Nike patents shoe sole with crescent-shaped cleats for better grip
Nike has been granted a patent for a shoe sole design that uses traction elements, or cleats, arranged in specific patterns on the forefoot and heel. The design features both larger and smaller cleats, with the larger ones having a curved, crescent-shaped cross-section to improve traction.
In the filing’s own words
An outsole for an article of footwear includes a plantar surface and a peripheral surface surrounding the plantar surface. The outsole for an article of footwear also includes an annular cleat set including a first plurality of traction elements arranged in series about a central axis on the plantar surface. The outsole for an article of footwear further includes one or more radial cleat sets each including a second plurality of the traction elements aligned along a respective radial axis intersecting the central axis. At least one of the second plurality of the traction elements includes a peripheral cleat formed on the peripheral surface.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising: a midsole; and an outsole coupled to the midsole and including: a forefoot plate including a first plurality of traction elements, the first plurality of traction elements including a first plurality of major cleats and a first plurality of minor cleats, wherein each minor cleat of the first plurality of minor cleats has a respective dimension that is less than a respective dimension of each major cleat of the first plurality of major cleats; and a heel plate separate and distinct from the forefoot plate and including a second plurality of traction elements, the second plurality of traction elements including a second plurality of major cleats and a second plurality of minor cleats, wherein each minor cleat of the second plurality of minor cleats has a respective dimension that is less than a respective dimension of each major cleat of the second plurality of major cleats, and wherein each major cleat of the first and second pluralities of major cleats includes a crescent-shaped cross section.
Facts
- Company
- Nike (NIKE, Inc.)
- Official title
- Sole structure for article of footwear
- Patent number
- US12745825B2
- Application number
- 18948788
- Filed
- Nov 15, 2024
- Granted
- Sep 29, 2026
- Inventors
- 7
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
A43C 15/162 Human necessitiesA43B 13/122 Human necessitiesA43B 13/125 Human necessitiesA43B 13/223 Human necessitiesMore from Nike in Clothing & sport
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.