Footwear including a self-adjusting midsole

Abstract

An article of footwear including an outsole having a plurality of first traction members extending from the outsole and defining a plurality of openings. A plurality of second traction members extend through the openings in the outsole and are configured to move between an extended position, where the second traction members are fully extended in the openings, and a retracted position, where the second traction members are at least partially retracted within the openings. A compressible member is positioned adjacent to the plurality of second traction members and is configured to compress when the second traction members move to the retracted position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Running and walking generate stress on a person's body, especially their feet, from the repeated impact of their feet with the ground. Off-road running, where the ground's softer and more forgiving than pavement, lessens the impact on the body. Trail running is gaining popularity for this and other reasons.[0002]Different terrains require different footwear traction. For example, off-road runners often encounter loose gravel or mud. Trail shoes are, for the most part, quite similar in construction to road running shoes. However, off-road running shoes are made to be more durable than road shoes to endure the roughness of the terrain, i.e., rocks and uneven ground. Also, off-road running shoes typically have cleats or cleat-like surfaces that project downwardly from the bottom surface of the shoe to improve traction between the shoe and the ground. The longer the cleats, the better grip a shoe will have with the ground. Road shoes, on the other hand, ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]In another embodiment, the present footwear includes an outsole including traction components located on a perimeter of the outsole for providing traction on an underlying surface, and a plurality of openings on a central portion of the outsole. A plurality of adjustable lugs extend through and are movable within the openings. An adjustment member is operatively connected to the adjustable lugs for extending or retracting the lugs based on the hardness of the underlying surface.

Problems solved by technology

For example, off-road runners often encounter loose gravel or mud.

Having multiple pairs of shoes is expensive.

Also if a runner plans to run on a coarse having both on-road and off-road surfaces, the runner must decide which of their pairs of shoes will work best for both surfaces, often sacrificing traction on one of the surfaces.

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