US 12,108,828 B2
Sole structure with proprioceptive elements and method of manufacturing a sole structure
Yuchung K. Chen, Portland, OR (US); Oliver McLachlan, Beaverton, OR (US); Thomas J. Rushbrook, Portland, OR (US); and Timothy J. Smith, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/983,634.
Application 17/983,634 is a division of application No. 17/015,699, filed on Sep. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,523,656.
Application 17/015,699 is a division of application No. 15/958,120, filed on Apr. 20, 2018, granted, now 10,798,993, issued on Oct. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/488,512, filed on Apr. 21, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0064197 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. A43B 13/14 (2006.01); A43B 7/24 (2006.01); A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 13/18 (2006.01); A43B 13/22 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/223 (2013.01) [A43B 7/24 (2013.01); A43B 13/12 (2013.01); A43B 13/127 (2013.01); A43B 13/141 (2013.01); A43B 13/187 (2013.01); A43B 13/188 (2013.01); A43B 13/226 (2013.01); B32B 2437/02 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
forming a midsole body such that the midsole body has:
annular holes in a proximal surface of the midsole body;
annular recesses in a distal surface of the midsole body, each annular recess encircling a respective different one of the annular holes from below and extending beyond a lowest extent of the respective different one of the annular holes toward the proximal surface;
a first plurality of proprioceptive elements each centered in a respective one of the annular holes, wherein each of the first plurality of proprioceptive elements has a frustoconical shape and a first distal end having a first diameter; and
a second plurality of proprioceptive elements each centered in a respective different one of the annular holes, wherein each of the second plurality of proprioceptive elements has a generally cylindrical shape and a second distal end having a second diameter that is less than the first diameter;
securing a strobel to the proximal surface of the midsole body, wherein the strobel has a plurality of through-holes; and
securing an upper to the strobel, wherein the upper defines a foot-receiving cavity;
wherein each of the first plurality of proprioceptive elements and each of the second plurality of proprioceptive elements protrude through respective different ones of the plurality of through-holes into the foot-receiving cavity both when in an unloaded position in which the article of footwear is not in contact with the ground and each of the first plurality of proprioceptive elements and each of the second plurality of proprioceptive elements are subject to a first magnitude of loading, and when in a loaded position in which the article of footwear is in contact with the ground and each of the first plurality of proprioceptive elements and each of the second plurality of proprioceptive elements are subject to a second magnitude of loading that is greater than the first magnitude of loading.