Nike, Inc.

Daniel A Williamson

David J Dirsa

Bruce J Kilgore

John C Tawney

Steven R Castellanos

Tamara M Peters

William J Cass

Miaochang Zadnik

Barbara Stegmaier

Peeramet Simpliphant

Fei Huang

Pu He

Articles of footwear having both interior and exterior midsole components may include: (a) an upper that at least in part defines an interior chamber; (b) an interior midsole component within the interior chamber, wherein, at a forefoot region, the interior midsole component includes a longitudinal flexion line and a plurality of transverse flexion lines; and (c) an exterior sole structure engaged with the upper. This exterior sole structure may include: (a) an exterior midsole component in a heel region of the article of footwear that does not extend under the forefoot region of the article of footwear and (b) an outsole component that extends under the forefoot region. If desired, the outsole component may extend under the exterior midsole component in the rearfoot region. The interior midsole component may include a plurality of pod elements separated from one another by the flexion lines.

Article of footwear with an internal and external midsole structure

An article of footwear includes an upper that at least in part defines an interior chamber for receiving a foot; an insertable interior midsole component received within the interior chamber; and an exterior sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the exterior sole structure includes: (a) an exterior midsole component and (b) optionally an outsole component that extends under the forefoot region, wherein the insertable interior midsole component is formed from a foam material comprising a reaction product of about 10 to about 100 phr hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer, 0 to about 40 phr modified hydrogenated acrylonitrile butadiene copolymer, and 0 to about 90 phr alpha olefin copolymer, and at least one additive in an amount suitable to form the foam material; wherein the density of the foam material is less than 0.25 g/cm.

Article of footwear with insertable lightweight interior midsole structure

An article of footwear is provided and includes an upper structure having a heel portion and a forefoot portion and a plate attached to a bottom surface of the upper structure. A sole structure is attached to the plate and includes a first portion associated with the heel portion and a second portion associated with the forefoot portion. The first portion includes a wall formation having a continuous structure with a series of peaks disposed proximate to and in contact with the plate and a series of valleys cooperating with the peaks to define a plurality of pockets formed through the wall formation.

Article of footwear including improved heel structure

A method of making a mold from a model is disclosed. A mold carrier is formed having an aperture therein. The aperture has a configuration generally corresponding to the shape of the model. The model is positioned within the aperture such that a space is created between the outer peripheral surface of the aperture and the outer peripheral surface of the model. A resilient first material in its liquid state is poured into the space such that the first material substantially covers the outer peripheral surface of the model. The resilient first material is allowed to solidify in the space such that a resilient mold insert is formed. The mold insert forms an impression of the outer peripheral surface of the model and is disposed along the inner peripheral surface of the aperture. The model is removed from the resilient mold insert. A second material in its liquid state is poured into the aperture of the mold carrier with the resilient mold insert disposed along the inner peripheral surface of the aperture. The second material is allowed to solidify such that a duplicate of the model is formed. The duplicate replicates the outer peripheral surface of the model because of its contact with the resilient mold insert. The duplicate is removed from the resilient mold insert. A mold is formed from the duplicate. The mold formed is used in making replicas of the model.

Method of making a mold and parts from the mold

Growing community of inventors

St. Paul, OR, United States of America

Daniel A Williamson