Sole structure for an article of footwear

摘要

A sole structure of an article of footwear has a support assembly structure including a flexure element and an upper support element. The flexure element may have a central portion located between first and second ground-contacting or lower regions, wherein the central portion may have a downwardly concavely-curved shell-like region. The flexure element also may have first and second flanges extending upward from the first and second lower regions, respectively. The upper support element is positioned above the central portion and between the first and second flanges of the flexure element. When a vertical compressive load is first applied to the upper support element, the upper support element moves vertically relative to the first and second flanges. An article of footwear having the sole structure attached to an upper is also provided.

主权项

1. A sole structure of an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a flexure element defining a lowermost surface of the article of footwear and having:
(a) a central portion located between a first ground-contacting region and a second ground-contacting region, the central portion having a downwardly concavely-curved plate region, and(b) first and second flanges extending upward from the first and second ground-contacting regions, respectively; and an upper support element positioned above the central portion, between the first and second flanges of the flexure element, and below upper edges of the first and second flanges of the flexure element, and below upper edges of the first and second flanges of the flexure element,
wherein the upper support element is configured to move vertically relative to the first and second flanges when a vertical compressive load is first applied to the upper support element, andwherein the central portion, the first ground-contacting region, the second ground-contacting region, and the first and second flanges are integrally formed of a single material as a single layer.