Patent ID: 7707748

Claim:
A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising: an outsole member including a contact surface and an interior surface opposite the contact surface, wherein the contact surface includes: a base level, a first recessed segment formed in the base level and extending toward the interior surface and in a longitudinal direction in a forefoot portion of the outsole member, a second recessed segment formed in the base level and extending toward the interior surface and in the longitudinal direction in the forefoot portion, and a third recessed segment formed in the base level and extending toward the interior surface and in the longitudinal direction in a heel portion of the outsole member, a front end of the third recessed segment being spaced from a rear end of the first recessed segment by a portion of the base level having no recessed segments formed therein, wherein the first and second recessed segments provide lines of flex in the outsole member and divide the forefoot portion of the outsole member into a medial region, a central region, and a lateral region, wherein the medial, central, and lateral regions are movable about the lines of flex to independently engage and disengage from a surface as a dynamic force moves laterally across the interior surface.