Footwear with a sole structure

Abstract

The present invention provides footwear having an upper with improved comfort and a better fit, along with a sole that has an improved cushioning system or structural characteristics. [Solution] Footwear comprising a sole structure and an upper, wherein the sole structure comprises a top midsole bonded to the upper, a sole plate bonded to the top midsole, a front midsole bonded to the top midsole and sole plate, a rear midsole bonded to the top midsole and sole plate, and an outsole bonded to the front midsole and rear midsole. The front midsole is spaced forward from the rear midsole to form a cavity, and the underside of the sole plate is exposed in the cavity. The top midsole, front midsole and rear midsole are made of supercritical foam containing an organic compound having an open-chain structure.

Claims

1. A footwear comprising a sole structure and an upper, with the widest section, narrowest section, toe, heel, outer and inner sides defined, wherein the sole structure is The top midsole is directly bonded to the upper, A sole plate directly bonded to the top midsole, Between the toe portion of the sole structure and the widest section of the sole structure, the front midsole is directly bonded to the top midsole and the sole plate, Between the heel end of the sole structure and the narrowest section of the sole structure, a rear midsole directly bonded to the top midsole and the sole plate, It comprises a ground engagement surface defined and an outsole directly bonded to the front midsole and the rear midsole, The front midsole is separated laterally forward from the rear midsole, creating a cavity between the front midsole and the rear midsole. The lower surface of the sole plate is exposed in the cavity between the front midsole and the rear midsole. Footwear comprising a supercritical foam having an open-chain structure, wherein the top midsole, the front midsole, and the rear midsole are made of an organic compound having an open-chain structure.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the sole plate includes a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys on the outer edge of the sole plate between the widest section of the sole plate and the toe portion of the sole plate.

3. The plurality of peaks of the sole plate include at least three peaks, The footwear according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of valleys of the sole plate include at least two valleys.

4. The outsole includes a first outsole section, a second outsole section, and a third outsole section. The first outsole section is directly bonded to the underside of the front midsole, The second outsole section is directly bonded to the lower outer side of the rear midsole, The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the third outsole portion is directly bonded to the lower inner side of the rear midsole.

5. The aforementioned front midsole includes a notch, The first outsole section includes a notch, The sole plate includes a first opening, The footwear according to claim 4, wherein the notch of the front midsole, the notch of the section of the first outsole, and the first opening of the sole plate are aligned with each other.

6. The second outsole section and the third outsole section are directly bonded to the underside of the rear midsole. The second outsole section is positioned on the lower outer side of the rear midsole, The third outsole section is located on the lower side of the rear midsole, The footwear according to claim 4, wherein the rear midsole includes a gap positioned between the second outsole section and the third outsole section.

7. The aforementioned top midsole includes multiple ribs, The sole plate includes a plurality of ribs, The aforementioned front midsole includes multiple depressions, The plurality of recesses in the front midsole receive the plurality of ribs of the sole plate. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ribs of the sole plate receive the plurality of ribs of the top midsole.

8. The toe portion of the outsole surrounds the toe portion of the front midsole. The toe portion of the forward midsole surrounds the toe portion of the sole plate, The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the toe portion of the sole plate, the toe portion of the front midsole, and the toe portion of the outsole extend forward of the toe portion of the top midsole.

9. The aforementioned front midsole includes a convex portion and a concave portion on the inner side, and a convex portion on the outer side. The inner recess is positioned closer to the toe portion of the sole structure than the inner protrusion. The point on the rear midsole is formed where the outer convex portion and the inner recessed portion meet, The aforementioned point of the rear midsole extends further toward the toe portion of the sole structure than the rest of the rear midsole, The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the point of the rear midsole is mainly located on the outer side of the sole structure.

10. The outer side of the aforementioned top midsole includes a recess, The inside of the aforementioned top midsole includes a recess, The rear midsole includes a lip on the outer edge of the rear midsole. The outer recess of the top midsole receives the lip of the rear midsole. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the inner recess of the top midsole receives the lip of the rear midsole.

11. A footwear having a sole structure and an upper, defining the widest section, the narrowest section, the toe, the heel, the outer side, and the inner side, wherein the sole structure is The top midsole is directly bonded to the upper, A sole plate directly bonded to the top midsole, Between the toe portion of the sole structure and the widest section of the sole structure, the front midsole is directly bonded to the top midsole and the sole plate, Between the heel end of the sole structure and the narrowest section of the sole structure, a rear midsole directly bonded to the top midsole and the sole plate, It includes a ground engagement surface defined and an outsole directly bonded to the front midsole and the rear midsole, The narrowest section of the sole structure is defined by the narrowest section of the top midsole. The top midsole, the front midsole, and the rear midsole each comprise a supercritical foam containing a plurality of voids, Each of the voids in the aforementioned plurality of voids has a defined maximum dimension, Footwear wherein the maximum dimension of at least one void is between 180 μm and 210 μm.

12. The outsole includes a section of the first outsole, The first outsole section is directly bonded to the underside of the front midsole, The lower part of the front midsole includes an inner exposed section and an outer exposed section, The footwear according to claim 11, wherein the inner exposed section and the outer exposed section are the lower section of the front midsole that is not directly bonded to the section of the first outsole.

13. The sole plate includes a first rib and a second rib, The front end of the first rib and the front end of the second rib each extend to a point between the widest section of the sole structure and the toe portion of the sole structure, The footwear according to claim 11, wherein the rear end of the first rib and the rear end of the second rib each extend to a point between the narrowest section of the sole structure and the heel end of the sole structure.

14. The sole plate includes a third rib, The footwear according to claim 13, wherein the third rib is completely positioned between the widest section of the sole structure and the toe portion of the sole structure.

15. The footwear according to claim 11, wherein the heel end of the sole plate is generally aligned with the heel end of the outsole.

16. The top midsole includes a plurality of inner ridges and a plurality of outer ridges, The footwear according to claim 11, wherein the rear midsole includes a plurality of inner ridges and a plurality of outer ridges.

17. The footwear according to claim 11, wherein the toe portion of the sole structure extends beyond the toe portion of the upper.

18. A footwear having a sole structure and an upper, defining the widest section, the narrowest section, the toe, the heel, the outer side, and the inner side, wherein the sole structure is The top midsole is directly attached to the lower side of the upper, A sole plate directly attached to the underside of the top midsole, Between the toe portion of the sole structure and the widest section of the sole structure, a front midsole is directly bonded to the lower side of the top midsole and the lower side of the sole plate, Between the heel end of the sole structure and the narrowest section of the sole structure, a rear midsole is directly connected to the lower side of the top midsole and the lower side of the sole plate, It includes an outsole that defines a ground engagement surface and is directly bonded to the underside of the front midsole and the underside of the rear midsole, The outsole includes a first outsole section directly bonded to the lower side of the front midsole, a second outsole section directly bonded to the lower side of the rear midsole on the outer side of the sole structure, and a third outsole section directly bonded to the lower side of the rear midsole on the inner side of the sole structure. The second outsole section is longer than the third outsole section. The top midsole, the front midsole, and the rear midsole each comprise a supercritical foam containing a plurality of voids, Each of the voids in the aforementioned plurality of voids has a defined maximum dimension, Footwear wherein the maximum dimension of at least one void is between 180 μm and 210 μm.

19. The inner side of the outer edge of the rear midsole includes convex and concave portions, The outer edge of the aforementioned rear midsole includes a convex portion. The second outsole section is curved, and the third outsole portion is curved. The curvature of the second outsole section is substantially the same as the outer convex portion of the outer edge of the rear midsole. The footwear according to claim 18, wherein the curvature of the third outsole section is substantially the same as the inner convex portion of the outer edge of the rear midsole.

20. The inner side of the outer edge of the rear midsole includes a transition point. The footwear according to claim 19, wherein the third outsole section is completely positioned between the transition point and the heel end of the sole structure.

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