Article of footwear having a sole plate

Abstract

A sole plate for a sole structure of an article of footwear, the sole plate including a forefoot region including a toe end at the distal end of the forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region including a heel end at the distal end of the heel region. The sole plate further including a medial side, a lateral side, a widest section, and a narrowest section. The sole plate defines an outer edge, and the outer edge includes a first plurality of peaks and a first plurality of valleys. The first plurality of peaks and the first plurality of valleys are located on the lateral side of the forefoot region, and the first plurality of peaks and the first plurality of valleys are disposed between the widest section of the sole plate and the toe end of the sole plate.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A sole plate for a sole structure of an article of footwear, the sole plate having:
 a forefoot region including a toe end at a distal end of the forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region including a heel end at a distal end of the heel region;   a medial side and a lateral side;   an outer edge;   a widest section; and   a narrowest section,   wherein the outer edge includes a first plurality of peaks and a first plurality of valleys that are located on the lateral side of the forefoot region, and   wherein the first plurality of peaks and the first plurality of valleys are disposed between the widest section of the sole plate and the toe end of the sole plate.   
     
     
         2 . The sole plate of  claim 1 , wherein the heel end includes a plurality of heel peaks separated by a heel valley. 
     
     
         3 . The sole plate of  claim 1  further including a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         4 . The sole plate of  claim 3 , wherein a central longitudinal plane runs from the toe end of the sole plate to the heel end of the sole plate, and
 wherein the plurality of ribs extend in the direction of the central longitudinal plane.   
     
     
         5 . The sole plate of  claim 1  further comprising a curved portion and a rear portion,
 wherein the curved portion is an anterior curved portion, and 
 wherein the rear portion is generally flat or straight. 
 
     
     
         6 . The sole plate of  claim 1 , wherein the outer edge including the plurality of peaks and the plurality of valleys on the lateral side between the widest section and the toe end includes more peaks than valleys. 
     
     
         7 . The sole plate of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valleys includes two valleys. 
     
     
         8 . The sole plate of  claim 1 , wherein the sole plate includes a plurality of apertures. 
     
     
         9 . The sole plate of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of apertures includes a first aperture and a second aperture, and
 wherein the first aperture is disposed closer to the toe end of the sole plate than the second aperture.   
     
     
         10 . The sole plate of  claim 1 , wherein the medial side of the outer edge of the sole plate includes at least one peak and at least one valley. 
     
     
         11 . A sole plate for a sole structure of an article of footwear having a lateral side and a medial side, the sole plate having:
 a forefoot region including a toe end at a distal end of the forefoot region;   a heel region including a heel end at a distal end of the heel region; and   a midfoot region that extends between the forefoot region and the heel region,   wherein an outer edge defines a widest section, a narrowest section, and a plurality of peaks and a plurality of valleys,   wherein at least half of the peaks are disposed on the lateral side of the sole plate between the widest section and the toe end, and   wherein the peaks disposed on the lateral side of the sole plate between the widest section and the toe end define a smaller radius of curvature than the peaks that are not disposed on the lateral side of the sole plate between the widest section and the toe end.   
     
     
         12 . The sole plate of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of valleys of the outer edge is disposed on the lateral side of the sole plate between the widest section and the toe end. 
     
     
         13 . The sole plate of  claim 12 , wherein the valley or valleys disposed on the lateral side of the sole plate between the widest section and the toe end define a smaller radius of curvature than the valleys that are not disposed on the lateral side of the sole plate between the widest section and the toe end. 
     
     
         14 . The sole plate of  claim 11  further including a plurality of apertures and a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         15 . The sole plate of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of ribs includes a first rib, a second rib, and a third rib,
 wherein the first rib and the second rib extend from the forefoot region to the heel region, and   wherein the third rib is entirely disposed between the widest section and the toe end of the sole plate.   
     
     
         16 . A sole plate for a sole structure of an article of footwear having a medial side and a lateral side, the sole plate having:
 a forefoot region including a toe end at a distal end of the forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region including a heel end at a distal end of the heel region;   an outer edge defining a widest section and a narrowest section;   a plurality of ribs; and   a plurality of apertures,   wherein the lateral side of the outer edge between the widest section and the toe end includes at least three peaks and at least two valleys, and   wherein a side profile of the sole plate includes a curved portion and a rear portion.   
     
     
         17 . The sole plate of  claim 16  further including a peak on the medial side of the forefoot region of the outer edge. 
     
     
         18 . The sole plate of  claim 16  further including a valley on the medial side of the midfoot region of the outer edge. 
     
     
         19 . The sole plate of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of apertures includes a first aperture and a second aperture,
 wherein the first aperture is disposed closer to the toe end than the second aperture,   wherein the plurality of ribs includes a first rib and a second rib,   wherein a first end of the first rib and a first end of the second rib are disposed between the widest section and the toe end,   wherein a second end of the first rib and a second end of the second rib are disposed between the narrowest section and the heel end,   wherein the first aperture is disposed between the first rib and the second rib, and   wherein the second aperture is disposed between the first rib and the second rib.   
     
     
         20 . The sole plate of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of ribs includes at least one rib that is disposed entirely within the forefoot region.