Abstract: An adjustable heel support member includes a base portion and an extended portion. The extended portion comprises a lateral portion, a medial portion and a rearward portion. The heel support member further includes a fastening member that can be used to adjust the lateral portion, the medial portion and the rearward portion to resize the heel support member. In some cases, the fastening member may be an elastic ring.
Abstract: An article of footwear includes a strobel that has a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity. The tensile component is secured to opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder. The peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange. The groove serves as a guide path for an operator or for a machine to follow when stitching or otherwise securing the strobel to the upper. A method of manufacturing footwear is included.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 11, 2023
Date of Patent:
April 1, 2025
Assignee:
NIKE, Inc.
Inventors:
Arick Auyang, Derek Houng, Jason R. Meeker, Eric A Schmalzer, Jeffrey S. To, Geoffrey A Weston
Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes perforating a midsole body of a sole structure to form perforations through the midsole body, wherein the midsole body has perforated holes established by the perforations. The method includes disposing each of a plurality of proprioceptive elements of the sole structure in a different one of the perforated holes as an integral portion of the midsole body surrounded by the perforations. Each central axis of the plurality of proprioceptive elements disposed in a medial sidewall portion of the midsole body and a lateral sidewall portion of the midsole body is angled relative to a vertical axis of the midsole body and is configured to align with a direction of a lateral loading force on the midsole body at a location of the respective proprioceptive element.
Type:
Application
Filed:
December 10, 2024
Publication date:
March 27, 2025
Applicant:
NIKE, Inc.
Inventors:
Yuchung K. Chen, Oliver McLachlan, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith
Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole including a cavity having a first projection extending from a first surface within the cavity in a first direction and a second projection extending from a second surface within the cavity in a second direction toward the first projection and a cushion including a first recess provided on a first side of the cushion and a second recess provided on an opposite, second side of the cushion, the first recess receiving the first projection and the second recess receiving the second projection.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 18, 2024
Publication date:
March 27, 2025
Applicant:
NIKE, Inc.
Inventors:
Andrew Caine, Stefan E. Guest, TaeYong Lee, Jacob M. Scannapieco, Todd A. Waatti
Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to an automated footwear platform including an actuator assembly for controlling a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, an Lacing architectures for automated footwear assemblies are discussed. In an example, a footwear assembly can include a floating tongue within an upper assembly. The lacing architecture can include a first plurality or lace guides forming a first lacing zone and a second plurality of lace guides forming a second lacing zone. The lacing architecture can also include a tongue lace guide assembly secure to a proximal portion of the floating tongue.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 24, 2023
Date of Patent:
March 25, 2025
Assignee:
NIKE, Inc.
Inventors:
Eric P. Avar, Fanny Yung Ho, Daniel A. Johnson, Peter R. Savage, Summer L. Schneider