Patent ID: 9516917
Filing Date: 2016-12-13
CPC Classification: A43B,A43C

Claim Text:
1. An article of footwear, comprising: a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, a heel portion, a lateral side, and a medial side; a sole member having an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface disposed opposite the outwardly facing surface; and a protruding member assembly positioned proximal to the inwardly facing surface of the sole member; wherein the outwardly facing surface of the sole member comprises a base portion and a plurality of raised portions, the plurality of raised portions including at least a first raised portion, a second raised portion, a third raised portion, and a fourth raised portion; wherein the plurality of raised portions are arranged on an outer peripheral portion of the sole member such that the plurality of raised portions extend substantially around a perimeter of the sole member, wherein the sole member has greater flexibility in the base portion relative to the outer peripheral portion due to the arrangement of the plurality of raised portions; wherein the base portion extends outwardly a first distance from the inwardly facing surface of the sole member; wherein each of the plurality of raised portions extend outwardly at least a second distance from the inwardly facing surface of the sole member, the second distance being greater than the first distance; wherein the base portion of the sole member includes a first hole and a second hole; wherein the protruding member assembly includes a group of protruding members, the group of protruding members being disposed between the second raised portion and the third raised portion; the group of protruding members comprising at least a first protruding member and a second protruding member; wherein the first protruding member extends outward through the first hole and the second protruding member extends outward through the second hole; wherein the first protruding member includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion positioned outward from the proximal end portion; wherein the distal end portion extends outwardly a third distance from the inwardly facing surface of the sole member, the third distance being at least as great as the second distance.