Article of Footwear with Flexible Reinforcing Plate

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;
• the flange portion being disposed between a first flex groove and a second flex groove defined by the reinforcing plate;
• a first flex groove first end being disposed adjacent to the first end portion of the flange portion and a second flex groove first end being disposed adjacent to the first end portion of the flange portion;
• wherein the first flex groove extends from the first flex groove first end at the central portion in an approximately lateral direction toward a first flex groove second end at a medial side of the reinforcing plate and the second flex groove extends from the second flex groove first end at the central portion in an approximately lateral direction toward a second flex groove second end at the medial side of the reinforcing plate;
• wherein the flange portion is narrower at the first end portion and widens toward the second end portion;
• a bending region of the flange portion extending between the first flex groove first end and the second flex groove first end, the flange portion being configured to bend with respect to the reinforcing plate at the bending region;
• a cleat member associated with the flange portion;
• a plurality of remaining cleat members associated with a remaining portion of the reinforcing plate beyond the flange portion;
• and
• wherein the cleat member moves independently from the plurality of remaining cleat members when the flange portion bends at the bending region.

A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a reinforcing plate;
• a plurality of flex grooves disposed in a forefoot portion of the reinforcing plate;
• the plurality of flex grooves extending from a central portion of the reinforcing plate to an outer peripheral portion of the reinforcing plate;
• the plurality of flex grooves forming a flange portion;
• wherein the reinforcing plate includes a remaining portion beyond the flange portion;
• wherein the flange portion is associated with a first cleat member;
• wherein the remaining portion is associated with a second cleat member;
• wherein each flex groove of the plurality of flex grooves extends in an approximately radial direction from the central portion;
• wherein the flange portion has a first end portion connected to the 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 lateral direction toward a first flex groove second end at a medial side 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 the 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;
• wherein the flange portion corresponds to a ball portion of a foot;
• and
• wherein the flange portion is capable of bending with the ball portion of the foot at the bending region.