The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 23, 2014
Filed:
Feb. 23, 2011
Petre Gheorghian, Portland, OR (US);
Martine I. V. Mientjes, Beaverton, OR (US);
Erez Morag, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
Matthew A. Nurse, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
Petre Gheorghian, Portland, OR (US);
Martine I. V. Mientjes, Beaverton, OR (US);
Erez Morag, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
Matthew A. Nurse, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US);
Abstract
An article of footwear includes a sole assembly with a rib that is resiliently flexible, and the rib has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The transverse axis extends at an acute angle relative to the ground surface, and the rib includes a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and a middle portion disposed between the first and second longitudinal ends. A height of the first and/or second longitudinal end is greater than that of the middle portion. The rib is operable to axially support a first force applied substantially along the acute angle relative to the ground surface, and the rib transverse axis remains substantially straight in response to the first force. The rib resiliently bends about the rib longitudinal axis in response to a second force applied substantially normal to the ground surface to make the rib transverse axis non-linear.