IP Library Granted Patent US 12,628,906
Granted Patent B2
US 12,628,906 · App. 18/965,173 · Granted May 19, 2026

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 12,628,906
App. No.
18/965,173
Granted
May 19, 2026
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 (20)

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 interconnected to each other and arranged continuously from the forefoot region to the heel region along the other of the medial side and the lateral side of the sole structure;

a cushion support extending from the forefoot region to the heel region and including a main body and a plurality of wings extending from the main body along a medial side of the cushion support and a lateral side of the cushion support, each wing of the plurality of wings including an arcuate surface that receives a respective lobe of the first series of lobes or the second series of lobes; and

a plate attached on an opposite side of the cushion support than the cushion member and including projections that extend between adjacent wings of the plurality of wings, the cushion support including a first material having a first stiffness and the plate including a second material having a second stiffness that is greater than the first stiffness.

2 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein each arcuate surface is elongate in a direction extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cushion support.

3 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein each arcuate surface on the medial side is aligned with an adjacent arcuate surface and each arcuate surface on the lateral side is aligned with an adjacent arcuate surface.

4 . The sole structure of claim 3 , wherein each arcuate surface on the medial side is spaced apart from an adjacent arcuate surface on the medial side and each arcuate surface on the lateral side is spaced apart from an adjacent arcuate surface on the lateral side.

5 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the plate is longer than the cushion support.

6 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the projections are in contact with the cushion member.

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

8 . 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 interconnected to each other and arranged continuously from the forefoot region to the heel region along the other of the medial side and the lateral side of the sole structure;

a cushion support extending from the forefoot region to the heel region and including a main body and a plurality of wings extending from the main body along a medial side of the cushion support and a lateral side of the cushion support, each wing of the plurality of wings receives a respective lobe of the first series of lobes or the second series of lobes and is spaced apart from an adjacent wing of the plurality of wings in a direction extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cushion support; and

a plate attached on an opposite side of the cushion support than the cushion member and including projections that extend between adjacent wings of the plurality of wings, the cushion support including a first material having a first stiffness and the plate including a second material having a second stiffness that is greater than the first stiffness.

9 . The sole structure of claim 8 , wherein each wing includes an arcuate surface that matingly receives an arcuate outer surface of a respective lobe of the first series of lobes or the second series of lobes.

10 . The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein each arcuate surface on the medial side is aligned with an adjacent arcuate surface and each arcuate surface on the lateral side is aligned with an adjacent arcuate surface.

11 . The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein each arcuate surface on the medial side is spaced apart from an adjacent arcuate surface on the medial side and each arcuate surface on the lateral side is spaced apart from an adjacent arcuate surface on the lateral side.

12 . The sole structure of claim 8 , wherein the plate is longer than the cushion support.

13 . The sole structure of claim 8 , wherein the projections are in contact with the cushion member.

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

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2024
From: WOODMAN, PHILIP; LEVY, CASSIDY R.; BROOKS, JORDAN M.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 069526/0101 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 17711812 · Apr 1, 2022
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 63194327 · May 28, 2021
Provisional Application 63194314 · May 28, 2021
Related Publication 20250089845A1 · Mar 20, 2025
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