US 11,700,909 B2
Sole structure for article of footwear
Yuchung K. Chen, Portland, OR (US); Joël Ryp Greenspan, Portland, OR (US); Oliver McLachlan, Beaverton, OR (US); Stuart Reinhardt, Beaverton, OR (US); and Thomas J. Rushbrook, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Sep. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/29,545.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/904,831, filed on Sep. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0085024 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 13/14 (2006.01); A43B 5/02 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/125 (2013.01) [A43B 5/02 (2013.01); A43B 13/14 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole having a medial edge and a lateral edge;
a first lower rib extending from the medial edge to the lateral edge of the midsole, the first lower rib including a portion spaced from the midsole between the medial edge and the lateral edge, wherein the first lower rib includes a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface of the first lower rib forms part of a ground-contacting portion of the sole structure;
a medial flex member disposed between the midsole and the first lower rib near the medial edge;
a lateral flex member disposed between the midsole and the first lower rib near the lateral edge, the medial flex member and the lateral flex member configured to flex the first lower rib between a compressed state and an uncompressed state relative to the midsole in response to a force of a predetermined magnitude; and
a bottom plate secured to the midsole and further comprising a second lower rib spaced from the first lower rib along an axis extending from a heel region to a forefoot region of the article of footwear,
wherein the bottom plate, the first rib, and the second rib define a gap exposing the midsole between the first lower rib and the second lower rib, and
wherein the first lower rib includes an inner surface opposite the bottom surface, the inner surface facing and being spaced from the bottom plate and the bottom surface being configured to engage a ground surface,
the bottom plate further comprising;
a central spine, wherein the central spine extends between and is coupled to a posterior-facing surface of the first lower rib and an anterior-facing surface of the second lower rib;
a first flange extending from the central spine; and
a second flange extending from the central spine, the second flange extending in a direction opposite the first flange,
wherein the first flange is secured to the medial edge of the midsole, and wherein the second flange is secured to the lateral edge of the midsole.