Enhanced unitary sole assembly

Abstract

A sole assembly including a unitary midsole having an upper support surface configured to support a plantar region of a human foot, and a substantially contiguous lower surface extending from a heel portion of the sole assembly to a toe portion of the sole assembly. A semi-rigid heel cradle is coupled to the upper support surface and configured to cradle and support a heel region of the foot from beneath the foot and to support a plurality of sides of the foot when the foot is rested in a heel area of the sole assembly. Further, an outsole is provided on the substantially contiguous lower surface and configured to provide traction with a ground surface.

1 . A sole assembly comprising: 
 a unitary midsole having an upper support surface configured to support a plantar region of a human foot, and a substantially contiguous lower surface extending from a heel portion of the sole assembly to a toe portion of the sole assembly;    a semi-rigid heel cradle coupled to the upper support surface and configured to cradle and support a heel region of the foot from beneath the foot and to support a plurality of sides of the foot when the foot is rested in a heel area of the sole assembly; and    an outsole provided on the substantially contiguous lower surface and configured to provide traction with a ground surface.    
     
     
         2 . The sole assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heel cradle comprises lateral, medial, and rear sidewalls for supporting the plurality of sides of the foot.  
     
     
         3 . The sole assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the heel cradle increases in depth in a direction from the toe portion to the heel portion.  
     
     
         4 . The sole assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the heel cradle extends from the heel portion to a midfoot portion of the sole assembly.  
     
     
         5 . The sole assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the heel cradle comprises a through hole in a surface facing the outsole and configured to guide the heel of a human foot toward a central region of the sole assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The sole assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the through hole is tear-drop shaped and oriented such that a widest part of the tear-drop is closer to the heel portion than is a narrowest part.  
     
     
         7 . The sole assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the through hole is oval or circular shaped.  
     
     
         8 . The sole assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the through hole comprises pellet-sized holes.  
     
     
         9 . The sole assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the through hole comprises a fine mesh.  
     
     
         10 . The sole assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a flexible upper attached to the sole assembly to form a shoe cavity; and    an insole provided within the cavity and in contact with the sole assembly.    
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible upper includes a material different than a material comprising the heel cradle, and the flexible upper is disposed at least partially between the heel cradle and the heel area.  
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 10 , further comprising a flexible upper, including a material different than a material comprising the heel cradle, disposed on a side of the heel cradle opposite a side of the heel cradle facing the heel area.  
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the upper extends farther in a direction away from the outsole to the insole than does the heel cradle.  
     
     
         14 . A sole assembly comprising: 
 an outsole;    a unitary midsole with a substantially contiguous support surface extending from a heel portion of the sole assembly to a toe portion of the sole assembly; and    means for supporting a heel of a human foot when the human foot is rested within the means for supporting.    
     
     
         15 . A sole assembly comprising: 
 a unitary midsole having an upper support surface configured to support a plantar region of a human foot, a substantially contiguous lower surface extending from a heel portion of the sole assembly to a toe portion of the sole assembly, and sidewalls connecting the upper and lower surfaces;    an outsole provided on the substantially contiguous lower surface and configured to provide traction with a ground surface; and    a ventilation structure comprising: 
 a first hole disposed in a sidewall of the unitary midsole, and  
 a second hole disposed in the outsole and in fluid communication with the first hole.  
   
     
     
         16 . The sole assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first hole is disposed on a bottom edge of the unitary midsole.  
     
     
         17 . The sole assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first hole comprises a hole frame.  
     
     
         18 . The sole assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the hole frame comprises fins.  
     
     
         19 . The sole assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first hole is disposed on a top edge of the unitary midsole.  
     
     
         20 . The sole assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a third hole, in fluid communication with the first and second holes, and disposed in the midsole.  
     
     
         21 . The sole assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first and third holes are disposed on different sides of the midsole.  
     
     
         22 . The sole assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the third hole is disposed in a heel portion of the midsole.  
     
     
         23 . The sole assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising fourth hole in a different side of the midsole than either of the first and third holes.  
     
     
         24 . The sole assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the third hole is disposed on a lateral side or a medial side of the midsole.  
     
     
         25 . A sole assembly comprising: 
 a unitary midsole having an upper support surface configured to support a plantar region of a human foot, a substantially contiguous lower surface extending from a heel portion of the sole assembly to a toe portion of the sole assembly, and sidewalls connecting the upper and lower surfaces;    an outsole provided on the substantially contiguous lower surface and configured to provide traction with a ground surface; and    means for ventilating the foot through the sole assembly.