Shoe Having Dual-Material Outsole

Abstract

A shoe comprising a sole. The sole includes a forward outsole and a heel outsole. The forward outsole and heel outsole each include respective primary and secondary ground engaging members. Each primary ground engaging member defines a hole therein, and the corresponding secondary ground engaging member is positioned within the hole. In addition, each primary ground engaging member and corresponding secondary ground engaging member are adapted and configured so that respective bottom surfaces of each can simultaneously contact a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn. The sole has a rearward through hole within a heel region and a forward through hole in a toe region and a metatarsal region. A heel cushion extends through the rearward through hole and is positioned at least partially within the heel outsole and at least partially above the heel secondary ground engaging member. A forefoot cushion extends through the forward through hole and is positioned at least partially above the forward secondary ground engaging member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole coupled to the upper, the sole extending from a heel end to a toe end and from a medial side to a lateral side, the sole having a heel region, a midfoot region, a metatarsal region, a ball region, and a toe region, the heel region extending longitudinally from the heel end to the midfoot region, the midfoot region extending longitudinally from the heel region to the metatarsal region, the toe region extending longitudinally from the toe end to the metatarsal region, the sole having a medial side region, a central region, and a lateral side region, the medial side region extending transversely from the medial side to the central region, the lateral side region extending transversely from the lateral side to the central region, the central region extending transversely from the lateral side region to the medial side region, the sole having a bottom side and a top side;   the bottom side of the sole being partially defined by a forward outsole and a heel outsole, the forward outsole being spaced from the heel outsole, the forward outsole being coupled to the sole in at least the toe region, ball region, and metatarsal region, the forward outsole comprising a forward primary ground engaging member and a forward secondary ground engaging member, the forward primary ground engaging member having a toe portion, a ball portion, and a metatarsal portion, the forward primary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the forward primary ground engaging member having a lateral side and a medial side, the forward primary ground engaging member extending continuously within the toe portion, the ball portion, and the metatarsal portion, the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed therein, the forward primary ground engaging member defining a hole, the hole extending upward from the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member toward the top surface of the forward primary ground engaging member, the forward secondary ground engaging member being positioned within the hole in the forward primary ground engaging member, the forward secondary ground engaging member being coupled to the forward primary ground engaging member, the forward secondary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member and the bottom surface of the forward secondary ground engaging member being adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn, the heel outsole being coupled to the sole in at least the heel region, the heel outsole comprising a heel primary ground engaging member and a heel secondary ground engaging member, the heel primary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the heel primary ground engaging member having at least a lateral side, a medial side, and a heel side, the heel primary ground engaging member extending continuously within the heel region, the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed therein, the heel primary ground engaging member defining a hole therein, the hole extending upward from the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member toward the top surface of the heel primary ground engaging member, the heel secondary ground engaging member being positioned within the hole in the heel primary ground engaging member, the heel secondary ground engaging member being coupled to the heel primary ground engaging member, the heel secondary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the heel secondary ground engaging member and the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member being adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn.   
     
     
         2 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , the forward secondary ground engaging member being only within the toe portion of the forward primary ground engaging member. 
     
     
         3 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , the heel secondary ground engaging member being only within a heelward half of the heel primary ground engaging member. 
     
     
         4 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , the forward secondary ground engaging member being spaced inward from the lateral and medial sides of the forward primary ground engaging member. 
     
     
         5 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , the heel secondary ground engaging member being spaced inward from the lateral and medial sides of the heel primary ground engaging member. 
     
     
         6 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , the forward primary ground engaging member having a toe side, the forward secondary ground engaging member being spaced inward from the toe side of the forward primary ground engaging member. 
     
     
         7 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , the heel primary ground engaging member having a heel side, the heel secondary ground engaging member being spaced inward from the heel side of heel primary ground engaging member. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , the forward secondary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed in the bottom surface of the forward secondary ground engaging member, the traction pattern of the forward primary ground engaging member and the traction pattern of the forward secondary ground engaging member being the same traction pattern. 
     
     
         9 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , the heel secondary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed in the bottom surface of the heel secondary ground engaging member, the traction pattern of the heel primary ground engaging member and the traction pattern of heel secondary ground engaging member being the same traction pattern. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 9 , the traction pattern being uniform across the forward and heel primary ground engaging members and the forward and heel secondary ground engaging members. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , the forward primary ground engaging member including an edge at least partly defining the hole in which the forward secondary ground engaging member is positioned, the edge being sinusoidal. 
     
     
         12 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 11 , the forward secondary ground engaging member having a toeward edge and a heelward edge, the heelward edge being sinusoidal and in phase with the sinusoidal edge of the forward primary ground engaging member. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , the heel outsole comprising a sipe extending from the lateral side of the heel outsole to the medial side of the heel outsole, the sipe being at least partially sinusoidal and at bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member, the sipe being at least partially defined by the heel primary ground engaging member and at least partially defined by the heel secondary ground engaging member. 
     
     
         14 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein a portion of the sipe is substantially straight and transverse and formed an a bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member. 
     
     
         15 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein an edge of the heel primary ground engaging member is sinusoidal and wherein a corresponding edge of the heel secondary ground engaging member is sinusoidal and in phase with the edge of the heel primary ground engaging member, the edge of the heel primary ground engaging member and the edge of the heel secondary ground engaging member being spaced from one another to at least partially define the sipe. 
     
     
         16 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a heel cushion, the sole having a rearward hole extending downwardly from a top opening in the top side of the sole, the rearward hole being within the heel region, the heel cushion seated in the hole and being at least partially within the heel outsole. 
     
     
         17 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein a portion of the heel cushion overlaps a portion of the heel secondary ground engaging member. 
     
     
         18 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a forefoot cushion, the sole having a forward hole extending downwardly from a top opening in the top side of the sole, the forward hole being in the toe region and the metatarsal region, the forefoot cushion seated in the forward hole. 
     
     
         19 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein a portion of the forefoot cushion overlaps a portion of the forward secondary ground engaging member. 
     
     
         20 . A shoe in accordance with  claim 19 , the forward and heel primary ground engaging members comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate, and the forward and heel secondary ground engaging members comprising rubber. 
     
     
         21 . A shoe comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole coupled to the upper, the sole extending from a heel end to a toe end and from a medial side to a lateral side, the sole having a heel region, a midfoot region, a metatarsal region, a ball region, and a toe region, the heel region extending longitudinally from the heel end to the midfoot region, the midfoot region extending longitudinally from the heel region to the metatarsal region, the toe region extending longitudinally from the toe end to the metatarsal region, the sole having a medial side region, a central region, and a lateral side region, the medial side region extending transversely from the medial side to the central region, the lateral side region extending transversely from the lateral side to the central region, the central region extending transversely from the lateral side region to the medial side region, the sole having a bottom side;   the bottom side of the sole being partially defined by a forward outsole and a heel outsole;   the forward outsole being coupled to the sole in at least the toe region, ball region, and metatarsal region, the forward outsole comprising a forward primary ground engaging member and a forward secondary ground engaging member, the forward primary ground engaging member having a toe portion, a ball portion, and a metatarsal portion, the forward primary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the forward primary ground engaging member having a lateral side, a medial side, a toe side, and a heel side, the forward primary ground engaging member extending continuously within the toe portion, the ball portion, and the metatarsal portion, the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed therein, the forward secondary ground engaging member being coupled to the forward primary ground engaging member, the forward secondary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member encircling the bottom surface of the forward secondary ground engaging member, the bottom surface of the forward primary ground engaging member and the bottom surface of the forward secondary ground engaging member being adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn;   the heel outsole being spaced from the forward outsole, the heel outsole being coupled to the sole in at least the heel region, the heel outsole comprising a heel primary ground engaging member and a heel secondary ground engaging member, the heel primary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the heel primary ground engaging member having a lateral side and a medial side, the heel primary ground engaging member extending continuously within the heel region, the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member having a traction pattern formed therein, the heel secondary ground engaging member being coupled to the heel primary ground engaging member, the heel secondary ground engaging member having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member encircling the bottom surface of the heel secondary ground engaging member, and the bottom surface of the heel primary ground engaging member and the bottom surface of the heel secondary ground engaging member being adapted and configured to simultaneously engage a flat ground surface when the shoe is worn.