IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,382,389
Granted Patent B2
US 11,382,389 · App. 16/796,061 · Granted Jul 12, 2022

Sole structure for article of footwear

Inventors: Rory S. Blanche (Portland, OR); Kaigin Olafson (Beaverton, OR); James Zormeir (Beaverton, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B23/027A43B3/26A43B7/1495A43B23/0275A43C11/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,382,389
App. No.
16/796,061
Granted
Jul 12, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper. The article of footwear also includes a cradle having a base extending between the upper and the sole structure, a first sidewall extending from the base and along a first side of the upper, and a second sidewall extending from the base along a second side of the upper, each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall including a plurality of eyelets. The article of footwear further includes a cable operable to move the upper between a relaxed state and a tightened state. The cable including a first strand extending through at least one of the eyelets of the first sidewall and a second strand extending through at least one of the eyelets of the second sidewall.

Claims (25)

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper;

a sole structure attached to the upper;

a cradle having a base extending between the upper and the sole structure, a first sidewall extending from the base and along a first side of the upper, and a second sidewall extending from the base along a second side of the upper, each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall including a plurality of eyelets;

a cable operable to move the upper between a relaxed state and a tightened state and including a first strand extending through at least one of the eyelets of the first sidewall and a second strand extending through at least one of the eyelets of the second sidewall; and

a cable lock disposed between the base of the cradle and a portion of the sole structure, the cable lock operable to selectively permit movement of the cable in a loosening direction.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall includes a first cable channel, a first portion of the cable being routed through the first cable channel.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall includes a second cable channel, a second portion of the cable being routed through the second cable channel.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the first cable channel intersects the second cable channel.

5. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the second cable channel includes a sleeve disposed therein, the sleeve configured to receive the second portion of the cable.

6. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the first cable channel includes a portion of a sheath disposed therein, the sheath configured to receive the first portion of the cable.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the cradle is disposed in a mid-foot region of the article of footwear.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the base, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall cooperate to define a channel, the upper being disposed within the channel.

9. A cradle for an article of footwear having an upper, the cradle comprising:

a base;

a first sidewall configured to extend along an outer surface of the upper from a first side of the base to a first distal end and including a first plurality of eyelets;

a second sidewall configured to extend along the outer surface of the upper from a second side of the base to a second distal end and including a second plurality of eyelets; and

a cable lock received within a recess of the base and operable to selectively permit movement of a cable in a loosening direction.

10. The cradle of claim 9 , wherein the base, the first sidewall, and the second sidewall cooperate to define a first channel extending along a length of the cradle and configured to receive the upper therein.

11. The cradle of claim 9 , wherein the base is substantially planar and each of the first sidewall and the second sidewall is arcuate.

12. The cradle of claim 9 , wherein a height of at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall tapers along a direction from a first end of the cradle to a second end of the cradle.

13. The cradle of claim 9 , wherein a height of at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall decreases along a length of the cradle.

14. The cradle of claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall includes a first cable channel configured to receive a first portion of the cable, the cable operable to move the upper between a relaxed state and a tightened state.

15. The cradle of claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall includes a second cable channel configured to receive a second portion of the cable.

16. The cradle of claim 15 , wherein the first cable channel intersects the second cable channel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2020
From: BLANCHE, RORY S.; OLAFSON, KAIGIN; ZORMEIR, JAMES
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 052068/0816 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62809309 · Feb 22, 2019
Related Publication 20200268106A1 · Aug 27, 2020