Abstract:
A cleated sole for footwear such as an athletic shoe designed for field sports, trail running or rugged walking. A midsole layer includes shock attenuating structures. The outsole includes a plurality of crossbeams formed as curved ground facing portions oriented from the medial to the lateral border of the sole. Cleats are mounted on the lower facing surface of the crossbeams. The outsole to midsole interface above each crossbeam is commensurate in shape to the lower facing curved surface of the crossbeam. Pressure created by a cleat striking the ground surface during use is diffused through the crossbeam, outsole and midsole into the wearer&#39;s foot. This moderates the cleat pressure pattern while providing side to side stiffness for the sole.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S. provisional application serial No. 60/309,053 filed Jul. 26, 2001. 
     
    
     
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to a sole for an article of footwear, and more particularly to cleated sole structures for shoes that include a midsole, an outsole, and ground engaging cleats depending from the outsole.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    It has long been known to provide shoes with soles that include protrusions from the ground facing surface to aid traction. If many small protrusions or a large surface area of protrusion tops make ground contact, the pressure of weight bearing is fairly evenly distributed and gives a uniform sense of pushing back against the bottom of a wearer&#39;s foot. To enhance traction in circumstances such as use on muddy footpaths, very uneven walking surfaces, or while participating in sports such as baseball, soccer, field hockey, hurling, lacrosse, Australian rules, cricket, golf, rugby, or American Football, footwear may be provided with more substantial and discrete gripping elements protruding lower from the outsole. The direction “lower” is the orientation towards the supporting surface below the shoe during use when the wearer is standing. In this patent application, specified shapes of major traction elements are termed cleats.  
           [0006]    It is generally preferred to avoid the use of cleats on most shoe soles since they penetrate surfaces more deeply than do flatter soles and thus cause more erosion or floor damage. The lower contact area associated with cleats also increases the rate of wear of the sole. It has thus up to now been accepted that cleats are not a good idea for use on casual or dress footwear or for footwear that might be used on surfaces vulnerable to unwanted wearing away.  
           [0007]    The portions of a shoe generally below the upper are collectively termed the sole and it is well known in the art to subdivide the sole into layers. As a device to disperse the point pressure, sometimes called “cleat pressure”, arising from the provision of gripping elements on the ground engaging surface of an outsole, it is known to include a midsole.  
           [0008]    A further well known portion of a sole is the most lower layer which is referred to by shoe designers as the “outsole.” The outsole layer has traditionally been adapted for ground engagement by selecting abrasion resistant materials, and by attaching gripping elements by processes such as molding, use of screw threads, by nailing, or by cementing. Substantial gripping elements depending lower from an outsole, and as herein define as “cleats”, provide tractional advantages to a wearer but are also known to make more likely discomfort to the foot by adding weight to a shoe, or by causing such problems as local sole distortion during load bearing, “hot spots”, point loading, higher pressure zones, or “cleat pressure” points. By way of an example, Hockerson in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,221, issued to coinventor of the invention of this disclosure, describes the problem of shoes for use in football, soccer and rugby that are provided with truncated conical cleats. When such a cleated athletic shoe is weighted, as when the wearer runs over the playing field, the cleats push upwardly against the outsole. The outsole reacts by deforming and pressing upwardly against the bottom of the user&#39;s foot. This undesirably creates a condition known as “point loading” on the user&#39;s foot at the cleat locations. Over a period of repeated use, this point loading can result in foot discomfort and fatigue. The long term exposure to “point loading” or any of the other cleat related complaints, may result in injuries such as plantar fasciatis, metatarsal problems, stress fractures, bone spurs, tenonitis, “stone bruises”, or blisters.  
           [0009]    In an effort to meet this long felt want of reducing the discomfort resulting from the provision of cleats on an outsole, it has been common to add a layer known as a “midsole” in or through the space separating the upper&#39;s lower surface and the outsole&#39;s upper facing surface. The direction “upper” is the orientation towards the wearer of the shoe during use when the wearer is standing. This added layer has been taught in many forms, the art mentioned earlier includes some examples. While the addition of a midsole may somewhat alter the cleat to foot force transfer pattern, the added layer also adds weight to what is often already a heavy shoe due to the dense and voluminous material required for the cleats. Furthermore, the increased total thickness of the combined outsole, midsole and cleats tends to elevate a wearer&#39;s foot away from the ground during use and thus increase the risk of injuries. As the distance from the ground to the sole of a wearer&#39;s foot is increased by a sole, the side to side or lateral stability of the foot and ankle is reduced. This makes an acute injury, especially an injury to the ankle such as a sprain or break in the tibia or fibula, more likely.  
           [0010]    Midsole structures can also be a factor in injury. Risk of ankle injuries has been demonstrated to be 4.3 times more likely if air cells are included as a midsole design feature. (British Medical Journal article, spring 2001). A further problem with the added midsole thickness is a decrease in flexibility of the sole, an undesirable side effect in that it reduces the natural foot bending at the ball of the foot of a wearer.  
           [0011]    Another response to the concerns of weight, cleat pressure and sole thickness in relation to injury has been to reduce the length of the cleats. This will reduce weight and the elevation of the wearer&#39;s foot but removes some of the traction benefits of the cleat.  
           [0012]    Another area of development in footwear has been the provision of curved lower directed segments of the sole unit. While provision of curved outsole, midsole or combined sole segments has been taught as a way to modify foot biomechanics during ground interaction, the effect has been directed to changing the gait of a wearer.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    It is an object of this invention to provide for placement of cleated elements on an outsole while dissipating concentrated pressure on the sole of the wearer&#39;s foot that arises from the use of the cleated footwear, most especially on a firm or hard surface.  
           [0014]    Another object of the invention is provide a cleated sole which reduces the problems of point loading, cleat pressure, or related effects that arise from a wearer&#39;s use of a cleated shoe. A further object is to provide a lightweight and cushioned cleated sole.  
           [0015]    Other objects and advantages are provision of a cushioned midsole without adding excess weight, spreading cleat pressure without inhibiting sole flexion, and balancing the need for traction and cushion in a sole without adding excess thickness. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 1A and 1B are partially cut away side elevational views of an article of prior art footwear and an article of footwear made in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a side view of a simplified prior art shoe;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 3A and 3B are plan views of the prior art sole of FIG. 2., with FIG. 3B showing a sectional view taken along the line  3 B- 3 B of FIG. 3A;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a bottom view of an embodiment of a sole of the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a side view of the sole of FIG. 4., with the upper partially removed;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIGS. 6A and 6B are bottom plan views of an embodiment of a sole of the present invention, with FIG. 6B showing a sectional view taken along the line  6 B- 6 B of FIG. 6A;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 7A to  7 E are bottom plan views of embodiments of soles incorporating the present invention; 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    The invention in general provides a sole structure for attachment to an upper to form an article of footwear. The term “sole” includes all those elements of an article of footwear which are attached below the upper. These may typically include such items as a midsole (which may be wrapped onto the side wall of the upper), an outsole, shock attenuating components and stabilizing components. The lasting board, sometimes termed an “insole”, occurs above the sole and is considered a part of the upper. The term “upper” is used to include those pieces and components of a shoe that cover the foot above the sole. In the context of this invention it includes any structure adapted for engaging the foot or an existing shoe in such a fashion as to hold the disclosed sole on the foot of a wearer. An upper may include such things as a lace closed bag of material, a series of straps or a bag of elastic fabric.  
         [0024]    The sole has an upper surface on which the wearer&#39;s foot rests during use of the sole. The wearer&#39;s foot may be placed directly on the sole or may be separated by layers of material such as a lasting board, sockliner or other components. The wearer&#39;s foot may also be displaced above the upper surface of the sole by an existing shoe, as would be the case when the sole is attached as an overshoe. The sole may have side walls that extend above the plane of the upper surface, as would be the case when a foam midsole forms a wrap onto an upper or a cupsole is provided.  
         [0025]    The sole has an outsole layer which features a lower surface which is adapted for ground contact by the inclusion of a plurality of “cleats”. The “outsole” is the most lower layer of sole material. A “cleat” , since the term is applied vaguely in the world of footwear designers, is herein used to describe an element of a shoe that is attached to the lower facing surface of a shoe sole and having an extent of at least 5 mm measured generally perpendicular to the surrounding sole surface and measured in a lower direction. Furthermore, a “cleat” of this patent application and invention is distinguished from cosmetic attachments, general gripping or tread patterns or sole textures in that the height of the cleat measured from the most lower surface of the local outsole to the maximum generally perpendicular extent of the element shall exceed the width of the element in at least one direction measured along the plane of the ground at the tip of the element where it would contact the ground during normal use. Such a measurement of width would be about perpendicular to the vertical axis of the element in question and would be in a plane about parallel to the plane of the local lower facing surface of the outsole where the cleat is attached.  
         [0026]    The sole further includes a midsole between the upper and the outsole. The term “midsole” is used to describe any shock attenuating structure such as foam, air cells, springs (internal or external), or other devices mounted between the upper and the outsole wherein the term “between” is used to express a position of being placed in a space separating the surfaces of the outsole and the upper. The midsole material is softer than the outsole material by at least 10 points on the Shore A hardness scale to permit perceptible differentiation by a consumer, at least in the areas where the midsole is adjacent to the outsole in the crossbeams.  
         [0027]    The sole is invisibly divided into regions according to the overlying parts of a wearer&#39;s foot during use. These regions are the heel, the midfoot, the forefoot and the toe area. The sole lower surface has a rear edge and a front edge. The sole lower surface has a medial edge and a lateral edge which meet in the middle of the rear edge and the middle of the front edge. The length of a sole is the distance between the front and rear edges of the lower sole surface measured linearly along the longitudinal axis.  
         [0028]    The heel region is generally below a wearer&#39;s calcaneous and is approximately the rear 20-30% of the sole length. The midfoot is the region forward of the heel but behind the region corresponding to the ball of the foot which is referred to as the forefoot. The midfoot extends about from 20-30% to 55-60% of the sole length measured from the rear edge of the sole upper surface. The forefoot is about 55-60% to 85-90% of the length of the sole from the rear edge of the sole upper surface.  
         [0029]    The toe region includes the sole area below the phalanges of a wearer and any additional sole material forward of this region. It extends from 85 to 100% of the sole length from the rear edge of the sole. The variation in the position of regions is due to individual differences in the proportions of foot parts of wearers. Naming invisible regions does not indicate a need for the sole to extend through these areas. The sole has a longitudinal axis defined by a line generally connecting the mid points of the heel and forefoot regions of the sole or connecting their extrapolated positions if these regions are not physically present. The horizontal width of the sole is measured at about 90° to the longitudinal axis and parallel to the ground. The vertical thickness is measured at about 90° to the longitudinal axis and about 90° to the ground.  
         [0030]    The sole has a thickness between the upper and lower surfaces along the longitudinal axis. This thickness varies along the length of the sole from the front edge to the rear edge. This variation in thickness is observed when the cleats are removed and only the base layer of material in the outsole is considered along with the midsole. Since the cleat lengths may vary, the total sole thickness may appear constant, ignoring the inter-cleat spaces when the cleat lengths are included or, as is traditional, the sole thickness may taper from the rear edge to the front edge at a non linear rate, and thus offer such features as toe spring.  
         [0031]    The lower surface of the sole is radiused across the local width of the outsole and midsole from medial to lateral to form at least two crossbeams. “Radiusing” is taken to mean the providing of a round or elliptical curvature to the surface about an axis across the width of the sole. This radiusing produces a sole region which is thinner on either side of the crossbeam as measured in section but is generally of even vertical thickness along the length of the crossbeam. At least one cleat depends from each of at least two radiused sections which are termed herein as “crossbeams.” That is to say, there must be a plurality of crossbeams and each must have at least one cleat, not that one cleat extends to both crossbeams, although two cleats may both extend to two crossbeams and thus meet this structural description. The crossbeams must be at least 12 mm wide in some part of their side to side sole span in a shoe built on a last of net length 290 mm, measured along the longitudinal axis, to provide an adequate pressure dispersion. This minimum width of the radiused section is reduced or enlarged in direct proportion to the length of the last bottom used to construct a sole.  
         [0032]    The base layer of the outsole has both a lower and a upper surface which remain largely parallel where the outsole forms a part of the crossbeam, discounting any thickening, texturing or tread elements. The lower surface of the midsole material is radiused to fit against the upper surface of the outsole base layer of material in the crossbeams.  
         [0033]    The outsole may be made of a great number of different solid materials known in the art, including hard rubber. It is, however, preferred that a hard solid plastic is used to form the base layer of the outsole. This same material may be used to form the cleats but these can also be made of a different material. The best materials for an outsole of the present invention would be selected from the solid plastics; TPU, PU, Delryn, Surlyn, Hytrel, Pebax, Nylon, and such others as are known in the art or may be added to the field later. The upper may be made of any material and may be structured in any of the many known forms in the footwear industry.  
         [0034]    It was not previously known that a curved form applied fully across a midsole in combination with a cleat bearing outsole is a useful method of dissipating cleat to foot forces without adding excess weight, instability or thickness to the shoe sole. It was previously believed that appending gripping cleats to curved sole sections would cause a clawing effect; a tearing of the cleat element through or along the surface of the ground as the shoe rolled forward during the heel to toe motion of walking or running and that this turf or surface resisted action would have a significant energy cost.  
         [0035]    Tests on cleated soles that were made to model the embodiments herein described have found the energy cost of cleat motion on or through the surface to be relatively imperceptible while the advantages of the cleat pressure dissipation and stability with low weight afforded by this invention are discernible by a wearer. Thus the unique combination of a midsole, an outsole, cleats and the specific placement of the cleats on curved crossbeams, sections or segments of the combined midsole and outsole has been surprisingly found to alter the comfort of the cleat pressures on the sole of a wearer&#39;s foot while effectively maintaining the grip length of a cleat without adding the extra weight and instability of added thickness as would occur to a midsole in which the same extra thickness was added to its entirety.  
         [0036]    While the instant invention of this specification works when the outsole is made of rubber, of special note is that the structure of the invention has been found particularly effective in cleat pressure redistribution in outsoles of hard plastic, by which is meant the solid plastics TPU, PU, Delryn, Surlyn, Hytrel, Pebax, Nylon, and such others as are known in the art or may be added to the field later. The reason is that these materials are relatively incompressible, a property that makes them a good choice for cleated soles since it promotes cleat penetration of a surface. These same materials were previously associated with the discomfort of increased cleat pressure for a wearer. This additional advantage of the special structure of the sole of this invention is seen when an outsole of hard plastic is equipped with a cleat of the same or a different material, such as steel, aluminum alloy, ceramic or a solid plastic. The solid hard plastic outsole material works better than rubber for an outsole of this invention because it is less prone to sheering of the cleat than is a rubber outsole.  
         [0037]    The provision of the specific form of a curved outsole with midsole combination into sections referred to herein as “crossbeams” is effective with a single crossbeam but greater benefit is produced when more than one cleat bearing crossbeam is provided on the sole of a shoe, as detailed for this invention. This is due to the tendency of a single crossbeam on a sole to form a pivotal cross axis or medial-lateral fulcrum on the sole which a plurality of crossbeams on a sole will reduce or remove. Further, the structure of the sole of this invention has a most effective embodiment when the outsole is provided with one or more openings or “windows”. The provision of a foramen allows a greater number of degrees of freedom for the outsole to distort as ground contacting pressure is conducted between the cleat and a wearer&#39;s foot through the soles relatively incompressible but flexible material and the compressible midsole. It is important that the provision of crossbeams to bear cleats is extended across the sole from medial to lateral to avoid opposing flexibility by running from proximal to distal.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 1A shows a wearer&#39;s foot  2  within the heel of a cut away upper  4  of a prior art shoe and resting on a lasting board  6  that is attached to the top surface of a midsole  8 . On the lower surface of midsole  8  is attached an outsole  10  with two cleats  14  depending from the outsole  10  lower surface. Cleats  14  are in contact with ground  12  and the force  16  resulting from load bearing of the wearer&#39;s foot  2  bearing down on the lasting board  6  is shown schematically by arrows. A portion of force  16  passes through outsole  10  and midsole  8  to act on wearer&#39;s foot  2  on the upper surface of the lasting board  6  as force  18  shown schematically by arrows. The force  16  is little diverged in its passage to force  18  and tends to cause wearer&#39;s foot  2  to suffer local discomfort or hot spots  20  and  22 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 1B, shows a wearer&#39;s foot  2  within the heel of a cut away upper  4  of a shoe of the present invention and resting on a lasting board  6  that is attached to the top surface of a modified midsole  24 . On the lower surface of midsole  24  is attached a modified outsole  26  with two modified cleats  28  depending from the outsole  26  lower surface. Cleats  28  are in contact with ground  12  and the force  30  resulting from load bearing of the wearer&#39;s foot  2  bearing down on the lasting board  6  is shown schematically by arrows. Force  30  passes through outsole  26  and midsole  24  to act on wearer&#39;s foot  2  on the upper surface of the lasting board  6  as force  34  shown schematically by arrows. The force  30  is dispersed in its passage  32  shown schematically by arrows to force  34  and is thus less likely to cause wearer&#39;s foot  2  to suffer local discomfort or hot spots (none shown).  
         [0040]    The upper  74  may be of any form desired. Broadly the upper is any mechanism suitable for holding the sole of this invention in position on the foot of a wearer during use. The upper may be secured to the top surface of the midsole  24  by cement and by the inclusion of a lasting board  6  in a California slip last construction. Many other suitable methods and constructions can be used for the forming of an upper and its attachment to the sole of this invention. For example, string lasting, flat cement lasting, moccasin construction or welting may be employed.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 2 shows a simplified typical prior art shoe  36  with an upper  38  attached to the upper surface a midsole  40 . An outsole  42  is attached to the lower surface  44  of midsole  40  and has cleats  46  depending from the lower surface  48  of outsole  42 . FIG. 3A shows the lower surface  48  of outsole  42  of FIG. 2. with cleats  46 . The cleat is shown in partial section along B-B in FIG. 3B. The midsole  40  and outsole  42  have cleat  46  attached to the lower surface  48  of outsole  42 . Cleat  46  is nominated as a cleat by virtue of extending at least 5 mm in the lower direction measured generally perpendicular to the surrounding sole surface  50 , and the height of the cleat  46  measured from the surrounding sole surface  50  to the maximum generally perpendicular extent of the element  52  exceeds the width  54  of the cleat in at least one direction measured along the plane of the ground at the tip of the cleat  56  where it would contact the ground during normal use. In this example of an element defined as a “cleat” for the purposes of this patent, cleat  46  has its height at a maximum along the vertical edge from arrow C to arrow CC and the width  54  is at a minimum at the tip of the cleat  56  at the top of the section  60  of cleat  46 .  
         [0042]    [0042]FIGS. 4 and 5 show the lower surface of outsole  66  in one embodiment of the invention. The outsole has a front edge  70  and a rear edge  72 , and it may be made of materials as previously described. The lower surface of the outsole has a medial edge  74  and a lateral edge  76  which meet in the middle of the rear edge  72  and the middle of the front edge  70 . The outsole&#39;s base layer  94  has both a lower surface of outsole  66  and a upper surface of outsole  78  which remain largely parallel where the outsole  68  forms a part of a crossbeam  80 . Imaginary lines  82  show the position of the crossbeam which is formed by the curving lower portion of midsole  84  and outsole  68 . Depending down from outsole  68  on the crossbeam  80  are rear heel cleats  86 ,  88 . Midsole  84  material outcurve  90  fills the crossbeam  80  and contacts the upper surface of outsole  78 . Partially cut away upper  92  is shown for relative position only and no special structure of upper  92  is claimed as a part of this invention.  
         [0043]    Outsole  68  and midsole  84  are concavely curved across their width from medial edge  74  to lateral edge  76  to form crossbeam  80  and crossbeams  96 ,  98 , 100 . If outsole  68  and midsole  84  had only a single crossbeam selected from the crossbeam  80  and crossbeams  96 ,  98 , 100 , the geometry would cause a fulcrum that rocked the foot in a way not useful in this type of footwear. Crossbeams  96 ,  98 , 100  extend respectively within the regions of outsole  68  and midsole  84  delineated by lines  102 ,  104 ,  106 . Lines  102 ,  104 ,  106  show the position of the crossbeams  96 ,  98 , 100  formed by the curving lower of midsole  84  and outsole  68  and do not exists as a palpable structures within the footwear. Depending lower from outsole  68  on the crossbeams  96 ,  98 , 100  respectively are cleat pairs  108 ,  110 ,  112 . Midsole  84  material has outwardly curving portions  114 ,  116 ,  118  which fill respectively the crossbeams  96 ,  98 , 100  and contact the upper surface of outsole  78 .  
         [0044]    Crossbeam  80  and crossbeams  96 ,  98 , 100  are shown by lines  82  and  102 ,  104 ,  106  which are parallel or somewhat off parallel within each pair of lines. Thus the lower curvature of outsole  68  and midsole  84  to form crossbeam  80  and crossbeams  96 ,  98 , 100  does not need to be constant but does extend from medial edge  74  to lateral edge  76 .  
         [0045]    Outsole  68  may include foramen  130  and other foramina  132 ,  134  which are openings passing fully from lower surface of outsole  66  to upper surface of outsole  78  and are bordered about by outsole  68 . Foramen  130  provides an opening as a hole bored or molded through outsole  68  and filled with softer material such as midsole  84  or local air but not by a harder material. The adaption provided by foramen  130  or any other foramina such as other foramina  132 ,  134  alone or as a group is to increase the directions for energy absorbing distortion of the outsole  68  and midsole  84  to allow stress relief between crossbeams  96 ,  98 , within crossbeam  96 , between crossbeams  80 ,  96 , or within crossbeam  80 . An additional aid to stability and traction is the optional provision of cleats  140 ,  142  depending lower from outsole  68  and positioned on lower surface of outsole  66  but not on any of crossbeam  80  or crossbeams  96 ,  98 , 100 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIGS. 6A and 6B show an outsole  150  with lower surface of outsole  152 . This outsole  150  is shown with a front edge  154 , a rear edge  156 , a medial edge  158  and a lateral edge  160  which meet at the middle of the rear edge  162  and at the middle of the front edge  164 . The front edge  154 , rear edge  156 , medial edge  158  and lateral edge  160  of outsole  150  are shown as general reference points common to much footwear but may be extrapolated or located as would seem rational to one skilled in the art of footwear making in footwear designs in which portions of these regions are removed or changed in shape. The middle of the rear edge  162  and the middle of the front edge  164  are shown by illustrative lines which are not palpable parts of outsole  150 .  
         [0047]    The base layer  168  of the outsole  150  with lower surface of outsole  152  and a upper surface of outsole  170  which remain largely parallel but may be thickened to enclose cleat base  180  of cleat  182  around where the outsole  150  forms a part of the crossbeam  172  extending within the region of outsole  150  and midsole  174  delineated by lines  176  and arrows  178 . Depending lower from outsole  150  on the crossbeam  172  is metal cleat  182 . Midsole  174  material outcurve  184  fills the crossbeam  172  and contacts the upper surface of outsole  170 . Cleat  182  may be of metal or other material that is attached to outsole  150  on the lower surface of outsole  152  at least partially on the surface of crossbeam  172  by such means as injection molding about the part (shown in FIG. 6B) or by thread attachment or molding together of heat softened parts.  
         [0048]    Outsole  150  and midsole  174  are concavely curved across their width from medial edge  158  to lateral edge  160  to form crossbeam  172  and crossbeams  190 ,  192 ,  194 . Crossbeams  190 ,  192 ,  194  extend respectively within the regions of outsole  150  and midsole  174  delineated by imaginary lines  196 ,  198 ,  200  and indicated by arrow pairs  202 ,  204 ,  206  respectively. Imaginary lines  196 ,  198 ,  200  show the position of the crossbeams  190 ,  192 ,  194 . formed by the curving lower of midsole  174  and outsole  150  and do not exists as a palpable structures within the footwear. Depending lower from outsole  150  on the crossbeams  190 ,  192 ,  194  are cleats  208 ,  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 . Crossbeam  190  is shown to be curved by lines  196  and arrows  202  from medial edge  158  to lateral edge  160 . Crossbeam  172  is shown to be non-linear by lines  176  and generally oriented along arrows  202  from medial edge  158  to lateral edge  160 . Crossbeam  194  extends between lines  200  and is shown to be oriented at a lateral to medial oblique offset by arrows  206  from medial edge  158  to lateral edge  160  to align better with the slightly supinated position of a wearer&#39;s foot as it strikes the ground in most running gaits.  
         [0049]    Outsole  150  has improved flexibility by way of paired notches  220 ,  222  positioned at or close to the edges of respective crossbeams  190 ,  172 . Paired notches  220 ,  222  are paired so that one of each pair shall be on medial edge  158  and one of each pair shall be on lateral edge  160 . Paired notches  220  are positioned on medial edge  158  and on lateral edge  160 , and adjacent to crossbeam  190 . Paired notches  222  are positioned on medial edge  158  and on lateral edge  160 , and adjacent to crossbeam  172 . This placement of paired notches  220 ,  222  close to crossbeams  190 ,  172  has a synergistic improvement in forefoot flexibility of the outsole  150 .  
         [0050]    Foramen  230  is positioned optionally between crossbeams  190 ,  172  and is bordered about by outsole  150 . The opening in outsole  150  formed by foramen  230  may be filled with midsole  174  or left devoid of material. Foramen  232  is positioned to permit crossbeams  172 ,  192  an additional direction of easier distortion when loaded. Foramen  234  is placed through outsole  150  in between crossbeams  192 ,  194 . Foramen  236  is bored or molded through outsole  150  in the crossbeam  194 . FIGS. 7A and 7E, illustrate additional embodiments of the invention. In FIG. 7A, outsole  240  includes crossbeam  242  bearing cleats  244 , 246  on lower surface  248  of outsole  240  under crossbeam  242 , and crossbeam  250  bearing cleats  252 ,  254  on lower surface  248  of outsole  240  under crossbeam  250 . Crossbeam  250  is oriented at a lateral to medial oblique offset from medial edge  256  to lateral edge  258 . Additional stabilizing cleats  260 ,  262  are provided on lower surface  248  of outsole  240  but do not extend under crossbeam  242  or crossbeam  250 .  
         [0051]    In FIG. 7B, outsole  270  includes crossbeam  272  bearing cleats  274 ,  276 ,  278  on lower surface  280  of outsole  270  under crossbeam  272 . Crossbeams  282 ,  284  support cleats  286 ,  288  on lower surface  280  of outsole  270 .  
         [0052]    In FIG. 7C, outsole  290  includes crossbeams  292 ,  294 ,  296 ,  298 ,  300 ,  302  supporting cleats  304  on lower surface  312  of outsole  290 . Cleats  304  and cleats  306 ,  308 ,  310  are of generally of the truncated conical form. Cleats  306 ,  308 ,  310  depend from crossbeams  298 ,  292  respectively and also extend beyond crossbeams  298 ,  292  onto other parts of lower surface  312  of the outsole to provide improved resistance to cleat shearing.  
         [0053]    In FIG. 7D, outsole  320  is divided into regions of different material such as forefoot and toe region  322  of hard plastic, and midfoot and heel region  324  of rubber. Forefoot and toe region  322  includes crossbeams  326 ,  328  bearing spike type example cleats  330  on lower surface  332  of outsole  324  under crossbeams  326 ,  328 . A further optional refinement to this track type sole is the inclusion of foramen  334  between crossbeam  328  and crossbeam  326 .  
         [0054]    In FIG. 7E, outsole  340  includes crossbeams  342 ,  344 ,  346  with thread attached cleats  348  attached partially on crossbeam  342  and partially off crossbeam on heel lower surface  349  of outsole  340  as an aid to sole strength at heel strike during running. Molded truncated conical cleats  350 ,  352 ,  354 ,  356  depend from outsole  340  under crossbeams  344  and  346 . added toe off assistance is provided by toe cleat  358  on toe lower surface  360  of outsole  340 . Midsole material  362  is visible through foramen  364  positioned between crossbeam  344  and crossbeam  342 .  
         [0055]    The cleated sole of the invention provides a structure that reduces discomfort from cleat pressure, provides a balanced distribution of sole elements to maintain similar sole stiffness on the medial and the lateral aspects of the sole, and produces a novel positively synergistic and unexpected interaction between the midsole, outsole and cleat elements of the sole. The sole of the invention has less weight than a sole with the same maximum midsole thickness extending throughout the expanse of the midsole lower surface. The sole crossbeams add side to side sole stiffness compared with prior art soles, and there is minimal additional manufacturing cost for the structure of the sole.  
         [0056]    Other modifications can be made in accordance with the true spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. For example, a shell molded upper may have a sole of this invention attached by rivets or screws, the sole may be more flared medially than laterally, stabilizing side springs may be attached to the sole side walls, the lasting board may be furnished with tabs or extensions cut from the same sheet without stitching, and upper components attached thereto, or the outsole may have cushioning benefit provided by an A-Frame sole structure.