Sole structure for article of footwear

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes a midsole having a first surface opposing the upper and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface and defining a ground-engaging surface, the midsole including an aperture (i) formed through and defined by a material of the midsole, (ii) extending from a medial side of the midsole to a lateral side of the midsole, and (iii) tapering in height in a direction extending from a heel region of the sole structure to a forefoot region of the sole structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a midsole including a first surface opposing the upper and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface and defining a ground-engaging surface, the midsole including an aperture (i) formed through and defined by a material of the midsole, (ii) extending from a medial side of the midsole to a lateral side of the midsole, and (iii) tapering in height in a direction extending from a heel region of the sole structure to a forefoot region of the sole structure.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the midsole includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being attached to the lower portion at a junction. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure of  claim 2 , wherein the upper portion defines the first surface and the lower portion defines the second surface. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure of  claim 2 , wherein the upper portion defines a first portion of the aperture and the lower portion defines a second portion of the aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion includes a different shape than the second portion. 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the material of the midsole comprises foam. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate disposed within the midsole. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure of  claim 7 , wherein the plate extends into the aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is disposed in a midfoot region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a midsole including an upper portion defining a first surface opposing the upper and a lower portion defining a second surface formed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface and defining a ground-engaging surface, the midsole including an aperture (i) formed through and defined by a material of the midsole, (ii) extending from a medial side of the midsole to a lateral side of the midsole, and (iii) defined by opposing surfaces of the upper portion and the lower portion.   
     
     
         12 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the upper portion is attached to the lower portion at a junction, the upper portion being spaced apart from the lower portion at the junction to define the aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the upper portion includes a third surface formed on an opposite side of the upper portion than the first surface and the lower portion includes a fourth surface formed on an opposite side of the lower portion than the second surface, the third surface being attached to the fourth surface at a junction. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure of  claim 13 , wherein the third surface is spaced apart from the fourth surface at the junction to define the aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The sole structure of  claim 13 , wherein the third surface includes a first length measured in a first direction extending from a heel region of the sole structure to a forefoot region of the sole structure and the fourth surface includes a second length measured in the first direction and being greater than the first length. 
     
     
         16 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the material of the midsole comprises foam. 
     
     
         17 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , further comprising a plate disposed within the midsole, the plate extending into the aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the aperture is disposed in a midfoot region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         19 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the aperture tapers in a direction extending from a heel region of the sole structure to a forefoot region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of  claim 11 .