IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,740,617
Granted Patent B2
US 12,740,617 · App. 18/794,574 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Athletic systems

Inventors: Sergio Cavaliere (Venice, IT); John W. Cross (Portland, OR); Neil Crumbleholme (Lake Oswego, OR); Roberto De Marchi (Volpago del Montello, IT); Samuel G. Lacey (Portland, OR); Ryan R. Larson (Portland, OR); Marlon Rainville (Portland, OR); Matthew R. Tegenkamp (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, INC.
A43B13/20A43B5/06A43B5/185A43B13/16
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,740,617
App. No.
18/794,574
Filed
Aug 5, 2024
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3732
USPC
36/25R
Abstract

An article of footwear with: an upper; and a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising: a sleeve extending from a first end to a second end, the sleeve including: a first plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first plate extending from the first end to the second end; a second plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface of the second plate, the second plate extending from the first end toward the second end; a first cushioning element disposed on the medial side of the article footwear, wherein the first cushioning element is disposed between the first plate and the second plate; a second cushioning element coupled to the first plate; and a third cushioning element disposed between the first plate and the second plate.

Claims (49)

1 . An article of footwear comprising:

a medial side and a lateral side disposed opposite the medial side;

an upper; and

a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising:

a sleeve extending from a first end to a second end, the sleeve including:

a first plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first plate extending from the first end to the second end; and

a second plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface of the second plate, the second plate extending from the first end toward the second end and extending from the medial side to the lateral side, and the second plate including at least a first slot extending from a medial side of the second plate to a lateral side of the second plate;

a brace coupling an edge on a lateral side of the first plate to an edge on the lateral side of the second plate;

a first cushioning element disposed on a medial side of the article of footwear, wherein the first cushioning element is disposed between the first plate and the second plate;

a second cushioning element coupled to the first plate; and

a third cushioning element disposed between the first plate and the second plate.

2 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first cushioning element is a fluid-filled bladder.

3 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the brace is comprised of a flexible material.

4 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the brace is disposed on a lateral side of the article of footwear.

5 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the second plate includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion and the second portion are separated by the first slot, and the second portion and the third portion are separated by a second slot.

6 . The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein a third slot extends within the second portion.

7 . The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the first portion is a forward-most portion of the second plate, the third portion is a rear-most portion of the second plate, and the second portion is disposed between the first portion and the third portion.

8 . The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the first portion and the second portion includes one or more traction elements, the one or more traction elements extending outwardly from the second surface of the second plate.

9 . An article of footwear configured to transition between a neutral position and a banked position, the article of footwear comprising:

an upper; and

a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising:

a sleeve extending from a first end to a second end, the sleeve including:

a first plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first plate extending from the first end to the second end;

a second plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second plate extending from the first end toward the second end, wherein the second plate includes one or more traction elements extending outwardly from the second surface of the second plate; and

a brace coupling the first plate to the second plate, the brace comprising a flexible material;

one or more spikes extending from the second surface of the first plate; and

a first cushioning element disposed between the first plate and the second plate, the first cushioning element is configured to transition between a resting state and a compressed state,

wherein in the resting state, a plane extending along the second surface of the first plate is parallel with a ground surface;

wherein, in the compressed state, the plane extending along the second surface of the first plate forms an angle between the ground surface and the plane;

wherein in the neutral position, the first cushioning element is in the resting state; and

wherein in the banked position, the one or more spikes are configured to move the first plate onto the first cushioning element to transition the first cushioning element towards the compressed state.

10 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the first cushioning element is a fluid-filled bladder.

11 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the angle is greater than 0 degrees and less than 20 degrees.

12 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the article of footwear is a right article of footwear of a pair of articles of footwear and the first cushioning element is positioned on a medial side of the right article of footwear.

13 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the article of footwear is a left article of footwear of a pair of articles of footwear and the first cushioning element is positioned on a lateral side of the left article of footwear.

14 . The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the second plate forms a ground-engaging surface of the article of footwear.

15 . An article of footwear comprising:

an upper; and

a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising:

a sleeve extending from a first end to a second end, the sleeve including:

a first plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first plate extending from the first end to the second end;

a second plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface of the second plate, the second plate extending from the first end toward the second end;

a brace coupling the first plate to the second plate, wherein the brace extends between the second surface of the second plate and an outer edge of the first plate, the brace comprising a flexible material configured to allow the first plate to move relative to a medial-lateral axis of the article of footwear; and

at least one spike extending from the first plate, through the brace, forming a portion of a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure;

a first cushioning element disposed between the first plate and the second plate, wherein a force applied to the first plate compresses the first cushioning element; and

a second cushioning element including a first surface configured to receive the first plate, and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface of the second cushioning element.

16 . The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the second plate further includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion and the second portion are separated by a first slot, and the second portion and the third portion are separated by a second slot.

17 . The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the third portion is disposed adjacent the second surface of the second cushioning element.

18 . The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the first portion and the second portion each include one or more traction elements.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2024
From: CROSS, JOHN W.; CRUMBLEHOLME, NEIL; LACEY, SAMUEL G.; LARSON, RYAN R.; RAINVILLE, MARLON; TEGENKAMP, MATTHEW R.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 068214/0713 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2024
From: CAVALIERE, SERGIO; DE MARCHI, ROBERTO
To: NIKE 360 HOLDING B.V.
Reel/Frame 068214/0732 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 7, 2024
From: NIKE 360 HOLDING B.V.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 068214/0736 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20260033594A1 · Feb 5, 2026
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