Footwear with pontoon sole structure

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure having an outer periphery and one or more pontoons flexibly and resiliently joined to the sole structure. The pontoons are configured to spread laterally when the footwear is loaded to thereby increase the surface area of the sole structure and elastically retract back to an original position when the footwear is unloaded. The increased surface area of the sole reduces sinking of the footwear in soft, loose or saturated ground. Optionally, the sole structure includes paddle blades.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure having an outer periphery attached to the upper, wherein the sole structure comprises one or more pontoons on the outer periphery and joined to the sole structure by one or more flexible and resilient members configured so that the pontoons flex outwardly when the article of footwear is loaded and elastically retract back to an original position when the article of footwear is unloaded.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more flexible and resilient members comprises at least one hinge member connecting the pontoons to a central portion of the sole structure. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear as in  claim 2 , wherein the hinge member is co-molded integrally with the pontoons and the central portion of the sole structure. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear as in  claim 2 , wherein the hinge member is a reduced thickness portion of the sole structure, and the pontoons are separated from the central portion by a deep groove at the hinge member. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear as in  claim 1 , wherein the sole structure includes pontoons on opposed sides of the sole and the flexible and resilient members comprise straps bridging from and between the pontoons on opposed sides. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear as in  claim 1 , where the pontoons are hollow, tube-like members. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the sole structure comprises a plurality of segmented pontoons that individually pivot outwardly and retract back to an original position providing an independent suspension. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the pontoons are arranged substantially continuously around the periphery of the sole structure. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the sole structure comprises a pattern of protuberances for providing traction. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the sole structure includes one or more paddle blades that project from the outer surface of the sole, wrapping around the periphery of the sole structure. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the blades have “V” or fish-bone shaped configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the outer surface of the sole includes one or more fins that generally intersect perpendicularly with the blades. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of drainage ports in the upper. 
     
     
         14 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure having an outer periphery attached to the upper, wherein the sole structure comprises a central portion and a plurality of segmented pontoons on the outer periphery, the pontoons being joined to the sole structure by one or more flexible and resilient hinge members connecting the pontoons to the central portion of the sole structure, and wherein the hinge members are configured so that the pontoons independently pivot outwardly when the article of footwear is loaded and elastically retract back to an original position when the article of footwear is unloaded.   
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the central portion of the sole structure, pontoons and hinge member are integrally co-molded. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear as in  claim 14  wherein the pontoon members and central potion are separated by deep grooves. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the outsole has heel and forefoot portions and the heel portion is thicker. 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper;   a sole structure having an outer periphery attached to the upper;   wherein the sole structure comprises a central portion and a plurality of segmented pontoons on the outer periphery, the pontoons being joined to the sole structure by one or more flexible and resilient hinge members connecting the pontoons to the central portion of the sole structure, and wherein the one or more hinge members are configured so that the pontoons independently pivot outwardly when the article of footwear is loaded and elastically retract back to an original position when the article of footwear is unloaded;   wherein the sole structure including the central portion, pontoons and hinge members are integrally co-molded; and   wherein the sole structure further comprises an outsole having a plurality of lugs.