Footwear with improved sole assembly

Abstract

An article of footwear including an outer sole assembly and a flexible upper, the outer bottom assembly extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, width-wise between a lateral side and a medial side, and height-wise between a surface of contact with the ground and a surface for connecting to the remainder of the shoe, the outer sole assembly having, from the rear end to the front end, a rear zone, a central zone, a metatarsal zone, and a front zone, the article of footwear including a counter which reinforces the upper at least above the rear zone. The counter includes a lateral flange and a medial flange, the medial flange being lengthier than the lateral flange.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a flexible upper;   an outer sole assembly extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise between a surface of contact with the ground and a surface for connecting to a remainder of the shoe;   the outer sole assembly comprising, from the rear end to the front end, the following: a rear zone, a central zone, a metatarsal zone, and a front zone;   a counter reinforcing the upper at least above the rear zone of the outer sole assembly;   the counter comprising a lateral flange and a medial flange, the medial flange being longer than the lateral flange.   
     
     
         2 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the medial flange extends in the rear zone and in the central zone.   
     
     
         3 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lateral flange does not extend forwardly from the rear zone.   
     
     
         4 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 maximum heights of the lateral and medial flanges of the counter are equal.   
     
     
         5 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the counter comprises a rear bridge extending between the lateral and medial flanges.   
     
     
         6 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer sole assembly comprises a damping layer, the damping layer comprising a first portion and a second portion;   the first portion of the damping layer extends at least in the rear zone, in the central zone, and in the metatarsal zone, the first portion demarcating a medial cavity spaced from the connecting surface;   the medial cavity extends at least in the central zone;   the second portion of the damping layer is housed at least partially in the medial cavity;   the second portion of the damping layer is harder than the first portion.   
     
     
         7 . An article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first portion of the damping layer extends in the rear zone, in the central zone, in the metatarsal zone, and in the front zone.   
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the second portion of the damping layer extends in the rear zone, in the central zone, and in the metatarsal zone.   
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the second portion has a thickness decreasing in a transverse direction, from the medial side toward the lateral side.   
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the second portion extends widthwise along a distance between 20% and 100% of a width of the outer sole assembly, from the medial side.   
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the second portion extends lengthwise along a distance between 30% and 75% of the length of the outer sole assembly, from the rear end.   
     
     
         12 . An article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 a lower surface of the second portion is flush with a lower surface of the first portion.   
     
     
         13 . An article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first portion comprises a plurality of sub-portions.   
     
     
         14 . An article of footwear according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the first portion comprises a first sub-portion extending along an entirety of a width of the outer sole assembly;   the first portion comprises a second sub-portion extending width-wise along a distance between 20% and 70% of the width of the outer sole assembly, from the lateral side.   
     
     
         15 . An article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 a lip extends the first portion in a direction away from the contact surface, in an area of the medial side, opposite the counter.   
     
     
         16 . An article of footwear according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the lip and the first portion form a unitary element.   
     
     
         17 . An article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 a lip extends the second portion in a direction away from the contact surface, in an area of the medial side, opposite the counter.   
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 the lip and the second portion form a unitary element.   
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the lip extends lengthwise in the rear zone and in the central zone.   
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the lip extends heightwise along a distance between 10% and 40% of a height of the counter.   
     
     
         21 . An article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first portion is comprised of a synthetic foam material;   the second portion is comprised of synthetic foam material.   
     
     
         22 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the counter is comprised of a solid synthetic material.