Article of footwear having a polygon lug sole pattern

• US 8,186,078 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Avar, Eric P., Hatfield, Tobie D., Hoffer, Kevin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US12/039,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20080201992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 36/59.R, 36/59.C, 361/03, 361/04, 36/30.R, 36/25.R
• US Class Current: 36/59.R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0009 made at least partially of alveolar or honeycomb material
• 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: A43B 13/184 the structure protruding from the outsole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/186 Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/223 Profiled soles
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 86/00 Machines for assembling soles or heels onto uppers, not provided for in groups A43D25/00 - A43D83/00, e.g. by welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/06 having soles or heels formed and joined on to preformed uppers using a moulding technique, e.g. by injection moulding, pressing and vulcanising
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/122 Soles

Abstract

Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) an upper; (b) a sole structure including a midsole and an outsole, the outsole having a plurality of polygonal lugs arranged about a base surface of the outsole. The outsole may include one or more regions wherein the characteristics of a portion of the lugs within a region differ from the characteristics of a portion of the lugs in another region. The lugs may differ, for example based on size, construction and/or spacing between the lugs. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper;

a midole connected to the upper; and

an outsole connected to the midsole, the outsole including;

a first region including a first plurality of polygonal lugs extending downward from a base surface and forming at least a portion of a ground contacting surface, the first region being arranged in a central portion of the outsole; and

a second region including a second plurality of polygonal lugs extending downward from the base surface and forming at least a portion of the ground contacting surface, the second region being arranged around a periphery of the central portion,

the first plurality of polygonal lugs having a hollow construction and a first wall thickness and the second plurality of polygonal lugs having a hollow construction and a second wall thickness different from the first wall thickness.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lugs in the first region have a first spacing arrangement.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the plurality of lugs in the second region have a second spacing arrangement different from the first spacing arrangement.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the first spacing arrangement includes more closely positioned lugs than the second spacing arrangement.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of lugs in the first region are spaced at least 1 mm apart.

6. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of lugs in the second region are spaced at least 1.5 mm apart.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of lugs of the first region has a size different from at least one of the plurality of lugs in the second region.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein at least one of the lugs of the first region is larger than at least one of the lugs of the second region.

9. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the plurality of lugs in the first region are between 2 mm and 7 mm wide.

10. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the plurality of lugs in the second region are between 1 mm and 5 mm wide.

11. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first wall thickness is greater than the second wall thickness.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first wall thickness is between 3 mm and 20 millimeters.

13. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the second wall thickness is between 1 mm and 5 millimeters.

14. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein distal ends of the plurality of lugs in the first region opposite the base surface are not in contact with each other.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the distal ends of the plurality of lugs in the second region opposite the base surface are not in contact with each other.

16. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lugs in the first and second region have a uniform shape.

17. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of lugs in the first and second regions are hexagonal.

18. The article of footwear of claim 1, further including a third region including a plurality of polygonal lugs extending downward from the base surface and forming at least a portion of the ground contacting surface, the third region being arranged in a toe region of the article of footwear.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of lugs of the third region are substantially similar in size to at least a portion of the plurality of lugs of the first region.

20. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of lugs of the third region are substantially similar in size to at least a portion of the plurality of lugs of the second region.

21. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the plurality of lugs in the third region have a third spacing arrangement.

22. The article of footwear of claim 21, wherein the third spacing arrangement is different from a first spacing arrangement of the lugs in the first region and a second spacing arrangement of the lugs in the second region.