Segmented sole for footwear
AssigneeLululemon Athletica Canada Inc.
InventorsMark Arthur OLESON, Michael Andrew NOTRICA, Christopher Ka-Yin LAM, Donald Taylor JOHNSTON, Peter RUEEGGER, Simon Markus LUTHI, Michael STESZYN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A segmented sole for an article of footwear comprises a forefoot region, a heel region, and a segmentation zone disposed between the forefoot and heel region. The segmentation zone includes a plurality of segments separated from each other and from the forefoot and heel by a plurality of sipes, cuts, or gaps. The segmented sole produces bending along a segmentation axis disposed along an arch of a wearer of an article of footwear including the sole, allowing for arch support and natural foot movement.
Claims20
A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising:
- a heel portion;
- a forefoot portion;
- and
- a segmentation zone disposed between the heel portion and the forefoot portion, the segmentation zone including a plurality of segments separated from each other by one or more sipes;
- wherein the segmentation zone is configured such that the sole compresses and expands as a function of compression and expansion within the sipes.
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper including a resilient sockliner;
- and
- a sole, the sole including:
- a heel portion;
- a forefoot portion;
- and
- a segmentation zone disposed between the heel portion and the forefoot portion, the segmentation zone including a plurality of segments separated from each other and from the heel and forefoot portions by a plurality of sipes;
- wherein the segmentation zone is configured such that a flexibility of the sole is at least partially a function of compression within the sipes.
A method for manufacturing a sole for an article of footwear, comprising:
- forming a plurality of sipes in a bottom of a sole;
- wherein adding the plurality of sipes to the sole produces a segmentation zone, the segmentation zone including a plurality of segments;
- wherein the segments are separated from each other and from heel and forefoot portions of the sole by the plurality of sipes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.