Sole with projections and article of footwear

• US 9,144,264 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reebok International Limited (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Reebok International Limited (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Marvin, William, Montross, Matthew, Vestuti, Ricardo, Hardigan, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prange, Sharon M
• Application Number:
  US12/890,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20120073160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 36/25.R, 36/28, 36/31, 361/02, 361/03, 361/41
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• 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 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/223 Profiled soles

Abstract

A sole for an article of footwear includes a base having an outer edge defining a perimeter, the base having a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion and a heel portion; and a plurality of resilient projections extending from the base, wherein the plurality of projections includes a plurality of projections extending non-orthogonally from the base about the perimeter of the base and a plurality of projections extending substantially orthogonally from the base within the non-orthogonal projections.

Claims

1. A sole for an article of footwear comprising:

a base adapted to be attached to an upper, the base having an outer edge defining a perimeter, the base having a forefoot portion; and

a plurality of resilient projections extending from the base,

wherein the plurality of resilient projections includes a plurality of projections extending non-orthogonally from the base about the perimeter of the base and a plurality of projections extending substantially orthogonally from the base within the non-orthogonal projections,

wherein each of the plurality of resilient projections has a width,

wherein four of the plurality of resilient projections have widths that are greater than the widths of the remaining plurality of resilient projections, and these four widest plurality of resilient projections are disposed in a quadrilateral arrangement in the forefoot portion on a medial side of the base, and

wherein a resilient projection of a smaller width than the four widest plurality of resilient projections is disposed within the quadrilateral arrangement.

2. The sole of claim 1, wherein the plurality of projections extending non-orthogonally from the base extend about the entire perimeter of the base.

3. The sole of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient projections are cylindrical.

4. The sole of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient projections are quadrilateral.

5. The sole of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of resilient projections comprises a bottom surface and a sidewall extending from the sole base.

6. The sole of claim 5, wherein the sidewall is curved.

7. The sole of claim 5, wherein the sidewall is flat.

8. The sole of claim 5, wherein the sidewall forms a continuous surface with the outer edge of the base.

9. The sole of claim 5, wherein the bottom surface is a ground contacting surface.

10. The sole of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient projections are non-uniform in length.

11. The sole of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient projections are non-uniform in width.

12. The sole of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient projections comprise foam.

13. The sole of claim 1, wherein the base and the plurality of resilient projections comprise foam.

14. The sole of claim 1, further comprising a connecting member connecting at least two of the plurality of resilient projections.

15. The sole of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient projections define spaces separating the plurality of resilient projections, and wherein the plurality of projections substantially cover the forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion of the base.

16. The sole of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a first material and the plurality of resilient projections comprise a second material different from the first material.

17. The sole of claim 1, wherein the plurality of non-orthogonal projections comprise a first material and the plurality of orthogonal projections comprise a second material different from the first material.

18. The sole of claim 1, further comprising an outsole disposed on a bottom surface of the plurality of resilient projections.

19. The sole of claim 1, wherein the ratio of height to width of a plurality of the resilient projections in the heel portion is at least one.

20. The sole of claim 1, wherein the ratio of height to width of a plurality of the resilient projections is at least two.

21. The sole of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient projections number greater than about 50 projections.

22. The sole of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient projections number greater than about 70 projections.

23. The sole of claim 1, wherein the plurality of resilient projections define irregular spacing between adjacent projections.

24. A sole for an article of footwear comprising:

a base having a forefoot portion and a heel portion; and

a plurality of resilient projections extending from the base, each projection having a sidewall and a bottom surface,

wherein the bottom surfaces of at least two adjacent projections in the forefoot portion are connected by a bridge formed from a different material than the two adjacent projections,

wherein the bridge connects a plurality of bases connected to the bottom surfaces of the at least two adjacent projections in the forefoot portion,

wherein the plurality of bases are disposed in an indention of the bottom surfaces of the at least two adjacent projections in the forefoot portion, and

wherein the sidewalls of at least two adjacent projections in the heel portion are connected by an extension that extends from the base and is formed from the same material as the two adjacent projections.

25. A sole for an article of footwear comprising:

a plurality of resilient projections extending downward from the sole, each projection having a bottom surface; and

a plurality of outsole components coupled to the bottom surfaces of the plurality of resilient projections, each outsole component having a bottom surface,

wherein the plurality of resilient projections are integrally formed with one another and comprise a first material,

wherein the plurality of outsole components comprise a second material that is more wear resistant than the first material,

wherein at least two adjacent outsole components are connected by a connecting member that comprises the second material,

wherein the connecting member comprises a plurality of bases connected to the bottom surfaces of the at least two adjacent outsole components and a bridge that connects the plurality of bases, and

wherein the plurality of bases are disposed in an indention of the bottom surfaces of the at least two adjacent outsole components.