Footwear having a flexible outsole

Abstract

An article of footwear is constructed from an outsole to which there is attached an upper. The outsole is provided with an upstanding sidewall and adjoining lip which form an outwardly projecting edge. The outsole is attached to the outer surface of the lip adjacent the edge by stitching and/or adhesive bonding. The outsole defines a hollow interior for receiving footwear components such as lining material, an insole and the like.

1 . An outsole for an article of footwear, said outsole comprising a foot-shaped support having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge; an upstanding member extending circumferentially about said support adjacent said peripheral edge, said member having an inner surface and an outer surface, said member providing an outwardly projecting edge adjacent said peripheral edge circumscribing said support, said outer surface of said member adapted for securing a portion of an upper thereto; and said top surface of said support and said inner surface of said member forming a hollow region adapted for receiving a human foot.  
     
     
         2 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein said projecting edge is formed by a portion of said top surface of said support adjacent said peripheral edge and an adjacent portion of said outer surface of said member.  
     
     
         3 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein said projecting edge has a width no less than about a width of an edge portion of an upper adapted to be secured to said member.  
     
     
         4 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein said member has a front edge provided with at least one notch therein.  
     
     
         5 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein said member has an upper portion which is tapered in cross-section and a lower portion of uniform cross-section.  
     
     
         6 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein said member comprises an upstanding sidewall circumscribing said peripheral edge of said support, said sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and an upstanding lip extending circumferentially about said sidewall, said lip having an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said lip forming with said outer surface of said sidewall said projecting edge circumscribing said sidewall, said outer surface of said lip adapted for securing a portion of an upper thereto.  
     
     
         7 . The outsole of  claim 6 , wherein said projecting edge has a width no less than about a width of an edge portion of an upper adapted to be secured to said lip.  
     
     
         8 . The outsole of  claim 6 , wherein said sidewall has a uniform cross-section.  
     
     
         9 . The outsole of  claim 6 , wherein said lip has a tapered cross-section.  
     
     
         10 . The outsole of  claim 6 , wherein said inner surface of said sidewall is flush with said inner surface of said lip.  
     
     
         11 . The outsole of  claim 6 , wherein said sidewall and said lip are formed as an integral piece.  
     
     
         12 . The outsole of  claim 6 , wherein said projecting edge is spaced above said top surface of said support.  
     
     
         13 . The outsole of  claim 6 , wherein said lip has a front edge provided with at least one notch therein.  
     
     
         14 . An outsole for an article of footwear, said outsole comprising a foot-shaped support having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge; an upstanding sidewall circumscribing said peripheral edge of said support, said sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface; an upstanding lip extending circumferentially about said sidewall, said lip having an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said lip forming with said outer surface of said sidewall an outwardly projecting edge circumscribing said sidewall, said outer surface of said lip adapted for securing a portion of an upper thereto; and said top surface of said support, said inner surface of said sidewall and said inner surface of said lip forming a hollow region adapted for receiving a human foot.  
     
     
         15 . The outsole of  claim 14 , wherein said projecting edge has a width no less than about a width of an edge portion of an upper adapted to be secured to said lip.  
     
     
         16 . The outsole of  claim 14 , wherein said sidewall has a uniform cross-section.  
     
     
         17 . The outsole of  claim 16 , wherein said lip has a tapered cross-section.  
     
     
         18 . The outsole of  claim 16 , wherein said inner surface of said sidewall is flush with said inner surface of said lip.  
     
     
         19 . The outsole of  claim 16 , wherein said sidewall and said lip are formed as an integral piece.  
     
     
         20 . The outsole of  claim 14 , wherein said lip has a front edge provided with at least one notch therein.  
     
     
         21 . An article of footwear comprising an upper; and an outsole attached to said upper; said outsole comprising a foot-shaped support having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge, an upstanding sidewall circumscribing said peripheral edge of said support, said sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface, an upstanding lip extending circumferentially about said sidewall, said lip having an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said lip forming with said outer surface of said sidewall an outwardly projecting edge circumscribing said sidewall, said top surface of said support, said inner surface of said sidewall and said inner surface of said lip forming a hollow region adapted for receiving a human foot, said upper attached to said outer surface of said lip adjacent said outwardly projecting edge.  
     
     
         22 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein said projecting edge has a width no less than about a width of an edge portion of said upper.  
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein said sidewall has a uniform cross-section.  
     
     
         24 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein said lip has a tapered cross-section.  
     
     
         25 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein said inner surface of said sidewall is flush with said inner surface of said lip.  
     
     
         26 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein said sidewall and said lip are formed as an integral piece.  
     
     
         27 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein said projecting edge is spaced above said top surface of said support.  
     
     
         28 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein said lip has a front edge provided with at least one notch therein.  
     
     
         29 . An article of footwear comprising an upper; and an outsole attached to said upper; said outsole comprising a foot-shaped support having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge, an upstanding member extending circumferentially about said support adjacent said peripheral edge, said member having an inner surface and an outer surface, said member providing an outwardly projecting edge adjacent said peripheral edge circumscribing said support, said top surface of said support and said inner surface of said member forming a hollow region adapted for receiving a human foot, said upper attached to said outer surface of said member adjacent said outwardly projecting edge.  
     
     
         30 . The article of  claim 29 , wherein said projecting edge is formed by a portion of said top surface of said support adjacent said peripheral edge and an adjacent portion of said outer surface of said member.  
     
     
         31 . The article of  claim 29 , wherein said projecting edge has a width no less than about a width of an edge portion of an upper adapted to be secured to said member.  
     
     
         32 . The article of  claim 29 , wherein said member has a front edge provided with at least one notch therein.  
     
     
         33 . The article of  claim 29 , wherein said member has an upper portion which is tapered in cross-section and a lower portion of uniform cross-section.  
     
     
         34 . The article of  claim 29 , wherein said member comprises an upstanding sidewall circumscribing said peripheral edge of said support, said sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and an upstanding lip extending circumferentially about said sidewall, said lip having an inner surface and an outer surface, said outer surface of said lip forming with said outer surface of said sidewall said projecting edge circumscribing said sidewall, said outer surface of said lip adapted for securing a portion of an upper thereto.  
     
     
         35 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein said projecting edge has a width no less than about a width of an edge portion of an upper adapted to be secured to said lip.  
     
     
         36 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein said sidewall has a uniform cross-section.  
     
     
         37 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein said lip has a tapered cross-section.  
     
     
         38 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein said inner surface of said sidewall is flush with said inner surface of said lip.  
     
     
         39 . The article of  claim 36 , wherein said sidewall and said lip are formed as an integral piece.  
     
     
         40 . The article of  claim 34 , wherein said lip has a front edge provided with at least one notch therein.