Article of footwear with a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes at least one of a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure. The upper may include an exterior layer and an interior layer. The exterior layer forms at least a portion of an exterior of the upper, and the exterior layer includes a plurality of incisions that extend through the exterior layer. The interior layer is located adjacent an inner surface of the exterior layer, and the interior layer is exposed through the incisions. The sole structure may include a connecting portion and a plurality of discrete sole elements. The connecting portion is positioned adjacent the upper and may extend along a longitudinal length of the upper. The sole elements extend from the connecting portion, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of sipes that extend upward into the sole structure.
1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, comprising:
placing a polymer material into a mold having the general shape and configuration of a single midsole, the mold comprising a plurality of blades that includes a first blade and a second blade, the first blade being positioned to form a first sipe in the single midsole and the second blade being positioned to form a second sipe in that midsole, the first sipe extending across a lateral width of that midsole and the second sipe extending in a direction of a longitudinal length of that midsole, wherein the first blade and the second blade have different thicknesses; and
removing the polymer material from the mold and separating the blades from the sipes of the single midsole, wherein one of the first and second sipes permits a greater degree of reverse flex than the other of the first and second sipes; and
securing the midsole to the upper, thereby forming the article of footwear.
2. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the second sipe is formed to extend through the longitudinal length of the midsole.
3. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the second sipe is formed to have an s-shaped configuration.
4. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the first blade is located in a portion of the mold that corresponds to a forefoot region of the midsole, and wherein the plurality of blades includes a third blade located in a portion of the mold that corresponds to a heel region of that midsole, wherein the first blade has a greater thickness than the third blade.
5. The method recited in claim 1 , wherein the first blade has a greater thickness than the second blade and the first sipe permits a greater degree of reverse flex than the second sipe.
6. A method of manufacturing a sole structure, comprising:
placing a polymer material into a mold having the general shape and configuration of a single midsole, the mold comprising a plurality of blades that includes a first blade and a second blade, the first blade being positioned to form a first sipe in the single midsole and the second blade being positioned to form a second sipe in that midsole, the first sipe extending across a lateral width of that midsole and the second sipe extending in a direction of a longitudinal length of that midsole, wherein the first blade and the second blade have different thicknesses; and
removing the polymer material from the mold and separating the blades from the sipes of the single midsole, wherein one of the first and second sipes permits a greater degree of reverse flex than the other of the first and second sipes, thereby forming the sole structure.
7. The method recited in claim 6 , wherein the second sipe is formed to extend through the longitudinal length of the midsole.
8. The method recited in claim 6 , wherein the second sipe is formed to have an s-shaped configuration.
9. The method recited in claim 6 , wherein the first blade is located in a portion of the mold that corresponds to a forefoot region of the midsole, and wherein the plurality of blades includes a third blade located in a portion of the mold that corresponds to a heel region of that midsole, wherein the first blade has a greater thickness than the third blade.
10. The method recited in claim 6 , wherein the first blade has a greater thickness than the second blade and the first sipe permits a greater degree of reverse flex than the second sipe.