Running shoe with perforated midsole

Claim 2

A sole component for an athletic shoe including a heel portion, an arch portion, a forefoot portion and a toe portion, said sole component being formed of a resilient material, the forefoot portion of said sole component including a first group of apertures extending into the sole component, all of said apertures in said first group being located at said forefoot portion in an array of plural transverse rows of plural apertures, each of said rows extending for substantially the full width of said sole component, said sole component including a second group of apertures extending therein, all of said apertures in said second group being located to the rear of said forefoot portion and contiguous with said arch portion, the apertures of said second group being disposed in an array of plural transverse rows of plural apertures, each of said rows extending for substantially the full width of said sole component and with said apertures being disposed closer to one another than the apertures in said first group to increase the flexibility of said sole component at the portion containing said second group of apertures.

Claim 3

The sole component of claim 1 wherein the apertures in immediately adjacent rows are staggered longitudinally.

Claim 4

The sole component of claim 2 wherein said component tapers downward in thickness between said heel portion and said toe portion.

Claim 5

The sole component of claim 1 wherein said apertures are the same diameter.

Claim 6

The sole component of claim 3 wherein said apertures are the same diameter.

Claim 7

The sole component of claim 5 wherein said apertures in said first group are approximately 1/8 inch (3.2 mm) in diameter and separated from one another by approximately 3/8 inch (9.6 mm).

Claim 8

The midsole of claim 6 wherein the apertures in said second group are separated from one another by approximately 1/8 inch (3.2 mm).

Claim 9

The sole component of claim 7 wherein the apertures at the ends of each of said rows are spaced from the edge of the sole to provide a margin therealong.

Claim 10

The sole component of claim 8 wherein said sole component is approximately 35 Durometer.

Claim 11

The sole component of claim 1 wherein said apertures extend fully through said sole component.

Claim 12

The sole component of claim 1 wherein said sole component is a midsole.

Claim 13

An athletic shoe having an upper, an outer sole and a sole component, said sole component including a heel portion, an arch portion, a forefoot portion a toe portion, said sole component being formed of a resilient material, the forefoot portion of said sole component including a first group of apertures extending into said midsole, said apertures in said first group being located at said forefoot portion in an array of plural transverse rows of plural apertures, each of said rows extending for almost the full width of said sole component, said sole component including a second group of apertures extending therein, all of said apertures in the second group being located to the rear of said forefoot portion and contiguous with said arch portion, the apertures in said second group being disposed in an array of plural transverse rows of plural apertures, each of said rows extending for substantially the full width of said sole component and with said apertures being disposed closer to one another than the apertures in said first group to increase the flexibility of said sole component at the portion containing said second group of apertures.

Claim 14

An athletic shoe having an upper, an outer sole and a sole component, said sole component including a heel portion, an arch portion, a forefoot portion a toe portion, said sole component being formed of a resilient material, the forefoot portion of said sole component including a first group of apertures extending into said midsole, said apertures in said first group being located at said forefoot portion in an array of plural transverse rows of plural apertures, each of said rows extending for almost the full width of said sole component, said sole component including a second group of apertures extending therein, all of said apertures in the second group being located to the rear of said forefoot portion and contiguous with said arch portion, the apertures in said second group being disposed in an array of plural transverse rows of plural apertures, each of said rows extending for substantially the full width of said sole component and with said apertures being disposed closer to one another than the apertures in said first group to increase the flexibility of said sole component at the portion containing said second group of apertures.

Claim 15

The athletic shoe of claim 12 wherein the apertures in immediately adjacent rows are staggered longitudinally.

Claim 16

The athletic shoe of claim 13 wherein said sole component tapers downward in thickness between said heel portion and said toe portion.

Claim 17

The athletic shoe of claim 14 wherein said apertures are circular.

Claim 18

The athletic shoe of claim 15 wherein all of said apertures are the same diameter.

Claim 19

The athletic shoe of claim 12 wherein said outer sole is secured to said sole component and wherein said apertures extend fully through said sole component but not into said outer sole.

Claim 20

The athletic shoe of claim 17 wherein said apertures are vertical.