# US 9,516,916 B2 · Footwear with improved sole > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,516,916 B2 - Document ID: US9516916B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/952,120 - Filed: 2013-07-26 - Published: 2014-01-30 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-27 - Assignees: Salomon S.A. - Applicants: Salomon S.A.S. - Inventors: Aude Derrier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9516916B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/14: characterised by the constructive form - A43B 13/026: {Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite} - A43B 13/125: {characterised by the midsole or middle layer} - A43B 13/141: {with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract An article of footwear including an outer sole assembly and an upper, the outer sole assembly extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise between a surface for contact with the ground and a surface for connecting to the upper, the sole assembly including a first reinforcing layer extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise between a distal surface and a proximal surface, the first reinforcing layer having transverse slits. The sole assembly includes a wear layer and a first damping layer, the wear layer demarcating the contact surface. The first damping layer is located between the wear layer and the first reinforcing layer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of footwear comprising: outer sole assembly; an upper extending upwardly from the outer sole assembly; the outer sole assembly extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise between a ground-contacting surface and an upper-connecting surface; the outer sole assembly comprising: a first reinforcing layer extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise between a distal surface and a proximal surface; the first reinforcing layer having transverse slits; a wear layer; and a first damping layer; the wear layer demarcating the ground-contacting surface; the first damping layer being located between the wear layer and the first reinforcing layer; the first damping layer having a width at least as great as a width of the first reinforcing layer along a vertical transverse plane; at least one of the slits having an open end at a first side of the first reinforcing layer and a closed end spaced from a second side of the reinforcing layer; the closed end of the slit being closer to the second side of the first reinforcing layer than to a longitudinal vertical median plane of the first reinforcing layer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: along the transverse direction, the width of the first reinforcing layer is between 25 and 100% of the width of the outer sole assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: along the longitudinal direction, the length of the first reinforcing layer is between 25 and 100% of the length of the outer sole assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the slits open out in an area of only one of the lateral and medial sides of the first reinforcing layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the slits open out alternately in an area of the lateral side and in an area of the medial side of the first reinforcing layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the slits has a length 100% of the width of the first reinforcing layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the slits has a width between 0.1 and 30 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the slits are provided over substantially an entire length of the first reinforcing layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the slits are provided only between the front end of the first reinforcing layer and a point spaced rearward by a value of 50% of the length of the first reinforcing layer, from the front end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the slits are provided only between a point moved rearward by a value 25% of the length of the first reinforcing layer, from the front end, and a point spaced forward by a value of 25% of the length of the first reinforcing layer, from the rear end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the slits are mutually parallel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: at least two of the slits form with each other an angle between 0 and 30°. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: in an area of the rear portion of the outer sole assembly, a width of the first reinforcing layer is between 25 and 50% of a width of the outer sole assembly; in an area of the front portion, a width of the first reinforcing layer is between 50 and 100% of a width of the outer sole assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the first reinforcing layer is comprised of a fiber-reinforced synthetic material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the outer sole assembly includes a second damping layer; the first reinforcing layer is located, heightwise, between the first damping layer and the second damping layer. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: a transversely extending width of the first damping layer is greater than the width of the first reinforcing layer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the first damping layer has a one-piece construction from the medial side of the outer sole assembly to the lateral side of the outer sole assembly.