US2009313856A1PendingUtilityA1

Flexible sole for an article of footwear

49
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jun 20, 2008Filed: Jun 20, 2008Published: Dec 24, 2009
Est. expiryJun 20, 2028(~1.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:James K. Arizumi
A43B 3/0057A43B 13/223A43B 13/141
49
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

A sole for an article of footwear is provided. The article of footwear defines a lateral edge, a medial edge, a forefoot region, a midfoot region and a heel region. The sole includes an outsole having a thickness and at least one slot in the outsole. The slot extends in a substantially longitudinal direction. A longitudinal centerline is defined midway between the lateral edge and the medial edge. The slot crosses over the longitudinal centerline in at least one of the forefoot region and the midfoot region. An article of footwear having the sole attached to an upper is also provided.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A sole for an article of footwear, the article of footwear having a lateral edge, a medial edge, a forefoot region, a midfoot region and a heel region, the sole comprising:
 an outsole having a thickness, with a longitudinal centerline defined midway between the lateral edge and the medial edge; and   at least one slot in the outsole,   wherein the slot extends in a substantially longitudinal direction, and   wherein the slot crosses over the longitudinal centerline in at least one of the forefoot region and the midfoot region.   
     
     
         2 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the slot crosses the centerline in the forefoot region. 
     
     
         3 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the slot crosses the centerline in a toe portion of the forefoot region. 
     
     
         4 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the slot extends over more than approximately 50 percent of a longitudinal length of the forefoot region. 
     
     
         5 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the slot extends over more than approximately 60 percent of a longitudinal length of the forefoot region. 
     
     
         6 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the slot extends over more than approximately 70 percent of a longitudinal length of the forefoot region. 
     
     
         7 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the slot further extends into the midfoot region. 
     
     
         8 . The sole of  claim 7 , wherein an end of the slot is located in the toe portion. 
     
     
         9 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the slot crosses the centerline in the midfoot region. 
     
     
         10 . The sole of  claim 3 , wherein an end of the slot is located in the heel region. 
     
     
         11 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole is a cup sole. 
     
     
         12 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole includes a material having a Shore A hardness in a range of approximately 60 to approximately 75. 
     
     
         13 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein, in the forefoot region, at least a portion of the slot has a depth that extends at least 90 percent through the thickness of the outsole. 
     
     
         14 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein, in the forefoot region, at least a portion of the slot has a depth that extends 100 percent through the thickness of the outsole. 
     
     
         15 . The sole of  claim 10 , wherein, in the forefoot region, at least a portion of the slot has a width that ranges from approximately 4 mm to approximately 10 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The sole of  claim 10 , wherein, in the forefoot region, at least a portion of the slot has a width that ranges from approximately 6 mm to approximately 7 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein, in the forefoot region, the slot defines a concave curve relative to the medial edge. 
     
     
         18 . The sole of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a midsole attached to the outsole,   wherein the midsole includes a groove that at least partially complements the slot in the outsole.   
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear comprising:
 the sole according to  claim 1 ; and   an upper attached to the sole.   
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the slot crosses the centerline in the forefoot region. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the slot crosses the centerline in a toe portion of the forefoot region. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the slot extends over more than approximately 50 percent of a longitudinal length of the forefoot region. 
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the slot extends over more than approximately 70 percent of a longitudinal length of the forefoot region. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the slot further extends into the midfoot region. 
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear of  claim 24 , wherein an end of the slot is located in the toe portion. 
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the slot crosses the centerline in the midfoot region. 
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear of  claim 26 , wherein an end of the slot is located in the heel region. 
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the outsole is a cup sole. 
     
     
         29 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein, in the forefoot region, at least a portion of the slot has a depth that extends 100 percent through the thickness of the outsole. 
     
     
         30 . The article of footwear of  claim 29 , wherein, in the forefoot region, at least a portion of the slot has a width that ranges from approximately 4 mm to approximately 10 mm. 
     
     
         31 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the outsole includes a material having a Shore A hardness within a range of approximately 60 to approximately 75. 
     
     
         32 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the upper includes a portion in the forefoot region having a Shore A hardness of approximately 60 to approximately 75. 
     
     
         33 . A sole for an article of footwear, comprising:
 an outsole having a toe portion, a ball portion and a midfoot region, the outsole further having a medial side and a lateral side; and   a slot located in the outsole, the slot having a first end, a second end and an elongate portion therebetween,   wherein the first end of the slot is located on the medial side in the toe portion,   wherein at least a section of the elongate portion of the slot is located on the lateral side of the ball portion, and   wherein at least another section of the elongate portion of the slot is located in the medial side in the midfoot region.   
     
     
         34 . The sole of  claim 33 , wherein at least a portion of the slot extends through the thickness of the outsole. 
     
     
         35 . The sole of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 a midsole having a groove that has at least portions that generally correspond to the slot.   
     
     
         36 . A lace for an article of footwear comprising:
 aramid fibers.   
     
     
         37 . The lace of  claim 36 , having approximately 1 percent to approximately 30 percent by weight of aramid fibers.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2009313856A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.