Sole board

Abstract

A sole board for an article of footwear includes a plate that has a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The sole board includes a channel disposed in a top surface of the plate in the forefoot region. The channel extends from a lateral edge of the plate to a medial edge of the plate. A characteristic of the channel at the lateral and medial edges of the plate is different than the characteristic of the channel at a middle of the channel.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a first sole board comprising a first channel formed in a top surface of the first sole board; and   a second sole board comprising a second channel formed in a top surface of the second sole board,   wherein the second channel is aligned with the first channel such that the second channel is underneath the first channel.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first channel extends from a lateral edge of a perimeter of the first sole board to a medial edge of the perimeter of the first sole board. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the second channel extends from a lateral edge of a perimeter of the second sole board to a medial edge of the perimeter of the second sole board. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second channels are disposed in a forefoot region of the first and second sole boards. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second channels extend along a metatarsal region of the forefoot region. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , further comprising a third sole board comprising a third channel formed in a top surface of the third sole board, wherein the third channel is aligned with the first and second channels and is disposed underneath the second channel. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first sole board comprises a sock liner or an insole. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first sole board is disposed between the second sole board and a wearer's foot. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first sole board comprises a foam and wherein the second sole board comprises thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first sole board is fixedly attached to the article of footwear. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first sole board is removably inserted into the article of footwear. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first channel tapers from a medial edge of the first sole board to a middle of the first channel. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of indents are formed in the top surface of the first sole board. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first channel and the second channel have V-shaped cross-sections. 
     
     
         22 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a plurality of sole boards, each sole board comprising a channel formed in a top surface of the sole board, wherein the plurality of sole boards comprises a first sole board stacked above a second sole board,   wherein a first channel of the first sole board is aligned with a second channel of the second sole board, and   wherein the first and second channels taper from a medial edge to a middle of each of the first and second sole boards.   
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear of  claim 22 , further comprising a third sole board comprising a third channel formed in a top surface of the third sole board, wherein the third channel is aligned with the first and second channels and is disposed underneath the second channel. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , wherein the first, second, and third sole boards comprise an insole, a sock liner, and a cleat frame structure, respectively. 
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , wherein the first, second, and third channels extend from the medial edge to a lateral edge of each of the first, second, and third sole boards. 
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second channels extend from the medial edge to a lateral edge of each of the first and second sole boards. 
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second channels extend along a metatarsal region of the forefoot region.