Athletic systems

Abstract

An article of footwear with an upper and a sole structure coupled to the upper. The sole structure has a sleeve extending from a first end to a second end. The sleeve has a first plate with a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first plate extending from the first end to the second end; a second plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface of the second plate, the second plate extending from the first end toward the second end; and a brace coupling the first plate to the second plate, the brace has a flexible material; a first cushioning element disposed between the first plate and the second plate; and a second cushioning element including a first surface configured to receive the first plate, and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface of the second cushioning element.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a sleeve extending from a first end to a second end, the sleeve including:
 a first plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first plate extending from the first end to the second end; 
 a second plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface of the second plate, the second plate extending from the first end toward the second end; and 
 a brace coupling the first plate to the second plate, the brace comprising a flexible material; 
 
 a first cushioning element disposed between the first plate and the second plate; and 
 a second cushioning element including a first surface configured to receive the first plate, and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface of the second cushioning element. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the second plate includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion and the second portion are separated by a first slot, and the second portion and the third portion are separated by a second slot. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the third portion is disposed adjacent to the second surface of the second cushioning element. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion and the second portion includes one or more traction elements, the one or more traction elements extending outwardly from the second surface of the second plate. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first portion, the second portion, the third portion, and the second cushioning element form a portion of a ground-engaging surface of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the second cushioning element includes a sidewall extending from the first surface of the second cushioning element. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the sidewall encloses a cavity, and wherein a portion of the first plate is disposed within the cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first cushioning element is disposed on a medial side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first plate includes a first spike and a second spike extending from the second surface of the first plate, the first spike and the second spike are each configured to move relative to a vertical axis of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear configured to transition between a neutral position and a banked position, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a sleeve extending from a first end to a second end, the sleeve including:
 a first plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first plate extending from the first end to the second end; 
 a second plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface of the second plate, the second plate extending from the first end toward the second end, wherein the second plate includes a first spike and a second spike; 
 a brace coupling the first plate to the second plate, wherein the first plate is movable relative to the second plate via the brace; and 
 a first cushioning element disposed between the first plate and the second plate, the first cushioning element is configured to transition between a resting state and a compressed state; 
 wherein, in the resting state, a plane extending along the second surface of the first plate is parallel with a ground surface, 
 wherein, in the compressed state, the plane extending along the second surface of the first plate forms an angle between the ground surface and the plane, 
 wherein in the neutral position, the first cushioning element is in the resting state, and 
 wherein in the banked position, a force applied to the first plate compresses the first cushioning element into the compressed state. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the first cushioning element is a fluid-filled bladder. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the angle is greater than 0 degrees and less than 20 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the article of footwear is a right article of footwear of a pair of articles of footwear and the first cushioning element is positioned on a medial side of the right article of footwear. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the article of footwear is a left article of footwear of a pair of articles of footwear and the first cushioning element is positioned on a lateral side of the left article of footwear. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the second plate forms a ground-engaging surface of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the first spike is configured to move relative to a vertical axis of the article of footwear, and the second spike is configured to translate relative to the vertical axis of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         17 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a sleeve extending from a first end to a second end, the sleeve including:
 a first plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first plate extending from the first end to the second end; 
 a second plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface of the second plate, the second plate including a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion; 
 a brace coupling the first plate to the second plate, the brace comprising a flexible material; 
 
 a first cushioning element disposed between the first plate and the second plate, the first cushioning element is configured to be compressed when a first force is applied to the first plate, and the first cushioning element configured to apply a second force to the first plate when the first force is removed; and 
 a second cushioning element including a first surface configured to receive the first plate, and a second surface disposed opposite to the first surface of the second cushioning element. 
   
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are separated by a first slot, and the second portion and the third portion are separated by a second slot. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the third portion is disposed adjacent to the second surface of the second cushioning element. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the first portion and the second portion each include one or more traction elements.