Nike, Inc.

Aaron A C Cooper

Robert M Bruce

Bo Lupo

Kurt Joseph Stockbridge

Eric P Avar

Thomas C Foxen

Tom Luedecke

David J Dirsa

Michael H C Hui

Marni L Gerber

Omar Velazquez

A sole structure of an article of footwear includes a first outer region, a second outer region, and a third outer region. The first outer region is at least partially disposed a first distance from a longitudinal axis and includes a first hardness. The second outer region is at least partially disposed a second distance from the longitudinal axis and includes a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness. The third outer region is at least partially disposed between the first outer region and the second outer region a third distance from the longitudinal axis and includes a third hardness that is greater than the first hardness and less than the second hardness. The second distance is greater than the first distance, and the third distance is greater than the first distance and less than the second distance.

Sole structure having differing hardness regions

An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, a slotted eyelet, an opening, and a tensile strand. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and has a medial portion and a lateral portion. The slotted eyelet is formed in the medial portion or the lateral portion and has a major axis and a minor axis. A length of the slotted eyelet along the major axis is larger than a width of the slotted eyelet along the minor axis. The opening is formed in the medial portion or the lateral portion, and the opening is spaced apart from the slotted eyelet. The tensile strand has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends through the opening and defines an aperture adjacent the slotted eyelet, and the second portion extends from the first portion toward the sole structure.

Article of footwear with upper having tensile strands

An upper structure of an article of footwear includes an upper, a cuff member, and a strobel. The upper includes an exterior upper member and an interior upper member. The cuff member includes a first end coupled to the exterior upper member and a second end coupled to the interior upper member. The cuff member is folded over on itself at a fold to define an ankle opening. The strobel is coupled to the upper and cooperates with the upper to at least partially define a foot-receiving void.

Upper structure of an article of footwear including a cuff member

Slotted eyelet

An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, and a tensile strand. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and has a medial portion, a lateral portion, an interior surface, and an exterior surface. The tensile strand has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion disposed between the first and second portions. The first and second portions are disposed adjacent the interior surface of the upper and have a first cross-sectional profile that is flat. The third portion extends from the exterior surface of the upper and has a second cross-sectional profile that is rounded.

Tensile strand

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an outsole that has a body with a lateral side and a medial side, and has a plurality of tread elements extending from the body to establish a ground contact surface. At least some of the tread elements extend between the lateral side and the medial side and each include a front face, a rear face, and a bottom face that connects the front face and the rear face. The bottom face of each of the at least two of the tread elements has a width between the front face and the rear face that varies between the lateral side and the medial side forming different shapes of the tread elements. A method of manufacturing a sole structure for an article of footwear includes forming an outsole with such nonlinear tread elements.

Sole structure for an article of footwear with abrasion resistant outsole and method of manufacturing same

A midsole for an article of footwear is strategically incised or scored to produce various straight and arcuate lines. Straight lines are integrated widthwise between edges on an arch side on an outer side. Arcuate lines are integrated into various places at the top of a toe portion, with at least one extending down through a midpoint in a heel portion. The latter arcuate line maintains curvatures that parallel curvatures on the outer side at some places and the arch side at other places. Also crossing at the midpoint in the heel portion are intersecting lines.

Flexible sole and upper for an article of footwear

An article of footwear with a marking system is disclosed. The marking system is configured to help locate one or more portions of a foot during training of an athlete. The marking system includes markings that extend from a lower surface of a sole system to an outer peripheral portion of a sole system.

Article of footwear with a marking system

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an outsole that has a body with a lateral side and a medial side, and has a plurality of tread elements extending from the body to establish a ground contact surface. At least some of the tread elements extend between the lateral side and the medial side and each include a front face, a rear face, and a bottom face that connects the front face and the rear face. At least some of the bottom faces each have a respective width between the front face and the rear face that varies between the lateral side and the medial side at least partially in correspondence with a predetermined wear pattern. A method of manufacturing a sole structure for an article of footwear includes forming an outsole with such nonlinear tread elements.

An article of footwear with a multi-directional sole structure including a flex groove system is disclosed. The flex groove system includes a plurality of longitudinal flex grooves and lateral flex grooves that divide the sole structure into a plurality of segments. The flex groove system also includes a plurality of diagonal flex grooves that intersect the corners of the plurality of segments. The flex grooves system can provide enhanced flexibility for the sole structure and can enhance multi-directional flexing.

Article of footwear with multi-directional sole structure

An article of footwear with a marking system is disclosed. The marking system is configured to help locate one or more portions of a foot during training of an athlete. The marking system includes markings disposed on an upper of an article of footwear.

An article of footwear with multiple cross sectional profile shapes disposed on an outer peripheral edge of a sole is disclosed. The multiple cross sectional profile shapes on the outer peripheral edge of the sole can help increase the lateral performance and lateral stability of a wearer of the article of footwear.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Aaron A C Cooper