Article of footwear having a sole plate

Abstract

A sole structure includes a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region. The sole structure further includes a first cushioning member disposed in the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region, a second cushioning member disposed below the first cushioning member and in the forefoot region and the midfoot region, and a sole plate. The sole plate includes an upper flange and a lower flange connected at a point such that the upper flange is above the lower flange, the upper flange is between the first cushioning member and the second cushioning member, and the lower flange is below the second cushioning member. The sole structure further includes an outsole disposed along a bottom of the sole structure, below the lower flange. A point at which the upper and lower flanges connect is spaced from the second cushioning member, thereby forming a spacing.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sole structure having a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region disposed between the forefoot region and the heel region, the sole structure comprising:
 a first cushioning member that is disposed in the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region;   a second cushioning member that is disposed below the first cushioning member and in the forefoot region and the midfoot region;   a sole plate including an upper flange and a lower flange that are connected at a point such that the upper flange is disposed above the lower flange, such that the upper flange is disposed between the first cushioning member and the second cushioning member, and such that the lower flange is disposed below the second cushioning member; and   an outsole that is disposed along a bottom of the sole structure, such that the outsole is disposed below the lower flange,   wherein a point at which the upper flange and the lower flange connect is spaced from the second cushioning member, thereby forming a spacing.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first cushioning member comprises a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the outsole is not continuous along the sole structure in the midfoot region. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein a rear portion of the upper flange is curved and a rear portion of the lower flange is curved, and
 wherein the rear portion of the upper flange connects to the rear portion of the lower flange at the point.   
     
     
         5 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the upper flange of the sole plate has a uniform thickness,
 wherein the lower flange of the sole plate has a uniform thickness, and   wherein the uniform thickness of the upper flange is substantially the same as the uniform thickness of the lower flange.   
     
     
         6 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sole plate is visible when the sole structure is viewed from a medial side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sole plate is visible when the sole structure is viewed from a lateral side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the lower flange of the sole plate is visible when the sole structure is viewed from a bottom side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sole plate comprises a polyurethane plastic. 
     
     
         10 . A sole structure having a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region disposed between the forefoot region and the heel region, the sole structure comprising:
 a first cushioning member that is disposed in the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region;   a second cushioning member that is disposed below the first cushioning member and in the forefoot region and the midfoot region;   a sole plate including an upper flange and a lower flange that are connected through a rear portion of the sole plate, such that the upper flange is disposed above the lower flange, and the upper flange is disposed between the first cushioning member and the second cushioning member; and   an outsole disposed below the first cushioning member, the second cushioning member, and the sole plate, such that the lower flange of the sole plate is disposed between the second cushioning member and the outsole,   wherein the rear portion of the sole plate is disposed rearward of a rear side of the second cushioning member, and   wherein the rear side of the second cushioning member is spaced from the rear portion of the sole plate, thereby forming a spacing.   
     
     
         11 . The sole structure of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of the second cushioning member is enclosed within the sole plate. 
     
     
         12 . The sole structure of  claim 10 , wherein a heel end of the sole plate extends beyond a heel end of the second cushioning member. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure of  claim 10 , wherein a toe end of the outsole extends beyond a toe end of the first cushioning member, a toe end of the second cushioning member, and a toe end of an upper. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure of  claim 10 , wherein the rear portion of the sole plate defines a C-shaped profile. 
     
     
         15 . A sole structure comprising a forefoot region, a heel region, a midfoot region disposed between the forefoot region and the heel region, a toe end in the forefoot region, and a heel end in the heel region, the sole structure comprising:
 a first cushioning member that extends between the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region;   a second cushioning member that is disposed below the first cushioning member;   a sole plate including an upper flange and a lower flange, such that the upper flange is disposed above the second cushioning member and the lower flange is disposed below the second cushioning member, and such that the upper flange and the lower flange are connected at a vertex point; and   an outsole disposed below the lower flange, such that the lower flange is disposed between the outsole and the second cushioning member,   wherein the vertex point is disposed between the toe end of the sole structure and a toe end of the second cushioning member.   
     
     
         16 . The sole structure of  claim 15 , wherein the vertex point is visible when the sole structure is viewed from a lateral side thereof, and
 wherein the vertex point is visible when the sole structure is viewed from a medial side thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The sole structure of  claim 15 , wherein the vertex point is spaced apart from the toe end of the second cushioning member, such that a spacing is formed between the vertex point and the second cushioning member. 
     
     
         18 . The sole structure of  claim 17 , wherein the spacing is visible when the sole structure is viewed from a lateral side thereof, and
 wherein the spacing is visible when the sole structure is viewed from a medial side thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The sole structure of  claim 15 , wherein the lower flange of the sole plate includes a cutout. 
     
     
         20 . The sole structure of  claim 19 , wherein the cutout extends inwardly from a peripheral edge of the lower flange.