Cut step traction element arrangement for an article of footwear

• US 9,968,162 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2015
• Issued: 05/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Minami, Tetsuya T.
• Primary Examiner(s): LYNCH, MEGAN E
• Application Number:
  US14/624,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20150196088A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 36 67 R, 36 67 A, 36 59 A, 36 59 B, 36 59 C
• 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 13/223 Profiled soles
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/16 Studs or cleats for football or like boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/162 characterised by the shape

Abstract

A traction element arrangement for a sole structure of an article of footwear is described. Traction elements include cut step features. Cut step features provide a traction element with a stepped height. Cut step features on medial rotational traction elements that have a plurality of stud elements arranged in a circular grouping include arc-shaped or straight cuts. Cut step features on traction elements disposed in a heel region are aligned laterally across the sole structure. Traction elements also include raised platform members. Cut step features can be combined with raised platform members.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure including a bottom surface;

a first traction element extending from the bottom surface in a heel region of the sole structure and having;

a first end;

a second end opposite the first end;

a curved inner face oriented and curved towards a forefoot region of the sole structure and defining a concave surface extending from the bottom surface to a concave edge; and

a curved outer face disposed on a radially opposite side of the first traction element from the inner face and defining a convex surface extending from the bottom surface to a convex edge;

a first ground-engaging face disposed at a first distance from the bottom surface, oriented away from the bottom surface, and extending in a plane that includes and extends between the concave edge and the convex edge;

a first cut step face oriented away from the bottom surface and disposed at a second distance from the bottom surface, the second distance being less than the first distance, and the curved outer face extending from the bottom surface to both the first ground-engaging face and the first cut step face, such that the curved outer face forms an edge with both the first ground-engaging face and the first cut step face; and

a first vertical face extending between the first cut step face and the first ground-engaging face, the first vertical face being oriented towards a rearward edge of the sole structure,

wherein the curved outer face forms an edge with the first cut step face that opposes a rearward most edge of the sole structure, and

wherein the first cut step face extends away from the first vertical face to the second end of the first traction element.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a second traction element having:

a second ground-engaging face disposed at a third distance from the bottom surface;

a first side face extending from the bottom surface to the second ground-engaging face;

a second side face opposite the first side face, extending from the bottom surface to the second ground-engaging face;

a second cut step face oriented in a same direction as the second ground-engaging face and disposed at a fourth distance from the bottom surface, wherein the fourth distance is below the third distance, and wherein the first side face extends from the bottom surface to the second cut step face; and

a second vertical face extending between the second cut step face and the second ground-engaging face, wherein the second vertical face extends across a width of the second traction element from the first side face to the second side face.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the first vertical face and the second vertical face are aligned across the first traction element and the second traction element.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the first cut step face and the second cut step face are aligned across a common plane.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the first traction element is disposed on a medial side of a longitudinal central axis of the sole structure and the second traction element is disposed on a lateral side of the longitudinal central axis of the sole structure.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the second distance of the first cut step face is disposed in a range from 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm closer to the bottom surface than is the first distance of the first ground-engaging face of the first traction element.

21. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the edge formed by the curved outer face and the first cut step face extends from the first vertical face.

22. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the edge formed by the curved outer face and the first cut step face extends around the first cut step face.

7. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure including a bottom surface;

a first traction element extending from the bottom surface in a heel region of the sole structure and having;

a first end;

a second end opposite the first end;

a curved inner face oriented and curved towards a forefoot region of the sole structure and defining a concave surface extending from the bottom surface; and

a curved outer face disposed on a radially opposite side of the first traction element from the curved inner face and defining a convex surface extending from the bottom surface;

a first ground-engaging face oriented in a first direction that faces away from the bottom surface and extending an entire width of the first traction element from the concave surface to the convex surface;

a first cut step face that is;

oriented in the first direction; and

disposed closer to the bottom surface than is the first ground-engaging face,

wherein the first cut step face extends the furthest rearward of the faces of the first traction element that are oriented in the first direction, and wherein the first cut step face extends from the concave surface to the convex surface; and

a first vertical face extending between the first ground-engaging face and the first cut step face,

wherein the curved outer face forms an edge with the first cut step face that opposes a rearward most edge of the sole structure, and

wherein the first cut step face extends away from the first vertical face to the second end of the first traction element.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the first vertical face extends diagonally across a width of the first traction element from the curved inner face to the curved outer face.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 7, further comprising a second traction element having:

a second ground-engaging face oriented in a second direction and extending an entire width of the second traction element;

a first side face extending from the bottom surface to the second ground-engaging face;

a second side face opposite the first side face, extending from the bottom surface to the second ground-engaging face;

a second cut step face that;

is oriented in the first direction;

is disposed closer to the bottom surface than is the second ground-engaging face; and

extends an entire width of the second traction element from the first side face to the second side face,

wherein the second cut step face extends the furthest rearward of the faces of the second traction element that are oriented in the second direction; and

a second vertical face extending between the second cut step face and the second ground-engaging face,

wherein the first vertical face is aligned along a vertical plane with the second vertical face.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the shape of the first traction element differs from the shape of the second traction element.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the first cut step face is disposed closer to the bottom surface than is the first ground-engaging face by an amount found within a range from 1.5 mm to 3 mm, wherein the curved outer face extends from the bottom surface to both the first ground-engaging face and the first cut step face, such that the curved outer face forms an edge with both the first ground-engaging face and the first cut step face, and wherein the curved inner face extends from the bottom surface to both the first ground-engaging face and the first cut step face, such that the curved inner face forms an edge with both the first ground-engaging face and the first cut step face.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the first cut step face is disposed rearwardly of the first ground-engaging face;

and

wherein the second cut step face is disposed rearwardly of the second ground-engaging face.

23. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the edge extends from the first vertical face.

24. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the edge extends around the first cut step face.

13. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure including a bottom surface;

a first traction element extending from the bottom surface in a heel region of the sole structure and having;

a first end;

a second end opposite the first end;

a first ground-engaging face;

a first cut step face disposed at a first depth below the first ground-engaging face of the first traction element and approximately parallel to the first ground-engaging face; and

a first side face extending from the bottom surface to the first ground-engaging face to define a first edge at a junction of the first side face and the first ground-engaging face, the first edge extending continuously along the first traction element and having a concave shape;

a second side face opposite the first side face and extending from the bottom surface to the first ground-engaging face to define a second edge at a junction of the second side face and the first ground-engaging face, the second edge extending continuously along the first traction element and having a convex shape;

a first vertical face dividing the first ground-engaging face from the first cut step face, wherein the first vertical face extends diagonally from the first side face to the second side face, and wherein the first side face extends from the bottom surface to the first vertical face, such that the first side face and the first vertical face together form an edge; and

a second traction element formed on the bottom surface in the heel region of the sole structure, the second traction element comprising;

a second ground-engaging face; and

a second cut step face disposed at a second depth below the second ground-engaging face of the second traction element and approximately parallel to the second ground-engaging face,

wherein the second side face forms an edge with the first cut step face that opposes a rearward most edge of the sole structure, and

wherein the first cut step face extends away from the first vertical face to the second end of the first traction element.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first vertical face contacts both the first ground-engaging face and the first cut step face.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 13, further comprising:

a third traction element extending from the bottom surface in the heel region, the third traction element being disposed in a position closer to a forefoot region of the sole structure than is the first traction element.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 15, wherein the third traction element has a third ground-engaging face.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first cut step face is disposed in a range from 1.5 mm to 3 mm closer to the bottom surface than is the first ground-engaging face.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first traction element is disposed near a peripheral edge of the sole structure in the heel region.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first traction element includes a raised platform member disposed on the first ground-engaging face, wherein the raised platform member contacts the first vertical face.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first traction element includes a plurality of faces directed away from the bottom surface, including the first cut step face and the first ground-engaging face, wherein the first cut step face extends the furthest rearward of the plurality of faces directed away from the bottom surface.

25. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the edge formed by the second side face and the first cut step face extends from the first vertical face.

26. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the edge formed by the second side face and the first cut step face extends around the first cut step face.