Sole structure with compliant traction elements
Soles for articles of footwear comprising a body, a traction element comprising a base, and a shiftable region circumscribing the base and merging with the body at a perimeter of the shiftable region. The sole comprises a stay extending from the base, through the shiftable region, and to the body, and an opening located in the shiftable region, the opening comprising an outermost point relative to the base, wherein the outermost point is located at the perimeter the shiftable region. In some embodiments, the stay comprises an edge point at an outermost edge of the stay that moves relative to the body when a force is imparted to the traction element.
1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper; and
a sole coupled to the upper, the sole comprising:
a body;
a traction element comprising a base;
a shiftable region circumscribing the base and merging with the body at a perimeter of the shiftable region;
a stay extending from the base, through the shiftable region, and to the body; and
an opening located in the shiftable region, the opening comprising an outermost point relative to the base, wherein the outermost point is located at the perimeter of the shiftable region,
wherein the stay comprises an edge point at an outermost edge of the stay that is configured to move relative to the body when a force is imparted to the traction element.
2 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , comprising a cover disposed over the opening on a ground-facing surface of the sole.
3 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , comprising an elastically deformable material located in the opening.
4 . The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the elastically deformable material comprises a foam.
5 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , comprising an elastically deformable layer disposed over an upper-facing side of the sole.
6 . The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the elastically deformable layer comprises a foam.
7 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the body, the base, and the stay are integrally formed as a single piece.
8 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the traction element comprises a cleat.
9 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the sole comprises a plurality of the traction elements and a plurality of the shiftable regions, and each of the plurality of the traction elements is circumscribed by a respective one of the plurality of the shiftable regions.
10 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein a radial distance between the edge point and the body is greater than or equal to 0.5 mm and less than or equal to 45 mm when the force is not imparted to the traction element.
11 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the edge point is configured to translate relative to the body when the force is imparted to the traction element.
12 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the edge point is configured to translate relative to the body along a first axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base, along a second axis that is parallel to a transverse axis of the base, and along a third axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis when the force is imparted to the traction element.
13 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the edge point is configured to rotate relative to the body when the force is imparted to the traction element.
14 . The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the edge point is configured to rotate relative to the body about a first axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the base, about a second axis that is parallel to a transverse axis of the base, and about a third axis that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis when the force is imparted to the traction element.
15 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the shiftable region comprises an interior boundary located at an outer boundary of the base and comprises a first effective diameter, and
wherein the perimeter of the shiftable region comprises a second diameter at least 2 mm greater than the first effective diameter.
16 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the stay is a first stay and the shiftable region comprises a second stay separated from the first stay by the opening.
17 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the stay comprises multiple connection points with the base.
18 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the shiftable region comprises a plurality of the openings, and each of the plurality of openings comprises an arc shape surrounding part of the base.
19 . A sole for an article of footwear, comprising:
a body;
a traction element comprising a base;
a shiftable region circumscribing the base and merging with the body at a perimeter of the shiftable region;
a stay extending from the base, through the shiftable region, and to the body; and
an opening located in the shiftable region, the opening comprising an outermost point relative to the base, wherein the outermost point is located at the perimeter of the shiftable region,
wherein the stay comprises a first point at an outermost edge of the stay and the body comprises a second point, and the first point translates relative to the second point when a force is imparted to the traction element such that there is a change in distance between the first point and the second point.
20 . The sole of claim 19 , wherein the first point is configured to rotate relative to the second point when the force is imparted to the traction element such that there is a change in angle between the first point and the second point.