Shoe with foam pods and chassis

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure coupled with the upper. The sole structure defines a forefoot region, a midfoot region that corresponds with a portion of the article of footwear that is configured to encase an arch of a foot, and a heel region that is proximate and adjoining the midfoot region. The footwear also includes a first foam material and a second foam material within the sole structure. The first foam material has a density that is different than a density of the second foam material. At least one of the first and second materials is directly attached to the upper. The footwear further includes a plurality of ground contacting regions and a heel support plate that extends along a portion of the upper in the heel region.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper;   a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region that corresponds with a portion of the article of footwear that is configured to encase an arch of a foot, and a heel region that is proximate and adjoining the midfoot region;   a first foam material and a second foam material within the sole structure, wherein the first foam material has a density that is different than a density of the second foam material, and wherein at least one of the first and second foam materials is directly attached to the upper;   a plurality of ground contacting regions; and   a heel support plate that extends along a portion of the upper in the heel region.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the heel support plate extends upwardly, away from a ground surface. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the heel support plate is substantially ovular in shape and includes a flange extending from an upper edge. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a chassis is attached to a bottom surface of at least one of the first foam material or the second foam material, the chassis being indirectly coupled with the upper by way of attachment between the chassis and the first foam material or the second foam material. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the chassis is a unitary piece that is integrally formed of rubber. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the chassis includes a chassis stem, a first chassis leg extending from the chassis stem through at least one of the heel region or the forefoot region of the sole structure, a second chassis leg extending from the chassis stem through at least one of the heel region or forefoot region of the sole structure, and a continuous elongated groove positioned between the first chassis leg and the second chassis leg, the continuous elongated groove extending along substantially an entire length of the first chassis leg and the second chassis leg. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first foam material and the second foam material is a supercritical foam formed by a supercritical foaming process. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first foam material or the second foam material extends along substantially an entire longitudinal length of one or more of the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first foam material is positioned in the heel region and the second foam material is positioned in the midfoot region. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first foam material or the second foam material occupies at least 50% of a surface area of a bottom surface of the upper within one or more of the heel region, the midfoot region, and forefoot region. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region that corresponds with a portion of the article of footwear that is configured to encase an arch of a foot, and a heel region that is proximate and adjoining the midfoot region, the sole structure comprising:   a first foam material and a second foam material, wherein the first foam material is a supercritical foam and has a density that is different from a density of the second foam material; and   a chassis that is not directly attached to the upper, wherein the chassis is attached to a bottom surface of the first foam material or the second foam material, and wherein the chassis is made of rubber and comprises a plurality of ground contacting regions.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the chassis includes a chassis stem, a first chassis leg extending from the chassis stem through at least one of the heel region or the forefoot region of the sole structure, a second chassis leg extending from the chassis stem through at least one of the heel region or forefoot region of the sole structure, and a continuous elongated groove positioned between the first chassis leg and the second chassis leg, the continuous elongated groove extending along substantially an entire length of the first chassis leg and the second chassis leg. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the continuous elongated groove is an opening that extends through an entire thickness of the chassis. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the continuous elongated groove forms a portion of the chassis having a reduced thickness. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of ground contacting regions are positioned along each of the first chassis leg and the second chassis leg. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first foam material or the second foam material extends across substantially an entire width from a lateral side to a medial side of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein one of the first foam material or the second foam material extends along substantially an entire longitudinal length of one or more of the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region. 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region that corresponds with a portion of the article of footwear that is configured to encase an arch of a foot, and a heel region that is proximate and adjoining the midfoot region, the sole structure comprising:   a first foam material and a second foam material, wherein the first foam material is a supercritical foam and has a density that is different from a density of the second foam material; and   a chassis that comprises a first leg, a second leg, and a continuous elongated groove that extends along a length of the first leg and the second leg, wherein at least one of the first foam material or the second foam material is visible through the continuous elongated groove.   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the first leg and the second leg comprise a plurality of ground contacting regions. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , the chassis is attached to a bottom surface of at least one of the first foam material or the second foam material, and wherein the chassis is made of rubber. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , wherein a heel support plate extends along the upper in a heel region of the article of footwear, and wherein the heel support plate is formed separately from the chassis.