US 12,102,171 B2
Supporting member for footwear activity economy
Kurt Stockbridge, Palos Verdes Estates, CA (US); Anthony Dean, Blue Ridge, GA (US); Chih Hsiang Hsu, Taoyuan (TW); and Geoffrey Gray, Goleta, CA (US)
Filed by Skechers U.S.A., Inc. II, Manhattan Beach, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/141,171.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/933,055, filed on Nov. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0137213 A1, May 13, 2021
Int. Cl. A43B 13/14 (2006.01); A43B 7/145 (2022.01); A43B 13/16 (2006.01); A43B 13/18 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/146 (2013.01) [A43B 7/145 (2013.01); A43B 13/16 (2013.01); A43B 13/186 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising:
a cushioning element;
a supporting member comprising a vertical sub-member and a horizontal sub-member, the vertical sub-member extending in both a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction extending along a toe region to a heel region of the sole;
the vertical sub-member having a curvature along the longitudinal direction;
the vertical sub-member is located in a forefoot region of the sole;
the curvature of the vertical sub-member is concave upward;
the curvature of the vertical sub-member has a first arc length defined by a first central angle wherein at least a portion of the first arc length is adapted to be positioned underneath a ball region of a foot;
the horizontal sub-member extending from a sidewall of the vertical sub-member in a latitudinal direction and being angled away from the vertical sub-member, the horizontal sub-member extending in the longitudinal direction; and
whereby the supporting member has a greater rigidity than at least a portion of the cushioning element.