Article Of Footwear With Midsole With Arcuate Underside Cavity

• US 20160037858A1
• Filed: 07/28/2015
• Published: 02/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Foxen, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,058,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/125 characterised by the midsole or middle layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/146 Concave end portions, e.g. with a cavity or cut-out portion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407
• 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: A43B 7/1405 with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1425 situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1445 situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1485 Recesses or holes, traversing partially or completely the thickness of the pad

Abstract

An article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure including a midsole with an outsole secured thereto, wherein a one or more recesses or cavities extend substantially into the midsole and are exposed through one or more apertures in the outsole. These recesses or cavities provide unique cushioning and support properties, particularly during “banking” (e.g., leaning to one side or pushing off to the side from the medial or lateral side of the foot). The recesses or cavities provide the structural benefits of dome or arch shapes that are formed in the mid-sole and open to the underside.

Claims

1. An article of footwear having a first side and an opposite second side, the first side being located on one of a lateral side and a medial side of the footwear, the footwear including an upper and a sole structure, the sole structure comprising:

a foamed polymer midsole having an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, the upper surface being secured to the upper, and the lower surface defining an upwardly-extending arcuate recess positioned on the first side of the footwear; and

a ground-engaging outsole having an aperture positioned on the first side of the footwear and extending through the outsole, the recess being exposed through the aperture, and the outsole being secured to the foamed polymer midsole in a bonded area that wholly surrounds the aperture and is at least partially positioned on the second side of the footwear.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the midsole has an outer skin, at least a portion of the outer skin at the recess being exposed through the aperture.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the recess is elongated.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the recess is hemispherically-shaped.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein a length of the recess is at least thirty percent of a length of the sole structure.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein a periphery of the recess has an asymmetrical shape.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first side is located on the medial side of the footwear.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first side is located on the lateral side of the footwear.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the recess is positioned in a forefoot region of the footwear.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the midsole further defines an additional upwardly-extending arcuate recess positioned in a heel region of the footwear, and the outsole has an additional aperture, the additional recess being exposed through the additional aperture.

11. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the midsole defines a plurality of hemispherically-shaped recesses positioned on the first side of the footwear.

12. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:

a foamed polymer midsole having an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, the lower surface defining an elongate arcuate recess, a length of the recess being at least thirty percent of a length of the sole structure; and

a ground-engaging outsole having an aperture, the recess being exposed through the aperture, and the outsole being secured to the foamed polymer midsole in a region wholly surrounding the aperture.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the midsole has an outer skin, at least a portion of the outer skin at the recess being exposed through the aperture.

14. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the recess extends across an area of the footwear associated with at least half a length of both the metatarses and the phalanges of the first digit of a foot of a wearer.

15. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the recess is positioned on a medial side of the footwear and in a forefoot region of the footwear.

16. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the lower surface of the midsole further defines an additional arcuate recess positioned in a heel region of the footwear, and the outsole has an additional aperture, the additional recess being exposed through the additional aperture.

17. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, the sole structure comprising:

a midsole being formed to include an arcuate underside recess, a periphery of the recess being spaced inward from a periphery of the midsole; and

an outsole having an aperture, a periphery of the aperture being spaced inward from a periphery of the outsole,

wherein the aperture and the recess extend across an area located in a forefoot region of the footwear and on a medial side of the footwear, and wherein a length of the recess is at least thirty percent of a length of the sole structure

18. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the midsole has an outer skin, at least a portion of the outer skin at the recess being exposed through the aperture.

19. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the recess extends across an area of the footwear associated with at least half a length of both the metatarses and the phalanges of the first digit of a foot of a wearer.

20. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the lower surface of the midsole further defines an additional arcuate underside recess positioned in a heel region of the footwear, and the outsole has an additional aperture, the additional recess being exposed through the additional aperture.