Sole structure of an article of footwear

Abstract

A sole structure includes a mid-foot region, a heel region, a lateral side and a medial side is provided. The sole structure has a first sole element including a first inner surface having a plurality of first surface features, whereby at least one of the first surface features has a different configuration than another one of the first surface features. The sole structure further includes a second sole element including a second inner surface having a plurality of second surface features configured to interface with the first surface features. A panel is disposed between the first sole element and the second sole element, such that the sole element is disposed on a first side of the panel and the second sole element being disposed on a second side of the panel, opposite the first side.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole structure having a forefoot region, a mid-foot region, a heel region, a lateral side and a medial side, the sole structure comprising:
 a first sole element including a first inner surface having a plurality of first surface features, at least one of the first surface features having a different configuration than another one of the first surface features;   a second sole element including a second inner surface having a plurality of second surface features configured to interface with the first surface features; and   a panel disposed between the first sole element and the second sole element, the first sole element being disposed on a first side of the panel and the second sole element being disposed on a second side of the panel, opposite the first side.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface features include a plurality of protrusions and the second surface features include a plurality of depressions configured to mate with the protrusions. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface features include at least one first protrusion having a first configuration and at least one second protrusion having a second configuration different than the first configuration, the second surface features including at least one first depression having the first configuration and at least one second depression having the second configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure of  claim 3 , wherein the first configuration includes at least one of a first size, a first shape, and a first orientation, and the second configuration includes at least one of a second size, a second shape, and a second orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one first protrusion and the at least one second protrusion respectively oppose the at least one first depression and the at least one second depression. 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface features includes a first plurality of ribs having a first configuration and a second plurality of ribs having a second configuration different from the first configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure of  claim 6 , wherein each of the ribs extends from a first end to a second end. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure of  claim 7 , wherein a width of each of the ribs tapers along a direction from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure of  claim 6 , wherein a spacing between adjacent ones of the ribs in the forefoot region is different from a spacing between adjacent ones of the ribs in the heel region. 
     
     
         10 . The sole structure of  claim 6 , wherein ribs of the first plurality of ribs extend along a first direction and ribs of the second plurality of ribs extend along a second direction transverse to the first direction. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper having a bottom panel and a peripheral sidewall cooperating to define an interior void;   a first sole element disposed on a first side of the bottom panel within the interior void and including a first inner surface having a plurality of first surface features opposing the bottom panel, at least one of the first surface features having a different configuration than another one of the first surface features; and   a second sole element disposed on an opposite side of the bottom panel from the first sole element and including a second inner surface having a plurality of second surface features opposing the bottom panel and configured to interface with the first surface features.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the bottom panel and the peripheral sidewall is formed of a textile. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom panel is integrally formed with the peripheral sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom panel includes an inner layer on a first side of the first sole element and an outer layer disposed on an opposite side of the first sole element from the inner layer. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom panel defines a pocket receiving the first sole element. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom panel conforms to the plurality of first surface features. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
 forming a first sole element including a first inner surface having a plurality of first surface features, at least one of the first surface features having a different configuration than another one of the first surface features;   forming a second sole element including a second inner surface having a plurality of second surface features configured to interface with the first surface features; and   disposing a panel between the first inner surface of the first sole element and the second inner surface of the second sole element.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising defining at least one channel extending from a first end at a peripheral side surface of the first sole element to a second end at the peripheral side surface of the first sole element. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising positioning a cable within the at least one channel, the cable being positioned between the panel and the first sole element or between the panel and the second sole element. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising forming the panel from a textile.