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Rushbrook, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,491,983 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/83
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/16 Pieced soles with several layers of different material A43B13/12
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/003 Zone lacing, i.e. whereby different zones of the footwear have different lacing tightening degrees, using one or a plurality of laces laces combined with another system A43C11/008; zone tightening using straps A43C11/14

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure. The sole structure includes a gap extending longitudinally through the sole structure. A tensioning member extends through the sole structure and across the gap such that tensioning the tensioning member contracts the gap and pulls opposing sides of the sole structure together. As the sole structure contracts, the upper is pulled down on the foot, thereby tightening the upper around the foot.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion and a heel portion;

a longitudinal direction extending from the forefoot portion to the heel portion of the article of footwear;

an upper;

a sole structure, further comprising;

a gap extending through the sole structure in the longitudinal direction, wherein the gap separates a first side portion of the sole structure from a second side portion of the sole structure;

a tensioning member including a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion extends from the first side portion to the second side portion and across the gap;

wherein applying tension to the tensioning member can contract the gap so that the first side portion and the second side portion of the sole structure are moved closer together; and

wherein the gap extends through a majority of a length of the sole structure.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the sole structure has a first length and the gap has a second length, and wherein a ratio of the second length to the first length is greater than 0.5.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the ratio is greater than 0.75

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the gap extends through the forefoot portion and the midfoot portion.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the gap extends through the heel portion.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein a first end portion of the gap extends to a forward most edge of the sole structure so that the first side portion of the sole structure and the second side portion of the sole structure are separated on the forward most edge of the sole structure by the gap.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein a second end portion of the gap is spaced apart from a rearward most end of the sole structure so that the first side portion and the second side portion of the sole structure are attached at the rearward most edge of the sole structure.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first side portion of the sole structure includes at least one channel for receiving the tensioning member.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the second side portion of the sole structure includes at least one channel for receiving the tensioning member.

10. An article of footwear, comprising:

a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion and a heel portion;

a longitudinal direction extending from the forefoot portion to the heel portion of the article of footwear;

an upper;

a sole structure, further comprising;

a gap extending through the sole structure in the longitudinal direction, wherein the gap separates a first side portion of the sole structure from a second side portion of the sole structure;

a tensioning member including a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion extends from the first side portion to the second side portion and across the gap and wherein the tensioning member can be used to control the size of the gap;

wherein the gap includes a first gap portion that extends from a first end portion of the gap to a gap vertex portion, and wherein the first gap portion splits into a second gap portion and a third gap portion at the gap vertex portion; and

wherein the first end portion is disposed in the forefoot portion, wherein the second gap portion is disposed in the heel portion and wherein the third gap portion is disposed in the heel portion.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the first gap portion extends approximately in the longitudinal direction and wherein the second gap portion and the third gap portion are angled with respect to the longitudinal direction.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the second gap portion extends into the first side portion of the sole structure and wherein the third gap portion extends into the second side portion of the sole structure.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the gap has a first width in the forefoot portion and a second width in the midfoot portion, and wherein the first width is substantially greater than the second width.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the tensioning member includes a first segment that extends across the gap in the forefoot portion.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 12, wherein the tensioning member includes a second segment that extends across the gap in the midfoot portion.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the tensioning member includes a third segment that extends across the gap in the midfoot portion and wherein the third segment crosses over the second segment.

17. An article of footwear, comprising:

a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion and a heel portion;

a longitudinal direction extending from the forefoot portion to the heel portion of the article of footwear;

an upper;

a sole structure, further comprising;

a gap extending through the sole structure in the longitudinal direction, wherein the gap separates a first side portion of the sole structure from a second side portion of the sole structure;

a tensioning member including a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion extends from the first side portion to the second side portion and across the gap;

wherein applying tension to the tensioning member can contract the gap so that the first side portion and the second side portion of the sole structure are moved closer together;

at least one sensor for receiving information related to contact between the article of footwear and a ground surface;

a tensioning device capable of automatically applying tension to the tensioning member;

a control system in communication with the sensor and the tensioning device; and

wherein the control unit controls the tensioning device in response to information from the sensor.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the control system controls the tensioning device in response to information from the at least one sensor and in response to information from a tensioning sensor that detects tension in the tensioning member.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 18, wherein the control system is configured to allow the tensioning device to increase tension in the tensioning member when the control system determines that the tension in the tensioning member should be increased and when the control system determines that the article of footwear is not in contact with a ground surface.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 18, wherein the control system is configured to prevent the tensioning device from increasing tension in the tensioning member when the control system determines that the tension in the tensioning member should be increased and when the control system determines that the article of footwear is in contact with a ground surface.