Sole structure for an article of footwear

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a heel region, a forefoot region, a fluid-filled chamber and a midsole. The fluid-filled chamber extends from the heel region to the forefoot region. The midsole includes a first projection contacting the fluid-filled chamber at a first contact region in the forefoot region and a second projection contacting the fluid-filled chamber at a second contact region in the heel region. The first projection is spaced apart and separated from the second projection to define a gap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a heel region;   a forefoot region;   a fluid-filled chamber extending from the heel region to the forefoot region; and   a midsole including a first projection contacting the fluid-filled chamber at a first contact region in the forefoot region and a second projection contacting the fluid-filled chamber at a second contact region in the heel region, the first projection being spaced apart and separated from the second projection.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first projection includes a distal end defining a first engagement region in contact with the first contact region and the second projection includes a distal end defining a second engagement region in contact with the second contact region, the first engagement region and the second engagement region being smaller than a width of the fluid-filled chamber defined between a medial side of the fluid-filled chamber and a lateral side of the fluid-filled chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein a gap is defined between the first projection and the second projection, the gap extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the midsole includes a substrate extending from the heel region to the forefoot region and including a first surface and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the substrate than the first surface, the first projection and the second projection extending from one of the first surface and the second surface. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure of  claim 4 , further comprising an outsole defining a ground-engaging surface, the outsole attached to the second surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure of  claim 4 , further comprising a footbed operable to receive a foot of a wearer, the second surface of the substrate opposing the footbed. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber includes a first end in contact with the midsole proximate to an anterior end of the sole structure. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber includes a second end spaced apart from the midsole proximate to a posterior end of the sole structure. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a gap extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure between the first projection and an anterior end of the sole structure. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a heel region;   a forefoot region;   a fluid-filled chamber extending from the heel region to the forefoot region; and   a midsole including a first projection extending from the midsole in a first direction and contacting the fluid-filled chamber at a first contact region in the forefoot region and a second projection extending from the midsole in a second direction opposite the first direction and contacting the fluid-filled chamber at a second contact region in the heel region.   
     
     
         12 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the first projection includes a distal end defining a first engagement region in contact with the first contact region and the second projection includes a distal end defining a second engagement region in contact with the second contact region, the first engagement region and the second engagement region being smaller than a width of the fluid-filled chamber defined between a medial side of the fluid-filled chamber and a lateral side of the fluid-filled chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein a gap is defined between the first projection and the second projection, the gap extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the midsole includes a first substrate extending from the forefoot region to the heel region and including a first surface and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the first substrate than the first surface and a second substrate extending from the heel region to a mid-foot region and including a third surface and a fourth surface disposed on an opposite side of the second substrate than the fourth surface, the first projection extending from the second surface in a direction toward a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure and the second projection extending from the third surface in a direction away from the ground-engaging surface. 
     
     
         15 . The sole structure of  claim 14 , further comprising an outsole defining the ground-engaging surface, the outsole attached to the fourth surface of the second substrate in the heel region and attached to the fluid-filled chamber in the forefoot region. 
     
     
         16 . The sole structure of  claim 14 , further comprising a footbed operable to receive a foot of a wearer, the first surface of the first substrate opposing the footbed. 
     
     
         17 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber includes a first end in contact with the midsole proximate to an anterior end of the sole structure. 
     
     
         18 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber includes a second end spaced apart from the midsole proximate to a posterior end of the sole structure. 
     
     
         19 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , further comprising a gap extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure between the first projection and an anterior end of the sole structure. 
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of  claim 11 .