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US 2025/0024912 A1Published application
Sole assembly and related method of manufacture
AssigneeWolverine Outdoors, Inc.
InventorIan M. Cobb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of forming a sole assembly for footwear construction comprises providing a first polymeric composition having a first density and a second polymeric composition having a second density in a mold to form a pre-expanded midsole. The pre-expanded midsole is expanded using a supercritical fluid to form a midsole. The midsole includes an exterior portion having a third density and an interior portion having a fourth density, which is different than the third density. The midsole defines a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. An outsole is joined with the second surface of the midsole.
Claims20
A footwear construction comprising:
- a midsole comprising a cured product of a pre-expanded midsole comprising a first polymeric composition comprising ethylene vinyl acetate and titanium dioxide and having a first density, and a second polymeric composition comprising ethylene vinyl acetate and a colorant and having a second density, the pre-expanded midsole having been expanded in the presence of a supercritical fluid, the midsole further comprising:
- an exterior portion comprising a cured, expanded reaction product of the first polymeric composition;
- an interior portion comprising a cured, expanded reaction product of the second polymeric composition;
- and
- a first surface at least partially defined by the interior portion and bounded at least partially by a midsole wall comprising the exterior portion;
- a second surface opposite the first surface and defined by the exterior portion, the midsole wall defining a perimeter surface that extends around a perimeter of the midsole, the perimeter surface of the midsole wall defining a plurality of medial notches and a plurality of corresponding lateral notches;
- and
- a plurality of medial stanchions disposed between the plurality of medial notches and a plurality of corresponding lateral stanchions disposed between the plurality of corresponding of lateral notches;
- and
- an outsole defining an upper surface and a ground-contacting surface with the upper surface of the outsole adjacent the second surface of the midsole, the outsole including a plurality of segments at least partially separated from one another by a plurality of channels defined by the exterior portion;
- wherein each of the plurality of channels extend in a lateral direction between respective ones of each of the plurality of medial notches and each of the plurality of corresponding lateral notches;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of segments extends in a lateral direction between each of the plurality of medial stanchions and each of the plurality of corresponding lateral stanchions.
10 more elements
A footwear construction comprising:
- a midsole comprising a cured product of a pre-expanded midsole comprising a first polymeric composition comprising ethylene vinyl acetate and titanium dioxide and having a first density and a second polymeric composition comprising ethylene vinyl acetate and a colorant and having a second density, the pre-expanded midsole having been expanded in the presence of a supercritical fluid, the midsole comprising:
- an exterior portion comprising a cured, expanded reaction product of the first polymeric composition and having a third density, whereby the exterior portion is configured to provide structural rigidity and energy return;
- an interior portion comprising a cured, expanded reaction product of the second polymeric composition and having a fourth density, whereby the interior portion is configured to provide cushion;
- a first surface at least partially defined by the interior portion and bounded at least partially by a midsole wall comprising the exterior portion extending around a perimeter of the first surface, the first surface defining a foot-receiving cavity;
- and
- a second surface opposite the first surface and defined by the exterior portion;
- and
- an outsole comprising a plurality of segments and defining an upper surface and a ground-contacting surface, the upper surface of the outsole adjacent the second surface of the midsole and the ground-contacting surface, whereby the ground contacting surface is configured to provide traction on a plurality of terrains,
- wherein at least two of the plurality of segments are at least partially separated from each other with a respective portion of the midsole therebetween, whereby the footwear construction is configured to provide energy return and cushion on a plurality of terrains.
6 more elements
A footwear construction comprising:
- a midsole comprising a cured product of a pre-expanded midsole comprising a first polymeric composition comprising ethylene vinyl acetate and titanium dioxide and having a first density, and a second polymeric composition comprising ethylene vinyl acetate and a colorant and having a second density, the pre-expanded midsole having been expanded in the presence of a supercritical fluid, the midsole comprising:
- an exterior portion comprising a cured, expanded reaction product of the first polymeric composition;
- an interior portion comprising a cured, expanded reaction product of the second polymeric composition;
- and
- a first surface at least partially defined by the interior portion and bounded at least partially by a midsole wall comprising the exterior portion;
- a second surface opposite the first surface and defined by the exterior portion;
- and
- the midsole wall defining a perimeter surface that extends around a perimeter of the midsole;
- wherein the exterior portion is translucent and the interior portion includes a color,
- wherein visible portions of the midsole wall and the second surface exhibit the color through the midsole wall to a plurality of varying degrees depending on a thickness of the exterior portion with the interior portion adjacent thereto.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.