Article of footwear with a lightweight foam midsole

Abstract

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper element and a sole structure secured to the upper element. The sole structure further comprises a midsole element that defines a plurality of indentations extending through a polymer foam material from a first surface to a second surface. The plurality of indentations comprising at least a first set of indentations and second set of indentations. The first set of indentations extending downwards from an upper surface; whereas, a plurality of second indentations extending upwards from a lower surface. The first set of indentations being offset from the second set of indentations.

1 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 an upper;    a solid moderation plate attached the upper, the solid moderation plate having a top surface and a bottom surface; and    a sole structure comprising: 
 a midsole having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the midsole element extending substantially through a longitudinal length of the sole structure and from a lateral side to a medial side of the sole structure, the midsole element defining a plurality of indentations extending through the polymer foam material and from the first surface to the second surface; and  
   an outsole attached to the opposite second surface.    
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the indentations have a hexagonal shape.  
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein a shape of the indentations is selected from a group consisting of triangular, square, pentagonal, and round.  
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the indentations form a tessellation.  
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the indentations are tapered.  
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein dimensions of the indentations vary throughout the midsole element.  
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the indentations have a substantially vertical orientation.  
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of indentations comprises conical indentations.  
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear having an upper, a moderation plate, and a sole structure, the sole structure comprising: 
 an outsole; and    a midsole, the midsole in contact with the moderation plate and the upper, the midsole having a plurality of first indentations that extend downwards from an upper surface and a plurality of second indentations that extend upwards from a lower surface, the plurality of first indentations being offset from the plurality of second indentations.    
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 9 , wherein the moderation plate comprises a solid moderation plate.  
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 9 , wherein the indentations have a hexagonal shape.  
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 9 , wherein a shape of the indentations is selected from a group consisting of triangular, square, pentagonal, and round.  
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 9 , wherein the indentations form a tessellated configuration.  
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 9 , wherein the indentations are tapered.  
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 9 , wherein dimensions of the indentations vary throughout the midsole element.  
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 9 , wherein the indentations have a substantially vertical orientation.  
     
     
         17 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 an upper;    a solid moderation plate attached to the upper, the moderation plate having a top surface and a bottom surface; and    a sole portion attached to the bottom surface of the moderation plate, the sole portion comprising: 
 an outsole; and  
 a midsole, the midsole having a plurality of first indentations that extend downwards from an upper surface and a plurality of second indentations that extend upwards from a lower surface, the plurality of first indentations being offset from the plurality of second indentations.  
   
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 17 , wherein the indentations are oriented to be substantially vertical.  
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 17 , wherein a shape of the indentations is selected from a group consisting of triangular, square, and hexagonal.  
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear recited in  claim 17 , wherein the indentations are tapered.