Articles of Footwear

Abstract

A sole assembly for an article of footwear includes an outsole, a midsole disposed on the outsole and having a heel portion that defines a void, and first and second inserts disposed in the void. The first insert is attached to the outsole, and the second insert is disposed on top of the first insert in a manner such that the first and second inserts are movable relative to one another.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a footwear upper; and   a sole assembly secured to the footwear upper, the sole assembly comprising
 an outsole; 
 a midsole disposed on the outsole, a heel portion of the midsole defining a void; and 
 first and second inserts disposed in the void, the first insert being attached to the outsole, and the second insert being disposed on top of the first insert in a manner such that the first and second inserts are movable relative to one another. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the second insert extends above top surfaces of the midsole that are adjacent to the void. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the second insert extends about 1.0 mm to about 3.0 mm above the top surfaces of the midsole that are adjacent to the void. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the second insert is more compliant than the first insert. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the first insert is formed of a material having a durometer of 50 Asker C to 55 Asker C, and the second insert is formed of a material having a durometer of 40 Asker C to 45 Asker C. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second inserts are more compliant than the midsole. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the midsole comprises at least one of a polyurethane and ethylene vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first insert is formed of ethylene vinyl acetate having a durometer of 50 Asker C to 55 Asker C, the second insert is formed of ethylene vinyl acetate having a durometer of 40 Asker C to 45 Asker C, and the midsole is formed of ethylene vinyl acetate having a durometer of 50 Asker C to 55 Asker C. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first insert is thermally bonded to the outsole. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the void is sized to accommodate a heel of a wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole defines a siped bottom surface. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the outsole comprises at least one of isobutylene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene butadiene rubber and natural rubber. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second inserts are formed of one or more high rebound materials. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second inserts are formed of one or more materials having a resilience of 45-60 percent, as determined by the ASTM D2632 resilience test. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional inserts disposed on the second insert. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a footbed having a base that defines a cavity in a heel region of the footbed and an insert disposed in the cavity, the insert being formed of a material having a durometer of 30 Asker C to 35 Asker C. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the cavity is configured to receive a heel bone of a wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the base is formed of a material having a durometer of 35 Asker C to 40 Asker C. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the base is formed of ethylene vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the insert is formed of thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the insert has a thickness of 2 mm to 10 mm. 
     
     
         22 . A sole assembly for an article of footwear, the sole assembly comprising:
 an outsole;   a midsole disposed on the outsole, a heel portion of the midsole defining a void; and   first and second inserts disposed in the void, the first insert being attached to the outsole, and the second insert being disposed on top of the first insert in a manner such that the first and second inserts are movable relative to one another.