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Sole structures and articles of footwear having a lightweight midsole member with protective elements

  • US 9,510,635 B2
  • Filed: 03/15/2013
  • Issued: 12/06/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An article of footwear, comprising:

  • an upper; and

    a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure consists essentially of;

    a polymeric foam member for supporting an entire plantar surface of a wearer'"'"'s foot, wherein the polymeric foam member is formed from a foam material having a density of less than 0.25 g/cm3, and wherein the foam material forms an exposed side surface of the sole structure, and a protective member engaged with the polymeric foam member to cover at least 80% of a surface area of a bottom surface of the polymeric foam member, wherein the protective member constitutes a web base surface with a plurality of traction elements extending downward from the web base surface, wherein a subset of the plurality of traction elements are positioned within a central area of the web base surface, wherein the web base surface is perforated in a forefoot area between some of the traction elements with a heel area being free of perforations, and wherein a thickness of a majority of the web base surface at locations between the plurality of traction elements is less than 2 mm thick;

    wherein the exposed side surface of the foam material includes a first billows structure that extends around a rear heel area of the sole structure;

    wherein the first billows structure is at least partially interrupted by a support system;

    wherein the support system includes a plurality of angled support ribs that are angled such that an acute angle is formed between each of the ribs in the plurality of ribs and a longitudinal axis that extends from a toe end to the heel end of the article of footwear, the plurality of ribs extending between two non-adjacent billows of the first billows structure; and

    wherein the exposed side surface of the foam material includes a second billows structure that extends along a lateral side of the sole structure.

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