Article of footwear having a sole with a flex control member
US7181868B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 2002 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA43C15/161
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An article of footwear includes an upper for holding a foot of a wearer and a sole having an outsole plate. Several ground engaging members extends downwardly from the outsole plate to provide traction. The outsole plate includes a flex control member composed of a superelastic shape memory material or a nickel-titanium alloy. The flex control member can be coupled to an inside surface, or bottom surface of the outsole plate. The outsole plate may include a rearfoot region, a midfoot region, and a first metatarsal head region, in which the regions generally correspond to the skeletal structure of a human foot. The flex control member extends from a medial side of the rearfoot region through the midfoot region and into the first metatarsal head region of the outsole plate. The ground engaging members may be positioned to extend from the location of the flex control member.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.