Outsole plate

• US 10,758,005 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2019
• Issued: 09/01/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bartel, Aaron, Lacey, Sam, Thuss, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Bays, Marie D
• Application Number:
  US16/384,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20190313734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 36 59 R, 36 67 R, 36134
• 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 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/122 characterised by the outsole or external layer
• 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: A43C 15/161 characterised by the attachment to the sole
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/142 Soles

Abstract

A sole structure for an article includes a first layer including a first bundle of fibers affixed to a first substrate, a second layer including a second bundle of fibers affixed to a second substrate, a traction element having a first portion disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and a second portion extending from one of the first layer and the second layer. The sole structure further includes a resin that consolidates the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers, and secures the traction element between the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers.

Claims

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:

a first layer including a first bundle of fibers affixed to a first substrate;

a second layer including a second bundle of fibers affixed to a second substrate;

a traction element having a first portion disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and a second portion extending from one of the first layer and the second layer; and

a resin that consolidates the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers.

2. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first portion is a flange and the second portion is a ground-engaging projection extending from the flange.

3. The sole structure of claim 2, wherein the ground-engaging projection includes a constantly decreasing taper in a direction extending away from the flange.

4. The sole structure of claim 2, wherein the flange is in contact with at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate.

5. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the traction element is in contact with at least one of the fibers of the first bundle of fibers and with the fibers of the second bundle of fibers.

6. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first substrate is in contact with the second substrate.

7. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the traction element extends through at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate.

8. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the traction element extends through the fibers of at least one of the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers.

9. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the traction element extends between adjacent segments of at least one of the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers.

10. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate includes an aperture for receiving the second portion of the traction element.

11. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers include at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, glass fibers, and polymeric fibers.

12. A method of forming a sole structure for an article of footwear, the method comprising:

attaching a first bundle of fibers to a first substrate to form a first component;

attaching a second bundle of fibers to a second substrate to form a second component;

positioning a first portion of a traction element between the first substrate and the second substrate;

extending a second portion of the traction element from one of the first component and the second component; and

consolidating the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers with a resin.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein positioning a first portion of a traction element between the first substrate and the second substrate includes positioning a flange of the traction element between the first substrate and the second substrate and extending a second portion of the traction element from one of the first component and the second component includes extending a projection of the traction element from the one of the first component and the second component.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising providing the projection with a constantly decreasing taper in a direction extending away from the flange.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising placing the flange in contact with at least one of the fibers of the first bundle of fibers and with the fibers of the second bundle of fibers.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising placing at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the traction element in contact with at least one of the fibers of the first bundle of fibers and with the fibers of the second bundle of fibers.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising placing the fibers of the first bundle of fibers in contact with the second substrate.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising placing the first substrate in contact with the second substrate.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising extending the second portion of the traction element through at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising extending the second portion of the traction element through the fibers of at least one of the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers.