Sole structure for an article of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper attached to a sole structure, a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a longitudinal axis, a plate, and a gap. The longitudinal axis intersects a toe end and a heel end. The plate includes a top plate and a bottom plate joined at a hinge. The top plate has a first anterior end disposed adjacent a toe end and a first posterior end disposed within the heel region. The bottom plate has a second anterior end disposed adjacent the toe end and a second posterior end disposed in the midfoot region. The gap is defined between the top plate and the bottom plate and extends from the hinge toward the first posterior end. The top plate includes a convex portion in each of the heel region and the forefoot region.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper attached to a sole structure;   a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region;   a longitudinal axis that intersects a toe end located in the forefoot region and a heel end located in the heel region, wherein a longitudinal direction is parallel with the longitudinal axis;   a plate comprising a top plate that is integrally joined to a bottom plate at a hinge, wherein the top plate has a first anterior end disposed adjacent a toe end of the sole structure and a first posterior end disposed within the heel region, wherein the bottom plate has a second anterior end disposed adjacent the toe end and a second posterior end disposed in the midfoot region; and   a gap that is defined between the top plate and the bottom plate, the gap extending from the hinge toward the first posterior end of the top plate, wherein a vertical distance of the gap is measured between the top plate and the bottom plate, and   wherein the top plate includes a convex portion in each of the heel region and the forefoot region.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge has a rear-facing wall that is curved between the top plate and the bottom plate. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical distance is greatest proximate the second posterior end of the bottom plate. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the top plate includes a slot that extends continuously from the midfoot region through the first posterior end to define a lateral posterior leg and a medial posterior leg. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the top plate includes a plurality of ridges extending from the forefoot region toward the heel region. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate defines a width between a lateral edge and a medial edge, and wherein the width is greater in the forefoot region than in the midfoot region. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a midplane bisects the article of footwear between the heel end and the toe end, and wherein a center of mass point of the article of footwear is located between the toe end and the midplane. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein hinge defines a flex axis extending in a lateral-medial direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are configured to be disposed in a first position in an unloaded state. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are configured to rotate toward one another about the flex axis to a second position of the hinge when a load is applied, and wherein the hinge is configured to return the top plate and the bottom plate to the first position when the load is removed. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper attached to a sole structure;   a forefoot region including a toe end at a distal end of the forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region including a heel end at a distal end of the heel region;   a plate having a top plate, a bottom plate, and a hinge located at a toe end of the plate, wherein the top plate and bottom plate diverge relative to one another to define a gap therebetween;   a midsole having an upper midsole cushion, an intermediate midsole cushion, and a lower midsole cushion having a top surface that is attached to the bottom plate, wherein the upper midsole cushion extends continuously from the forefoot region to the heel region, and wherein the intermediate midsole cushion includes a forefoot cushion and a heel cushion that has a forwardmost point spaced rearwardly of the forefoot cushion; and   an outsole attached to a bottom surface of the lower midsole cushion,   wherein the forefoot cushion includes a medial cushion pod and a lateral cushion pod that are arranged between the top plate and the bottom plate.   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of an upper surface of each of the medial cushion pod and the lateral cushion pod is distanced from and not in contact with the top plate. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein an expansion zone is formed between the medial cushion pod and the lateral cushion pod, and wherein both the lateral cushion pod and the medial cushion pod are arranged to be collinear with a center of mass point of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the forefoot cushion is directly in contact with the top plate and the bottom plate. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the bottom plate is at least partially recessed into the top surface of the lower midsole cushion. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the bottom plate has a curved portion extending between a lateral edge and a medial edge, wherein the curved portion is convexly curved relative to the top plate. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the top plate is at least partially recessed into a bottom surface of the upper midsole cushion. 
     
     
         17 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper attached to a sole structure;   a forefoot region including a toe end at a distal end of the forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region including a heel end at a distal end of the heel region;   a plate including a top plate, a bottom plate, and a hinge located at a distal end of the plate in the forefoot region, wherein the top plate and bottom plate are integrally formed of a common material, and wherein the top plate includes a lateral ridge extending from the forefoot region to the heel region, a medial ridge extending from the forefoot region to the heel region, and a central ridge extending from the forefoot region to the midfoot region;   a gap that extends between the top plate and the bottom plate;   an upper midsole cushion that continuously extends from the forefoot region to the heel region and is positioned adjacent to and above the top plate;   an intermediate midsole cushion comprising a forefoot cushion and a heel cushion, wherein the forefoot cushion is disposed within the gap between the top plate and the bottom plate;   a lower midsole cushion that continuously extends from the forefoot region to the midfoot region, wherein the lower midsole cushion includes a top surface that contacts a bottom surface of the bottom plate; and   an outsole attached to a bottom surface of the heel cushion.   
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the upper midsole cushion contacts the lower midsole cushion proximate the toe end and does not contact the intermediate midsole cushion. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the upper midsole cushion includes a plurality of pockets arranged within at least the forefoot region and the heel region. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein, when the article of footwear is resting on a flat ground surface in an unloaded state, the outsole is cantilevered above the ground surface.