Footwear construction

Abstract

A sole assembly is provided including multiple compression units entrapped in a midsole and adjacent an outsole to efficiently distribute forces and to assist in correct foot motion during a gait cycle. The multiple compression units can be linked to one another to assist the foot in moving through an appropriate foot motion during a gait cycle. A heel compression unit can be linked to an arch compression unit, which can be linked to one or more forefoot compression units, which can be linked to a toe compression unit. The linking of the heel compression unit, the arch compression unit, and the forefoot compression unit to one another can resist torsional movement of the units between one another, thereby providing a more stable foot support, while still providing impact-attenuation and force distribution through the sole assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear comprising:
 an upper;   a unitary midsole joined with the upper, the midsole including a midsole body including an upper surface and a lower surface, the midsole body being constructed from a first material having a first durometer;   a first forefoot compression unit including a first forefoot compression unit lower surface and a first forefoot compression unit lug extending below the remainder of the first forefoot compression unit lower surface;   a second forefoot compression unit including a second forefoot compression unit lower surface and a second forefoot compression unit lug projecting downward and away from the second forefoot compression unit lower surface distal from the first compression unit lug, the second forefoot compression unit and the first forefoot compression unit being constructed from the first material; and   an outsole including an outsole upper surface and an opposing ground contacting surface, the outsole joined with the unitary midsole so that the first forefoot compression unit lug extends through an outsole first forefoot aperture defined by the outsole, the first forefoot compression unit lug extending adjacent the ground contacting surface of the outsole, the second forefoot compression unit lug extending through an outsole second forefoot aperture defined by the outsole,   wherein the first forefoot compression unit lower surface engages and is disposed above the outsole upper surface, without extending beyond the ground contacting surface of the outsole, while the first forefoot compression unit lug is free from engagement with the outsole upper surface but extends through the outsole first forefoot aperture, at least to the ground contacting surface of the outsole.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the outsole is constructed from a second material having a second durometer greater than the first durometer.   
     
     
         3 . The footwear of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug extends beyond and lower than the ground contacting surface of the outsole.   
     
     
         4 . The footwear of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug originates adjacent the outsole upper surface and terminates below the ground contacting surface of the outsole.   
     
     
         5 . The footwear of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the lower surface of the midsole borders the first forefoot compression unit at a boundary,   wherein the boundary is concealed by the outsole.   
     
     
         6 . The footwear of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug is a cylindrical projection that is surrounded by the outsole first forefoot aperture.   
     
     
         7 . The footwear of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug includes a first portion that is below the outsole ground contacting surface and a second portion that is above the outsole ground contacting surface but below the outsole upper surface.   
     
     
         8 . The footwear of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug includes a first predefined height,   wherein the outsole includes an outsole thickness in a region around the first forefoot aperture defined by the outsole,   wherein the first predefined height is at least as great as the outsole thickness.   
     
     
         9 . The footwear of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit is configured to be positioned under at least one of a fourth and fifth metatarsal head of a wearer, and the second forefoot compression unit is configured to be positioned under at least one of a first and second metatarsal head of the wearer.   
     
     
         10 . The footwear of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug includes a first portion that is below the outsole ground contacting surface and a second portion that is above the outsole ground contacting surface.   
     
     
         11 . A footwear comprising:
 an upper;   a midsole joined with the upper, the midsole including a midsole body including an upper surface and a lower surface, the midsole body constructed of a first material having a first durometer;   a compression unit body at least partially disposed in the lower surface, the compression unit body constructed from the first material but having a durometer that is less than the first durometer, the compression unit body including a first forefoot compression unit configured to be positioned under at least one of a fourth and fifth metatarsal head of the wearer, the first forefoot compression unit distal from a second forefoot compression unit configured to be positioned under at least one of a first and a second metatarsal head of the wearer, the first forefoot compression unit and the second forefoot compression unit forming an integral single piece unit; and   an outsole joined with the midsole body, the outsole including a first cover that at least partially covers the first forefoot compression unit and a second cover that at least partially covers the second forefoot compression unit,   wherein the first forefoot compression unit includes a downward extending first forefoot compression unit lug including a first predefined height,   wherein the outsole includes an outsole thickness in a region around a first forefoot aperture defined by the outsole,   wherein the first predefined height is at least as great as the outsole thickness.   
     
     
         12 . The footwear of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug projects through the first forefoot aperture in the outsole but the remainder of the first forefoot compression unit remains above the outsole,   
     
     
         13 . The footwear of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first and second forefoot compression units originate adjacent an outsole upper surface and extend past an outsole ground contacting surface.   
     
     
         14 . The footwear of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug is disposed on a lateral side of a longitudinal axis of the footwear and the second forefoot compression unit lug is disposed on a medial side of a longitudinal axis of the footwear.   
     
     
         15 . The footwear of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug includes a first portion that is below the outsole ground contacting surface and a second portion that is above the outsole ground contacting surface but below the outsole upper surface.   
     
     
         16 . The footwear of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug includes a first portion that is below the outsole ground contacting surface and a second portion that is above the outsole ground contacting surface.   
     
     
         17 . The footwear of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug is surrounded by an edge of an outsole first aperture,   wherein the first forefoot compression unit lug extends partly above and partly below the edge.