Footwear with segmented plate

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an outsole, an upper coupled to the outsole, a midsole arranged on the outsole, and a segmented support plate positioned between the outsole and the midsole. The segmented support plate includes a plurality of segments including (i) a first segment having a longitudinal dimension that is greater than a lateral dimension of the first segment, and (ii) a second segment having a longitudinal dimension that is less than a lateral dimension of the second segment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear defining a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, the article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole;   an upper coupled to the outsole;   a midsole arranged on the outsole, the upper and the midsole defining a foot cavity; and   a series of support plates positioned between the outsole and the midsole, the series of support plates including at least a first plate, a second plate and a third plate, each of the support plates extending at least a first lateral dimension defined along the lateral direction from a medial side to a lateral side of the article of footwear and at least a first longitudinal dimension defined along the longitudinal direction, wherein each of the support plates is separated by at least a longitudinal separation distance that is less than the first longitudinal dimension.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal separation distance is less than the first lateral dimension. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the first plate is positioned closer to a heel end than a toe end of the article of footwear, wherein the third plate is positioned closer to the toe end than the heel end of the article of footwear, and wherein the second plate is positioned between the first plate and the third plate. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3  wherein the series of support plates further includes a fourth plate positioned closer to the toe end than the heel end. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 3  wherein the first plate defines a greatest longitudinal dimension and a greatest lateral dimension, wherein the greatest longitudinal dimension of the first plate is greater than the greatest lateral dimension of the first plate. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5  wherein the third plate defines a greatest longitudinal dimension and a greatest lateral dimension, wherein the greatest lateral dimension of the third plate is greater than the greatest longitudinal dimension of the third plate. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein each of the support plates are comprised of carbon fiber or steel. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the support plates includes a bore configured to receive a detent on the outsole. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the outsole includes a recess formed in an upper surface of the outsole and at least one of the support plates is positioned within the recess. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the first plate is exposed on an underside of the outsole via a hole in the outsole. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole;   an upper coupled to the outsole;   a midsole arranged on the outsole, the upper and the midsole defining a foot cavity; and   a segmented support plate positioned between the outsole and the midsole, the segmented support plate including a plurality of segments, the plurality of segments including (i) a first segment having a longitudinal dimension that is greater than a lateral dimension of the first segment, and (ii) a second segment having a longitudinal dimension that is less than a lateral dimension of the second segment.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein a longitudinal distance between the first segment and the second segment of the segmented support plate is less than the longitudinal dimension of the second segment. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12  wherein the segmented support plate further includes a third segment adjacent to the second segment, the third segment having a longitudinal dimension that is less than a lateral dimension of the third segment, and wherein a longitudinal distance between the second segment and the third segment of the segmented support plate is less than the longitudinal dimension of the third segment. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13  wherein the segmented support plate further includes a fourth segment adjacent to the third segment, the fourth segment having a longitudinal dimension that is less than a lateral dimension of the fourth segment, and wherein a longitudinal distance between the third segment and the fourth segment of the segmented support plate is less than the longitudinal dimension of the fourth segment. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the first segment defines a proximal end opposite a distal end along a longitudinal direction of the article of footwear, wherein the proximal end is defined by a first lateral dimension and the distal end is defined by a second lateral dimension, wherein the first lateral dimension is less than the second lateral dimension. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein a thickness of the segmented support plate is less than 5 mm. 
     
     
         17 . An article of footwear defining a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, the article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole;   an upper coupled to the outsole;   a midsole arranged on the outsole, the upper and the midsole defining a foot cavity; and   a series of support plates positioned between the outsole and the midsole, the series of support plates including (i) a first support plate defining a first longitudinal dimension, (ii) a second support plate defining a second longitudinal dimension and separated from the first support plate, and (iii) a third support plate defining a third longitudinal dimension and separated from the first support plate and the second support plate, wherein the first longitudinal dimension is greater than a sum of the second longitudinal dimension and the third longitudinal dimension.   
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , the series of support plates further comprising (iv) a fourth support plate defining a fourth longitudinal dimension and separated from the first support plate, the second support plate, and the third support plate, wherein the first longitudinal dimension is greater than a sum of the second longitudinal dimension, the third longitudinal dimension, and the fourth longitudinal dimension. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18  wherein the first support plate is positioned closer to a heel end than a toe end of the article of footwear, and wherein the fourth support plate is positioned closer to the toe end than the heel end of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19  wherein a longitudinal separation distance between each support plate of the series of support plates is less than any of the first longitudinal dimension, the second longitudinal dimension, the third longitudinal dimension, or the fourth longitudinal dimension.