IP Library Granted Patent US 12667162
Granted Patent B1
US 12667162 · App. 19/429,906 · Granted Jun 30, 2026

Footwear component

Inventors: Brian G. R. Hughes (San Antonio, TX); Howard Dananberg (Stowe, VT)
Assignee: HBN SHOE, LLC
A43B13/18A43B5/00A43B7/14A43B7/146A43B13/122A43C15/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12667162
App. No.
19/429,906
Granted
Jun 30, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

An outsole for footwear includes a substrate having an upper surface. A raised grid pattern is formed on the forefoot and rear sections of the substrate upper surface, and a reverse grid pattern is formed on a midsection of the substrate upper surface.

Claims (32)

1 . An outsole for footwear, comprising:

a substrate having an upper surface divided into a forefoot section configured to underlie the toes or phalanges of a wearer;

a midsection configured to underlie the metatarsal heads of the wearer; and

a rear section configured to underlie the arch and heel of the wearer;

a reverse grid pattern on the midsection of the substrate upper surface, and

a raised grid pattern formed on the forefoot and the rear section or substrate upper surface,

wherein the rear section upper surface has a smooth surface concave recess configured to underlie a calcaneus of the wearer, and wherein the midsection upper surface has a smooth surface concave recess configured to underlie a first metatarsal head of the wearer,

wherein the outsole includes three or more flex notches formed in a sidewall of the outsole, aligned with channels of the reverse grid pattern on the midsection of the upper surface of the substrate, and

wherein the outer notches have an angle that is half an angle of the inner notch or notches.

2 . The outsole of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the raised grid pattern and/or the reverse grid pattern has a triangular grid pattern.

3 . The outsole of claim 1 , in the form of a unitary molded construction.

4 . The outsole of claim 1 , wherein the substrate upper surface is formed as a laminated construction.

5 . The outsole of claim 1 , wherein the midsection concave recess has a depth of 1 to 2.5 mm.

6 . A footwear product, comprising an outsole as claimed in claim 1 .

7 . The footwear product of claim 6 , wherein the footwear product comprises a non-cleated or non-spiked sports shoe selected from the group consisting of a basketball shoe, a tennis shoe, a sneaker and a futsal shoe.

8 . The footwear product of claim 6 , wherein the footwear product comprises a cleated or spiked sports shoe, selected from the group consisting of a soccer shoe, a baseball shoe, a football shoe, a rugby shoe, a cricket shoe and a golf shoe.

9 . The footwear product as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the footwear product comprises a non-cleated or non-spiked sport shoe selected from the group consisting of a work boot, a hiking boot and a military boot.

10 . An outsole for footwear, comprising:

a substrate having an upper surface divided into a forefoot section configured to underlie the toes or phalanges of a wearer;

a midsection configured to underlie the metatarsal heads of the wearer;

a rear section configured to underlie the arch and heel of the wearer;

a reverse grid pattern on the midsection of the substrate upper surface, and

a raised grid pattern formed on the forefoot and the rear section or substrate upper surface,

wherein the outsole includes three or more flex notches formed in a sidewall of the outsole, aligned with channels of the reverse grid pattern on the midsection of the upper surface of the substrate, wherein the outer notches have an angle that is half an angle of the inner notch or notches.

11 . The outsole of claim 10 , wherein the rear section has a smooth surface concave recess configured to underlie a calcaneus of the wearer.

12 . The outsole of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the raised grid pattern and/or the reverse grid pattern has a triangular grid pattern.

13 . The outsole of claim 10 , in the form of an unitary molded construction.

14 . The outsole of claim 10 , wherein the substrate upper surface is formed as a laminated construction.

15 . A footwear product, comprising an outsole as claimed in claim 10 .

16 . The footwear product of claim 15 , wherein the footwear product comprises a non-cleated or non-spiked sports shoe selected from the group consisting of a basketball shoe, a tennis shoe, a sneaker and a futsal shoe.

17 . The footwear product of claim 15 , wherein the footwear product comprises a cleated or spiked sports shoe selected from the group consisting of a soccer shoe, a baseball shoe, a football shoe, a rugby shoe, a cricket shoe and a golf shoe.

18 . The footwear product of claim 15 , wherein the footwear product comprises a non-cleated or non-spiked sport shoe selected from the group consisting of a work boot, a hiking boot and a military boot.