IP Library Granted Patent US 12,178,284
Granted Patent B2
US 12,178,284 · App. 17/711,812 · Granted Dec 31, 2024

Sole structure for article of footwear

Inventors: Jordan M. Brooks (Portland, OR); Cassidy R. Levy (West Linn, OR); Philip Woodman (Treviso, IT)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B13/20A43B13/12A43B13/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,178,284
App. No.
17/711,812
Granted
Dec 31, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes a cushion member and a chassis. The cushion member includes a first series of lobes alternating with a first series of recesses along a length of the cushion member. The first series of lobes and the first series of recesses extend along one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure. The chassis is disposed between the cushion member and the upper and includes a series of first supports alternating with a second series of recesses. The supports of the series of first supports are aligned and in contact with respective lobes of the first series of lobes and the second series of recesses are aligned with the first series of recesses.

Claims (17)

1. A sole structure comprising: a cushion member including a first series of lobes interconnected to each other and arranged continuously from a forefoot region to a heel region along one of a medial side and a lateral side of the sole structure and a second series of lobes in a toe portion; and a chassis including a cushion support and a plate each extending from the forefoot region to the heel region, the plate being longer than the cushion support, the cushion support including a first series of supports each aligned and in contact with a respective lobe of the first series of lobes and the plate including a second series of supports each aligned and in contact with a respective lobe of the second series of lobes, each of the first series of supports including a first material and each of the second series of supports including a second material different than the first series of supports, the plate attached on an opposite side of the cushion support than the cushion member.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one support of the first series of supports and the second series of supports includes an upper portion extending in a direction outwardly from a body of the at least one support.

3. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the cushion support includes a continuous recess extending across a width of the cushion support between the heel region and a mid-foot region.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the cushion support includes the first material having a first stiffness and the plate includes the second material having a second stiffness that is greater than the first stiffness.

5. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the second series of supports includes a pair of supports configured to be aligned with and contact a pair of toe lobes of the second series of lobes, the toe lobes being disposed in the forefoot region.

6. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the cushion member includes one of a foam element and a fluid-filled bladder, the foam element being a solid unitary piece extending a length, width and height of the cushion member.

7. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of the plate is adjacent to an upper surface of the cushion support, and a lower surface of the cushion support is adjacent to an upper surface of the cushion member.

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

9. A sole structure comprising: a cushion member including (i) a peripheral chamber including a first series of lobes interconnected to each other, arranged along a peripheral region of the sole structure, and continuously from a forefoot region to a heel region of the cushion member, and (ii) an interior chamber at least partially surrounded by the peripheral chamber and spaced apart from the peripheral chamber by a web area; and a chassis including a cushion support and a plate each extending from the forefoot region to the heel region, the plate being longer than the cushion support, the cushion support defining a first series of supports arranged along the peripheral region of the sole structure and the plate including a second series of supports, each of the first series of supports separated from an adjacent support of the first series of supports by a recess and contacting a respective one of the lobes, each of the second series of supports contacting a respective one of the lobes, the plate attached on an opposite side of the cushion support than the cushion member.

10. The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein the cushion support includes a series of wings extending along a periphery of the cushion support, the series of wings configured to be positioned against a bottom surface of the plate.

11. The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first series of supports includes an upper portion extending upwardly and outwardly from a body of the at least one of the first series of supports.

12. The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein the cushion support includes a series of ridges configured to be seated within a corresponding one of a series of pockets formed on a top side of the cushion member.

13. The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein the cushion support includes an inner support configured to be aligned with an intermediate chamber disposed between a medial side and a lateral side of the sole structure.

14. The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein the first series of supports includes a plurality of forefoot supports and a plurality of heel supports, the plurality of forefoot supports and the plurality of heel supports wholly formed from the cushion support.

15. The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein the cushion member includes one of a foam element and a fluid-filled bladder, the foam element being a solid unitary piece extending a length, width and height of the cushion member.

16. The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein a lower surface of the plate is adjacent to an upper surface of the cushion support, and a lower surface of the cushion support is adjacent to an upper surface of the cushion member.

17. An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 9 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 18, 2022
From: BROOKS, JORDAN M.; LEVY, CASSIDY R.; WOODMAN, PHILIP
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 061450/0351 →
Continuity (7)
Provisional Application 63300252 · Jan 17, 2022
Provisional Application 63300246 · Jan 17, 2022
Provisional Application 63300259 · Jan 17, 2022
Provisional Application 63253022 · Oct 6, 2021
Provisional Application 63194314 · May 28, 2021
Provisional Application 63194327 · May 28, 2021
Related Publication 20220378150A1 · Dec 1, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,660,883