IP Library Granted Patent US 12660881
Granted Patent B2
US 12660881 · App. 18/920,007 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Plate with foam for footwear

Inventors: Risha Dupre (Tigard, OR); Emily Farina (North Plains, OR); Lysandre Follet (Portland, OR); Stefan E. Guest (Portland, OR); Helene Hutchinson (Portland, OR); Geng Luo (Portland, OR); Rachel M. Savage (Beaverton, OR); Kristin Yetman (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B13/186A43B7/1445A43B7/145A43B7/148A43B7/18A43B13/04A43B13/12A43B13/127A43B13/141A43B13/143A43B13/188A43B13/189A43B13/20A43B13/22
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12660881
App. No.
18/920,007
Filed
Oct 18, 2024
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3732
USPC
36/28
Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes an outsole, a plate disposed between the outsole and the upper, and a first cushioning layer. The plate 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. The first cushioning layer is disposed between the concave portion and the upper.

Claims (26)

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

a plate including a first surface facing the upper and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the plate than the first surface and facing a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure;

a midsole including a first portion disposed between the first surface of the plate and the upper and a second portion disposed between the second surface of the plate and the ground-engaging surface of the sole structure; and

a fluid-filled chamber including a first surface attached to the plate and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the fluid-filled chamber than the first surface of the fluid-filled chamber, the midsole at least partially surrounding an outer perimeter of the fluid-filled chamber.

2 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the midsole is attached to the first surface of the plate and the second portion of the midsole is attached to the second surface of the plate.

3 . The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is attached to the second surface of the plate adjacent to a junction of the second portion of the midsole and the second surface of the plate.

4 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the second surface of the fluid-filled chamber is attached to the second portion of the midsole.

5 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is aligned with a posterior end of the plate.

6 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is disposed within a heel region of the sole structure.

7 . The sole structure of claim 1 , further comprising an outsole defining the ground-engaging surface, the outsole being attached to the second portion of the midsole.

8 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first surface defines a concave portion of the plate and the second surface defines a convex portion of the plate, the concave portion and the convex portion being disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure.

9 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is pressurized.

10 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 1 .

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

a plate including a first surface facing the upper and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the plate than the first surface and facing a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure;

a midsole including a first portion disposed between the first surface of the plate and the upper and a second portion disposed between the second surface of the plate and the ground-engaging surface of the sole structure; and

a fluid-filled chamber including a first surface attached to the plate, a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the fluid-filled chamber than the first surface of the fluid-filled chamber, and a sidewall extending between and connecting the first surface of the fluid-filled chamber and the second surface of the fluid-filled chamber, the sidewall at least partially surrounded by the midsole.

12 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the midsole is attached to the first surface of the plate and the second portion of the midsole is attached to the second surface of the plate.

13 . The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is attached to the second surface of the plate adjacent to a junction of the second portion of the midsole and the second surface of the plate.

14 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the second surface of the fluid-filled chamber is attached to the second portion of the midsole.

15 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the sidewall is aligned with a distal end of the plate, the distal end of the plate being a posterior end of the plate.

16 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is disposed within a heel region of the sole structure.

17 . The sole structure of claim 11 , further comprising an outsole defining the ground-engaging surface, the outsole being attached to the second portion of the midsole.

18 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the first surface defines a concave portion of the plate and the second surface defines a convex portion of the plate, the concave portion and the convex portion being disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure.

19 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is pressurized.

20 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 11 .