IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,383,023
Granted Patent B2
US 12,383,023 · App. 18/351,580 · Granted Aug 12, 2025

Sole structure of an article of footwear and related methods

Inventors: Yoon Jeong Choi (Portland, OR); Tory M. Cross (Portland, OR); Christian Alexander Steinbeck (Portland, OR); James Zormeir (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B13/127A43B3/0052B29D35/0009B29D35/0054B29D35/142B29K2105/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,383,023
App. No.
18/351,580
Granted
Aug 12, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sole structure of an article of footwear is provided and includes a first midsole portion including a first sidewall and a second midsole portion including a second sidewall. The sole structure also includes a first sheet disposed between the first midsole portion and the second midsole portion and including a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first sheet than the first surface. The first sheet includes one or more apertures extending through the first sheet from the first surface to the second surface. The first midsole portion and the second midsole portion are operably connected through the one or more apertures of the first sheet.

Claims (27)

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper including a medial sidewall and a lateral sidewall spaced from the medial sidewall; and

a sole structure, comprising:

a first midsole portion including a first sidewall and a top surface;

a second midsole portion including a second sidewall and a bottom surface;

a first strip disposed between the top surface of the first midsole portion and the bottom surface of the second midsole portion and including a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first strip than the first surface, a portion of the first surface of the first strip extending along the second sidewall of the second midsole portion and contacting at least one of the medial sidewall and the lateral sidewall of the upper; and

a second strip disposed between the top surface of the first midsole portion and the bottom surface of the second midsole portion and including a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the second strip than the first surface of the second strip, the second strip being spaced apart from the first strip along a longitudinal axis of the sole structure, a portion of the first surface of the second strip extending along the second sidewall of the second midsole portion and contacting at least one of the medial sidewall and the lateral sidewall of the upper.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein first strip and the second strip are substantially parallel to one another.

3. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first strip and the second strip each includes a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sole structure.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first strip and the second strip each includes a longitudinal axis that extends substantially non-perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the sole structure.

5. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first strip and the second strip is formed from a mesh textile.

6. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein a first distal end of at least one of the first strip and the second strip is visible at one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure.

7. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein a first distal end of at least one of the first strip and the second strip is substantially planar at one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure and a second distal end of the at least one of the first strip and the second strip is substantially planar at the other of the medial side of the sole structure and the lateral side of the sole structure.

8. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein a first distal end of at least one of the first strip and the second strip includes a sinusoidal shape at one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure and a second distal end of the at least one of the first strip and the second strip includes a sinusoidal shape at the other of the medial side of the sole structure and the lateral side of the sole structure.

9. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein a first distal end of at least one of the first strip and the second strip includes a saw-tooth shape at one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure and a second distal end of the at least one of the first strip and the second strip includes a saw-tooth shape at the other of the medial side of the sole structure and the lateral side of the sole structure.

10. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first strip and the second strip conform to a shape of a first series of peaks and a first series of valleys of the first midsole portion and conform to a shape of a second series of peaks and a second series of valleys of the second midsole portion.

11. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper including a medial sidewall and a lateral sidewall spaced from the medial sidewall; and

a sole structure, comprising:

a first midsole portion including a first sidewall and a top surface;

a second midsole portion including a second sidewall and a bottom surface;

a first strip disposed between the top surface of the first midsole portion and the bottom surface of the second midsole portion and including a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first strip than the first surface, a portion of the first surface of the first strip extending along the second sidewall of the second midsole portion and contacting at least one of the medial sidewall and the lateral sidewall of the upper; and

a second strip disposed between the top surface of the first midsole portion and the bottom surface of the second midsole portion and including a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the second strip than the first surface of the second strip, the second strip crossing the first strip, a portion of the first surface of the second strip extending along the second sidewall of the second midsole portion and contacting at least one of the medial sidewall and the lateral sidewall of the upper.

12. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the first strip and the second strip each includes a longitudinal axis that extends substantially non-perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the sole structure.

13. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first strip and the second strip is formed from a mesh textile.

14. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein a first distal end of at least one of the first strip and the second strip is visible at one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure.

15. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein a first distal end of at least one of the first strip and the second strip is substantially planar at one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure and a second distal end of the at least one of the first strip and the second strip is substantially planar at the other of the medial side of the sole structure and the lateral side of the sole structure.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2023
From: CHOI, YOON JEONG; CROSS, TORY M.; STEINBECK, CHRISTIAN ALEXANDER; ZORMEIR, JAMES
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 064436/0928 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 16643288
Provisional Application 62552885 · Aug 31, 2017
Related Publication 20230354957A1 · Nov 9, 2023
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