Multi-Rubber Outsole

Abstract

A sole is provided having multiple levels of hardnesses. Different levels of hardness may be provided at various locations of the sole. Varying levels of hardness may be provided to, among other things, accommodate varying levels of wear, tear, abrasion, and force experienced at different locations of the sole. Additionally, the sole may have multiple traction structures. Traction structures may be strategically located on the sole in order to, among other things, provide varying levels and orientations of traction to a wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multiple hardness outsole, the outsole comprising:
 a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, a toe end and an opposite heel end with a midfoot region extending between the toe end and the heel end, and a lateral side and an opposite medial side;   a first region extending from the toe end having two portions,
 (a) a first portion of the two portions extending from the medial side to the lateral side proximate the toe end, the first portion extending toward the heel end to a first transition, 
 (b) a second portion of the two portions extending from the first transition toward the heel end along the medial side, the second portion extending toward the lateral side to a second transition; 
   a second region, the second region extending toward the heel end from the first transition to a third transition, the second region also extending from the lateral side toward the medial side;   a third region, the third region extending toward the heel end from the third transition to the heel end and extending from the medial side to the lateral side; and   the first region and the third region having a hardness greater than the second region.   
     
     
         2 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the first region extends from the first transition toward the heel end to a fourth transition. 
     
     
         3 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the second region comprises a first portion, a second portion, a third portion, and a fourth portion. 
     
     
         4 . The outsole of  claim 3 , wherein the first portion of the second region extends from the first transition toward the heel end to the third transition and extends from the lateral side toward the medial side to a fifth transition. 
     
     
         5 . The outsole of  claim 4 , wherein the second portion of the second region extends from the first transition toward the heel to the fourth transition and extends from the fifth transition toward the medial side to the second transition. 
     
     
         6 . The outsole of  claim 5 , wherein the third portion of the second region extends from the fourth transition toward the heel end to a sixth transition and extends from the fifth transition to the medial side. 
     
     
         7 . The outsole of  claim 6 , wherein the fourth portion of the second region extends from the sixth transition toward the heel to the third transition and extends from the fifth transition to the medial side. 
     
     
         8 . The outsole of  claim 5 , wherein the first region has a first tread style and the second region has a second tread style, the first tread style being different from the second tread style. 
     
     
         9 . The outsole of  claim 8 , wherein the third region has a third tread style. 
     
     
         10 . The outsole of  claim 9 , wherein the first tread style of the first region has a first traction structure, wherein the third tread style of the third region has a third traction structure, wherein the first traction structure has geometrical characteristics similar to the third traction structure. 
     
     
         11 . The outsole of  claim 10 , wherein the first traction structure has an engaging face directed toward a heel end of a foot of the wearer. 
     
     
         12 . The outsole of  claim 11 , wherein the third traction structure has an engaging face directed toward a toe end of the foot of the wearer. 
     
     
         13 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the first region and the third region have a durometer in the range of 68-72 Shore A, and wherein the second region has a durometer in the range of 48-54 Shore A. 
     
     
         14 . The outsole of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of articulation joints that extend from an area of the second portion of the first region toward the lateral side to an area of the first portion of the second region. 
     
     
         15 . The outsole of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of articulation joints extend from below the first transition toward the heel end to above the fourth transition. 
     
     
         16 . A multiple hardness outsole, the outsole comprising:
 a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, a toe end and an opposite heel end with a midfoot region extending between the toe end and the heel end, and a lateral side and an opposite medial side;   a first region extending from the toe end having two portions,
 (a) a first portion of the two portions extending from the medial side to the lateral side proximate the toe end, the first portion extending toward the heel end to a first transition, and 
 (b) a second portion of the two portions extending from the first transition toward the heel end along the medial side, the second portion extending from the medial side toward the lateral side to a second transition and from the first transition toward the heel end to a fourth transition; 
   a second region, the second region extending toward the heel end from the first transition to a third transition and extending from the lateral side toward the medial side, the second region having a first portion, second portion, third portion, and fourth portion,
 wherein the first portion of the second region extends from the first transition toward the heel end to the third transition and extends from the lateral side toward the medial side to a fifth transition, 
 wherein the second portion of the second region extends from the first transition toward the heel to the fourth transition and extends from the fifth transition toward the medial side to the second transition, 
 wherein the third portion of the second region extends from the fourth transition toward the heel end to a sixth transition and extends from the fifth transition to the medial side, and 
 wherein the fourth portion of the second region extends from the sixth transition toward the heel to the third transition and extends from the fifth transition to the medial side; 
   a third region, the third region extending toward the heel end from the third transition to the heel end and extending from the medial side to the lateral side; and   the first region and the third region having a hardness greater than the second region.   
     
     
         17 . The outsole of  claim 16 , wherein the first region and the third region have a durometer in the range of 68-72 Shore A, and wherein the second region has a durometer in the range of 48-54 Shore A. 
     
     
         18 . The outsole of  claim 16 , wherein the first region has a first tread style and the second region has a second tread style. 
     
     
         19 . The outsole of  claim 18 , wherein the third region has a third tread style, the third tread style being similar to the first tread and oriented at an acute angle opposite that of the first tread style to provide traction to a wearer in a stopping motion 
     
     
         20 . The outsole of  claim 18 , wherein the first portion of the second region has a first sub-tread style, the second portion of the second region has a second sub-tread style, the third portion of the third region has a third sub-tread style, and the fourth portion of the second region has a fourth sub-tread style.