Article of footwear with energy return system

Abstract

A sole for an article of footwear including a midsole formed of a resilient material, the midsole having a plurality of holes extending transversely therethrough from a medial sidewall of the midsole to a lateral sidewall of the midsole, and a resilient tube disposed within each of the holes, the resilient tube having a wall thickness that varies in the transverse direction.

1 . A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising:
 a midsole formed of a resilient material, the midsole having a plurality of holes extending transversely therethrough from a medial sidewall of the midsole to a lateral sidewall of the midsole; and   a resilient tube disposed within each of the holes, the resilient tube having a wall thickness that varies in the transverse direction of the sole.   
     
     
         2 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the wall thickness is thinner at a midpoint of each of the tubes and thicker at a medial end and a lateral end of each of the tube. 
     
     
         3 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the inner diameter of each of the tubes decreases as the wall thickness increases in the transverse direction. 
     
     
         4 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the inner diameter of each of the tubes remains constant as the wall thickness varies in the transverse direction. 
     
     
         5 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein each of the tubes extends from the medial sidewall of the midsole to the lateral sidewall of the midsole. 
     
     
         6 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the tubes have wall thickness varying in the longitudinal direction of the sole. 
     
     
         7 . A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising:
 a midsole formed of a resilient material, the midsole having a plurality of holes extending transversely therethrough from a medial sidewall of the midsole to a lateral sidewall of the midsole; and   a resilient tube disposed within each of the holes, the resilient tube having a flange at each of a medial end and a lateral end thereof, wherein the flanges extend outside their respective hole and are disposed against the medial sidewall and the lateral sidewall of the midsole.   
     
     
         8 . A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising:
 a midsole formed of a resilient material, the midsole having a plurality of holes extending transversely therethrough from a medial sidewall of the midsole to a lateral sidewall of the midsole; and   a unitary cartridge of connected resilient tubes, wherein one of the tubes is disposed within each of the holes, and wherein the tubes are connected by connecting members of the cartridge that extend between adjacent tubes,   wherein the connecting members are spaced away from ends of the tubes and not visible from an exterior of the sole.   
     
     
         9 . The sole of  claim 8 , the unitary cartridge further comprising a positioning tab disposed against a sidewall of the midsole. 
     
     
         10 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein medial and lateral ends of the tubes are visible from the exterior of at least one of the medial sidewall and the lateral sidewall of the midsole. 
     
     
         13 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein a hardness of the tube is greater than a hardness of the midsole. 
     
     
         14 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the tube is more resilient than the midsole. 
     
     
         15 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a flange at a medial end and a lateral end. 
     
     
         16 . The sole of  claim 15 , wherein the flanges are flush the medial sidewall and the lateral sidewall of the midsole. 
     
     
         17 . The sole of  claim 15 , wherein the flanges are recessed from the medial sidewall and the lateral sidewall of the midsole. 
     
     
         18 . The sole of  claim 15 , wherein the flange of each of the tube at the medial end is arranged a different vertical plane, and the flange of each of the tube at the lateral end is arranged a different vertical plane. 
     
     
         19 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the tubes have varying lengths. 
     
     
         20 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein any two of the tubes are spaced by a distance to allow compression of the tubes.