ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR INCLUDING A SOLE STRUCTURE

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear having a midsole having a support surface extending from a posterior end to an anterior end, the midsole having an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the support surface and the inner surface surround a cavity, the midsole also including an inner rail extending along the inner surface and into the cavity, wherein the rail and the cavity are configured to engage with a removable outsole.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising: a lateral side and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; a sole structure coupled to the upper, wherein the sole structure comprises: a midsole including a radial outer surface, wherein the midsole includes a groove extending circumferentially around the radial outer surface; a first pin head disposed within the groove and extending away from the groove on the lateral side; and a second pin head disposed within the groove and extending away from the groove on the medial side; and a band removably disposed within the groove, the band including a first opening configured to receive the first pin head, and a second opening configured to receive the second pin head.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the radial outer surface of the midsole and the band form a continuous, flush outer surface of the article of footwear.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the sole structure further includes: a third pin head adjacent to the first pin head on the lateral side; and a fourth pin head adjacent to the second pin head on the medial side.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first pin head is disposed in a concave portion of the lateral side, and the second pin head is disposed in a concave portion of the medial side.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the concave portion of the lateral side is disposed in a midfoot of the article of footwear, and wherein the concave portion of the medial side is disposed in the midfoot of the article of footwear.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the band includes a bias to a shape corresponding to a shape of the groove.

7. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the third pin head is disclosed closer to the upper than the first pin head.

8. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the third pin head is disposed posterior to the first pin head.

9. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein each of the first pin head, the second pin head, the third pin head, and the fourth pin head includes a different material than the midsole.

10. An article of footwear comprising: an upper; and a sole structure coupled to the upper, wherein the sole structure comprises: a midsole including a radial outer surface, wherein the midsole includes a groove extending circumferentially around the radial outer surface of the midsole; and one or more pins disposed within the groove and extending away from the groove.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the one or more pins extend through the midsole from a lateral side of the article of footwear to a medial side of the article of footwear.

12. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the sole structure further includes a band removably disposed within the groove.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the band includes a textured element.

14. An elastic band configured to be removably coupled to a midsole of an article of footwear, the elastic band comprising: a body extending from an anterior end to a posterior end, the body including a lateral side extending from the anterior end to the posterior end, and a medial side extending from the anterior end to the posterior end, the lateral side including a first concavity and the medial side including a second concavity, wherein the body includes a first opening in the first concavity of the lateral side and a second opening in the second concavity of the medial side.

15. The elastic band of claim 14, wherein the body forms a fully circumferentially-enclosed band.

16. The elastic band of claim 14, wherein body includes: a third opening adjacent to the first opening on the lateral side; and a fourth opening adjacent to the second opening on the medial side.

17. The elastic band of claim 14, wherein the body includes thermoplastic polyurethane.

18. The elastic band of claim 14, wherein a posterior portion of the body includes a textured outer surface.

19. The elastic band of claim 14, wherein an outer surface of the body includes a circumferentially-extending rib.

20. The elastic band of claim 14, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the body is substantially smooth.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected configurations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of an article of footwear;

[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of a sole structure of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 with a band removed;

[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a sole structure of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 during installation of a band;

[0010] FIG. 4A is a side view of a band of the article of footwear of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 4B is a top perspective view of a band of the article of footwear of FIG. 1;

[0012] FIG. 5 is a zoomed in perspective view of the midsole of FIG. 2;

[0013] FIG. 6 is a zoomed in perspective view of the midsole of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 7A is a side view of an alternative sole structure;

[0015] FIG. 7B is a top-perspective view of an alternative band;

[0016] FIG. 8A is a bottom view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 8B is a bottom view of an alternative article of footwear;

[0018] FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternative article of footwear;

[0019] FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternative article of footwear;

[0020] FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternative article of footwear;

[0021] FIG. 12 is a side view of an alternative article of footwear;

[0022] FIG. 13 is a side view of an alternative article of footwear;

[0023] FIG. 14 is a side view of an alternative sole structure; and

[0024] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative sole structure.

[0025] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Example configurations will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example configurations are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art. Specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of configurations of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example configurations may be embodied in many different forms, and that the specific details and the example configurations should not be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0027] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing exemplary configurations only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular articles a, an, and the may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms comprises, comprising, including, and having, are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. Additional or alternative steps may be employed.

[0028] When an element or layer is referred to as being on, engaged to, connected to, attached to, or coupled to another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected, attached, or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being directly on, directly engaged to, directly connected to, directly attached to, or directly coupled to another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., between versus directly between, adjacent versus directly adjacent, etc.). As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0029] The terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections. These elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer, or section. Terms such as first, second, and other numerical terms do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the example configurations. In the discussion that follows, terms about, approximately, substantially, and the like, when used in describing a numerical value, denote a variation of +/10% of that value, unless specified otherwise.

[0030] When an element or layer includes a directional and/or spatial term (e.g., top, bottom, medial, lateral, etc.), the directional and/or spatial term is used relative to a user's foot anatomy when the article of footwear is being worn by a user. The user is considered to be standing on a flat, level surface.

[0031] The subject matter of embodiments of the present disclosure is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted as implying any particular order among or between various steps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps is explicitly stated.

[0032] Articles of footwear include different types of shoes, sandals, boots, heels, or the like. For the sake of clarity, articles of footwear will be discussed herein as shoes; however, embodiments are not limited solely to shoes. The technology disclosed herein may equally be used to create footwear other than shoes. To alleviate confusion and to provide a more readable disclosure, embodiments simply reference shoes. To that end and to provide a robust disclosure, different component portions of shoes are discussed herein, including uppers, midsoles, and outsoles. One skilled in the art will understand that shoes may include an upper and a sole structure, with the latter comprising an outsole, a midsole, and perhaps an insole.

[0033] The present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear, such as an article of footwear 10 shown in FIG. 1. The article of footwear 10 is selectively customizable and modular such that a user of the article of footwear 10 may attach, add, join, remove, replace, and/or swap out different bands of the footwear 10 to accommodate various characteristics, functionalities, aesthetics, designs, or other features to the footwear 10. The user would also be able to replace the band after normal wear and tear during the life of the article of footwear 10. As described herein, the footwear 10 is configured and operable to facilitate a selective connection with one or more bands without the use of external equipment, tools, or other ancillary devices.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, footwear 10 includes a sole structure 101 and an upper 100 attached to the sole structure 101. The article of footwear 10 is divided into a forefoot region 12, a mid-foot region 14, and a heel region 16. The forefoot region 12 includes a toe portion 12T corresponding to the phalanges of the foot, and a ball portion 12B corresponding to a metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint. The mid-foot region 14 corresponds with an arch area of the foot, and the heel region 16 corresponds with rear portions of the foot, including a calcaneus bone. The footwear 10 further includes an anterior end 18 including a forward-most point of the forefoot region 12, and a posterior end 20 including a rearward-most point of the heel region 16. For ease of discussion, the footwear 10 is discussed with reference to a longitudinal axis 6-6, a medial-lateral axis AML (shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B), and a vertical axis 8-8, where the longitudinal axis 6-6, the medial-lateral axis AML, and the vertical axis 8-8 are perpendicular to each other. The longitudinal axis 6-6 of the footwear 10 extends along a length of the footwear 10 from the anterior end 18 to the posterior end 20, and generally divides the footwear 10 into a medial side 22 and a lateral side 24 (shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B). The medial-lateral axis AML extends from medial side 22 to lateral side 24. Accordingly, the medial side 22 and the lateral side 24 respectively correspond with opposite sides of the footwear 10 and extend from the anterior end 18 to the posterior end 20. The vertical axis 8-8 extends from a bottom (e.g., ground-contacting portion) of the footwear 10 to a top of the footwear 10.

[0035] Still referring to FIG. 1, the upper 100 includes interior surfaces that define an interior void configured to receive and secure a foot for support on sole structure 101. The upper 100 may be formed from one or more materials that are stitched, adhesively bonded, or otherwise joined together to form the interior void. Suitable materials of the upper 100 may include, but are not limited to, mesh, textiles, foam, leather, and synthetic leather. The materials are configured and located to impart properties of durability, air-permeability, wear-resistance, flexibility, and/or comfort.

[0036] In some examples, the upper 100 includes a strobel (not shown) having a bottom surface opposing the sole structure 101, and an opposing top surface defining a footbed of the interior void. Stitching or adhesives secure the strobel to the upper 100. The footbed is contoured to conform to a profile of the bottom surface (e.g., plantar) of the foot. Optionally, the upper 100 may incorporate additional layers such as an insole or sockliner (not shown) that are disposed on the strobel and reside within the interior void of the upper 100 to receive a plantar surface of the foot to enhance the comfort of the article of footwear 10. An ankle opening 103 in the heel region 16 provides access to the interior void. For example, the ankle opening 103 receives a foot to secure the foot within the void and facilitates entry and removal of the foot from and to the interior void. In some examples, one or more fasteners 105 extend along the upper 100 to adjust a fit of the interior void around the foot, and to accommodate entry and removal of the foot therefrom. The fasteners 105 may include laces, straps, cords, hook-and-loop, pins, or any other suitable type of fastener. The upper 100 can include a tongue portion 107 that extends between the interior void and the fasteners. The upper 100 further includes a band 204 coupled to one or more pins 208, as will be described in further detail below.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 2, the sole structure 101 includes a midsole 200 and an outsole 202. The midsole 200 is coupled to the upper 100, and the outsole 202 is coupled to the midsole 200. The midsole 200 includes the band 204, a groove 206, and the one or more pins 208. Pins 208 are spaced apart along the vertical axis 8-8. In other examples, the pins 208 could be spaced apart along the horizontal axis 6-6. Pins 208 extend outward and away from the surface of groove 206. The midsole 200 extends from an anterior end 200a disposed in the forefoot region 12 to a posterior end 200b disposed in the heel region 16. The midsole 200 includes a first (outer) surface 201. The first surface 201 is an exterior-facing surface of the groove 206. The groove 206 is sized, shaped, and/or otherwise configured to receive a corresponding portion (e.g., the band 204) of the midsole 200.

[0038] The midsole 200 includes a first (upper) rail 300a extending continuously about a circumference of the midsole 200. The midsole 200 further includes a second (lower) rail 300b extending continuously about a circumference of the midsole 200. Each of the first rail 300a and the second rail 300b extends from the posterior end 200b of the midsole 200 to the anterior end 200a of the midsole 200. Each of the first rail 300a and the second rail 300b may be angled and/or have a ramped configuration from the anterior end 200a to the posterior end 200b. Either or both of the first rail 300a and the second rail 300b may be configured to facilitate selective removal of the band 204 from the midsole 200, as described further herein.

[0039] The rail 300a includes a flange 408a. The flange 408a extends a distance that is outward from first surface 201. In an example, the flange 408a extends circumferentially around the midsole 200. In other examples, the flange 408a may have various other suitable shapes or sizes. The rail 300a may be configured to elastically deform (upward relative to axis 8-8) and return to its starting state so that a pulling force is applied to the rail 300a. This deformation may occur, for example, during removal of the band 204 from the groove 206 as described in detail herein, or during installation of the band 204 into groove 206. Similarly, the rail 300b includes a flange 408b. The flange 408b extends a distance that is outward from first surface 201. In an example, the flange 408b extends circumferentially around the midsole 200. In other examples, the flange 408b may have various other suitable shapes or sizes. The rail 300b may be similarly configured to elastically deform (downward related to axis 8-8) and return to its starting state so that a pulling force is applied to the rail 300b. This deformation may occur, for example, during removal of the band 204 from the groove 206 as described in detail herein. In some examples, the rail 300b may be configured to be substantially rigid so as to only allow removal of the band 204 via the rail 300a. In some example, the rail 300a may be configured to be substantially rigid so as to only allow removal of the band 204 via the rail 300b.

[0040] The groove 206 slopes downward relative to the horizontal axis 6-6 from the heel region 16 to the mid-foot region 14. The groove 206 slopes upward from the mid-foot region 14 to the forefoot region 12. The rail 300a bounds a top portion of the groove 206. The rail 300b bounds a bottom portion of the groove 206. An anterior end of the groove 206, positioned adjacent to the anterior end 18, is disposed in a first plane. A posterior end of the groove 206, positioned adjacent to the posterior end 20, is disposed in a second plane. The second plane is disposed offset from the first plane relative to the axis 8-8. For example, the second plane is disposed below the first plane. As another example, the second plane is disposed above the first plane. As yet another example, the second plane is disposed even with the first plane.

[0041] Still referring to FIG. 2, the band 204 includes a radial outer surface 204a and a radial inner surface 204b (shown in FIG. 4B). The outer surface 204a of the band 204 forms a portion of an outer surface of the midsole 200 when the band 204 is coupled within the groove 206. The outer surface 204a and the rails 300a and 300b form a continuous flush outer surface of the midsole 200 (shown in FIG. 1). The inner surface 204b of the band 204 is received by the groove 206, as will be described in greater detail below. The outer surface 204a and the inner surface 204b extend continuously about a circumference of the sole structure 101. The first surface 201 is configured to define a support surface of the midsole 200. The first surface 201 forms a portion of a boundary of the groove 206. The groove 206 of the midsole 200 is configured to receive the band 204, as shown in FIG. 3. The band 204 may be removed from the groove 206 as needed, as will be described in further detail below. That is, band 204 is positioned on the article of footwear 10 in such a way that the band 204 may be removed from the article of footwear 10 and replaced by, for example, another band. Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the band 204 includes one or more openings, a first (upper) edge 204c, a second (lower) edge 204d, a body 205, a first end 210a, a second end 210b, a medial segment 214a, and a lateral segment 214b. The body 205 of the band 204 extends from the first end 210a to the second end 210b. The band 204 further includes a posterior region 212a, a central region 212b, and an anterior region 212c. The posterior region 212a is disposed adjacent the first end 210a. The anterior region 212c is disposed adjacent the second end 210b. The central region 212b is disposed between the posterior region 212a and the anterior region 212c. The band 204 is configured in a relaxed configuration (e.g., when the band 204 is at rest and not applied to the article of footwear 10, shown in FIG. 4A), a stretched or taut configuration (e.g., when the band 204 is being stretched by a user for placement on or removal from the article of footwear 10, shown in FIG. 2), and an engaged configuration (e.g., when the band 204 is engaged within the groove 206 of the article of footwear 10, shown in FIG. 1). The band 204 thus has a resting state of the relaxed configuration, and will attempt to revert to the resting configuration after being stretched to, for example, the stretched configuration. The band 204 is a fully circumferentially-enclosed band.

[0042] In the relaxed configuration, the second edge 204d of the band 204 is curved such that an anterior portion of the second edge 204d is positioned higher than a posterior portion of the second edge 204d, relative to the axis 6-6. As an example, the second edge 204d has a curvature that corresponds with a curvature of the rail 300b, and the first edge 204c has a curvature that corresponds with a curvature of the rail 300a. Because of these preset curvatures in the band 204 in the relaxed configuration, the band will more easily fit into the groove. Using the pre-set curvatures reduces the incidence of bulging of the band away from the groove during installation.

[0043] The medial segment 214a includes a first concavity in the central region 212b (when viewed from a medial and exterior vantage point relative to 214a). The lateral segment 214b includes a second concavity in the central region 212b (when viewed from a lateral and exterior vantage point relative to 214b). The central region 212b is bowed inward via the first concavity and the second concavity such that interior portions of the band 204 in the central region 212b are disposed nearer one another than are interior portions of the posterior region 212a and the anterior region 212c. In other words, the central region 212b is a concave portion of the band 204. The bowed nature of the central region 212b ensures the band 204 remains disposed within the groove 206 at an area corresponding to an arch of a user of the article of footwear 10.

[0044] The curve of the band 204 and its respective concavities cause the band 204 to be pulled taut against the groove 206. This problem may be more evident when the band 204 is not pre-curved, since the band 204 would not fit snugly within the groove 206. Such a band would urge away from the groove 206 during use of the footwear 10. The curvature of the band 204 helps prevent the band 204 from releasing from the groove 206 without the user effecting the removal. Additionally, the concavities of the band 204 allow the band 204 to follow the profile of the groove 206 as it is positioned in the mid-foot region 14. The mid-foot region 14 of an article of footwear 10 is often bowed to accommodate the shape of a user's foot. The band 204 would be taut across the mid-foot region 14 (shown in FIG. 8B) and would not effectively fit within the groove 206 without the concavities of the band 204. The pins 208 couple with the one or more openings disposed within the curvature of the band 204 to further effect the securement of the band 204 within the groove 206.

[0045] In an example, the one or more openings includes four openings. The band 204 includes a first opening 330a and a second opening 330b disposed on the lateral segment 214b. The band 204 includes a third opening 330c and a fourth opening 330d disposed on the medial segment 214a. The first opening 330a is positioned adjacent the first edge 204c. The second opening 330b is positioned adjacent the second edge 204d. The first opening 330a is positioned vertically above the second opening 330b, relative to the axis 8-8. The third opening 330c is positioned adjacent the first edge 204c. The fourth opening 330d is positioned adjacent the second edge 204d. The third opening 330c is positioned vertically above the fourth opening 330d, relative to the axis 8-8. In some examples, the band 204 includes two openings, one opening on the medial segment 214a and another opening on the lateral segment 214b. The band 204 may include any number of openings corresponding to the number of pins 208. Other examples and configurations of the openings of the band 204 are described in further detail below. The first opening 330a and the second opening 330b may be circular in shape. The first opening 330a and the second opening 330b may have any other shape (e.g., diamond, triangular, square, etc.) suitable for coupling with the one or more pins 208 of the groove 206. The one or more openings of the band 204 allow the band 204 to be removed from the groove 206 and also provide for better fit when the band 204 is coupled to the groove 206.

[0046] The openings 330a and 330b may be positioned centrally on the band 204, relative to the axis 6-6. The openings 330a and 330b may be positioned anywhere along the band 204 so as to reduce the chance for the band 204 to bow away from groove 206 when coupled to the groove 206.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 5, the one or more pins 208 are disposed within the groove 206. The one or more pins 208 include a base 502, and one or more pin bodies 503, one or more pin heads 504. The base 502 may be permanently affixed to the midsole 200. In some embodiments, the base 502 may be removably disposed within the midsole 200. The base 502 may be ovular in shape. The base 502 may have any other shape (e.g., square, rectangular, circular, etc.) suitable for serving as a base for the pin heads 504.

[0048] The one or more pin bodies 503 extend outwardly from the base 502. The one or more pin heads 504 extend outwardly from the one or more pin bodies 503. In an example, the one or more pin bodies include a first pin body 503a and a second pin body 503b. The first pin body 503a is positioned vertically above the second pin body 503b, relative to the axis 8-8. In an example, the one or more pin heads 504 include a first pin head 504a and a second pin head 504b. The first pin head 504a is positioned vertically above the second pin head 504b, relative to the axis 8-8. The one or more pin heads 504 are circular in shape. The one or more pin heads 504 may have any shape (e.g., diamond, rectangular, square, etc.) suitable for coupling to the plurality of openings of the band 204. For illustration purposes, only the first pin head 504a and second pin head 504b are shown on the medial side 22. The one or more pins 208 may similarly be disposed on the lateral side 24 and may include a base, a third pin body, a fourth pin body, a third pin head, and a fourth pin head which are similarly formed as the base 502, first pin body 503a, second pin body 503b, first pin head 504a, and second pin head 504b. The one or more pins 208 may be formed of a material that is different than a material of the midsole 200. In some examples, the one or more pins 208 may be comprised of the same material as the material of the midsole 200. In some other examples, the one or more pin heads 504 may be formed of different materials than the material of the one or more pin bodies 503 and the base 502. The materials of the pins 208 may be comprised of a plastic, rubber, metal, or any other suitable material.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 6, the first pin head 504a extends through the first opening 330a to secure the band 204 to the groove 206. The second pin head 504b extends through the second opening 330b to secure the band 204 to the groove 206. When the band 204 is coupled within the groove 206, the first pin head 504a and the second pin head 504b extend outward from the outer surface 204a of the band 204. The band 204 is coupled to the midsole 200 within the groove 206 via the pins 208 and openings 330a and 330b connection.

[0050] FIG. 7A depicts an alternate orientation of the pins 208. The pins 702 may be arranged in a horizontal configuration as opposed to the vertical configuration of FIG. 2. The horizontal configuration of the pins 702 is relative to the axis 6-6. The vertical configuration of the pins 702 is relative to the axis 8-8. The pins 702 include a first pin head 702a, a second pin head 702b, and a base 704. The first pin head 702a is disposed adjacent the posterior end 200b. The second pin head 702b is disposed nearer the anterior end 200a than the first pin head 702a. The base 704 is disposed within the groove 206 similar to the base 502, except the base 704 is disposed in a horizontal orientation.

[0051] FIG. 7B depicts an alternate orientation of the openings. The openings 706a, 706b, 706c, and 706d may be arranged in a horizontal configuration as opposed to the vertical configuration of FIG. 2. The openings 706a, 706b, 706c, and 706d mate with the pins 702 to couple to the article of footwear in a similar manner as shown in described with respect to FIGS. 1-6.

[0052] FIG. 8A depicts a bottom view of the article of footwear 10 where the bowed nature of the central region 212b is better depicted. The outsole 202 includes a ground-facing surface 802. The ground-facing surface is configured to engage a ground surface when worn by a wearer of the article of footwear 10. The midsole 200 includes a concave portion disposed on the lateral side. The midsole 200 includes a concave portion on the medial side. The concave portion on the medial side corresponds to an arch of a user of the article of footwear 10.

[0053] FIG. 8B depicts the band 204 in an untaut configuration without the use of the pins 208. Without the pins 208, the band 204 is not secured within the groove 206, and the medial segment 214a and the lateral segment 214b are not aligned with the contours of the midsole 200. In other words, the concave portion of the midsole 200 on each of the medial side and the lateral side prevent the band 204 from being taut within the groove 206 without the use of the pins 208 to secure the band 204.

[0054] FIGS. 9 and 10 depict an alternate design of the band 204. The band 204 may include a texture element 902. The texture element 902 may be disposed on an outer surface of the body 205, and may form a circumferentially-extending rib.

[0055] FIG. 11 depicts an alternate embodiment of the article of footwear 10 in which the band 204 includes two openings (although only one opening 1100 is shown for clarity purposes) and two pins (although only one pin 1102 is shown for clarity purposes). The opening 1100 and pin 1102 are mated in a similar manner as described in FIGS. 1-6.

[0056] FIG. 12 depicts an alternate embodiment of the article of footwear 10 in which the band includes twelve openings (although only six openings 1200a, 1200b, 1200c, 1200d, 1200e, and 1200f are shown for clarity purposes) and twelve pins (although only six pins 1202a, 1202b, 1202c, 1202d, 1202e, and 1202f are shown for clarity purposes). The openings 1200a, 1200b, 1200c, 1200d, 1200e, and 1200f and pins 1202a, 1202b, 1202c, 1202d, 1202e, and 1202f are mated in a similar manner as described in FIGS. 1-6.

[0057] FIG. 13 depicts an alternate embodiment of the article of footwear 10 in which the band includes alternate shaped openings 1302a and 1302b, and alternate shaped pins 1300a and 1300b. The openings 1302a and 1302b pins 1300a and 1300b are substantially diamond shaped. The openings 1302a and 1302b and pins 1300a and 1300b are mated in a similar manner as described in FIGS. 1-6.

[0058] FIG. 14 depicts an alternate embodiment of the sole structure 101 including a first rail 1400a with an extended flange 1408a. The extended flange 1408a extends over the groove 206 and provides additional locking of the band 204 within the groove 206.

[0059] FIG. 15 depicts a cross-sectional view of an alternate sole structure 101. In this example, a sole structure 1501 is compositely formed such that one or more pieces are separately formed and then adhered or otherwise attached together. A rail 1502 is adhered to a support section 1500. The rail 1502 includes a flange 1508. The flange 1508 extends downward toward a second rail 1510. The flange 1508 extends further toward the second rail 1510 than flange 408a extends toward the second rail 300b. The flange 1508 helps to further secure the band 204 (not shown for illustration purposes) within the groove 206. The rail 1502 and support section 1500 are adhered at a connecting region 1504. The rail 1502 and the support section 1500 are adhered via stitching, gluing, cementing, or any other suitable means for connecting portions of footwear together. The support section 1500 may include a foam, rubber, or the like. The rail 1502 may include a foam, rubber, or the like. The flange 1508 may be formed of the same material of the rail 1502 or may include a material that is different than the material of the rail 1502. The flange 1508 is comprised of a material suitable for securing the band 204 within the groove 206 while still allowing for a user to readily pull on the flange 1508 to insert the band 204. The adhering of the rail 1502 and support section 1500 after separately manufacturing each part may reduce manufacturing complications.

[0060] The sole structure 101 as described above allows for the band 204 to be selectively removed and/or replaced within the footwear 10. Band 204 may be constructed using various techniques that allow for creation of desired features, such as firmness, density, impact attenuation, shape, configuration, size, contour, color, etc. The midsole 200 includes a first material that may include a rubber or other flexible material. The band 204 includes a second material that may be different from the first material, such as a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPE), a rubber, or other durable material. In some examples, the first material may have a flexibility that is less than the flexibility of the second material.

[0061] Other alternatives of the band 204 are envisioned. For example, the band 204 may include any other type of design suitable for providing a desired form of cushioning, aesthetic, or engagement with the midsole 200. Additionally, one or more other surfaces of the band 204 may include various other designs, configurations, and/or arrangements without departing from a scope of this disclosure. As described above, the footwear 10 may be configured and operable to facilitate customization by providing a modular design in which one or more band 204 may be selectively coupled and decoupled from the midsole 200. Accordingly, outsoles with varying aesthetic designs, structural configurations, or features, and/or material compositions may be assembled to the footwear 10 without the use of equipment, tools, or other ancillary devices. By providing such modular capabilities, a user of the footwear 10 may replace the band 204 for various purposes, such as due to extensive wear and tear, stylistic or aesthetic purposes, or functional characteristics.

[0062] It is also contemplated that other alternative embodiments could be envisioned. Instead of a single piece construction of the midsole 200, the midsole 200 could be compositely formed and the rail could be affixed to the midsole 200 (as shown and described in FIG. 15). In other embodiments, one or more of the midsole 200 and/or the band 204 may include toothed features or mechanisms for assembling the sole structure 101 in lieu of the pins 208 and the openings 330a and 330b. In this instance, each of the midsole 200 and the band 204 may include complimentary toothed features that are configured to mesh and/or mate with one another, thereby coupling the midsole 200 and the band 204 to one another. In other embodiments, a rod may be disposed within the midsole extending from the medial side 22 to the lateral side 24.

[0063] Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the scope of the claims below. Embodiments of our technology have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after and because of reading it. Alternative means of implementing the aforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of the claims below. Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims.

[0064] The following clauses provide an exemplary configuration for an article of footwear and sole structure described above.

[0065] Clause 1. An article of footwear comprising: a lateral side and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; a sole structure coupled to the upper, wherein the sole structure comprises: a midsole including a radial outer surface, wherein the midsole includes a groove extending circumferentially around the radial outer surface; a first pin head disposed within the groove and extending away from the groove on the lateral side; and a second pin head disposed within the groove and extending away from the groove on the medial side; a band removably disposed within the groove, the band including a first opening configured to receive the first pin head, and a second opening configured to receive the second pin head.

[0066] Clause 2. The article of footwear of Clause 1, wherein the radial outer surface of the midsole and the band form a continuous, flush outer surface of the article of footwear.

[0067] Clause 3. The article of footwear of Clause 1, wherein the sole structure further includes: a third pin head adjacent to the first pin head on the lateral side; and a fourth pin head adjacent to the second pin head on the medial side.

[0068] Clause 4. The article of footwear of Clause 1, wherein the first pin head is disposed in a concave portion of the lateral side, and the second pin head is disposed in a concave portion of the medial side.

[0069] Clause 5. The article of footwear of Clause 4, wherein the concave portion of the lateral side is disposed in a midfoot of the article of footwear, and wherein the concave portion of the medial side is disposed in the midfoot of the article of footwear.

[0070] Clause 6. The article of footwear of Clause 1, wherein the band includes a bias to a shape corresponding to a shape of the groove.

[0071] Clause 7. The article of footwear of Clause 3, wherein the third pin head is disclosed closer to the upper than the first pin head.

[0072] Clause 8. The article of footwear of Clause 3, wherein the third pin head is disposed posterior to the first pin head.

[0073] Clause 9. The article of footwear of Clause 7, wherein each of the first pin head, the second pin head, the third pin, and the fourth pin head includes a different material than the midsole.

[0074] Clause 10. An article of footwear comprising: an upper; a sole structure coupled to the upper, wherein the sole structure comprises: a midsole including a radial outer surface, wherein the midsole includes a groove extending circumferentially around the radial outer surface of the midsole; and one or more pins disposed within the groove and extending away from the groove.

[0075] Clause 11. The article of footwear of Clause 10, wherein the one or more pins extend through the midsole from a lateral side of the article of footwear to a medial side of the article of footwear.

[0076] Clause 12. The article of footwear of Clause 10, wherein the sole structure further includes a band removably disposed within the groove.

[0077] Clause 13. The article of footwear of Clause 12, wherein the band includes a textured element.

[0078] Clause 14. An elastic band configured to be removably coupled to a midsole of an article of footwear, the elastic band comprising: a body extending from an anterior end to a posterior end, the body including a lateral side extending from the anterior end to the posterior end, and a medial side extending from the anterior end to the posterior end, the lateral side including a first concavity and the medial side including a second concavity, wherein the body includes a first opening in the first concavity of the lateral side and a second opening in the second concavity of the medial side.

[0079] Clause 15. The elastic band of Clause 14, wherein the body forms a fully circumferentially-enclosed band.

[0080] Clause 16. The elastic band of Clause 14, wherein body includes: a third opening adjacent to the first opening on the lateral side; and a fourth opening adjacent to the second opening on the medial side.

[0081] Clause 17. The elastic band of Clause 14, wherein the body includes thermoplastic polyurethane.

[0082] Clause 18. The elastic band of Clause 14, wherein a posterior portion of the body includes a textured outer surface.

[0083] Clause 19. The elastic band of Clause 14, wherein an outer surface of the body includes a circumferentially-extending rib.

[0084] Clause 20. The elastic band of Clause 14, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the body is substantially smooth.