S-shaped cleat structures and intermixed cleat patterns for articles of footwear

Abstract

Presented are S-shaped cleats for footwear, methods for making/using S-shaped cleats, and footwear fabricated with S-shaped cleats. A cleat structure for an article of footwear includes a mounting base, such as a pair of coplanar mounting plates, that attaches to the footwear's sole structure. A center wall projects downwardly from the mounting base and has opposing lateral sides with a distal end extending therebetween. A pair of sidewalls each projects downwardly from the base and adjoins a respective lateral side of the center wall. Each sidewall has a respective angled edge that projects at an oblique angle from the distal end of the center wall. The two sidewalls are located on opposing sides of the center wall; the sidewalls may be parallel to and extend in opposite directions of each other. The center wall and sidewalls may be substantially flat panels with multiple polygonal faces or may have arcuate sides.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a midsole configured to attach to the upper;   an outsole attached to the midsole and defining a ground-facing outsole bottom surface; and   a pattern of intermixed cleats attached to and projecting downward from the outsole bottom surface, the pattern of intermixed cleats including:
 a first blade-shaped cleat located at a forward end of the outsole within a forefoot region of the sole structure; 
 a second blade-shaped cleat located at a rearward end of the outsole within a hindfoot region of the sole structure; and 
 a plurality of S-shaped cleats spaced longitudinally from one another along the outsole and located on a medial side or a lateral side of the sole structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of S-shaped cleats includes a first row of S-shaped cleats located on a lateral side of the sole structure and aligned along a lateral edge of the outsole bottom surface. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of S-shaped cleats includes a second column of S-shaped cleats located on a medial side of the sole structure and aligned along a medial edge of the outsole bottom surface. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second columns of S-shaped cleats each includes at least three S-shaped cleats. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second columns of S-shaped cleats each includes at least one blade-shaped cleat. 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure of  claim 2 , wherein the pattern of intermixed cleats further includes a first column of blade-shaped cleats located on a medial side of the sole structure and aligned along a medial edge of the outsole bottom surface. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure of  claim 6 , wherein the first column of S-shaped cleats includes at least three S-shaped cleats, and the first column of blade-shaped cleats includes at least three blade-shaped cleats. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of S-shaped cleats includes a first column of S-shaped cleats located on a medial side of the sole structure and aligned along a medial edge of the outsole bottom surface. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure of  claim 8 , wherein the pattern of intermixed cleats further includes a first column of blade-shaped cleats located on a lateral side of the sole structure and aligned along a lateral edge of the outsole bottom surface. 
     
     
         10 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the S-shaped cleats is rotated by a distinct angular offset with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the sole structure. 
     
     
         11 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second blade-shaped cleats are both transversely oriented with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the sole structure, the first blade-shaped cleat oriented at a first pitch angle with respect to the longitudinal centerline, and the second blade-shaped cleat oriented at a second pitch angle distinct from the first pitch angle. 
     
     
         12 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the S-shaped cleats is a one-piece construction having a center wall with first and second sidewalls projecting substantially orthogonally from first and second ends, respectively, of the center wall. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second blade-shaped cleats is a one-piece construction having a generally flat body with two flat major faces and two straight sides. 
     
     
         14 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper configured to receive a foot of a user; and   a sole structure configured to support thereon the foot of the user, the sole structure including:   a midsole mounted to the upper;   an outsole mounted to the midsole and defining a ground-facing outsole bottom surface; and   a pattern of intermixed cleats attached to and projecting downward from the outsole bottom surface, the pattern of intermixed cleats including:
 a first blade-shaped cleat located at a forward end of the outsole within a forefoot region of the sole structure; 
 a second blade-shaped cleat located at a rearward end of the outsole within a hindfoot region of the sole structure; and 
 a plurality of S-shaped cleats spaced longitudinally from one another along the outsole and located on a medial side or a lateral side of the sole structure. 
   
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a sole structure for an article of footwear, the article of footwear having an upper, the method comprising:
 forming a midsole configured to attach to the upper;   forming an outsole defining a ground-facing outsole bottom surface;   attaching the outsole to the midsole; and   attaching a pattern of intermixed cleats to the outsole bottom surface such that the pattern of intermixed cleats project downward from the outsole, the pattern of intermixed cleats including;
 a first blade-shaped cleat located at a forward end of the outsole within a forefoot region of the sole structure; 
 a second blade-shaped cleat located at a rearward end of the outsole within a hindfoot region of the sole structure; and 
 a plurality of S-shaped cleats spaced longitudinally from one another along the outsole and located on a medial side or a lateral side of the sole structure. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of S-shaped cleats includes a first row of S-shaped cleats located on a lateral side of the sole structure and aligned along a lateral edge of the outsole bottom surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of S-shaped cleats includes a second column of S-shaped cleats located on a medial side of the sole structure and aligned along a medial edge of the outsole bottom surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second columns of S-shaped cleats each includes at least three S-shaped cleats. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second columns of S-shaped cleats each includes at least one blade-shaped cleat. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pattern of intermixed cleats further includes a first column of blade-shaped cleats located on a medial side of the sole structure and aligned along a medial edge of the outsole bottom surface. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first column of S-shaped cleats includes at least three S-shaped cleats, and the first column of blade-shaped cleats includes at least three blade-shaped cleats. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of S-shaped cleats includes a first column of S-shaped cleats located on a medial side of the sole structure and aligned along a medial edge of the outsole bottom surface. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the pattern of intermixed cleats further includes a first column of blade-shaped cleats located on a lateral side of the sole structure and aligned along a lateral edge of the outsole bottom surface. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of the S-shaped cleats is rotated by a distinct angular offset with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the sole structure. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second blade-shaped cleats are both transversely oriented with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the sole structure, the first blade-shaped cleat oriented at a first pitch angle with respect to the longitudinal centerline, and the second blade-shaped cleat oriented at a second pitch angle distinct from the first pitch angle.