An article of footwear is provided having an elevated plate structure incorporated in the sole structure and optionally including a fluid-filled chamber. The elevated plate structure can include an upper plate and a plurality of legs extending downward toward the outsole. End portions of the legs can engage an upper region of the outsole. The elevated plate structure can form a cage region that can optionally include a fluid-filled chamber substantially disposed therein. The elevated plate structure can further include a lower plate disposed at an upper region of the outsole, which can form a lower portion of the cage region. Portions of the legs can be integrated with impact-attenuating members in the heel region in various configurations and can provide features for the impact-attenuating members, such as support, impact-attenuation and adjustable impact-attenuation features.

The current invention proposes an advancement in an athletic shoe with lighter, faster and more balanced thinner sole. The shoe's outer sole thickness starting at the ball area of the shoe sole reduces by at least half the shoe soles thickness and reduces all the way to the end of the shoe sole heel providing enhanced rotation, athletic movements, better balance, speed and higher concentrated area of power.

An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

An article of footwear includes an upper, a midsole, and an outsole, where the midsole is located between the outsole and the upper. A wedge is located between the outsole and the midsole and is preferably made of a material that is less compressible than the midsole. A flexible cage is located on the exterior surfaces of the upper and midsole. In embodiments, the flexible cage is designed to limit the outward expansion of the midsole when the midsole is compressed under load, and thus effectively stiffen the midsole. The total compression of the midsole of the article of footwear is based, at least in part, on a desired orientation of the ankle, knee, and hip joints of a user.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure coupled with the upper. The sole structure includes a midsole that is coupled to the upper along an upper surface of the midsole and to an outsole along a lower surface that is opposite the upper surface. Both the upper surface and the lower surface are curved along a width of the sole structure to curve away from the upper and toward the outsole within a forefoot region, thus forming a rounded surface that extends throughout the forefoot region. A stiffening member is coupled to the midsole and extends from a heel end toward a toe end. The stiffening member includes a base disposed within at least a midfoot region and a plurality of tines that extend into the forefoot region from the base.

An apparatus includes a heel section, a mid-foot section, and a toe section. The heel section, the mid-foot section, and the toe section collectively have a geometric shape having a first slope of a polarity along an inner edge of the apparatus from the toe section to the heel section and a second slope of the polarity along the inner edge of the apparatus to an outer edge of the apparatus at the toe section.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure. The sole structure includes a plate that has a heel portion, a midfoot portion, a forefoot portion, and an extension portion. The extension portion extends forward of the forefoot portion and forward of a foremost extent of upper. The plate includes a first plate layer establishing an outer surface of the plate and extending in each of the heel portion, the midfoot portion, the forefoot portion, and the extension portion, and a second plate layer interfacing with the first plate layer and extending in the forefoot portion and the extension portion. A bending stiffness of the second plate layer is greater than a bending stiffness of the first plate layer.

A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a base component and a wedge component. The base component has a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, and includes a forward base portion and a rearward base portion. The forward base portion of the base component includes a forward lateral flange and a forward medial flange. The wedge component extends from the midfoot region to the heel region and includes a forward portion having a rearward medial flange and a rearward lateral flange. The forward lateral flange of the base component abuts the rearward lateral flange of the wedge component. The forward medial flange of the base component abuts the rearward medial flange of the wedge component.

A shoe includes an outsole having a heel region, a midfoot region, a metatarsal region, and a toe region. The heel region extends longitudinally from the heel end to the midfoot region, the midfoot region extends longitudinally from the heel region to the metatarsal region, and the toe region extends longitudinally from the toe end to the metatarsal region. The outsole has a medial side region, central region, and a lateral side region. A bottom surface of the outsole defines a concavity extending longitudinally from within the heel region to at least within a portion of the midfoot region. The concavity extends laterally within the central region. The concavity has a width at its widest point that is at least between 50% and 80% the width of the outsole at that point.

A method for coupling a non-trimmed sole and an upper for making a shoe, which includes the steps of providing a non-trimmed sole having a flat and/or sheet-like shape and provided with a first surface, adapted during use to face towards the upper, wherein the non-trimmed sole includes a central part or impression and an edge portion which is extended outward starting from a peripheral portion of the impression, positioning the sole in a position below the upper, moving the non-trimmed sole so to enclose at least part of the upper, constraining the non-trimmed sole and at least part of the upper so as to obtain the shoe; shoe obtainable by means of such method.