Article of footwear having a sole plate

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure coupled to the upper and configured to engage with a ground surface. The sole structure includes a cushioning member and a unitary plate. The unitary plate includes an upper plate and a lower plate that extends from the upper plate. The lower plate is coupled to the upper plate at each of a front coupling point and a rear coupling point, such that a front spacing is defined between the front coupling point and the rear coupling point.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral side, and a medial side, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled to the upper and configured to engage with a ground surface, the sole structure including:
 a cushioning member, and 
 a unitary plate including an upper plate and a lower plate that extends from the upper plate, the lower plate being coupled to the upper plate at each of a front coupling point and a rear coupling point, such that a front spacing is defined between the front coupling point and the rear coupling point. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lower plate also extends away from the upper at the rear coupling point and toward the heel region such that a rear spacing is defined opposite the front spacing at the rear coupling point. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the front coupling point is positioned in the forefoot region. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the front spacing defines a front spacing volume and the rear spacing defines a rear spacing volume that is different than the front spacing volume. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the front spacing has a first longitudinal length defined as a straight line distance between the rear coupling point and the front coupling point and the rear spacing has a second longitudinal length defined as a straight line distance between the rear coupling point and a terminal end of the lower plate. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the first longitudinal length is greater than the second longitudinal length. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the front spacing has a curved length defined as a curved line that follows a midpoint between the upper plate and the lower plate when viewed from the lateral side. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the front spacing defines a gap height measured from the upper plate to the lower plate when viewed from the lateral side, the gap height increasing moving from the rear coupling point toward the front coupling point and the gap height increasing moving from the front coupling point toward the rear coupling point. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the lower plate includes a center section between the front coupling point and the rear coupling point and the gap height is at a maximum at the center section.  10  The article of footwear of claim  9 , wherein a ground engaging member is provided on the center section of the lower plate, the ground engaging member configured to increase traction with the ground surface. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lower plate extends from the lateral side to the medial side. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the unitary plate comprises a thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the rear coupling point is positioned in the midfoot region and the front coupling point is positioned in the forefoot region. 
     
     
         14 . An article of footwear defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral side, and a medial side, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled to the upper and configured to engage with a ground surface, the sole structure including an upper plate and a lower plate that is coupled to the upper plate at a midfoot coupling point positioned in the midfoot region and a forefoot coupling point that is positioned in the forefoot region, the lower plate being spaced from the upper plate between the midfoot coupling point and the forefoot coupling point.   
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein a gap height is defined between the upper plate and the lower plate when viewed from the lateral side, the gap height varying in magnitude between the midfoot coupling point and the forefoot coupling point.  16  The article of footwear of claim  15 , wherein the gap height is at a maximum at a center section of the lower plate that is between the midfoot coupling point and the forefoot coupling point. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 15  further comprising a top portion coupled to the upper plate, the top portion positioned between the upper plate and the upper so that the sole structure is coupled to the upper by the top portion. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the sole structure further comprises a ground-engaging member that is coupled to the lower plate. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the sole structure further includes a cushioning member that is coupled to each of the upper plate and the lower plate. 
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral side, and a medial side, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper;   a top portion coupled to the upper; and   a sole structure coupled to the upper and configured to engage with a ground surface, the sole structure including:
 a plate including an upper plate and a lower plate that extends from the upper plate, the lower plate being coupled to the upper plate at each of a front coupling point and a rear coupling point, such that a front spacing is defined between the front coupling point and the rear coupling point, 
 a cushioning member coupled to each of the upper plate and the lower plate, and 
 a ground-engaging member that is coupled to the lower plate.