Wolverine Outdoors, Inc.

A footwear including a sole assembly having an upper midsole, a lower midsole, and a plate sandwiched therebetween. One or both of the upper and lower midsoles can include upper and/or lower pillars that cooperatively form an upper or lower void and/or compartment above or below the plate. The lower void and/or compartment below the plate can be disposed vertically below the upper void, with the plate separating the voids and/or compartments. The voids, compartments, plates and pillars can collapse to provide cushion and energy return. The upper plate can undulate from toe to heel, concave in the forefoot, convex in the arch and concave in the heel. The upper midsole can include a weight bearing surface with at least a 10 mm heel to toe drop. The plate can form a branding bridge between upper pillars, with an indicia element exposed in the upper void for advertising on the plate.

A sandal construction providing lightweight, highly adjustable sandals. The sandal includes an EVA midsole configured to receive the wearers footwear and an outsole configured to engage the ground. The sandal includes an upper having a heel assembly that seats the heel of the wearer's foot and a strap that retains the forward portion of the wearer's foot. The forefoot strap is a single, adjustable length strap that passes over the wearer's foot and is slidably threaded through passages in the sole. The midsole includes embedded strap inserts that define portions of the passages to receive and facilitate lengthwise movement of the strap. The strap inserts are substantially more rigid than the EVA. Each strap insert may include a web shepherding the strap across the bottom of the midsole and a pair of upright sleeves that shepherd the strap through at least a portion of the thickness of the midsole.

A footwear construction is provided with a sole assembly having underfoot cushion elements disposed through a support frame to yield enhanced stability for the sole assembly. The cushion elements and the corresponding apertures through the frame can be in a forefoot region and/or a heel region and can occupy a majority of those regions. The frame can be constructed from one material and the midsole from another material softer or having a lower durometer. The midsole can include a peripheral groove into which an outer frame wall of the frame can be interlocked to further stabilize the cushion elements which are interior to the frame. The midsole can include an exterior midsole wall, and that wall and the frame wall can include corresponding teeth and recesses that further interlock the frame and midsole to augment structural support and stability, without substantially reducing the underfoot cushion provided by the midsole.

A sandal construction providing lightweight, highly adjustable sandals. The sandal includes an EVA midsole configured to receive the wearers footwear and an outsole configured to engage the ground. The sandal includes an upper having a heel assembly that seats the heel of the wearer's foot and a strap that retains the forward portion of the wearer's foot. The forefoot strap is a single, adjustable length strap that passes over the wearer's foot and is slidably threaded through passages in the sole. The midsole includes embedded strap inserts that define portions of the passages to receive and facilitate lengthwise movement of the strap. The strap inserts are substantially more rigid than the EVA. Each strap insert may include a web shepherding the strap across the bottom of the midsole and a pair of upright sleeves that shepherd the strap through at least a portion of the thickness of the midsole.

A sandal construction providing lightweight, highly adjustable sandals. The sandal includes an EVA midsole configured to receive the wearers footwear and an outsole configured to engage the ground. The sandal includes an upper having a heel assembly that seats the heel of the wearer's foot and a strap that retains the forward portion of the wearer's foot. The forefoot strap is a single, adjustable length strap that passes over the wearer's foot and is slidably threaded through passages in the sole. The midsole includes embedded strap inserts that define portions of the passages to receive and facilitate lengthwise movement of the strap. The strap inserts are substantially more rigid than the EVA. Each strap insert may include a web shepherding the strap across the bottom of the midsole and a pair of upright sleeves that shepherd the strap through at least a portion of the thickness of the midsole.

A footwear including a sole assembly having an upper midsole, a lower midsole, and a plate sandwiched therebetween. One or both of the upper and lower midsoles can include upper and/or lower pillars that cooperatively form an upper or lower void and/or compartment above or below the plate. The lower void and/or compartment below the plate can be disposed vertically below the upper void, with the plate separating the voids and/or compartments. The voids, compartments, plates and pillars can collapse to provide cushion and energy return. The upper plate can undulate from toe to heel, concave in the forefoot, convex in the arch and concave in the heel. The upper midsole can include a weight bearing surface with at least a 10 mm heel to toe drop. The plate can form a branding bridge between upper pillars, with an indicia element exposed in the upper void for advertising on the plate.

An adjustable elastic heel strap having first and second elastic closure elements that cooperate to adjustably close the heel. The first elastic closure element is elastic and may be manufactured from a length of elastic webbing. The first elastic closure element may be arranged to engage the wearer's foot. The second elastic closure element is elastic and may be manufactured from an elastic cord. The second elastic closure element may include a cord lock that allows a wearer to selectively vary the effective length and elastic tension of the heel strap. The second elastic closure element may be disposed along the outside of the first elastic closure element to facilitate access. The heel strap may also include a heel pull that is affixed to the first elastic closure element. The heel strap may also include upper and lower retainers that retain and guide the elastic cord and the cord lock.

A method of forming a sole assembly for footwear construction comprises providing a first polymeric composition having a first density and a second polymeric composition having a second density in a mold to form a pre-expanded midsole. The pre-expanded midsole is expanded using a supercritical fluid to form a midsole. The midsole includes an exterior portion having a third density and an interior portion having a fourth density, which is different than the third density. The midsole defines a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. An outsole is joined with the second surface of the midsole.

A method of forming a sole assembly for footwear construction comprises providing a first polymeric composition having a first density and a second polymeric composition having a second density in a mold to form a pre-expanded midsole. The pre-expanded midsole is expanded using a supercritical fluid to form a midsole. The midsole includes an exterior portion having a third density and an interior portion having a fourth density, which is different than the third density. The midsole defines a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. An outsole is joined with the second surface of the midsole.

A footwear including a sole assembly having an upper midsole, a lower midsole, and a plate sandwiched therebetween. One or both of the upper and lower midsoles can include upper and/or lower pillars that cooperatively form an upper or lower void and/or compartment above or below the plate. The lower void and/or compartment below the plate can be disposed vertically below the upper void, with the plate separating the voids and/or compartments. The voids, compartments, plates and pillars can collapse to provide cushion and energy return. The upper plate can undulate from toe to heel, concave in the forefoot, convex in the arch and concave in the heel. The upper midsole can include a weight bearing surface with at least a 10 mm heel to toe drop. The plate can form a branding bridge between upper pillars, with an indicia element exposed in the upper void for advertising on the plate.