Footwear Ground Engaging Members Having Concave Portions

• US 20150181977A1
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Minami, Tetsuya T., Molyneux, James, KLUG, Bryant Russell
• Granted Patent: US 10,123,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/223 Profiled soles
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• 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: A43C 15/161 characterised by the attachment to the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/162 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/167 frusto-conical or cylindrical

Abstract

An article of footwear may include a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from a baseplate, the first ground engaging member may have a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape in a substantially horizontal plane, the first ground engaging member having a first sidewall edge, a second sidewall edge, and a third sidewall edge forming vertices of the substantially triangular cross-sectional shape. In addition, a first sidewall may have a concave portion that is concave in the substantially horizontal plane. Further, the first ground engaging member may be disposed proximate a peripheral edge of the outer member with the first sidewall edge disposed opposite the concave portion of the sidewall, and the first sidewall edge oriented facing toward the peripheral edge. Also, the concave portion of the first sidewall may be oriented in a substantially lateral direction, facing away from the peripheral edge of the outer member.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, including an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole structure fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper, the sole structure including a ground engaging outer member comprising:

a baseplate having a bottom surface;

at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate to a free end of the first ground engaging member, the first ground engaging member having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape in a substantially horizontal plane, the first ground engaging member having a first sidewall edge, a second sidewall edge, and a third sidewall edge forming vertices of the substantially triangular cross-sectional shape;

the first ground engaging member including a first sidewall having a concave portion that is concave in the substantially horizontal plane; and

the first ground engaging member being disposed proximate a peripheral edge of the outer member;

wherein the first sidewall edge is disposed opposite the concave portion of the sidewall, the first sidewall edge being oriented facing toward the peripheral edge of the outer member; and

wherein the concave portion of the first sidewall is oriented in a substantially lateral direction, facing away from the peripheral edge of the outer member.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first sidewall of the first ground engaging member has a height dimension extending between the baseplate and the free end of the first ground engaging member;

wherein the first sidewall is concave in a horizontal direction over a substantial majority of its height dimension between the baseplate and the free end of the first ground engaging member.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the first sidewall is concave in a horizontal direction over at least 90% of its height dimension.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first ground engaging member includes a second sidewall and a third sidewall, wherein the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewall are arranged to form three sides of the substantially triangular cross-sectional shape in the substantially horizontal plane;

and

wherein the second side wall is concave in the substantially horizontal plane, and the third side wall is concave in the substantially horizontal plane.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein a first lobe extends to the first sidewall edge between the first sidewall and the second sidewall,

wherein a second lobe extends to the second side wall edge between the second sidewall and the third sidewall;

wherein a third lobe extends to the third sidewall edge between the third sidewall and the first sidewall; and

wherein at least one of the first lobe, the second lobe, and the third lobe extends in a non-radial direction with respect to an approximate center point of the first ground engaging member.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, further including at least a second ground engaging member having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape in a second horizontal plane, the second ground engaging member having a sidewall that is concave in the second horizontal plane;

wherein the second ground engaging member is disposed in a central portion of the outer member between a medial side of the outer member and a lateral side of the outer member; and

wherein the concave sidewall of the second ground engaging member is oriented facing substantially rearward.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein the first ground engaging member and the second ground engaging member are located in a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the first ground engaging member and the second ground engaging member overlap longitudinally such that:

a substantial majority of the first ground engaging member is disposed further rearward than a substantial majority of the second ground engaging member;

the first ground engaging member includes a first forward-most portion and the second ground engaging member includes a second rearward-most portion; and

the first forward-most portion of the first ground engaging member extends further forward than the second rearward-most portion of the second ground engaging member.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the forefoot region of the article of footwear has a longitudinal length;

and

wherein the forefoot region includes a plurality of ground engaging members disposed overlapping one another in a longitudinal direction such that all portions of the longitudinal length of the forefoot region are occupied by at least one ground engaging member.

10. An article of footwear, including an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole structure fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper, the sole structure including a ground engaging outer member comprising:

a baseplate having a bottom surface;

at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate to a free end of the first ground engaging member, the first ground engaging member having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape in a first substantially horizontal plane;

the first ground engaging member including a first sidewall having a concave portion that is concave in the first substantially horizontal plane; and

the free end of the first ground engaging member having a substantially planar tip surface in a second substantially horizontal plane, the tip surface having a substantially triangular shape having a perimeter formed by a first tip surface edge, a second tip surface edge, and a third tip surface edge;

wherein the first tip surface edge corresponds with the concave portion of the sidewall, the first tip surface edge being concave in the second substantially horizontal plane;

wherein the first ground engaging member is disposed proximate a peripheral edge of the outer member; and

wherein the first tip surface edge is oriented facing away from the peripheral edge of the outer member.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the first ground engaging member includes a first sidewall edge, a second sidewall edge, and a third sidewall edge forming vertices of the substantially triangular cross-sectional shape of the first ground engaging member in the first substantially horizontal plane;

and

wherein a first sidewall edge is disposed opposite the concave portion of the sidewall, the first sidewall edge being oriented facing toward the peripheral edge of the outer member.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the first ground engaging member further includes a second sidewall and a third sidewall;

wherein a first lobe extends to the first sidewall edge between the first sidewall and the second sidewall,

wherein a second lobe extends to the second side wall edge between the second sidewall and the third sidewall;

wherein a third lobe extends to the third sidewall edge between the third sidewall and the first sidewall; and

wherein at least one of the first lobe, the second lobe, and the third lobe extends in a non-radial direction with respect to an approximate center point of the first ground engaging member.

13. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the first tip surface edge is concave in the second horizontal plane;

and

wherein the second tip surface edge is concave in the second horizontal plane.

14. The article of footwear of claim 10, further including at least a second ground engaging member extending from the baseplate to a second free end, the second free end of the second ground engaging member having a substantially planar second tip surface in a third substantially horizontal plane, the tip surface having a substantially triangular shape having a perimeter formed by a fourth tip surface edge, a fifth tip surface edge, and a sixth tip surface edge;

wherein the fourth tip surface edge is concave in the third horizontal plane;

wherein the second ground engaging member is disposed in a central portion of the outer member between a medial side of the outer member and a lateral side of the outer member; and

wherein the fourth tip surface edge of the second ground engaging member is oriented facing substantially rearward.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the first ground engaging member and the second ground engaging member are located in a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the first ground engaging member and the second ground engaging member overlap longitudinally such that:

a substantial majority of the first ground engaging member is disposed further rearward than a substantial majority of the second ground engaging member;

the first ground engaging member includes a first forward-most portion and the second ground engaging member includes a second rearward-most portion; and

the first forward-most portion of the first ground engaging member extends further forward than the second rearward-most portion of the second ground engaging member.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the forefoot region of the article of footwear has a longitudinal length;

and

wherein the forefoot region includes a plurality of ground engaging members disposed overlapping one another in a longitudinal direction such that all portions of the longitudinal length of the forefoot region are occupied by at least one ground engaging member.

18. An article of footwear, including an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole structure fixedly attached to a bottom portion of the upper, the sole structure including a ground engaging outer member comprising:

a baseplate having a bottom surface;

at least a first ground engaging member extending substantially downward from the bottom surface of the baseplate to a free end of the first ground engaging member, the first ground engaging member having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape in a first substantially horizontal plane;

the first ground engaging member being disposed proximate a peripheral edge of the outer member; and

the first ground engaging member including a first sidewall having a concave portion that is concave in the first substantially horizontal plane;

wherein at least a portion of the concave portion of the first sidewall is an acute portion, forming an acute angle with the baseplate in a substantially vertical direction; and

wherein the acute portion of the first sidewall is oriented facing away from the peripheral edge of the outer member.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the first ground engaging member includes a first sidewall edge, a second sidewall edge, and a third sidewall edge forming vertices of the substantially triangular cross-sectional shape;

and

wherein a first sidewall edge is disposed opposite the concave portion of the first sidewall, the first sidewall edge being oriented facing toward the peripheral edge of the outer member.

20. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the first ground engaging member further includes a second sidewall and a third sidewall;

wherein the second sidewall has a height dimension between the baseplate and the free end of the first ground engaging member; and

wherein, over the entire height dimension of the second sidewall, the second sidewall forms a non-acute angle in a vertical plane between the second sidewall and the baseplate.

21. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the first ground engaging member further includes a second sidewall and a third sidewall;

wherein a first lobe extends to a first sidewall edge between the first sidewall and the second sidewall,

wherein a second lobe extends to a second side wall edge between the second sidewall and the third sidewall;

wherein a third lobe extends to a third sidewall edge between the third sidewall and the first sidewall; and

wherein at least one of the first lobe, the second lobe, and the third lobe extends in a non-radial direction with respect to an approximate center point of the first ground engaging member.

22. The article of footwear of claim 18, further including at least a second ground engaging member having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape in a second horizontal plane, the second ground engaging member having a concave sidewall that is concave in the second horizontal plane;

wherein the second ground engaging member is disposed in a central portion of the outer member between a medial side of the outer member and a lateral side of the outer member;

wherein at least a portion of the concave sidewall of the second ground engaging member forms an acute angle between the concave sidewall and the baseplate in a substantially vertical direction; and

wherein the concave sidewall of the second ground engaging member is oriented facing substantially rearward.

23. The article of footwear of claim 22, wherein the first ground engaging member and the second ground engaging member are located in a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

24. The article of footwear of claim 23, wherein the first ground engaging member and the second ground engaging member overlap longitudinally such that:

a substantial majority of the first ground engaging member is disposed further rearward than a substantial majority of the second ground engaging member;

the first ground engaging member includes a first forward-most portion and the second ground engaging member includes a second rearward-most portion; and

the first forward-most portion of the first ground engaging member extends further forward than the second rearward-most portion of the second ground engaging member.

25. The article of footwear of claim 24, wherein the forefoot region of the article of footwear has a longitudinal length;

and

wherein the forefoot region includes a plurality of ground engaging members disposed overlapping one another in a longitudinal direction such that all portions of the longitudinal length of the forefoot region are occupied by at least one ground engaging member.

26. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the first ground engaging member is located in a heel region of the article of footwear.