US 11,805,846 B2
Article of footwear with traction system
John F. Swigart, Portland, OR (US); Robert S. Bento, Raynham, MA (US); and Paul O. Teeter, Pembroke, MA (US)
Assigned to Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, MA (US)
Filed by Acushnet Company, Fairhaven, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 8, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/497,275.
Prior Publication US 2023/0112333 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. A43B 13/22 (2006.01); A43B 13/14 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/223 (2013.01) [A43B 13/145 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper;
an outsole comprising a plurality of pivot points including a front toe pivot point, a heel pivot point, and a forefoot pivot point located between the front toe pivot point and the heel pivot point, wherein the plurality of pivot points corresponds to a plurality of locations on the outsole about which the article of footwear is configured to rotate while contacting a ground surface;
a midsole, and
a traction system comprising a plurality of traction elements fixed on the outsole,
the plurality of traction elements comprising (i) a first set of traction elements extending between the heel pivot point and the forefoot pivot point and (ii) a second set of traction elements extending between the forefoot pivot point and the front toe pivot point,
the first set of traction elements having different heights ranging from (i) a first minimum height at or near the heel and forefoot pivot points to (ii) a first maximum height at or near a first midpoint between the heel and forefoot pivot points, wherein all of the traction elements in the first set of traction elements extend away from the outsole to a plurality of points that lie along a parabolic arc extending from the heel pivot point to the forefoot pivot point, the plurality of points positioned at a plurality of distances from the outsole, the plurality of distances corresponding to the different heights of the first set of traction elements, wherein the first maximum height corresponds to a peak of the parabolic arc, and wherein the first minimum height corresponds to one or more ends of the parabolic arc, and
the second set of traction elements having different heights ranging from (i) a second minimum height at or near the forefoot and front toe pivot points to (ii) a second maximum height at or near a second midpoint between the forefoot and front toe pivot points,
wherein the first set of traction elements includes a first lengthened traction element positioned at the first midpoint, the first lengthened traction element having a greater height than any other traction element in the first set of traction elements, and wherein the second set of traction elements includes a second lengthened traction element positioned at the second midpoint, the second lengthened traction element having a greater height than any other traction element in the second set of traction elements.