Uneven surface training footwear

Abstract

Training footwear has a toe end and a heel end and comprises an upper with an outsole joined to the bottom thereof and extending downwardly therefrom. The outsole has a downward facing surface-engaging outsole bottom having an axial ridge extending downwardly from the outsole bottom along an axial center line of the outsole substantially from the toe end to the heel end of the footwear. The axial ridge comprises a toe end and heel end corresponding to the toe end and heel end of the footwear. The toe end and heel end of the ridge are each tapered upward to the outsole bottom at each of the toe end and heel end of the footwear. The outsole and the ridge are of unitary manufacture.

1 . A training footwear having a toe end and a heel end and comprising an upper with an outsole joined to the bottom thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, said outsole having a downward facing surface-engaging outsole bottom having an axial ridge extending downwardly from the outsole bottom along a center line of the outsole substantially from the toe end to the heel end of the footwear, wherein:
 a. said axial ridge comprises a toe end and heel end corresponding to the toe end and heel end of the footwear;   b. the toe end and heel end of the ridge are each tapered upward to the outsole bottom at each of the toe end and heel end of the footwear; and   c. wherein the outsole and the ridge are of unitary manufacture.   
     
     
         2 . The training footwear of  claim 1  wherein:
 a. the axial ridge comprises a substantially flat bottom surface, a left-hand side surface, and a right-hand side surface; 
 b. the left-hand side surface and the right-hand side surface extend upwards from the bottom surface of the ridge in the direction of a respective left-hand side edge and right-hand side edge of the outsole bottom; and 
 c. the left-hand side surface and the right-hand side surface form tapers upward toward the respective left-hand side edge and right-hand side edge of the outsole bottom. 
 
     
     
         3 . The training footwear of  claim 2  wherein the left-hand side surface and the right-hand side surface are tapered in a linear or convex manner. 
     
     
         4 . The training footwear of  claim 2  wherein the taper of the left-hand side surface and the right-hand side surface is constant along the ridge. 
     
     
         5 . The training footwear of  claim 2  wherein the taper of the left-hand side surface and the right-hand side surface varies along the ridge in dependence upon a width of the outsole bottom. 
     
     
         6 . The training footwear of  claim 2  wherein the bottom surface of the ridge has a constant width along the ridge from the toe end to the heel end of the footwear. 
     
     
         7 . The training footwear of  claim 2  wherein the bottom surface of the ridge has a width that varies from the toe end to the heel end of the footwear. 
     
     
         8 . The training footwear of  claim 7  wherein the bottom surface of the axial ridge has a width that varies along the ridge from the toe end to the heel end of the footwear in dependence upon a width of the outsole bottom. 
     
     
         9 . The training footwear of  claim 1  wherein the outsole is by material of manufacture substantially rigid. 
     
     
         10 . The training footwear of  claim 1  wherein the upper further comprises an ankle support portion. 
     
     
         11 . The training footwear of  claim 10  wherein the upper is designed as the upper of a running shoe or a boot. 
     
     
         12 . An outsole for use as a component of a training footwear article having a toe end and a heel end and comprising an upper for attachment of the outsole to the bottom thereof and extending downwardly therefrom, said outsole having a downward facing surface-engaging outsole bottom having an axial ridge extending downwardly from the outsole bottom along a center line of the outsole substantially from the toe end to the heel end of the footwear, wherein:
 a. said axial ridge comprises a toe end and heel end corresponding to the toe end and heel ends of the footwear;   b. the toe end and heel end of the ridge are each tapered upward to the outsole bottom at each of the toe end and heel end of the footwear; and   c. wherein the outsole and the ridge are of unitary manufacture.   
     
     
         13 . The outsole of  claim 12  wherein:
 a. the axial ridge comprises a substantially flat bottom surface, a left-hand side surface, and a right-hand side surface; 
 b. the left-hand side surface and the right-hand side surface extend upwards from the bottom surface of the ridge in the direction of a respective left-hand side edge and right-hand side edge of the outsole bottom; and 
 c. the left-hand side surface and the right-hand side surface form tapers upward toward the respective left-hand side edge and right-hand side edge of the outsole bottom. 
 
     
     
         14 . The outsole of  claim 13  wherein the left-hand side surface and the right-hand side surface are tapered in a linear or convex manner. 
     
     
         15 . The outsole of  claim 13  wherein the taper of the left-hand side surface and the right-hand side surface is constant along the ridge. 
     
     
         16 . The outsole of  claim 13  wherein the taper of the left-hand side surface and the right-hand side surface varies along the ridge in dependence upon a width of the outsole bottom. 
     
     
         17 . The outsole of  claim 13  wherein the bottom surface of the ridge has a constant width along the ridge from the toe end to the heel end of the footwear. 
     
     
         18 . The outsole of  claim 13  wherein the bottom surface of the ridge has a width that varies from the toe end to the heel end of the footwear. 
     
     
         19 . The outsole of  claim 18  wherein the bottom surface of the axial ridge has a width that varies along the ridge from the toe end to the heel end of the footwear in dependence upon a width of the outsole bottom. 
     
     
         20 . The outsole of  claim 12  wherein the outsole is by material of manufacture substantially rigid. 
     
     
         21 . The outsole of  claim 12  wherein the upper is designed as the upper of a running shoe or a boot.