Side reinforcing member of a shoe

Abstract

A running shoe includes a sole, an upper connected to the sole, a foot cavity defined at least in part by an inside surface of the upper. The sole includes an outsole, a midsole disposed over the outsole, and one or more side reinforcing members incorporated into the midsole, the side reinforcing member including a first portion extending into an interior of the midsole from an outer face of the midsole and a second portion extending along the outer face of the midsole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe, comprising:
 a sole, including;
 an outsole; 
 a midsole disposed over the outsole, the midsole including an interior and an outer face; 
 a side reinforcing member incorporated into the midsole, the side reinforcing member including a first portion extending into the interior of the midsole from the outer face of the midsole, and a second portion extending along the outer face of the midsole; 
   an upper connected to the sole; and   a foot cavity defined at least in part by an inside surface of the upper.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a face of the second portion of the side reinforcing member is disposed directly on the outsole. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the side reinforcing member extends between about 10 millimeters to about 20 millimeters into the interior of the midsole from the outer face of the midsole. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the side reinforcing member has an approximately “L” shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the side reinforcing member extends between about 5 millimeters to about 15 millimeters along the outer face of the midsole. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the side reinforcing member is incorporated into the midsole at a position between a midpoint of the sole and a front edge of the sole. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the sole has a toe portion; and
 wherein the side reinforcing member is incorporated into the midsole at a position between a midpoint of the sole and the toe portion of the sole.   
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the sole has a heel portion; and
 wherein the side reinforcing member is incorporated into the midsole at the heel portion.   
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the side reinforcing member each have a thickness of between about 1 millimeter to about 1.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the side reinforcing member has a characteristic of having a Shore A hardness rating of about 80 to about 100. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the side reinforcing member has a stiffness greater than a stiffness of the midsole. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the side reinforcing member includes thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). 
     
     
         13 . A running shoe, comprising:
 a sole, including;
 an outsole; 
 a midsole disposed over the outsole, the midsole including an interior, and an outer face; 
 a first side reinforcing member incorporated into the midsole, the first side reinforcing member including a first portion extending into the interior of the midsole from the outer face of the midsole and a second portion extending along the outer face of the midsole; 
 a second side reinforcing member incorporated into the midsole, the second side reinforcing member including a first portion extending into the interior of the midsole from the outer face of the midsole, and a second portion extending along the outer face of the midsole; 
 a third side reinforcing member incorporated into the midsole, the third side reinforcing member including a first portion extending into the interior of the midsole from the outer face of the midsole and a second portion extending along the outer face of the midsole; 
   an upper connected to the sole; and   a foot cavity defined at least in part by an inside surface of the upper.   
     
     
         14 . The running shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the first side reinforcing member is positioned between a midpoint of the sole and a toe portion of the sole. 
     
     
         15 . The running shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the second side reinforcing member is positioned between a midpoint of the sole and a toe portion of the sole. 
     
     
         16 . The running shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the third side reinforcing member is positioned at a heel portion of the sole. 
     
     
         17 . The running shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the midsole includes a lateral outer face portion and a medial outer face portion;
 wherein the first and third side reinforcing members extend along the lateral outer face portion; and   wherein the second side reinforcing member extends along the medial outer face portion.   
     
     
         18 . The running shoe of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first, second, and third side reinforcing members has a characteristic of having a Shore A hardness rating of about 80 to about 100. 
     
     
         19 . The running shoe of  claim 13 , wherein each of the first, second, and third side reinforcing members has a stiffness greater than a stiffness of the midsole. 
     
     
         20 . A running shoe, comprising:
 a sole having a midpoint, a toe portion, and a heel portion, the sole including;
 an outsole; 
 a midsole disposed over the outsole, the midsole including an interior, a lateral outer face, and a medial outer face; 
 a first side reinforcing member incorporated into the midsole and positioned between the midpoint of the sole and the front toe portion of the sole, including:
 a first portion disposed directly on the outsole and extending into the interior of the midsole from the lateral outer face of the midsole; and 
 a second portion extending along the lateral outer face of the midsole; 
 
 a second side reinforcing member incorporated into the midsole and positioned between the midpoint of the sole and the toe portion of the sole, including:
 a first portion disposed directly on the outsole and extending into the interior of the midsole from the medial outer face of the midsole; and 
 a second portion extending along the medial outer face of the midsole; 
 
 a third side reinforcing member incorporated into the midsole and positioned at the heel portion, including:
 a first portion disposed directly on the outsole and extending into the interior of the midsole from the lateral outer face of the midsole; and 
 a second portion extending along the lateral outer face of the midsole; 
 
 wherein each of the first, second, and third side reinforcing members exhibits a characteristic of having a stiffness greater than a stiffness of the midsole; 
   an upper connected to the sole; and   a foot cavity defined at least in part by an inside surface of the upper.