Article of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear comprising an upper defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear, and a sole structure coupled with the upper. The sole structure includes a midsole and an outsole coupled with a bottom surface of the midsole. A void structure is provided within the sole structure, which includes a plurality of voids defining channels that extend through an entire width of the sole structure. The void structure includes a plurality of first voids in the shape of a vertical lemniscate and a plurality of second voids in the shape of a horizontal lemniscate.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear; and   a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a midsole; 
 an outsole coupled with a bottom surface of the midsole; and 
 a recess structure provided within the sole structure, the recess structure comprising a plurality of recesses extending from a lateral edge of the sole structure toward a medial edge of the sole structure, 
   wherein, without external forces on the sole structure, each of the recesses of the plurality of recesses define an elongate shape,   wherein a first recess of the plurality of recesses includes a first largest dimension measured in a first direction,   wherein the first recess includes a second dimension measured in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the second dimension is a largest dimension of the first recess measured in the second direction, and wherein the second dimension is offset relative to a first midpoint of the first recess disposed along the first direction, and   wherein the first recess is continuously curved along an entire perimeter of the first recess.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein two or more of the plurality of recesses extend from the lateral edge of the sole structure to the medial edge of the sole structure, the two or more of the plurality of recesses defining discrete and unconnected channels. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a first axis extends parallel to the first largest dimension,
 wherein a second recess of the recesses includes a second largest dimension, and wherein a second axis extends parallel to the second largest dimension, and   wherein the first axis is disposed obliquely relative to the second axis.   
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein second and third recesses of the plurality of recesses each include:
 an axis extending through and parallel to a largest dimension of the respective recess and a midpoint of the respective recess being disposed along the axis equidistant from both a first end of the respective recess and a second end of the respective recess;   a first wall portion of the respective recess disposed on a first side of the axis extends between the first end and the second end of the respective recess; and   a second wall portion of the respective recess disposed on a second side of the axis, opposite the first side, extends between the first end and the second end of the respective recess,   
       wherein, with a first external force on the sole structure, the first wall portion and the second wall portion of each of the second and third recesses contact one another between the midpoint of the respective recess and the first end of the respective recess, and the first wall portion and the second wall portion of each of the second and third recesses contact one another between the midpoint of the respective recess and the second end of the respective recess, 
       wherein the second and third recesses are adjacent recesses. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein when a second external force that is different than the first external force is applied to the sole structure, a gap separates the first wall portion and the second wall portion of each of the second and third recesses between the first end of the respective recess and the second end of the respective recess. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first recess defines a first axis that extends through and parallel to the first largest dimension,
 wherein the first recess defines a first end along the first axis and a second end opposite the first end along the first axis,   wherein the first recess defines a midpoint along the first axis that is equidistant from the first end and the second end,   wherein the first recess defines a first secondary midpoint between the midpoint and the first end, and a second secondary midpoint between the midpoint and the second end,   wherein a width of the first recess, measured perpendicular to the first axis, increases between the midpoint and the first secondary midpoint,   wherein a width of the first recess, measured perpendicular to the first axis, decreases between the second secondary midpoint and the second end.   
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional size of the first recess changes between the medial edge and the lateral edge of the sole structure. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recesses is defined in a midsole of the sole structure. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recesses includes a second recess,
 wherein, in an uncompressed state, the second recess includes an uncompressed largest dimension, and wherein an uncompressed axis extends through and parallel to the uncompressed largest dimension,   wherein, in a compressed state, the second recess includes a compressed largest dimension, and wherein a compressed axis extends through and parallel to the compressed largest dimension, and   wherein the uncompressed axis is disposed obliquely relative to the compressed axis.   
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein, with external forces on the sole structure, the first recess defines an S-shaped perimeter shape, including a first curved portion extending in a third direction, and a second curved portion extending in a fourth direction, away from the third direction. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear; and   a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a midsole; 
 an outsole coupled with a bottom surface of the midsole; and 
 a recess structure provided within the midsole, the recess structure comprising a plurality of recesses, which extend from a medial edge toward a lateral edge of the midsole, 
   wherein, without external forces on the sole structure, each of the recesses of the plurality of recesses define an elongate shape,   wherein, without external forces on the sole structure, a first recess of the plurality of recesses includes a first largest dimension measured in a first direction, and wherein the first recess includes a first axis extending through and parallel to the first largest dimension,   wherein the first recess includes a second dimension measured in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the second dimension is a largest dimension of the first recess measured in the second direction, and wherein the second dimension is offset relative to a first midpoint of the first recess disposed along the first direction, and   wherein a first wall portion of the first recess is disposed on a first side of the first axis that extends between a first end of the first recess and a second end of the first recess, opposite the first end along the first axis,   wherein a second wall portion of the first recess is disposed on a second side of the first axis, opposite the first side, and extends between the first end and the second end,   wherein, with a first external force on the sole structure, the first wall portion and the second wall portion contact one another between the first end and the second end, and   wherein, when a second external force that is different than the first external force is applied to the sole structure, the first wall portion and the second wall portion are separated by a gap between the first end and the second end.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein a second recess of the plurality of recesses includes a second largest dimension and wherein the second recess includes a second axis extending through and parallel to the second largest dimension,
 wherein a third wall portion of the second recess is disposed on a third side of the second axis that extends between a third end of the second recess and a fourth end of the second recess, opposite the third end along the second axis,   wherein a fourth wall portion of the second recess is disposed on a fourth side of the second axis, opposite the third side, and extends between the third end and the fourth end,   wherein the first recess includes a first midpoint between the first end and the second end, and wherein the second recess includes a second midpoint between the third end and the fourth end,   wherein, with the first external force on the sole structure, the first wall portion and the second wall portion contact one another between the first end and the first midpoint and between the second end and the first midpoint,   wherein, with the first external force on the sole structure, the third wall portion and the fourth wall portion contact one another between the third end and the second midpoint and between the fourth end and the second midpoint, and   wherein the first recess and the second recess are adjacent to one another.   
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first recess is continuously curved along an entire perimeter of the first recess. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first recess defines a first secondary midpoint between the first midpoint and the first end, and a second secondary midpoint between the first midpoint and the second end,
 wherein a width of the first recess, measured perpendicular to the first axis, increases between the first midpoint and the first secondary midpoint, and   wherein a width of the first recess, measured perpendicular to the first axis, decreases between the second secondary midpoint and the second end.   
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein, with the first external force on the sole structure, the first recess includes a compressed largest dimension, and wherein a compressed axis extends through and parallel to the compressed largest dimension, and
 wherein the compressed axis is disposed obliquely relative to the first axis.   
     
     
         16 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear; and   a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a midsole; 
 an outsole coupled with a bottom surface of the midsole; and 
 a recess structure provided within the sole structure, the recess structure comprising a plurality of recesses, which extend from a medial edge to a lateral edge of the midsole, 
   wherein, without external forces on the sole structure, each of the recesses of the plurality of recesses define an elongate shape,   wherein, without external forces on the sole structure, a first recess of the plurality of recesses includes a first largest dimension measured in a first direction, and wherein the first recess includes a first axis extending through and parallel to the first largest dimension,   wherein, with a first external force on the sole structure, the first recess includes a compressed largest dimension, and wherein a compressed axis extends through and parallel to the compressed largest dimension, and   wherein the compressed axis is disposed obliquely relative to the first axis.   
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the first recess is continuously curved along an entire perimeter of the first recess. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein, with external forces on the sole structure, the first recess defines an S-shaped perimeter shape. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the first recess includes a second dimension measured in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, wherein the second dimension is a largest dimension of the first recess measured in the second direction, and wherein the second dimension is offset relative to a first midpoint of the first recess disposed along the first direction. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the first recess includes a first edge extending along a perimeter of the first recess, and a second edge extending along the perimeter of the first recess, opposite the first edge,
 wherein when the first external force is applied to the sole structure the first edge and the second edge of the first recess contact one another, and   wherein when a second external force that is different than the first external force is applied to the sole structure, the first edge and the second edge of the first recess are separated from one another by a gap.