Footwear strobel including a shank, an article of footwear, and a method of manufacturing an article of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear may include a strobel that has a shank comprised of an elastomeric material. The shank may comprise an exterior surface of the strobel. The strobel may include a polymeric bladder with the shank and the polymeric bladder each be disposed in and partially defining at least one different one of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear may include adhering a shank included in a strobel to a foam midsole component. The shank may comprise an elastomeric material and may at least partially define an exterior surface of the strobel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a strobel including a shank comprised of an elastomeric material; and   wherein the shank comprises an exterior surface of the strobel.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shank has a peripheral flange defining an outer perimeter of the shank;   the shank includes a central region surrounded by the peripheral flange; and   the central region and the peripheral flange are a monolithic structure.   
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the central region is thicker than the peripheral flange. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the shank has a peripheral flange defining an outer perimeter of the shank, and the article of footwear further comprising:
 a footwear upper secured to the peripheral flange of the shank.   
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the shank extends from a medial side of the footwear upper to a lateral side of the footwear upper; and   the medial side of the footwear upper is secured to the peripheral flange of the shank at a medial side of the shank and the lateral side of the footwear upper is secured to the peripheral flange of the shank at a lateral side of the shank.   
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 at least one elongated thread extending through the peripheral flange and the footwear upper as multiple stitches stitching the footwear upper to the shank.   
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the shank partially defines a medial extent of the strobel and a lateral extent of the strobel and extends continuously transversely from the medial extent to the lateral extent. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shank has a peripheral flange defining an outer perimeter of the shank;   a proximal side of the peripheral flange is flat; and   a distal side of the peripheral flange is flat.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shank has a peripheral flange defining an outer perimeter of the shank;   the shank includes a central region surrounded by the peripheral flange; and   a proximal side or a distal side of the shank includes a plurality of protruding ribs at the central region.   
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the protruding ribs are concentric. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the protruding ribs are linear and include at least one rib extending lengthwise in a fore-aft direction of the shank and at least one rib extending lengthwise in a transverse direction of the shank. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a foam midsole component; and   adhesive securing the shank to the foam midsole component.   
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the adhesive is disposed on a distal side of the shank and on a proximal side of the foam midsole component such that the proximal side of the foam midsole component underlies and is secured to the distal side of the shank. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the shank has a peripheral flange defining an outer perimeter of the shank;   the strobel further includes a polymeric bladder secured to the peripheral flange of the shank; and   the shank and the polymeric bladder are each disposed in and partially define at least one different one of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear.   
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the polymeric bladder defines an interior cavity and is configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity, the polymeric bladder having a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of the interior cavity and enclosing the interior cavity; and   the peripheral flange of the polymeric bladder is secured to the peripheral flange of the shank.   
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear  claim 14 , wherein:
 the strobel further includes a toe plate extending in a foremost extent of the forefoot region and composed of an elastomeric material; and   the polymeric bladder is secured to the toe plate.   
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the shank and the polymeric bladder each define a portion of a proximal surface of the strobel. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the shank extends in at least one of a forefoot region or a midfoot region of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the shank extends in at least one of a midfoot region or a heel region of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the shank extends in a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of an article of footwear.