SOLE ASSEMBLY FOR AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR
A footwear construction having a strobel-stitched bottomed upper and a sole assembly with a topsole disposed above the strobel board. The topsole is manufactured from a foam having an average modulus at a stress of 535 kilopascals of from about 750 kilopascals to about 950 kilopascals. The foam also has an energy efficiency of at least about 78%, and a dynamic compression set of less than about 10%. The sole assembly may include an inner sole disposed above the topsole. The inner sole may be manufactured from EVA foam. The topsole may have a thickness of at least 1 mm, the inner sole may have a thickness of at least 3 mm, and the total thickness of the topsole and inner sole may be at least 5 mm. The sole assembly may include a midsole, and possibly an outsole, disposed below the strobel board.
1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper having a bottom closed by a strobel board, said upper having a lasting allowance joined to said strobel board in a butt-seam by a stitch;
a midsole disposed below said strobel board;
a topsole disposed above said strobel board, said topsole manufactured from foam having an average modulus at a stress of 535 kPa of between about 750 and 950 kPa and an energy efficiency of at least about 80% and a dynamic compression set of less than about 8%; and
an inner sole disposed above said topsole.
2 . The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein said topsole has a thickness of at least 1 millimeter and said inner sole has a thickness of at least 3 millimeters; said topsole and said inner sole having a combined thickness of at least 5 millimeters in a central portion of a forefoot region of the article of footwear.
3 . The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein said topsole has a thickness of at least 3 millimeters and a combined thickness of said topsole and said inner sole is at least 5 millimeters in a central portion of a forefoot region of the article of footwear.
4 . The article of footwear of claim 2 wherein said topsole extends through a forefoot region, an arch region and a heel region of the article of footwear.
5 . The article of footwear of claim 2 wherein said topsole is laminated to said strobel board.
6 . The article of footwear of claim 5 wherein said topsole is formed directly on said strobel board.
7 . The article of footwear of claim 6 wherein said strobel board defines an opening, said topsole generally disposed above said strobel board and having a downward extension extending into said opening.
8 . The article of footwear of claim 6 wherein said strobel board defines an opening, said topsole generally disposed above said strobel board and having a downward extension extending through said opening to a distance substantially below said strobel board.
9 . A sole assembly for an article of footwear having an upper bottomed with a strobel board, comprising:
a midsole disposed below the strobel board;
a topsole disposed above the strobel board, said topsole manufactured from foam having an average modulus at a stress of 535 kPa of between about 750 and about 950 kPa and an energy efficiency of at least about 80% and a dynamic compression set of less than about 8%; and
an inner sole disposed above said topsole.
10 . The sole assembly of claim 9 wherein said topsole has a thickness of at least 1 millimeter and said inner sole has a thickness of at least 3 millimeters; said topsole and said inner sole having a combined thickness of at least 5 millimeters in a central portion of a forefoot region of the article of footwear.
11 . The sole assembly of claim 10 wherein said inner sole is manufactured from EVA.
12 . The sole assembly of claim 10 wherein said inner sole is manufactured from foam having an energy efficiency of less than about 80% and a dynamic compression set of greater than about 10%.
13 . The sole assembly of claim 12 wherein said topsole is laminated to said strobel board.
14 . The sole assembly of claim 13 wherein said topsole has a first thickness in forefoot region and a second thickness in a heel region, said first thickness being greater than said second thickness.
15 . The sole assembly of claim 14 wherein said strobel board defines an opening.
16 . The sole assembly of claim 15 wherein said topsole extends into said opening.
17 . An article of footwear comprising:
an upper having a closed bottom, said upper defining a foot-receiving space above said closed bottom;
a topsole disposed in said foot-receiving space, said topsole manufactured from foam having an average modulus at a stress of 535 kPa of between about 750 and 950 kPa and an energy efficiency of at least about 80% and a dynamic compression set of less than about 8%; and
an inner sole disposed in said foot-receiving space above said topsole, said inner sole manufactured from a foam having an energy efficiency of less than about 80% and a dynamic compression set of greater than about 10%;
wherein said topsole has a thickness of at least 1 millimeter and said inner sole has a thickness of at least 3 millimeters; said topsole and said inner sole having a combined thickness of at least 5 millimeters in a central portion of a forefoot region of the article of footwear.
18 . The article of footwear of claim 17 wherein said upper is closed by a strobel board, said topsole being joined to said strobel board.
19 . The article of footwear of claim 18 wherein said upper includes a lasting allowance, said strobel board joined to said lasting allowance in a butt seam, said topsole extending over said strobel board, said butt seam and said lasting allowance.
20 . The article of footwear of claim 19 wherein said topsole is an expanded TPU foam or a TPE foam.