US 12,220,019 B2
Footwear with a composite plate sole assembly
Andrea A. Paulson, Waltham, MA (US); Christopher J. Mahoney, Concord, MA (US); Brian D. Therriault, Framingham, MA (US); and Eric P. Plainte, Lexington, MA (US)
Assigned to Saucony, Inc., Waltham, MA (US)
Filed by Saucony, Inc., Waltham, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/700,892.
Application 17/700,892 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/927,269, filed on Jul. 13, 2020, granted, now 11,478,039.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/884,301, filed on Aug. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0211142 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 13/14 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/127 (2013.01) [A43B 13/145 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A footwear construction comprising:
a first midsole including a first midsole upper surface configured to face a wearer's foot, and a first midsole lower surface opposing and below the first midsole upper surface, the first midsole extending in a heel region, an arch region and a forefoot region of the footwear, with a first midsole sidewall extending from the first midsole lower surface to the first midsole upper surface;
a plate disposed adjacent and below the first midsole, the plate including a heel portion in the heel region, an arch portion in the arch region and a forefoot portion in the forefoot region, the plate including a lowermost portion configured to be disposed under the ball of a wearer's foot, the plate extending upward and forward from the lowermost portion, with the plate being of a plurality of radii of curvature in a transition portion from the lowermost portion to a forward most portion of the plate, the plate including a lateral arm and a medial arm in the forefoot region separated by a plate slot extending rearward from the forwardmost portion of the plate toward the lowermost portion, the plate slot having a rounded base near the lowermost portion, the medial arm extending forward a first distance from the base, the lateral arm extending forward a second distance from the base, the first distance greater than the second distance, the plate having a first bending stiffness during bending in a first direction and a second bending stiffness greater than the first bending stiffness during bending in a second direction;
a second midsole disposed below the plate and the first midsole, the second midsole bounded at least partially by a first upstanding midsole wall extending around a perimeter of the first midsole and approximating a shape of a wearer's foot in the heel region and the arch region, the first upstanding midsole wall extending above the plate in the heel region and the arch region, the second midsole including a second midsole lower surface and an opposing second midsole upper surface, the second midsole extending through the heel region, the arch region and the forefoot region, the second midsole defining a second midsole recess bounded by a second midsole sidewall, the first midsole and plate disposed at least partially in the second midsole recess so that the first midsole sidewall and the second midsole sidewall are adjacent one another; and
an outsole layer including an outsole upper surface and an outsole lower surface, the outsole upper surface being joined with and engaging the second midsole lower surface; and
an upper joined above the first midsole,
wherein the first midsole lower surface defines a first midsole lower recess,
wherein the plate is disposed in the first midsole lower recess,
wherein the first midsole is configured to provide underfoot cushion.