Golf shoe with internal structure
AssigneeAcushnet Company
InventorsJean-Marie Bidal, Robert S. Bento
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly includes a midsole and an outsole. At least one of the midsole or outsole comprises (i) a foamed material and (ii) a structure integrated with or embedded in the foamed material. The structure comprises a different material than the foamed material. The structure comprises a spineless structure with one or more members extending between a medial side and a lateral side of the midsole or the outsole to enhance a lateral support and a torsional strength or stiffness of the midsole or outsole. The structure has a shape or profile that is different than a shape or profile of a bottom of a subject's foot.
Claims17
A golf shoe comprising:
- an upper;
- and
- a sole assembly connected to the upper, the sole assembly including:
- a midsole comprising a single unitary midsole component with an upper midsole portion and a lower midsole portion extending continuously across a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a rearfoot region of the sole assembly, wherein a forefoot region of the midsole has a greater hardness, stiffness, or tensile strength than a midfoot region and a rearfoot region of the midsole;
- and
- an outsole with a top surface and a bottom surface,
- wherein the midsole comprises (i) a foamed material and (ii) a structure that is fully embedded within the foamed material between the upper midsole portion and the lower midsole portion, wherein the structure comprises a different material than the foamed material, wherein the structure comprises a spineless structure with one or more members extending through the midsole to strengthen, stiffen, and support the midsole, wherein the structure comprises a structural shape or profile that is configured to be different than a shape or profile of a bottom of a subject's foot, wherein the structure has a first portion located within the forefoot region of the midsole and a second portion located within the midfoot region or the rearfoot region of the midsole, wherein the first portion of the structure has a greater hardness, stiffness, rigidity, or tensile strength than the second portion of the structure, or wherein the second portion of the structure has a greater hardness, stiffness, rigidity, or tensile strength than the first portion of the structure,
- wherein an uppermost portion of the structure is curved or arched, and wherein the one or more members are configured to slope downwards from the uppermost portion of the structure to a lateral side or a medial side of the sole assembly,
- wherein a distal end of the one or more members is configured to curve or slope upwards along the medial side or the lateral side of the sole assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.