A sole structure for shoes includes a midsole and a plate member made of a hard resin harder than the midsole, which is joined to a lower surface of the midsole. The plate member includes a first reinforcement portion extending rearwardly from a position corresponding to a portion in the rear of a thenar of a user along a medial side arch region and a second reinforcement portion extending rearwardly on a lateral side from the position corresponding to the portion in the rear of the thenar of the user so as to avoid a position corresponding to a portion more frontward than a center of a fifth metatarsal bone.

A sole structure with an integrated cleat member includes a plate member with a protruding portion that forms a first portion of the cleat member. A second portion of the cleat member is attached to the first portion and may be made of a less rigid material than the first portion. A supporting structure can be disposed inside the protruding portion. A method of forming the sole structure can include reshaping a portion of a plate member to form a protruding portion, molding a cleat tip portion onto the protruding portion and molding a supporting structure into a concave inner portion of the protruding portion.

A sole structure with an integrated cleat member includes a plate member with a protruding portion that forms a first portion of the cleat member. A second portion of the cleat member is attached to the first portion and may be made of a less rigid material than the first portion. A supporting structure can be disposed inside the protruding portion. A method of forming the sole structure can include reshaping a portion of a plate member to form a protruding portion, molding a cleat tip portion onto the protruding portion and molding a supporting structure into a concave inner portion of the protruding portion.

A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a forefoot region of the plate than at a midfoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

An article of footwear including a connecting member is disclosed. The connecting member provides partial decoupling between the upper and the sole structure. The connecting member can include an upper layer and a lower layer that are attached at a central attachment portion.

An article of footwear including a connecting member is disclosed. The connecting member provides partial decoupling between the upper and the sole structure. The connecting member can include an upper layer and a lower layer that are attached at a central attachment portion.

An article of footwear includes a sole incorporating an auxetic structure. The article of footwear further includes a strobel that may be placed along the auxetic structure of the sole. The strobel may restrict the motion of the auxetic structure in particular locations. The strobel may be used to provide rigidity and support in the area of the strobel.

An article of footwear includes a sole incorporating an auxetic structure. The article of footwear further includes a strobel that may be placed along the auxetic structure of the sole. The strobel may restrict the motion of the auxetic structure in particular locations. The strobel may be used to provide rigidity and support in the area of the strobel.

In every athletic event, each athlete generates and subjects their lower extremities to forces that are unique to that athlete's mass, speed and strength. These forces are also affected by the composition of the playing field surface, shoe design and construction and other factors. It is possible to determine, according to these factors, the level of force above which injury to the athlete's lower extremities is inevitable. This level of force is called the pre-injury force threshold. This pre-injury force threshold is then used to design and create an athletic shoe which will provide a force-mitigating deformation induced by forces equal to the particular athlete's pre-injury force threshold. This deformation of the athletic shoe prevents injury to the athlete's lower extremities.

In every athletic event, each athlete generates and subjects their lower extremities to forces that are unique to that athlete's mass, speed and strength. These forces are also affected by the composition of the playing field surface, shoe design and construction and other factors. It is possible to determine, according to these factors, the level of force above which injury to the athlete's lower extremities is inevitable. This level of force is called the pre-injury force threshold. This pre-injury force threshold is then used to design and create an athletic shoe which will provide a force-mitigating deformation induced by forces equal to the particular athlete's pre-injury force threshold. This deformation of the athletic shoe prevents injury to the athlete's lower extremities.