Golf shoe with reinforcement structure

Abstract

A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly comprises an outsole comprising an outsole zone with a wave-like configuration. The outsole zone includes a plurality of directional traction elements with sidewalls extending from a lower surface of the outsole. The directional traction elements may be arranged along different sections of the outsole zone according to an angular orientation of the sidewalls of the directional traction elements. The directional traction elements may include (i) a first set of directional traction elements arranged along a first section of the outsole zone and (ii) a second set of directional traction elements arranged along a second section of the outsole zone. The first and/or second set(s) of directional traction elements may include a plurality of directionally aligned traction elements with sidewalls that are oriented in a same direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf shoe, comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole assembly connected to the upper, the sole assembly comprising a midsole and an outsole, wherein the outsole comprises an outsole zone with a wave-like configuration, wherein the outsole zone includes a plurality of directional traction elements with sidewalls extending from a lower surface of the outsole,   wherein the directional traction elements are arranged along different sections of the outsole zone according to an angular orientation of the sidewalls of the directional traction elements,   wherein the directional traction elements include (i) a first set of directional traction elements arranged along a first section of the outsole zone and (ii) a second set of directional traction elements arranged along a second section of the outsole zone, wherein the first set of directional traction elements and/or the second set of directional traction elements include a plurality of directionally aligned traction elements with sidewalls that are oriented in a same direction.   
     
     
         2 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the directional traction elements include a plurality of herringbone traction elements. 
     
     
         3 . The golf shoe of  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of herringbone traction elements includes (i) a sloped sidewall and (ii) a vertical or substantially vertical sidewall that converge to form a ground contacting or ground penetrating portion of the herringbone traction elements. 
     
     
         4 . The golf shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of herringbone traction elements includes (i) a first set of herringbone traction elements with sidewalls oriented in a first direction and (ii) a second set of herringbone traction elements with sidewalls oriented in a second direction that is different than the first direction. 
     
     
         5 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the outsole zone is disposed at an angle relative to the second section of the outsole zone. 
     
     
         6 . The golf shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the first section of the outsole zone and the second section of the outsole zone converge at a first location along a medial side or a lateral side of the outsole. 
     
     
         7 . The golf shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the first section of the outsole zone and the second section of the outsole zone diverge from the first location to form a flex zone between the first and second sections of the outsole zone. 
     
     
         8 . The golf shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the outsole zone further comprises a third section that is angled relative to the first section or the second section of the outsole zone. 
     
     
         9 . The golf shoe of  claim 8 , wherein (i) the first section or the second section and (ii) the third section converge at a second location along the lateral side or the medial side of the outsole. 
     
     
         10 . The golf shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the first section or the second section is configured to extend between the first location and the second location. 
     
     
         11 . The golf shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the first section and the third section diverge from the second location to form another flex zone between the first and third sections of the outsole zone. 
     
     
         12 . The golf shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the second section and the third section diverge from the second location to form another flex zone between the second and third sections of the outsole zone. 
     
     
         13 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of directional traction elements is oriented in a first direction, and wherein the second set of directional traction elements is oriented in a second direction that is different than the first direction. 
     
     
         14 . The golf shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the outsole zone comprises a third section with a third set of directional traction elements. 
     
     
         15 . The golf shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the third set of directional traction elements are oriented in a different direction than at least one of the first set of directional traction elements or the second set of directional traction elements. 
     
     
         16 . The golf shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the third set of directional traction elements are oriented in a same direction as at least one of the first set of directional traction elements or the second set of directional traction elements. 
     
     
         17 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the outsole zone and/or the second section of the outsole zone comprise a hard TPU material, and wherein a remaining portion of the outsole zone comprises a rubber material or a grippy TPU material. 
     
     
         18 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the outsole zone and/or the second section of the outsole zone comprise a rubber material or a grippy TPU material, and wherein a remaining portion of the outsole zone comprises a hard TPU material. 
     
     
         19 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the outsole zone comprises a first material, and wherein the second section of the outsole zone comprises a second material that is different than the first material. 
     
     
         20 . The golf shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the first material and/or the second material comprises a hard TPU material, a grippy TPU material, or a rubber material.