Stability and comfort system for an article of footwear

• US 9,565,896 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Luedecke, Tom, Spanks, Jeffrey C., Nurse, Matthew A., Avar, Eric P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Jila M
• Application Number:
  US14/051,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20140101973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 361/03, 361/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/16 with heel or toe caps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/088 Heel stiffeners A43B23/10, A43B23/14, A43B23/16, A43B23/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0036 characterised by a special shape or design
• 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 7/141 having an anatomical or curved form

Abstract

A stability and comfort system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The stability and comfort system includes a bootie and a sock liner. The sock liner may include a heel counter that is contoured to fit a heel. The sole of the article may include an outrigger portion. The outrigger portion can be separated from a central portion of the sole to allow the outrigger portion to move substantially independently of the central portion of the sole.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole including a forefoot portion, the forefoot portion further including a central portion and a peripheral portion disposed outwards from the central portion;

an outrigger portion disposed on the peripheral portion;

the outrigger portion comprising a concave cross sectional profile shape;

wherein the outrigger portion is separated from the central portion by a flex groove;

the sole further comprising an outsole having a lower surface configured to contact a ground surface;

the lower surface of the outsole extending through portions of at least the central portion and the outrigger portion; and

wherein the lower surface is substantially flat across the central portion and the outrigger portion; and

wherein the flex groove is disposed in the lower surface of the outsole between the outrigger portion and the central portion.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the concave cross sectional profile shape of the outrigger portion is different from a cross sectional profile shape of an arch portion of the sole.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outrigger portion is wider at a lower portion of the sole.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outrigger portion is disposed on a lateral side of the forefoot portion.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the flex groove is disposed adjacent to the lateral side.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the outrigger portion is disposed on a medial side of the forefoot portion.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the sole further comprises a midsole;

wherein the outrigger portion comprises a sidewall portion of the midsole; and

wherein the sidewall portion includes an upper portion associated with an upper of the article of footwear and a lower portion disposed adjacent to the outsole.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the outrigger portion includes an outrigger edge located on the lower portion of the sidewall portion;

and

wherein the outrigger edge extends further outward in a lateral direction than the upper portion of the sidewall portion.

7. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole including a forefoot portion, the forefoot portion further including a central portion and a peripheral portion disposed outwards from the central portion;

an outrigger portion disposed on the peripheral portion;

the outrigger portion comprising a concave cross sectional profile shape;

wherein the outrigger portion is configured to move substantially independently of the central portion;

the sole further comprising an outsole having a lower surface configured to contact a ground surface;

the lower surface of the outsole extending through portions of at least the central portion and the outrigger portion;

wherein the lower surface is substantially flat across the central portion and the outrigger portion;

the sole having a lateral portion disposed on a lateral side of the article of footwear and a medial portion disposed on a medial side of the article of footwear opposite the lateral portion; and

wherein the outrigger portion is disposed only on the lateral portion of the sole.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the outrigger portion is configured to enhance stability during lateral maneuvers.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the outrigger portion is angled with respect to the central portion during lateral maneuvers of the article of footwear.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein a flex groove is disposed between the central portion and the outrigger portion.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the flex groove is configured to widen as the outrigger portion moves with respect to the central portion.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the flex groove extends to an outer peripheral edge of the sole.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the flex groove is approximately parallel with the outrigger portion.

14. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole including a forefoot portion, the forefoot portion further including a central portion and a peripheral portion disposed outwards from the central portion;

an outrigger portion disposed on the peripheral portion;

the outrigger portion comprising a concave cross sectional profile shape;

a flex groove extending through the forefoot portion and including a first end portion disposed on an outer peripheral edge of the peripheral portion and the flex groove including a second end portion disposed on the outer peripheral edge;

wherein a portion of the outrigger portion is disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion on the outer peripheral edge;

the sole further comprising an outsole having a lower surface configured to contact a ground surface;

the lower surface of the outsole extending through portions of at least the central portion and the outrigger portion;

wherein the lower surface is substantially flat across the central portion and the outrigger portion;

wherein the flex groove is disposed in the lower surface of the outsole between the outrigger portion and the central portion;

wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are disposed on the outer peripheral edge of a lateral portion of the sole on a lateral side of the article of footwear; and

wherein the outrigger portion is disposed on the lateral portion of the sole between the first end portion and the second end portion of the flex groove.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the flex groove is oriented in a substantially longitudinal direction.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the outrigger portion is configured to move substantially independently of the central portion.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the outrigger portion is separated from the central portion by the flex groove;

and

wherein the lower surface of the outsole is substantially flat on each side of the flex groove.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the flex groove extends through a substantial majority of the forefoot portion in a longitudinal direction.