Footwear midfoot support system

Abstract

An article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The upper may comprise a tongue assembly with an outer layer and an inner layer opposite the outer layer. The inner layer may comprise a recessed channel extending longitudinally between an upper edge and a lower edge of the tongue assembly and a plurality of flex grooves extending between a medial edge and a lateral edge of the tongue assembly. The plurality of flex grooves may be configured to intersect the recessed channel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf shoe, comprising:
 an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper,   wherein the upper comprises a tongue assembly with an outer layer and an inner layer opposite the outer layer,   wherein the inner layer comprises: (i) a recessed channel extending longitudinally between an upper edge and a lower edge of the tongue assembly; and (ii) a plurality of flex grooves extending between a medial edge and a lateral edge of the tongue assembly,   wherein the plurality of flex grooves are configured to intersect the recessed channel.   
     
     
         2 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer comprise different materials. 
     
     
         3 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises a first material comprising a soft padded material. 
     
     
         4 . The golf shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the outer layer comprises a second material that is stiffer and/or more rigid than the first material. 
     
     
         5 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed channel has a channel depth that is less than a thickness of the inner layer of the tongue assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The golf shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of flex grooves have a groove depth that is equal to the channel depth. 
     
     
         7 . The golf shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of flex grooves have a groove depth that is different than the channel depth. 
     
     
         8 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises a plurality of padded regions that are spaced apart to form the recessed channel. 
     
     
         9 . The golf shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of flex grooves have a groove width that is equal to a width of the recessed channel. 
     
     
         10 . The golf shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of flex grooves have a groove width that is different than a width of the recessed channel. 
     
     
         11 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flex grooves have a groove width that gradually tapers towards the medial edge or the lateral edge of the tongue assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The golf shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more elastic members coupling the tongue assembly to one or more other portions of the golf shoe. 
     
     
         13 . The golf shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more other portions of the golf shoe include a portion of the upper. 
     
     
         14 . The golf shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more other portions of the golf shoe include a portion of the sole assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The golf shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more elastic members are configured to couple a lower portion of the tongue assembly to a portion of the upper or the sole assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The golf shoe of  claim 15 , wherein an upper portion of the tongue assembly is detached from the upper or the sole assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The golf shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more elastic members have a first end coupled to the medial edge or the lateral edge of the tongue assembly and a second end coupled to a portion of the upper or the sole assembly, wherein the first end has a greater width than the second end. 
     
     
         18 . The golf shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the first end is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the lower edge of the tongue assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The golf shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more elastic members have a forward edge and a rear edge extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the forward edge and the rear edge have different lengths and/or different curvatures. 
     
     
         20 . The golf shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more elastic members comprise (i) a first elastic member coupling the medial edge of the tongue assembly to a medial side of the upper or the sole assembly and (ii) a second elastic member coupling the lateral edge of the tongue assembly to a lateral side of the upper or the sole assembly.