SOLE ASSEMBLY FOR ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR
First Claim
1. An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
a sole assembly joined with the upper, the sole assembly including a heel region, an arch region and a forefoot region, the sole assembly defining a sole width, the sole assembly comprising;
a midsole defining a flexibility void in the arch region, the flexibility void extending inwardly from a medial side of the sole assembly toward a longitudinal axis, the flexibility void being visible to a viewer of the footwear from the medial side of the sole assembly, the flexibility void including a side perimeter defined along the medial side of the sole assembly, and a lower perimeter defined along a lower surface of the midsole, andan outsole disposed under the midsole, the outsole including an arch stabilizer including a ground contacting portion in the arch region, the ground contacting portion providing ground contact of the outsole with the ground in the arch region, the ground contacting portion disposed adjacent the lower perimeter of the flexibility void,wherein the flexibility void and arch stabilizer both extend across respective parts of the sole width from the medial side to a lateral side of the sole assembly,whereby the flexibility void provides flexibility to the arch region of the sole assembly so that the forefoot portion and heel portion can move dynamically relative to one another.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sole assembly including an outsole and a midsole that balances proprioception, flexibility, protection and running efficiency. The midsole can define a flexibility void in the arch region of the assembly. The outsole can include ground contacting wearing tread extending through the arch region adjacent the flexibility void, with the outsole minimized adjacent the flexibility void to enhance flexibility, along with the flexibility void, in the arch region. The sole assembly can include a 4 mm to 8 mm or other heel to toe drop to accommodate a variety of running and other activities. The sole assembly can be outfitted with shock pods of denser, more rigid material than the midsole to dissipate forces from the wearer to the midsole over a larger area. The midsole can include a non-supportive upwardly extending portion in the arch to provide a wearer with the false perception that the arch is supported to reduce fatigue.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An article of footwear comprising:
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an upper; a sole assembly joined with the upper, the sole assembly including a heel region, an arch region and a forefoot region, the sole assembly defining a sole width, the sole assembly comprising; a midsole defining a flexibility void in the arch region, the flexibility void extending inwardly from a medial side of the sole assembly toward a longitudinal axis, the flexibility void being visible to a viewer of the footwear from the medial side of the sole assembly, the flexibility void including a side perimeter defined along the medial side of the sole assembly, and a lower perimeter defined along a lower surface of the midsole, and an outsole disposed under the midsole, the outsole including an arch stabilizer including a ground contacting portion in the arch region, the ground contacting portion providing ground contact of the outsole with the ground in the arch region, the ground contacting portion disposed adjacent the lower perimeter of the flexibility void, wherein the flexibility void and arch stabilizer both extend across respective parts of the sole width from the medial side to a lateral side of the sole assembly, whereby the flexibility void provides flexibility to the arch region of the sole assembly so that the forefoot portion and heel portion can move dynamically relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An article of footwear comprising:
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an upper sized and shaped to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including a Strobel construction; a sole assembly joined with the upper, the sole assembly including a heel region, an arch region and a forefoot region, the sole assembly including a longitudinal axis extending from the heel region to the forefoot region, the sole assembly having a sole width extending across the sole assembly from a lateral side to a medial side, the sole assembly comprising; a midsole constructed from a first material having a first density and a first durometer, the midsole having a lower surface and an opposing upper surface, the midsole defining a flexibility void in the arch region, the flexibility void extending inwardly from the medial side of the sole assembly toward the longitudinal axis, the flexibility void having a void height, a void length and a void width, the void length being greater than the void height, the flexibility void including a generally arcuate perimeter along a lowermost extremity of the flexibility void, and an outsole disposed under the midsole lower surface, the outsole including an arch stabilizer including a ground contacting portion, the ground contacting portion extending between the heel region and the forefoot region, the ground contacting portion providing ground contact of the outsole with the ground through the arch region, the ground contacting portion located adjacent the arcuate perimeter of the flexibility void, wherein the flexibility void extends across a first part of the sole width on the medial side of the longitudinal axis, and the arch stabilizer extends across a remainder of the sole width on the lateral side of the longitudinal axis through the arch region of the sole assembly, wherein the flexibility void is visible to a viewer of the footwear from the medial side of the sole assembly, wherein the upper surface of the midsole in the heel region is elevated about 4.0 mm to about 8.0 mm above the upper surface of the midsole in the forefoot region. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An article of footwear comprising:
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an upper having a Strobel construction with a closed bottom; a sole assembly joined with the upper and adjacent the closed bottom of the upper, the sole assembly including a heel region, an arch region and a forefoot region, the sole assembly comprising; a midsole defining an arch shaped flexibility void in the arch region, the flexibility void including a lower perimeter, and an outsole including a wearing tread that contacts the ground when a wearer wears the footwear on the ground, the wearing tread extending through the arch region adjacent the flexibility void lower perimeter, whereby the flexibility void provides flexibility to the arch region of the sole assembly so that the forefoot portion and heel portion can move dynamically relative to one another.
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Specification