RUNNING SHOE SOLE HAVING CHANNEL DAMPING

Abstract

A sole for a running shoe having a soft-elastic midsole includes an underside coming at least partially into contact with the ground during running. The midsole includes a plurality of channels extending in the transverse direction (Q) arranged in a lateral area (LB) of the midsole in a horizontal plane. At least a portion of the channels is arranged in the forefoot area (VFB) and/or at least a portion of the channels is arranged in the midfoot area (MFB) and/or at least a portion of the channels is arranged in the heel area (FB) of the midsole. The channels are each delimited in the longitudinal direction (L) by a front wall and a rear wall and have an elongated shape in cross-section along the running direction. The channels are deformable vertically and/or horizontally in the longitudinal direction (L) until their closure under the action of forces occurring during running acting vertically and/or in the longitudinal direction (L).

Claims

1. A sole for a running shoe with a soft-elastic midsole (1), comprising: an underside (2) coming at least partially into contact with the ground during running, wherein the midsole (1) comprises a plurality of channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) running in a transverse direction (Q), wherein the channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) are arranged in a lateral area (LB) of the midsole (1) in a horizontal plane, and wherein at least a portion of the channels (3a, 3b) is arranged in a forefoot area (VFB) and/or a portion of the channels is arranged in a midfoot area (MFB) and/or a portion of the channels is arranged in a heel area (FB) of the midsole (1), and wherein the channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) are each delimited in a longitudinal direction (L) by a front wall (31) and a rear wall (32), wherein the channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) have an elongated shape in cross-section along the running direction and the channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) are deformable vertically and/or horizontally in the longitudinal direction (L) until closure under an action of forces occurring during running, acting vertically and/or in the longitudinal direction.

2. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) comprise lateral openings in the lateral area (LB) of the midsole (1), and wherein the channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) are preferably deformable vertically and/or horizontally in the longitudinal direction (L) under the action of forces occurring during running acting vertically and/or in the longitudinal direction (L) until the lateral openings are closed.

3. The sole according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the channels (3d) is arranged in the heel area and at least a portion of the channels is arranged in the forefoot area (VFB) and/or a portion of the channels (3c) is arranged in the midfoot area (MFB).

4. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) are at least in the lateral area (LB) completely delimited by the midsole (1).

5. The sole according to claim 3, wherein the channels (3a, 3b) in the heel area (FB) have a greater channel height than the channels (3d) in the forefoot area (VFB).

6. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) in the heel area (FB) and optionally the channels in the forefoot area (VFB) and/or in the midfoot area (MFB) are arranged in a single horizontal plane.

7. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) have at least one of a substantially hexagonal and pentagonal cross-section.

8. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the front wall (31) and the rear wall (32) of at least one channel (3a, 3b, 3c, and 3d) each comprise a front folding edge and a rear folding edge (33).

9. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the channel height to the channel width of each channel (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) is in the range of 0.15 to 0.6, preferably 0.2 to 0.4.

10. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d) are fully compressible during running starting with a force of 1000 N to 3000 N, preferably 1500 N to 2000 N.

11. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the sole comprises an incompressible elastic plate (5) which preferably extends over the entire midsole (1).

12. The sole according to claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the channels (3a, 3b, 3c and 3d), preferably the channels (3d) in the forefoot area (VFB), in the midfoot area (MFB) of the midsole (2) is delimited on one side by the elastic incompressible plate (5).

13. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the midsole (1) comprises a groove (6) extending in the longitudinal direction (L) from the heel area (FB) to at least the midfoot area (MFB).

14. A running shoe comprising a sole according to claim 1.

15. Use of a sole according to claim 1 for the manufacture of a running shoe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Aspects of the invention are explained in more detail on the basis of the specific embodiment examples shown in the following figures and the associated description. The embodiments shown in the figures are not to be understood as limiting the invention described in the claims.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a sole for a running shoe according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0045] FIG. 2 shows a view of the underside of the sole shown in FIG. 1, with the sole shown in the opposite direction;

[0046] FIG. 3 shows a schematic section in transverse direction (along AA according to FIG. 2) according to a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] The schematic side view shown in FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a sole for a running shoe with a soft-elastic midsole 1. The soft-elastic midsole is shown in a view on the outside and comprises an underside 2 which comes into contact with the ground B shown as a dashed line during running. Furthermore, the midsole 1 comprises eight channels 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d running in the transverse direction Q in a lateral area of the midsole (for better clarity, not all channels of the sole according to the invention shown are designated). FIG. 1 shows the lateral area of the midsole in a side view. As shown, the channels 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d are arranged in a single horizontal plane. Since the sole is in the vertical direction V bent slightly upwards at the sole tip 7, the first horizontal plane has a slight curvature, in the present case a convex curvature as seen from the ground. On the basis of the coordinate system, it is clear that the horizontal plane lies essentially, i.e., disregarding the slightly vertical curvature of the midsole, in the plane of the transverse direction Q and of the longitudinal direction L of the midsole. In the embodiment shown, the channels extend along the entire length of the soft-elastic midsole. Thus, a first portion of the channels 3a, 3b is located in the heel area, a second portion of the channels 3c is located in the midfoot area, and a third portion of the channels 3d is located in the forefoot area.

[0048] The channels 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d each comprise a lateral opening in the lateral area of the midsole 1. In the operative state, the openings can be deformed to the point of closure by the forces occurring during running. Closure can occur in this case in essentially by vertical deformation and/or also by horizontal deformation in the longitudinal direction, i.e., by shearing of the channels. Moreover, the channels 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d are completely delimited in the lateral area of the midsole 1 by the soft-elastic midsole 1. Thus, all of the channel walls in the lateral area are formed by the soft-elastic midsole. Each of the channels 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d has a front wall 31 and a rear wall 32. In addition, the channels are hexagonal in cross-section in the lateral area of the soft-elastic midsole 1. Thereby, one corner of the hexagon points in the longitudinal direction in the running direction and one corner points in the longitudinal direction opposite to the running direction. The respective hexagon is formed asymmetrically, since the sides of the hexagon in the longitudinal direction are formed longer than the other sides of the hexagon. Therefore, the respective channel has an elongated and flat shape. In addition, both the front wall 31 and the rear wall 32 of the channels each have a folding edge 33. In cross-section, these folding edges correspond to the corners of the hexagon arranged in the running direction towards the sole tip 7 and against the running direction towards the heel edge 4.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a view on the underside 2 of a midsole 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. In addition, a division of the midsole into a forefoot area VFB, a midfoot area MFB and a heel area FB is shown. This serves merely as a guideline for the person skilled in the art and is not intended to define the exact boundaries of the areas. The midsole 1 shown has a groove 6 extending from the heel area into the midfoot area. The groove is open towards the ground B, i.e. towards the viewer in the illustrated view of FIG. 2, and is delimited at the lateral flanks by the soft-elastic midsole 1 and at the base by an elastic incompressible plate 5. It can also be seen that the lateral flanks are inclined so that the groove 6 is open towards the viewer in a substantially V-shape. In the embodiment shown, the groove 6 extends through the entire midsole 1, i.e., from the heel area FB through the midfoot area MFB to the forefoot area VFB.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a sole according to the invention for a running shoe with a soft-elastic midsole 1. FIG. 3 also shows a schematic division of the midsole into the lateral area LB and the medial area MB. These areas extend in the transverse and longitudinal directions as well as in the vertical direction. However, the arrows shown do not define precise area boundaries. FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the midsole 1 through the channel 3b of the first horizontal plane, which is completely delimited in the lateral area by the soft-elastic midsole 1. The sole includes the elastic incompressible plate 5, which delimits the groove 6 in the medial area and is exposed to the environment in the medial area. Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows that the channel is funnel-shaped in cross-section in the transverse direction and has a step. The first angle α between the underside 2 and the groove in the area of the underside, or running surface, is about 55°. At the step, the second angle β between the underside 2 and the upper delimitation of the channel is about 85°.