Sole structure with traction elements

• US 9,210,967 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2010
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Gerber, Clifford B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Khoa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Prange, Sharon M
• Application Number:
  US12/856,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20120036740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,950 Days
• Field of Search: 36/61, 36/67.R, 36/67.A, 36/59.A, 36/59.B, 36/59.C, 361/27, 361/28, 361/34
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/026 Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/125 characterised by the midsole or middle layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/145 Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/18 Resilient soles skating boots provided with resilient means A43B5/1658
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/22 Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/16 Studs or cleats for football or like boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/161 characterised by the attachment to the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/168 with resilient means, e.g. shock absorbing means

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear may include a frame member having a continuous opening with portions located in forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot regions. A plurality of primary traction elements may extend outward from the frame member. A compressible midsole may be bonded to upper surfaces of the frame member. A flexible support plate may be bonded to the midsole. The flexible support plate may span substantially all of the frame member opening and have a lower surface exposed in at least a forefoot region. The support plate may be isolated from the frame member by the compressible midsole. A plurality of secondary traction elements may be integral to and extend outward from the exposed lower surface of the support plate.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising a sole structure, the sole structure further comprising:

a base member having longitudinally extending peripheral branches on medial and lateral sides of the sole structure, a plurality of primary traction elements extending outward from the peripheral branches in a forefoot region of the sole structure, and a base member opening located between the peripheral branches in at least the forefoot region of the sole structure, wherein the base member opening extends longitudinally from a third middle phalange region of the sole structure to a center calcaneus region of the sole structure, and wherein the base member includes a frame member, the frame member being incompressible under loads experienced during normal wear associated with athletic activities;

a flexible support plate spanning at least a portion of the base member opening and having an exposed surface located between the longitudinally extending peripheral branches in the forefoot region, the support plate including at least one exposed secondary traction element integral to and extending outward from the exposed surface, the at least one secondary traction element having a length shorter than a length of at least one of the primary traction elements, wherein the support plate is exposed in substantially all of the base member opening, and wherein the support plate is incompressible under loads experienced during normal wear associated with athletic activities; and

a compressible midsole isolating the support plate from the base member in directions in which the primary traction elements extend outward, wherein the midsole has an opening defined in an interior region thereof, the opening having a shape corresponding to a shape of the support plate, and wherein the support plate is bonded to the midsole.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the midsole is configured to reduce, in response to loads experienced during normal wear associated with athletic activities, a vertical separation between a distal end of the at least one secondary traction element and a distal end of one of the primary traction elements.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein

the midsole is configured to separate a distal end of the at least one secondary traction element from a substantially flat ground surface when distal ends of the primary traction elements contact the ground surface and the article is subject to a first load, and

the midsole is configured to place the distal end of the at least one secondary traction element into contact with the ground surface when the distal ends of the primary traction elements contact the ground surface and the article is subjected to a second load, the second load being in excess of the first load, both the first and second loads being loads experienced during normal wear of the article during an athletic activity.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein

the midsole is formed from a compressed polymer foam,

the longitudinally extending peripheral branches of the base member are formed from thermoplastic polyurethane, and

the support plate is formed from a composite of a polymer and at least one of glass fibers and carbon fibers.

5. An article of footwear comprising a sole structure, the sole structure further comprising:

a plurality of primary traction elements having distal ends positioned to contact a ground surface when the article is worn by a human wearer standing on the ground surface;

a support plate having a continuous exposed portion located in forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot regions of the sole structure;

a plurality of secondary traction elements integral to and extending outward from the support plate, each of the secondary traction elements having an exposed distal end;

a compressible midsole having an interface region isolating the support plate from the primary traction elements, wherein the midsole has an opening defined in an interior region thereof, the opening having a shape corresponding to a shape of the support plate, wherein at least a portion of a top surface of the support plate is not covered by the midsole, wherein the midsole is bonded to the support plate, and wherein the midsole is configured to permit, in response to loads experienced during normal wear associated with athletic activities, a reduction of a vertical separation between at least one of the secondary traction element distal ends and at least one of the primary traction element distal ends; and

a frame member bonded to the midsole and having lateral and medial peripheral branches, a toe bridge connecting the lateral and medial peripheral branches, and a heel plate connecting the lateral and medial peripheral branches, wherein the primary traction elements are attached to and extend from the frame member, and wherein the frame member and the support plate are incompressible under loads experienced during normal wear associated with athletic activities.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the continuous exposed portion of the support plate is bounded by the frame member.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein

the midsole is configured to separate the distal ends of the secondary traction elements from a substantially flat ground surface when the distal ends of the primary traction elements contact the ground surface and the article is subject to a first load, and

the midsole is configured to place the distal ends of the secondary traction elements into contact with the ground surface when the distal ends of the primary traction elements contact the ground surface and the article is subjected to a second load, the second load being in excess of the first load, both the first and second loads being loads experienced during normal wear of the article during an athletic activity.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein a first portion of the midsole isolating the support plate from the frame member in a first region has a first thickness and a second portion of the midsole isolating the support plate from the frame member in a second region has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, and wherein an opening bounded by the frame member and exposing the support plate extends transversely, at its widest part, so as to generally lie under second, third and fourth metatarsal joint regions of the sole structure.

9. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the frame member is formed from thermoplastic polyurethane, the support plate is formed from a composite of a polymer and at least one of glass fibers and carbon fibers, and the midsole is formed from compressed ethylene vinyl acetate foam.

10. An article of footwear comprising a sole structure, the sole structure further comprising:

a frame member having lateral and medial peripheral branches, a toe bridge connecting the lateral and medial peripheral branches, and a heel plate connecting the lateral and medial peripheral branches, the frame member defining a continuous frame member opening having portions located in forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot regions of the article;

a plurality of primary traction elements extending outward from the frame member;

a compressible midsole bonded to upper surfaces of the frame member;

a flexible support plate spanning substantially all of the frame member opening and having a lower surface exposed in at least a forefoot region of the frame member opening, the support plate being isolated from the frame member by the midsole; and

a plurality of secondary traction elements integral to and extending from the support plate exposed lower surface,

wherein the midsole has a midsole opening defined in an interior region thereof, the midsole opening having a shape corresponding to a shape of the support plate, wherein at least a portion of a top surface of the support plate is not covered by the midsole, wherein the support plate is bonded to the midsole, wherein the frame member and the support plate are incompressible under loads experienced during normal wear associated with athletic activities, wherein the midsole is configured to separate distal ends of the secondary traction elements from a substantially flat ground surface when distal ends of the primary traction elements contact the ground surface and the article is subject to a first load, and wherein the midsole is configured to place the distal ends of the secondary traction elements into contact with the ground surface when the distal ends of the primary traction elements contact the ground surface and the article is subjected to a second load, the second load being in excess of the first load, both the first and second loads being loads experienced during normal wear of the article during an athletic activity.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the support plate lower surface is exposed throughout substantially all of the frame member opening.

12. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the secondary traction elements have lengths that are less than lengths of at least some of the primary traction elements.

13. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the frame member is formed from thermoplastic polyurethane, the support plate is formed from a composite of a polymer and at least one of glass fibers and carbon fibers, and the midsole is formed from compressed ethylene vinyl acetate foam.

14. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein a first portion of the midsole isolating the support plate from the frame member in a first region has a first thickness and a second portion of the midsole isolating the support plate from the frame member in a second region has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, and wherein the frame member opening extends transversely, at its widest part, so as to generally lie under second, third and fourth metatarsal joint regions of the sole structure.

15. An article of footwear comprising a sole structure, the sole structure further comprising:

a base member having longitudinally extending peripheral branches on medial and lateral sides of the sole structure, a plurality of primary traction elements extending outward from the peripheral branches in a forefoot region of the sole structure, and a base member opening located between the peripheral branches in at least the forefoot region of the sole structure, wherein the base member opening extends longitudinally from a third middle phalange region of the sole structure to a center calcaneus region of the sole structure;

a flexible support plate spanning at least a portion of the base member opening and having an exposed surface located between the longitudinally extending peripheral branches in the forefoot region, the support plate including at least one exposed secondary traction element integral to and extending outward from the exposed surface, the at least one secondary traction element having a length shorter than a length of at least one the primary traction elements, wherein the support plate is exposed in substantially all of the base member opening; and

a compressible midsole isolating the support plate from the base member in directions in which the primary traction elements extend outward, wherein the midsole has an opening defined in an interior region thereof, the opening having a shape corresponding to a shape of the support plate, wherein the support plate is bonded to the midsole, and wherein at least a portion of a top surface of the support plate is not covered by the midsole.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein a first portion of the midsole isolating the support plate from the base member in a first region has a first thickness and a second portion of the midsole isolating the support plate from the base member in a second region has a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, and wherein the base member opening extends transversely, at its widest part, so as to generally lie under second, third and fourth metatarsal joint regions of the sole structure.