Cleat structure for article of footwear

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a baseplate defining a ground-contacting surface of the sole structure and at least two ground-engaging members extending from the ground-contacting surface. The at least two ground-engaging members including a first portion and a second portion, the first portions of the ground-engaging members being connected to one another by a bridge formed separately from the baseplate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a baseplate defining a ground-engaging surface;   a first plurality of traction elements extending from the baseplate in a heel region of the sole structure and aligned along a medial side of the baseplate, the first plurality of traction elements including a first traction element extending along a first axis and a second traction element extending along a second axis convergent with the first axis; and   a second plurality of traction elements extending from the baseplate in the heel region of the sole structure, aligned along a lateral side of the baseplate, and disposed on an opposite side of a central, longitudinal axis of the sole structure than the first plurality of traction elements, the second plurality of traction elements including a third traction element extending along a third axis and a fourth traction element extending along a fourth axis convergent with the third axis.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first traction element is aligned with the third traction element along a first transverse axis extending between the medial side and the lateral side and transverse to the central, longitudinal axis of the sole structure and the second traction element is aligned with the fourth traction element along a second transverse axis extending between the medial side and the lateral side and transverse to the central, longitudinal axis of the sole structure. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure of  claim 2 , wherein the first transverse axis is substantially parallel to the second transverse axis and is disposed closer to a forefoot region of the sole structure than the second transverse axis. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure of  claim 2 , wherein the first axis is convergent with the third axis and the second axis is convergent with the fourth axis. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first traction element, the second traction element, the third traction element, and the fourth traction element are elongate. 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure of  claim 5 , wherein the first traction element, the second traction element, the third traction element, and the fourth traction element taper from a first end to a second end. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first ends of the first traction element, the second traction element, the third traction element, and the fourth traction element are disposed closer to the central, longitudinal axis of the sole structure than the respective second ends of the first traction element, the second traction element, the third traction element, and the fourth traction element. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first traction element and the second traction element taper in a direction from the central, longitudinal axis toward the medial side and the third traction element and the fourth traction element taper in a direction from the central, longitudinal axis toward the lateral side. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first axis is substantially parallel to the fourth axis and the second axis is substantially parallel to the third axis. 
     
     
         10 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a third plurality of traction elements disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure and disposed in a circular pattern. 
     
     
         11 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a baseplate defining a ground-engaging surface;   a first plurality of traction elements extending from the baseplate in a heel region of the sole structure and aligned along a medial side of the baseplate, the first plurality of traction elements including a first traction element extending along a first axis and a second traction element extending along a second axis; and   a second plurality of traction elements extending from the baseplate in the heel region of the sole structure, aligned along a lateral side of the baseplate, and disposed on an opposite side of a central, longitudinal axis of the sole structure than the first plurality of traction elements, the second plurality of traction elements including a third traction element extending along a third axis parallel to the second axis and a fourth traction element extending along a fourth axis parallel to the first axis.   
     
     
         12 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the first traction element is aligned with the third traction element along a first transverse axis extending between the medial side and the lateral side and transverse to the central, longitudinal axis of the sole structure and the second traction element is aligned with the fourth traction element along a second transverse axis extending between the medial side and the lateral side and transverse to the central, longitudinal axis of the sole structure. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure of  claim 12 , wherein the first transverse axis is substantially parallel to the second transverse axis and is disposed closer to a forefoot region of the sole structure than the second transverse axis. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure of  claim 12 , wherein the first axis is convergent with the third axis and the second axis is convergent with the fourth axis. 
     
     
         15 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the first traction element, the second traction element, the third traction element, and the fourth traction element are elongate. 
     
     
         16 . The sole structure of  claim 15 , wherein the first traction element, the second traction element, the third traction element, and the fourth traction element taper from a first end to a second end. 
     
     
         17 . The sole structure of  claim 16 , wherein the first ends of the first traction element, the second traction element, the third traction element, and the fourth traction element are disposed closer to the central, longitudinal axis of the sole structure than the respective second ends of the first traction element, the second traction element, the third traction element, and the fourth traction element. 
     
     
         18 . The sole structure of  claim 16 , wherein the first traction element and the second traction element taper in a direction from the central, longitudinal axis toward the medial side and the third traction element and the fourth traction element taper in a direction from the central, longitudinal axis toward the lateral side. 
     
     
         19 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , further comprising a third plurality of traction elements disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure and disposed in a circular pattern. 
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of  claim 1 .