Article of footwear with forefoot plates
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly has an upper plate and a lower plate in a forefoot portion of the sole assembly, and a plurality of lower plate arms curving downwardly from the upper plate.
1. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
an upper;
a sole assembly secured to the upper and comprising:
an upper plate having a medial side curving upwardly along a portion of the upper and a lateral side curving upwardly along a portion of the upper; and
a lower plate in a forefoot portion of the sole assembly and having a plurality of lower plate arms, each lower plate arm curving downwardly from the upper plate from a first end of the arm to a second end of the arm, an end surface of each arm extending between an upper surface of the arm and a lower surface of the arm and between a front surface of the arm and a rear surface of the arm and being exposed to an exterior of the article of footwear.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the upper plate extends along substantially an entire length of the sole assembly.
3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the sole assembly includes a plurality of lateral lower plate arms and a plurality of medial lower plate arms.
4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the lower plate includes:
a first lateral lower plate arm positioned in a front portion of the forefoot of the sole assembly;
a second lateral lower plate arm positioned in a central portion of the forefoot of the sole assembly;
a third lateral lower plate arm positioned in a rear portion of the forefoot of the sole assembly;
a first medial lower plate arm positioned in a front portion of the forefoot of the sole assembly;
a second medial lower plate arm positioned in a rear portion of the forefoot of the sole assembly; and
a third medial lower plate arm positioned in a rear portion of the forefoot of the sole assembly.
5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the sole assembly further comprises:
a midsole, an upper surface of the midsole secured to a lower surface of the upper and a lower surface of the midsole secured to an upper surface of the upper plate; and
an outsole secured to a lower surface of the lower plate.
6. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the upper plate extends around a heel portion of the sole assembly.
7. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the lower plate arms extend around a heel portion of the sole assembly.
8. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
an upper; and
a sole assembly secured to the upper and comprising:
an upper plate having a medial side curving upwardly along a portion of the upper and a lateral side curving upwardly along a portion of the upper; and
a lower plate having a plurality of lower plate arms curving downwardly from a lateral side of a forefoot portion of the upper plate and a plurality of lower plate arms curving downwardly from a medial side of a forefoot portion of the upper plate, each lower plate arm curving downwardly from a first end of the arm to a second end of the arm, an end surface of each arm extending between an upper surface of the arm and a lower surface of the arm and between a front surface of the arm and a rear surface of the arm and being exposed to an exterior of the article of footwear.
9. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the upper plate extends along substantially an entire length of the sole assembly.
10. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the upper plate extends around a heel portion of the sole assembly.
11. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the lower plate arms extend around a heel portion of the sole assembly.
12. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
an upper;
a midsole positioned beneath the upper;
a plate assembly having:
a plurality of upper plate arms curving upwardly along substantially an entire length of a medial side and a lateral side of the midsole; and
a plurality of lower plate arms, each lower plate arm curving downwardly from a first end of the arm to a second end of the arm, an end surface of each lower plate arm extending between an upper surface of the arm and a lower surface of the arm and between a front surface of the arm and a rear surface of the arm and being exposed to an exterior of the article of footwear, a first set of the lower plate arms extending along substantially an entire length of a medial side of the midsole and a second set of the lower plate arms extending along substantially an entire length of a lateral side of the midsole; and
an outsole positioned beneath the plate assembly.
13. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the upper plate arms extend around a heel portion of the midsole.
14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the lower plate arms extend around a heel portion of the midsole.