US 12,336,592 B2
Footwear assembly with 3-D printed sole assembly
Giovanna Cafaro, Portland, OR (US); Mikele Schnitman, Portland, OR (US); Gaia Giladi, Portland, OR (US); and Elias Stahl, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to HILOS, Inc., Portland, OR (US)
Filed by HILOS, Inc., Portland, OR (US)
Filed on May 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/322,529.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/345,833, filed on May 25, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0380541 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. A43B 13/18 (2006.01); A43B 13/28 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/181 (2013.01) [A43B 13/28 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A footwear assembly, comprising:
an upper defining an interior area configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper having a lower portion;
a sole assembly affixed to the lower portion of the upper, at least a portion of the sole assembly being made by an additive manufacturing process, the sole assembly having a heel portion and a forefoot portion, the sole assembly having a platform layer and a lattice with interconnected laths extending away from the platform layer in at least the forefoot and heel portions, the lattice and platform layer are positioned to support the foot of the wearer on the sole assembly, and the laths in the lattice being configured to flex to provide first cushioning to the foot of the wearer;
wherein the sole assembly has a plurality of spaced-apart internal support structures connected to and extending downwardly away from the platform layer and defining cavities within the sole assembly, wherein the internal support structures are located at least in the heel portion or the forefoot portion, the support structures configured to flex to provide second cushioning to the foot of the wearer;
wherein the sole assembly has a perimeter portion bounded within the sole assembly, and the sole assembly has a plurality of integral anchor features positioned adjacent to the perimeter portion and adjacent to at least one of the cavities, wherein the lower portion of the upper is fastened to the perimeter portion of the sole assembly with fastening features securely engaged and affixed to the anchor features without penetrating into the cavities; and
wherein the sole assembly has an outsole portion connected to the bottom of the sole assembly and forming a ground engaging surface, wherein the outsole portion is positioned to close and seal the cavities in the sole assembly.