Sole element

Abstract

This invention concerns a sole element for a cleated article of footwear, in particular for a football shoe. The sole element includes a composite element with an anisotropic bending property. The sole element further includes a polymer element, and the polymer element at least partially covers the composite element of the sole element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole element for an article of footwear, the sole element comprising:
 a composite element;   a polymer element over-injected on the composite element and at least partially covering the composite element; and   at least one opening formed in the polymer element on its ground-facing side, wherein the at least one opening exposes a part of the composite element.   
     
     
         2 . The sole element according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one stud dome formed on the polymer element for carrying a stud tip at a position wherein the stud tip does not overlap with the composite element. 
     
     
         3 . The sole element of  claim 2 , wherein the sole element comprises studs comprising the stud domes, and the studs are configured to interact with each other to influence bending of the sole element. 
     
     
         4 . The sole element of  claim 2 , wherein the sole element comprises studs comprising the stud domes, the studs are arranged in a first row, a second row, and a third row in order of distance from a front end of the sole element, and the sole element comprises a slit arranged outside of an area defined between the second row and the third row. 
     
     
         5 . The sole element according to  claim 1 , wherein the composite element comprises an anisotropic bending property. 
     
     
         6 . The sole element according to  claim 1 , wherein the composite element has a first bending stiffness for bending upwards in a toe region of the sole element and a second bending stiffness for bending downwards in the toe region, wherein the second bending stiffness is lower than the first bending stiffness. 
     
     
         7 . The sole element according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer element at least partially covers a ground-facing surface of the composite element. 
     
     
         8 . The sole element according to  claim 1 , further comprising insole board attached to the polymer element. 
     
     
         9 . The sole element according to  claim 1 , further comprising a slit formed in the composite element, wherein the slit is arranged substantially along a longitudinal direction of the sole element. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe comprising the sole element of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The sole element of  claim 1 , comprising a forefoot region, wherein the composite element is located only in the forefoot region of the sole element. 
     
     
         12 . The sole element of  claim 1 , comprising a central stud and further comprising a slit formed in the composite element, wherein the slit extends from an edge of the composite element to the central stud. 
     
     
         13 . The sole element of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer element comprises a ground facing surface and ribs that are formed on the ground facing surface. 
     
     
         14 . The sole element of  claim 13 , comprising a midfoot region, wherein the ribs extend into the midfoot region. 
     
     
         15 . The sole element of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer element comprises a ground-facing surface and a lattice structure that is formed on the ground-facing surface. 
     
     
         16 . The sole element of  claim 1 , wherein the composite element comprises a ground facing surface, and wherein 50%-65% of the ground facing surface is covered by the polymer element. 
     
     
         17 . The sole element of  claim 1 , wherein the composite element comprises a ground-facing surface and a top surface, wherein the top surface is opposite the ground facing surface and the top surface is not covered by the polymer element. 
     
     
         18 . The sole element of  claim 1 , wherein the composite element has a first bending stiffness in a first direction away from a neutral position to a predetermined angle and a second bending stiffness in the first direction beyond the predetermined angle, wherein the first bending stiffness is less than the second bending stiffness, and the first bending stiffness remains constant throughout a range defined from the neutral position to the predetermined angle. 
     
     
         19 . The sole element of  claim 1 , comprising stud tips connected to the composite element, wherein the polymer layer extends over the stud tips.