Sole with projections and article of footwear

Abstract

A sole for an article of footwear includes a base having an outer edge defining a perimeter, the base having a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion and a heel portion; and a plurality of resilient projections extending from the base, wherein the plurality of projections includes a plurality of projections extending non-orthogonally from the base about the perimeter of the base and a plurality of projections extending substantially orthogonally from the base within the non-orthogonal projections.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole comprising a base, the base comprising:
 an upper surface configured to face a wearer's foot and comprising openings; 
 a bottom surface opposite the upper surface; 
 upper projections, each extending above the upper surface and through one of the openings; and 
 lower projections extending below the bottom surface. 
   
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the upper projections, the lower projections, and the base form a monolithic structure. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein each upper projection is configured to apply a localized force against a wearer's foot. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein a force applied to the lower projections pushes the upper projections against a wearer's foot. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the lower projections forms a portion of an outsole. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , further comprising a plate disposed on the upper surface of the base, wherein each upper projection extends through an opening of the plate. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the upper projections project into a foot-receiving cavity of the shoe. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein some of the lower projections and the upper projections are aligned with each other. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein some of the lower projections and the upper projections are offset from each other. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the upper projections are fewer than the lower projections. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the upper projections are disposed only in a heel portion and a forefoot portion of the sole. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein each of the upper projections comprises a sidewall and a top surface. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein each top surface is flat. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein each sidewall is spaced away from an edge of the respective opening. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein each top surface comprises protrusions to provide increased tactile sensations on a wearer's foot. 
     
     
         17 . A sole for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a base comprising an upper surface configured to face a wearer's foot;   a plate disposed on the upper surface; and   projections extending from the base, above the upper surface, and through the plate.   
     
     
         18 . The sole of  claim 17 , wherein the plate comprises openings, and each of the projections extends through one of the openings. 
     
     
         19 . The sole of  claim 18 , wherein the openings comprise a complete openings and a partial opening intersecting with an outer edge of the plate. 
     
     
         20 . The sole of  claim 17 , wherein the projections extend above the plate. 
     
     
         21 . The sole of  claim 17 , wherein the plate comprises a material less resilient than the base.