Outsole plate
View Patent ↗A sole structure for an article includes a first layer including a first bundle of fibers affixed to a first substrate, a second layer including a second bundle of fibers affixed to a second substrate, a traction element having a first portion disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and a second portion extending from one of the first layer and the second layer. The sole structure further includes a resin that consolidates the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers, and secures the traction element between the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers.
1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a first layer including a first bundle of fibers;
a second layer including a second bundle of fibers;
a traction element having a first portion disposed between the first layer and the second layer and a second portion extending from one of the first layer and the second layer; and
a resin that consolidates the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers.
2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first portion is a flange and the second portion is a ground-engaging projection extending from the flange.
3. The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the ground-engaging projection includes a constantly decreasing taper in a direction extending away from the flange.
4. The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the flange is in contact with at least one of the first layer and the second layer.
5. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the traction element is in contact with at least one of the fibers of the first bundle of fibers and with the fibers of the second bundle of fibers.
6. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first bundle of fibers is attached to a first substrate and the second bundle of fibers is attached to a second substrate, the first substrate in contact with the second substrate.
7. The sole structure of claim 6 , wherein the second portion of the traction element extends through at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate.
8. The sole structure of claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate includes an aperture for receiving the second portion of the traction element.
9. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the traction element extends through the fibers of at least one of the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers.
10. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the traction element extends between adjacent segments of at least one of the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers.
11. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers include at least one of carbon fibers, boron fibers, glass fibers, and polymeric fibers.
12. A method of forming a sole structure for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
forming a first component including a first bundle of fibers;
forming a second component including a second bundle of fibers;
positioning a first portion of a traction element between the first component and the second component;
extending a second portion of the traction element from one of the first component and the second component; and
consolidating the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers with a resin.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein positioning a first portion of a traction element between the first component and the second component includes positioning a flange of the traction element between the first component and the second component and extending a second portion of the traction element from one of the first component and the second component includes extending a projection of the traction element from the one of the first component and the second component.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing the projection with a constantly decreasing taper in a direction extending away from the flange.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising placing the flange in contact with at least one of the fibers of the first bundle of fibers and with the fibers of the second bundle of fibers.
16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising placing at least one of the first portion and the second portion of the traction element in contact with at least one of the fibers of the first bundle of fibers and with the fibers of the second bundle of fibers.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein forming the first component from the first bundle of fibers includes attaching the first bundle of fibers to a first substrate and forming the second component from the second bundle of fibers includes attaching the second bundle of fibers to a second substrate.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising placing the fibers of the first bundle of fibers in contact with the second substrate or placing the first substrate in contact with the second substrate.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising extending the second portion of the traction element through at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate.
20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising extending the second portion of the traction element through the fibers of at least one of the first bundle of fibers and the second bundle of fibers.