US 11,864,622 B2
Ground-engaging structures for articles of footwear
Michael S. Amos, Beaverton, OR (US); Lysandre Follet, Portland, OR (US); Thomas Foxen, Portland, OR (US); John Hurd, Lake Oswego, OR (US); Shane S. Kohatsu, Portland, OR (US); Troy C. Lindner, Portland, OR (US); Jonathan Rasca, McKinney, TX (US); and Andrea Vinet, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Aug. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/893,897.
Application 17/893,897 is a division of application No. 16/985,519, filed on Aug. 5, 2020, granted, now 11,457,692.
Application 16/985,519 is a continuation of application No. 15/575,435, granted, now 10,750,816, issued on Aug. 25, 2020, previously published as PCT/US2016/033502, filed on May 20, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/165,708, filed on May 22, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0395054 A1, Dec. 15, 2022
Int. Cl. A43B 5/06 (2022.01); A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 1/00 (2006.01); A43B 13/18 (2006.01); A43B 13/22 (2006.01); A43C 15/16 (2006.01); A43C 15/00 (2006.01); A43B 5/02 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/122 (2013.01) [A43B 1/0009 (2013.01); A43B 5/02 (2013.01); A43B 5/06 (2013.01); A43B 13/186 (2013.01); A43B 13/223 (2013.01); A43C 15/00 (2013.01); A43C 15/161 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A ground-engaging component for an article of footwear, comprising:
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 a ground-facing surface opposite the upper-facing surface, and wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an interior area at least at a forefoot support area of the ground-engaging component; and
a matrix structure extending from the outer perimeter boundary rim and at least partially across the interior area at least at the forefoot support area to define an open cellular construction with plural open cells across the interior area at least at the forefoot support area,
wherein the matrix structure further defines:
a first cleat support area between a lateral side of the outer perimeter boundary rim and a medial side of the outer perimeter boundary rim, or
a first cleat support area at the ground-facing surface of the outer perimeter boundary rim,
wherein a primary traction element engages with the matrix structure at the first cleat support area;
wherein the matrix structure further defines a plurality of secondary traction elements dispersed around the first cleat support area,
wherein the primary traction element comprises a track spike engaged with the matrix structure at the first cleat support area;
wherein the ground-engaging component includes at least one of the following sets of properties:
 
Property Set Size Range (inches)
 
 
 
 
 Weight (grams)
A   9 to 9.25 Less than 60 grams
B 9.25 to 9.5  Less than 62 grams
C  9.5 to 9.75 Less than 64 grams
D  9.75 to 10.125 Less than 68 grams
E 10.125 to 10.438 Less than 71 grams
F 10.438 to 10.75  Less than 75 grams
G  10.75 to 11.125 Less than 78 grams
H 11.125 to 11.41  Less than 82 grams
I 11.41 to 11.72 Less than 88 grams
J 11.72 to 12.03 Less than 94 grams
 
 
 Size/Weight Ratio
 
 
 (inches/grams)
K   9 to 9.25 At least 0.145
L 9.25 to 9.5  At least 0.145
M  9.5 to 9.75 At least 0.145
N  9.75 to 10.125 At least 0.14 
O 10.125 to 10.438 At least 0.14 
P 10.438 to 10.75  At least 0.135
Q  10.75 to 11.125 At least 0.135
R 11.125 to 11.41  At least 0.13 
S 11.41 to 11.72 At least 0.125
T 11.72 to 12.03 At least 0.12 
 
wherein the “size range” corresponds to a longitudinal length of the ground-engaging component, wherein the “weight” corresponds to a weight of the outer perimeter boundary rim and the matrix structure of the ground-engaging component alone, excluding the primary and secondary traction elements, and wherein the “size/weight ratio” corresponds to a ratio of the longitudinal length of the ground-engaging component (in inches) to the weight (in grams).