Copyright © Françoise Herrmann
Midsoles are at the heart of HOKA footwear innovation. Embedded with varying support structures, HOKA midsoles provide foam cushioning, and variable curves, calculated to harness more or less propulsion, depending on the user’s purposes (e.g., running, jogging or walking).
The US design patent, USD790175S, titled Footwear midsole, was awarded on June 27th, 2017, to Kyle Pulli, and assigned to Deckers Outdoor Corporation, the company that acquired HOKA in 2013. As a reminder, a US design patent covers the ornamental properties of an invention, or what the invention looks like. In contrast, a US utility patent covers the functional properties of an invention, or how an invention works and/or is manufactured (USPTO – MPEP).
The patent Figure 3 below depicts a side elevation view of the midsole design. The broken lines on the drawing indicate those parts of the design that are excluded from patent protection. The image of a HOKA Bondi 7 women’s shoe, depicting a marketed embodiment of the patented midsole design, is also included below. The Bondi 7 HOKA model shown, which also comes in men’s versions, is recommended as a lifestyle or walking shoe.
References
Deckers (website)
HOKA (website)
https://www.hoka.com/en/us/
USPTO MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent.
https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html
https://www.hoka.com/en/us/
USPTO MPEP – Chapt. 1502-01 – Distinction between design and utility patent.
https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/s1502.html
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