Nike patents shoe sole with curved sides for better fit
Nike has filed a patent for a shoe sole design where the sides are not flat but shaped with specific curves. One side of the sole has a dip in the front and a bump in the back, while the other side has a continuous curve from front to back.
In the filing’s own words
A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole having a first surface, a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface and opposing a ground surface during use, and a sidewall extending between and connecting the first surface and the second surface, the sidewall including (i) a first portion extending along one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure and including a first concave portion in a forefoot region and a convex portion in a heel region and (ii) a second portion extending along the other of the medial side of the sole structure and the lateral side of the sole structure and including a second concave portion extending from the forefoot region to the heel region.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An article of footwear, comprising: an upper; and a sole structure attached to the upper and including a midsole having a first surface, a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface and opposing a ground surface during use, a first sidewall extending between and connecting the first surface and the second surface at a medial side of the midsole, and a second sidewall extending between and connecting the first surface and the second surface at a lateral side of the midsole, one of the first sidewall and the second sidewall including a convex portion defined by a first substantially planar surface and a second substantially planar surface that meet at an apex to define a height of the convex portion.
Facts
- Company
- Nike (NIKE, Inc.)
- Official title
- SOLE STRUCTURE FOR ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR
- Publication number
- US20260314749A1
- Application number
- 19467050
- Filed
- Feb 2, 2026
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
A43B 13/14 Human necessitiesA43B 13/37 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.