Patent ID: 9687042
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: A43B

Claim:
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising: an outsole; a midsole connected to the outsole and disposed between the outsole and the upper; a heel midsole impact force attenuating structure arranged at least within a heel region of the midsole, wherein the heel midsole impact force attenuating structure includes a molded heel region member extending from a lateral side of the article of footwear to a medial side of the article of footwear, wherein the heel region member consists essentially of: (a) a hollow central region, (b) a top surface above the hollow central region, (c) a lower surface below the hollow central region, and (d) a plurality of grooves defined in the top surface of the heel region member only at a rear lateral heel area of the heel region member, wherein the plurality of grooves are in one quadrant of the heel region member, and wherein the plurality of grooves extend partially or completely through the top surface of the heel region member and increase flexibility of the rear lateral heel area of the heel region member.