Article of footwear with sole plate

Abstract

A sole assembly for an article of footwear. The sole assembly includes a top midsole layer, a bottom midsole layer and a plate disposed between the top midsole layer and the bottom midsole layer. The plate includes a forefoot portion with lateral, medial and central longitudinal extensions, and a heel portion with a heel cup and a heel flange extending outwardly from the heel cup. The central and lateral longitudinal extensions are joined by a bridge. The top midsole layer is seated within the heel cup and does not cover the upper surface of the heel flange. The bottom midsole layer underlies and supports the heel flange.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole assembly comprising:
 a top midsole layer;   a bottom midsole layer; and   a plate disposed between the top midsole layer and the bottom midsole layer, the plate including a heel portion, an arch portion and a forefoot portion, the forefoot portion including a medial longitudinal extension extending forwardly from the arch portion and having a free end opposite the arch portion, a central longitudinal extension extending forwardly from the arch portion and having a free end opposite the arch portion and a lateral longitudinal extension extending forwardly from the arch portion and having a free end opposite the arch portion, the central longitudinal extension and the lateral longitudinal extension being joined to one another by a bridge, the bridge extending between the free end of the central longitudinal extension and the free end of the lateral longitudinal extension.   
     
     
         2 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plate includes a heel cup disposed at least in the heel portion, the heel cup being curved and opening upwardly. 
     
     
         3 . The sole assembly of  claim 2  wherein the plate includes a heel flange extending outwardly from the heel cup at least in the heel portion. 
     
     
         4 . The sole assembly of  claim 3  wherein the top midsole layer does not cover the heel flange. 
     
     
         5 . The sole assembly of  claim 3  wherein the bottom midsole layer underlies the heel flange. 
     
     
         6 . The sole assembly of  claim 5  wherein the sole assembly includes a heel region and wherein the top midsole layer and the bottom midsole layer are stepped with the bottom midsole layer extending beyond a medial extent, a lateral extent and a rear extent of the top midsole in the heel region. 
     
     
         7 . The sole assembly of  claim 6  wherein the heel flange is crescent shaped and generally planar. 
     
     
         8 . The sole assembly of  claim 7  wherein the bottom midsole layer defines lateral and medial recesses that expose portions of an undersurface of the plate in the arch region. 
     
     
         9 . The sole assembly of  claim 8  wherein the bottom midsole layer defines a forefoot opening underlying a portion of the central longitudinal extension, the forefoot opening extending through the bottom midsole layer to expose at least a portion of an undersurface of the central longitudinal extension. 
     
     
         10 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein the medial longitudinal extension is offset inwardly from a medial edge of the sole assembly, the medial longitudinal extension being curved in correspondence with the medial edge; and
 wherein the lateral longitudinal extension is offset inwardly from a lateral edge of the sole assembly, the lateral longitudinal extension being curved in correspondence with the lateral edge; and 
 wherein the central longitudinal extension is generally straight and is disposed between the medial lateral extension and the lateral longitudinal extension. 
 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper having a heel portion, an arch portion and a forefoot portion; and   a sole assembly connected to the upper, the sole assembly including;
 a top midsole layer having a heel portion, an arch portion and a forefoot portion; 
 a bottom midsole layer having a heel portion, an arch portion and a forefoot portion; and 
 a plate disposed between the top midsole layer and the bottom midsole layer, the plate having a heel portion with a heel cup and a peripheral flange extending from at least a portion of the heel cup, the plate having an arch portion extending forwardly from the heel portion, the plate having a forefoot portion with a medial longitudinal extension extending forwardly from the arch portion, a central longitudinal extension extending forwardly from the arch portion and a lateral longitudinal extension extending forwardly from the arch portion and having a free end opposite the arch portion, the central longitudinal extension and the lateral longitudinal extension being joined to one another by a bridge, the bridge extending between the free end of the central longitudinal extension and the free end of the lateral longitudinal extension, the plate having a bridge extending between the central longitudinal extension and the lateral longitudinal extension. 
   
     
     
         12 . The footwear of  claim 11  wherein the heel portion of the top midsole layer extends outwardly beyond the heel portion of the upper on a lateral side, a medial side a rear of the upper;
 wherein the heel portion of the bottom midsole layer extends outwardly beyond the heel portion of the top midsole layer on a lateral side, a medial side a rear of the upper. 
 
     
     
         13 . The footwear of  claim 12  wherein the heel portion of the top midsole layer is seated within the heel cup; and
 wherein the heel flange includes a top surface that is uncovered by the top midsole layer and a bottom surface that is engaged with the bottom midsole layer. 
 
     
     
         14 . The footwear of  claim 13  wherein the heel flange is crescent shaped and generally planar. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear of  claim 14  wherein the bottom midsole layer defines lateral and medial recesses that expose portions of an undersurface of the arch portion of the plate. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear of  claim 15  wherein the bottom midsole layer defines a forefoot opening underlying a portion of the central longitudinal extension, the forefoot opening extending through the bottom midsole layer to expose at least a portion of an undersurface of the central longitudinal extension. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear of  claim 16  wherein the heel portion of the plate defines a central opening, the top midsole layer being in communication with the bottom midsole layer through the central opening. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear of  claim 17  wherein the medial longitudinal extension is offset inwardly from a medial edge of the sole assembly, the medial longitudinal extension being curved and extending generally parallel to the medial edge; and
 wherein the lateral longitudinal extension is offset inwardly from a lateral edge of the sole assembly, the lateral longitudinal extension being curved and extending generally parallel to the lateral edge; and 
 wherein the central longitudinal extension is generally straight and is disposed between the medial lateral extension and the lateral longitudinal extension. 
 
     
     
         19 . The footwear of  claim 18  wherein the medial longitudinal extension extends along the medial edge of the sole assembly in a location to support a great toe of a wearer's foot and the bridge extends laterally across the sole assembly in a location to support 2 nd  through 5 th  toes of a wearer's foot. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear of  claim 19  further comprising an outsole, the outsole having a forefoot segment and a heel segment, the forefoot segment defining a forefoot opening coinciding with the forefoot opening of the bottom midsole layer.