Footwear with improved sole assembly

Abstract

An article of footwear, including a sole assembly and an upper, the article of footwear extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise from the outer sole assembly to an upper end, the article of footwear including a first fitting element as well as a second fitting element. The first fitting element includes a first envelope and a first sole of the strobel type, the first envelope being fixed to the first strobel sole at least with stitching. The second fitting element includes a second envelope and a second sole of the strobel type, the second envelope being fixed to the second strobel sole at least with stitching.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an outer sole assembly;   an upper;   a length extending from a rear end to a front end;   a width extending between a lateral side and a medial side;   a height extending from the outer sole assembly to an upper end;   a first fitting element comprising:
 a first envelope; 
 a first strobel sole; 
 a connection affixing the first envelope to the first strobel sole comprising a first stitching of a first strobel construction; 
   a second fitting element comprising:
 a second envelope; 
 a second strobel sole; 
 a connection affixing the second envelope to the second strobel sole comprising a second stitching of a second strobel construction. 
   
     
     
         2 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first stitching extends over an entirety of a junction between the first envelope and the first strobel sole.   
     
     
         3 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second stitching extends over an entirety of a junction between the second envelope and the second sole.   
     
     
         4 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first envelope has a thickness substantially constant in an area of a junction between the first envelope and the first strobel sole.   
     
     
         5 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second envelope has a thickness substantially constant in an area of a junction between the second envelope and the second strobel sole.   
     
     
         6 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first strobel sole has a flexibility substantially equal to a flexibility of the second strobel sole.   
     
     
         7 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second envelope includes a waterproof membrane;   the second strobel sole includes a waterproof membrane.   
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 an adhesive affixes the second strobel sole to the first strobel sole.   
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 an adhesive affixes the first fitting element to the outer sole assembly.   
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first strobel sole comprises:
 a front end, a medial side, a rear end, and a lateral side; 
 a periphery extending through the front end, the medial side, the rear end, and the lateral side; 
   the first stitching extends around an entirety of the periphery of the first strobel sole.   
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second strobel sole comprises:
 a front end, a medial side, a rear end, and a lateral side; 
 a periphery extending through the front end, the medial side, the rear end, and the lateral side; 
   the second stitching extends around an entirety of the periphery of the second strobel sole.   
     
     
         12 . An article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 the second strobel sole comprises:
 a front end, a medial side, a rear end, and a lateral side; 
 a periphery extending through the front end, the medial side, the rear end, and the lateral side; 
   the second stitching extends around an entirety of the periphery of the second strobel sole.   
     
     
         13 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first envelope includes a medial side and a lateral side;   the first stitching affixes the first strobel sole at least to the medial and lateral sides of the first envelope.   
     
     
         14 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second envelope includes a medial side and a lateral side;   the second stitching affixes the second strobel sole at least to the medial and lateral sides of the second envelope.   
     
     
         15 . An article of footwear according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the second envelope includes a medial side and a lateral side;   the second stitching affixes the second strobel sole at least to the medial and lateral sides of the second envelope.   
     
     
         16 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first stitching connecting together only the first envelope and the first strobel sole.   
     
     
         17 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second stitching connecting together only the second envelope and the first strobel sole.   
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first and second strobel soles form part of an inner sole assembly of the article of footwear.   
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second fitting element is contained within and lines the first fitting element;   each of the first and second fitting elements has a respective strobel construction.   
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear according to  claim 19 , wherein:
 the second strobel sole is affixed to the first strobel sole.   
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, said method comprising:
 making a first fitting element to include a first envelope, having a first thickness and a first strobel sole, said making comprising assembling the first envelope to the first strobel sole by stitching;   making a second fitting element to include a second envelope, having a second thickness, and a second strobel sole, said making a second fitting element comprising assembling the second envelope to the second strobel sole by stitching;   making an outer sole assembly;   affixing the second fitting element to the first fitting element and affixing the outer sole assembly to the first fitting element, so that the first thickness of the first envelope and/or the thickness of the second envelope, in an area of a junction with the outer sole assembly, ranges between 50% and 100% of a thickness away from said junction.   
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 said making of the first fitting element does not include heating of the first envelope or heating of the first strobel sole;   said making of the second fitting element does not include heating of the second envelope or heating of the second strobel sole.   
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 said making of the first fitting element does not include stretching of the first envelope or stretching of the first strobel sole;   said making of the second fitting element does not include stretching of the second envelope or stretching of the second strobel sole.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 said making a first fitting element comprises making the first fitting element to have a strobel construction;   said making a second fitting element comprises making the second fitting element to have a strobel construction.   
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein:
 said affixing the second fitting element to the first fitting element comprises placing the second fitting element within the first fitting element and applying a permanent connection for permanent retention of the second fitting element in relation to the first fitting element.