PLATE FOR FOOTWEAR

• US 20170095033A1
• Filed: 08/26/2016
• Published: 04/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Farina, Emily, Luo, Geng, Suffield, Rachel M., Yetman, Krissy, Follet, Lysandre
• Granted Patent: US 10,842,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 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 and including a constant radius of curvature from the anterior-most point to a metatarsophalangeal (MTP) point of the sole structure, the MTP point opposing the MTP joint of a foot during use.

2. The plate of claim 1, wherein the anterior-most point and the posterior-most point are co-planar.

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

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

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

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

7. The plate of claim 1, further comprising a cushioning layer disposed at least partially within the concave portion.

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

9. The plate of any of claim 1, wherein a center of the radius of curvature is located at the MTP point.

10. The plate of any of claim 1, wherein the constant radius of curvature extends from the anterior-most point past the MTP point.

17. The plate of claim 1, further comprising a cushioning layer in contact with the curved portion.

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

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 curved portion extending between and connecting the anterior-most point and the posterior-most point and including a constant radius of curvature from the anterior-most point to a metatarsophalangeal (MTP) point of the sole structure, the MTP point opposing the MTP joint of a foot during use.

12. The plate of claim 11, wherein the anterior-most point and the posterior-most point are co-planar.

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

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

15. The plate of claim 14, wherein the curved portion includes a blend portion disposed between and connecting the constant radius of curvature and the substantially flat portion, the blend portion including a substantially constant radius of curvature.

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

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

19. The plate of claim 11, wherein a center of the radius of curvature is located at the MTP point.

20. The plate of claim 11, wherein the constant radius of curvature extends from the anterior-most point past the MTP point.