足の指

US8356428(NIKE INC [US])
[0041] In some cases, second flange portion 142 may correspond to the ball region of a foot. In particular, second flange portion 142 may be provided at a location of reinforcing plate 120 disposed beneath the ball region of a foot when an article of footwear incorporating sole structure 100 is worn. In some embodiments, third flange portion 143 may also correspond to a plurality of toes including, for example, the index toe, the third toe, the fourth toe and the fifth toe. In particular, third flange portion 143 may be disposed beneath a plurality of toes when an article of footwear incorporating sole structure 100 is worn on a foot. These configurations for first flange portion 141 , second flange portion 142 and third flange portion 143 provide reinforcing plate 120 with the ability to bend at predetermined portions corresponding to the toes as well as the ball of a foot.

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[0039] In some embodiments, one or more flange portions can be configured to provide support for different parts of a foot. In one embodiment, first flange portion 141 may correspond to a big toe of a foot. In particular, first flange portion 141 may be provided at a location of reinforcing plate 120 disposed beneath a big toe when an article of footwear incorporating sole structure 100 is worn. Also, first flange portion 141 may have a shape that is approximately similar to the shape of a big toe.

[0040] In some cases, first flex groove 131 and second flex groove 132 can enhance the correspondence between first flange portion 141 and the big toe of a foot. In some embodiments, for example, first flex groove 131 may be disposed below a gap between a big toe and an index toe. Additionally, in some embodiments, second flex groove 132 can be disposed beneath an interphalangeal joint of the big toe. This configuration helps provide a toe like arrangement for first flange portion 141 . Furthermore, this arrangement can help first flange portion 141 to articulate in a manner that is similar to the articulation of the big toe, since first flange portion 141 may bend at second flex groove 132 and is separated from reinforcing plate 120 at first flex groove 131 .

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:

a reinforcing plate;

the reinforcing plate including a flange portion, the flange portion having a first end portion connected to a central portion of the reinforcing plate and a second end portion extending to an outer peripheral portion of the reinforcing plate;

wherein the flange portion is formed by a first flex groove and a second flex groove defined by the reinforcing plate;

wherein the first flex groove extends from a first flex groove first end at the central portion in an approximately longitudinal direction toward a first flex groove second end at a forward edge of the reinforcing plate and the second flex groove extends from a second flex groove first end at the central portion in an approximately lateral direction toward a second flex groove second end at a medial side of the reinforcing plate;

wherein the first flex groove first end is separated from the second flex groove first end at the central portion to define the first end portion of the flange portion and a bending region disposed adjacent to the central portion of the reinforcing plate;

wherein the flange portion is narrower at the first end portion and widens toward the second end portion;

a cleat member associated with the flange portion; and

wherein the flange portion corresponds to a big toe of a foot and wherein the flange portion is capable of bending with the big toe at the bending region.

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6. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the first flex groove corresponds to the gap between the big toe and an index toe.