Sole Assembly For Article Of Footwear With Interlocking Members
First Claim
1. An article of footwear having a forefoot region and a heel region comprising:
- an upper; and
a sole assembly that defines a ground engaging surface and that is attached to the upper, wherein the sole assembly includes;
a first member that is unitary and that includes a first base and a plurality of first ribs, the first ribs depending from the first base toward the ground engaging surface, the first ribs being disposed in the forefoot region; and
a second member that is unitary and that includes a second base and a plurality of second ribs, the second base being proximate the ground engaging surface, the second ribs extending from the second base away from the ground engaging surface, the second ribs being disposed in the forefoot region;
wherein the first member and the second member are interlocked such that the at least some of the plurality of first ribs are received between respective pairs of the second ribs;
wherein the first ribs depend from the first base at a first acute angle relative to the ground engaging surface;
wherein the second ribs extend from the second base at a second acute angle relative to the ground engaging surface; and
wherein the first member has a different resistance to compression than the second member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear includes a sole assembly with a rib that is resiliently flexible, and the rib has a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The transverse axis extends at an acute angle relative to the ground surface, and the rib includes a first longitudinal end, a second longitudinal end, and a middle portion disposed between the first and second longitudinal ends. A height of the first and/or second longitudinal end is greater than that of the middle portion. The rib is operable to axially support a first force applied substantially along the acute angle relative to the ground surface, and the rib transverse axis remains substantially straight in response to the first force. The rib resiliently bends about the rib longitudinal axis in response to a second force applied substantially normal to the ground surface to make the rib transverse axis non-linear.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article of footwear having a forefoot region and a heel region comprising:
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an upper; and a sole assembly that defines a ground engaging surface and that is attached to the upper, wherein the sole assembly includes; a first member that is unitary and that includes a first base and a plurality of first ribs, the first ribs depending from the first base toward the ground engaging surface, the first ribs being disposed in the forefoot region; and a second member that is unitary and that includes a second base and a plurality of second ribs, the second base being proximate the ground engaging surface, the second ribs extending from the second base away from the ground engaging surface, the second ribs being disposed in the forefoot region; wherein the first member and the second member are interlocked such that the at least some of the plurality of first ribs are received between respective pairs of the second ribs; wherein the first ribs depend from the first base at a first acute angle relative to the ground engaging surface; wherein the second ribs extend from the second base at a second acute angle relative to the ground engaging surface; and wherein the first member has a different resistance to compression than the second member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An article of footwear having a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a medial side, and a lateral side comprising:
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an upper; an outsole that defines a ground engaging surface of the footwear; and a resiliently compressible midsole disposed between the upper and the outsole, the midsole including; a first member that is unitary and that includes a first base and a plurality of first ribs; and a second member that is unitary and that includes a second base and a plurality of second ribs; wherein the first ribs depend from the first base toward the ground engaging surface, wherein the first ribs extend continuously from the medial side to the lateral side, and wherein some of the first ribs are disposed in the forefoot region, others of the first ribs are disposed in the midfoot region, and others of the first ribs are disposed in the heel region; wherein the second base is proximate the ground engaging surface, wherein the second ribs extend from the second base away from the ground engaging surface, wherein the second ribs extend continuously from the medial side to the lateral side, and wherein some of the second ribs are disposed in the forefoot region, others of the second ribs are disposed in the midfoot region, and others of the second ribs are disposed in the heel region; wherein the first and second ribs extend at an acute angle relative to the ground engaging surface; wherein the first member and the second member are interlocked such that at least some of the plurality of first ribs are received between respective pairs of the second ribs; and wherein the first member has a different resistance to compression than the second member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification