Article of footwear including a sole structure

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear having a midsole having a support surface extending from a posterior end to an anterior end, the midsole having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the support surface and the inner surface surround a cavity, the midsole also including an inner rail extending along the inner surface and into the cavity, wherein the rail and the cavity are configured to engage with a removable outsole.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a lateral side and a medial side opposite the lateral side;   an upper;   a sole structure coupled to the upper, wherein the sole structure comprises:
 a midsole including a radial outer surface, wherein the midsole includes a groove extending circumferentially around the radial outer surface; 
 a first pin head disposed within the groove and extending away from the groove on the lateral side; and 
 a second pin head disposed within the groove and extending away from the groove on the medial side; and 
   a band removably disposed within the groove, the band including a first opening configured to receive the first pin head, and a second opening configured to receive the second pin head.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the radial outer surface of the midsole and the band form a continuous, flush outer surface of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the sole structure further includes:
 a third pin head adjacent to the first pin head on the lateral side; and   a fourth pin head adjacent to the second pin head on the medial side.   
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first pin head is disposed in a concave portion of the lateral side, and the second pin head is disposed in a concave portion of the medial side. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the concave portion of the lateral side is disposed in a midfoot of the article of footwear, and wherein the concave portion of the medial side is disposed in the midfoot of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the band includes a bias to a shape corresponding to a shape of the groove. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the third pin head is disclosed closer to the upper than the first pin head. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the third pin head is disposed posterior to the first pin head. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first pin head, the second pin head, the third pin head, and the fourth pin head includes a different material than the midsole. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled to the upper, wherein the sole structure comprises:
 a midsole including a radial outer surface, wherein the midsole includes a groove extending circumferentially around the radial outer surface of the midsole; and 
 one or more pins disposed within the groove and extending away from the groove. 
   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more pins extend through the midsole from a lateral side of the article of footwear to a medial side of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the sole structure further includes a band removably disposed within the groove. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the band includes a textured element. 
     
     
         14 . An elastic band configured to be removably coupled to a midsole of an article of footwear, the elastic band comprising:
 a body extending from an anterior end to a posterior end, the body including a lateral side extending from the anterior end to the posterior end, and a medial side extending from the anterior end to the posterior end, the lateral side including a first concavity and the medial side including a second concavity, wherein the body includes a first opening in the first concavity of the lateral side and a second opening in the second concavity of the medial side.   
     
     
         15 . The elastic band of  claim 14 , wherein the body forms a fully circumferentially-enclosed band. 
     
     
         16 . The elastic band of  claim 14 , wherein body includes:
 a third opening adjacent to the first opening on the lateral side; and   a fourth opening adjacent to the second opening on the medial side.   
     
     
         17 . The elastic band of  claim 14 , wherein the body includes thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         18 . The elastic band of  claim 14 , wherein a posterior portion of the body includes a textured outer surface. 
     
     
         19 . The elastic band of  claim 14 , wherein an outer surface of the body includes a circumferentially-extending rib. 
     
     
         20 . The elastic band of  claim 14 , wherein an inner circumferential surface of the body is substantially smooth.