Footwear sole including a support member providing medial and lateral support
An article of footwear including a sole including a midsole and an outsole attached to the midsole, where the sole includes a medial side and a lateral side and a support member positioned between the midsole and the outsole. The support member includes a body having a medial side and a lateral side, where the medial side and the lateral side of the body each include a pair of arms respectively extending toward the medial side and the lateral side of the sole.
1 . A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising:
a sole including a midsole and an outsole, the outsole being attached to the midsole, said sole including a medial side and a lateral side; and
a support member positioned between said midsole and said outsole, said support member including a body having a medial side, a lateral side and a central part between said medial side of said body and said lateral side of said body, said central part has a vertically oriented curvature extending between said medial side of said body and said lateral side of said body that forms a single space below said central part, said single space extending longitudinally from a front edge of said body to a rear edge of said body, said medial side of said body and said lateral side of said body each including a plurality of arms respectively extending toward said medial side of said sole and said lateral side of said sole, wherein said single space spans an entire width of said central part, and wherein said central part extends from said plurality of arms of said medial side of said body to said plurality of arms of said lateral side of said body,
wherein (i) said plurality of arms on said medial side of said body are spaced from a medial edge of said sole, or (ii) said plurality of arms on said lateral side of said body are spaced from a lateral edge of said sole.
2 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of arms extend from said medial side of said body and said lateral side of said body at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of said body.
3 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of arms extend from said medial side of said body and said lateral side of said body of said support member and are asymmetrical relative to a longitudinal axis of said body.
4 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of said central part of said body is greater than a thickness of each of said medial side of said body and said lateral side of said body.
5 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein said body of said support member has a uniform thickness.
6 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein said body of said support member has a thickness of 1.5 mm.
7 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of arms on said medial side of said body has a length that is greater than a length of each of said plurality of arms on said lateral side of said body.
8 . The sole article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein a length of said plurality of arms on said medial side of said body is equal to a length of said plurality of arms on said lateral side of said body.
9 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein said support member is located in a midfoot area of said sole.
10 . The sole of claim 1 , wherein said body of said support member is made of one of a carbon composite material, a carbon fiber-reinforced material, a metal material, ethylene-vinyl acetate, thermoplastic polyurethane and a foam material.
11 . An article of footwear comprising the sole of claim 1 .