Article of Footwear with Flexible Reinforcing Plate

A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a reinforcing plate comprising a first layer of the sole structure;
• a lasting board comprising a second layer of the sole structure;
• wherein the reinforcing plate defines a first reinforcing plate flex groove and a second reinforcing plate flex groove;
• wherein the first reinforcing plate flex groove and the second reinforcing plate flex groove extend from a central portion of the reinforcing plate to a peripheral portion of the reinforcing plate to define a reinforcing plate flange portion;
• wherein the lasting board defines a first lasting board flex groove and a second lasting board flex groove;
• wherein the first lasting board flex groove and the second lasting board flex groove extend from a central portion of the lasting board to a peripheral portion of the lasting board to define a lasting board flange portion;
• wherein the first reinforcing plate flex groove is oriented substantially similarly to the first lasting board flex groove;
• and
• wherein the second reinforcing plate flex groove is oriented substantially similarly to the second lasting board flex groove.

A lasting board for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a board configured to form a layer of a forefoot portion of the article of footwear;
• a plurality of flex grooves disposed in the board at the forefoot portion;
• the plurality of flex grooves extending from a central portion of the board to an outer peripheral portion of the board;
• the plurality of flex grooves forming a first flange portion and a second flange portion;
• the first flange portion being associated with a first cleat member of the article of footwear and the second flange portion being associated with a second cleat member of the article of footwear;
• wherein each flex groove of the plurality of flex grooves extends in an approximately radial direction from the central portion;
• wherein the first flange portion has a first flange first end portion connected to the central portion of the board and a first flange second end portion extending to an outer peripheral portion of the board;
• wherein the first flange portion is formed by a first flex groove and a second flex groove defined by the board;
• 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 board 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 board;
• wherein the first flex groove first end is separated from the second flex groove first end at the central portion to define the first flange first end portion of the first flange portion and a bending region disposed adjacent to the central portion of the board;
• wherein the first flange portion is narrower at the first flange first end portion and widens toward the first flange second end portion;
• wherein the first flange portion corresponds to a big toe of a foot;
• and
• wherein the first flange portion is capable of bending with the big toe at the bending region.