Footwear sole structure

Abstract

A shoe structure for athletic use includes an upper adapted and constructed to at least partially cover an upper surface of the foot of a wearer of the shoe. A sole element is secured to the upper, and is fabricated from a relatively flexible and cushioned material. A plurality of multi-island platforms are secured to the sole element. The multi-island platforms have varying degrees of stiffness. Stiffer multi-island platforms are located in areas of the foot requiring stiffness to enhance footwear performance, and more flexible multi-island platforms are located in areas of the foot requiring flexibility to enhance footwear performance.

1 . A shoe structure for athletic use comprising the following:
 an upper  12  adapted and constructed to at least partially cover an upper surface of the foot of a wearer of the shoe;   a sole element  17  secured to the upper, the sole element  17  being fabricated from a relatively flexible and cushioned material;   a plurality of multi-island platforms  22  on the sole element, the multi-island platforms  22  having varying degrees of width and stiffness; and   whereby wider and stiffer multi-island platforms are located in areas of the foot requiring stiffness to enhance footwear performance, and narrower and more flexible multi-island platforms are located in areas of the foot requiring flexibility to enhance footwear performance.   
   
   
       2 . A shoe structure in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an insert assembly including the following:
 a form-fitting insert  16 ,  18  adapted and constructed for contact with the sole of a foot of a wearer; and   a durable casing  20  secured between the insert  16 ,  18  and the sole element  14 .   
   
   
       3 . A shoe structure in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein each of the multi-island platforms comprises the following:
 a base  24  having a desired degree of stiffness; and   a contact element  26  secured to the base  24 .   
   
   
       4 . A shoe structure in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the base is fabricated from a thermoplastic material. 
   
   
       5 . A shoe structure in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein the base  24  is fabricated from TPU. 
   
   
       6 . A shoe structure in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the contact element  26  comprises a traction-enhancing device  26 . 
   
   
       7 . A shoe structure in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the contact element comprises a cleat. 
   
   
       8 . A shoe structure in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the contact element comprises a patterned rubber element. 
   
   
       9 . A shoe structure in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of multi-island platforms comprises at least three multi-island platforms.