Nike patents shoe sole with curved cleats for better grip
Nike has filed a patent for a shoe sole design that uses curved, directional cleats arranged in rings around the foot's pivot point. The design mixes one-way and two-way traction elements to provide grip during different types of turning movements.
In the filing’s own words
A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first annular group of traction elements arranged along a first annular zone and a second annular group of traction elements arranged along a second annular zone concentric with the first annular group. The first and second annular groups of traction elements include a plurality of directional traction elements arranged in a first rotational direction about a common rotation zone. Optionally, the first annular group of traction elements may include an omnidirectional traction element arranged at a location associated with a relatively low degree of alignment between radii of rotation corresponding to different torsional movements of the sole structure during use. The directional traction elements may include unidirectional traction elements or bidirectional traction elements at locations associated with moderate to high degrees of alignment between radii of rotation corresponding to the different torsional movements.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising: a plurality of directional traction elements arranged within a first annular zone, being oriented in a first rotational direction around a pivot zone, and tapering in the first rotational direction, the plurality of directional traction elements including a first blade cleat disposed at a lateral side of the sole structure and tapering in a direction toward a medial side of the sole structure; and a first bidirectional traction element aligned with directional traction elements of the plurality of directional traction elements in the first rotational direction, tapering from an intermediate portion to a first end and from the intermediate portion to a second end located on an opposite side of the first bidirectional traction element than the first end, and extending along the medial side of the sole structure, the first end of the first bidirectional traction element opposing the lateral side of the sole structure with an anterior end of the sole structure disposed between and separating the first bidirectional traction element and the first blade cleat.
Facts
- Company
- Nike (NIKE, Inc.)
- Official title
- SOLE STRUCTURE FOR ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR
- Publication number
- US20260305768A1
- Application number
- 19711731
- Filed
- Jun 17, 2026
- Published
- Oct 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 3
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
A43C 15/161 Human necessitiesA43B 13/223 Human necessitiesA43C 15/162 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.