Plate for footwear

• US 10,842,224 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Issued: 11/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Farina, Emily, Follet, Lysandre, Luo, Geng, Suffield, Rachel M., Yetman, Krissy
• Primary Examiner(s): Collier, Jameson D
• Application Number:
  US15/248,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20170095033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,551 Days
• Field of Search: 36 25 R, 36102, 36107, 36 75 R, 36 88
• 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 13/125 characterised by the midsole or middle layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/127 the midsole being multilayer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/143 provided with wedged, concave or convex end portions, e.g. for improving roll-off of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/145 Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/186 Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/189 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407
• 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 7/141 having an anatomical or curved form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1445 situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/145 situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/148 Recesses or holes filled with supports or pads
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/18 Joint supports, e.g. instep supports

Abstract

A plate for an article of footwear having a sole structure includes an anterior-most point disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure, a posterior-most point disposed closer to a heel region of the sole structure than the anterior-most point, and a concave portion extending between the anterior-most point and the posterior-most point. The concave portion includes a constant radius of curvature from the anterior-most point to a metarsophalangeal (MTP) point of the sole structure. The MTP point opposes the MTP joint of a foot during use.

Claims

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

an anterior-most point configured to be disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure;

a posterior-most point configured to be disposed within a heel region of the sole structure;

an aft point disposed at a location ranging from 50% to 60% of a distance from the anterior-most point to the posterior-most point, wherein the aft point, the anterior-most point, and the posterior-most point are co-planar with each other in relaxed configuration;

a metatarsophalangeal (MTP) point disposed between the anterior-most point and the aft point and configured to oppose an MTP joint of a foot during use; and

a concave portion extending between the anterior-most point and the aft point and including a constant first radius of curvature from the anterior-most point past the MTP point,

wherein the plate is formed of a material including fibers consolidated by a resin.

2. The plate of claim 1, wherein the plate includes a substantially flat portion configured to be disposed within the heel region of the sole structure, the posterior-most point being located within the substantially flat portion.

3. The plate of claim 2, wherein the substantially flat portion extends from the aft point to the posterior-most point.

4. The plate of claim 3, further comprising a blend portion disposed between and connecting the concave portion having the constant first radius of curvature and the substantially flat portion, the blend portion including a constant second radius of curvature.

5. The plate of claim 4, wherein the anterior-most point and the aft point are co-planar at a junction of the blend portion and the substantially flat portion.

6. The plate of claim 4, wherein the concave portion includes an anterior curved portion extending from the anterior-most point to the MTP point and a posterior curved portion extending from the MTP point to the blend portion, the anterior curved portion and the posterior curved portion both having the first constant radius of curvature.

7. The plate of claim 1, wherein the MTP point is located approximately thirty percent (30%) of a total length of the plate rearward from the anterior-most point.

8. The plate of claim 1, wherein a midpoint of an arc of the constant first radius of curvature is located at the MTP point.

9. The plate of claim 1, wherein the constant first radius of curvature extends at least 40% of a total length of the plate.

10. The plate of claim 1, wherein the plate includes a lateral edge portion extending from the anterior-most point to the aft point along a lateral side and a medial edge portion extending from the anterior-most point to the aft point along a medial side, each of the lateral edge portion and the medial edge portion being continuously convex along an entire length of the concave portion.

11. A plate for an article of footwear having a sole structure, the plate comprising:

an anterior-most point configured to be disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure;

a posterior-most point configured to be disposed within a heel region of the sole structure;

an aft point disposed at a location ranging from 50% to 60% of a distance from the anterior-most point to the posterior-most point, wherein the aft point, the anterior-most point, and the posterior-most point are coplanar with each other in relaxed configuration;

a metatarsophalangeal (MTP) point disposed between the anterior-most point and the aft point and configured to oppose an MTP joint of a foot during use; and

a curved portion extending between and connecting the anterior-most point and the aft point and including a constant first radius of curvature from the anterior-most point past the MTP point,

wherein the plate is formed of a material having a Young'"'"'s modulus of at least 70 gigapascals.

12. The plate of claim 11, wherein the plate includes a substantially flat portion configured to be disposed within the heel region of the sole structure, the posterior-most point being located within the substantially flat portion.

13. The plate of claim 12, wherein the substantially flat portion extends from the aft point to the posterior-most point.

14. The plate of claim 13, further comprising a blend portion disposed between and connecting the curved portion having the constant first radius of curvature and the substantially flat portion, the blend portion including a constant second radius of curvature.

15. The plate of claim 14, wherein the anterior-most point and the aft point are co-planar at a junction of the blend portion and the substantially flat portion.

16. The plate of claim 14, wherein the curved portion includes an anterior curved portion extending from the anterior-most point to the MTP point and a posterior curved portion extending from the MTP point to the blend portion, the anterior curved portion and the posterior curved portion both having the first constant radius of curvature.

17. The plate of claim 11, wherein the MTP point is located approximately thirty percent (30%) of a total length of the plate rearward from the anterior-most point.

18. The plate of claim 11, wherein a midpoint of an arc of the constant first radius of curvature is located at the MTP point.

19. The plate of claim 11, wherein the constant first radius of curvature extends at least 40% of a total length of the plate.

20. The plate of claim 11, wherein the plate includes a lateral edge portion extending from the anterior-most point to the aft point along a lateral side of the plate and a medial edge portion extending from the anterior-most point to the aft point along a medial side of the plate, each of the lateral edge portion and the medial edge portion being continuously curved along an entire length of the curved portion.