Sole structure for an article of footwear having a nonlinear bending stiffness with compression grooves and descending ribs
US10182612B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 2, 2016 |
| Grant date | Jan 22, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA43C15/16
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a foot-facing surface with a forefoot portion, and a ground-facing surface opposite from the foot-facing surface. The sole plate has a plurality of grooves extending at least partially transversely relative to the sole plate in the forefoot portion of the foot-facing surface, and a plurality of ribs protruding at the ground-facing surface, extending at least partially transversely relative to the sole plate, and underlying the plurality of grooves. At least some grooves of the plurality of grooves are configured to be open when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and closed when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.