Footwear with independent suspension and protection

Abstract

An article of footwear having an upper and a sole is disclosed. The sole of the article of footwear includes a midsole having a support portion and a plurality of projections extending from the support portion. The sole of the article of footwear also includes a plate contacting the support portion having a body positioned in an area between the plurality of projections. The plate further includes a plurality of openings which correspond to the plurality of projections and allow the projections to extend below the body of the plate. The plate further includes a plurality of cantilever elements extending on at least one side and on the bottom of each of the plurality of projections. The projections and the corresponding cantilever elements interact with one another to form a plurality of lugs located on the sole of the article of footwear.

1 . An article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole, the sole including:
 a plate having a body with a first surface, a second surface, and a plurality of spaced apart cantilever elements extending from the first surface of the plate in a direction away from the second surface and having ground contacting portions spaced apart from the body of the plate.   
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1  further including a midsole having a support portion with a first and second surface, the first surface thereof substantially contacting the second surface of the body of the plate. 
   
   
       3 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper for securing a foot of a wearer; and   a sole including:
 a support portion having a first surface and a second surface, at least a portion of the first surface being attached to the upper; and 
 suspension means attached to the support portion for providing portions of the sole which engage a ground surface and which react independently to forces applied to the sole. 
   
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 3  wherein the suspension means includes a plurality of lugs, each of the lugs including cantilever means for providing directional motion to the suspension means and projection means for providing support for the cantilever means. 
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 4  wherein the projection means are integrally formed with the support portion. 
   
   
       6 . An article of footwear for use by a wearer comprising:
 an upper member operable to engage a foot of the wearer; and   a sole connected to the upper member, the sole comprising a plurality of stability members operable to engage a ground surface and to cantilever independently in response to ground forces so as to provide stability for the wearer.   
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 6  wherein a first one of the plurality of stability members cantilevers in response to a first object, and wherein a second one of the plurality of stability members cantilevers in response to a second object. 
   
   
       8 . An article of footwear for use by a wearer comprising a sole having a plurality of discreet, resilient stability members for contacting a ground surface, the stability members being operable to absorb forces and attenuate instability caused by irregularities in the ground surface. 
   
   
       9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8  wherein each of the stability members defines a ground contacting portion, wherein said stability members have a predetermined maximum depth of compression, and wherein said stability members attenuate instability by independently compressing such that the ground contacting portions thereof contour to the ground surface. 
   
   
       10 . The article of footwear of  claim 8  wherein the stability members reduce instability by attenuating inversion and eversion of the ankle joint of the wearer.