Article of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear. The article of footwear further includes a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure comprising a midsole defining a v-shaped notch; an outsole coupled with a bottom surface of the midsole, and a plate that is disposed between the midsole and the upper. The plate is coupled with the midsole in the forefoot region and the heel region, and a gap is formed between the plate and the midsole in the midfoot region, and at least one sole aperture is disposed within the sole structure.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear; and   a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a midsole; 
 an outsole coupled with a bottom surface of the midsole; and 
 a plate that is disposed between the midsole and the upper, 
   wherein the plate is coupled with the midsole in the forefoot region and the heel region, and a gap is formed between the plate and the midsole in the midfoot region, and   wherein at least one sole aperture is disposed within the sole structure.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the sole aperture extends through the midsole, the outsole, and the plate. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one sole aperture comprises a first sole aperture, a second sole aperture, and a third sole aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the first sole aperture is disposed within a forefoot region, the second sole aperture is disposed within a midfoot region, and the third sole aperture is disposed within a heel region. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  further comprising a mesh disposed over the sole aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the plate is relatively thicker within a midfoot region thereof than within a forefoot region thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least one plate aperture within the plate further defines the at least one sole aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the midsole defines a v-shaped notch that is laterally aligned with the gap. 
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a midsole, 
 an outsole coupled with a bottom surface of the midsole, and 
 a plate that is disposed between the midsole and the upper, 
   wherein the plate defines a first plate aperture and a second plate aperture.   
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the first plate aperture aligns with a first sole aperture, and the second plate aperture aligns with a second sole aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the first sole aperture and the second sole aperture define channels that allow air to flow from an underside of the article of footwear to a foot cavity within the upper. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein a gap is formed between the plate and the midsole. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the gap is aligned with a v-shaped notch within the midsole. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the first plate aperture is one of a first plurality of apertures, which are separated by a plurality of first support bars. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the plate comprises TPU. 
     
     
         16 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear; and   a sole structure coupled with the upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a midsole; 
 an outsole coupled with a surface of the midsole; and 
 a plate that is disposed between the midsole and the upper, 
   wherein the plate is coupled with the midsole and a gap is formed between the plate and the midsole, and   wherein a first sole aperture and a second sole aperture define air channels through the midsole, the outsole, and the plate.   
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the plate is thicker within the midfoot region than within the forefoot region. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , further comprising a heel cup disposed at a heel end of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the heel cup defines lateral and medial legs that are connected with a heel cup arm. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the midsole includes a reinforcing member opposite the gap from the plate.