Article of Footwear

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear including an upper and a sole structure. The sole structure includes a generally rigid midsole plate spanning the length of the footwear and a compression member depending from the ground-facing surface of the plate. In an embodiment, the sole structure includes a forward compression member and a rearward compression member that is received into a corresponding socket formed into the midsole plate. The compression members include a plurality of compression elements interconnected by linking elements. The compression and linking elements cooperate to attenuate load forces. In an embodiment, the compression and linking elements are further configured to influence the orientation of the foot during a step cycle.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear defining a longitudinal axis, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper possessing a shoe length; and   a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure including:
 a midsole plate coextensive with the upper, the midsole plate defining a first, upper-facing side and a second, ground-facing side; 
 a cavity formed into the second side of the midsole plate; and 
 a compression member partially disposed within the cavity such that it depends from the second side of the midsole plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the compression member comprises compression material that compresses under load. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the compression material is foam. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the midsole plate defines a plurality of cavities formed into the second plate side; and   the compression member comprises a plurality of compression elements, each compression element being operably coupled to a corresponding plate cavity.   
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein adjacent compression elements of the compression member are connected via a compressible linking element. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein each compression element is a unitary structure formed of compression material. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the compression member extends distally from the midsole plate; and   the sole structure further comprises an outsole layer connected to a distal end of the compression member.   
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the compression member possesses areas of differing flexibility.