Footwear

Abstract

A multi-segment sole structure for use in footwear may be constructed of rigid segments positioned to correspond to one or more weight-bearing areas of the foot and flexible segments positioned to correspond to one or more less weight bearing or flexible areas of a foot. The flexibility may be provided by elastomeric materials, living hinges, or mechanical hinges. The sole structure may include a lower support base which may have hollow segments alternating with rigid or flexible supports. The rigid segments of the sole may be supported by rigid supports. The rigid segments may be wood. The conjoined interfaces may be perpendicular to the surface. A rigid segment may overhang a flexible segment or a flexible segment may overhang a rigid segment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi segment sole structure for use in footwear comprising:
 two or more segments conjoined and having an upper support surface and an opposing lower base surface;   at least one of said segments is a rigid segment positioned to correspond to an area of a wearer foot which is weight-bearing;   at least one of said segments is a flexible segment conjoined to said rigid segment positioned and sized to correspond to an area of a wearer foot that is less weight bearing.   
     
     
         2 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 1  wherein said rigid segment is wood. 
     
     
         3 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 1  wherein said rigid segment is conjoined to said flexible segment at a conjoined interface and wherein said conjoined interface is configured to be at an angle to said upper support surface and wherein said flexible segment overhangs said rigid segment at said conjoined interface. 
     
     
         4 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 1  wherein said flexible segment is an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 1  wherein said rigid segment is a first rigid segment and is located to correspond to a forefoot region of said sole structure,
 said flexible segment is a first flexible segment, and 
 further comprising a second rigid segment conjoined to said first flexible segment. 
 
     
     
         6 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 5  wherein said first rigid segment is conjoined to said first flexible segment at a first conjoined interface located along a front edge of said first flexible segment and wherein said first flexible segment overhangs said second rigid segment at a second conjoined interface located along a rear edge of said first flexible segment. 
     
     
         7 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 1  further comprising a cover layer over said conjoined segments and an under base layer under said conjoined segments. 
     
     
         8 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 1  wherein:
 said rigid segment is a first rigid segment and said flexible segment is a first flexible segment conjoined to said first rigid segment at a first conjoined interface located along a front edge of said first flexible segment; and 
 further comprising a second rigid segment conjoined to said first flexible segment at a second conjoined interface located along a rear edge of said first flexible segment and conjoined to a second flexible segment at a third conjoined interface along a front edge of said second flexible segment; 
 a third rigid segment conjoined to said second flexible segment at a fourth conjoined interface along a rear edge of said second flexible segment; and 
 wherein said first conjoined interface, said second conjoined interface, said third conjoined interface, and said fourth conjoined interface are oriented generally perpendicular to a length of said sole. 
 
     
     
         9 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 8  wherein at least one of said flexible segments is a living hinge segment having a thickness that approximates a thickness of an adjacent rigid segment. 
     
     
         10 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 9  wherein at least one of said living hinge segments exhibits gaps arranged to enhance flexibility of said living hinge segment. 
     
     
         11 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 8  wherein at least one of said flexible segments is one or more surface mounted recessed hinges. 
     
     
         12 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 1  wherein at least one of said flexible segments is a living hinge segment having a thickness that approximates a thickness of an adjacent rigid segment. 
     
     
         13 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 8  wherein one or more of said conjoined interfaces are straight line interfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 8  wherein one or more of said conjoined interfaces are complex interfaces. 
     
     
         15 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 8  wherein said first conjoined interface and said fourth conjoined interface are s-shaped curve interfaces and said second conjoined interface and said third conjoined interfaces are straight line interfaces. 
     
     
         16 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 8  further comprising a cover layer over said conjoined segments. 
     
     
         17 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 8  further comprising an under base layer under said conjoined segments. 
     
     
         18 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 17  wherein said under base layer further comprises a firm segment supporting an interface between a rigid segment and a flexible segment. 
     
     
         19 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 17  wherein said under base layer further comprises a plurality of substantially transverse supports alternating with hollow areas. 
     
     
         20 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 19  wherein one or more of said transverse supports are trapezoidal prism supports. 
     
     
         21 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 20  wherein one or more of said trapezoidal prism supports are located to support said flexible segments. 
     
     
         22 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 20  wherein one or more of said trapezoidal prism supports are inverted trapezoidal prism supports located to support said rigid segments. 
     
     
         23 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 19  wherein one or more of said transverse supports are forward-leaning parallelepiped supports. 
     
     
         24 . The multi segment sole structure according to  claim 19  wherein one or more of said transverse supports are backward-leaning parallelepiped supports. 
     
     
         25 . A sole structure for footwear comprising:
 a flexible sole layer of a size and shape generally suitable to accommodate a perimeter of a wearer's foot and exhibiting a continuous frame and one or more recesses; and   one or more rigid inserts located in said one or more recesses.   
     
     
         26 . The sole structure according to  claim 25  wherein at least a portion of a perimeter of said one or more recesses exhibit an undercut contour and wherein said rigid inserts have an external perimeter shape generally matching a contour of said recesses. 
     
     
         27 . The sole structure according to  claim 25  wherein one or more of said inserts further comprises sensors.