Article of footwear with cleat members

• US 8,286,371 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2009
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Baker, Brian D., Jackson, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prange, Sharon M
• Application Number:
  US12/547,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20110047834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 36/59.C, 36/67.A, 361/27, 361/28, 361/29, 361/34
• US Class Current: 36/67.A
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/223 Profiled soles
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/168 with resilient means, e.g. shock absorbing means

Abstract

An article of footwear including three cleat member sets is disclosed. A first cleat member set is tuned to provide maximum traction on soft natural grass. A second cleat member set is tuned to provide maximum traction on firm natural grass. A third cleat member set is tuned to provide maximum traction on artificial turf. The sizes, material properties and arrangement of each cleat member set is varied.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure, the sole structure including a first cleat member set, a second cleat member set and a third cleat member set associated with a first diameter, a second diameter and a third diameter, respectively;

the first diameter being substantially smaller than the second diameter and the second diameter being substantially smaller than the third diameter;

the first cleat member set having a greater number of cleat members than the second cleat member set and the second cleat member set having a greater number of cleat members than the third cleat member set;

the first cleat member set, the second cleat member set and the third cleat member set being associated with a first rigidity, a second rigidity and a third rigidity, respectively;

wherein the first rigidity is substantially greater than the second rigidity and wherein the second rigidity is substantially greater than the third rigidity;

wherein at least one base portion is attached to the sole structure;

the base portion including at least two cleat members associated with the second cleat member set disposed around a peripheral portion of the base portion and at least one cleat member associated with the third cleat member set disposed in a central portion of the base portion.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first cleat member set is configured to provide maximum traction on a soft natural grass surface.

3. The article of footwear according claim 1, wherein the second cleat member set is configured to provide maximum traction on a firm natural grass surface.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the third cleat member set is configured to provide maximum traction on an artificial surface.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the third cleat member set is configured to deform substantially more than the second cleat member set.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the second cleat member set is configured to deform substantially more than the first cleat member set.

7. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure, the sole structure including a first cleat member set, a second cleat member set and a third cleat member set;

the first cleat member set comprising cleat members having a first size, the second cleat member set comprising cleat members having a second size that is greater than the first size and the third cleat member set comprising cleat members having a third size that is greater than the second size;

the first cleat member set having a greater number of cleat members than the second cleat member set and the second cleat member set having a greater number of cleat members than the third cleat member set;

the first cleat member set, the second cleat member set and the third cleat member set being associated with a first rigidity, a second rigidity and a third rigidity, respectively;

the first rigidity being substantially greater than the second rigidity and the second rigidity being substantially greater than the third rigidity;

wherein each of the cleat members of the first cleat member set, the second cleat member set and the third cleat member set are arranged in an approximately discontinuous grid on the sole structure;

wherein the sole structure includes at least one clustered arrangement;

the clustered arrangement comprising a base portion attached to the sole structure; and

wherein the base portion includes a plurality of cleat members associated with the second cleat member set and at least one cleat member associated with the third cleat member set.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the first cleat member set is disposed on a central portion of the sole structure.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein a majority of cleat members comprising the second cleat member set and the third cleat member set are disposed on a peripheral portion of the sole structure, the peripheral portion being disposed outwardly from the central portion.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the first cleat member set comprises approximately 110 to 130 cleat members.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the second cleat member set comprises approximately 45 to 55 cleat members.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the third cleat member set comprises approximately 12 to 17 cleat members.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the at least one clustered arrangement further comprises:

the plurality of cleat members associated with the second cleat member set being disposed around a peripheral portion of the base portion; and

the at least one cleat member associated with the third cleat member set being disposed in a central portion of the base portion.