IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,329,233
Granted Patent B2
US 12,329,233 · App. 18/456,046 · Granted Jun 17, 2025

Composite plate for an article of footwear

Inventors: Aaron Bartel (Beaverton, OR); Sam Lacey (Portland, OR); Christian Alexander Steinbeck (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B13/026A43B5/02A43B13/04A43B13/12A43B13/186A43B13/26A43C15/02A43C15/16B29C70/226B29D35/0054
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,329,233
App. No.
18/456,046
Granted
Jun 17, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A stitched article includes a substrate and a first strand portion formed from a bundle of fibers. The substrate has a first region and a second region. The first strand portion is attached to the substrate in the first region and in the second region via a series of stitches formed with a thread and forms a first layer on the substrate. The article has a first concentration of the stitches in the first region along a first length of the strand portion and a second concentration of the stitches different than the first concentration in the second region along a second length of the first strand portion.

Claims (26)

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

a stitched article including:

a substrate; and

a first strand portion formed from a first bundle of fibers, the first bundle of fibers (i) being attached to the substrate, (ii) forming a first layer on the substrate, and (iii) including a plurality of segments each including a first substantially straight portion, a second substantially straight portion, and an arcuate portion disposed between and joining the first substantially straight portion and the second substantially straight portion, the arcuate portion of adjacent segments are aligned with one another across a width of the substrate from a medial side of the substrate to a lateral side of the substrate; and

a resin composition consolidating fibers of the first strand portion.

2. The plate of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate portion is disposed in a forefoot region of the substrate.

3. The plate of claim 2 , wherein the first substantially straight portion extends from the arcuate portion toward an anterior end of the substrate within the forefoot region.

4. The plate of claim 3 , wherein the second substantially straight portion extends from the arcuate portion toward a heel region of the substrate.

5. The plate of claim 3 , wherein the second substantially straight portion extends from the arcuate portion to a posterior end of the substrate.

6. The plate of claim 1 , wherein the first substantially straight portion and the second substantially straight portion are aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis of each segment of the plurality of segments.

7. The plate of claim 6 , wherein the arcuate portion defines a convex edge and a concave edge disposed on an opposite side of each segment of the plurality of segments than the convex edge, the convex edge of each arcuate portion opposing a lateral side of the substrate.

8. The plate of claim 1 , wherein the first bundle of fibers includes at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, glass fibers, and synthetic polymer fibers.

9. The plate of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segments are connected together with looped portions in a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the plate.

10. A plate for an article of footwear, comprising:

a stitched article including:

a substrate; and

a first strand portion formed from a first bundle of fibers, the first bundle of fibers (i) being attached to the substrate, (ii) forming a first layer on the substrate, and (iii) including a plurality of segments with each segment including an arcuate portion defining a concave edge and a convex edge disposed on an opposite side of each segment of the plurality of segments than the concave edge, the arcuate portions of adjacent segments being aligned along an axis extending between a medial side of the substrate and a lateral side of the substrate, the plurality of segments being connected together with looped portions in a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the plate; and

a resin composition consolidating fibers of the first strand portion.

11. The plate of claim 10 , wherein the arcuate portion is disposed in the forefoot region of the substrate.

12. The plate of claim 11 , wherein each segment of the plurality of segments includes a first substantially straight portion extending from the arcuate portion in a first direction and a second substantially straight portion extending from the arcuate portion in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

13. The plate of claim 12 , wherein the first substantially straight portion extends from the arcuate portion toward an anterior end of the substrate and the second substantially straight portion extends from the arcuate portion toward the heel region of the substrate.

14. The plate of claim 12 , wherein the first substantially straight portion extends from the arcuate portion toward an anterior end of the substrate and the second substantially straight portion extends from the arcuate portion to the heel region of the substrate.

15. The plate of claim 12 , wherein the first substantially straight portion and the second substantially straight portion are aligned with one another along a longitudinal axis of each segment of the plurality of segments.

16. The plate of claim 12 , wherein the first substantially straight portions are substantially parallel to adjacent first substantially straight portions and/or the second substantially straight portions are substantially parallel to adjacent second substantially straight portions.

17. The plate of claim 10 , wherein the convex edge of each arcuate portion opposes a lateral side of the substrate.

18. The plate of claim 10 , wherein the first bundle of fibers includes at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, glass fibers, and synthetic polymer fibers.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2023
From: BARTEL, AARON; LACEY, SAM; STEINBECK, CHRISTIAN ALEXANDER
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 065006/0977 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17239445 · Apr 23, 2021
Continuation 16254975 · Jan 23, 2019
Provisional Application 62621193 · Jan 24, 2018
Related Publication 20230404209A1 · Dec 21, 2023
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