Cambered sole

Abstract

The invention relates to shoes including sole elements having a cambered profile. An example sole element includes a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion including a longitudinal arch including a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper;   a sole comprising a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion comprising a substantially longitudinal arch comprising a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the medial longitudinal arch portion extends to a greater height than the lateral longitudinal arch portion. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the forefoot portion comprises a substantially transverse arch that is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates transversely in a loaded condition. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the transverse arch is positioned proximate the metatarsal region of the forefoot portion. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the medial longitudinal arch portion and the lateral longitudinal arch portion extends to a greater height than the transverse arch. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the midsole comprises a plurality of flex grooves on a lower surface thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein at least one flex groove extends in a substantially transverse direction and at least one flex groove extends in a substantially longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the flex grooves at least partially separate the lower surface of the midsole into a plurality of protruding elements. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein there are at least two protruding elements on a medial longitudinal arch portion and at least one protruding element on a lateral longitudinal arch portion. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , further comprising a void between at least one protruding element on the medial longitudinal arch portion and at least one protruding element on the lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the void is wider than the flex grooves, 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one tension element in the longitudinal arch. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one tension element extends in a substantially longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one tension element in the forefoot region. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one tension element in the forefoot region extends in a substantially transverse direction. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one tension element extends across at least one flex groove. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claims 11 , wherein the at least one tension element is anchored substantially at the ends thereof to the midsole. 
     
     
         17 . A sole element for an article of footwear comprising:
 a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion comprising a substantially longitudinal arch comprising a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition.   
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole comprising a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, wherein:
 (i) the midfoot portion comprises a substantially longitudinal arch comprising a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition; 
 (ii) the forefoot portion comprises a substantially transverse arch that is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates transversely in a loaded condition; 
 (iii) the midsole comprises a plurality of flex grooves on a lower surface thereof, the flex grooves at least partially separating the lower surface of the midsole into a plurality of protruding elements; and 
 (iv) the sole further comprises at least one tension element extending across at least one flex groove in the longitudinal arch region, the at least one tension element being anchored substantially at the ends thereof to the midsole.