Track shoe with heel plate and support columns
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes an outsole secured to the upper and a plurality of gripping elements extending outwardly from the outsole. A heel plate extends downwardly and rearwardly from a midfoot portion of the outsole. A first support column extends between the outsole and the heel plate, with the first column being positioned in a lateral portion of a heel portion of the outsole. A second support column extends between the outsole and the heel plate, with the second column being positioned in a medial portion of the heel portion of the outsole.
1. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
an upper;
a sole structure secured to the upper and comprising:
an outsole secured to the upper;
a plurality of gripping elements extending outwardly from the outsole;
a heel plate having a first end and a second end, the first end being secured to a midfoot portion of the outsole and the heel plate extending downwardly and rearwardly from the first end to the second end;
a first support column extending between the outsole and the heel plate, the first column positioned in a lateral portion of a heel portion of the outsole;
a second support column extending between the outsole and the heel plate, the second column positioned in a medial portion of the heel portion of the outsole.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the second support colunm is positioned forwardly of the first support column.
3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the first support column is larger than a diameter of the second support column.
4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the gripping elements include a plurality of spikes.
5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the gripping elements include a plurality of projections.
6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the projections are pyramids.
7. The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the pyramids have triangular bases.
8. The article of footwear of claim 7 , wherein the triangular bases are triangles, with an apex of the triangle having an acute angle and pointing generally toward a front of the outsole.
9. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein some of the projections are positioned beneath the support elements and have a conical shape.
10. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the heel plate extends to a point beneath a rear portion of a heel portion of the outsole.
11. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the heel plate is formed of a polymer.
12. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the outsole is formed of a polymer.
13. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the heel plate is of unitary construction with the outsole.
14. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein each support column includes a central void.
15. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of each support column includes a circumferential rib.
16. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein each support column is formed of one of rubber, polyurethane foam, microcellular elastomeric foams, or EVA foam.
17. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ribs, each rib extending beneath a point at which the heel plate joins the outsole.
18. The article of footwear of claim 17 , wherein each rib has a first end located at a rear portion of a forefoot portion of the outsole and a second end located at a midfoot portion of the heel plate.
19. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
an upper; and
a sole structure secured to the upper and comprising:
an outsole secured to the upper;
a plurality of spikes extending outwardly from the outsole;
a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the outsole;
a heel plate from having a first end secured to a midfoot portion of the outsole and a second end positioned at a point below a heel portion of the outsole, the heel plate extending downwardly and rearwardly from the first end to the second end;
a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the heel plate;
a first support column extending between the outsole and the heel plate, the first column positioned in a lateral portion of the heel portion of the outsole; and
a second support column extending between the outsole and the heel plate, the second column positioned in a medial portion of the heel portion of the outsole and forwardly of the first support column.
20. The article of footwear of claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of ribs, each rib extending beneath a point at which the heel plate joins the outsole.
21. The article of footwear of claim 20 , wherein each rib has a first end located at a rear portion of a forefoot portion of the outsole and a second end located at a midfoot portion of the heel plate.
22. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
an upper; and
a sole structure secured to the upper and comprising:
a midsole secured to the upper;
an insole positioned within the upper above the midsole;
an outsole secured to the midsole;
a plurality of spikes extending outwardly from the outsole;
a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the outsole;
a heel plate having a first end secured to a midfoot portion of the outsole and a second end positioned at a point below a heel portion of the outsole, the heel plate extending downwardly and rearwardly from the first end to the second end;
a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the heel plate;
a first support column extending between the outsole and the heel plate, the first column positioned in a lateral portion of the heel portion of the outsole; and
a second support column extending between the outsole and the heel plate, the second column positioned in a medial portion of the heel portion of the outsole and forwardly of the first support column.