Article of footwear having a midsole

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure connected with the upper. The sole structure includes a plate, a midsole defining a midsole height that extends from a bottom side to a top side of the midsole, and an outsole. The midsole height is taken at a maximum thickness of the midsole between the bottom side and the top side of the midsole. The midsole defines a plurality of spike apertures that extend from the bottom side of the midsole to the top side of the midsole, and a plurality of spikes are coupled to the plate within the spike apertures of the midsole. The midsole is configured to deform more than 10% of the height, expressed as a percentage.

1 . An article of footwear defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising:   a plate;   a midsole defining a midsole height that extends from a bottom side to a top side of the midsole; and   an outsole,   wherein the midsole defines a plurality of spike apertures that extend from the bottom side of the midsole to the top side of the midsole,   wherein a plurality of spikes are coupled to the plate, the plurality of spikes defining at least three different spike heights, and   wherein the midsole height increases from the forefoot region to the midfoot region such that the midsole height is largest beneath a metatarsophalangeal point of a user's foot.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the midsole and the outsole extend through the forefoot region and at least partially through the midfoot region, and
 wherein the plate extends through the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and at least partially through the heel region.   
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole defines a ground-engaging surface with plurality of teeth extending away from the ground-engaging surface of the outsole. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the at least three different spike heights include a first spike height, a second spike height and a third spike height, and wherein the first spike height is less than the second spike height and less than the third spike height. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein each spike of the plurality of spikes includes a conical tip, a threaded base, and a flange that wraps around a widest portion of the conical tip. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the plate includes a plurality of protrusions that extend downwardly therefrom, and wherein a spike mount is housed within each protrusion in the plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of recessed portions are defined within the top side of the midsole, and wherein the plurality of protrusions of the plate are configured to be seated within the plurality of recessed portions of the midsole. 
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising:   a plate;   a midsole defining a midsole height that extends from a bottom side to a top side of the midsole, wherein the midsole height is taken at a maximum thickness of the midsole between the bottom side and the top side of the midsole; and   an outsole,   wherein the midsole defines a plurality of spike apertures that extend from the bottom side of the midsole to the top side of the midsole,   wherein a plurality of spikes are coupled with the plate within the spike apertures of the midsole, and   wherein the midsole is configured to deform at least 10% of the midsole height, expressed as a percentage.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the midsole comprises a supercritical foam. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the supercritical foam includes a plurality of micropores. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of a spike of the plurality of spikes that is visible when the midsole is not deformed defines a non-compressed spike length, and wherein a portion of the spike that is visible when the midsole is deformed defines a compressed spike length that is greater than the non-compressed spike length. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the compressed spike length is between about 175% and about 225% of the non-compressed spike length. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the midsole is configured to generate a propulsive force after being deformed. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the propulsive force urges the plate upward to retract the plurality of spikes. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein a portion of a spike of the plurality of spikes that is visible is defined as a spike length, and
 wherein the spike length is inversely proportional to the midsole height.   
     
     
         16 . An article of footwear defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising:   a plate;   a midsole including a bottom side and a top side; and   an outsole,   wherein the midsole defines a plurality of spike apertures that extend from the bottom side of the midsole to the top side of the midsole, the midsole defining a plurality of aperture walls,   wherein a plurality of ground-engaging spikes are coupled to the plate, each of the plurality of ground-engaging spikes defining a spike height and a spike axis, and   wherein a gap wraps radially around the spike axis between each of the ground-engaging spikes of the plurality of ground-engaging spikes and each of the aperture walls of the plurality of aperture walls along the spike height.   
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein a plurality of foam protection rings are disposed around the plurality of spike apertures. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein a lip extends around a perimeter of the outsole, the lip defining a first undulating profile. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein a rim is defined along the bottom side of the midsole, and wherein the rim defines a second undulating profile. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the rim receives the lip when the outsole is coupled to the midsole. 
     
     
         21 - 56 . (canceled)