Article of footwear incorporating a sole structure with compressible inserts

• US 7,200,955 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Foxen, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US10/862,055
• Publication Number:
  US 20050268490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,040 Days
• Field of Search: 36/28, 36/29, 36/25.R, 36/30.R, 36/31, 36/35.R
• US Class Current: 36/25.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/145 Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/189 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• 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 7/1435 situated under the joint between the fifth phalange and the fifth metatarsal bone
• 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 7/145 situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges

Abstract

An article of footwear is disclosed that incorporates an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a midsole and an outsole. The midsole defines an aperture with a first sidewall, and the midsole includes an insert positioned within the aperture. The insert has a second sidewall, with at least a portion of the second sidewall being spaced from the first sidewall to define a space between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The outsole is secured to the midsole, and the outsole defines a ridge that is positioned within a lower portion of the space and between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

Claims

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

a midsole extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the footwear, the midsole defining an aperture with a first sidewall, the midsole including an insert positioned within the aperture, the insert having a second sidewall, at least a portion of the second sidewall being spaced from the first sidewall to define a space between the first sidewall and the second sidewall; and

an outsole secured to the midsole, the outsole defining a ridge that is positioned within a lower portion of the space and between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

2. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein a shape of the insert corresponds with a shape of the aperture.

3. The article of footwear recited in claim 2, wherein the shape of the insert includes at least two overlapping rounded regions.

4. The article of footwear recited in claim 2, wherein the shape of the insert includes at least two circular regions.

5. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein a distance between the first sidewall and the second sidewall is substantially constant around the insert.

6. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the midsole includes a frame member and a cover member, the frame member defining the aperture and the cover member extending over the aperture and the insert.

7. The article of footwear recited in claim 6, wherein the cover member is secured to the upper.

8. The article of footwear recited in claim 6, wherein a lower surface of the cover member includes an indentation for receiving an upper surface of the insert.

9. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall exhibit a substantially vertical orientation.

10. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the outsole defines a depression for receiving the insert.

11. The article of footwear recited in claim 10, wherein the ridge extends around the depression.

12. The article of footwear recited in claim 10, wherein a lower surface of the outsole protrudes outward below the depression.

13. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein a distance across the space decreases when the sole structure is compressed.

14. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein compressing the sole structure increases a diameter of the insert and decreases a distance across the space.

15. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the midsole element defines at least one additional aperture that is separate from the aperture, and the footwear includes an additional insert that is separate from the insert, the additional aperture receiving the additional insert.

16. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the outsole defines a protrusion located opposite the ridge, the protrusion extending under the insert.

17. The article of footwear recited in claim 16, wherein the protrusion exhibits a shape that corresponds with a shape of the insert.

18. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein an insert aperture extends at least partially through the insert.

19. The article of footwear recited in claim 18, wherein a fluid-filled bladder is positioned within the insert aperture.

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

a frame member extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the footwear, the frame member defining an aperture with a first sidewall;

an insert positioned within the aperture, the insert including an upper surface, a lower surface, and a second sidewall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, at least a portion of the second sidewall being spaced from the first sidewall to define a space between the first sidewall and the second sidewall;

a cover member extending over the aperture, a lower surface of the cover member defining an indentation that receives the upper surface of the insert; and

an outsole extending under the aperture, the outsole defining a ridge that is positioned within a lower portion of the space and between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and the outsole defining a depression for receiving the lower surface of the insert, the ridge extending at least partially around the depression.

21. The article of footwear recited in claim 20, wherein a distance between the first sidewall and the second sidewall is substantially constant around the insert.

22. The article of footwear recited in claim 20, wherein the midsole element and the insert are formed from polymer foam materials, and a distance across the space decreases when the sole structure is compressed.

23. The article of footwear recited in claim 20, wherein compressing the sole structure increases a diameter of the insert and decreases a distance across the space.

24. The article of footwear recited in claim 20, wherein the cover member is secured to the upper.

25. The article of footwear recited in claim 20, wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall exhibit a substantially vertical orientation.

26. The article of footwear recited in claim 20, wherein the frame member defines at least one additional aperture that is separate from the aperture, and the footwear includes an additional insert that is separate from the insert, the additional aperture receiving the additional insert.

27. The article of footwear recited in claim 20, wherein the outsole defines a protrusion located opposite the ridge, the protrusion extending under the insert.

28. The article of footwear recited in claim 27, wherein the protrusion exhibits a shape that corresponds with a shape of the insert.

29. The article of footwear recited in claim 20, wherein a shape of the insert corresponds with a shape of the aperture.

30. The article of footwear recited in claim 29, wherein the shape of the insert includes at least two overlapping rounded regions.

31. The article of footwear recited in claim 29, wherein the shape of the insert includes at least two overlapping circular regions.

32. The article of footwear recited in claim 20, wherein an insert aperture extends at least partially through the insert.

33. The article of footwear recited in claim 32, wherein a fluid-filled bladder is positioned within the insert aperture.

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

a midsole extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the footwear and having a lateral side and a medial side, the midsole defining a first aperture and a separate second aperture, and the midsole including;

a first insert positioned within the first aperture, at least a portion of a sidewall of the first aperture being spaced from a sidewall of the first insert, the first insert having a shape of at least three connected rounded regions; and

a second insert positioned within the second aperture, at least a portion of a sidewall of the second aperture being spaced from a sidewall of the second insert, the second insert having a shape of at least two connected rounded regions; and

an outsole secured to the midsole, the outsole defining a first ridge and a second ridge, the first ridge being positioned between the sidewall of the first aperture and the sidewall of the first insert, and the second ridge being positioned between the sidewall of the second aperture and the sidewall of the second insert.

35. The article of footwear recited in claim 34, wherein a distance between the first sidewall of the first insert and the sidewall of the first aperture is substantially constant around the first insert.

36. The article of footwear recited in claim 34, wherein the midsole includes a frame member and a cover member, the frame member defining the first aperture and the second aperture, and the cover member extending over the first aperture and the second aperture.

37. The article of footwear recited in claim 36, wherein a lower surface of the cover member includes a first indentation for receiving an upper surface of the first insert, and the cover member includes a second indentation for receiving an upper surface of the second insert.

38. The article of footwear recited in claim 36, wherein the frame member, the first insert, and the second insert are formed from polymer foam materials.

39. The article of footwear recited in claim 34, wherein a distance between the sidewall of the first aperture and the sidewall of the first insert decreases when the sole structure is compressed.

40. The article of footwear recited in claim 39, wherein a distance between the sidewall of the second aperture and the sidewall of the second insert decreases when the sole structure is compressed.

41. The article of footwear recited in claim 34, wherein the outsole defines a first depression for receiving the first insert, and the outsole defines a second depression for receiving the second insert.

42. The article of footwear recited in claim 34, wherein a lower surface of the outsole includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion having the shape of the first insert, and the second protrusion having the shape of the second insert.

43. The article of footwear recited in claim 34, wherein the first insert is positioned in a heel region of the footwear and exhibits a first thickness, and the second insert is positioned forward of the first insert and exhibits a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness.

44. The article of footwear recited in claim 34, wherein an insert aperture extends at least partially through at least one of the first insert and the second insert.

45. The article of footwear recited in claim 44, wherein a fluid-filled bladder is positioned within the insert aperture.

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

a midsole extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the footwear and having a lateral side and a medial side, the midsole defining a first aperture and a separate second aperture, and the midsole including;

a first insert positioned within the first aperture, the first insert having a shape of at least three connected rounded regions, a center of a first of the rounded regions being substantially equidistant from the lateral side and the medial side, a center of a second of the rounded regions being positioned closer the lateral side than the medial side, and a center of a third of the rounded regions being positioned closer the medial side than the lateral side, and

a second insert positioned within the second aperture, the second insert having a shape of at least two connected rounded regions that are positioned in a medial-to-lateral direction with respect to each other; and

an outsole secured to the midsole.

47. The article of footwear recited in claim 46, wherein at least a portion of a sidewall of the first aperture is spaced from a sidewall of the first insert.

48. The article of footwear recited in claim 47, wherein at least a portion of a sidewall of the second aperture is spaced from a sidewall of the second insert.

49. The article of footwear recited in claim 46, wherein the outsole defines a first ridge and a second ridge, the first ridge being positioned between the first aperture and the first insert, and the second ridge being positioned between the second aperture and the second insert.

50. The article of footwear recited in claim 46, wherein a distance between the first insert and a sidewall of the first aperture is substantially constant around the first insert.

51. The article of footwear recited in claim 46, wherein the midsole includes a frame member and a cover member, the frame member defining the first aperture and the second aperture, and the cover member extending over the first aperture and the second aperture.

52. The article of footwear recited in claim 51, wherein a lower surface of the cover member includes a first indentation for receiving an upper surface of the first insert, and the cover member includes a second indentation for receiving an upper surface of the second insert.

53. The article of footwear recited in claim 46, wherein a lower surface of the outsole includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first protrusion having the shape of the first insert, and the second protrusion having the shape of the second insert.

54. The article of footwear recited in claim 46, wherein the first insert is positioned in a heel region of the footwear and exhibits a first thickness, and the second insert is positioned forward of the first insert and exhibits a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness.

55. The article of footwear recited in claim 46, wherein the midsole includes a third insert positioned within a third aperture, the third insert having a shape of at least two connected rounded regions that are positioned in the medial-to-lateral direction with respect to each other.

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

a midsole formed of a polymer foam material that defines an aperture, the midsole including an insert that is positioned within the aperture, the insert being spaced from a sidewall of the aperture, and the insert having a shape of at least two connected rounded regions; and

an outsole secured to the midsole, the outsole defining a ridge that is positioned between the sidewall of the aperture and the insert.

57. The article of footwear recited in claim 56, wherein the rounded regions are circular.

58. The article of footwear recited in claim 56, wherein a distance between the sidewall of the aperture and the insert is substantially constant around the insert.

59. The article of footwear recited in claim 56, wherein the outsole defines a depression for receiving the insert.

60. The article of footwear recited in claim 59, wherein the ridge extends around the depression.

61. The article of footwear recited in claim 59, wherein a lower surface of the outsole protrudes outward below the depression.

62. The article of footwear recited in claim 56, wherein the outsole defines a protrusion located opposite the ridge, the protrusion extending under the insert.

63. The article of footwear recited in claim 62, wherein the protrusion exhibits a shape that corresponds with the shape of the insert.