Nike, Inc.

Haley L Toelle

James Zormeir

Noah Murphy-Reinhertz

Timothy P Hopkins

Austin J Orand

Elizabeth Langvin

Rory S Blanche

Kaigin Olafson

Andrew A Owings

Kara Nykreim

Tinker L Hatfield

Risha Dupre

Guillermo Raffaele

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a unitary midsole having a first portion and a second portion rearward of the first portion. A bottom surface of the unitary midsole defines a groove extending from a medial side to a lateral side of the unitary midsole, and a top surface of the unitary midsole defines a slit disposed over the groove and extending from the medial side to the lateral side. The unitary midsole forms a living hinge at the groove and the slit, with the living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion so that the first portion and the second portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a first orientation and a second orientation. The groove is wider in the first orientation than in the second orientation, and the slit is wider in the second orientation.

Hinged footwear sole structure for foot entry and method of manufacturing

An article of footwear includes a sole structure that has a front midsole component and a rear midsole component. A connecting member connects the front midsole component to the rear midsole component. The connecting member defines a groove at a lower side of the sole structure between the front midsole component and the rear midsole component. The front midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use position and an access position. Confronting surfaces of the connecting member at the groove are closer to one another in the access position than in the use position so that the groove is relatively open in the use position, and the groove is relatively closed in the access position.

Footwear with jointed sole structure for ease of access

A footwear article includes a collar elevator to raise an ankle collar from a lowered position to a raised position. For example, the ankle collar may be lowered when a wearer slides a foot into or out of the footwear article. The collar elevator may include a forwardly inclined angle. In addition, the footwear article may include a doffing ledge, in some instances, which includes characteristics based on the forwardly inclined angle.

Footwear article with collar elevator

An article of footwear includes a sole structure, a footwear upper, and a closure system. The sole structure may have a front sole portion and a rear sole portion pivotable relative to the front sole portion between a use position and an access position. The footwear upper may be fixed to the front sole portion and to the rear sole portion. The closure system may comprise an adjustment cord and a cord lock. The adjustment cord may be operatively secured to the footwear upper at an anchor location. The cord lock may be secured to the footwear upper and may be configured so that the adjustment cord slides through the cord lock when under tension to tighten the footwear upper in the use position, and the adjustment cord is repositionable relative to the cord lock to lock to the cord lock and retain tension in the adjustment cord.

Easy-access article of footwear with cord lock

A lock for an adjustment cord of a wearable article includes a body defining a first passage extending through the body from an entrance opening of the body to a first exit opening of the body, and the body defining a second passage extending from an intermediate portion of the first passage to a second exit opening of the body. The body is configured with a segment of the first passage extending from the intermediate portion to the first exit opening in communication with the second passage. At least a portion of the second passage is narrower than the first passage so that a portion of the cord disposed in the segment of the first passage is movable relative to the first passage when tensioned and is repositionable to the second passage where the cord locks to the body and retains tension. A wearable article including a lock is disclosed.

Lock for an adjustment cord of a wearable article

One general aspect of the present disclosure includes an assembly including: a support device having a surface for receiving a textile component; and an actuation device, the actuation device having at least one actuation surface that at least partially surrounds the support device, where the actuation surface is movable with respect to the surface of the support device such that, when the textile component is held by the support device, movement of the actuation surface with respect to the surface of the support device causes movement of the textile component with respect to the surface of the support device.

Assemblies for textile manufacturing and related methods

Lacing systems for articles of apparel can include a first continuous lace element and a second continuous lace element, with each having a lace-receiving portion secured to the article of apparel, directly or indirectly, and a lacing portion that can engage with respective loop apertures of the lace-receiving portion to provide a closure mechanism. The articles of apparel can be articles of footwear and the lacing system can be provided to close an opening in an upper of the article of footwear.

Lacing systems and methods of manufacturing the same

A lock for an adjustment cord of a wearable article includes a body defining a first passage extending through the body from an entrance opening of the body to a first exit opening of the body, and the body defining a second passage extending from an intermediate portion of the first passage to a second exit opening of the body. The body is configured with a segment of the first passage extending from the intermediate portion to the first exit opening in communication with the second passage. At least a portion of the second passage is narrower than the first passage so that a portion of the cord disposed in the segment of the first passage is movable relative to the first passage when tensioned and is repositionable to the second passage where the cord locks to the body and retains tension. A wearable article includes the lock.

An article of footwear may comprise an upper and a closure system. The closure system may include a strap, a tensioning cable, and a plurality of pulleys. The strap may have a fixed end fixed relative to the upper, a free end selectively securable to the upper in a fastened position, and an elastic portion between the fixed end and the free end. The closure system may include a tensioning cable anchored to the upper and secured to the strap. The closure system may also include a plurality of pulleys anchored to the upper and engaging the tensioning cable. The tensioning cable may be configured to tighten against the upper when the elastic portion of the strap stretches as the free end of the strap is pulled.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Haley L Toelle