IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,510,971

Granted Patent B2

US 8,510,971 · App. 12/885,598 · Granted Aug 20, 2013

Impact-attenuation systems for articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices

Inventors: Michael A. Aveni (Lake Oswego, OR); Patricia L. Smaldone (Portland, OR); Fred G. Fagergren (Hillsboro, OR)

Assignee: NIKE, Inc.

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 8,510,971
App. No.: 12/885,598
Granted: Aug 20, 2013
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

Impact-attenuation systems, e.g., for use in footwear, can help control foot positioning during a step cycle, e.g., to help reduce or eliminate misorientation of the foot, and the fatigue and/or strain that may result from such misorientation. Articles of footwear including such impact-attenuation systems may include: (a) an upper member; and (b) a sole structure engaged with the upper member. The sole structure may include: (i) a first impact-attenuating member located in a heel portion of the foot-supporting member, and (ii) a second, separate impact-attenuating member located at a rear, lateral heel portion. The second impact-attenuating member may be designed and/or configured to provide less resistance to an impact force as compared with the first impact-attenuating member.

Claims (76)

1. A foot-receiving device, comprising:

a foot-covering member; and

a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member, wherein the foot-supporting member includes:

a first impact-attenuating member located in a heel portion of the foot-supporting member, and

a second impact-attenuating member separate from the first impact-attenuating member, wherein the second impact-attenuating member is located at a rear, lateral heel portion of the foot-supporting member, and wherein the second impact-attenuating member provides less resistance to an impact force as compared with the first impact-attenuating member,

wherein the first impact-attenuating member is located closer to a front of the foot-receiving device as compared to the second impact-attenuating member and is located on a medial side of the foot-receiving device,

wherein the foot-supporting member further includes:

a third impact-attenuating member located in the heel portion on a lateral side of the foot-receiving device and separate from the first and second impact-attenuating members, wherein the third impact-attenuating member is located closer to the front of the foot-receiving device as compared to the second impact-attenuating member, and wherein the second impact-attenuating member provides less resistance to an impact force as compared with the third impact-attenuating member; and

wherein each impact-attenuating member includes a vertically extending opening and a shear resistant member positioned within the central opening, a portion of the shear resistant member being exposed to an exterior of a sidewall of the impact-attenuating member.

2. A foot-receiving device, comprising:

a foot-covering member; and

a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member, wherein the foot-supporting member includes:

a first impact-attenuating member located in a heel portion of the foot-supporting member, and

wherein the first impact-attenuating member is located at a rear, medial heel portion of the foot-supporting member, and wherein the foot-supporting member further includes:

a third impact-attenuating member located in the heel portion of the foot-receiving device and separate from the first and second impact-attenuating members, wherein the third impact-attenuating member is located closer to a front of the foot-receiving device as compared to the second impact-attenuating member, and wherein the second impact-attenuating member provides less resistance to an impact force as compared with the third impact-attenuating member; and

3. The foot-receiving device of claim 2 , wherein the third impact attenuating member is located on a lateral side of the foot receiving device.

4. The foot-receiving device of claim 2 , wherein the third impact attenuating member is located on a medial side of the foot receiving device.

5. The foot-receiving device of claim 2 , the foot supporting member further including:

a fourth impact-attenuating member located in the heel portion on a medial side of the foot-receiving device and separate from the first, second, and third impact-attenuating members, wherein the fourth impact-attenuating member is located closer to the front of the foot-receiving device as compared to the second impact-attenuating member, wherein the second impact-attenuating member provides less resistance to an impact force as compared with the third and fourth impact-attenuating members.

6. A method of producing an article of footwear, comprising:

providing an upper member; and

engaging a sole structure with the upper member, wherein the sole structure includes: (a) a first impact-attenuating member located in a heel portion of the sole structure and (b) a second impact-attenuating member separate from the first impact-attenuating member, wherein the second impact-attenuating member is located at a rear, lateral heel portion of the sole structure, and wherein the second impact-attenuating member provides less resistance to an impact force as compared with the first impact-attenuating member,

wherein the first impact attenuating member is located closer to a front of the article of footwear as compared to the second impact-attenuating member,

wherein the first impact-attenuating member is located on a medial side of the article of footwear, and

wherein the sole structure further includes:

a third impact-attenuating member located in the heel portion on a lateral side of the article of footwear and separate from the first and second impact-attenuating members, wherein the third impact-attenuating member is located closer to the front of the article of footwear as compared to the second impact-attenuating member, and wherein the second impact-attenuating member provides less resistance to an impact force as compared with the third impact-attenuating member; and

7. A method of producing an article of footwear, comprising:

providing an upper member; and

a third impact-attenuating member located in the heel portion of the article of footwear and separate from the first and second impact-attenuating members, wherein the third impact-attenuating member is located closer to a front of the article of footwear as compared to the second impact-attenuating member, and wherein the second impact-attenuating member provides less resistance to an impact force as compared with the third impact-attenuating member;

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the third-impact attenuating member is located on a lateral side of the article of footwear.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the third impact attenuating member is located on a medial side of the article of footwear.

10. The method of claim 7 , the sole structure further including

a fourth impact-attenuating member located in the heel portion on a medial side of the article of footwear and separate from the first, second, and third impact-attenuating members, wherein the fourth impact-attenuating member is located closer to the front of the article of footwear as compared to the second impact-attenuating member, and wherein the second impact-attenuating member provides less resistance to an impact force as compared with the third and fourth impact-attenuating members.

11. A method of producing an article of footwear, comprising:

providing an upper member; and

engaging a sole structure with the upper member, wherein the sole structure includes: (a) a first impact-attenuating member located in a heel portion of the sole structure and (b) a second impact-attenuating member separate from the first impact-attenuating member, wherein the second impact-attenuating member is located at a rear portion of the sole structure, and wherein the second impact-attenuating member provides less resistance to an impact force as compared with the first impact-attenuating member;

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second impact-attenuating member is located in a heel portion of the sole structure.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the first impact-attenuating member and the second impact-attenuating member each remains at least partially exposed from an exterior of the article of footwear.

14. A method according to claim 11 , wherein, during the engaging, the first impact-attenuating member is included in the article of footwear in a separate step from the second impact-attenuating member.

15. A method according to claim 11 , wherein, during the engaging, the first impact-attenuating member and the second impact-attenuating member are included in the article of footwear in a single step.

16. A method according to claim 11 , wherein, during the engaging, the first impact-attenuating member and the second impact-attenuating member are included in the article of footwear structure as portions of a unitary structure.

17. A method of producing an article of footwear, comprising:

engaging an upper member with a sole structure, wherein the sole structure includes: (a) a first impact-attenuating member located in a heel portion of the sole structure and (b) a second impact-attenuating member separate from the first impact-attenuating member, wherein the second impact-attenuating member is located at a rear, lateral heel portion of the sole structure; and

making the second impact-attenuating member less resistant to an impact force as compared with the first impact-attenuating member,

wherein the first impact-attenuating member is located closer to a front of the article of footwear as compared to the second-impact attenuating member and is located on a medial side of the article of footwear, and

wherein the sole structure further includes a third impact-attenuating member located in the heel portion on a lateral side of the article of footwear and separate from the first and second impact-attenuating members, wherein the third impact-attenuating member is located closer to the front of the article of footwear as compared to the second impact-attenuating member, and wherein the second impact-attenuating member provides less resistance to an impact force as compared with the third impact-attenuating member; and

18. A method of producing an article of footwear, comprising:

making the second impact-attenuating member less resistant to an impact force as compared with the first impact-attenuating member, wherein the first impact-attenuating member is located at a rear, medial heel portion of the sole structure, and wherein the sole structure further includes:

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the third impact-attenuating member is located on a lateral side of the article of footwear.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the third impact attenuating member is located on a medial side of the article of footwear.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the sole structure further includes

22. A method according to claim 18 , wherein the first impact-attenuating member and the second impact-attenuating member each remains at least partially exposed from an exterior of the article of footwear.

23. A method of producing an article of footwear, comprising:

making the second impact-attenuating member less resistant to an impact force as compared with the first impact-attenuating member wherein, during the engaging, the first impact-attenuating member is provided in the article of footwear structure separate from the second impact-attenuating member;

24. A method according to claim 23 , wherein the engaging occurs before the making.

25. A method according to claim 23 , wherein the engaging occurs after the making.

26. A method of producing an article of footwear, comprising:

making the second impact-attenuating member less resistant to an impact force as compared with the first impact-attenuating member, wherein, during the engaging, the first impact-attenuating member and the second impact-attenuating member are provided in the article of footwear structure simultaneously;

27. A method according to claim 26 , wherein, during the engaging, the first impact-attenuating member and the second impact-attenuating member are provided in the article of footwear structure as parts of a unitary structure.

28. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the engaging occurs before the making.

29. A method according to claim 26 , wherein the engaging occurs after the making.

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2021

From: AVENI, MICHAEL A.; SMALDONE, PATRICIA L.; FAGERGREN, FRED G.

To: NIKE, INC.

Reel/Frame 055866/0233 →

Continuity (2)

Division 11459087 · Jul 21, 2006

Related Publication 20110005099A1 · Jan 13, 2011