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The idea of using a waffle iron grid pattern was instrumental in the development of Nike's running shoes. Bill Bowerman, the co-founder of Nike, was inspired by the grid pattern on his wife's waffle iron and started experimenting with a new sole for running shoes. He aimed to create a sole that would grip the track but still be light and flexible. After several months of experimentation, a patent was filed in 1972 for a shoe with an 'improved sole having integral polygon shaped studs...of square, rectangular or triangle cross section... a plurality of flat sides which provide gripping edges that give greatly improved traction.' This innovation revolutionized the athletic shoe.
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In 1971 my old coach and partner Bill Bowerman had started experimenting with a new sole for our running shoes, something that would grip the track but still be light and flexible. He was drawn to the grid pattern on his wife's waffle iron, and came up with a prototype that he thought could work. After a few more months of experimenting, in 1972 I filed patent application number 284,736 for a shoe with an "improved sole having integral polygon shaped studs…of square, rectangular or triangle cross section… a plurality of flat sides which provide gripping edges that give greatly improved traction." We didn't know it at the time, but Bowerman had just revolutionized the athletic shoe.
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The iconic Nike sporting goods company started over 50 years ago as a ‘crazy idea’ in the mind of a young runner in Oregon. Shoe Dog is Phil Knight’s ...
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