US 12,004,587 B2
Articulated sole structure with sipes forming hexagonal sole elements
Zachary E. Hull, Portland, OR (US); John A. Truax, Portland, OR (US); Robert W. Dolan, Portland, OR (US); Mark C. Miner, Portland, OR (US); Angela N. Martin, Lake Oswego, OR (US); Robert C. Williams, Jr., Tigard, OR (US); Karen S. Dimoff, Portland, OR (US); Jekti Hadiati, Beaverton, OR (US); and Howard Banich, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Apr. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/140,315.
Application 18/140,315 is a division of application No. 17/315,793, filed on May 10, 2021, granted, now 11,793,269.
Application 17/315,793 is a continuation of application No. 15/477,155, filed on Apr. 3, 2017, granted, now 11,000,092, issued on May 11, 2021.
Application 15/477,155 is a continuation of application No. 14/077,987, filed on Nov. 12, 2013, granted, now 9,648,924, issued on May 16, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0255311 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A43B 13/14 (2006.01); A43B 1/00 (2006.01); A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 13/22 (2006.01); A43B 13/37 (2006.01); A43B 13/04 (2006.01); A43B 13/18 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/141 (2013.01) [A43B 1/0009 (2013.01); A43B 13/122 (2013.01); A43B 13/14 (2013.01); A43B 13/223 (2013.01); A43B 13/37 (2013.01); A43B 13/04 (2013.01); A43B 13/181 (2013.01); A43B 13/22 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper; and
a footwear sole structure attached to the upper comprising:
a spanning portion extending longitudinally along a length of the footwear sole structure and transversely between medial and lateral sides of the footwear sole structure,
an articulated portion located below the spanning portion, and
a curved sipe extending sideward into a side of the footwear sole structure and extending continuously along the side of the footwear sole structure through at least a portion of a heel region, through a midfoot region, and through at least a portion of a forefoot region of the footwear sole structure;
wherein the curved sipe permits the spanning portion to separate from the articulated portion in response to tension on the upper; and
wherein the curved sipe forms opposing contoured surfaces in the footwear sole structure that abut against each other in response to twisting of the footwear sole structure and resist the twisting of the footwear sole structure.