Patent ID: 8671593
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
1. An article of footwear comprising: an upper defining a first upper slot, a second upper slot, and a third upper slot, each of the first, second, and third upper slots extending from a lateral side of the upper to a medial side of the upper; the second upper slot being disposed rearward of the first upper slot, and the third upper slot being disposed rearward of the second upper slot; an outer member disposed at a bottom side of the upper; the outer member defining a first outer member slot, a second outer member slot, and a third outer member slot, each of the first, second, and third outer member slots extending through an entire depth of the outer member from a lateral side of the outer member to a medial side of the outer member; the first upper slot being aligned with the first outer member slot on a lateral side and a medial side of the article of footwear; the second upper slot being aligned with the second outer member slot on the lateral side and the medial side of the article of footwear; the third upper slot being aligned with the third outer member slot on the lateral side and the medial side of the article of footwear; wherein the first, second, and third upper slots are narrower when in a flexing mode of the article of footwear in which the outer member is in a bent position with a heel of the article of footwear raised relative to a ground surface and with a toe of the article of footwear remaining planted on the ground surface, than when in a horizontal mode of the article of footwear in which the outer member is in a horizontal position with the article of footwear disposed against the ground surface; and wherein the first, second, and third outer member slots are wider when in the flexing mode of the article of footwear than when in the horizontal mode of the article of footwear.