US 11,986,046 B2
Footwear sole structure with nested foam core
David Jonathan Cin, Portland, OR (US); Jamie Y. Mak, Beaverton, OR (US); and Rachel Nichols, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Feb. 18, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/179,096.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/006,286, filed on Apr. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0307452 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 13/18 (2006.01); A43B 13/04 (2006.01); A43B 13/32 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/125 (2013.01) [A43B 13/122 (2013.01); A43B 13/187 (2013.01); A43B 13/04 (2013.01); A43B 13/32 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a sole component having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall extending upward from the bottom wall and partially surrounding a space above the bottom wall; and
a midsole including a foam core nested in the space;
wherein, at a transverse cross-section of the sole structure, the peripheral wall of the sole component is disposed outward of an outermost exterior surface of the foam core;
wherein the sole component is attached to a first portion of the outermost exterior surface and is detached from a second portion of the outermost exterior surface, the second portion of the outermost exterior surface disposed between the first portion of the outermost exterior surface and the bottom wall, and at least partially higher than a top of a foot-supporting surface of the foam core;
wherein the second portion of the outermost exterior surface of the foam core is recessed inward from the first portion of the outermost exterior surface, defining an air gap between an inner side of the peripheral wall of the sole component and the second portion of the outermost exterior surface of the foam core; and
wherein the air gap is disposed outward of the second portion of the outermost exterior surface of the foam core and inward of the inner side of the peripheral wall of the sole component.