Article of footwear with support assembly having primary and secondary members
An article of footwear includes an upper, a midsole, and a support assembly positioned beneath the midsole. The support assembly includes a plurality of primary support members having a substantially Z-shaped cross-section extending transversely across the support assembly. The support assembly may include a plurality of secondary support members having an inverted V-shaped cross-section, extending longitudinally along the support assembly, and intersecting with the primary support members. An outsole is positioned beneath the support assembly.
1. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a midsole positioned beneath the upper;
a support assembly positioned beneath the midsole and comprising:
a plurality of primary support members having a substantially Z-shaped cross-section extending transversely and continuously across the support assembly; and
a plurality of secondary support members having an inverted V-shaped cross-section extending longitudinally and continuously along the support assembly, and intersecting with the primary support members; and
an outsole positioned beneath the support assembly.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the primary support members and secondary support members are of unitary construction with one another.
3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly includes three secondary support members.
4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly includes nine primary support members.
5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the primary support members are substantially parallel to one another.
6. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the secondary support members are substantially parallel to one another.
7. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly is positioned beneath a heel portion of the upper.
8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly is formed of a polyether-block co-polyamide polymer.
9. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly is formed of rubber.
10. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the midsole includes a first portion extending from a heel portion of the upper to a midfoot portion of the upper, and a second portion extending from a forefoot portion of the upper to the midfoot portion of the upper, the support assembly being positioned beneath the first portion.
11. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the midsole includes a base portion and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from a periphery of the base portion.
12. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein an interior surface of the peripheral wall is concave and an exterior surface of the peripheral wall is convex.
13. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a midsole including a first midsole portion extending from beneath a heel portion of the upper to a midfoot portion of the upper, and a second midsole portion extending from beneath a forefoot portion of the upper to the midfoot portion of the upper;
a support assembly positioned beneath the first midsole portion and comprising:
a plurality of primary support members having a substantially Z-shaped cross-section extending transversely and continuously across the support assembly and substantially parallel to one another; and
a plurality of secondary support members having an inverted V-shaped cross-section extending longitudinally and continuously along the support assembly and substantially parallel to one another, and intersecting with the primary support members; and
an outsole positioned beneath the support assembly and the second midsole portion.
14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the support assembly includes three secondary support members.
15. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the support assembly includes nine primary support members.
16. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the support assembly is formed of a polyether-block co-polyamide polymer.
17. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the support assembly is formed of rubber.
18. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the first midsole portion includes a base portion and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from a periphery of the base portion.
19. The article of footwear of claim 18 , wherein an interior surface of the peripheral wall is concave and an exterior surface of the peripheral wall is convex.
20. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a midsole including a first midsole portion extending from beneath a heel portion of the upper to a midfoot portion of the upper and including a base portion and a peripheral wall extending upwardly from a periphery of the base portion, and a second midsole portion extending from beneath a forefoot portion of the upper to the midfoot portion of the upper;
a support assembly positioned beneath the midsole and comprising:
a plurality of primary support members having a substantially Z-shaped cross-section extending transversely and continuously across the support assembly and substantially parallel to one another; and
a plurality of secondary support members having an inverted V-shaped cross-section extending longitudinally along the support assembly and substantially parallel to one another, and intersecting with the primary support members; and
an outsole having a first portion positioned beneath the support assembly and a second portion positioned beneath the second midsole portion;
wherein the primary support members are of unitary construction with the secondary support members.