Footwear Sole Structures Providing Targeted Stiffening and Flex Characteristics

Abstract

Sole structures and footwear include: (a) an outsole component having a ground-contacting surface and an opposite upper-facing surface, the outsole component extending from a heel region to a forefoot region of the sole structure/footwear; (b) a foam layer including a bottom foam surface located at least in the midfoot and regions; and (c) a stiffening structure located between the bottom foam surface and the upper-facing surface at least in the midfoot and forefoot regions. The stiffening structure may include one or more of: a base member (e.g., a rigid plate member that retains its shape under force of gravity or a more flexible and/or pliable base member (e.g., made from fabric)); and/or cement material. The base member and/or cement material may be provided in a shape forming a lateral arm and a medial arm that are separated from one another in the forefoot region by a recess.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear including a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region located between the forefoot region and the heel region, the sole structure comprising:
 an outsole component including a ground-contacting surface and an upper-facing surface opposite the ground-contacting surface, the outsole component extending from the heel region to the forefoot region through the midfoot region;   a plate member including a bottom plate surface adhesively fixed to the upper-facing surface, the plate member including a top plate surface located opposite the bottom plate surface and extending through the midfoot region into both the forefoot region and the heel region; and   a foam layer including a bottom foam surface adhesively fixed to the top plate surface at least in the midfoot region and the forefoot region.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate member includes a lateral arm and a medial arm that are separated from one another in the forefoot region, wherein the bottom plate surface located at each of the lateral arm and the medial arm is adhesively fixed to the upper-facing surface of the outsole component. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the plate member includes a central recess that separates the lateral arm from the medial arm, wherein the central recess extends rearward from free ends of the lateral arm and the medial arm located in the forefoot region to a recess base of the central recess located in the midfoot region. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure according to  claim 3 , wherein the medial arm extends farther forward in the sole structure than does the lateral arm. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate surface includes a main surface and a projection extending downward from the main surface in the midfoot region. 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure according to  claim 5 , wherein the outsole component defines a through hole opening in the midfoot region, and wherein the projection is exposed in the through hole opening. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure according to  claim 5 , wherein the outsole component defines a through hole opening in the midfoot region, and wherein the projection extends into the through hole opening. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure according to  claim 7 , wherein the through hole opening in the outsole component includes a forward end and a rearward end, wherein the forward end is wider than the rearward end, wherein the projection includes a forward end and a rearward end, and wherein the forward end of the projection is wider than the rearward end of the projection. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate member defines a through hole opening in the heel region, and wherein the through hole opening of the plate member is elongated in a longitudinal direction of the sole structure. 
     
     
         10 . The sole structure according to  claim 9 , further comprising a fluid-filled bladder component engaged with the top plate surface in the heel region, wherein a portion of the fluid-filled bladder component overlays the through hole opening in the plate member. 
     
     
         11 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fluid-filled bladder component engaged with the top plate surface in the heel region. 
     
     
         12 . The sole structure according to  claim 11 , wherein the bottom foam surface overlays an upper surface of the fluid-filled bladder component. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure according to  claim 11 , wherein at least 90% of a total volume of the fluid-filled bladder component is located in the heel region. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure according to  claim 11 , wherein a thickness of the fluid-filled bladder component measured directly from a top surface of the fluid-filled bladder component to a bottom surface of the fluid-filled bladder component is less than 12 mm through at least 80% of a surface area of the top surface of the fluid-filled bladder component. 
     
     
         15 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate member is formed from a rubber material. 
     
     
         16 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the plate member measured directly from the top plate surface to the bottom plate surface is less than 2 mm through at least 75% of a surface area of the top plate surface. 
     
     
         17 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the outsole component comprises a cup sole structure. 
     
     
         18 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the outsole component measured directly from the ground-contacting surface to the upper-facing surface is less than 2.5 mm through at least 60% of a surface area of the ground-contacting surface. 
     
     
         19 . A sole structure for an article of footwear including a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region located between the forefoot region and the heel region, the sole structure consisting essentially of:
 an outsole component including a ground-contacting surface and an upper-facing surface opposite the ground-contacting surface, the outsole component extending from the heel region to the forefoot region through the midfoot region;   a plate member including a bottom plate surface adhesively fixed to the upper-facing surface, the plate member including a top plate surface located opposite the bottom plate surface and extending through the midfoot region into both the forefoot region and the heel region; and   a foam layer including a bottom foam surface adhesively fixed to the top plate surface at least in the midfoot region and the forefoot region.   
     
     
         20 . A sole structure for an article of footwear including a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region located between the forefoot region and the heel region, the sole structure consisting essentially of:
 an outsole component including a ground-contacting surface and an upper-facing surface opposite the ground-contacting surface, the outsole component extending from the heel region to the forefoot region through the midfoot region;   a plate member including a bottom plate surface adhesively fixed to the upper-facing surface, the plate member including a top plate surface located opposite the bottom plate surface and extending through the midfoot region into both the forefoot region and the heel region;   a foam layer including a bottom foam surface adhesively fixed to the top plate surface at least in the midfoot region and the forefoot region; and   a fluid-filled bladder component engaged with the top plate surface in the heel region.