FOOTWEAR MIDFOOT SUPPORT SYSTEM
An article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The upper may comprise a tongue assembly with an outer layer and an inner layer opposite the outer layer. The inner layer may comprise a recessed channel extending longitudinally between an upper edge and a lower edge of the tongue assembly and a plurality of flex grooves extending between a medial edge and a lateral edge of the tongue assembly. The plurality of flex grooves may be configured to intersect the recessed channel.
1 . A golf shoe, comprising:
an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper,
wherein the upper comprises a tongue assembly with an outer layer and an inner layer opposite the outer layer,
wherein the inner layer comprises: (i) a recessed channel extending longitudinally between an upper edge and a lower edge of the tongue assembly; and (ii) a plurality of flex grooves extending between a medial edge and a lateral edge of the tongue assembly,
wherein the plurality of flex grooves are configured to intersect the recessed channel.
2 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer comprise different materials.
3 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises a first material comprising a soft padded material.
4 . The golf shoe of claim 3 , wherein the outer layer comprises a second material that is stiffer and/or more rigid than the first material.
5 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the recessed channel has a channel depth that is less than a thickness of the inner layer of the tongue assembly.
6 . The golf shoe of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of flex grooves have a groove depth that is equal to the channel depth.
7 . The golf shoe of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of flex grooves have a groove depth that is different than the channel depth.
8 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises a plurality of padded regions that are spaced apart to form the recessed channel.
9 . The golf shoe of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of flex grooves have a groove width that is equal to a width of the recessed channel.
10 . The golf shoe of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of flex grooves have a groove width that is different than a width of the recessed channel.
11 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flex grooves have a groove width that gradually tapers towards the medial edge or the lateral edge of the tongue assembly.
12 . The golf shoe of claim 1 , further comprising one or more elastic members coupling the tongue assembly to one or more other portions of the golf shoe.
13 . The golf shoe of claim 12 , wherein the one or more other portions of the golf shoe include a portion of the upper.
14 . The golf shoe of claim 12 , wherein the one or more other portions of the golf shoe include a portion of the sole assembly.
15 . The golf shoe of claim 12 , wherein the one or more elastic members are configured to couple a lower portion of the tongue assembly to a portion of the upper or the sole assembly.
16 . The golf shoe of claim 15 , wherein an upper portion of the tongue assembly is detached from the upper or the sole assembly.
17 . The golf shoe of claim 12 , wherein the one or more elastic members have a first end coupled to the medial edge or the lateral edge of the tongue assembly and a second end coupled to a portion of the upper or the sole assembly, wherein the first end has a greater width than the second end.
18 . The golf shoe of claim 17 , wherein the first end is disposed at an oblique angle relative to the lower edge of the tongue assembly.
19 . The golf shoe of claim 17 , wherein the one or more elastic members have a forward edge and a rear edge extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the forward edge and the rear edge have different lengths and/or different curvatures.
20 . The golf shoe of claim 12 , wherein the one or more elastic members comprise (i) a first elastic member coupling the medial edge of the tongue assembly to a medial side of the upper or the sole assembly and (ii) a second elastic member coupling the lateral edge of the tongue assembly to a lateral side of the upper or the sole assembly.