Cambered sole
AssigneeNew Balance Athletics, Inc.
InventorsAndrew A. Bjornson, Marya Lourdes Chan, Patrick Y. Choe, Bernard Jankowski, Sean B. Murphy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to shoes including sole elements having a cambered profile. An example sole element includes a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion including a longitudinal arch including a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition.
Claims18
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole comprising a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion comprising a substantially longitudinal arch comprising a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition.
A sole element for an article of footwear comprising:
- a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion comprising a substantially longitudinal arch comprising a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition.
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- and
- a sole comprising a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, wherein:
- (i) the midfoot portion comprises a substantially longitudinal arch comprising a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition;
- (ii) the forefoot portion comprises a substantially transverse arch that is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates transversely in a loaded condition;
- (iii) the midsole comprises a plurality of flex grooves on a lower surface thereof, the flex grooves at least partially separating the lower surface of the midsole into a plurality of protruding elements;
- and
- (iv) the sole further comprises at least one tension element extending across at least one flex groove in the longitudinal arch region, the at least one tension element being anchored substantially at the ends thereof to the midsole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.