Article of footwear with forward displacing cushioning system
An article of footwear includes an upper, a midsole positioned beneath the upper; and a forward displacement assembly positioned within the midsole. The forward displacement assembly may include a biasing member, an actuator element operably connected to the biasing member, and an extension assembly positioned in a forefoot region of the midsole and operably connected to the actuator element. The extension assembly may include a movable outsole member.
1. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a midsole positioned beneath the upper; and
a forward displacement assembly positioned within the midsole and comprising:
a biasing member;
an actuator element operably connected to the biasing member; and
an extension assembly positioned in a forefoot region of the midsole and operably connected to the actuator element, the extension assembly including a movable outsole member movable from a first retracted condition where a bottom surface of the outsole member is in a first position with respect to the midsole, to a second extended condition where the bottom surface of the outsole member is positioned forward and below the first position; and
at least one extension member connecting the actuator element to the movable outsole member.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the extension assembly includes a plurality of extension members connecting the actuator element to the outsole member.
3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein each extension member has a first end pivotally connected to the midsole and a second end pivotally connected to the outsole member, and the actuator element is pivotally connected to a central portion of each extension member.
4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the outsole member moves forwardly and downwardly as it moves from its first position to its second position.
5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is in a heel region of the midsole.
6. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is seated in a first recess formed in a heel region of the midsole.
7. The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the extension assembly is seated in a second recess formed in the forefoot region of the midsole.
8. The article of footwear of claim 7 , wherein the actuator element extends through a channel, the channel being connected at a first end thereof to the first recess and at a second end thereof to the second recess.
9. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises a plurality of leaf spring members.
10. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the actuator element comprises a longitudinal member connected at a first end thereof to the biasing member and at a second end thereof to the extension assembly.
11. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the actuator element is movable in forward and rearward directions with respect to the midsole.
12. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is displaceable vertically with respect to the midsole.
13. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a bladder.
14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the bladder includes a plurality of chambers in fluid communication with one another.
15. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the actuator element includes bellows and a conduit in fluid communication with the bladder and the bellows.
16. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a midsole positioned beneath the upper; and
a forward displacement assembly positioned within the midsole and comprising:
a biasing member comprising a plurality of leaf spring members;
an actuator element operably connected to the biasing member; and
an extension assembly positioned in a forefoot region of the midsole and operably connected to the actuator element, the extension assembly including a movable outsole member movable from a first retracted condition where a bottom surface of the outsole member is in a first position with respect to the midsole, to a second extended condition where the bottom surface of the outsole member is positioned forward and below the first position, and a plurality of extension members connecting the actuator element to the movable outsole member.
17. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the biasing member is displaceable vertically with respect to the midsole.
18. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a midsole positioned beneath the upper; and
a forward displacement assembly positioned within the midsole and comprising:
a biasing member comprising a plurality of leaf spring members and displaceable vertically with respect to the midsole;
an actuator element operably connected to the biasing member; and
an extension assembly positioned in a forefoot region of the midsole and operably connected to the actuator element, the extension assembly including a movable outsole member and a plurality of extension members connecting the actuator element to the movable outsole member;
wherein the outsole member is movable from a first retracted condition where a bottom surface of the outsole member is in a first position with respect to the midsole, to a second extended condition where the bottom surface of the outsole member is positioned forward and below the first position.