Article of footwear having a strobel

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper, a strobel secured to a lower extent of the upper, and a midsole secured to the strobel. The strobel defines an aperture extending transversely across a longitudinal midline of the midsole and over a foot-facing surface of the midsole. The strobel includes a medial portion extending from a medial outer edge of the strobel at a medial side of the strobel to a medial inner edge of the strobel at a medial extent of the aperture, a lateral portion extending from a lateral outer edge of the strobel at a lateral side of the strobel to a lateral inner edge of the strobel at a lateral extent of the aperture. The aperture has a maximum transverse width greater than a sum of transverse widths of the medial portion and the lateral portion at the maximum transverse width of the aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 a footwear upper;   a strobel secured to a lower extent of the footwear upper; and   a midsole secured to the strobel;    wherein the midsole is further secured to an exterior of the footwear upper outward of the strobel at a medial side of the footwear upper and at a lateral side of the footwear upper;   wherein the strobel defines an aperture extending transversely across a longitudinal midline of the midsole such that the aperture extends over a foot-facing surface of the midsole;   wherein the strobel includes a medial portion extending from a medial outer edge of the strobel at a medial side of the strobel to a medial inner edge of the strobel at a medial extent of the aperture, and a lateral portion extending from a lateral outer edge of the strobel at a lateral side of the strobel to a lateral inner edge of the strobel at a lateral extent of the aperture; and   wherein the aperture has a maximum transverse width that is greater than a sum of a transverse width of the medial portion and a transverse width of the lateral portion at the maximum transverse width of the aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , characterized by an absence of adhesive on the midsole at the aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the strobel entirely surrounds the aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture extends in each of a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture extends only in a forefoot region of the article of footwear or only in a forefoot region and a midfoot region of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the aperture is a first aperture, the medial portion of the strobel is a first medial portion, and the lateral portion of the strobel is a first lateral portion;    the strobel defines a second aperture extending transversely across the longitudinal midline of the midsole such that the second aperture extends over the foot-facing surface of the midsole;   wherein the strobel includes a second medial portion extending from the medial outer edge of the strobel at the medial side of the strobel to a medial inner edge of the strobel at a medial extent of the second aperture, and a second lateral portion extending from the lateral outer edge of the strobel at the lateral side of the strobel to a lateral inner edge of the strobel at a lateral extent of the second aperture;    the strobel extends transversely between and separates the first aperture and the second aperture; and   the second aperture has a maximum transverse width that is greater than a sum of a transverse width of the second medial portion and a transverse width of the second lateral portion at the maximum transverse width of the second aperture.   
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture extends only in a heel region of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the footwear upper defines a foot-receiving cavity and the foot-facing surface of the midsole is exposed to the foot-receiving cavity at the aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lower extent of the footwear upper is stitched to the strobel with stitches that extend through the strobel and the footwear upper. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 adhesive on a ground-facing side of the strobel and on the foot-facing surface of the midsole at the strobel and securing the strobel to the midsole.   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the adhesive on the foot-facing surface of the midsole extends between the midsole and the exterior of the footwear upper outward of the strobel at the medial side of the midsole and at the lateral side of the strobel.  
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a bonding margin of the midsole to the exterior of the footwear upper is greater than or equal to a bonding margin of the midsole to the strobel at the medial portion and/or at the lateral portion. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a bonding margin of the midsole to the exterior of the footwear upper is greater than or equal to the transverse width of the medial portion of the strobel and/or the transverse width of the lateral portion of the strobel. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the strobel is configured as a strip extending along the lower extent of the footwear upper at a medial side, a lateral side, a front, and a rear of the aperture without extending across the aperture. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein a maximum width of the strip is less than or equal to a bonding margin of the midsole to the exterior of the footwear upper. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the strobel includes at least one of a woven or non-woven textile, an elastomer, or foam backed with a textile layer. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the strobel extends along an entire periphery of the footwear upper at the lower extent of the footwear upper. 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 a footwear upper;   a strobel secured to a lower extent of the footwear upper; and   a midsole secured to the strobel;    wherein the strobel defines an aperture extending transversely across a longitudinal midline of the midsole such that the aperture extends over a foot-facing surface of the midsole; and   wherein the strobel is configured as a strip extending along the lower extent of the footwear upper at a medial side, a lateral side, a front, and a rear of the aperture without extending across the aperture.   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the strip is configured as a closed shape surrounding the aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the aperture has a maximum transverse width that is greater than a maximum transverse width of the strip.