Sole Structures and Articles of Footwear Having a Lightweight Midsole Member with Protective Elements

摘要

Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include a relatively soft and lightweight foam midsole component partially covered by at least one more rigid and/or dense cage (protective) component(s) and/or other protective component(s).

主权项

1. An article of footwear, comprising: an upper; and
a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure includes:
a polymeric foam member for supporting an entire plantar surface of a wearer's foot, wherein the polymeric foam member is formed from a foam material having a density of less than 0.25 g/cm3, and wherein the foam material forms an exposed side surface of the sole structure, anda protective member having a top surface extending along a bottom surface of the polymeric foam member and covering at least 80% of a surface area of the bottom surface of the polymeric foam member, wherein the protective member constitutes a web base surface with a plurality of traction elements extending downward from the web base surface, wherein a subset of the plurality of traction elements are positioned within a central area of the web base surface, wherein the web base surface is perforated in a forefoot area between some of the traction elements with a heel area being free of perforations, and wherein a thickness of a majority of the web base surface at locations between the plurality of traction elements is less than 2 mm thick.