IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,653,268
Granted Patent B2
US 12,653,268 · App. 18/660,780 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Sole structure for article of footwear

Inventors: Teagen E. Andrews (Portland, OR); Leo S. Chang (Portland, OR); Jeremy L. Connell (Portland, OR); Karen S. Dimoff (Portland, OR); Emily M. Farina (North Plains, OR); Rachel M. Savage (Beaverton, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B13/187A43B13/143
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,653,268
App. No.
18/660,780
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A plate for a sole structure of an article of footwear includes a platform extending from a first platform end to a second platform end, the platform being substantially planar from the first platform end to the second platform end, a first arcuate segment extending in a first direction from the first platform end to a first distal end, and a second arcuate segment extending in an opposite second direction from the second platform end to a second distal end, the second distal end being coplanar with the first distal end.

Claims (24)

1 . A plate for a sole structure of an article of footwear, the plate comprising:

a platform extending from a first platform end to a second platform end spaced from the first platform end, the platform being substantially planar from the first platform end to the second platform end;

a first arcuate segment extending in a first direction from the first platform end to a first distal end; and

a second arcuate segment extending in an opposite second direction from the second platform end to a second distal end, the second distal end being coplanar with the first distal end, the first platform end, and the second platform end.

2 . The plate of claim 1 , wherein the first arcuate segment and the second arcuate segment include different lengths.

3 . The plate of claim 1 , wherein the first arcuate segment includes a first cambered portion defining a first convex surface along a bottom side of the plate having a first radius of curvature.

4 . The plate of claim 3 , wherein the first arcuate segment includes a first transition portion connecting the first cambered portion and the platform.

5 . The plate of claim 4 , wherein the first transition portion curves in an opposite direction than the first cambered portion and is tangent with the platform and the first cambered portion.

6 . The plate of claim 4 , wherein the second arcuate segment includes a second cambered portion defining a second convex surface along the bottom side of the plate having a second radius of curvature.

7 . The plate of claim 6 , wherein the second radius of curvature is greater than the first radius of curvature.

8 . The plate of claim 7 , wherein the second arcuate segment includes a second transition portion connecting the second cambered portion and the platform.

9 . The plate of claim 8 , wherein the second transition portion curves in an opposite direction than the second cambered portion and is tangent with the platform and the second cambered portion.

10 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:

a cushioning element; and

a plate embedded within the cushioning element and including a planar platform extending from a first platform end to a second platform end spaced from the first platform end, a first arcuate segment extending in a first direction from the first platform end to a first distal end, and a second arcuate segment extending in an opposite second direction from the second platform end to a second distal end, the second distal end being coplanar with the first distal end and the planar platform.

11 . The sole structure of claim 10 , further comprising a cushioning arrangement including one or more compressible elements disposed between the plate and the cushioning element.

12 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein each of the compressible elements includes a bladder having an upper barrier layer and a lower barrier layer enclosing a chamber.

13 . The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein each bladder includes a tensile member including a plurality of tensile strands each extending between the upper barrier layer and the lower barrier layer.

14 . The sole structure of claim 13 , wherein the tensile strands cooperate with the upper barrier layer and the lower barrier layer to provide each bladder with a substantially planar top side and a substantially planar bottom side.

15 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the compressible elements include resilient polymeric materials.

16 . The sole structure of claim 15 , wherein the compressible elements include foam.

17 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the cushioning arrangement includes a first cushioning structure disposed adjacent to a medial side of the sole structure and a second cushioning structure disposed adjacent to a lateral side of the sole structure.

18 . The sole structure of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first cushioning structure and the second cushioning structure includes a first bladder adjacent to the plate and a second bladder disposed between the first bladder and the cushioning element.

19 . The sole structure of claim 18 , wherein the first bladder includes at least one of a different width and a different height than the second bladder.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 10, 2024
From: ANDREWS, TEAGEN; CHANG, LEO S.; CONNELL, JEREMY L.; DIMOFF, KAREN S.; FARINA, EMILY M.; SAVAGE, RACHEL M.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 067377/0937 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63625612 · Jan 26, 2024
Provisional Application 63501932 · May 12, 2023
Related Publication 20240373980A1 · Nov 14, 2024
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