Nike, Inc.

Bauer Hockey LLC

Nike International Ltd.

Carl L Madore

John T Stites

Tobie D Hatfield

Andrew G V Oldknow

David N Franklin

Gary Gene Tavares

Darien Curl

Marci S DuChene

Raymond J Sander

Matthew Sokol

Chad Edward Bouton

Jeffrey Alan Hadden

Gregory S Kramer

Jeffrey Richard Held

Clifford N Dodson

Patrick K Hoffman

Blake Rhulen

Garrick L Maenle

Mike Kelly

Thomas G Bell

Joël Ryp Greenspan

Todd Anthony Waatti

Robert Lukasiewicz, Jr

Marci Duchene

Nicole Mueller

Byron Cole Slaughter

Michael L Kelly

Chip Jones

Adam R Welliver

Michael Jones

Jeffrey R Held

Christian Dibenedetto

Steve Wright

Ian R Lindsey

Garrick L Meanle

Cole Byron Slaughter

Jeffrey A Hadden

Todd A Waatti

An eyelet for an article of footwear includes an eyelet body configured to slidably couple a first string to a second string. The eyelet body defines a first arc-shaped aperture and an opposing, second arc-shaped aperture. The first arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the first string, and the second arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the second string. The eyelet may be disposed over (but not necessarily attached to) an upper of an article of footwear.

Eyelet for article of footwear

Shoe

A sole structure includes an outsole having an outsole body defining an inner body surface and an outer body surface opposite the inner body surface. The outsole has a plurality of traction elements each extending from the outsole body away from the inner body surface. Each of the traction elements includes a base coupled to the outsole body surface. Each of the traction elements includes a tip spaced apart from the outer body surface and has a pitch defined by a vector. The pitch of each of the plurality of traction elements varies as a function of a distance from the central axis to a respective traction element.

Sole structure with progressively angled traction elements

A sole structure includes a midsole component including a midsole body, a plurality of traction members, and a securing layer. The midsole body defines an outer midsole surface and an inner midsole surface opposite the outsole midsole surface. The traction members are coupled to the midsole body. Each of the traction members includes a base and a traction body protruding from the base away from the inner midsole surface. The traction body extends through the midsole body, and the base abuts the inner midsole surface. As such, that the traction members are movable relative to the midsole body. The securing layer is disposed over the base, and is coupled to the inner midsole surface to hold the plurality of traction members in contact with the midsole component.

Sole structure having a midsole component with movable traction members

Flexible cleats for flexible footwear (e.g., with natural motion sole structures) include a cleat structure that generally has the appearance of a cleat that has been separated into individual component parts by one or more flex grooves formed into the sole structure. Such structures provide additional flexibility at the areas of the cleats so as to avoid a 'stiff' feeling in certain areas and/or during certain activities. The flexible cleats may be arranged around one or more intersections of flex grooves provided in a sole member, optionally in the form of an array of sole pods provided at least in a forefoot area of the sole member.

Cleated footwear with flexible cleats

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Carl L Madore