Article of footwear with self-cleaning surface

Abstract

An article of footwear having a self-cleaning surface and a method of making an article of footwear are disclosed. The article of footwear may generally include a sole plate having cleats associated with resilient members. The resilient members may be disposed on a bottom surface of the sole plate in an area near the cleats. For example, a resilient member may be disposed in on the bottom surface of the sole plate in the peripheral area of a cleat. The resilient members may prevent mud from accumulating on the cleats and/or a bottom surface of the sole plate by compressing against a surface of the ground and then springing back, preventing mud from sticking to the resilient member.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a. a sole plate including a bottom surface;   b. a first cleat having a shaft extending away from the bottom surface of the sole plate;   c. a second cleat having a shaft extending away from the bottom surface of the sole plate, the second cleat spaced apart from the first cleat; and   d. at least one resilient member embedded in the bottom surface and including a first portion at least partially surrounding the shaft of the first cleat, a second portion at least partially surrounding the shaft of the second cleat, and an intermediate portion disposed between and spaced apart from the first portion and the second portion, the at least one resilient member covering a first region of the bottom surface of the sole plate.   
     
     
         23 . The sole structure of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one resilient member defines a ground-contacting surface that is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the sole plate. 
     
     
         24 . The sole structure of  claim 22 , wherein the sole plate includes at least one indentation surrounding each of the first cleat and the second cleat, the at least one indentation configured to receive the at least one resilient member. 
     
     
         25 . The sole structure of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one resilient member includes a first resilient member defining the first portion as a first hole surrounding the shaft of the first cleat, defining the second portion as a second hole surrounding the shaft of the second cleat, and the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         26 . The sole structure of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one resilient member includes a first resilient member defining (i) the first portion as a first hole surrounding the shaft of the first cleat and (ii) the intermediate portion, and a second resilient member defining the second portion as a second hole surrounding the shaft of the second cleat. 
     
     
         27 . The sole structure of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one resilient member is substantially flat. 
     
     
         28 . The sole structure of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one resilient member is made of a foam material. 
     
     
         29 . The sole structure of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one resilient member is made from at least one of silicone and rubber. 
     
     
         30 . The sole structure of  claim 22 , further comprising an upper attached to the sole plate. 
     
     
         31 . The sole structure of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one resilient member has a thickness that is less than a length of the shaft of the first cleat. 
     
     
         32 . A method of making a sole structure for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
 a. providing a sole plate including a bottom surface, a first cleat having a shaft extending away from the bottom surface of the sole plate, and a second cleat having a shaft extending away from the bottom surface of the sole plate, the second cleat spaced apart from the first cleat;   b. providing at least one resilient member including a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between and spaced apart from the first portion and the second portion; and   c. embedding the at least one resilient member in the bottom surface of the sole plate, the first portion at least partially surrounding the shaft of the first cleat, the second portion at least partially surrounding the shaft of the second cleat, and the intermediate portion covering a first region of the bottom surface of the sole plate.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein embedding the at least one resilient member in the bottom surface of the sole plate includes positioning a ground-contacting surface of the at least one resilient member substantially flush with the bottom surface of the sole plate. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising forming at least one indentation in the sole plate surrounding each of the first cleat and the second cleat, the at least one indentation recessed from the bottom surface of the sole plate. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein embedding the at least one resilient member in the bottom surface includes inserting the at least one resilient member into the at least one indentation. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein providing the at least one resilient member includes providing a unitary structure defining the first portion as a first hole surrounding the shaft of the first cleat, the second portion as a second hole surrounding the shaft of the second cleat, and the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein providing the at least one resilient member includes providing a first resilient member defining (i) the first portion as a first hole surrounding the shaft of the first cleat and (ii) the intermediate portion, and providing a second resilient member defining the second portion as a second hole surrounding the shaft of the second cleat. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein providing the at least one resilient member includes providing a unitary structure defining the first portion, the second portion, and the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein providing at least one resilient member includes providing at least one resilient member that is substantially flat. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein providing at least one resilient member includes providing at least one resilient member that is made of a foam material. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein providing at least one resilient member includes providing at least one resilient member that is made from at least one of silicone and rubber.