Articles of footwear with asymmetrical segmented plates

US11412812B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• NIKE, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Leslie Barnes · Portland, US
• Thomas G. Bell · Portland, US
• Dustin A. Hatfield · Los Gatos, US
• John Hurd · Lake Oswego, US
• Troy C. Lindner · Portland, US
• Geng Luo · Portland, US
• Gordon A. Valiant · Beaverton, US
• Jay T. Worobets · Portland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 4, 2020
• Grant date: Aug 16, 2022
• Expiry date: Aug 28, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A43B13/026
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A pair of sole plates for a complementary pair of articles of footwear may generally include a first article with a first sole plate and a second article with a second sole plate, where the first sole plate is asymmetrical with respect to the second sole plate. The first sole plate includes a first groove that extends along a first lateral side of the first sole plate, and the second sole plate includes a second groove that extends along a second medial side of the second sole plate. The asymmetry of first sole plate with respect to second sole plate may improve performance, flexibility, and agility during running and in particular, during athletic events along a curved track.