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Medial rotational traction element arrangement for an article of footwear

  • US 9,149,088 B2
  • Filed: 09/16/2011
  • Issued: 10/06/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An article of footwear, comprising:

  • a sole structure including a partially rigid plate that extends across a substantial majority of a bottom surface of the sole structure, the sole structure having a forward edge, a rearward edge disposed opposite the forward edge, and a longitudinal axis extending through a center of the sole structure, including a center of the rearward edge and a center of the forward edge, and dividing the sole structure into a medial side and a lateral side;

    a first group of traction elements disposed on the bottom surface;

    a second group of traction elements integrally formed with the plate on the bottom surface;

    the second group of traction elements comprising a plurality of medial rotational cleats including at least a first medial rotational cleat and a second medial rotational cleat, wherein the first medial rotational cleat is spaced entirely apart from the second medial rotational cleat;

    each of the first medial rotational cleat and the second medial rotational cleat comprising;

    a raised ring, the raised ring extending from the bottom surface of the sole structure;

    a plurality of stud elements extending away from the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of stud elements are arranged along the raised ring of the respective medial rotational cleat in a generally circular grouping positioned around a center point of the respective medial rotational cleat, wherein each stud element includes;

    a curved, concave, inner face oriented towards and curved towards the center point of the respective medial rotational cleat such that the plurality of stud elements define an inside portion of the medial rotational cleat, wherein the plate is exposed at the inside portion of the respective medial rotational cleat, and wherein the center point of the first medial rotational cleat is positioned closer to the forward edge of the sole structure than the center point of the second medial rotational cleat is positioned; and

    a curved outer face on a radially opposite side of the stud element from the curved, concave, inner face, and wherein the curved outer face is convex; and

    wherein the first group of traction elements are disposed on a lateral side of the sole structure and the second group of traction elements are disposed substantially on a medial side of the sole structure.

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