Reinforcing Cage For Shoes

Abstract

An article of footwear comprising a reinforcing cage. In one exemplary embodiment, a reinforcing cage may comprise a base, a plurality of spaced ribs located along a wall of the cushioning component, each of said plurality of spaced ribs including a first end and a second end, a bottom rim attached a lower end of at least one of the plurality of spaced apart ribs, and a top rim attached a upper end of at least one of the plurality of spaced apart ribs.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole;   an upper attached to the outsole;   a cushioning component located between the outsole and the upper and comprising a side wall; and   a reinforcing cage further comprising:
 a base; 
 a plurality of spaced ribs extending along the side wall of the cushioning component, each of said plurality of spaced ribs including a first end and a second end; 
 a bottom rim attached to the first end of at least one of the plurality of spaced ribs; and 
 a top rim attached to the second end of at least one of the plurality of spaced ribs. 
   
   
   
       2 . The article of footwear in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced ribs, the bottom rim, and the top rim extend to a user's midfoot. 
   
   
       3 . The article of footwear in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced ribs, the bottom rim, and the top rim extend to a user's forefoot. 
   
   
       4 . The article of footwear in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of spaced ribs form at least one rib aperture. 
   
   
       5 . The article of footwear in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one rib aperture is one of a circle, ellipse, triangle, quadrilateral, S, and X shape. 
   
   
       6 . The article of footwear in  claim 1 , wherein the base, the plurality of spaced ribs, the bottom rim, and the top rim at least partially encase the cushioning component. 
   
   
       7 . The article of footwear in  claim 1 , wherein the upper, the outsole, the base, the plurality of spaced ribs, the bottom rim, and the top rim fully encase the cushioning component. 
   
   
       8 . The article of footwear in  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a ventilation channel. 
   
   
       9 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole;   an upper attached to the outsole;   a cushioning device comprising a sidewall located between the outsole and the upper, and   a reinforcing cage further comprising:
 a first portion comprising a base; 
 a second portion attached to the first portion; 
 a third portion attached to the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third portion further comprises:
 a plurality of spaced ribs extending along the sidewall of the cushioning component, each of said plurality of spaced ribs including a first end and a second end; 
 a bottom rim attached to the first end of at least one of the plurality of spaced ribs; and 
 a top rim attached to a second end of at least one of the plurality of spaced ribs, 
 
   wherein the base, the plurality of spaced ribs, the bottom rim, and the top rim at least partially encase the cushioning component.   
   
   
       10 . The article of footwear in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of spaced ribs, the bottom rim, and the top rim extend to a user's midfoot. 
   
   
       11 . The article of footwear in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of spaced ribs, the bottom rim, and the top rim extend to a user's forefoot. 
   
   
       12 . The article of footwear of claim of  9 , wherein the first portion comprises an aperture. 
   
   
       13 . The article of footwear of claim of  9 , wherein the second portion comprises a flap. 
   
   
       14 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the third portion comprises a heel aperture. 
   
   
       15 . The article of footwear in  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of spaced ribs form at least one rib aperture and wherein the at least one rib aperture is one of a circle, ellipse, triangle, quadrilateral, S, and X shape. 
   
   
       16 . The article of footwear in  claim 9 , wherein second portion extends to a user's midfoot. 
   
   
       17 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a reinforcing cage comprising a base, a plurality of spaced apart ribs, and a rim; wherein the plurality of ribs extend outwardly from the base, extend along the side wall of a cushioning component and attach to the rim.   
   
   
       18 . The article of footwear in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of spaced ribs, the bottom rim, and the top rim extend to a user's midfoot. 
   
   
       19 . The article of footwear in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of spaced ribs, the bottom rim, and the top rim extend to a user's forefoot. 
   
   
       20 . The article of footwear in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of spaced ribs form at least one aperture, and wherein the at least one aperture is one of a circle, ellipse, triangle, quadrilateral, S, and X shape. 
   
   
       21 . The article of footwear in  claim 17 , wherein each of the plurality of ribs comprises a first end with a first width, a second end with a second width, and a middle portion with a third width. 
   
   
       22 . The article of footwear in  claim 21 , wherein the third width is greater than the first width and the second width. 
   
   
       23 . The article of footwear in  claim 21 , wherein the third width is lesser than the first width and the second width. 
   
   
       24 . The article of footwear in  claim 21 , wherein the first width, the second width, and the third width are approximately equal. 
   
   
       25 . An method comprising:
 providing an outsole;   attaching an upper to the outsole;   inserting a cushioning device comprising a side wall between the outsole and the upper; and   attaching a reinforcing cage further comprising:
 a first portion comprising a base; 
 a second portion attached to the first portion; 
 a third portion attached to the first and second portions, wherein the third portion further comprises:
 a plurality of spaced ribs extending along the side wall of the cushioning component, each of said plurality of spaced ribs including a first end and a second end, and 
 a bottom rim attached to the first end of at least one of the plurality of spaced apart ribs; and 
 a top rim attached to the second end of at least one of the plurality of spaced apart ribs, 
 
   wherein the base, the plurality of spaced ribs, the bottom rim, and the top rim at least partially encase the cushioning component.