Patent Publication Number: US-10786041-B2

Title: Sole structure with laterally aligned fins

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/165,612, filed on May 26, 2016, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a sole structure for an article of footwear. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a sole structure with laterally aligned traction elements. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Footwear typically includes a sole configured to be located under a wearer&#39;s foot to space the foot away from the ground or floor surface. Soles can be designed to provide a desired level of cushioning. The ground contact surface of the article of footwear can be configured for durability. 
     SUMMARY 
     During a golf swing, it is desirable to minimize spin of at least one foot during the backswing and downswing in order to maximize accuracy and distance when hitting a golf ball. To this end, the presently disclosed sole structure can be used with an article of footwear, such as a golf shoe, and includes traction elements, such as fins, for minimizing rotation of at least one foot during the backswing and downswing stages of a golf swing. In certain embodiments, the sole structure includes an outsole having a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region between the heel region and the forefoot region, a lateral edge, and a medial edge. The outsole includes an outsole body. At least one plate is disposed on the outsole body. The plate is made of a material that is harder than the material forming the outsole body. Further, the plate includes a plate body disposed on the outsole body and a plurality of fins extending from the plate body. At least some of the fins are parallel to each other. The fins include a fin body extending along a lateral direction, wherein the lateral direction extends between the lateral edge and the medial edge. The fin further includes a gusset protruding from the fin body. The gusset extends perpendicularly relative to the fin body in a longitudinal direction, which extends between the heel region and the forefoot region. 
     “A,” “an,” “the,” “at least one,” and “one or more” are used interchangeably to indicate that at least one of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. All numerical values of parameters (e.g., of quantities or conditions) in this specification, including the appended claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” whether or not “about” actually appears before the numerical value. “About” indicates that the stated numerical value allows some slight imprecision (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If the imprecision provided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring and using such parameters. In addition, a disclosure of a range is to be understood as specifically disclosing all values and further divided ranges within the range. 
     The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, or components. Orders of steps, processes, and operations may be altered when possible, and additional or alternative steps may be employed. As used in this specification, the term “or” includes any one and all combinations of the associated listed items. 
     Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as “above,” “below,” “upward,” “downward,” “top,” “bottom,” etc., are used descriptively for the figures, and do not represent limitations on the scope of the present teachings, as defined by the claims. 
     The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present teachings are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the teachings when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic, perspective top view of a sole structure including fins arranged parallel relative to each other. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic, enlarged perspective top view of the forefoot region of the sole structure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic, enlarged perspective top view of the heel region of the sole structure shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers correspond to like or similar components throughout the several figures,  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3  schematically illustrate a sole structure  12  for an article of footwear  10 . The article of footwear  10  further includes a footwear upper  14  ( FIG. 1 ) secured to the sole structure  12 . As a non-limiting example, the article of footwear  10  may be a golf shoe  11 . The sole structure  12  includes an outsole  16  configured to contact the ground. 
     For purposes of reference, the outsole  16  extends along a central longitudinal axis X and has a heel region  18 , a midfoot region  20 , and a forefoot region  22 . The midfoot region  20  is between the heel region  18  and the forefoot region  22 . For purposes of discussion, the heel region  18 , the midfoot region  20 , and the forefoot region  22  are defined as the rearmost third, the middle third, and the foremost third of the outsole  16 , respectively. The heel region  18  generally includes portions of the outsole  16  corresponding with rear portions of a human foot including the calcaneus bone and of a size corresponding with the outsole  16  and article of footwear  10 . The forefoot region  22  generally includes portions of the outsole  16  corresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges of the human foot of the size corresponding with the outsole  16  and article of footwear  10 . The midfoot region  20  generally includes portions of the outsole  16  corresponding with an arch area of the human foot of the size corresponding with the outsole and article of footwear  10 . Accordingly, the midfoot region  20  is also referred to as the outsole arch region. 
     As used herein, a lateral side of a component for the article of footwear  10 , such as an lateral edge  24  of the outsole  16 , is a side that corresponds with the side of the foot of the wearer of the article of footwear  10  that is generally further from the other foot of the wearer (i.e., the side closer to the fifth toe of the wearer). The fifth toe is commonly referred to as the little toe. A medial side of a component for the article of footwear  10 , such as a medial edge  26  of the outsole  16 , is the side that corresponds with an inside area of the foot of the wearer and is generally closer to the other foot of the wearer (i.e., the side closer to the hallux of the foot of the wearer). The hallux is commonly referred to as the big toe. The lateral edge  24  and the medial edge  26  both extend around the periphery of the outsole  16  from the foremost edge  28  to the rearmost edge  30  of the outsole  16 . 
     The outsole  16  includes an outsole body  32 . The outsole body  32  can be a single-piece or unitary structure and can be manufactured using an insert molding process. The material for the outsole body  32  may be selected to provide a desirable combination of durability and flexibility. For example, the outsole body  32  may be wholly or partly made of a thermoplastic, such as a thermoplastic rubber, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or other suitably durable material. As a non-limiting example, the outsole body  32  is wholly or partly made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The outsole body  32  extends along the heel region  18 , the midfoot region  20 , and the forefoot region  22 . 
     In addition, the outsole  16  includes at least one plate  34  coupled to the outsole body  32 . Specifically, the plate  34  can be secured on the outsole body  32 . In the depicted embodiment, the outsole  16  includes a plurality of plates  34 . In particular, the outsole  16  includes a first plate  34   a , a second plate  34   b , and a third plate  34   c . It is contemplated, however, that the outsole  16  may include more or fewer plates  34 . Regardless of quantity, each plate  34  is wholly or partly made of a material that is harder than the material forming the outsole body  32  in order to minimize spin of at least one foot during the backswing and downswing stages of a golf swing. In other words, the hardness of the material forming the plate  34  is greater than the hardness of the material forming the outsole body  32 . In the present disclosure, the term “hardness” is a measure of the material resistance to permanent deformation due to a contact compression load. For instance, the indentation hardness of the material forming the plates  34  (e.g., measured in Shore A or D Hardness Scale) is greater than the hardness of the material forming the outsole body  32 . As a non-limiting example, the hardness of the material forming the plate  34  can be between twenty (20%) and thirty (30%) percent greater than the hardness of the material forming the outsole body  32  in order to minimize spin of at least one foot during the backswing and downswing stages of a golf swing. To this end, for example, the outsole body  32  may be wholly or partly made of EVA, and the plate  34  may be wholly or partly made of TPU. Alternatively, the outsole body  32  and the plates  34  can be made of the same or similar materials, but with different densities, in order to achieve the different hardnesses. At least one of the plates  34  may be made of transparent material. 
     Each of the plates  34  includes a plate body  36  disposed on the outsole body  32  and a plurality of traction elements  38  protruding from the plate body  36 . In the depicted embodiment, the traction elements  38  are fins  40  extending from the plate body  36 . The fins  40  are arranged substantially parallel to each other in order to enhance the engagement of the sole structure  12  with the ground, thereby minimizing spin of at least one foot during the backswing and downswing stages of a golf swing. 
     Each fin  40  includes a fin body  42  extending along a lateral direction LT in order to provide stability to the sole structure  12  along the central longitudinal axis X. In other words, the fin bodies  42  are elongated along the lateral direction LT. In the present disclosure, the term “lateral direction” refers to a direction from the medial edge  26  of the outsole  16  to the lateral edge  24  and perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis X. During a golf swing, the fin bodies  42  penetrate the ground and therefore inhibit the sole structure  12  from the moving along a longitudinal direction LG. In the present disclosure, the term “longitudinal direction” means a direction from the foremost edge  28  to the rearmost edge  30  of the outsole  16  and perpendicular to the lateral direction LT. The fins  40  in the second plate  34   b  are spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction LG and the lateral direction LT to enhance the lateral and longitudinal stability of the sole structure  12  during the backswing and downswing of a full golf swing. 
     In the depicted embodiment, the fin bodies  42  are planar and have a varying height. For example, the height of some of the fin bodies  42  decreases in a direction toward the central longitudinal axis X. As such, of each fin body  42  provides stability along the longitudinal direction LG while minimizing the weight of the sole structure  12 . Most of the fin bodies  42  are parallel to each other to enhance the stability of the sole structure  12 . 
     At least some of the fins  40  include a gusset  44  protruding directly from the fin body  42 . In particular, at least some of the gussets  44  extend substantially perpendicularly relative to the fin body  42  in the longitudinal direction LG in order to provide stability to the sole structure  12  along the lateral direction LT. Each fin body  42  is longer than the gusset  44  attached thereto. The gussets  44  are reinforce the fins  40  against bending in the longitudinal direction LG. In other words, the gussets  44  are elongated along the longitudinal direction LG. Although most of the gussets  44  are planar in order to enhance the lateral stability of the sole structure  12 , some of the gussets  44  may have a curved profile. As a non-limiting example, a foremost gusset  44   f  and a rearmost gusset  44   r  in the third plate  34   c  have curved shapes in order to conform to an outermost sole periphery  46  of the sole structure  12 , thereby enhancing the comfort of the wearer of the article of footwear  10 . Other plates  34 , such as the first plate  34   a  and the second plate  34   b , may also include gussets  44  having curved shapes. Each fin body  42  has a first end  42   a  and a second end  42   b  opposite the first end  42   a , and the gusset  44  are directly attached at or near one of the ends (i.e., the first end  42   a  or the second end  42   b ) of the gusset  44  to maximize the resistance to rotation of the sole structure  12  during the backswing and downswing of a golf swing. Most of the gussets are parallel to each other to enhance the stability of the sole structure  12 . 
     The first plate  34   a  is disposed on the outsole body  32  only at the forefoot region  22  of the outsole  16 , whereas the second plate  34   b  is disposed on the outsole body  32  and extends along the forefoot region  22 , the midfoot region  20 , and the heel region  18  of the outsole  16 . The third plate  34   c  is disposed on the outsole body  32  at the heel region  18 . The second plate  34   b  is spaced apart from the first plate  34   a  so as to define a curved groove (i.e., the first curved groove  48 ). The first curved groove  48  extends from the foremost edge  28  to the lateral edge  24  to provide flexibility along the forefoot region  22  to the outsole  16 . The second plate  34   b  is spaced apart from the third plate  34   c  so as to define a curved groove (i.e., the second curved groove  50 ). The second curved groove  50  extends from the medial edge  26  to the rearmost edge  30  of the outsole  16  in order to provide flexibility in the heel region  18 . The second plate  34   b  has a curved shape and defines openings  52  between the fins  40  arranged parallel to each other in order to enhance the flexibility of the outsole  16 . The openings  52  can be configured as slots  54  arranged parallel to each other. The parallel arrangement of the slots  54  also provides flexibility to the sole structure  12 . The second plate  34   b  has a first or forefoot plate portion  35 , a second or midfoot plate portion  37 , and a third or heel plate portion  39  directly interconnected to one another. The midfoot plate portion  37  directly interconnects the forefoot plate portion  35  and the heel plate portion  39 . The forefoot plate portion  35  of the second plate  34   b  is disposed at the forefoot region  22  and closer to the medial edge  26  than the lateral edge  24  of the outsole  16 . The midfoot plate portion  37  of the second plate  34   b  is disposed at the midfoot region  20  of the outsole  16  and is obliquely angled relative to the central longitudinal axis X. The heel plate portion  39  of the second plate  34   b  is disposed at the heel region  18  of the outsole  16  and is disposed closer to the lateral edge  24  than the medial edge  26  of the outsole  16 . The structural arrangement and position of the first plate portion  35 , the second plate portion  37 , and the third plate portion  39  of the second plate  34   b , as described above, aids in providing flexibility to the outsole  16 . 
     While the best modes for carrying out the teachings have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this disclosure relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the teachings within the scope of the appended claims.