US 12,137,775 B2
Sole structures and articles of footwear having separate outsole and midsole components
John Cross, Portland, OR (US); Neil Crumbleholme, Lake Oswego, OR (US); Ryan R. Larson, Portland, OR (US); Tetsuya T. Minami, Portland, OR (US); Courtney M. Wright, Portland, OR (US); Sergio Cavaliere, Venice (IT); and Roberto De Marchi, Treviso (IT)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Mar. 23, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/125,336.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/353,430, filed on Jun. 17, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0404215 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. A43B 3/24 (2006.01); A43B 5/18 (2006.01); A43C 15/16 (2006.01)
CPC A43C 15/161 (2013.01) [A43B 3/24 (2013.01); A43B 3/244 (2013.01); A43B 5/185 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A footwear structure comprising:
an outer cage component formed as a unitary, one-piece construction that includes: (i) an outsole portion including a plurality of cleat shells, and (ii) an upper portion, wherein the outer cage component defines an interior chamber, wherein the interior chamber includes a footbed portion formed by an interior surface of the outsole portion, the footbed portion including a plurality of recesses, wherein each of the plurality of recesses extends into an interior of each of the plurality of cleat shells and defines an undercut within the interior of each of the plurality of cleat shells;
an inner upper component formed as a unitary, one-piece construction that defines a foot-receiving chamber; and
a foot support component formed as a unitary, one-piece construction that includes: (i) a top surface for supporting an entire plantar surface of a wearer's foot and (ii) a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the bottom surface includes a plurality of cleat inserts, wherein each of the plurality of cleat inserts extends into a respective one of the plurality of recesses, wherein each of the plurality of cleat inserts includes an enlarged free end positioned to engage a respective undercut and secure each of the plurality of cleat inserts within a respective one of the plurality of recesses, and wherein the foot support component is received within the foot-receiving chamber of the inner upper component.