Outsole for a footwear article

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to an outsole for a footwear article. In various embodiments, the outsole comprises a forefoot outsole portion defining a forefoot portion bottom surface configured for contact with a ground surface; a heel outsole portion defining a heel portion bottom surface configured for contact with the ground surface; a bridging portion defined between the forefoot outsole portion and the heel outsole portion, the bridging portion having a recessed configuration relative to the forefoot outsole portion and the heel outsole portion such that the bridging portion defines a bridging portion cavity that extends between the forefoot outsole portion and the heel outsole portion; and an arc-shaped bridge that extends along the bridging portion and is configured to be disposed out of an adjacent bridging portion surface of the bridging portion such that the arc-shaped bridge is defined by a bridge height protruding from the adjacent bridging portion surface.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . An outsole for a footwear article, the outsole comprising:
 a forefoot outsole portion defining a forefoot portion bottom surface configured for contact with a ground surface;   a heel outsole portion defining a heel portion bottom surface configured for contact with the ground surface;   a bridging portion defined between the forefoot outsole portion and the heel outsole portion, the bridging portion having a recessed configuration relative to the forefoot outsole portion and the heel outsole portion such that the bridging portion defines a bridging portion cavity that extends between the forefoot outsole portion and the heel outsole portion; and   an arc-shaped bridge extending along at least a portion of the bridging portion, wherein the arc-shaped bridge is configured to be disposed out of an adjacent bridging portion surface of the bridging portion such that the arc-shaped bridge is defined at least in part by a bridge height protruding from the adjacent bridging portion surface.   
     
     
         2 . The outsole of  claim 1 , further comprising a second arc-shaped bridge extending along at least a portion of the bridging portion, wherein the second arc-shaped bridge is configured to be disposed out of the adjacent bridging portion surface such that the second arc-shaped bridge is defined at least in part by a second bridge height protruding from the adjacent bridging portion surface, wherein the arc-shaped bridge and the second arc-shaped bridge are laterally spaced from one another. 
     
     
         3 . The outsole of  claim 2 , wherein an arc-shaped configuration of the arc-shaped bridge is defined by a first radius of curvature of a first bridge bottom surface and a second arc-shaped configuration of the second arc-shaped bridge is defined by a second radius of curvature of a second bridge bottom surface, wherein the first radius of curvature is at least substantially equal to the second radius of curvature. 
     
     
         4 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the arc-shaped bridge defines a bridge width, the bridge width being defined between opposing lateral sides of the arc-shaped bridge in a direction at least substantially perpendicular to a bridge length of the arc-shaped bridge, and wherein the bridge width is between 9 mm and 22 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The outsole of  claim 4 , wherein the bridge width of the arc-shaped bridge is at least substantially variable along the bridge length of the arc-shaped bridge. 
     
     
         6 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole defines a central longitudinal outsole axis extending along a length of the outsole between the heel outsole portion and the forefoot outsold portion, wherein the arc-shaped bridge extends along the bridging portion in a direction defined between the forefoot outsole portion and the heel outsole portion. 
     
     
         7 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole defines a central longitudinal outsole axis extending along a length of the outsole between the heel outsole portion and the forefoot outsold portion, wherein a bridge length of the arc-shaped bridge is arranged at an angled configuration relative to the central longitudinal outsole axis such that the arc-shaped bridge is tapered toward the heel outsole portion. 
     
     
         8 . The outsole of  claim 7 , wherein the angled configuration of the arc-shaped bridge relative to the central longitudinal outsole axis is defined at least in part by a bridge length of the arc-shaped bridge extending along the bridging portion in a first direction, wherein the outsole is configured such that the first direction and the central longitudinal outsole axis are separated by an angle of separation of at least substantially less than 7 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein, in an instance in which the bridging portion engages an external surface having an external surface length less than a distance between the forefoot outsole portion and the heel outsole portion, the arc-shaped bridge is configured to flex about a lateral axis while the footwear article remains supported by the arc-shaped bridge and substantially unflexed about a central longitudinal outsole axis defined along a length of the outsole between the heel outsole portion and the forefoot outsold portion, the lateral axis being defined in a direction corresponding to a bridging portion width. 
     
     
         10 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein an arc-shaped configuration of the arc-shaped bridge is configured such that a bridge bottom surface peak height is greater than a first bridge bottom surface height defined at a first bridge bottom surface end and a second bridge bottom surface height defined at a second bridge bottom surface end, as measured relative to a lowermost surface defined by the outsole. 
     
     
         11 . The outsole of  claim 10 , wherein a first curvature height defined between the bridge bottom surface peak and the first bridge bottom surface end of the bridge bottom surface and a second curvature height defined between the bridge bottom surface peak and the second bridge bottom surface end of a bridge bottom surface of the arc-shaped bridge are each at least approximately between 2 mm and 5 mm. 
     
     
         12 . The outsole of  claim 10 , wherein the second bridge bottom surface height is greater than the first bridge bottom surface height, as measured relative to the lowermost surface defined by the outsole. 
     
     
         13 . The outsole of  claim 12 , wherein the second bridge bottom surface end is arranged closer to the heel outsole portion than is the first bridge bottom surface end. 
     
     
         14 . The outsole of  claim 10 , wherein the second bridge bottom surface height and the first bridge bottom surface height are at least substantially similar such that the second bridge bottom surface end and the first bridge bottom surface end are at least substantially level. 
     
     
         15 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the arc-shaped bridge spans the bridging portion such that a bridge length of the arc-shaped bridge extends from the heel outsole portion to the forefoot outsole portion. 
     
     
         16 . The outsole of  claim 1 , wherein the arc-shaped bridge further comprises a plurality of protrusions distributed along an at least substantially smooth bridge bottom surface of the arc-shaped bridge such that the arc-shaped bridge is defined at least in part by the bridge bottom surface having a 3D pattern formed thereon, each of the plurality of protrusions having an at least substantially linear configuration so as to extend along the bridge bottom surface in a perpendicular direction relative to a lateral end of the arc-shaped bridge. 
     
     
         17 . The outsole of  claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of protrusions are defined by a protrusion thickness that is between 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The outsole of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of protrusions is distributed about the bridge bottom surface such that each protrusion of the plurality is separated from an adjacent protrusion of the plurality by a separation distance of between 1 mm and 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         19 . A footwear article comprising the outsole of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . The footwear article of  claim 19 , wherein the outsole further comprises a second arc-shaped bridge extending along at least a portion of the bridging portion, wherein the second arc-shaped bridge is configured to be disposed out of the adjacent bridging portion surface such that the second arc-shaped bridge is defined at least in part by a second bridge height protruding from the adjacent bridging portion surface.