Footwear construction

Abstract

A footwear construction including a midsole frame having a forefoot base, a heel base and an intermediate frame section that connects the forefoot base and the heel base. The forefoot base and heel base can be separated from one another by a frame void. The forefoot base can include at least one forefoot base void extending across the width, of the footwear to improve flexibility of the footwear. The construction also can include a midsole including a lower surface housed at least partially within and/or joined with the midsole frame, with the midsole frame forefoot base and a heel base separated from one another below the midsole lower surface by the frame void, and connected above the lower surface by the intermediate frame section. Where the construction includes an outsole, that outsole can define an outsole forefoot void, which can be aligned with the forefoot base void.

1 . A footwear construction comprising:
 an upper;   a midsole joined with the upper;   a midsole frame joined with the midsole, the midsole frame including a forefoot frame base, a heel frame base and an intermediate frame section integral with and., connecting the forefoot frame base and the heel, frame base, the forefoot frame base defining at least one forefoot frame base void, the forefoot frame base and the heel frame base separated from one another by a frame void, the intermediate frame section extending upward from the heel frame base and the forefoot frame base and located at least partially above the midsole;   a closure secured to the midsole frame, the closure disposed over a portion of the upper and adapted, to secure the footwear to a wearer's foot; and   an outsole secured to the midsole frame, the outsole including an outsole forefoot portion and ah outsole heel portion, which are separate elements that are separated from one another by an outsole void, the outsole void aligned with the frame void, the outsole forefoot, portion secured the forefoot frame base, the outsole heel portion, secured to the heel frame base, the outsole forefoot portion defining an outsole forefoot void which is aligned with the forefoot frame base void.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear construction of  claim 1  wherein the midsole includes an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the intermediate frame section extends at least partially above the lower surface. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear construction of  claim 1  wherein the midsole includes an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the lower surface defines a least one of a plate recess and a heel button recess. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear construction of  claim 3  comprising at least one of a plate positioned in the plate recess and a heel button positioned in the heel button recess. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear construction of  claim 1  wherein the midsole frame defines at least one lace aperture and wherein the closure includes a lace secured at least partially to the at least one lacing aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear construction of  claim 1  wherein the midsole forefoot frame base defines a second forefoot frame base void, and the outsole forefoot portion defines a second outsole forefoot void, which is aligned with the second forefoot frame base void. 
     
     
         7 . A footwear construction comprising:
 a midsole including an upper surface and a lower surface;   a midsole frame including a forefoot base and a heel base separated from one another below the lower surface by a frame void, and connected to one another above the lower surface by an intermediate frame section;   a closure secured to the midsole frame and adapted to further secure the footwear to a wearer's foot; and   an outsole joined, with at least one of the midsole frame and the midsole.   
     
     
         8 . The footwear construction of  claim 7  wherein the outsole is at least one of integral with the midsole frame and non-integral with the midsole frame. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear construction of  claim 7  wherein the outsole includes an outsole forefoot portion and a separate outsole heel portion, the outsole heel portion secured to the heel base and the outsole forefoot portion secured to the forefoot base, the outsole forefoot portion separated from the outsole heel portion by an outsole void. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear construction of  claim 9  wherein the outsole forefoot portion defines a first outsole forefoot void and the forefoot base defines a first forefoot base void, the first outsole forefoot void and the first forefoot base void aligned with one another. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear construction of  claim 7  comprising a plate joined with the midsole lower surface. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear construction of  claim 11  wherein the outsole defines a first outsole forefoot void and the forefoot base defines a first forefoot base void, the first outsole forefoot void and the first forefoot base void aligned with one another, wherein at least a portion of the plate is exposed through the aligned first outsole forefoot void and the first forefoot base void. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear construction of  claim 7  comprising an upper secured to the midsole, the intermediate frame section projecting upward and adjacent at least a portion of the upper. 
     
     
         14 . A footwear construction comprising:
 an upper;   a midsole frame Including a forefoot base and a heel base separated from one another below the upper by a frame void, the forefoot base and heel base connected to one another by an intermediate frame section, the intermediate frame section extending upward above the forefoot base and heel base, adjacent at least a portion of the upper, the forefoot base defining a forefoot base void; and   an outsole joined with the midsole frame, the outsole defining an outsole forefoot void which is aligned with the forefoot base void.   
     
     
         15 . The footwear construction of  claim 14  wherein the outsole is at least one of integral and non-integral with the midsole frame. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear construction of  claim 14  wherein the outsole includes an outsole forefoot portion and an outsole heel portion. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear construction of  claim 14  comprising a flex plate positioned adjacent the midsole. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear construction of  claim 17  wherein the flex plat is positioned between the midsole frame and the outsole. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear construction of  claim 14  comprising a midsole secured to the upper. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear construction of  claim 14  comprising a closure secured to the midsole frame above the closure being above at least a portion of the upper.