Footwear sole structure and upper with an embedded plate

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper defining an interior void and an ankle opening in communication with the interior void;
• a sole structure coupled to the upper, wherein the sole structure includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the midfoot region is disposed between the forefoot region and the heel region, and the sole structure includes:
• an outsole defining an inner outsole surface and an outer outsole surface opposite the inner outsole surface, and the inner outsole surface is spaced apart from the outer outsole surface along a first direction;
• a midsole disposed on the outsole;
• a footwear plate is coupled to the midsole, wherein the footwear plate includes a composite material and includes a first plate portion, a second plate portion directly connected to the first plate portion, and a third plate portion directly connected to the second plate portion, and the second plate portion is connected between the first plate portion and the third plate portion;
• and
• wherein the second plate portion is obliquely angled relative to the first plate portion and the third plate portion so that the first plate portion is spaced apart from the third plate portion along the first direction to enhance stability of the sole structure while minimizing energy loss of the sole structure as the article of footwear contacts a ground surface.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, comprising:

• inserting a footwear plate through an opening of a midsole to directly couple the footwear plate to the midsole, wherein the footwear plate includes a composite material, the footwear plate includes a first plate portion, a second plate portion is connected to the first plate portion, and a third plate portion is connected to the second plate portion, and the second plate portion is connected between the first plate portion and the third plate portion, and the second plate portion is obliquely angled relative to the first plate portion and the third plate portion so that the first plate portion is spaced apart from the third plate portion along a first direction;
• attaching the midsole to the outsole, wherein the outsole is elongated along a longitudinal axis, the first direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a sole structure includes the midsole and the outsole, the sole structure has a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region between the forefoot region and the heel region, and the opening of the midsole is disposed at the midfoot region;
• and
• attaching an upper to the sole structure.