Sole including medial and lateral plate members

Abstract

An article of footwear is provided and includes a sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion, a medial side and a lateral side. A first plate member is positioned on the medial side of the sole, where the first plate member has a first length, and a second plate member is positioned on the lateral side of the sole, where the second plate member has a second length. The first length of the first plate member is greater than or equal to the second length of the second plate member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion, a medial side and a lateral side;   a first channel formed in said sole on said medial side, said first channel having a plurality of first sides;   a second channel formed in said sole on said lateral side, said second channel having a plurality of second sides;   a first plate member positioned in said first channel on the medial side of the sole, said first plate member having a first length, at least a portion of said first plate member being spaced from all of said first sides of said first channel; and   a second plate member positioned in said second channel on the lateral side of the sole, said second plate member being separate from said first plate member and having a second length, at least a portion of said second plate member being spaced from all of said second sides of said second channel.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said first plate member has a first plate width and a corresponding first end of said first channel has a first channel width, and said first plate width and said first channel width are each greater than a width of each of said second plate member and said second channel. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said first plate member extends from said forefoot portion to said heel portion. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said second plate member extends from said forefoot portion to said heel portion. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said second plate member extends from said forefoot portion to said heel portion. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first plate member and said second plate member extends from said forefoot portion to a midfoot portion of said sole. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said sole includes a first channel on said medial side and a second channel on said lateral side, and wherein said first plate member is located in said first channel and said second plate member is located in said second channel. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein a central area of at least one of said first channel and said second channel includes a cavity that is greater than a thickness of said at least one of said first channel and said second channel. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first plate member and said second plate member includes at least one lateral curve. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first plate member and said second plate member includes has portions that are at different heights. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said first plate member includes a first thickness and said second plate member includes a second thickness, and wherein said first thickness and said second thickness are the same. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said first plate member includes a first thickness and said second plate member includes a second thickness, and wherein said first thickness and said second thickness are the different. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said first plate member and said second plate member are spaced from each other. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first plate member and said second plate member includes at least one of a vertically oriented concave curve and a vertically oriented convex curve. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said first plate member and said second plate member are connected to each other, and wherein said first length of said first plate member is greater than or equal to said second length of said second plate member. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein said first plate member and said second plate member are connected in a midfoot portion of said sole. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein a central area of at least one of said first channel and said second channel includes a cavity that is greater than a thickness of said at least one of said first channel and said second channel.