Flexible sole for an article of footwear

Abstract

A sole for an article of footwear is provided. The article of footwear defines a lateral edge, a medial edge, a forefoot region, a midfoot region and a heel region. The sole includes an outsole having a thickness and at least one slot in the outsole. The slot extends in a substantially longitudinal direction. A longitudinal centerline is defined midway between the lateral edge and the medial edge. The slot crosses over the longitudinal centerline in at least one of the forefoot region and the midfoot region. An article of footwear having the sole attached to an upper is also provided.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a sole for an article of footwear. More particularly, various examples of the invention relate to a sole having improved flexibility.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Skateboarding has been a very popular activity for a number of years. In addition to simply riding on a skateboard, however, many skateboarders now try to perform complex tricks, which have become more and more difficult as each new generation of skateboarders tries to outdo the last.[0003]Many skateboarding tricks require the skateboarder to apply pressure to one or the other portions of the skateboard using his or her feet, depending upon the trick they are trying to perform. This requires that skateboarders be able to apply pressure to the board through their shoes at different locations on the bottom and edges of the shoes. For example, for some tricks, pressure is applied along the lateral edge of the foot, approximately at the outer toe line location. Fo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]Various aspects of the invention relate to footwear having a grooved or slotted sole. More particularly, some aspects of the invention relate to footwear having an outsole with a slot formed therein, to allow flexing of the outsole, particularly in the forefoot region of the footwear. The slot extends, in a generally longitudinal direction, from the medial side to the lateral side of the foot. Having the slot curve across the bottom of the sole from the medial side toward the lateral side enhances the ability for the sole to cup inward, no matter where the pressure is applied during various tricks.

[0009]In other instances, the foot may slide along the skateboard as it also rotates toward the lateral edge of the sole. The slot allows the skateboarder to keep a larger percentage of the sole on the board for a longer time period. This is an improvement over existing skateboarding shoes that tend to have an abrupt transition from having good contact with the board to having little or no contact with the board as the foot slides along the board.

[0010]Further, according to an aspect of the invention, the slot extends through the thickness of the outsole. Having a slot extending through the outsole provides a greater degree of flexibility.

[0012]According to even other aspects of the invention, an article of footwear is provided with a sole having a slot that crosses over the longitudinal centerline in at least one of the forefoot region or the midfoot region. The article of footwear may also include a grooved midsole. An article of footwear having a generally longitudinal slot formed in an outsole and a generally longitudinal, complementary groove in the midsole may provide a desired degree of flexibility in the sole for skateboarders.

Problems solved by technology

In addition to simply riding on a skateboard, however, many skateboarders now try to perform complex tricks, which have become more and more difficult as each new generation of skateboarders tries to outdo the last.

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