Two-part sole for footwear

Abstract

A sole for an article of footwear including a first part having a bottom surface with a plurality of first protrusions increasing in thickness from a medial side to a lateral side, where each adjacent pair of the first protrusions define a first recess therebetween, and a second part having a top surface with a plurality of second protrusions increasing in thickness from a lateral side to a medial side, where each adjacent pair of the second protrusions define a second recess therebetween. When the first part and the second part are attached together, the plurality of first protrusions and recesses on the bottom surface of the first part matingly engage corresponding ones of the plurality of second protrusions and recesses on the top surface of the second part to form a midsole that deflects and absorbs impact forces resulting from multiple running conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole for an article of footwear comprising:
 a first part including a bottom surface having a plurality of first protrusions increasing in thickness from a medial side to a lateral side, each adjacent pair of said first protrusions defining a first recess therebetween; and   a second part including a top surface having a plurality of second protrusions increasing in thickness from a lateral side to a medial side, each adjacent pair of said second protrusions defining a second recess therebetween,   wherein when said first part and said second part are attached together, said plurality of first protrusions and recesses on said bottom surface of said first part matingly engage corresponding ones of said plurality of second protrusions and recesses on said top surface of said second part.   
     
     
         2 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein said first protrusions have a triangular shape. 
     
     
         3 . The sole of  claim 2 , wherein said second protrusions have a triangular shape. 
     
     
         4 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein said second protrusions have a triangular shape. 
     
     
         5 . The sole of  claim 4 , wherein said first protrusions have a triangular shape. 
     
     
         6 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein each said first recess of said first part have a triangular shape and decrease in width from the medial side to lateral side. 
     
     
         7 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein each said recess of said second part have a triangular shape and decrease in width from the lateral side to medial side. 
     
     
         8 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein said first part further comprises two longitudinal recesses extending between the toe and heel portions of the first part. 
     
     
         9 . The sole of  claim 8 , wherein said second part further comprises two longitudinal supports extending between the toe and heel portions of the second part, said longitudinal supports being configured to matingly engage said two longitudinal protruding recesses of said first part when said first and second parts are attached together. 
     
     
         10 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein said second part includes a plurality of tread members, each of said tread members being positioned adjacent to a different one of said second protrusions. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole attached to said upper, said sole including a first part and a second part,   said first part including a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface including a plurality of first protrusions increasing in thickness from a medial side to a lateral side, each adjacent pair of said first protrusions defining a first recess therebetween,   said second part including a top surface and a bottom surface, said top surface including a plurality of second protrusions increasing in thickness from a lateral side to a medial side, each adjacent pair of said second protrusions defining a second recess therebetween, wherein when said first part and said second part are attached together, said plurality of first protrusions and recesses on said bottom surface of said first part matingly engage corresponding ones of said plurality of second protrusions and recesses on said top surface of said second part.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein said first protrusions have a triangular shape. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein said second protrusions have a triangular shape. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein said second protrusions have a triangular shape. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein said first protrusions have a triangular shape. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein said recesses of said first part have a triangular shape and decrease in width from the medial side to lateral side. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein said recesses of said second part have a triangular shape and decrease in width from the lateral side to medial side. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein said first part further comprises two longitudinal recesses extending between the toe and heel portions of the first part. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein said second part further comprises two longitudinal supports extending between the toe and heel portions of the second part, said longitudinal supports being configured to matingly engage said two longitudinal recesses of said first part when said first and second parts are attached together. 
     
     
         20 . The sole of  claim 11 , wherein said second part includes a plurality of tread members, each of said tread members being positioned adjacent to a different one of said second protrusions.