Sole structure with plates and intervening fluid-filled bladder and method of manufacturing

A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:

• a first plate;
• a resilient material supported on the first plate;
• a second plate supported on the resilient material with the resilient material disposed between the first plate and the second plate;
• wherein the first plate ascends rearward of the resilient material and the second plate descends rearward of the resilient material with a posterior portion of the first plate above a posterior portion of the second plate rearward of the resilient material;
• a midsole unit extending in a heel region of the sole structure;
• wherein the midsole unit has a through hole in the heel region, the posterior portion of the first plate extends through the through hole in the midsole unit and is seated on a foot-facing surface of the midsole unit, the posterior portion of the first plate includes a stepped rear with a relatively thick leg extending through the through hole and a relatively thin leg extending rearward from the relatively thick leg over the midsole unit, the relatively thin leg is seated in a recess on the foot-facing surface of the midsole unit, and a side surface of the relatively thick leg is bonded to the midsole unit.

A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:

• a first plate;
• a resilient material supported on the first plate;
• a second plate supported on the resilient material with the resilient material disposed between the first plate and the second plate;
• wherein the first plate ascends rearward of the resilient material and the second plate descends rearward of the resilient material with a posterior portion of the first plate above a posterior portion of the second plate rearward of the resilient material;
• a third plate fit to the first plate with the third plate extending rearward from the first plate;
• and
• a full-length midsole unit extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure;
• wherein the full-length midsole unit is supported on and interfaces with a proximal side of the first plate in the forefoot region forward of the second plate, with the proximal side of the second plate, and with the proximal side of the third plate.