Article Of Footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear is provided, which may include an upper and a sole structure. The sole structure may include a chassis including a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral width, a longitudinal axis, and a reinforcing rib disposed longitudinally and having a length along the longitudinal axis. The rib may include a rearward end disposed proximate the heel region of the chassis, the rib longitudinally extending substantially through the midfoot region of the chassis to a forward end of the rib. Also, the lateral width of the reinforcing rib may span a substantial majority of the lateral width of the chassis over a substantial majority of the length of the rib. Further, the lateral width of the rib at the forward end and the rearward end is less than or equal to the lateral width of the rib at any point between the rearward end and the forward end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper configured to receive a foot; and   a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper and including a sole component having a ground-engaging lower surface, the sole structure further including a chassis configured to provide support to the sole component, wherein the chassis includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral width, and a reinforcing rib disposed longitudinally and having a longitudinal length and a lateral width;   wherein the reinforcing rib includes a rearward end disposed proximate the heel region of the chassis, the reinforcing rib longitudinally extending substantially through the midfoot region of the chassis to a forward end of the reinforcing rib;   wherein, over a substantial majority of the length of the reinforcing rib, the lateral width of the reinforcing rib spans a substantial majority of the lateral width of the chassis; and   wherein the lateral width of the reinforcing rib at the forward end and the rearward end is less than or equal to the lateral width of the reinforcing rib at any point between the rearward end and the forward end.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing rib is a substantially hollow structure including a longitudinally elongate cavity formed in the chassis. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one location along the longitudinal axis, the reinforcing rib has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially trapezoidal. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing rib includes reinforcing structure within the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcing structure includes a plurality of partition members arranged in a crisscross pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein the reinforcing structure further includes a longitudinally-disposed central partition member bisecting the partition members arranged in a crisscross pattern. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein top portions of the reinforcing structure are flush with top portions of the chassis. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the sole component includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, wherein one or more of the ground-engaging members are respectively associated with one or more chassis projections extending laterally from a central portion of the chassis. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the sole structure is configured to allow each of the ground-engaging members and the chassis projection with which it is associated to deflect substantially independently from the other ground-engaging members and associated chassis projections. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the chassis includes at least one recess on a top surface thereof at a location above one of the plurality of ground-engaging members. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one recess is substantially round. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the at least one recess includes a tapering channel with a triangular cross-sectional shape disposed above a support member adjacent one of the plurality of ground-engaging members. 
     
     
         13 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper configured to receive a foot; and   a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper and including a sole component having a ground-engaging lower surface, the sole structure further including a chassis configured to provide support to the sole component, wherein the chassis includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral width, and a central portion extending through at least a portion of the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region, the chassis further including a plurality of chassis projections extending laterally from the central portion of the chassis;   wherein at least one of the chassis projections is made from a first material and a second material having a substantially different level of flexibility than the first material.   
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one chassis projection is disposed in the forefoot region at a location corresponding with the ball of the foot. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the first material is disposed at a rearward portion of the at least one chassis projection and the second material is disposed at a forward portion of the at least one chassis projection and is substantially more flexible than the first material. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear according to  claim 13 , wherein the sole component includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, wherein one or more of the ground-engaging members are respectively associated with one or more of the chassis projections. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein the sole structure is configured to allow each of the ground-engaging members and the chassis projection with which it is associated to deflect substantially independently from the other ground-engaging members and chassis projections respectively associated therewith. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein the chassis includes at least one recess on a top surface thereof at a location above one of the plurality of ground-engaging members. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one recess is substantially round. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one recess includes a tapering channel with a triangular cross-sectional shape disposed above a support member adjacent one of the plurality of ground-engaging members. 
     
     
         21 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper configured to receive a foot; and   a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper and including a sole component having a ground-engaging lower surface, the sole structure further including a chassis configured to provide support to the sole component, wherein the chassis includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral width, and a central portion extending through at least a portion of the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region; the chassis further including a plurality of chassis projections extending laterally from the central portion of the chassis; a reinforcing rib disposed longitudinally and having a longitudinal length and a lateral width; and one or more chassis projections extending from the central portion of the chassis;   wherein the reinforcing rib includes a rearward end disposed proximate the heel region of the chassis, the reinforcing rib longitudinally extending substantially through the midfoot region of the chassis to a forward end of the reinforcing rib;   wherein, over a substantial majority of the length of the reinforcing rib, the lateral width of the reinforcing rib spans a substantial majority of the lateral width of the chassis;   wherein the lateral width of the reinforcing rib at the forward end and the rearward end is less than or equal to the lateral width of the reinforcing rib at any point between the rearward end and the forward end; and   wherein a first portion of the chassis is formed of a first material and a second portion of the chassis is formed of a second material having a substantially different level of flexibility than the first material.   
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear according to  claim 21 , wherein the first portion of the chassis includes the heel region or the midfoot region and the second portion includes the forefoot region, and wherein the second material in the second portion is substantially more flexible than the first material in the first portion. 
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear according to  claim 21 , wherein the sole component includes a plurality of ground-engaging members, wherein one or more of the ground-engaging members are respectively associated with one or more of the one or more chassis projections. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear according to  claim 23 , wherein the sole structure is configured to allow each of the ground-engaging members and the chassis projection with which it is associated to deflect substantially independently from the other ground-engaging members and associated chassis projections.