Sole Structure with Adjustable Flexibility

Abstract

An improved sole structure for article of footwear is disclosed herein. The sole structure includes a midsole and an outsole coupled to the midsole. The midsole includes a channel extending from the toe end to the heel end of the midsole. The sole structure further includes a housing with a plurality of segments disposed within the channel. A cable is threaded through the plurality of segments of the housing with a first end of the cable being disposed proximate to the toe end of the midsole, and the second end of the cable extends out of the rear end of the midsole. A tensioning mechanism is operatively coupled to the second end of the cable to alter the amount of tension in the cable, and, ultimately, alter the amount of flexibility of the sole structure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/353,264, entitled “Sole structure with Adjustable Midsole Flexibility”, filed Jun. 22, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the sole structure of an article of footwear, and, in particular, a sole structure with a device configured to adjust the flexibility of the midsole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional footwear contains a sole structure comprising a midsole and an outsole, where the midsole is designed to be flexible and provide support to the foot of a user, while the outsole is configured to be durable, resilient, and wear resistant. However, the sole structures of conventional footwear are limited to a singular degree of flexibility. In other words, the flexibility of each layer (e.g., midsole, outsole, insole, etc.) of the sole structures of the conventional footwear is fixed and not adjustable. By sole structures being limited to a singular degree of flexibility, the conventional footwear is often designed for a singular use (e.g., running, cross-training, climbing, basketball, etc.). This prevents the conventional footwear from being useful for activities that differ from its intended use. In addition, by the sole structure of the conventional footwear having a singular degree of flexibility, the sole structure of the conventional footwear is only comfortable and/or supportive to a limited number of users.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a sole structure for an article of footwear where the flexibility of the sole structure is adjustable by the user of the article of footwear. It would be further desirable to provide a sole structure with adjustable flexibility to provide proper support to a wide variety of users. It would also be desirable to provide a sole structure with adjustable flexibility to enable users to adjust the amount of comfort of the article of footwear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The adjustable sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole and an outsole coupled to the midsole. The midsole further includes a channel sized and shaped to receive a housing having a plurality of segments that are hingedly coupled to one another via a base of the housing. The channel extends from proximate the toe end to proximate the rear end of the midsole. A cable, having a first end and a second end, is threaded through each one of the plurality of segments of the housing. When the housing is disposed within the channel of the midsole such that the first end of the cable is disposed proximate to the toe end of the midsole and the second end of the cable extends outwardly from the rear end of the midsole. A tensioning mechanism, or ratchet, is operatively coupled to the second end of the cable and coupled to the rear end of the midsole. Rotating the ratchet in a first direction may increase the tension in the cable, and rotating the ratchet in a second direction may decrease the tension in the cable. As the tension in the cable is increased, the degree of flexibility in the sole structure is decreased. Conversely, as the tension in the cable is decreased, the degree of flexibility in the sole structure is increased. Thus, a user of the article of footwear containing an adjustable sole structure may adjust the flexibility of the sole structure based on their desired properties and their intended use for the article of footwear.

In another embodiment, a sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole, a channel disposed within the midsole, and a flexible housing disposed within the channel. The sole structure may further include a cable threaded through the flexible housing, where the cable includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the cable is disposed within the channel, while the second end of the cable is disposed outside of the channel and the midsole. The sole structure may further include a tension mechanism. The tension mechanism may be coupled to the second end of the cable. Furthermore, the tension mechanism may be configured to alter the amount of tension in the cable such that the alteration of the tension in the cable alters the degree of flexibility of the midsole.

In yet another embodiment, an article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure coupled to one another. The sole structure of the article of footwear includes a channel disposed within the sole structure, and a cable disposed within the channel of the sole structure. The cable contains a first end and a second end, where the first end of the cable is disposed and affixed within the channel, and the second end of the cable is disposed outside of the channel and the sole structure. The sole structure also includes a tension mechanism that is coupled to the second end of the cable. The tension mechanism is configured to alter an amount of tension in the cable, wherein altering the tension in the cable alters a degree of flexibility of the sole structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of an embodiment of the sole structure of an article of footwear according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top perspective view of a midsole of the embodiment of the sole structure illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a cable housing of the embodiment of the sole structure illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view the cable housing illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view the cable housing illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the cable housing illustrated in FIG. 3 in a flexed or bent position.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of an article of footwear containing the embodiment of the sole structure illustrated in FIG. 1.

Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elements throughout this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Aspects of the disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying description. Alternate embodiments of the present disclosure and their equivalents may be devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that any discussion herein regarding “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, and that such particular feature, structure, or characteristic may not necessarily be included in every embodiment. In addition, references to the foregoing do not necessarily comprise a reference to the same embodiment. Finally, irrespective of whether it is explicitly described, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that each of the particular features, structures, or characteristics of the given embodiments may be utilized in connection or combination with those of any other embodiment discussed herein.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).

The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous.

As described herein with reference to the example embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, a sole structure 100 of an article of footwear (also referred to herein as a shoe), in accordance with the invention, includes a toe (i.e., front) end 102 that corresponds with the toes of the user's foot, a heel (i.e., rear) end 104 that corresponds with the heel of the user's foot, a medial side 200 that is oriented along the medial or big toe side of the user's foot, and a lateral side 202 that is oriented along the lateral or little toe side of the user's foot. The sole structure 100 may include a forefoot region 106 that generally aligns with the ball and toes of a user's foot (i.e., when a user is wearing a shoe equipped with the sole structure 100), a midfoot region 107 that generally aligns with the arch and instep areas of the user's foot, and a hindfoot region 108 that generally aligns with the heel and ankle areas of the user's foot. While the example embodiment depicted in the figures (including FIGS. 1-6) show a sole structure 100 configured for a left foot, it is noted that the same or similar features can also be provided for a sole structure 100 configured for a right foot (where such features of the right footed sole structure are a reflection or are “mirror image” symmetrical in relation to the left footed sole structure, e.g., the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-6). The invention of the sole structure 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 may be utilized for any type of article of footwear, including, but not limited to, shoes, sneakers, boots, sandals, etc.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the sole structure 100 includes a midsole structure, or midsole, 110, an outsole structure, or outsole, 120, a cable housing 130, a cable 140, and a tension mechanism 150. The midsole 110 may be constructed from a thermoplastic or thermoset material, such as an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam material, that is configured to provide cushion and support to a foot as the sole structure 100 impacts a support surface. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the midsole 110 includes a top surface 112 and a bottom surface 114 opposite the top surface 112. The bottom surface 114 of the midsole further includes a plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10), a plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8), and an arch 119. The plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10) may extend downwardly from the bottom surface 114 of the midsole 110 in the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot regions 106, 107, 108. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10) may extend laterally across the width of the sole structure 100 (e.g., from the medial side 200 to the lateral side 202 of the sole structure 100). Similarly, the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) may extend laterally across the width of the sole structure 100, where the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) may be disposed between the plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10). Thus, the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) separate the plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10) from one another. In addition, the arch 119, which is disposed in the bottom surface 114 of the midsole 100 in the midfoot region 107 of the sole structure 100, separates protuberance 116(6) from protuberance 116(7). Similar to the plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10) and the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8), the arch 119 may also extend laterally across the width of the sole structure 100. While FIG. 1 only illustrates that the bottom surface 114 of the midsole 110 contains the protuberances 116(1)-116(10) and the grooves 118(1)-118(8) that extend laterally across the width of the sole structure 100, in other embodiments, the bottom surface 114 of the midsole 110 may contain a set of protuberances and grooves that form another pattern (e.g., longitudinally, checkered, latticed, etc.) across the bottom surface 114.

The outsole 120 may be in the form of a plurality of plates 122(1)-122(10), which each include a top surface 124 and a bottom surface 126 opposite the top surface 124. The plurality of plates 122(1)-122(10) are disposed on the plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10), where the top surface 122 of each of the plurality of plates 122(1)-122(10) is coupled to one of the plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10) formed in the bottom surface 114 of the midsole 110. The plurality of plates 122(1)-122(10) may be coupled to the plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10) via any conventional means, including, but not limited to, co-molding, adhesives, etc. The bottom surfaces 126 of plurality of plates 122(1)-122(10) of the outsole 120 are configured to contact a support surface and support the sole structure 100 on the support surface. The outsole 120 may be constructed from a material (e.g., rubber) that is durable and contains a durometer value greater than the midsole 110. The term “durometer value”, as used herein, refers to any standard or other suitable durometer measurement (e.g., a Shore A durometer hardness value) that provides an indication of hardness and/or flexibility of the material, where lower durometer values indicates a softer/more flexible material and higher durometer values indicate a harder/less flexible material. In general, harder materials have more wear resistance, but they are also less flexible. Conversely, softer materials possess less wear resistance, but are more flexible. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the outsole 120 may be not disposed within the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) and the arch 119, creating sole structure 100 flexure lines along the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) and the arch 119. In other words, the sole structure 100 more easily flexes and bends at the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) and the arch 119 than at the areas of the sole structure 100 occupied by the plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10) and the plurality of outsole plates 122(1)-122(10) because of the higher durometer value of the outsole plates 122(1)-122(10). In addition, the sole structure 100 more easily flexes and bends at the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) and the arch 119 because midsole 110 is thinner at the plurality of grooves 118(1)-118(8) and the arch 119 when compared to the plurality of protuberances 116(1)-116(10).

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, disposed within the midsole 110 is a cable housing 130 and a cable 140. The cable housing 130 is disposed within the midsole 110 proximate to the top surface 112 and spans along the majority of the length of the midsole 110 (e.g., from the toe end 102 to the heel end 104). The cable housing 130 includes a first end 132 and a second end 134, where the first end 132 is disposed in the midsole 110 proximate to the toe end 102 of the sole structure 100 and the second end 134 is disposed in the midsole proximate to the heel end 104 of the sole structure 100. The cable 140 is at least partially disposed within the cable housing 130 and extends rearwardly from the second end 134 of the cable housing 130, through the midsole 110, and out of the heel end 104 of midsole 110. The cable 140 may be constructed from, but not limited to, galvanized steel, stainless steel, natural fibers (e.g., cotton, jute, sisal, etc.), nylon, polypropylene, polyester, etc. In addition, the cable 140 may be in the form of a wire, a rope, twine, a chain, etc. FIG. 1 further illustrates that a tension mechanism, ratchet system, or ratchet, 150 is operatively coupled to the midsole 110 proximate to the heel end 104 sole structure 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the ratchet 150 is disposed above the top surface 112 of the midsole 110. Thus, the ratchet 150 is not disposed within the midsole 110 of the sole structure 100. In other embodiments, however, the ratchet 150 may be disposed below the top surface 112 of the midsole 110, on the medial sides 200 of the sole structure 100, or on the lateral side 202 of the sole structure 100. As further illustrated, the cable 140 exits the midsole 110 proximate the heel end 104 of the sole structure 100 and bends upwardly to couple to the ratchet 150.

Turning to FIG. 2, the midsole 110 contains a channel 210 disposed within the top surface 112 of the midsole 110. The channel 210 may be formed within the top surface 112 of the midsole 110 by any suitable process including, without limitation, etching, engraving, carving, impressing, scoring, incising, stamping, defined during formation of the component (e.g., formed in a molding process), etc. As further illustrated, the channel 210 is longitudinal with a first end 212 and a second end 214. The first end 212 of the channel 210 may be disposed proximate to the toe end 102 of the sole structure 100. Conversely, the second end 214 of the channel 210 may be disposed proximate to the heel end 104 of the sole structure 100. Thus, the channel 210 extends longitudinally along the upper surface 112 of the midsole 110 from proximate the toe end 102 to proximate the heel end 104. The channel 210 may be disposed centrally along a lateral widthwise direction of the midsole 110. Thus, the channel 210 may be equidistant from the medial side 200 and the lateral side 202 of the midsole 110. In other embodiments, the channel 210 may be disposed in the top surface 112 of the midsole 110 closer to medial side 200 than the lateral side 202, or vice versa. As further illustrated in FIG. 2, the channel 210 includes a ledge 216 and a lower trench 218. The ledge 216 may be disposed within the channel 210 below the top surface 112 of the midsole 110, and along all sides of the channel 210. The trench 218 may be disposed farther into the midsole 110 from the top surface 112 than the ledge 216. The trench may also be centrally disposed within the channel 210. The channel 210 is sized and shaped to receive the cable housing 130 and the cable 140.

The midsole 110 further includes an opening 220 disposed in the heel end 104 of the midsole 110. The opening 220 may be in fluid communication with the channel 210. The opening 220 may be sized and shaped to slidably receive the cable 140. Thus, as the cable 140 extends rearwardly from the cable housing 130, the cable 140 extends through the opening 220 in the midsole 110.

The cable housing 130, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, includes a first end 132 and a second end 134. The cable housing 130 includes a base 300 having a top surface 302 and a bottom surface 304. As illustrated, a plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13) extend upwardly or vertically from the top surface 302 of the base 300 while flanges 310 extend horizontally or outwardly from the base 300. The flanges 310 may extend from the base 300 in both the longitudinal and lateral directions. As illustrated, the cable housing 130 includes thirteen segments 136(1)-136(13). Other embodiments of the cable housing 130 may include more or fewer than thirteen segments 136(1)-136(13). The plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13) are separated by a plurality of slots or slits 320(1)-320(12). Each of the plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13) further includes an opening 330. The opening 330 of each segment is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the cable 140. While only segment 136(1) and segment 136(13) are illustrated with openings 330, each of the plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13) includes an opening 330 so that the cable 140 may be threaded through each of the plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13). As further illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, segments 136(2)-136(12) are substantially equal in length, with segments 136(1) and 136(13) being shorter in length than that of segments 136(2)-136(12). Segments 136(1) and 136(13) may be equal in length to one another. In another embodiment of the cable housing 130, each of the segments 136(1)-136(13) may be equal in length.

As further illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the segments 136(1)-136(13) extend the same distance from top surface 302 of the base 300. The cross sectional view of the cable housing 130 illustrated in FIG. 5 further illustrates the dimensions of the segments 136(1)-136(13) and the flanges 310. The flanges 310 may have a dimension of a first height H1, while the segments 136(1)-136(13) have the dimensions of H2, H3, and D1. Second height H2 may represent the distance the opening 330 of each of the plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13) is positioned above the top of the flange 310. Furthermore, the third height H3 may represent the distance the opening 330 of each of the plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13) is positioned below the top of the plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13). The diameter D1 may represent the diameter of the opening 330 of the plurality of segments 136(1)-136(13). As illustrated, the combination of the dimensions H2, H3, and D1 represent the distance the segments 136(1)-136(13) extend vertically from the base 300. Furthermore, the combination of the dimensions H1, H2, H3 and D1 represent the total height of the cable housing 130. In one embodiment of the cable housing 130, the heights H1, H2, H3 and the diameter D1 may be equal to one another. For example, the heights H1, H2, H3 and the diameter D1 may all equal 1.5 mm. However, in another embodiment, the dimensions of the heights H1, H2, H3 and the diameter D1 may differ from one another. For example, the heights H1, H3 and the diameter D1 may all equal 1.5 mm, but the second height H2 may be equal to 3.5 mm. Thus, in this embodiment, the segments 136(1)-136(13) extend farther from the top surface 302 of the base 300 and from above the flanges 310 than the previous embodiments.

As further illustrated in FIG. 5, the base 300 may have a width of W1, while the flanges 310 may extend outwardly in the horizontal direction from the base 300 a distance of W2. In some embodiments of the cable housing 130, the width W1 of the base 300 may be equal to the distance W2 that a flange 310 extends from the base 300. Thus, the total width of the cable housing 130 would be three times the width of the base 300. For example, the width W1 of base 300 and the width W2 of each flange 310 may be approximately 4.5 mm. Thus, the total width of this embodiment cable housing 130 would be approximately 13.5 mm. In other embodiments of the cable housing 130, the dimensions of W1 and W2 may differ from one another. In these embodiments, the flanges 310 may extend outwardly from the base 300 a greater or lesser amount than the width W1 of the base 300. For example, the base 300 may have a width W1 of approximately 4.5 mm, while the width W2 of each flange 310 may be approximately 9.75 mm. Thus, the total width of the cable housing 130 would be 24 mm. In yet another embodiment of the cable housing 130, the flanges 310 may be of varying widths such that the width of the flange 310 most proximate to the medial side 200 of the sole structure 100 may be longer or shorter than the width of the flange 310 most proximate to lateral side 202 of the sole structure 100.

The cable housing 130 is sized and shaped to fit within the channel 210 of the midsole 110. The cable housing 130 sits within the channel 210 of the midsole 110 with the segments 136(1)-136(13) of the cable housing 130 disposed within the trench 218 of the channel 210. In addition, the flanges 310 of the cable housing 130 are configured to engage, and/or rest upon, the ledges 216 of the channel 210. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the cable housing 130 is disposed within the channel 210 of the midsole 110 inverted from the orientation illustrated in FIG. 3. When disposed within the channel 210, the bottom surface 304 of the base 300 of the cable housing 130 is aligned with the top surface 112 of the midsole 110. The bottom surface 304 of the base 300 of the cable housing 130 may sit flush with the top surface 112 of the midsole 110. Furthermore, the cable housing 130 may be disposed within the channel 210 of the midsole 110 such that the first end 132 of the cable housing 130 is disposed proximate to the first end 212 of the channel 210 and the second end 134 of the cable housing 130 is disposed proximate to the second end 214 of the channel 210. While not illustrated, the openings 330 of the segments 136(1)-136(13) may align with the opening 220 disposed in the heel end 104 of the midsole 110.

As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the cable 140 is threaded through each the segments 136(1)-136(8) via the openings 330 in each of the segments 136(1)-136(8). While FIG. 6 only illustrates a cable housing with eight segments 136(1)-136(8) and seven slits 320(1)-320(7), the embodiment of the cable housing 130 illustrated in FIG. 6 operates in substantially the same manner as the cable housing 130 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. The cable 140 may include a first end 600 and a second end 602, where the first end 600 is affixed to or through the first segment 136(1). While the second end 602 of the cable 140 is disposed proximate to the second end 134 of the cable housing 130, the second end 602 of the cable 140 may not be affixed to the cable housing 130. Thus, a portion 610 of the cable 140, proximate to the second end 602, extends from the second end 134 of the cable housing 130.

As illustrated, when the cable housing 130 is flexed or bent so that the first end 132 is bent rearwardly toward the second end 134, or vice versa, where the bottom surface 304 of the base 300 is at least partially bent over itself, the segments 136(1)-136(8) separate from one another at the location of the slits 320(1)-320(7). Thus, the base 300 and the flanges 310 of the cable housing 130 may be configured to bend and flex, which results in separation of the segments 136(1)-136(8) from one another. The cable 140 may be fixed to the first segment 136(1) of the housing, while a portion of the cable 140 may be capable of sliding through the remaining segments 136(1)-136(8) of the housing 130. As the cable housing 130 is flexed, a larger portion of cable 140 is pulled or slid through the segments 136(1)-136(8) (i.e., a larger portion of the cable 140 is disposed between the first segment 136(1) and the last segment 136(8)) than when the cable housing 130 is in its resting, or horizontal, state (i.e., the cable housing 130 is not flexed). In other words, the length of the portion 610 of the cable 140 that extends outwardly from the second end 134 of the cable housing 130 is largest when the cable housing 130 is in the resting state (i.e., the smallest portion or amount of the cable 140 is disposed between the first segment 136(1) and the last segment 136(8). When the cable housing 130 is flexed, the second end 602 of the cable 140 is pulled toward the second end 134 of the cable housing 130, decreasing the length of the portion 610 of the cable 140.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the second end 602 of the cable 140 is threaded through the opening 220 of the midsole 110 and operatively connected to the ratchet 150. As previously explained, the ratchet 150 is configured to rotate with respect to the midsole 110 of the sole structure 100. As the ratchet 150 is rotated in a first direction (e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise), the second end 602 of the cable 140 and the portion 610 the cable 140 are at least partially wound around the ratchet 150. In other words, rotating the ratchet 150 in the first direction reduces the amount of slack, if any, in the cable 140. As the ratchet 150 is rotated in the first direction, tension is created in the cable 140 between the first end 600 and the second end 602 because the first end 600 is affixed to the cable housing 130 proximate the first end 132 of the cable housing 130 and the ratchet 150 is winding at least a portion 610 of the cable 140 proximate to the second end 602. Rotation of the ratchet 150 imparts a pulling force onto the cable 140 from proximate the second end 602 of the cable 140. The tension in the cable 140 increases as the degree in which the ratchet 150 rotates in the first direction increases. The increased tension in the cable 140 increases the stiffness in the cable housing 130 because the amount of cable 140 that may pass through the openings 330 of the segments 136(1)-136(13) when the cable housing 130 is bent or flexed is reduced. In other words, as the tension in the cable 140 increases, the amount of force imparted by the cable 140 onto the segments 136(1)-136(13) of the cable housing 130 to press the segments 136(1)-136(13) together also increases. The amount of force required to bend or flex the cable housing 130 is increased when the tension in the cable 140 is increased. Thus, increasing the tension in the cable 140 reduces the cable housing's 130 ability to flex and bend, which, in turn, reduces the midsole's 110 ability to flex and bend. It then follows that rotating the ratchet 150 in the first direction increases the stiffness and reduces the flexibility of the sole structure 100.

Conversely, rotating the ratchet 150 a second direction, opposite the first direction, unwinds the cable 140 from the ratchet 150. Thus, rotating ratchet 150 in the second direction decreases the amount of tension in the cable 140, and increases the slack in the cable 140. This results in a decrease in the stiffness of the cable housing 130 and the sole structure 100, and an increase in the flexibility of the cable housing 130 and the sole structure 100. While not illustrated, the ratchet 150 may be further equipped with a quick release mechanism that enables the tension in the cable 140 to be quickly returned to its minimal amount. The quick release mechanism may be a button on the ratchet 150 that allows the cable 140 to be quickly unwound. In another embodiment, the cable 140 may be quickly unwound by pushing the ratchet 150 into the footwear or pulling the ratchet 150 outwardly from the footwear to release the cable 140.

The ratchet 150 may be capable of small rotations of only a couple degrees, which enables the precise adjustment to the tension in the cable 140. Thus, the tension in the cable 140 may be set to a desired amount, which means the flexibility and stiffness of the sole structure 100 may be dialed to an exact degree/amount desired by the user of the sole structure 100. The minute and precise rotations of the ratchet 150 further prevent big jumps or changes in the flexibility and stiffness of the sole structure 100.

The ratchet 150 may be positioned on the sole structure 100 to enable the user of the sole structure 100 to easily locate the ratchet 150. Furthermore, the ratchet 150 is also easily located by a user because the ratchet 150 protrudes from the sole structure 100, as illustrated in FIG. 1. By locating the ratchet 150 on the sole structure 100 so that it is easily locatable by the user, a user may be able to quickly find the ratchet 150 on the sole structure 100 to adjust the tension in the sole structure 100 without having to look at the article of footwear. A user may then adjust the tension in the sole structure 100 during use, or without a long break in the activity they are performing. For example, if the sole structure 100 is equipped on a pair of baseball cleats, a user may be able to adjust the stiffness and flexibility of the sole structure 100 of their baseball cleats prior to entering the batter's box, or prior to fielding a ground ball. In another example, where the sole structure 100 is equipped on a pair of football cleats, the user may be able to adjust the stiffness and flexibility after each play.

The rotation of the ratchet 150 further enables a user to make quick adjustments to the stiffness and flexibility of the sole structure 100 of the shoe they are wearing. Rotating the ratchet 150 enables quicker adjustments to that compared to belts, laces, replacing insert members, etc. As explained previously, these adjustments may be made while the sole structure 100 is in use. Thus, rotation of the ratchet 150 to increase or decrease the stiffness of the sole structure 100 enables the user of the sole structure 100 to make fast adjustments to the flexibility of the sole structure 100 as the user sees fit during an activity. The rotational ratchet 150 enables users to adjust the sole structure 100 stiffness depending on the specific uses of the sole structure 100 during an activity.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, an article of footwear 700 may be equipped with the sole structure 100, as described herein. The article of footwear 700 may includes an upper 710 disposed on sole structure 100. More specifically, the upper 710 may be disposed on and coupled to the midsole 110 of the sole structure 100 via any conventional and/or other suitable manner (e.g., via any form of adhesion or bonding, via a woven connection, via one or more types of fasteners, etc.). The upper 710 may be constructed from various materials that are configured to conform and contour to a foot that is placed within the article of footwear 700. In some embodiments, various materials may be used to construct the upper 710, including, but not limited to, leather, synthetic leather, rubber, textile fabrics (e.g., breathable fabrics, mesh fabrics, synthetic fabrics), etc. One material used for the upper 710 may be configured to have a high degree of stretchability and compressibility, while another material used for the upper 710 may have a lower degree of stretchability and compressibility. The materials used for the upper 710 maybe generally lightweight and flexible, and may be configured to provide comfort to the user and provide other desirable features. Moreover, the materials used for the upper 710 may be configured to have desirable aesthetics and functional features that incorporate durability, flexibility, air permeability and/or other types of desirable properties to the upper 710. The upper 710 and sole structure 100 cooperate to define a foot cavity adapted to receive a human foot. An opening provides access to the cavity, and enables a foot to enter and be disposed within the cavity. In addition, while not illustrated, the ratchet 150 may be operatively coupled to the upper 710 rather than to the midsole 110.

Because the cable housing 130 and the cable 140 are aligned in the midsole 110 in the longitudinal or lengthwise direction (i.e., the cable housing 130 and the cable 140 are positioned within the midsole 110 such that they extend from proximate the toe end 102 to proximate the heel end 104 of the sole structure 100), rotation of the ratchet 150 in the first direction increases the longitudinal stiffness of the sole structure 100. In other embodiments of the sole structure 100, the cable housing 130 and the cable 140 may be disposed within the midsole 100 in the lateral, traverse, or widthwise direction (i.e., the cable housing 130 and the cable 140 are positioned within the midsole 110 such that they extend from proximate the medial side 200 to proximate the lateral side 202 of the sole structure 100). In this embodiment, rotation of the ratchet 150 in the first direction increases the lateral stiffness of the sole structure 100. In yet another embodiment, a sole structure 100 may be equipped with cable housings 130 and cables 140 aligned in the midsole 110 in both the longitudinal and the lateral directions to adjust the stiffness and flexibility of the sole structure in both directions.

In other embodiments of the sole structure 100, the midsole 110 may contain a plurality of cable housings 130 and cables 140 aligned in either the longitudinal or the lateral directions. For example, a sole structure 100 may include three cable housings and cables aligned in the longitudinal directions, one set proximate the medial side 200, a second set proximate the lateral side 202, and the third set centrally located in the sole structure 100. This creates three longitudinal zones within the sole structure 100, where a user can individually dial in the stiffness of each of the zones based on the needs of the activity they are performing.

In another embodiment of the sole structure 100, the lengths of the cable housing 130 and the cable 140 may be configured to be disposed within the midsole in only one of the forefoot 106, midfoot 107, or hindfoot 108 regions. This would allow the user of the sole structure to only adjust the stiffness/flexibility of the sole structure 100 in one of these regions 106, 107, 108.

It is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,” “lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may be used herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do not limit the present invention to any particular orientation or configuration. Further, the term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of the invention.

Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described herein as embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:

a midsole having a front end and a rear end;

a channel disposed within the midsole, the channel spanning from the front end to the rear end of the midsole;

a housing disposed within the channel, the housing comprising a plurality of segments hingedly coupled to one another;

a cable threaded through each of the segments of the housing and extending out of the rear end of the midsole, the cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being disposed proximate to the front end of the midsole, and the second end being disposed out of the midsole proximate to the rear end of the midsole; and

a tension mechanism coupled to the second end of the of the cable, the tension mechanism configured to alter an amount of tension in the cable, wherein altering the amount of tension in the cable alters a degree of flexibility of the midsole.

2. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the tension mechanism is a ratchet configured to at least partially wind the cable around the ratchet.

3. The sole structure of claim 2, wherein rotation of the ratchet in a first direction increases the amount of tension in the cable and reduces the degree of flexibility of the sole structure, and rotation of the ratchet in a second direction decreases the amount of tension in the cable and increases the degree of flexibility of the stole structure.

4. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the cable is a steel cable.

5. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the midsole further includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the channel being disposed within the top surface of the midsole.

6. The sole structure of claim 5, wherein the plurality of segments of the housing are disposed on a base that aligns with the top surface of the midsole when the housing is disposed within the channel.

7. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of segments of the housing comprises an opening configured to receive at least a portion of the cable.

8. An article of footwear comprising the sole structure of claim 1 and an upper coupled with the sole structure.

9. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper; and

a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising: a channel disposed within the sole structure, a cable disposed within the channel and extending out of the sole structure, the cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being affixed within the channel, and the second end being disposed out of the sole structure, and a tension mechanism coupled to the second end of the of the cable, the tension mechanism configured to alter an amount of tension in the cable, wherein altering the amount of tension in the cable alters a degree of flexibility of the sole structure.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the sole structure further includes a top surface and a bottom surface, the channel being disposed within the top surface of the sole structure.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, further comprising:

a flexible housing disposed within channel and at least partially enclosing the cable, the flexible housing including a plurality of segments hingedly coupled to one another via a base.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the base aligns with the top surface of the sole structure when the flexible housing is disposed within the channel.

13. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the tension mechanism is disposed on a heel end of the sole structure.

14. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:

a midsole;

a channel disposed within the midsole;

a flexible housing disposed within the channel;

a cable threaded through the flexible housing and extending out of the midsole, the cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being disposed within the channel, and the second end being disposed out of the midsole; and

a tension mechanism coupled to the second end of the of the cable, the tension mechanism configured to alter an amount of tension in the cable, wherein altering the amount of tension in the cable alters a degree of flexibility of the midsole.

15. The sole structure of claim 14, wherein the midsole includes a toe end, a heel end, a medial side, and a lateral side.

16. The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the channel is disposed in the midsole such that the channel extends from the lateral side to the medial side.

17. The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the channel is a first channel, the first channel being disposed within the midsole proximate to the medial side and extending from the toe end to the heel end, and further comprising:

a second channel disposed in the midsole proximate the lateral side and extending from the toe end to the heel end.

18. The sole structure of claim 17, wherein the flexible housing is a first flexible housing disposed within the first channel, the cable is a first cable threaded through the first flexible housing, and further comprising:

a second flexible housing disposed within the second channel;

a second cable threaded through the second flexible housing and extending out of the midsole, the second cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being disposed within the channel, and the second end being disposed out of the midsole.

19. The sole structure of claim 18, wherein the tension mechanism is a first tension mechanism coupled to the first cable, the tension mechanism configured to alter the amount of tension in the first cable to alter the degree of flexibility of the medial side of the midsole, and further comprising:

a second tension mechanism coupled to the second cable, the tension mechanism configured to alter an amount of tension in the second cable to alter the degree of flexibility of the lateral side of the midsole.

20. An article of footwear comprising the sole structure of claim 14 and an upper coupled with the sole structure.