Patent ID: 9545132
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: A43B,A43D,B29D

Claim:
1. A method of manufacturing articles of footwear, the method comprising steps of: molding first sole structures, wherein each of the first sole structures is for a first version of an article of footwear that is configured for wear by a male, each of the first sole structures including a first sole structure connecting portion and a plurality of first sole structure discrete sole elements extending from the first sole structure connecting portion, the first sole structure discrete sole elements being separated by a plurality of first sole structure sipes in a first pattern that extend into the first sole structure, the first sole structure sipes including a first sole structure first sipe and a first sole structure second sipe that extend in a longitudinal direction of the first sole structure and a plurality of first sole structure third sipes that extend from a medial side of the first sole structure to a lateral side of the first sole structure, only one first sole structure third sipe of the plurality in a forefoot region having a width at an uppermost portion of that one first sole structure third sipe adjacent to the first sole structure connecting portion that is greater than widths of other first sole structure third sipes of the plurality at uppermost portions of those other first sole structure third sipes adjacent to the first sole structure connecting portion, each of the first sole structures further having a first differential between a forefoot region thickness and a heel region thickness; and molding second sole structures, wherein each of the second sole structures is for a second version of the article of footwear that is configured for wear by a female, each of the second sole structures including a second sole structure connecting portion and a plurality of second sole structure discrete sole elements extending from the second sole structure connecting portion, the second sole structure discrete sole elements being separated by a plurality of second sole structure sipes in the first pattern that extend into the second sole structure, the second sole structure sipes including a second sole structure first sipe and a second sole structure second sipe that extend in a longitudinal direction of the second sole structure and a plurality of second sole structure third sipes that extend from a medial side of the second sole structure to a lateral side of the second sole structure, two second sole structure third sipes of the plurality in a forefoot region having widths at uppermost portions of those two second sole structure third sipes adjacent to the second sole structure connecting portion that are greater than widths of other second sole structure third sipes of the plurality at uppermost portions of those other second sole structure third sipes adjacent to the second sole structure connecting portion, each of the second sole structures further having a second differential between a forefoot region thickness and a heel region thickness, wherein the second differential is greater than the first differential.