Midsole assembly of footwear and footwear including the same

Abstract

Disclosed is a midsole assembly of footwear providing a cushioning function to the footwear having an upper. The midsole assembly includes a coupling member coupled to the upper to support the upper, and a cushioning member coupled to a side surface of the coupling member, bent to be convexly curved outward, and extending in a direction away from the upper to form an empty space under the coupling member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A midsole assembly of footwear providing a cushioning function to the footwear having an upper, the midsole assembly comprising:
 a coupling member coupled to the upper to support the upper; and   a cushioning member coupled to a side surface of the coupling member, bent to be convexly curved outward, and extending in a direction away from the upper to form an empty space under the coupling member.   
     
     
         2 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein
 the footwear comprises an outsole under the upper, and   the cushioning member extends from the coupling member toward the outsole.   
     
     
         3 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein
 the coupling member is configured to be coupled under at least a rearfoot portion of the upper to support the rearfoot portion.   
     
     
         4 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling member comprises:
 a base plate supporting a bottom of the upper; and   a side coupling portion supporting a side surface of the upper.   
     
     
         5 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein
 the base plate is configured to be coupled under a rearfoot portion of the upper to support the rearfoot portion,   wherein the side coupling portion is formed to be curved to surround a side surface of the rearfoot portion and a heel of the upper.   
     
     
         6 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein
 the coupling member comprises a side coupling portion configured to support a side surface of the upper,   wherein the side coupling portion is formed as a single body or divided into plural to be coupled to the upper, and   wherein the cushioning member is divided into a plurality thereof, and the divided cushioning members are coupled to the single body or coupled respectively to the divided side coupling portion.   
     
     
         7 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning member comprises:
 an upper end coupled to a side surface of the coupling member;   a support pillar having a first end connected to the upper end, a second end disposed opposite to the first end, and a pillar portion that is bent convexly outward and extends from the first end to the second end; and   a lower end spaced apart from the coupling member and connected to the second end of the support pillar.   
     
     
         8 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein
 the support pillars are arranged in plural to be spaced apart from each other at intervals along the side surface of the coupling member.   
     
     
         9 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein
 at least one of the plurality of support pillars comprises a plurality of vertical section segments having different centers of curvature,   wherein the plurality of vertical section segments comprise vertical section segments with centers of curvature disposed opposite to each other with respect to the support pillar.   
     
     
         10 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein
 at least one of the plurality of support pillars has a width at the pillar portion that is different from a width at the first end or the second end.   
     
     
         11 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein
 each of the plurality of support pillars has an oblong shape having a cross-sectional thickness that is different in size from a width measured along an edge of the coupling member,   wherein the plurality of support pillars are spaced apart at different intervals between neighboring ones, or the plurality of support pillars have different widths from each other.   
     
     
         12 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein
 the footwear comprises an outsole under the cushioning member,   wherein the lower end of the cushioning member is attached to the outsole.   
     
     
         13 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein
 the coupling member comprises a coupling protrusion protruding outwardly on a side surface of the coupling member,   wherein the upper end of the cushioning member comprises a concave coupling groove to receive the coupling protrusion of the coupling member.   
     
     
         14 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein
 the support pillar of the cushioning member has an opening formed in the pillar portion.   
     
     
         15 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first assembly part comprising a first coupling member supporting a heel of the upper and a first cushioning member formed under the first coupling member; and   a second assembly part comprising a second coupling member supporting a side surface of the upper and a second cushioning member formed under the second coupling member.   
     
     
         16 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein
 the coupling member comprises a pocket portion opened downward,   wherein the cushioning member comprises an upper end accommodated in the pocket portion.   
     
     
         17 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein
 the pocket portion is provided to protrude from an outer surface of the coupling member.   
     
     
         18 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein
 the pocket portion is provided by being inserted inside an outer skin of the upper.   
     
     
         19 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein
 the coupling member comprises a base plate supporting a bottom of the upper,   wherein the base plate is configured to have at least one through hole.   
     
     
         20 . Footwear comprising the midsole assembly of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . The footwear of  claim 20 , wherein
 the midsole assembly is coupled under at least a rearfoot portion of the upper to support the rearfoot portion.   
     
     
         22 . A midsole assembly of footwear having an upper and an outsole, the midsole assembly comprising
 a support body that supports a side surface of the upper, is bent convexly outward from a side surface of the upper, and extends to the outsole to form an empty space between the upper and the outsole.   
     
     
         23 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 22 , wherein
 the support body is divided into a plurality of parts along an edge of the upper,   wherein the plurality of parts are spaced apart from each other and supported between the upper and the outsole.   
     
     
         24 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 23 , wherein
 each of the plurality of parts of the support body has a strip shape having a width measured along an edge of the upper.   
     
     
         25 . The midsole assembly of footwear of  claim 22 , wherein
 the support body comprises a plurality of vertical section segments having different centers of curvature,   wherein the plurality of vertical section segments comprise vertical section segments with centers of curvature disposed opposite to each other with respect to the support body.