EP2967192B1 - Article of footwear with plate - Google Patents
Article of footwear with plate Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2967192B1 EP2967192B1 EP14717347.0A EP14717347A EP2967192B1 EP 2967192 B1 EP2967192 B1 EP 2967192B1 EP 14717347 A EP14717347 A EP 14717347A EP 2967192 B1 EP2967192 B1 EP 2967192B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- plate
- footwear
- arms
- article
- lower plate
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Links
- 210000004744 fore-foot Anatomy 0.000 claims description 19
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 210000000452 mid-foot Anatomy 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims description 2
- 210000002683 foot Anatomy 0.000 description 20
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 16
- 239000011800 void material Substances 0.000 description 8
- 210000000474 heel Anatomy 0.000 description 6
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 230000000386 athletic effect Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000006261 foam material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000004753 textile Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000010985 leather Substances 0.000 description 3
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004952 Polyamide Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004721 Polyphenylene oxide Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004433 Thermoplastic polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920002647 polyamide Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920000570 polyether Polymers 0.000 description 2
- MHSKRLJMQQNJNC-UHFFFAOYSA-N terephthalamide Chemical class NC(=O)C1=CC=C(C(N)=O)C=C1 MHSKRLJMQQNJNC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229920002803 thermoplastic polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 2
- -1 Kevlar® Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229920000271 Kevlar® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002614 Polyether block amide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000004712 air sac Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 210000003423 ankle Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000004760 aramid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003235 aromatic polyamide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 210000000459 calcaneus Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 description 1
- BFMKFCLXZSUVPI-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethyl but-3-enoate Chemical compound CCOC(=O)CC=C BFMKFCLXZSUVPI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002649 leather substitute Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000001872 metatarsal bone Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920002635 polyurethane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004814 polyurethane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000003371 toe Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
- A43B13/026—Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
- A43B13/12—Soles with several layers of different materials
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
- A43B13/12—Soles with several layers of different materials
- A43B13/125—Soles with several layers of different materials characterised by the midsole or middle layer
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/18—Resilient soles
- A43B13/181—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
- A43B13/183—Leaf springs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/18—Resilient soles
- A43B13/181—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
- A43B13/184—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole the structure protruding from the outsole
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to an article of footwear, and, in particular, to an article of footwear with forefoot plates.
- Conventional articles of athletic footwear include two primary elements, an upper and a sole structure.
- the upper provides a covering for the foot that comfortably receives and securely positions the foot with respect to the sole structure.
- the upper may have a configuration that protects the foot and provides ventilation, thereby cooling the foot and removing perspiration.
- the sole structure is secured to a lower portion of the upper and is generally positioned between the foot and the ground.
- the sole structure may provide traction, control foot motions (e.g., by resisting over pronation), and impart stability, for example. Accordingly, the upper and the sole structure operate cooperatively to provide a comfortable structure that is suited for a wide variety of activities, such as walking and running.
- the sole structure generally incorporates multiple layers that are conventionally referred to as an insole, a midsole, and an outsole.
- the insole is a thin, compressible member located within the upper and adjacent to a plantar (i.e., lower) surface of the foot to enhance footwear comfort.
- the midsole which is conventionally secured to the upper along the length of the upper, forms a middle layer of the sole structure and is primarily responsible for attenuating ground reaction forces.
- the outsole forms the ground-contacting element of footwear and is usually fashioned from a durable, wear-resistant material that includes texturing to improve traction.
- the conventional midsole is primarily formed from a resilient, polymer foam material, such as polyurethane or ethylvinylacetate, that extends throughout the length of the footwear.
- the properties of the polymer foam material in the midsole are primarily dependent upon factors that include the dimensional configuration of the midsole and the specific characteristics of the material selected for the polymer foam, including the density of the polymer foam material. By varying these factors throughout the midsole, the relative stiffness and degree of ground reaction force attenuation may be altered to meet the specific demands of the activity for which the footwear is intended to be used.
- conventional midsoles may include, for example, one or more fluid-filled bladders and moderators.
- US 2009/0178303 discloses an article of footwear that includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper.
- the sole assembly has an upper plate and a lower plate in a forefoot portion of the sole assembly, and a plurality of arms curving upwardly and downwardly from the upper plate.
- the following discussion and accompanying figures disclose various embodiments of a sole structure for an article of footwear.
- Concepts related to the sole structure are disclosed with reference to footwear having a configuration that is suitable for athletic activities, e.g., the sport of basketball.
- the sole structure may be applied to a wide range of athletic footwear styles, including tennis shoes, football shoes, cross-training shoes, walking shoes, soccer shoes, and hiking boots, for example.
- the sole structure may also be applied to footwear styles that are generally considered to be non-athletic, including dress shoes, loafers, sandals, and work boots.
- An individual skilled in the relevant art will appreciate, therefore, that the concepts disclosed herein apply to a wide variety of footwear styles, in addition to the specific style discussed in the following material and depicted in the accompanying figures.
- footwear 10 is depicted in Figures 1 and 2 as including an upper 12 and a sole assembly 14.
- footwear 10 may be divided into three general portions: a forefoot portion 16, a midfoot portion 18, and a heel portion 20, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 .
- Footwear 10 also includes a lateral side 22 and a medial side 24.
- Forefoot portion 16 generally includes portions of footwear 10 corresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges.
- Midfoot portion 18 generally includes portions of footwear 10 corresponding with the arch area of the foot, and heel portion 20 corresponds with rear portions of the foot, including the calcaneus bone.
- Lateral side 22 and medial side 24 extend through each of portions 16-20 and correspond with opposite sides of footwear 10.
- Portions 16-20 and sides 22-24 are not intended to demarcate precise areas of footwear 10. Rather, portions 16-20 and sides 22-24 are intended to represent general areas of footwear 10 to aid in the following discussion. In addition to footwear 10, portions 16-20 and sides 22-24 may also be applied to upper 12, sole assembly 14, and individual elements thereof.
- directional terms used herein such as rearwardly, forwardly, inwardly, downwardly, upwardly, etc., refer to directions relative to footwear 10 itself.
- Footwear 10 is shown in FIG. 1 to be disposed substantially horizontally, as it would be positioned on a horizontal surface when worn by a wearer.
- footwear 10 need not be limited to such an orientation.
- rearwardly is toward heel portion 20, that is, to the right as seen in FIG. 1 .
- forwardly is toward forefoot portion 16, that is, to the left as seen in FIG. 1
- downwardly is toward the bottom of the page as seen in FIG. 1 .
- Inwardly is toward the center of footwear 10, and outwardly is toward the outer peripheral edge of footwear 10.
- Upper 12 forms an interior void that comfortably receives a foot and secures the position of the foot relative to sole assembly 14.
- the configuration of upper 12, as depicted, is suitable for use during athletic activities that involve running.
- upper 12 may have a lightweight, breathable construction that includes multiple layers of leather, textile, polymer, and foam elements adhesively bonded and stitched together.
- upper 12 may have an exterior that includes leather elements and textile elements for resisting abrasion and providing breathability, respectively.
- the interior of upper 12 may have foam elements for enhancing the comfort of footwear 10, and the interior surface may include a moisture-wicking textile for removing excess moisture from the area immediately surrounding the foot.
- Sole assembly 14 may be secured to upper 12 by an adhesive, or any other suitable fastening means.
- sole assembly 14 includes an insole (not shown) located within upper 12, a midsole 26, and an outsole 28.
- Midsole 26 is attached to upper 12 and functions as the primary shock-attenuating and energy-absorbing component of footwear 10.
- Outsole 28 is attached to the lower surface of midsole 26 by adhesive or other suitable means. Suitable materials for outsole 28 include traditional rubber materials.
- sole assembly 14 may not include an outsole layer separate from midsole 26 but, rather, the outsole may comprise a bottom surface of midsole 26 that provides the external traction surface of sole assembly 14.
- Upper 12 is depicted as having a substantially conventional configuration that incorporates a plurality material elements (e.g., textiles, foam, leather, and synthetic leather) stitched or adhesively bonded together to form an interior void for securely and comfortably receiving a foot.
- the material elements may be selected and located with respect to upper 12 in order to selectively impart properties of durability, air-permeability, wear-resistance, flexibility, and comfort, for example.
- the material elements form a structure that defines an interior void for receiving the foot.
- An ankle opening 30 in heel portion 20 provides access to the interior void.
- upper 12 may include a lace 32 that is utilized in a conventional manner to modify the dimensions of the interior void, thereby securing the foot within the interior void and facilitating entry and removal of the foot from the interior void.
- Lace 32 may extend through apertures in upper 12, and a tongue portion of upper 12 may extend between the interior void and lace 32.
- upper 12 may exhibit the general configuration discussed above or the general configuration of practically any other conventional or non-conventional upper. Accordingly, the structure of upper 12 may vary significantly within the scope of the present invention.
- Sole assembly 14 includes an upper plate 34 secured to a lower surface of midsole 26.
- a lower plate 36 includes a plurality of lower plate arms 33 that curve downwardly from upper plate 34, In the illustrated embodiment, lower plate arms 38 curve downwardly and outwardly from upper plate 34 such that they are substantially concave with respect to upper plate 34.
- Each lower plate arm 38 is spaced from adjacent lower plate arm 38 by a slot 40 formed in lower plate 36.
- Lower plate 36 is seen in FIG. 2 with outsole 28 not shown for clarity purposes.
- lower plate 36 includes a first lateral lower plate arm 38A positioned in a front portion of forefoot portion 16 of sole assembly 14.
- a second lateral lower plate arm 38B is positioned in a central portion of forefoot portion 16 of sole assembly 14.
- a third lateral lower plate arm 38C is positioned in a rear portion of forefoot portion 16 of sole assembly 14.
- lower plate 36 includes a first medial lower plate arm 38D positioned in a front portion of forefoot portion 16 of sole assembly 14.
- a second medial lower plate arm 38E is positioned in a central portion of forefoot portion 16 of sole assembly 14.
- a third medial lower plate arm 38F is positioned in a rear portion of forefoot portion 16 of sole assembly 14.
- lower plate 36 and upper plate 34 are of unitary, that is, one-piece, construction.
- Upper plate 34 and lower plate members 36 may be formed or any number of materials including glass-filled nylon, carbon-filled materials, polyamides such as Aramid, produced by Dupont, and a poly-paraphenylene terephthalamides such as Kevlar®, produced by Dupont, a polyether block copolyamide (sold as Pebax® by ATOFINA Chemicals of Philadelphia, PA), a blend of a polyether block copolyamide with another material (such as glass-filled nylon, carbon-filled materials, polyamides, or poly-paraphenylene terephthalamides), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or other materials.
- Such materials are advantageously cut resistant and provide good dimensional stability for sole assembly 14.
- Outsole 28 may be formed of a plurality of outsole portions 28A, each of which is secured to a lower surface of a corresponding lower plate arm 36A-F, as seen in FIG. 1 .
- heel portion 20 of sole assembly 14 includes a pivot element 33 including an upper support 35 connected to a lower support 37 by way of a coupling 39. Coupling 39 allows upper support 35 to pivot with respect to lower support 37. It is to be appreciated that heel portion 20 may have a more conventional configuration in other embodiments.
- FIG. 4 Another embodiment of footwear 10 is shown in FIG. 4 , in which a first lateral insert 42 is provided between upper plate 34 and first, second, and third medial lower plate arms 38D, E, F. Similarly a second medial insert 44 is provided between upper plate 34 and first, second, and third lateral lower plate arms 38A, B, C. Lateral insert 42 and medial insert 44 may be formed of an air bladder, an elastomer, or a foam material, for example, and serve to provide additional support and cushioning for sole assembly 14.
- upper plate 34 is formed of a first front portion 34A positioned in a front portion of forefoot portion 16 of sole assembly 14, a second central portion 34B spaced slightly rearwardly from front portion 34A and positioned in a central portion of forefoot portion 16 of sole assembly 14, and a third rear portion 34C spaced slightly rearwardly from middle portion 34B and positioned in a rear portion of forefoot portion 16 of sole assembly 14.
- Lateral lower plate arms 38A, 38B, and 38C extend from front portions 34A, central portion 34B, and rear portion 34C, respectively, of upper plate 34.
- Medial lower plate arms 38D, 38E, and 38F extend from front portion 34A, central portion 34B, and rear portion 34C, respectively, of upper plate 34.
- upper plate 34 formed of three separate and distinct portions, with accompanying lower plate arms, forefoot portion 16 of footwear 10 can more easily bend and flex, thereby enhancing comfort and flexibility of footwear 10.
- upper plate 34 and lower plate arms 38A-E are of unitary construction. It other embodiments, as seen in FIG. 6 , upper plate and lower plate arms 38A-E may be separate elements secured to one another with adhesive or other suitable fastening means.
- upper plate 34 includes a plurality of upper plate arms 46 and lower plate 36 includes a plurality of lower plate arms 48.
- lower plate arms 48 curve outwardly and downwardly from upper plate 34 such that lower plate arms 48 are substantially convex with respect to upper plate 34.
- Upper plate arms 46 and lower plate arms 48 are staggered, or offset, with respect to one another such that no upper plate arm 46 is positioned above a lower plate arm 48 and vice versa.
- midsole 26 includes a first portion 26A positioned above upper plate 34 and a second portion 26B positioned bellow lower plate arms 48. It can be seen that in this embodiment, second portion 26B has been cut away between adjacent lower plate arms 48. Additionally, in this embodiment, upper plate arms 46 and lower plate arms 48 extend along substantially the entire length of sole assembly 14. It is to be appreciated that upper plate arms 46 and lower plate arms 48 can be positioned at any location along sole assembly 14.
- the upper and lower plate arms can be modified to optimize performance and comfort.
- the material, thickness, degree of curvature, length or any other aspects of the geometry of the arms can be altered to affect their performance.
- a first rib 50 extends along an upper surface of each lower plate arm 48 and a second rib 52 extends along a lower surface of each upper plate arm 46.
- a first rib 50 may be provided on one or more but not all of lower plate arms 48, and that a second rib 52 may be provided on one or more but not all of upper plate arms 46.
- FIG. 7 may be constructed such that upper plate 34 is common to both upper plate arms 46 and lower plate arms 48, as seen in FIG. 9 .
- upper plate 34 could alternatively be referred to simply as a plate
- upper plate arms 46 and lower plate arms 48 could alternatively be referred to as upper arms and lower arms, respectively.
- the upper and lower arms 46, 48 alternately curve upwardly and downwardly from the plate, in butterfly fashion.
- FIG. 8 Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 8 , which is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 , with one exception.
- lower portion 26B of midsole 26B is not cut away between adjacent lower plate arms 48, but, rather, is a contiguous midsole along the length of sole assembly 14.
- the curvature of the arms helps to relieve stress encountered during use of footwear 10.
- the arms of sole assembly 14 provide independent suspension for running on uneven surfaces, and provide a more stable ride for the foot as the independent elements adapt to the uneven terrain.
- FIG. 10 Another embodiment is shown in Fig. 10 , in which upper plate 34 could be referred to simply as a plate 34, and upper plate arms 46 and lower plate arms 48 could alternatively be referred to as upper arms 46 and lower arms 48, respectively.
- Plate 34 includes a spine 54 to which each of upper arms 46 and lower arms 48 are connected.
- Upper arms 46 extend outwardly and upwardly from spine 54
- lower arms 48 extend outwardly and downwardly from spine 54.
- Spine 54 has a longitudinal axis L that is curved when viewed from above.
- longitudinal axis L of spine 54 has compound curve shape, that is, it is curved in multiple directions.
- At least one upper arm 46' on lateral side 22 of plate 34 is opposed laterally from a corresponding lower arm 48' on medial side 24 of plate 34. In certain embodiments, at least one upper arm 46" on medial side 24 of plate 34 is opposed laterally from a corresponding lower arm 48" on lateral side 22 of plate 34.
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Description
- This invention relates generally to an article of footwear, and, in particular, to an article of footwear with forefoot plates.
- Conventional articles of athletic footwear include two primary elements, an upper and a sole structure. The upper provides a covering for the foot that comfortably receives and securely positions the foot with respect to the sole structure. In addition, the upper may have a configuration that protects the foot and provides ventilation, thereby cooling the foot and removing perspiration. The sole structure is secured to a lower portion of the upper and is generally positioned between the foot and the ground. In addition to attenuating ground reaction forces, the sole structure may provide traction, control foot motions (e.g., by resisting over pronation), and impart stability, for example. Accordingly, the upper and the sole structure operate cooperatively to provide a comfortable structure that is suited for a wide variety of activities, such as walking and running.
- The sole structure generally incorporates multiple layers that are conventionally referred to as an insole, a midsole, and an outsole. The insole is a thin, compressible member located within the upper and adjacent to a plantar (i.e., lower) surface of the foot to enhance footwear comfort. The midsole, which is conventionally secured to the upper along the length of the upper, forms a middle layer of the sole structure and is primarily responsible for attenuating ground reaction forces. The outsole forms the ground-contacting element of footwear and is usually fashioned from a durable, wear-resistant material that includes texturing to improve traction.
- The conventional midsole is primarily formed from a resilient, polymer foam material, such as polyurethane or ethylvinylacetate, that extends throughout the length of the footwear. The properties of the polymer foam material in the midsole are primarily dependent upon factors that include the dimensional configuration of the midsole and the specific characteristics of the material selected for the polymer foam, including the density of the polymer foam material. By varying these factors throughout the midsole, the relative stiffness and degree of ground reaction force attenuation may be altered to meet the specific demands of the activity for which the footwear is intended to be used. In addition to polymer foam materials, conventional midsoles may include, for example, one or more fluid-filled bladders and moderators.
US 2009/0178303 discloses an article of footwear that includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly has an upper plate and a lower plate in a forefoot portion of the sole assembly, and a plurality of arms curving upwardly and downwardly from the upper plate. - It would be desirable to provide an article of footwear that reduces or overcomes some or all of the difficulties inherent in prior known devices. Particular objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following disclosure of the invention and detailed description of certain embodiments.
- The present invention is defined in the appended claims.
-
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FIG. 1 is an elevation view of an article of footwear with a forefoot plate. -
FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 , shown without an outsole. -
FIG. 3 is a partial section view of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 , taken along line 3-3 ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a partial section view of an alternative embodiment of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of another alternative embodiment of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 , shown without an outsole. -
FIG. 6 is a partial section view of an alternative embodiment of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further alternative embodiment of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet a further alternative embodiment of the article of footwear ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 9 is a section view of an embodiment of the plate assembly of the article of footwear ofFIG. 7 . -
FIG. 10 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the plate of the article of footwear ofFIG. 7 . - The figures referred to above are not drawn necessarily to scale and should be understood to provide a representation of the invention, illustrative of the principles involved. Some features of the article of footwear with a forefoot plate depicted in the drawings have been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate explanation and understanding. The same reference numbers are used in the drawings for similar or identical components and features shown in various alternative embodiments. Articles of footwear with a forefoot plate as disclosed herein would have configurations and components determined, in part, by the intended application and environment in which they are used.
- The following discussion and accompanying figures disclose various embodiments of a sole structure for an article of footwear. Concepts related to the sole structure are disclosed with reference to footwear having a configuration that is suitable for athletic activities, e.g., the sport of basketball. However, the sole structure may be applied to a wide range of athletic footwear styles, including tennis shoes, football shoes, cross-training shoes, walking shoes, soccer shoes, and hiking boots, for example. The sole structure may also be applied to footwear styles that are generally considered to be non-athletic, including dress shoes, loafers, sandals, and work boots. An individual skilled in the relevant art will appreciate, therefore, that the concepts disclosed herein apply to a wide variety of footwear styles, in addition to the specific style discussed in the following material and depicted in the accompanying figures.
- An article of
footwear 10 is depicted inFigures 1 and 2 as including an upper 12 and asole assembly 14. For reference purposes,footwear 10 may be divided into three general portions: aforefoot portion 16, amidfoot portion 18, and aheel portion 20, as shown inFigures 1 and 2 . Footwear 10 also includes alateral side 22 and amedial side 24.Forefoot portion 16 generally includes portions offootwear 10 corresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges.Midfoot portion 18 generally includes portions offootwear 10 corresponding with the arch area of the foot, andheel portion 20 corresponds with rear portions of the foot, including the calcaneus bone.Lateral side 22 andmedial side 24 extend through each of portions 16-20 and correspond with opposite sides offootwear 10. Portions 16-20 and sides 22-24 are not intended to demarcate precise areas offootwear 10. Rather, portions 16-20 and sides 22-24 are intended to represent general areas offootwear 10 to aid in the following discussion. In addition tofootwear 10, portions 16-20 and sides 22-24 may also be applied to upper 12,sole assembly 14, and individual elements thereof. - The figures illustrate only the article of footwear intended for use on the right foot of a wearer. One skilled in the art will recognize that a left article of footwear, such article being the mirror image of the right, is intended to fall within the scope of the present invention.
- Unless otherwise stated, or otherwise clear from the context below, directional terms used herein, such as rearwardly, forwardly, inwardly, downwardly, upwardly, etc., refer to directions relative to
footwear 10 itself. Footwear 10 is shown inFIG. 1 to be disposed substantially horizontally, as it would be positioned on a horizontal surface when worn by a wearer. However, it is to be appreciated thatfootwear 10 need not be limited to such an orientation. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 1 , rearwardly is towardheel portion 20, that is, to the right as seen inFIG. 1 . Naturally, forwardly is towardforefoot portion 16, that is, to the left as seen inFIG. 1 , and downwardly is toward the bottom of the page as seen inFIG. 1 . Inwardly is toward the center offootwear 10, and outwardly is toward the outer peripheral edge offootwear 10. - Upper 12 forms an interior void that comfortably receives a foot and secures the position of the foot relative to
sole assembly 14. The configuration of upper 12, as depicted, is suitable for use during athletic activities that involve running. Accordingly, upper 12 may have a lightweight, breathable construction that includes multiple layers of leather, textile, polymer, and foam elements adhesively bonded and stitched together. For example, upper 12 may have an exterior that includes leather elements and textile elements for resisting abrasion and providing breathability, respectively. The interior of upper 12 may have foam elements for enhancing the comfort offootwear 10, and the interior surface may include a moisture-wicking textile for removing excess moisture from the area immediately surrounding the foot. -
Sole assembly 14 may be secured to upper 12 by an adhesive, or any other suitable fastening means.Sole assembly 14, which is generally disposed between the foot of the wearer and the ground, provides attenuation of ground reaction forces (i.e., imparting cushioning), traction, and may control foot motions, such as pronation. As with conventional articles of footwear,sole assembly 14 includes an insole (not shown) located within upper 12, amidsole 26, and anoutsole 28.Midsole 26 is attached to upper 12 and functions as the primary shock-attenuating and energy-absorbing component offootwear 10.Outsole 28 is attached to the lower surface ofmidsole 26 by adhesive or other suitable means. Suitable materials foroutsole 28 include traditional rubber materials. Other suitable materials foroutsole 28 will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure. In certain embodiments,sole assembly 14 may not include an outsole layer separate frommidsole 26 but, rather, the outsole may comprise a bottom surface ofmidsole 26 that provides the external traction surface ofsole assembly 14. -
Upper 12 is depicted as having a substantially conventional configuration that incorporates a plurality material elements (e.g., textiles, foam, leather, and synthetic leather) stitched or adhesively bonded together to form an interior void for securely and comfortably receiving a foot. The material elements may be selected and located with respect to upper 12 in order to selectively impart properties of durability, air-permeability, wear-resistance, flexibility, and comfort, for example. The material elements form a structure that defines an interior void for receiving the foot. Anankle opening 30 inheel portion 20 provides access to the interior void. In addition, upper 12 may include alace 32 that is utilized in a conventional manner to modify the dimensions of the interior void, thereby securing the foot within the interior void and facilitating entry and removal of the foot from the interior void.Lace 32 may extend through apertures in upper 12, and a tongue portion of upper 12 may extend between the interior void andlace 32. Given that various aspects of the present application primarily relate tosole assembly 14, upper 12 may exhibit the general configuration discussed above or the general configuration of practically any other conventional or non-conventional upper. Accordingly, the structure of upper 12 may vary significantly within the scope of the present invention. -
Sole assembly 14 includes anupper plate 34 secured to a lower surface ofmidsole 26. Alower plate 36 includes a plurality oflower plate arms 33 that curve downwardly fromupper plate 34, In the illustrated embodiment, lower plate arms 38 curve downwardly and outwardly fromupper plate 34 such that they are substantially concave with respect toupper plate 34. - Each lower plate arm 38 is spaced from adjacent lower plate arm 38 by a
slot 40 formed inlower plate 36.Lower plate 36 is seen inFIG. 2 withoutsole 28 not shown for clarity purposes. - In certain embodiments
lower plate 36 includes a first laterallower plate arm 38A positioned in a front portion offorefoot portion 16 ofsole assembly 14. A second laterallower plate arm 38B is positioned in a central portion offorefoot portion 16 ofsole assembly 14. A third laterallower plate arm 38C is positioned in a rear portion offorefoot portion 16 ofsole assembly 14. - Similarly,
lower plate 36 includes a first mediallower plate arm 38D positioned in a front portion offorefoot portion 16 ofsole assembly 14. A second mediallower plate arm 38E is positioned in a central portion offorefoot portion 16 ofsole assembly 14. A third mediallower plate arm 38F is positioned in a rear portion offorefoot portion 16 ofsole assembly 14. - In certain embodiments,
lower plate 36 andupper plate 34 are of unitary, that is, one-piece, construction.Upper plate 34 andlower plate members 36 may be formed or any number of materials including glass-filled nylon, carbon-filled materials, polyamides such as Aramid, produced by Dupont, and a poly-paraphenylene terephthalamides such as Kevlar®, produced by Dupont, a polyether block copolyamide (sold as Pebax® by ATOFINA Chemicals of Philadelphia, PA), a blend of a polyether block copolyamide with another material (such as glass-filled nylon, carbon-filled materials, polyamides, or poly-paraphenylene terephthalamides), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or other materials. Such materials are advantageously cut resistant and provide good dimensional stability forsole assembly 14. -
Outsole 28 may be formed of a plurality ofoutsole portions 28A, each of which is secured to a lower surface of a correspondinglower plate arm 36A-F, as seen inFIG. 1 . - In the illustrated embodiment,
heel portion 20 ofsole assembly 14 includes apivot element 33 including anupper support 35 connected to alower support 37 by way of acoupling 39.Coupling 39 allowsupper support 35 to pivot with respect tolower support 37. It is to be appreciated thatheel portion 20 may have a more conventional configuration in other embodiments. - Another embodiment of
footwear 10 is shown inFIG. 4 , in which a firstlateral insert 42 is provided betweenupper plate 34 and first, second, and third mediallower plate arms 38D, E, F. Similarly a secondmedial insert 44 is provided betweenupper plate 34 and first, second, and third laterallower plate arms 38A, B, C. Lateral insert 42 andmedial insert 44 may be formed of an air bladder, an elastomer, or a foam material, for example, and serve to provide additional support and cushioning forsole assembly 14. - Another embodiment of
footwear 10 is shown inFIG. 4 , in whichupper plate 34 is formed of a firstfront portion 34A positioned in a front portion offorefoot portion 16 ofsole assembly 14, a secondcentral portion 34B spaced slightly rearwardly fromfront portion 34A and positioned in a central portion offorefoot portion 16 ofsole assembly 14, and a thirdrear portion 34C spaced slightly rearwardly frommiddle portion 34B and positioned in a rear portion offorefoot portion 16 ofsole assembly 14. Laterallower plate arms front portions 34A,central portion 34B, andrear portion 34C, respectively, ofupper plate 34. Mediallower plate arms front portion 34A,central portion 34B, andrear portion 34C, respectively, ofupper plate 34. In such an embodiment, withupper plate 34 formed of three separate and distinct portions, with accompanying lower plate arms,forefoot portion 16 offootwear 10 can more easily bend and flex, thereby enhancing comfort and flexibility offootwear 10. - In certain embodiments, as seen in
FIG. 3 ,upper plate 34 andlower plate arms 38A-E are of unitary construction. It other embodiments, as seen inFIG. 6 , upper plate andlower plate arms 38A-E may be separate elements secured to one another with adhesive or other suitable fastening means. - Another embodiment is shown in
FIG. 7 . In this embodiment,upper plate 34 includes a plurality ofupper plate arms 46 andlower plate 36 includes a plurality oflower plate arms 48. In this embodiment,lower plate arms 48 curve outwardly and downwardly fromupper plate 34 such thatlower plate arms 48 are substantially convex with respect toupper plate 34.Upper plate arms 46 andlower plate arms 48 are staggered, or offset, with respect to one another such that noupper plate arm 46 is positioned above alower plate arm 48 and vice versa. - In the illustrated embodiment,
midsole 26 includes afirst portion 26A positioned aboveupper plate 34 and asecond portion 26B positioned bellowlower plate arms 48. It can be seen that in this embodiment,second portion 26B has been cut away between adjacentlower plate arms 48. Additionally, in this embodiment,upper plate arms 46 andlower plate arms 48 extend along substantially the entire length ofsole assembly 14. It is to be appreciated thatupper plate arms 46 andlower plate arms 48 can be positioned at any location alongsole assembly 14. - It is to be appreciated that the upper and lower plate arms can be modified to optimize performance and comfort. The material, thickness, degree of curvature, length or any other aspects of the geometry of the arms can be altered to affect their performance. For example, in certain embodiments, as seen in
FIG. 7 , afirst rib 50 extends along an upper surface of eachlower plate arm 48 and asecond rib 52 extends along a lower surface of eachupper plate arm 46. It is to be appreciated that in certain embodiments, afirst rib 50 may be provided on one or more but not all oflower plate arms 48, and that asecond rib 52 may be provided on one or more but not all ofupper plate arms 46. - It is to be appreciated that the embodiment illustrated in
FIG. 7 may be constructed such thatupper plate 34 is common to bothupper plate arms 46 andlower plate arms 48, as seen inFIG. 9 . In such an embodiment,upper plate 34 could alternatively be referred to simply as a plate, andupper plate arms 46 andlower plate arms 48 could alternatively be referred to as upper arms and lower arms, respectively. As can be seenFIGS. 7 &9 , the upper andlower arms - Another embodiment is shown in
FIG. 8 , which is similar to the embodiment shown inFIG. 7 , with one exception. In the embodiment ofFIG. 8 ,lower portion 26B ofmidsole 26B is not cut away between adjacentlower plate arms 48, but, rather, is a contiguous midsole along the length ofsole assembly 14. - The spring-like action of the arms of
sole assembly 14, which are pre-flexed in a curved condition, helps a user change direction and cut when usingfootwear 10, thereby improving propulsion for the user. The curvature of the arms helps to relieve stress encountered during use offootwear 10. The arms ofsole assembly 14 provide independent suspension for running on uneven surfaces, and provide a more stable ride for the foot as the independent elements adapt to the uneven terrain. - Another embodiment is shown in
Fig. 10 , in whichupper plate 34 could be referred to simply as aplate 34, andupper plate arms 46 andlower plate arms 48 could alternatively be referred to asupper arms 46 andlower arms 48, respectively.Plate 34 includes aspine 54 to which each ofupper arms 46 andlower arms 48 are connected.Upper arms 46 extend outwardly and upwardly fromspine 54, andlower arms 48 extend outwardly and downwardly fromspine 54. Like that of the -
Spine 54 has a longitudinal axis L that is curved when viewed from above. In certain embodiments, longitudinal axis L ofspine 54 has compound curve shape, that is, it is curved in multiple directions. - In certain embodiments, at least one upper arm 46' on
lateral side 22 ofplate 34 is opposed laterally from a corresponding lower arm 48' onmedial side 24 ofplate 34. In certain embodiments, at least oneupper arm 46" onmedial side 24 ofplate 34 is opposed laterally from a correspondinglower arm 48" onlateral side 22 ofplate 34. - In light of the foregoing disclosure of the invention and description of various embodiments, those skilled in this area of technology will readily understand that various modifications and adaptations can be made. All such modifications and adaptations are intended to be covered by the following claims.
Claims (5)
- An article of footwear (10) comprising, in combination:an upper (12);an outsole (28) positioned beneath the upper; anda plate (34) positioned between the upper and the outsole and comprising:a spine (54) having a longitudinal axis (L) that is curved when viewed from above;a plurality of upper arms (46) extending outwardly and upwardly from the spine; anda plurality of lower arms (48) extending outwardly and downwardly from the spine,wherein in a heel portion (20) of the plate, upper arms on a lateral side (22) of the plate are opposed laterally by upper arms on a medial side (24) of the plate, and lower arms on the lateral side of the plate are opposed laterally by lower arms on the medial side of the plate, and wherein in the forefoot (16) and midfoot (18) portions of the plate at least one upper arm on the lateral side (22) of the plate is opposed laterally from a corresponding lower arm on the medial side (24) of the plate, and at least one upper arm on the medial side of the plate is opposed laterally from a corresponding lower arm on the lateral side of the plate.
- The article of footwear (10) of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis (L) of the spine (54) has a compound curve shape when viewed from above.
- The article of footwear (10) of claim 1, wherein the plate (34) extends along substantially an entire length of the article of footwear.
- The article of footwear (10) of claim 1, wherein the upper arms (46) and lower arms (48) alternate with one another along the lateral side (21) and the medial side (24) of the plate (34).
- The article of footwear (10) of claim 1, wherein the plate (34) is formed of glass-filled nylon.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/834,159 US8978272B2 (en) | 2008-01-11 | 2013-03-15 | Article of footwear with forefoot plates |
PCT/US2014/027037 WO2014152175A1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2014-03-14 | Article of footwear with forefoot plates |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2967192A1 EP2967192A1 (en) | 2016-01-20 |
EP2967192B1 true EP2967192B1 (en) | 2018-04-25 |
Family
ID=50483577
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP14717347.0A Active EP2967192B1 (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2014-03-14 | Article of footwear with plate |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP2967192B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2016512134A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20150122207A (en) |
CN (1) | CN105188446A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014152175A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP6581344B2 (en) * | 2014-10-31 | 2019-09-25 | アキレス株式会社 | Breathable shoes |
HRP20160897A2 (en) * | 2016-07-19 | 2018-01-26 | Rolf StĂĽckle | Multifunctional multilayered integrated anatomical and orthopedic insoles |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6892479B2 (en) * | 2002-06-26 | 2005-05-17 | Nike, Inc. | Article of cleated footwear having medial and lateral sides with differing properties |
CN100528023C (en) * | 2003-07-17 | 2009-08-19 | 红翼鞋业公司 | Integral spine structure for footwear |
US8151485B2 (en) * | 2008-01-11 | 2012-04-10 | Nike, Inc. | Article of footwear with forefoot plates |
JP5602829B2 (en) * | 2009-03-23 | 2014-10-08 | ニュー バランス アスレティック シュー,インコーポレーテッド | Sole that increases instability |
US8365442B2 (en) * | 2010-03-03 | 2013-02-05 | Nike, Inc. | Cleat assembly |
EP2446768A2 (en) * | 2010-10-05 | 2012-05-02 | Jione Frs Corporation | Midsole for a shoe |
-
2014
- 2014-03-14 KR KR1020157026261A patent/KR20150122207A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2014-03-14 CN CN201480014393.XA patent/CN105188446A/en active Pending
- 2014-03-14 EP EP14717347.0A patent/EP2967192B1/en active Active
- 2014-03-14 JP JP2016502316A patent/JP2016512134A/en active Pending
- 2014-03-14 WO PCT/US2014/027037 patent/WO2014152175A1/en active Application Filing
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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None * |
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JP2016512134A (en) | 2016-04-25 |
KR20150122207A (en) | 2015-10-30 |
CN105188446A (en) | 2015-12-23 |
EP2967192A1 (en) | 2016-01-20 |
WO2014152175A1 (en) | 2014-09-25 |
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