Article of footwear for increasing stability and lateral performance

• US 8,061,059 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Lupo, Bo, Stockbridge, Kurt J., Bruce, Robert M., Cooper, Aaron A. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US12/129,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20090293308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 36/25.R, 361/14, 36/31, 36/32.R, 36/88, 36/91, 36/92
• US Class Current: 36/25.R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/143 provided with wedged, concave or convex end portions, e.g. for improving roll-off of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/14 with foot-supporting parts

Abstract

An article of footwear with multiple cross sectional profile shapes disposed on an outer peripheral edge of a sole is disclosed. The multiple cross sectional profile shapes on the outer peripheral edge of the sole can help increase the lateral performance and lateral stability of a wearer of the article of footwear.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole including an outer peripheral edge;

a forefoot portion of the outer peripheral edge having a first cross sectional profile shape;

an arch portion of the outer peripheral edge having a second cross sectional profile shape, wherein a lateral side of the second cross sectional profile shape is substantially perpendicular to a ground-contacting surface of the sole substantially throughout the length of the arch portion in a longitudinal direction of the sole; and

a heel portion of the outer peripheral edge having a third cross sectional profile shaped,

wherein the first cross sectional profile shape, the second cross sectional profile shape and the third cross sectional profile shape are different from one another,

wherein the heel portion includes a lower portion and an upper portion,

wherein the lower portion has a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape, and

wherein the upper portion has a substantially concave cross sectional profile shape.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein a lateral side of the forefoot portion has a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein a medial side of the arch portion has a substantially flat cross sectional profile shape.

4. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole including an outer peripheral edge;

a forefoot portion of the outer peripheral edge having a first cross sectional profile shape;

an arch portion of the outer peripheral edge having a second cross sectional profile shape, wherein a lateral side of the second cross sectional profile shape is substantially perpendicular to a ground-contacting surface of the sole substantially throughout the length of the arch portion in a longitudinal direction of the sole;

a heel portion of the outer peripheral edge having a third cross sectional profile shape; and

wherein the first cross sectional profile shape, the second cross sectional profile shape and the third cross sectional profile shape are different from one another,

wherein the heel portion includes a lower portion and an upper portion,

wherein the lower portion has a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape and wherein the upper portion has a substantially concave cross sectional profile shape,

wherein the third cross sectional profile shape of the heel portion includes a transition edge at which the substantially convex cross sectional profile shape of the lower portion transitions to the substantially concave cross sectional profile shape of the upper portion,

wherein the substantially convex cross sectional profile shape of the lower portion of the first cross sectional profile shape gradually increases in curvature moving in a direction from the arch portion to the heel portion,

wherein the substantially concave cross sectional profile shape of the upper portion of the first cross sectional profile shape gradually increases in curvature moving in the direction from the arch portion to the heel portion, and

wherein the transition edge extends increasingly laterally outward from the sole moving in the direction from the arch portion to the heel portion.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the transition edge extends around a lateral side, a rear side, and a medial side of the heel portion.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the third cross sectional profile shape of the heel portion includes a transition edge at which the substantially convex cross sectional profile shape of the lower portion transitions to the substantially concave cross sectional profile shape of the upper portion, and wherein the transition edge extends around a lateral side, a rear side, and a medial side of the heel portion.

7. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole including an outer peripheral edge; and

a lower surface of the sole configured to contact a ground surface;

the outer peripheral edge comprising a first portion that is substantially curved and is a heel portion of the outer peripheral edge,

wherein the outer peripheral edge further comprises a second portion that is an arch portion of the outer peripheral edge that extends for a length from the forefoot portion to the heel portion in a longitudinal direction of the sole,

wherein a lateral side of the second portion is substantially perpendicular to the lower surface,

wherein the lateral side of the second portion is substantially perpendicular substantially throughout the length of the second portion,

wherein the heel portion comprises a lower portion having a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape, an upper portion having a substantially concave cross sectional profile shape, and a transition edge at which the substantially convex cross sectional profile shape of the lower portion transitions to the substantially concave cross sectional profile shape of the upper portion, and

wherein the transition edge extends around a lateral side, a rear side, and a medial side of the heel portion.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the outer peripheral edge further comprises a forefoot portion having a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein a medial side of the second portion has a substantially flat cross sectional profile shape.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the second portion of the outer peripheral edge has a first length on the lateral side of the outer peripheral edge and a second length on a medial side of the outer peripheral edge, and wherein the first length differs from the second length such that a cross sectional shape of the sole cut through a plane that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sole is asymmetrical.

11. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole including an outer peripheral edge; and

a lower surface of the sole configured to contact a ground surface,

the outer peripheral edge comprising a first portion that is substantially curved and comprises one of a forefoot portion and a heel portion of the outer peripheral edge,

wherein the outer peripheral edge further comprises a second portion that is an arch portion of the outer peripheral edge that extends for a length from the forefoot portion to the heel portion in a longitudinal direction of the sole,

wherein a lateral side of the second portion is substantially perpendicular to the lower surface,

wherein the lateral side of the second portion is substantially perpendicular substantially throughout the length of the second portion,

wherein the outer peripheral edge includes an intermediate portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion,

wherein the intermediate portion has a first cross sectional profile shape adjacent to the first portion and a second cross sectional profile shape adjacent to the second portion,

wherein the second cross sectional profile shape is a substantially flat shape,

wherein the first cross sectional profile shape comprises a lower portion having a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape, an upper portion having a substantially concave cross sectional profile shape, and a transition edge at which the substantially convex cross sectional profile shape of the lower portion transitions to the substantially concave cross sectional profile shape of the upper portion, and

wherein the substantially convex cross sectional profile shape of the lower portion of the first cross sectional profile shape of the intermediate portion gradually increases in curvature moving in a direction toward the first portion of the outer peripheral edge, and

wherein the substantially concave cross sectional profile shape of the upper portion of the first cross sectional profile shape of the intermediate portion gradually increases in curvature moving in a direction toward the first portion of the outer peripheral edge.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the transition edge extends around a lateral side, a rear side, and a medial side of the heel portion.

13. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole including an outer peripheral edge;

a first portion of the outer peripheral edge having a first cross sectional profile shape;

a second portion of the outer peripheral edge having a second cross sectional profile shape; and

a third portion of the outer peripheral edge disposed on a heel portion of the sole, wherein the third portion has a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein the lower portion has a substantially convex cross sectional profile shape and the upper portion has a substantially concave cross sectional profile shape,

wherein the third portion further comprises a transition edge at which the substantially convex cross sectional profile shape of the lower portion transitions to the substantially concave cross sectional profile shape of the upper portion, and

wherein the transition edge extends around a lateral side, a rear side, and a medial side of the third portion.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first cross sectional profile shape is a substantially convex shape.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein a lateral side of the first cross sectional profile shape is substantially convex, and wherein a lateral side of the second cross sectional profile shape is substantially perpendicular to a ground-contacting surface of the sole.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the sole includes a heel rise in the range between 2 to 8 millimeters.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 16, wherein the heel rise is approximately 4 millimeters.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the first portion is disposed on a forefoot portion of the outer peripheral edge.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the second portion is disposed on an arch portion of the outer peripheral edge.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 18, wherein the second portion is disposed on an arch portion of the outer peripheral edge and the second cross sectional profile shape is a substantially flat shape.