IP Library Granted Patent US 8,707,587
Granted Patent B2
US 8,707,587 · App. 12/980,961 · Granted Apr 29, 2014

Sole and article of footwear

Inventors: Brian Christensen (Centerville, MA); Matthew J. Montross (Canton, MA); Alexandre Leblanc (Montreal, CA); Paul E. Litchfield (Westboro, MA); William Marvin (Canton, MA); Frank Millette (Middleboro, MA)
Assignee: Reebok International Limited
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 8,707,587
App. No.
12/980,961
Granted
Apr 29, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Articles of footwear and soles are disclosed. The article of footwear may include an upper; an outer midsole having a base coupled to the upper, and a rim portion extending from the periphery of the base, wherein the rim portion defines a plurality of spaced apart gaps; and an inner midsole disposed interiorly to the rim portion, wherein a portion of the inner midsole is disposed in at least one gap.

Claims (46)

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

a base having a medial side, a lateral side, and a periphery;

a rim portion extending from the periphery of the base, the rim portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the rim portion undulates to define a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the top surface and a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the bottom surface; and

a core member disposed interiorly to the rim portion, the core member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the core member undulates to define a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the top surface and a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the bottom surface,

wherein widths of the gaps in the bottom surface of the rim portion vary along a length of the sole.

2. The sole of claim 1 wherein a portion of the core member is disposed in the rearmost of the plurality of gaps.

3. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the core member has a plurality of elongated protrusions extending therefrom.

4. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the core member and at least one of the base and the rim portion are comprised of different materials.

5. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the rim portion is substantially sinusoidal.

6. The sole of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of voids disposed in the base.

7. The sole of claim 6 , wherein a portion of the core member is disposed in at least one of the plurality of voids in the base.

8. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the base extends across a width of the rim portion.

9. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the base and the rim portion are integrally formed.

10. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the core member is coupled to the base.

11. The sole of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the base and the rim portion has a different material hardness than the core member.

12. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the rim portion is coupled directly to an upper.

13. A sole for an article of footwear, comprising:

a base having a medial side, a lateral side, and a periphery;

a rim portion extending from the periphery of the base, the rim portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the rim portion undulates to define a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the top surface and a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the bottom surface;

a core member disposed interiorly to the rim portion, the core member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the core member undulates to define a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the top surface and a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the bottom surface; and

a plurality of voids formed in the base, wherein a portion of the core member is disposed in at least one of the plurality of voids.

14. The sole of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the core member in between adjacent gaps in the top surface of the core member is disposed in one of the plurality of voids of the base.

15. The sole of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the base is disposed in a gap in the bottom surface of the core member.

16. The sole of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the base and the rim portion has a different material hardness than the core member.

17. The sole of claim 13 , wherein widths of the gaps in the bottom surface and the top surface of the rim portion vary along a length of the sole.

18. The sole of claim 13 , wherein the rim portion and the base are integral.

19. The sole of claim 13 , wherein the rim portion extends from the base along the lateral side of the base.

20. The sole of claim 13 , wherein the rim portion extends from the base along the lateral side and the medial side of the base.

21. A sole for an article of footwear, comprising:

a base having a medial side, a lateral side,. and a periphery;

a rim portion extending from the periphery of the base, the rim portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the rim portion undulates to define a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the top surface and a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the bottom surface; and

a core member disposed interiorly to the rim portion, the core member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the core member undulates to define a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the top surface and a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the bottom surface,

wherein a portion of the base is disposed in a gap in the top surface of the core member.

22. The sole of claim 21 , wherein the core member is attached to at least one of the base and the rim portion.

23. The sole of claim 21 , wherein a portion of the core member is disposed in at least one of the plurality of gaps.

24. The sole of claim 21 , wherein a portion of the core member is disposed in the rearmost of the plurality of gaps.

25. The sole of claim 21 , wherein the core member has a plurality of elongated protrusions extending therefrom.

26. The sole of claim 21 , wherein the rim portion is substantially sinusoidal.

27. The sole of claim 21 , wherein the base and the rim portion are integrally formed.

28. A sole for an article of footwear, comprising:

a base having a medial side, a lateral side, and a periphery;

a rim portion extending from the periphery of the base, the rim portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the rim portion undulates to define a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the top surface and a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the bottom surface; and

a core member disposed interiorly to the rim portion, the core member having a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the core member undulates to define a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the top surface and a plurality of spaced apart gaps in the bottom surface,

wherein the rim portion comprises foam.

29. The sole of claim 28 , wherein at least one of the base and the rim portion is harder than the core member.

30. The sole of claim 28 , wherein at least one of the base and the rim portion is denser than the core member.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2012
From: REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LTD.
To: REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 027964/0088 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2011
From: REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LTD.
To: REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 027388/0367 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 31, 2011
From: CHRISTENSEN, BRIAN; MONTROSS, MATTHEW J.; LEBLANC, ALEXANDRE; LITCHFIELD, PAUL E.; MARVIN, WILLIAM; MILLETTE, FRANK
To: REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Reel/Frame 026364/0224 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120167416A1 · Jul 5, 2012