Segmented sole for footwear

Abstract

A segmented sole for an article of footwear comprises a forefoot region, a heel region, and a segmentation zone disposed between the forefoot and heel region. The segmentation zone includes a plurality of segments separated from each other and from the forefoot and heel by a plurality of sipes, cuts, or gaps. The segmented sole produces bending along a segmentation axis disposed along an arch of a wearer of an article of footwear including the sole, allowing for arch support and natural foot movement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising:
 a heel portion;   a forefoot portion; and   a segmentation zone disposed between the heel portion and the forefoot portion, the segmentation zone including a first sipe on a medial edge of the sole and a second sipe on the medial edge of the sole, wherein the first sipe and the second sipe angle toward each other, intersect at a convergence point inset from a lateral edge of the sole, and combine into a combined sipe extending between the convergence point and the lateral edge of the sole.   
     
     
         2 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the first sipe and the second sipe define a triangular segment between the medial edge of the sole and the convergence point. 
     
     
         3 . The sole of  claim 2 , wherein a side of the triangular segment is along the medial edge of the sole and an apex of the triangular segment is at the convergence point. 
     
     
         4 . The sole of  claim 3 , wherein the sole includes a third sipe extending into and partially dividing the triangular segment. 
     
     
         5 . The sole of  claim 4 , wherein the third sipe extends from the side of the triangular segment. 
     
     
         6 . The sole of  claim 5 , wherein the third sipe does not connect to the convergence point. 
     
     
         7 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the combined sipe is greater than a width of the first sipe or is greater than a width of the second sipe. 
     
     
         8 . A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising:
 a heel portion;   a forefoot portion; and   a segmentation zone disposed between the heel portion and the forefoot portion, the segmentation zone including a first sipe extending between a medial edge of the sole and a lateral edge of the sole and a second sipe extending between the medial edge of the sole and the lateral edge of the sole, wherein the first sipe and the second sipe intersect at a convergence point inset from the lateral edge of the sole and define a triangular segment between the medial edge of the sole and the convergence point.   
     
     
         9 . The sole of  claim 8 , wherein a side of the triangular segment is along the medial edge of the sole and an apex of the triangular segment is at the convergence point. 
     
     
         10 . The sole of  claim 8 , wherein the sole includes a third sipe extending from the medial edge toward the convergence point. 
     
     
         11 . The sole of  claim 10 , wherein the third sipe extends from a side of the triangular segment. 
     
     
         12 . The sole of  claim 10 , wherein the third sipe extends into and partially divides the triangular segment. 
     
     
         13 . The sole of  claim 10 , wherein the third sipe is opposite the convergence point. 
     
     
         14 . The sole of  claim 8 , wherein the lateral edge of the sole curves inward opposite the convergence point. 
     
     
         15 . A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising:
 a heel portion;   a forefoot portion; and   a segmentation zone disposed between the heel portion and the forefoot portion, the segmentation zone including a first sipe extending between a medial edge of the sole and a lateral edge of the sole, a second sipe extending between the medial edge of the sole and the lateral edge of the sole, and a third sipe, wherein the first sipe and the second sipe meet defining a segment between the medial edge and the lateral edge, and the third sipe extends into and partially divides the segment.   
     
     
         16 . The sole of  claim 15 , wherein the third sipe extends from the medial edge of the sole. 
     
     
         17 . The sole of  claim 15 , wherein the segment is triangular. 
     
     
         18 . The sole of  claim 15 , wherein a side of the segment is along the medial edge of the sole. 
     
     
         19 . The sole of  claim 15 , wherein the lateral edge of the sole curves inward opposite an apex of the segment. 
     
     
         20 . The sole of  claim 15 , wherein the medial edge curves inward along an edge of the segment.