Sole Plate For An Article Of Footwear

• US 20160345661A1
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Beers, Tiffany A., Owings, Andrew A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,292,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0072 made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 11/00 Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/00 Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
• 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 13/127 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 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/165 characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation

Abstract

An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components. A sole plate can include one or more specialized compartments designed to receive a component. The sole plate can be configured to provide greater stability to a sole structure. In some cases, the sole plate can be used to receive a component that can be used to perform different functions in a motorized tensioning system. Tabs within the sole plate can assist with retaining components within the sole plate and provide additional surface area for mounting the sole plate to other components of the article of footwear.

Claims

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

a forward portion, an intermediate portion, and a rearward portion;

a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and a midline;

a compartment disposed within the intermediate portion, wherein the compartment comprises a cavity surrounded by a perimeter;

a central axis extending in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis extending from the forward portion to the rearward portion, the central axis being approximately aligned with the midline of the sole plate, and the central axis dividing the sole plate into two opposing sides along the lateral axis;

the two sides of the sole plate comprising a first side and a second side; and

the cavity comprising one or more tabs extending from the perimeter towards a center of the cavity.

2. The sole plate of claim 1, wherein the cavity includes four sidewalls and a base portion, and wherein at least one sidewall includes the one or more tabs extending outwards from the at least one sidewall towards the center of the cavity.

3. The sole plate of claim 1, wherein the perimeter of the compartment comprises a medial cavity edge on the first side of the sole plate, a lateral cavity edge on the second side of the sole plate, and a front cavity edge and a rear cavity edge disposed on opposite sides of the cavity along the central axis.

4. The sole plate of claim 3, wherein the one or more tabs are located adjacent to one of the medial cavity edge, the lateral cavity edge, the front cavity edge, or the rear cavity edge.

5. The sole plate of claim 3, wherein the one or more tabs comprise a first tab and a second tab;

and

wherein the first tab and the second tab are disposed along one of the medial cavity edge and the lateral cavity edge.

6. The sole plate of claim 5, wherein the first tab and the second tab are approximately flush with the one of the medial cavity edge and the lateral cavity edge disposed at a top of the cavity.

7. The sole plate of claim 5, wherein the first tab is joined to the sole plate at the front cavity edge.

8. The sole plate of claim 5, wherein the second tab is spaced apart from the rear cavity edge.

9. The sole plate of claim 8, wherein the second tab is disposed between the first tab and the rear cavity edge.

10. The sole plate of claim 5, wherein an upper surface of the first tab is continuous with an upper surface of the sole plate.

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

a forefoot region, a heel region, a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and a midline;

a central axis extending in a direction aligned with the longitudinal axis extending from the forefoot region to the heel region, the central axis being approximately aligned with the midline of the sole structure, and the central axis dividing the sole structure into two opposing sides along the lateral axis;

the two sides of the sole structure comprising a first side and a second side;

a sole plate and a midsole, wherein the sole plate is disposed adjacent to the midsole;

wherein the sole plate includes a forward portion, an intermediate portion, and a rearward portion, wherein a compartment is disposed along the intermediate portion;

wherein the compartment comprises a cavity surrounded by a perimeter;

the cavity comprising one or more tabs extending from the perimeter towards a center of the cavity.

12. The sole structure of claim 11, wherein the cavity includes four sidewalls and a base portion, and wherein at least one sidewall includes the one or more tabs extending outwards from the at least one sidewall towards the center of the cavity.

13. The sole structure of claim 11, wherein the perimeter of the compartment comprises a medial cavity edge on the first side of the sole plate, a lateral cavity edge on the second side of the sole plate, and a front cavity edge and a rear cavity edge disposed on opposite sides of the cavity along the central axis.

14. The sole structure of claim 13, wherein the one or more tabs are located adjacent to one of the medial cavity edge, the lateral cavity edge, the front cavity edge, or the rear cavity edge.

15. The sole structure of claim 13, wherein the one or more tabs comprise a first tab and a second tab;

and

wherein the first tab and the second tab are disposed along one of the medial cavity edge and the lateral cavity edge.

16. The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the first tab and the second tab are approximately flush with the one of the medial cavity edge and the lateral cavity edge disposed at a top of the cavity.

17. The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the first tab is joined to the sole plate at the front cavity edge.

18. The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the second tab is spaced apart from the rear cavity edge.

19. The sole structure of claim 15, wherein an upper surface of the first tab is continuous with an upper surface of the sole plate.

20. An article of footwear comprising an upper and the sole structure according to claim 11.