Article Of Footwear With Performance Characteristic Tuning System

Abstract

An article of footwear with a performance characteristic tuning system is provided. The article of footwear may include a stiffening plate configured to add stiffness to the article of footwear. In addition, the article of footwear includes one or more tuning members connected to the stiffening plate and configured to adjust the stiffness of the article of footwear. The stiffening plate and tuning members may be connected to a midsole of the article of footwear or an outsole. In some arrangements, the article of footwear also includes an outsole member. The outsole member may be a plurality of outsole units arranged along various portions of the article of footwear and configured to provide traction and/or impact attenuation to the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper;   a sole unit connected to the upper, the sole unit including a midsole, an outsole and at least one tuning member arranged within the sole unit,   wherein the at least one tuning member is adjustable to alter at least one performance characteristic of the article of footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one tuning member may be adjusted to add or remove stiffness to the article of footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further including a stiffening plate to which the at least one tuning member is connected. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the stiffening plate is connected to a bottom surface of the midsole. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the stiffening plate is connected to a bottom surface of the upper. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one tuning member is connected to the stiffening plate at a toe region and a heel region of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further including an outsole. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the outsole includes a plurality of outsole members. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the outsole is arranged to expose at least a portion of a bottom surface of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper having a void configured to receive the foot of a wearer;   a sole unit connected to the upper and including a midsole, an outsole and a plurality of tuning strings arranged within the sole unit,   wherein each of the tuning members of the plurality of tuning members is independently configured to alter at least one performance characteristic of the article of footwear.   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein each of the tuning members is configured to alter the stiffness of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , further including a stiffening plate to which the plurality of tuning members is connected. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the stiffening plate is connected to a bottom surface of the midsole. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the stiffening plate is connected to a bottom surface of the upper. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein each of the tuning members is connected to the stiffening plate at a toe region and a heel region of the stiffening plate. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein each of the tuning members is connected to the stiffening plate only at the toe region and the heel region and is not connected to the stiffening plate at any location between the toe region and the heel region. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , further including an outsole. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the outsole includes a plurality of outsole members. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the outsole is arranged to expose at least a portion of a bottom surface of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         20 . A performance characteristic tuning system, comprising:
 a stiffening plate; and   a plurality of tuning members arranged longitudinally along a length of the stiffening plate, the tuning members having a side-by-side arrangement and each of the tuning members of the plurality of tuning members are independently configurable to alter at least one performance characteristic of an article of footwear.   
     
     
         21 . The performance characteristic tuning system of  claim 20 , wherein the stiffening plate includes a plurality of recesses for receiving each of the tuning members. 
     
     
         22 . The performance characteristic tuning system of  claim 20 , wherein the stiffening plate further includes a plurality of guide regions configured to align the tuning members. 
     
     
         23 . The performance characteristic tuning system of  claim 20 , wherein the tuning members are connected to the stiffening plate at a toe region of the stiffening plate and a heel region of the stiffening plate. 
     
     
         24 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper;   a stiffening plate connected to the upper and configured to alter a stiffness of the article of footwear;   a plurality of tuning members connected to the stiffening plate and configured to alter the stiffness of the article of footwear; and   a plurality of outs ole members connected to the stiffening plate and covering a portion of the stiffening plate.   
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear of  claim 24 , wherein each of the outsole members further includes an outer traction surface and an outsole support member. 
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , wherein the stiffening plate further includes a plurality of guide regions configured to align the plurality of tuning members. 
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of guide regions protrude from the stiffening plate. 
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein the outsole support member includes recesses configured to correspond to the guide regions of the stiffening plate and the tuning members. 
     
     
         29 . The article of footwear of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of outsole members is configured to contact a ground surface. 
     
     
         30 . The article of footwear of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of outsole members exposes at least a portion of the stiffening plate. 
     
     
         31 . The article of footwear of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of outsole members includes three outsole members.