IP Library Granted Patent US 12,349,762
Granted Patent B2
US 12,349,762 · App. 18/673,273 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Sole structure for article of footwear

Inventors: Can Eldem (Portland, OR); Wade Flanagan (Portland, OR); Ryan Nyberg (Portland, OR); Levi J. Patton (Portland, OR); Eric S. Schindler (Beaverton, OR); Jessica Small (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B13/20A43B3/0063A43B5/06A43B13/04A43B13/122A43B13/125A43B13/16A43B13/186A43B13/187A43B13/188A43B13/206A43B13/223A43B23/08A43B23/088A43B1/0072A43B13/189A43B21/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,349,762
App. No.
18/673,273
Granted
Jul 8, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a forefoot region disposed adjacent an anterior end, a heel region disposed adjacent a posterior end, and a mid-foot region disposed intermediate the forefoot region and the heel region. The sole structure further includes fluid-filled bladder having a first segment extending along a medial side in the heel region, a second segment extending along a lateral side in the heel region, and a web area disposed between the first segment and the second segment. Additionally, the sole structure includes an outer sole member having an upper portion extending from a first end in the forefoot region to a second end in the heel region. The second end of the outer sole member is received on a first side of the web area. The outer sole member also includes a rib extending downwardly from the upper portion and defining a cavity.

Claims (26)

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper;

a sole structure attached to the upper and including (i) a fluid-filled chamber formed from a first material and (ii) an outer sole member, the outer sole member extending onto an outer surface of the upper and including a first apex disposed at one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure; and

a heel counter extending over (i) the outer surface of the upper and (ii) crossing the outer sole member proximate to the first apex.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the heel counter crosses the outer sole member at a location between the first apex and a posterior end of the sole structure.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the heel counter is formed from a transparent material.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the heel counter is formed from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein a height of the heel counter increases from a first distal end of the fluid-filled chamber to a second apex located on the medial side of the sole structure.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the height of the heel counter increases from a second distal end of the fluid-filled chamber to a third apex located on the lateral side of the sole structure.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the height of the heel counter decreases from the second apex to a posterior end of the upper and from the third apex to the posterior end of the upper.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein a height of the heel counter increases from a distal end of the fluid-filled chamber to a second apex located on the lateral side of the sole structure.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein a height of the heel counter increases to a second apex located on one of the medial side of the sole structure and the lateral side of the sole structure, the second apex being located between the first apex and a posterior end of the sole structure.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the heel counter is attached to the fluid-filled chamber.

11. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper;

a sole structure attached to the upper and including (i) a fluid-filled chamber formed from a first material and (ii) an outer sole member, the outer sole member extending onto an outer surface of the upper and including a first apex disposed at one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure; and

a heel counter extending over (i) the outer surface of the upper and (ii) crossing the outer sole member at a location between the first apex and a posterior end of the sole structure.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the heel counter crosses the outer sole member proximate to the first apex.

13. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the heel counter is formed from a transparent material.

14. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the heel counter is formed from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

15. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein a height of the heel counter increases from a first distal end of the fluid-filled chamber to a second apex located on the medial side of the sole structure.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the height of the heel counter increases from a second distal end of the fluid-filled chamber to a third apex located on the lateral side of the sole structure.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the height of the heel counter decreases from the second apex to the posterior end of the upper and from the third apex to the posterior end of the upper.

18. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein a height of the heel counter increases from a distal end of the fluid-filled chamber to a second apex located on the lateral side of the sole structure.

19. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein a height of the heel counter increases to a second apex located on one of the medial side of the sole structure and the lateral side of the sole structure, the second apex being located between the first apex and the posterior end of the sole structure.

20. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the heel counter is attached to the fluid-filled chamber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2024
From: FLANAGAN, WADE; NYBERG, RYAN; ELDEM, CAM; SMALL, JESSICA; PATTON, LEVI J.; SCHINDLER, ERIC S.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 068900/0572 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17526588 · Nov 15, 2021
Continuation 17378397 · Jul 16, 2021
Continuation 16200550 · Nov 26, 2018
Continuation 15885676 · Jan 31, 2018
Related Publication 20240306771A1 · Sep 19, 2024
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