Sole structures and articles of footwear having a lightweight midsole member with protective elements
First Claim
1. An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper; and
a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure includes a first polymeric foam member configured to support at least a heel and midfoot area of a wearer'"'"'s foot, wherein an exposed outer edge of the first polymeric foam member includes a billows structure that extends continuously from a medial midfoot or forefoot area of the first polymeric foam member proximate to a lateral midfoot or forefoot area of the first polymeric foam member, and wherein the billows structure includes five billow outer ridges connected by four billow interstitial areas located between adjacent billow outer ridges of the five billow outer ridges,wherein the billow ridges extend upwardly at an angle from front ends of the ridges to rear ends of the ridges.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include a relatively soft and lightweight foam midsole component partially covered by at least one more rigid and/or dense cage (protective) component(s) and/or other protective component(s). The sole structure may include a first polymeric foam member, wherein an exposed outer edge of the first polymeric foam member includes a billows structure that extends continuously from a medial midfoot or forefoot area of the first polymeric foam member proximate to a lateral midfoot or forefoot area of the first polymeric foam member, and wherein the billows structure includes billow outer ridges connected by billow interstitial areas located between adjacent billow outer ridges.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article of footwear, comprising:
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an upper; and a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure includes a first polymeric foam member configured to support at least a heel and midfoot area of a wearer'"'"'s foot, wherein an exposed outer edge of the first polymeric foam member includes a billows structure that extends continuously from a medial midfoot or forefoot area of the first polymeric foam member proximate to a lateral midfoot or forefoot area of the first polymeric foam member, and wherein the billows structure includes five billow outer ridges connected by four billow interstitial areas located between adjacent billow outer ridges of the five billow outer ridges, wherein the billow ridges extend upwardly at an angle from front ends of the ridges to rear ends of the ridges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An article of footwear, comprising:
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an upper; and a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure includes a polymeric foam member configured to support at least a heel and midfoot area of a wearer'"'"'s foot, wherein an exposed outer edge of the polymeric foam member includes; a first billows structure that includes;
a first outer billow ridge, a second outer billow ridge, a third outer billow ridge, a first interstitial region located between the first and second outer billow ridges, and a second interstitial region located between the second and third outer billow ridges, anda second billows structure that includes;
a fourth outer billow ridge, a fifth outer billow ridge, and a third interstitial region located between the fourth and fifth outer billow ridges,wherein the fourth outer billow ridge originates in the first interstitial region and the fifth outer billow ridge originates in the second interstitial region, and wherein the billow ridges extend upwardly at an angle from front ends of the ridges to rear ends of the ridges. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification