Nike, Inc.

Shane S Kohatsu

Christopher Simon Cook

Bret Schoolmeester

Frederick J Dojan

Daniel T Rowe

John Hurd

Troy C Lindner

Daniel Akey Johnson

Andrea M Vinet

Lysandre Follet

Michael S Amos

Thomas C Foxen

Chin-Chen Huang

Paul James Francis

David J Roulo

Adam Thuss

Kenneth Link

Thomas Berend

Ryan R Larson

Dov Michael Lashmore

Randall S Wolfe

Karen S Dimoff

James Hwang

Jill D Murfin

Thomas Oleson

Andreas Harlow

Thomas G Bell

Geng Luo

Matthew Anthony Nurse

Matthew C Palmer

Natalie A Candrian

Jonathan Rasca

Bruce J Kilgore

Matthew R Pauk

Alexandre Baudouin

Scott K Hutsenpiller

Brandon H Workman

Yung-Tsung Tseng

Benjamin Nethongkome

Kevin W Hoffer

Lee Gibson

Robert M Bruce

Jeffrey C Spanks

George A Xanthos

Oliver McLachlan

Joshua P Heard

Dolores S Thompson

Ruzica Krstic

Aaron K Seid

Daniel William Peter

Jennifer L Bishop

Troy C Linder

Daniel Taylor Rowe

Ground-engaging components for articles of footwear include an outer perimeter boundary rim that at least partially defines an outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an upper-facing surface and an opposite ground-facing surface. The outer perimeter boundary rim defines an open space at least at a forefoot support area of the ground-engaging component. A matrix structure extends from the outer perimeter boundary rim (e.g., the ground-facing surface and/or the upper-facing surface) and across the open space at least at the forefoot support area to define an open cellular construction with plural open cells across the open space at least at the forefoot support area. The matrix structure defines one or more sets of adjacent open cells, the set(s) including at least three open cells that are substantially aligned in the forefoot support area along a line extending in a forward medial-to-rear lateral direction.

Ground-engaging structures for articles of footwear

Shoe

Articles of footwear having an upper including a dynamic fit heel portion and a main body. The dynamic fit heel portion may include a lower heel counter and an upper heel collar. The upper heel collar may define at least in part, a foot-receiving chamber. An expandable joint may be provided between the lower heel counter and the upper heel collar. A material forming the expandable joint may have a higher flexibility and a higher stretch than the lower heel counter and the upper heel collar. The lower heel counter, the upper heel collar, and the expandable joint may be configured to align with portions of a heel and ankle of a wearer so as to provide a flexible heel and ankle fit.

Articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices having dynamically adjustable heel portions

A method of forming a sole structure for an article of footwear. The method includes providing a midsole element formed of a first polymeric material. The method also includes depositing an outsole material including an uncured second polymeric material upon an exterior surface of the midsole element and molding the midsole element and the outsole material to impart an outsole profile to the outsole material and curing the outsole material on the exterior surface of the midsole element.

Method of applying outsole to an article of footwear

An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, and a securing mechanism. The upper comprises a toe region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral side, and a medial side, and is coupled to the sole structure. The securing mechanism is fixedly attached to the upper and comprises a forefoot portion and a heel lock element. The heel lock element has a first and a second end and extends from the lateral side of the upper, passes around the heel region of the upper, and extends to the medial side of the upper. The heel lock element comprises a stiffness that is greater than the stiffness of the upper and is configured such that tensioning the securing band adjusts the heel segment of the main portion relative to a wearer's heel.

Securing mechanisms for articles of footwear

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that is formed along various surfaces of the sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system, forming generally circular patterns throughout the sole member. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member.

Article of footwear comprising a sole member with geometric patterns

The disclosed systems provide ways to manufacture a style of an article of footwear in bulk, while providing customization for heel stability for individual customers. Moreover, the disclosed systems provide ways to customize articles of footwear for a customer on an ongoing basis, such that the heel stability of the articles of footwear is refined until a tailored fit is achieved for the same customer. Generally, the process may include providing a user/customer with an article of footwear, getting evaluation information about the stability of the article of footwear from a survey (e.g., asking the user to rate the stability of the article of footwear in a smartphone app), modifying the next article of footwear provided to the user/customer according to the evaluation information, and iterating through this process to give the user an article optimized for stability.

Systems for producing articles of footwear having customized stability

Methods of manufacturing articles of footwear include providing articles to a customer, receiving evaluations of one or more structural characteristics of the articles, and making new customized articles for the customer based on the evaluations of one or more structural characteristics. The method can be conducted as a cycle that is repeated each time the customer buys a new pair of footwear. Systems for manufacturing customized articles of footwear include: a computing system that receives input including a customer-selected evaluation of one or more structural characteristics of an article of footwear, wherein the article of footwear includes a first sole member with a first structural characteristic having a first value; and a second sole member for a second article of footwear, wherein a surface of the second sole member is modified to include a first pattern of apertures and/or incisions based on the customer-selected evaluation of the first structural characteristic.

System for customizing articles of footwear

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the forefoot cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the forefoot cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures or incisions that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.

Systems and methods for customizing forefoot cushioning in articles of footwear

Ground-engaging components for articles of footwear include: (a) an outer perimeter boundary rim that at least partially defines an outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an open space at least at a forefoot support area of the ground-engaging component; and (b) a matrix structure extending at least partially across the open space at least at the forefoot support area to define an open cellular construction with plural open cells in the open space at least at the forefoot support area. A plurality of these open cells of the open cellular construction have openings with curved perimeters and no distinct corners. Additional aspects of this invention relate to ground-engaging components that are very lightweight yet very stiff, particularly in the forefoot support area. Two or more sizes of the ground-engaging components may be provided with substantially constant forefoot stiffness (optionally substantially constant over a size run).

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the heel cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the heel cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.

System for customizing heel cushioning in articles of footwear

A method of forming a sole structure for an article of footwear. The method includes depositing a first outsole material including a first uncured polymeric material upon a mold surface of a mold cavity. The method also includes disposing a midsole element adjacent to the first outsole material within the mold cavity and subjecting the first outsole material and the midsole element to a molding process to form the sole structure having an outsole and a midsole.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Shane S Kohatsu