Article of footwear with flexible reinforcing plate
First Claim
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1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a reinforcing plate defining a first flex groove and a second flex groove;
a first filling portion extending through the first flex groove; and
a second filling portion extending through the second flex groove;
wherein each of the first filling portion and the second filling portion has an elasticity greater than an elasticity of the reinforcing plate;
wherein the first flex groove extends from a first flex groove first end at a central portion of the reinforcing plate, in an approximately lateral direction toward a first flex groove second end at a medial side of the reinforcing plate;
wherein the second flex groove extends from a second flex groove first end at the central portion of the reinforcing plate, in an approximately lateral direction toward a second flex groove second end at the medial side of the reinforcing plate;
wherein the second flex groove is disposed farther from a forward edge of the sole structure than the first flex groove;
wherein the first flex groove and the second flex groove form a flange portion of the reinforcing plate;
wherein the flange portion has a first end portion connected to the central portion of the reinforcing plate and a second end portion extending to an outer peripheral portion of the reinforcing plate;
wherein the first flex groove first end is separated from the second flex groove first end at the central portion to define the first end portion of the flange portion and a bending region disposed adjacent to the central portion of the reinforcing plate;
wherein the flange portion is aligned with a cleat member;
wherein the flange portion corresponds to a ball region of a foot; and
wherein the flange portion bends at the bending region and moves independently from a remaining portion of the reinforcing plate.
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Abstract
A sole structure for an article of footwear is disclosed. The sole structure includes a reinforcing plate and/or a lasting board. The reinforcing plate and/or lasting board includes a first flange portion corresponding to a big toe of a foot and a second flange portion corresponding to a ball region of a foot. The first flange portion and the second flange portion each include a cleat member.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
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a reinforcing plate defining a first flex groove and a second flex groove; a first filling portion extending through the first flex groove; and a second filling portion extending through the second flex groove; wherein each of the first filling portion and the second filling portion has an elasticity greater than an elasticity of the reinforcing plate; wherein the first flex groove extends from a first flex groove first end at a central portion of the reinforcing plate, in an approximately lateral direction toward a first flex groove second end at a medial side of the reinforcing plate; wherein the second flex groove extends from a second flex groove first end at the central portion of the reinforcing plate, in an approximately lateral direction toward a second flex groove second end at the medial side of the reinforcing plate; wherein the second flex groove is disposed farther from a forward edge of the sole structure than the first flex groove; wherein the first flex groove and the second flex groove form a flange portion of the reinforcing plate; wherein the flange portion has a first end portion connected to the central portion of the reinforcing plate and a second end portion extending to an outer peripheral portion of the reinforcing plate; wherein the first flex groove first end is separated from the second flex groove first end at the central portion to define the first end portion of the flange portion and a bending region disposed adjacent to the central portion of the reinforcing plate; wherein the flange portion is aligned with a cleat member; wherein the flange portion corresponds to a ball region of a foot; and wherein the flange portion bends at the bending region and moves independently from a remaining portion of the reinforcing plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
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a reinforcing plate defining a first flex groove and a second flex groove; a first filling portion extending through the first flex groove; and a second filling portion extending through the second flex groove; wherein each of the first filling portion and the second filling portion has an elasticity greater than an elasticity of the reinforcing plate; wherein the first flex groove extends from a first flex groove first end at a central portion of the reinforcing plate, in an approximately lateral direction toward a first flex groove second end at a medial side of the reinforcing plate; wherein the second flex groove extends from a second flex groove first end at the central portion of the reinforcing plate, in an approximately lateral direction toward a second flex groove second end at the medial side of the reinforcing plate; wherein a flange portion of the reinforcing plate is defined between the first flex groove and the second flex groove; wherein the flange portion has a first end portion connected to a central portion of the reinforcing plate and a second end portion extending to an outer peripheral portion of the reinforcing plate; wherein the first flex groove first end is disposed adjacent to the first end portion of the flange portion and the second flex groove first end is disposed adjacent to the first end portion of the flange portion; wherein a bending region of the flange portion extends between the first flex groove first end and the second flex groove first end, the flange portion being configured to bend at the bending region with respect to a remaining portion of the reinforcing plate beyond the flange portion; a cleat member disposed within a periphery of the flange portion; a plurality of remaining cleat members disposed within a periphery of the remaining portion of the reinforcing plate; and wherein the cleat member moves independently from the plurality of remaining cleat members when the flange portion bends at the bending region. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
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a reinforcing plate defining a first flex groove and a second flex groove; and a lasting board defining a first lasting board flex groove and a second lasting board flex groove that are arranged in a substantially similar configuration as the first flex groove and the second flex groove of the reinforcing plate, respectively; wherein the first flex groove extends from a first flex groove first end at a central portion of the reinforcing plate, in an approximately lateral direction toward a first flex groove second end at a medial side of the reinforcing plate; wherein the second flex groove extends from a second flex groove first end at the central portion of the reinforcing plate, in an approximately lateral direction toward a second flex groove second end at the medial side of the reinforcing plate; wherein the second flex groove is disposed farther from a forward edge of the sole structure than the first flex groove; wherein the first flex groove and the second flex groove form a flange portion of the reinforcing plate; wherein the flange portion has a first end portion connected to the central portion of the reinforcing plate and a second end portion extending to an outer peripheral portion of the reinforcing plate; wherein the first flex groove first end is separated from the second flex groove first end at the central portion to define the first end portion of the flange portion and a bending region disposed adjacent to the central portion of the reinforcing plate; wherein the flange portion is aligned with a cleat member; wherein the flange portion corresponds to a ball region of a foot; and wherein the flange portion bends at the bending region and moves independently from a remaining portion of the reinforcing plate. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification