Sole structures and articles of footwear having a lightweight midsole member with protective elements

• US 9,504,289 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Dojan, Frederick J., Holmes, Matthew J., Lindner, Troy C., Nethongkome, Benjamin, Thompson, Dolores S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US13/838,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20140259782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 36/31, D29/46, D29/47
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0018 made at least partially of flexible, bellow-like shaped material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/125 characterised by the midsole or middle layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/16 made of impregnated fabrics, plastics or the like A43B23/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/141 having an anatomical or curved form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1425 situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1435 situated under the joint between the fifth phalange and the fifth metatarsal bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone

Abstract

Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include a relatively soft and lightweight foam midsole component partially covered by at least one more rigid and/or dense cage (protective) component(s) and/or other protective component(s).

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper; and

a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure includes a first polymeric foam member for supporting at least a heel area of a wearer'"'"'s foot, wherein the first polymeric foam member includes;

a lateral side wall,

a medial side wall,

a rear heel wall connecting the medial side wall and the lateral side wall,

a bottom wall connecting the medial side wall, the lateral side wall, and the rear heel wall, and

an open end opposite the rear heel wall,

wherein the first polymeric foam member extends around a rear heel area of the sole structure and includes an aperture extending therethrough,

wherein at least a portion of a bottom surface of the first polymeric foam member is exposed;

a second polymeric foam member having a heel portion at least partially received in a space defined between the lateral side wall, the medial side wall, the rear heel wall, and the bottom wall of the first polymeric foam member, wherein a forefoot end of the second polymeric foam member extends beyond the open end of the first polymeric foam member, wherein the second polymeric foam member has a density that is less than a density of the first polymeric foam member, wherein a portion of a bottom surface of the second polymeric foam member is exposed at a bottom forefoot area of the article of footwear, and wherein another portion of the bottom surface of the second polymeric foam member is exposed through the aperture in the first polymeric foam member; and

a protective element engaged with the bottom surface of the second polymeric foam member in the bottom forefoot area.

2. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the second polymeric foam member includes a foam material having a density of less than 0.25 g/cm³.

3. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the protective element includes traction elements engaged with the bottom surface of the second polymeric foam member.

4. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the bottom wall of the first polymeric foam member includes an opening defined through it, and wherein the bottom surface of the second polymeric foam member is exposed through the opening.

5. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the first polymeric foam member includes at least one outsole component engaged with it.

6. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the second polymeric foam member is sized so as to support an entire plantar surface of a wearer'"'"'s foot.

7. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the upper constitutes a basketball shoe upper, and wherein the sole structure includes at least four vertically stacked billows structures in the heel area.

8. An article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the at least four vertically stacked billows structures are at least partially formed in the lateral side wall, the medial side wall, and the rear heel wall of first polymeric foam member.

9. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the upper includes a knitted structure.

10. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the sole structure includes a first billows series including at least three vertically stacked billows structures in the heel area.

11. An article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the sole structure includes a second billows series including at least two vertically stacked billows structures located in a midfoot area of the sole structure.

12. An article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein two of the vertically stacked billows structures of the second billows series extend into interstitial areas defined between three of the vertically stacked billows structures of the first billows series.

13. An article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the first billows series and the second billows series include interwoven billows structures.

14. An article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the interwoven billows structures are located in a lateral heel side area of the sole structure.

15. An article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the sole structure includes a second billows series including at least three vertically stacked billows structures located in a forefoot area of the sole structure.

16. An article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the first billows series and the second billows series are separated by a plurality of support ribs.

17. An article of footwear according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of support ribs separating the first billows series and the second billows series includes three vertically oriented rib elements.

18. An article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the three vertically oriented rib elements are located along a support area of the sole structure that is configured to support a fifth metatarsal head of a foot positioned in the article of footwear.