Article of footwear and sole structure with sensory node elements disposed at discrete locations

Abstract

An article of footwear including a sole structure attached to an upper defining an internal void configured to receive a foot of a wearer is described. The sole structure includes a sole body portion having a plurality of sensory node elements located in apertures in the sole body portion. The sensory node elements have a bottom surface configured to contact the ground and move vertically within the apertures. The movement of sensory node element pushes a top surface of the sensory node element attached to a portion of the upper against the foot of the wearer. The sensory node element provides sensory feedback to the foot of the wearer about the condition of the ground. The sensory node elements are arranged at discrete locations across the sole structure to provide sensory feedback at desired portions of the foot of the wearer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure including an outsole surface facing away from the article of footwear and an upper surface disposed opposite the outsole surface, the sole structure having a lateral side, a medial side, a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region;   a plurality of groups of sensory node elements; and   a plurality of apertures in the sole structure through which respective ones of the sensory node elements extend, each sensory node element being moveable within a respective aperture between a first position in which the sensory node element extends below the outsole surface and a second position in which the sensory node element does not extend below the outsole surface,   wherein at least some of the groups of sensory node elements are spaced apart from each other by one or more non-aperture regions of the sole structure.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of groups of sensory node elements comprise a first group in the forefoot region, a second group in the midfoot region, and a third group in the heel region. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the first group collectively define a first length that extends in a longitudinal direction of the sole structure. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the second group collectively define a second length that extends in a lateral direction of the sole structure. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the third group extends from the lateral side and the medial side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-aperture regions include a first non-aperture region positioned between the second and third groups. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the first non-aperture region includes the medial side of the outsole structure between second group and the third group. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base layer extending along at least a portion of the upper surface of the sole structure, wherein the sensory node elements have a top surface attached to the base layer.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the base layer is attached to the upper surface of the sole structure. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the base layer comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the sensory node elements can move from a vertical configuration to an angled configuration within the respective apertures, wherein in the angled configuration a top surface of the sensory node elements is at an angle relative to the upper surface of the sole structure. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the sensory node elements have a diameter ranging from 0.75 to 1.25 inches. 
     
     
         13 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure including an outsole surface facing away from the article of footwear and an upper surface disposed opposite the outsole surface, the sole structure having a lateral side, a medial side, a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region;   a plurality of aperture regions of the sole structure, each of the plurality of apertures regions having a group of apertures extending through the sole structure; and   a plurality of sensory node elements extending through the apertures in the aperture regions of the sole structure, each sensory node element being moveable within a respective aperture between a first position in which the sensory node element extends below the outsole surface and a second position in which the sensory node element does not extend below the outsole surface.   
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of aperture regions comprises a first region in the forefoot region, a second region in the midfoot region, and a third region in the heel region. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the first region of apertures comprises a plurality of rows of apertures that collectively define a first length that extends in a longitudinal direction of the sole structure. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the second region of apertures comprises a plurality of rows of apertures that collectively define a second length that extends in a lateral direction of the sole structure. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the second region of apertures comprises a plurality of rows of apertures that extend across the sole structure from the lateral side to the medial side. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the third region of apertures extends from the lateral side to the medial side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of non-aperture regions extending between adjacent aperture regions of the sole structure. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of non-aperture regions include a first non-aperture region on a lateral side of the forefoot region and a second non-aperture region on a medial side of at least a portion of the heel and midfoot regions.