Article of footwear having an undulating sole

• US 9,392,843 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reebok International Limited (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Reebok International Limited (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Callahan, Erica, Montross, Matthew, Hardigan, Henry, Vestuti, Ricardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoey, Alissa L
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLIER, JAMESON D
• Application Number:
  US12/506,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016746A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,555 Days
• Field of Search: 361/02, 361/03, 36/25.R, 36/27, 36/28, 36/29, 36/31, 36/35, 36/35.R, 36/35.B, 36/59.C
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0057 S-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0068 V-shaped

Abstract

An article of footwear with an undulating sole provides a different and unique ride and/or feel to the article of footwear, while also providing a unique aesthetic appeal and adequate cushioning and support. The midsole has an undulating shape substantially similar to a sine wave with a series of alternating peaks and troughs.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper;

an undulating foam midsole attached to the upper, the undulating foam midsole comprising;

a plurality of spaced apart peaks extending from a medial side of the midsole to a lateral side of the midsole, wherein at least one pair of directly adjacent peaks of the plurality of peaks define a gap void of material between the at least one pair of directly adjacent peaks, and wherein the plurality of spaced apart peaks have a concave upper surface continuously extending from the medial side to the lateral side of the midsole; and

a plurality of spaced apart troughs, wherein a bottom-most surface of at least one trough of the plurality of troughs is adapted to contact the ground and wherein at least one pair of directly adjacent troughs of the plurality of troughs define a gap void of material between a first wall and a second wall of the directly adjacent troughs, wherein a distance of the gap between the first wall and the second wall is narrower at a bottom of the gap than at a middle of the gap; and

an outsole piece attached to one or more troughs of the midsole.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a plate attached to the plurality of spaced apart peaks.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein a shape of each of the plurality of spaced apart troughs is inverse to a shape of a directly adjacent peak of the plurality of peaks.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the outsole piece attaches to two troughs and spans the gap between the two troughs.

5. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper;

an undulating foam midsole attached to the upper, the undulating foam midsole comprising;

a medial side;

a lateral side;

a plurality of spaced apart peaks extending along a width of the midsole between the medial and lateral sides, wherein the plurality of spaced apart peaks have a concave upper surface continuously extending from the medial side to the lateral side of the midsole; and

a plurality of spaced apart troughs extending along the width of the midsole between the medial and lateral sides, wherein a bottom-most surface of at least one trough of the plurality of troughs is adapted to contact the ground; and

an outsole piece attached to one or more troughs of the plurality of troughs of the midsole,

wherein at least one pair of directly adjacent peaks of the plurality of peaks define a gap void of material between the directly adjacent peaks, the gap between directly adjacent peaks extending along the width of the midsole with one end of the gap at the medial side and another end of the gap at the lateral side, and

wherein at least one pair of directly adjacent troughs of the plurality of troughs define a gap void of material between a first wall and a second wall of the directly adjacent troughs, wherein a distance of the gap between the first wall and the second wall is narrower at a bottom of the gap than at a middle of the gap, the gap between the directly adjacent troughs extending along the width of the midsole with one end of the gap at the medial side and another end of the gap at the lateral side.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the plurality of spaced apart peaks are v-shaped.

7. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the plurality of spaced apart peaks have a greater height at the medial and lateral sides of the midsole than in an area between the medial and lateral sides.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, further comprising a plate attached to the plurality of spaced apart peaks, wherein the plate is disposed on each of the plurality of spaced apart peaks in the area between the medial and lateral sides of the midsole.

9. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein a shape of each of the plurality of spaced apart troughs is inverse to a shape of a directly adjacent peak of the plurality of peaks.

10. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the outsole piece attaches to two troughs and spans the gap between the two troughs.

11. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper;

an undulating foam midsole attached to the upper, the undulating foam midsole comprising;

a medial side;

a lateral side;

a plurality of spaced apart peaks extending along a width of the midsole between the medial and lateral sides; and

a plurality of spaced apart troughs extending along the width of the midsole between the medial and lateral sides, wherein a bottom-most surface of at least one trough of the plurality of troughs is adapted to contact the ground, wherein a distance between directly adjacent troughs is narrowest between portions of the directly adjacent troughs configured to contact the ground;

a plate attached to the plurality of spaced apart peaks; and

an outsole piece attached to one or more troughs of the plurality of troughs of the midsole,

wherein the plurality of spaced apart peaks have a greater height at the medial and lateral sides of the midsole than in an area between the medial and lateral sides, and wherein the plurality of spaced apart peaks have a concave upper surface continuously extending from the medial side to the lateral side of the midsole.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the plate is disposed on each of the plurality of spaced apart peaks in the area between the medial and lateral sides of the midsole.

13. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein a shape of each of the plurality of spaced apart troughs is inverse to a shape of a directly adjacent peak of the plurality of peaks.

14. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the outsole piece attaches to two troughs and spans a gap between the two troughs.