Heel construction for footwear

Abstract

The invention provides an article of footwear that includes an outsole. The outsole can include an articulated heel region, which can have an X-shaped heel articulation. The articulation can be provided by a plurality of intersecting channels or grooves. The article of footwear can be an athletic shoe, and may include cleats.

1 . An athletic shoe for improved cornering performance or configured to accommodate severe changes in direction while running comprising:
 a heel portion with a defined longitudinal axis that is formed with at least one pair of substantially linear intersecting channels that facilitate articulation of the heel portion, wherein each intersecting channel is oriented substantially non-parallel and non-perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the heel portion.   
   
   
       2 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein each channel provides a degree of freedom to the heel portion upon impact during running. 
   
   
       3 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the heel portion is articulated upon impact during running. 
   
   
       4 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the intersecting channels form an ‘X’ configuration. 
   
   
       5 . The shoe of  claim 4  wherein the intersecting channels cross at an intersection formed with opposing angles that are not equal to 90 degrees. 
   
   
       6 . The shoe of  claim 1  further comprising concentric or annular rings. 
   
   
       7 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the intersecting channels are more shallow at an intersection where the channels intersect. 
   
   
       8 . A shoe heel for athletic activities on playing fields comprising:
 a plurality of heel surface elements that are separated by a plurality of substantially linear non-parallel channels wherein the channels are not formed laterally between a medial side and lateral side of the shoe heel.   
   
   
       9 . The shoe heel of  claim 8  wherein a heel surface element forms at least a portion of a ground contacting surface of the shoe heel. 
   
   
       10 . The shoe heel of  claim 8  wherein a heel surface element includes a heel cleat. 
   
   
       11 . The shoe heel of  claim 8  wherein a heel surface element includes ridges that provide texturing to the heel surface element. 
   
   
       12 . The shoe heel of  claim 8  wherein the shoe heel comprises three heel surface elements. 
   
   
       13 . The shoe heel of  claim 12  wherein each heel surface element includes a heel cleat and ridges. 
   
   
       14 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a heel region defined by an outer heel boundary and a midfoot boundary, wherein the heel region has a defined longitudinal axis, and is formed with articulated segments in between the outer heel and midfoot boundaries for providing the heel region with at least two angles of articulation, wherein the at least two angles of articulation are substantially non-parallel and non-perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the heel region.   
   
   
       15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14  wherein the article of footwear is an athletic shoe. 
   
   
       16 . The article of footwear of  claim 14  wherein the article of footwear is a baseball cleat. 
   
   
       17 . The article of footwear of  claim 14  wherein the articulated segments have a textured surface. 
   
   
       18 . The article of footwear of  claim 14  wherein the spaces between the articulated segments form an ‘X’ configuration. 
   
   
       19 . An outer sole for an article of footwear defined with a lateral axis comprising:
 a hindfoot region comprising at least one pair of intersecting channels that provide at least two hinged sections for allowing negotiation of sharp turns, wherein neither intersecting channel is oriented substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the lateral axis of the article of footwear.   
   
   
       20 . The outer sole of  claim 19  wherein the hindfoot region further comprises a plurality of cleats. 
   
   
       21 . The outer sole of  claim 19  further comprising a forefoot region wherein the forefoot region comprises at least one cleat. 
   
   
       22 . The outer sole of  claim 21  wherein the forefoot region comprises ridges that provide texturing. 
   
   
       23 . The outer sole of  claim 22  wherein the ridges form a ‘Y’ configuration. 
   
   
       24 . The outer sole of  claim 19  wherein the intersecting channels are oriented substantially diagonally with respect to the lateral axis of the article of footwear. 
   
   
       25 . The outer sole of  claim 19  wherein the outer sole is flexible in a direction perpendicular to the orientation of the intersecting channels.