A sole structure includes a plate placed between an outsole and a midsole. The plate includes a plate body and first openings. The plate body is made of a material less stretchable than the material of the outsole and is in the form of a thin plate. Each of the first openings extends through a part of the plate body in the vertical direction. The first openings are disposed at a position corresponding to the forefoot and the midfoot on the medial side of a wearer's foot and is covered by the outsole from below.

A sole structure includes a plate placed between an outsole and a midsole and disposed at the position corresponding to at least the forefoot and the midfoot of a wearer's foot, and a cushioning body disposed so as to face the sole of the wearer's foot at the position corresponding to the midfoot and the hindfoot of the wearer's foot and capable of absorbing a vertical impact on the upper surface of the cushioning body. The cushioning body and the plate body overlap each other in the vertical direction at the position corresponding to the midfoot of the wearer's foot.

Described are supporting elements for a shoe, in particular for soccer shoes or American football shoes, as well as a sole and a shoe with a supporting element. The supporting element includes a first bending stiffness for bendings from an initial unbent state up to an upper end of a threshold angle range, and a second bending stiffness for bendings beyond the upper end of the threshold angle range, wherein the second bending stiffness is greater than the first bending stiffness.

A shoe sole includes a footbed, a midsole, and an outsole. The footbed includes deformable semi-tubular elements that protrude downward and are received in corresponding trough-shaped cavities of the midsole, which provide cushioning when the semi-tubular elements are compressed under load, and also provide a spring return effect. The semi-tubular elements may have a depth greater than a depth of a corresponding trough shaped cavity whereby the footbed is held in a raised position above the top surface of the midsole. The separation between the footbed and the top surface of the midsole is smaller in forefoot area and greater in the heel area. The separation provides shock absorption and resilience in the shoe because it allows the semi-tubular elements to deform under load and absorb impact shocks.

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes a cinching apparatus that is configured to move the upper between an open position and a closed position. The cinching apparatus includes a spring pad with a first, second, and third portion. The third portion is elastic and configured to deform elastically from a first position toward a second position. The third portion is configured to move the first portion relative to the second portion generally in the longitudinal direction as the third portion deforms between the first position and the second position. Also, the cinching apparatus is configured to move the upper from the open position toward the closed position as the third portion of the spring pad moves from the first position toward the second position.

A shoe with an integral orthotic or propulsion plate is provided that includes a shoe defining an upper and a sole, and an orthotic or propulsion plate positioned between the upper of the shoe and the sole of the shoe. The orthotic or propulsion plate defines a toe platform region, a longitudinal arch pad region, and a heel region. In the absence of an applied force to the top surface of the orthotic or propulsion plate and with the sole of the shoe resting on a horizontal surface, the orthotic or propulsion plate bows upward in the longitudinal arch pad region relative to the toe platform region and the heel region. In response to a force being applied to the top surface of the orthotic or propulsion plate, the bowed longitudinal arch pad region flexes downward relative to the toe pad region and the heel region to load a first preload force in the orthotic or propulsion plate. In response to the heel region thereafter moving upward, the bowed longitudinal arch pad flexes upward and the first pre-load force is released to deliver a propulsive force to the top surface of the orthotic or propulsion plate; and the orthotic or propulsion plate flexes to define a flex angle between the toe platform region and the longitudinal arch pad region and to load a second pre-load force into the orthotic or propulsion plate. In response to the toe platform region thereafter moving upward, the orthotic or propulsion plate returns from its flexed position to eliminate the flex angle ; and the second pre-load force is released to deliver a propulsive force to the top surface of the orthotic or propulsion plate.

This invention provides a sole structure including an outsole, a carbon fiber sheet and a midsole. The outsole essentially comprises, from top to bottom, an upper rubber layer, an intermediate fabric and a lower rubber layer. The carbon fiber sheet is disposed on the outsole and comprises a base, a lateral bending portions, and a rear bending portion. The intermediate fabric is disposed on the carbon fiber sheet. Two sides of the lateral bending portions bend from the base towards the intermediate fabric and towards each other. The rear bending portion bends from the base towards the intermediate fabric and the lateral bending portions.

An article of footwear that has an upper attached to a sole structure. The sole structure includes a midsole that is positioned between an insole and an outsole. The article of footwear also includes a plate that is removably received within a cavity formed within the midsole. The insole is configured to cover the plate within the cavity. The plate includes a reinforcing member that comprises carbon fiber.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first plate having a first surface. The first plate includes a forefoot region at an anterior end, a heel region at a posterior end, and a mid-foot region. The sole structure further includes a second plate having a second surface opposing the first surface of the first plate. The second plate has a first end attached to the forefoot region of the first plate and a second end that is spaced apart from the first surface of the first plate. A cushion is disposed between the first plate and the second plate and has a first side attached to the first surface of the first plate and a second side attached to the second surface of second plate. The cushion extends continuously from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure.