SOLE COMPRISING A REINFORCING STRUCTURE, SHOE WITH SUCH A SOLE, AND METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH ITEMS

Abstract

A sole for a shoe is provided comprising at least two reinforcing members extending at least in a front half of the sole, and at least two blade members extending at least in the front half of the sole. The reinforcing members define a first layer within the sole, and the blade members define a second layer in the sole, wherein the first layer and the second layer are at least partially displaced from one another in a vertical direction.

Claims

1. A sole for a shoe, comprising: at least two reinforcing members extending at least in a front half of the sole; and at least two blade members extending at least in the front half of the sole, wherein the reinforcing members define a first layer within the sole and the blade members define a second layer in the sole, and wherein the first layer and the second layer are at least partially displaced from one another in a vertical direction.

2. The sole of claim 1, wherein the first layer is at least partially arranged above the second layer.

3. The sole of claim 1, wherein the first layer is fully distinct from the second layer.

4. The sole of claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer at least partially overlap in a vertical projection of the sole.

5. The sole of claim 1, wherein the first layer and the second layer comprise sections with corresponding curvature.

6. The sole of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing members are rod-shaped or tube-shaped members.

7. The sole of claim 1, wherein the at least two reinforcing members comprise five reinforcing members, and each of the five reinforcing members correspond to a respective metatarsal bone.

8. The sole of claim 1, wherein the blade members comprise an oval cross-section.

9. The sole of claim 1, wherein a first reinforcing member of the at least two reinforcing members has a first diameter, and a second reinforcing member of the at least two reinforcing members has a second diameter different from the first diameter.

10. The sole of claim 1, wherein a first blade member of the at least two blade members has a first diameter, and a second blade member of the at least two blade members has a second diameter different from the first diameter.

11. The sole of claim 1, wherein a diameter of at least one of the reinforcing members or at least one of the blade members varies along said reinforcing member or blade member.

12. The sole of claim 1, wherein there is a connection between at least one blade member and one reinforcing member.

13. The sole of claim 12, wherein each blade member is connected to at least one reinforcing member.

14. The sole of claim 1, wherein the blade members are connected among each other.

15. The sole of claim 14, wherein the blade members are provided as a segmented plate.

16. The sole of claim 1, wherein a spring member is arranged in a gap defined between the first layer and the second layer.

17. The sole of claim 1, wherein a foam material is arranged in a gap defined between the first layer and the second layer.

18. The sole of claim 1, wherein the blade members comprise a reinforced polymer material.

19. The sole of claim 18, wherein the reinforced polymer material is one of a glass fiber reinforced material, a carbon fiber reinforced material, or a carbon infused polymer material.

20. A shoe, comprising the sole of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0215] Possible embodiments of the present disclosure are described in more detail below with reference to the following figures:

[0216] FIGS. 1a-f illustrate a sole with five rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members with variable diameter, each corresponding to a respective metatarsal bone according to some embodiments.

[0217] FIG. 2 illustrates a sole with five rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members with variable diameter, each corresponding to a respective metatarsal bone according to some embodiments.

[0218] FIGS. 3a-b illustrate a sole with four rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members according to some embodiments.

[0219] FIG. 4 illustrates a sole with four rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members according to some embodiments.

[0220] FIGS. 5a-b illustrate a sole with two plate-like reinforcing members according to some embodiments.

[0221] FIGS. 6a-d illustrate a sole with four plate-like reinforcing members according to some embodiments.

[0222] FIGS. 7a-b illustrate a sole with four reinforcing members, having a hybrid shape between plate-like and rod-/tube-shaped according to some embodiments.

[0223] FIGS. 8a-b illustrate a sole with four reinforcing members, having a hybrid shape between plate-like and rod-/tube-shaped, and connected by a mesh-like material according to some embodiments.

[0224] FIGS. 9a-b illustrate a sole with five rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members with variable diameter, each corresponding to a respective metatarsal bone according to some embodiments.

[0225] FIGS. 10a-d illustrate soles with different configurations of rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members according to some embodiments.

[0226] FIGS. 11a-f illustrate a sole with five rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members and a forefoot support plate according to some embodiments.

[0227] FIGS. 12a-I illustrate a sole with five reinforcing members of which two extend rearwardly beyond the midfoot area and into a heel area of the sole, wrap up to a posterior portion of the ankle region, and are connected behind the heel to form a heel support according to some embodiments.

[0228] FIG. 13 illustrates a sole with five reinforcing members of which two extend rearwardly beyond the midfoot area and into a heel area of the sole, wrap up to a posterior portion of the ankle region, and are connected behind the heel to form a heel support according to some embodiments.

[0229] FIG. 14 illustrates a sole with five reinforcing members of which two extend rearwardly beyond the midfoot area and into a heel area of the sole, wrap up to a posterior portion of the ankle region, and are connected behind the heel to form a heel support according to some embodiments.

[0230] FIGS. 15a-b illustrate a method for the manufacture of a reinforcing member comprising a hollow section according to some embodiments.

[0231] FIGS. 16a-e illustrate a sole with five rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members and three blade members according to some embodiments.

[0232] FIG. 17 illustrates a sole with five rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members and three blade members according to some embodiments.

[0233] FIGS. 18a-e illustrate a sole with three blade members and details about the geometry of the blade members according to some embodiments.

[0234] FIGS. 19-23 illustrate further soles with reinforcing members and blade members according to some embodiments.

[0235] FIG. 24 illustrates possible modification of the sole of FIG. 23 according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0236] In some embodiments of the different aspects of the present disclosure are described below, predominately with respect to running shoes. It is, however, emphasized once again that the different aspects of the present disclosure may also be practiced in different kinds of shoes and are not limited to the specific embodiments set forth below.

[0237] Reference is further made to the fact that in the following only individual embodiments of the disclosure can be described in more detail. The skilled person will understand, however, that the features and possible modifications described with reference to these specific embodiments may also be further modified and/or combined with one another in a different manner or in different sub-combinations, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Individual features or sub-features may also be omitted, if they are dispensable to obtain the desired result. In order to avoid redundancies, reference is therefore made to the explanations in the preceding sections, which also apply to the following detailed description.

[0238] FIGS. 1a-f show a sole 100, or parts thereof, according some embodiments, of the present disclosure, from different view angles.

[0239] FIG. 1a shows an exploded view of the entire sole 100. The sole 100 comprises a midsole 110 with an upper midsole part 111 and a lower midsole part 112. Fully embedded between the upper midsole part 111 and the lower midsole part 112 is a reinforcing structure 120 comprising five reinforcing members, individually referenced by reference numerals 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 in FIG. 1a. The sole 100 further comprises a load distribution member 140 partially embedded within the top side of the upper midsole part 111. The upper midsole part 111 thus separates the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 from the load distribution member 140, i.e., the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 on the one hand and the load distribution member 140 on the other hand are provided as separate and individual elements. The load distribution member 140 and the upper midsole part 111 are further covered by a sock-liner 150, which may be replaceable or permanently connected to the load distribution member 140 and the upper midsole part 111. In some embodiments, the sock-liner 150 may also be absent. The sole 100 may also comprise an outsole (not shown), to improve traction and wear resistance. The sole 100 may also be fitted with cleats and/or spikes, to make it suitable for track-and-field activities, for example.

[0240] The sole 100 may be used in a sports shoe, in particular in a running shoe.

[0241] The upper and lower midsole parts 111, 112 may comprise or be made of a polymer foam material. The upper and lower midsole parts 111, 112 can comprise or be made of the same material, or they can comprise or be made of different materials. It is also possible that within a given midsole part, the material composition changes locally, i.e., that different materials are used in different regions, e.g., to locally influence the mechanical properties of the upper and/or lower midsole part 111, 112. The polymer foam material can comprise a homogeneous foam material, like ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) or injection-molded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (TPEE), Polyamide, PEBA or other suitable materials. The polymer foam material can also comprise a particle foam. For example, particle foams made of or comprising particles of expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU), expanded polyamide (ePA), expanded polyether-block-amide (ePEBA) and/or expanded thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (eTPEE) are particularly well suited for use in performance footwear, because they provide a high degree of cushioning and energy return back the wearer. For example, particle foams of eTPU maintain their beneficial properties over a large temperature range (e.g., from −20° C. up to 40° C.). Particle foams including particles of expanded polylactide (ePLA), expanded polyethylene terephthalate (ePET), expanded thermoplastic olefin (eTPO) and/or expanded polybutylene terephthalate (ePBT) are also possible. To give one specific example, the lower midsole part 112 may be made from a homogeneous EVA- or TPU- or TPEE-foam material, to provide good overall stability and wear resistance to the sole 100, while the upper midsole part 111 may be made from a particle foam comprising particles of eTPU, ePA, ePEBA and/or eTPEE, to provide good cushioning, high energy return, and a smoother transition which reduce eccentric forces and give a comfortable ride.

[0242] It is emphasized, however, that alternatively or in addition to using a foam material for the midsole 110, other materials and manufacturing options may also be used. For example, the midsole 110 or parts thereof may comprise or be comprised of a lattice structure, for example an additively manufactured lattice structure (e.g., a structure made using a 3D printing method or a laser sintering method or a stereolithography method), which, as already mentioned farther above, may be useful both for long distance running shoes, where a high cushioning is preferred, and for sprint spikes or lower distance running shoes where high cushioning is not a necessity, but high stiffness and anatomical guidance of the foot during ground contact is beneficial.

[0243] Moreover, it is also emphasized that the present disclosure also covers embodiments wherein the sole does not comprise separate upper- and lower midsole parts, but only one unified midsole component. Such a midsole may also comprise or be made of one or more of the above-mentioned homogeneous foam materials and/or particle foams and/or non-foamed materials like a lattice structure as mentioned above, for example.

[0244] The load distribution member 140 is located in the back half of the sole 100, predominately in the heel area of the sole 100, where heel strike occurs. It also extends some distance towards the center of the sole 100, i.e. the midfoot area, such that in a vertical projection of the sole 100 the load distribution member 140 overlaps partly with the reinforcing structure 120 provided by the five reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 (more details on this below). The load distribution member 140 is provided as a substantially planar load distribution plate in the embodiment shown here, but other geometries like a slight bowl-shape or cup-shape, potentially including a heel counter, are also possible. To save weight but still provide the desired degree of load distribution, the load distribution member 140 may, for example, comprise or be made of carbon fibers, a carbon fiber composite material and/or a glass fiber composite material, such as, for instance, a polyamide material infused with carbon fibers and/or a polyamide material infused with glass fibers.

[0245] In some embodiments of the reinforcing structure 120 provided by the five reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 extend in the front half of the sole 100. More specifically, the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 extend from the midfoot area—here the area under the arch of the foot—up to the toes. The reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 extend substantially longitudinally through the sole 100, i.e. their longitudinal (i.e., from the back of the sole 100 to the front) extension is much larger than their lateral and medial extension along their course through the sole 100. The reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 are further arranged next to each other in the medial-to-lateral direction, starting with the reinforcing member 121 on the medial side of the sole 100 and continuing up to the reinforcing member 125 on the lateral side of the sole 100. The reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 of the embodiment shown here are of circular cross-section, and their central symmetry axis defines what is called their “flow-lines” in the present document. Other cross-sectional shapes are, however, also covered by the present disclosure. Examples of further possible cross-sectional shapes include elliptic, prismatic, trapezoid, quadratic, or rectangular cross-sections.

[0246] As mentioned above, the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 are positioned between the upper and lower midsole part 111, 112 and may be completely embedded within the midsole 110. In some embodiments, the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 may be connected to the material of the midsole 110 by a bonding agent or glue, for example, or by some mechanical fastening means. However, since they are completely embedded within the material of the midsole 110, this may not be necessary. In some embodiments, the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 may also partly protrude from the midsole material and be exposed on the outside of the sole 100, for example at the medial or lateral sidewall. In some embodiments, the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 may not be exposed on the top side and the bottom side of the sole 100, to not impair the wearing sensation and traction of the sole, respectively.

[0247] The reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 are adapted to move independently from each other under the forces acting during a gait cycle. They are, in particular, adapted to be deflected independently from one another by the forces acting during a gait cycle, and hence provide a locally fine-tuned support and reinforcing function that cannot be achieved by a simple unitary structure known from the art, for example. They thus cater to the complicated anatomy of the human foot and the complex movement patterns involved in running- or sprinting motions, by allowing different regions of the sole 100, in particular in the front half and the toe region of the sole 100, to be supported and reinforced to different degrees. This provides a more biomechanically-driven solution than are known from the prior art. The reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 help to provide a smother landing of the foot and a smooth transition, thereby reducing the eccentric forces and reducing overloading of muscle, bones and joints. This helps to lower the overall risk of injuries during sports.

[0248] The reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 are non-linear, i.e. their flow-lines do not follow a straight line, in order to further cater to the human anatomy. In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1a-1f, the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 do not even comprise straight sections, although this is generally possible within the scope of the present disclosure. As can best be seen in the medial side views of FIGS. 1d and 1e, the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 form a concave structure (i.e., a structure in the shape of a bowl or saucer) in the region between the midfoot area and the toes, corresponding to the general shape and anatomy of the foot. This shapes also facilitates a smooth roll-off movement of the foot and hence promotes natural movement patterns.

[0249] Put into more mathematical language, the shape (e.g., as defined by the flow-line) of each of the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 comprises a minimum or localized low point with regard to the horizontal plane. It is noted that this statement includes the assumption that the sole sits on a horizontal, flat piece of ground (if the sole is tilted, then the reference-plane must also be tilted in the same manner) and in a force-free state (i.e. without being bent or twisted). The position of these low points is indicated in FIGS. 1a and 1b by crosses for all five reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 and designated by the reference numerals 131, 132, 133, 134, 135. In the side view of FIGS. 1d and 1e, only two of these low points are shown, to not clutter up the figures too much. All of the low points 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 are located in the front half of the sole 100. More specifically, each of the low points is located between the midfoot area of the sole 100 and the toes, here in the region of the MTP joints. In some embodiments, the precise position may vary from the position shown here, for example to cater for the specific anatomy of a runner's feet, their running style and pattern of movement, and so forth. It is also emphasized that the position of the low points 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 is only generally indicated in FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1d and 1e (and also all subsequent figures of the present application), to illustrate the point at hand, and not determined with the highest precision (e.g., using a computer simulation).

[0250] As mentioned above, the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 form a concave structure (i.e., a structure in the shape of a bowl or saucer) in the region between the midfoot area and the toes. With regard to the low points 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 this means that these points sit a certain distance below the plane tangential to the upper side of the reinforcing structure 120 that is formed by the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125. A clear illustration of this concept is given by FIG. 3b (s. the plane 339 and the distance d), and reference is made to the discussion of that figure for more details and explanations. An illustrative way to think about this is to imagine that the reinforcing structure 120 is isolated from the sole 100 with its shape and structure kept intact, and then a sheet of cardboard or a thin metal plate is put on top of the structure. Then the (perpendicular) distance of the low points 131-135 from this plane is determined. The more ‘bowl-shaped’ the reinforcing structure 120 is, the larger this distance will generally be.

[0251] To cater for the typical human anatomy, all of the low points 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 may be a distance of at least 5 mm below the above-defined tangential reference-plane, or even a distance of at least 8 mm. As mentioned above, the depth can also be adjusted according to the intended activity for which the sole and shoe are provided. For example, for an activity that requires or favors more stability, a larger depth may be chosen. However, as also already mentioned, if e.g. a particularly thin midsole is wanted, then the depth can also be chosen smaller.

[0252] Alternatively or in addition to obeying a lower limit on the depth of the structure defined by the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, the distance of the low points 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 to the mentioned tangential reference-plane may also be adjusted or changed depending on the position of the respective low point with regard to the medial-to-lateral direction. For example, the ‘center point’ 133 may be the deepest, and then the distance to the reference-plane (i.e., the depth of the low points) decreases towards the lateral and medial edges, following the general anatomy of the human foot. Other configurations are, however, also possible, to take account of a specific anatomical feature or some individual movement pattern, for example.

[0253] The reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 can be solid (i.e., rod-shaped members) or they can be hollow (i.e., tube-shaped members), or they can be partly solid and partly hollow, depending on the desired trade-off between factors like weight, stability, stiffness, etc. Not all of the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 have to be of the same construction in this regard, too.

[0254] As can be seen in the vertical projection (or top view) of some of the components the sole 100 shown in FIGS. 1b and 1c, each of the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 corresponds to one toe/one metatarsal bone of the foot. To make this more visible, the reinforcing structure 120 consisting of the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 is overlaid in FIGS. 1b and 1c over a schematic view of an x-ray picture of a typical human foot. While it will be understood from this overlay view that the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 do not always follow exactly each ‘kink and turn’ of the human bone structure, the correspondence between the five reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 and the five metatarsal bones is still clearly visible. Each of the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 will therefore be the predominate source of support for one of the toes of the foot. The reinforcing member 121 corresponds to the first metatarsal bone (i.e., the ‘big toe’), reinforcing member 122 corresponds to the second metatarsal bone, reinforcing member 123 corresponds to the third metatarsal bone, reinforcing member 124 corresponds to the fourth metatarsal bone, and reinforcing member 125 corresponds to the fifth metatarsal bone.

[0255] As can also be clearly seen in FIGS. 1b and 1a (but also in all of the other FIGS. 1a-f pertaining to the sole 100), the reinforcing members 121 and 123, corresponding to the first and third metatarsal bone, respectively, have a larger diameter than the remaining three reinforcing members 122, 124 and 125. The increased diameter leads to a higher deflection stiffness of the reinforcing members 121 and 123 compared to the other three reinforcing members 122, 124 and 125 under the forces acting during a gait cycle, and hence to an increased support of the first and third metatarsal bones and the first and third toe.

[0256] Alternatively or in addition to having different diameters, the reinforcing members 121 and 123 could also have a larger wall thickness than the reinforcing members 122, 124 and 125, if they are provided tube-like or at least have hollow sections.

[0257] The reinforcing member 121 furthermore has an extended front section 126 which preferably ‘curves in’ under the tip of the big toe, to provide even better support in this region. One reason for this specific shape and design of the reinforcing members 121 and 123 is, that an increased stiffness for the first metatarsal is beneficial as this is typically the largest and strongest structure of the five metatarsals in the foot, which hence has to exert and withstand the highest forces during running. The third metatarsal in the center of the foot, on the other hand, sits naturally around the center of pressure during the stance phase of the gait cycle during running, and hence also benefits from increased support. This further helps the load to get biomechanically driven and evenly distributed between the different MTP bones. This will reduce the risk of injures.

[0258] The different diameters of the reinforcing members 121 and 123 compared to the reinforcing members 122, 124 and 125 is also visible in FIG. 1f, which shows in the left half of the figure a cross-section through the sole 100 from the medial to the lateral side in the region under the MTP joints. FIG. 1f also once again nicely shows how the five reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 are embedded between the upper midsole part 111 and the lower midsole part 112.

[0259] More generally speaking, it is mentioned that the diameter and/or wall thickness (for hollow or partly hollow members) of the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 may also be altered and adapted in a different manner between them, and the diameter and/or wall thickness also does not need to stay constant along a given reinforcing member, even if this is the case in the sole 100 shown in FIGS. 1a-f. By altering the diameter/wall thickness between the different reinforcing members and/or along a given reinforcing member, a fine-tuning to a specific set of requirements regarding the support and reinforcement provided by the reinforcing structure 120 can thus be obtained.

[0260] Further examples of shoe soles 900 and 1000a, 1000b, 1000c, 1000d with different configurations of rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members are discussed below in relation to FIGS. 9a-b and 10a-d.

[0261] The reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 can comprise or be made of a large number of materials. However, to achieve a beneficial tradeoff between stiffness and reinforcement on the one hand, and low weight on the other hand, materials for the construction of the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 may be carbon fibers, carbon fiber composite materials and/or glass fibers composite materials, such as for instance, polyamide materials infused with carbon fibers and/or polyamide materials infused with glass fibers. Besides their good stiffness-to-weight ratio, they are also very adaptable when it comes to the kinds of geometries and shapes of reinforcing members that can be made out of them, which is desired to obtain a good fit for an object as complex as a human foot. Other possible materials are, for example, metal, wood, or injection-molded plastic materials.

[0262] Potential methods for the manufacture of the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 include: molding (e.g. injection molding), additive manufacturing (e.g., 3D printing), or carbon extrusion, for example.

[0263] Details pertaining to a method for the manufacture of reinforcing members or structures containing hollow, i.e. tube-shaped sections are discussed below in relation to FIGS. 15a-b.

[0264] A further feature of the sole 100, which was already briefly touched upon above but which becomes more clearly visible from the top view in FIG. 1c and the medial side views of FIGS. 1d and 1e is, that the load distribution member 140 and the rear ends of the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 overlap at least partially (in a vertical projection of the sole as best seen in FIG. 1c). The overlap region is indicated by reference numeral 145 in FIGS. 1c-1e. What this overlap does is that, even though the reinforcing members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 and the load distribution member 140 are provided as individual parts of the sole 100 and are separated by the upper midsole part 111 (it is pointed out however that, generally, a physical connection between these parts is also possible), there is still some interplay or interlock between the two, in the sense that the material of the upper midsole part 111 couples the two together and the overall stability of the sole through the entire gait cycle (when the main pressure point typically moves from the heel area through the midfoot area up to the toes, for push-off) is improved, without any sudden jumps or discontinuity of the response of the sole to the acting forces.

[0265] Alternatively or additionally of having such a load distribution member 140, the sole may also comprises a forefoot support plate, as discussed below in relation to FIGS. 11a-f.

[0266] The sole 200, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 2 (FIG. 2 shows an exploded view), is very similar to that of FIGS. 1a-f. All of what has been said about the corresponding members, elements and components of the sole 100 therefore also applies to the embodiment of FIG. 2 (unless physically or technically ruled out, of course) and is therefore not repeated again.

[0267] The sole 200 comprises a midsole 210 with an upper midsole part 211 and a lower midsole part 212, between which five reinforcing members 220 are positioned. They are completely embedded within the midsole 210. The reinforcing members 220 are again rod-/tube-shaped, and the reinforcing members corresponding to the first and third metatarsal have a larger diameter than the other three reinforcing members. The sole also comprises a load distribution member 240 arranged predominately in the heel area and on top of the upper midsole part 211, as well as an outsole 260, which in the embodiment shown here comprises several individual sub-parts (this need not always be the case, however).

[0268] One noteworthy feature of the sole 200 is that the lower midsole part 212 comprises five grooves 215, each corresponding to one of the five reinforcing members 220. This may help to secure the reinforcing members 220 in their position and thus help to avoid or limit the use of adhesives or glues, for example, and to generally facilitate assembly of the sole 200.

[0269] The sole 300, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, is again quite similar to that of FIGS. 1a-f and FIG. 2. All of what has been said about the corresponding members, elements and components of the soles 100 and 200 therefore also applies to the embodiment of FIGS. 3a and 3b (unless physically or technically ruled out) and is therefore also not repeated.

[0270] FIG. 3a shows an exploded view of the sole 300 and FIG. 3b shows a side view of the sole 300.

[0271] The sole 300 comprises a midsole 310 with an upper midsole part 311 and a lower midsole part 312, but now with only four reinforcing members 321, 322, 323, 324 positioned between them to form the reinforcing structure 320. This structure is again completely embedded within the midsole 310.

[0272] Reducing the number of individual reinforcing members may, for example, simplify the construction and reduce weight and costs. On the other hand, it might give up a certain degree of control over the reinforcing function provided by the reinforcing structure 320, compared to the structure 120 with five individual members 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, for example. On the other hand, it may well be found that for a specific activity e.g. support of the fifth metatarsal and fifth toe may not be necessary, and then one reinforcing member may simply be omitted with the remaining four reinforcing members 321, 322, 323, 324 still corresponding to the first to forth metatarsal. Or the most lateral of the four reinforcing members, i.e. reinforcing member 324, may be associated with supporting both the fourth and fifth metatarsal, while the first three reinforcing members 321, 322, 323 correspond to one metatarsal each. Further permutations in this regard are conceivable for the skilled person. The reinforcing members 321, 322, 323 are once again rod-/tube-shaped in the shown embodiment.

[0273] The sole 300 also comprises a load distribution member 340 arranged predominately in the heel area and on top of the upper midsole part 311, as well as an outsole 360, with several individual sub-parts.

[0274] FIG. 3b once again illustrates the meaning of the low points of the reinforcing members and their distance to the plane 339 tangential to the upper side of the reinforcing structure 320 that is formed by the reinforcing members 321, 322, 323, 324. Indicated in FIG. 3b is one of the low points, specifically the low point 334 of the reinforcing member 324. For the other reinforcing members 321, 322, 323, the situation is similar. The low point 334 can be thought of as the point of the flow-line of the reinforcing member 324 closest to the ground, i.e. the horizontal plane. The reference-plane 339, on the other hand, is the plane tangential to the upper side of the structure formed by the reinforcing members 321, 322, 323, 324 (this plane 339 may be thought of as a ‘lid’ that is laid on top of the structure). The distance d from this plane is referred to as the depth of the respective low point (here, the low point 334).

[0275] FIG. 4 shows sole 400, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, in a dissembled state, very similar to that of FIGS. 3a and 3b. Again, analogous statements as above with regard to, for example, the sole 300 apply and are not therefore repeated here.

[0276] The sole 400 comprises a midsole 410 with an upper midsole part 411 and a lower midsole part 412. In some embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, both parts are made from a homogeneous TPEE foam material. However, the parts 411 and 412 may generally be made from all of the materials mentioned throughout the present document. For example, the upper midsole part 411 may comprise a particle foam with particles of ePEBA and the lower midsole part 412 may comprise a particle foam with particles of eTPEE, or vice versa.

[0277] The sole 400 also comprises a reinforcing structure 420 with four reinforcing members 421, 422, 423, 424 to be positioned between the midsole parts 411, 412 and to be completely embedded within the midsole 410.

[0278] One feature of the reinforcing structure 420 is that the four reinforcing members 421, 422, 423, 424 are connected in the midfoot area by a connection member 428, which is provided as small connecting bars between the individual reinforcing members 421, 422, 423, 424. This may facilitate assembly of the sole 400 but also manufacturing of four reinforcing members 421, 422, 423, 424 themselves, as the individual reinforcing members may be manufactured or molded as a single, (partly) connected unit. The connection member 428 may also increase the stability of the sole 400 in the midfoot area. It is noteworthy that in the front half of the sole, in particular in the forefoot area, there is no connection between the reinforcing members 421, 422, 423, 424, to not impede their ability to deflect individually under the forces acting during a gait cycle.

[0279] Using a connection member like member 428 may also compensate (at least partly) for not using a load distribution member in the heel area of the sole, as is the case for the sole 400 shown in FIG. 4. On the other hand, such a load distribution member may also be added to the sole 400, to provide even better stability in the heel area.

[0280] FIGS. 5a and 5b show sole 500 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 5a shows an exploded view of the entire sole 500, and FIG. 5b a top view of only some of the parts.

[0281] The sole 500 again comprises a midsole 510 with an upper midsole part 511 and a lower midsole part 512 as well as an outsole 560 with several individual pieces. All of what has been said with regard to these components in the context of the embodiments 100, 200, 300 and 400 also applies here (as far as physically and technically compatible) and is not repeated again.

[0282] A difference to the embodiments 100, 200, 300 and 400 described above lies in the shape and structure of the reinforcing structure 520, which in the case at hand is provided by two plate-like reinforcing members 521 and 522. Even though these two reinforcing members have a different shape than the reinforcing members discussed above, they are still adapted to be independently deflected by the forces acting on them during a gait cycle. Despite their plate-like shape, the reinforcing members 521 and 522 may also have a hollow core or hollow sections, for example. They may also be solid members.

[0283] Another difference to the embodiments described above is that the reinforcing members 521 and 522 extend rearwardly beyond the midfoot area and into the heel area, up to the calcaneus. This can increase the stiffness of the entire sole, not only the front half.

[0284] Indicated in FIGS. 5a and 5b are further the flow-lines 521a, 522a, of the reinforcing members 521, 522, respectively. As discussed in section 3. above, for reinforcing members with non-circular (or more generally non-symmetrical) cross-section, a way to define the flow-line is to (conceptually) divide the member into equidistant slices, determine the center of mass of each slice, and piece these points together to obtain the flow-line. As was the case with the low points 131, 132, 133, 134, 135 discussed above, also here the position of the flow-lines 521a, 522a has not been determined with absolute mathematical precision, but is only roughly indicated, to illustrate the point at hand.

[0285] What can be seen from the flow-lines is that both reinforcing members 521 and 522 comprise a non-linear section extending across the front half of the sole 500. In the back half of the sole 500, the reinforcing members 521 and 522 comprise straight or at least approximately straight sections. More specifically, in the front half of the sole 500 the reinforcing members 521 and 522 provide a concave shape to the reinforcing structure 520, with both low points 531 and 532 sitting a certain distance below the plane tangential to the upper side of the reinforcing structure 520. Suitable values for a lower boundary on this distance have already been discussed and are not repeated again, because the discussed values may also apply to plate-like reinforcing members like the members 521 and 522.

[0286] FIGS. 6a-6d show further variations of the basic construction provided by the sole 500. FIG. 6a shows an exploded view of a sole 600 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, and FIG. 6b shows a top view of some of the parts of the sole 600 and a corresponding cross-section along the line A-A. FIGS. 6c and 6d show possible modifications of the reinforcing structure.

[0287] The sole 600 once more comprises a midsole 610 with an upper midsole part 611 and a lower midsole part 612, as well as an outsole 660 with several individual parts. These components have already been extensively discussed and all of the above-said also applies here.

[0288] In the sole 600, the reinforcing structure 620 is provided by four plate-like reinforcing members 621, 622, 623, 624, compared to the two of the sole 500. One specific feature of the sole 600 is that the reinforcing members 621, 622, 623, 624 have slightly raised sections along their central longitudinal axes (i.e., at least approximately following their flow-lines), starting approximately at the rear end of the foot arch and extending forwardly up to the toe area. For example in the cross-section along the cut-line A-A shown in the bottom left of FIG. 6b, these slightly raised sections can be discerned. Such raised sections can, for example, increase the stiffness of the reinforcing members 621, 622, 623, 624 in the sections where they are applied.

[0289] FIG. 6c shows a further possible modification of the reinforcing structure 620 provided by the reinforcing members 621, 622, 623, 624, in that the reinforcing members 621, 622, 623, 624 may be connected in the back half of the sole 600, e.g., in the area of the foot arch, by a connecting member 628, here in the form of bars each connecting two adjacent reinforcing members. In some embodiments, this connection is limited to the back half of the sole 600, so that the reinforcing members' ability to respond and react interpedently to the acting forces in the front half of the sole 600 is not impaired by the connection.

[0290] Another option to increase the overall stability of the sole 600 while not unduly impairing the independency of movement of the individual reinforcing members 621, 622, 623, 624 is illustrated in FIG. 6d. Instead of connecting the reinforcing members 621, 622, 623, 624 among each other, the reinforcing members 621, 622, 623, 624 are here laminated (or otherwise connected) to a mesh-like material 680. Such a material may be highly tear-resistant but still sufficiently flexible to allow a good compromise between stability and independency of movement of the individual the reinforcing members 621, 622, 623, 624. It may also facilitate assembly of the sole 600 and increase its life-span and durability.

[0291] FIGS. 7a and 7b as well as FIGS. 8a and 8b show further constructions of the present disclosure. FIGS. 7a and 8a show exploded views of shoe soles 700, 800, and FIGS. 7b and 8b show corresponding top views of some parts of the soles 700, 800.

[0292] The soles 700 and 800 are quite similar, for example, to the sole 300 discussed above. Both soles comprise a midsole 710, 810 with an upper midsole part 711, 811 and a lower midsole part 712, 812 as well as an outsole 760, 860, respectively. Both soles 700, 800 also comprise a reinforcing structure 720, 820 with four reinforcing members 721, 722, 723, 724 and 821, 822, 823, 824, respectively.

[0293] Redundancies are therefore avoided by not repeating everything that has been said about the corresponding elements and components above, which also applies to the show soles 700, 800 at hand.

[0294] On difference, though, is the cross-section of the reinforcing members 721, 722, 723, 724 and 821, 822, 823, 824. These are a ‘hybrid’ between plate-like and rod-/tube-shaped, and the cross-section also changes along the reinforcing members. While the front and back tips of the reinforcing members 721, 722, 723, 724 and 821, 822, 823, 824 are flattened out, their middle sections are circular of elliptic in cross-section. Flattening out the tips, in particular towards the front of the sole 700, 800, may be beneficial because the sole typically becomes thinner towards its front end and there is thus less room to accommodate the reinforcing members. Thinning them out towards the front end may thus help to avoid an excessively thick and bulky front half of the sole.

[0295] Moreover, the reinforcing members 721, 722, 723, 724 and 821, 822, 823, 824 also differ in their individual length. Generally, the longer a reinforcing member is, the more transitional support during the stance phase it will provide, as well as a better guidance through the engineered motion. Choosing different lengths for the reinforcing members 721, 722, 723, 724 and 821, 822, 823, 824, also allows to customize the force distribution along the different metatarsal bones in a more anatomical/ergonomical manner, compared to known unitary structures from the prior art.

[0296] It is explicitly noted at this position that this option of choosing different length for the different reinforcing members also pertains to all other embodiments described in this document (unless explicitly stated otherwise), and is not limited to the shoe soles 700, 800 of FIGS. 7a-b and 8a-b.

[0297] The sole 800 also includes a mesh-like material 880, onto which the reinforcing members 821, 822, 823, 824 are laminated, or otherwise connected to, to increase the overall stability, facilitate assembly and/or increase the life-span of the sole 800, for example.

[0298] FIGS. 9a-b and 10a-d show shoes soles 900, 1000a, 1000b, 1000c, 1000d with different configurations of rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0299] Sole 900, 1000a, 1000b, 1000c, 1000d, as shown in FIGS. 9a-b and 10a-d are again similar, for example, to the soles 100 and 200 of FIGS. 1a-f and 2. All of what has been said about the corresponding members, elements and components above, in particular about the soles 100 and 200, therefore also applies to the embodiments of FIGS. 9a-b and 10a-d (unless physically or technically ruled out, of course) and is therefore not repeated again.

[0300] The sole 900 shown in FIG. 9a first of all comprises a midsole 910 with a lower midsole part 912. The corresponding upper midsole part 911 to be placed on top of the reinforcing structure 920 is shown on the right-hand side of FIG. 9a. The upper midsole part 911 has a recess in the back half of the sole, into which a load distribution member (not shown) may be placed, as already discussed. In the case shown here, both midsole parts 911, 912 are made from a homogeneous foam material, but any of the above-mentioned materials suitable for use in a midsole of an inventive sole could also be employed. FIG. 9a shows a sole for the right foot.

[0301] The reinforcing structure 920, which is again shown in isolated form on the right hand side of FIG. 9b comprises five tubular/rod-shaped reinforcing members 921, 922, 923, 924, 925, each corresponding to one toe of the foot/metatarsal bone (on the left hand side of FIG. 9b, the corresponding ‘mirror image’, i.e. the corresponding structure for the left foot is also shown). The medial reinforcing member 921 corresponds to the big toe/first metatarsal bone and ‘curls in’ (cf. region 926) underneath the big toe to provide additional support for toe-off in this area.

[0302] The reinforcing members 921 and 923 corresponding to the first and third toe/metatarsal bone have a larger diameter than the remaining three reinforcing members 922, 924 and 925 to provide addition support by their increased stiffness to the first and third toe/metatarsal bone. If shaped tube-like (i.e. hollow or with hollow sections), the reinforcing members 921 and 923 can alternatively or additionally also have a larger wall thickness than the remaining three reinforcing members 922, 924 and 925.

[0303] The five reinforcing members 921, 922, 923, 924, 925 extend throughout the front half of the sole 900 and approximately up to the back edge of the arch region, where they are connected by a connecting member 928, which in the case at hand is also provided as rod-/tube-shaped member. Each of the five reinforcing members 921, 922, 923, 924, 925 is connected to the member 928 by a short passage 929 of reduced diameter. This connection at the back edge of the arch region can provide an additional degree of stability to this sensitive region of the foot, e.g. to help avoid injuries or fatigue of the wearer.

[0304] The soles 1000a, 1000b, 1000c, 1000d shown in FIGS. 10a-d again comprise a midsole 1010a, 1010b, 1010c, 1010d, which may be of any of the constructions and/or materials mentioned in this regard in the present disclosure (e.g., a particle and/or homogeneous foam material). The right-hand picture in each figure shows a top view of the respective sole 1000a, 1000b, 1000c, 1000d, and the left-hand picture a lateral side view. At least partially embedded within the midsoles 1010a, 1010b, 1010c, 1010d are respective reinforcing structures 1020a, 1020b, 1020c, 1020d. In some embodiments, at the toe end of the soles, the respective reinforcing structures 1020a, 1020b, 1020c, 1020d may also partially protrude from or be exposed e.g. at the bottom side of the midsole (s. FIGS. 10a and 10b), or at least be arranged in close proximity to the bottom surface of the midsole (s. FIGS. 10c and 10d).

[0305] Each of the reinforcing structure 1020a, 1020b, 1020c, 1020d comprises five reinforcing members 1021a, 1022a, 1023a, 1024a, 1025a, 1021b, 1022b, 1023b, 1024b, 1025b, 1021c, 1022c, 1023c, 1024c, 1025c, 1021d, 1022d, 1023d, 1024d, 1025d, respectively, extending throughout the front half of the sole 1000a, 1000b, 1000c, 1000d and each corresponding to a respective toe/metatarsal bone of the foot. The reinforcing members 1021a, 1022a, 1023a, 1024a, 1025a, 1021b, 1022b, 1023b, 1024b, 1025b, 1021c, 1022c, 1023c, 1024c, 1025c, 1021d, 1022d, 1023d, 1024d, 1025d also extend beyond the arch region and into the back half of the sole.

[0306] A peculiarity of the reinforcing structures 1020a, 1020b, 1020c, 1020d is that some, or even all, of the reinforcing members 1021a, 1022a, 1023a, 1024a, 1025a, 1021b, 1022b, 1023b, 1024b, 1025b, 1021c, 1022c, 1023c, 1024c, 1025c, 1021d, 1022d, 1023d, 1024d, 1025d are formed from a continuous rod or tube of material, i.e. the reinforcing members are connected to and merge into each other in certain regions of the sole, in particular in the region underneath the rearfoot/heel. Still, at least two of the reinforcing members of each sole 1000a, 1000b, 1000c, 1000d are independent from each other in the sense that they may react and deform independently under a pressure load during walking or running, in particular in the front half of the sole. See, e.g., the reinforcing members 1022b, 1024b and 1025b for FIG. 10b and the reinforcing members 1021d and 1023d for FIG. 10d. In FIGS. 10a and 10c all five reinforcing members are independent and unconnected in the front half of the sole.

[0307] In the reinforcing structures 1020a, 1020b and 1020c, the medial, lateral, and central reinforcing members (i.e., the reinforcing members 1021a, 1023a, 1025a and 1021b, 1023b, 1025b and 1021c, 1023c, 1025c) have a large diameter than the remaining two reinforcing members of the respective structure, and they are provided as hollow tubes, while the thinner two reinforcing members are provided as solid rods. See also the cross sections 10a-c taken in the arch region of each of the depicted soles 1000a-c.

[0308] In the reinforcing structure 1020d of FIG. 10d, all five reinforcing members 1021d, 1022d, 1023d, 1024d, 1025d are provided as tubes of the same diameter and wall thickness, see the cross section 10d. Here, the members 1022d, 1023d as well as 1024d, 1025d are also connected in the toe region, underneath the 2.sup.nd & 3.sup.rd and 4.sup.th & 5.sup.th metatarsal bone, respectively, to provide an additional support to these ‘weaker’ toes (compared to the big toe/1.sup.st metatarsal bone). A further feature of the structure is that the ‘loop’ connecting the reinforcing members 1022d, 1024d in the arch regions lies lower within the midsole 1010d than the ‘loop’ connecting the reinforcing members 1021d, 1025d (s. the left hand picture in FIG. 10d), hence providing a heel support that has a lower center and raised side rims, to provide a kind of heel cup the heel can settle into.

[0309] An outsole 1060a, 1060b, 1060c, 1060d that may be attached to the midsoles 1010a, 1010b, 1010c, 1010d is also schematically shown in FIGS. 10a-d.

[0310] FIGS. 11a-f show a reinforcing structure 1120 and a forefoot support plate 1190, according to some embodiments, that may be incorporated into embodiments of a sole according to the present disclosure, e.g. one of the soles 100-900 or 1000a, 1000b, 1000c, 1000d discussed so far in this detailed description.

[0311] FIG. 11a shows a top view, FIG. 11b a bottom view, FIG. 11c a lateral side view, FIG. 11d a rear view, and FIG. 11e a tilted lateral side view of the reinforcing structure 1120 and a forefoot support plate 1190 with connectors 1195a, 1195b between the two. FIG. 11f shows a tilted medial side view of a modification of the reinforcing structure 1120 and forefoot support plate 1190 with an increased number of connectors 1195a, 1195bb, 1195c, 1195d between the two.

[0312] The reinforcing structure 1120 has five reinforcing members 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, 1125, each corresponding to one toe/metatarsal bone of the foot. The reinforcing member 1121 corresponding to the big toe/first metatarsal bone also ‘curls in’ underneath the big toe (cf. the region 1126), to provide additional support for toe-off, as already discussed numerous times. In some embodiments, all of the reinforcing members 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, 1125 have more or less (e.g. within a few percent, say within 10%, or 5%, or 2%) the same diameter (understood, e.g., as their diameter at a certain cross-sectional plane or longitudinal position along the sole, or as their average diameter along their extension). In other case, that may be different, though. Also, if the reinforcing members 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, 1125 are provided tube-shaped, i.e. have at least some hollow sections, their wall thickness may also vary. For example, the wall thickness of the members 1121 and 1123 may be larger, making them stiffer than the remaining members, as already discussed.

[0313] In other respects, the reinforcing structure 1120 is similar to, for example, the reinforcing structures 120, 220 or 920, and reference is therefore made to the corresponding statements above, for conciseness.

[0314] The forefoot support plate 1190 is arranged beneath the reinforcing structure 1120 in the present case (it may in principle also be arranged above it), and in the shown examples it also acts as an outsole or part of the outsole in the forefoot region of the sole. The forefoot support plate 1190 may, for example, be made from, or comprise a fiber-reinforced low-weight material to provide increased stiffness for a dynamic and efficient push-off, for example for running- or sprinting shoes.

[0315] To further facilitate such a dynamic push-off and fast movements, the forefoot support plate 1190 of the shown examples comprises both profile elements 1199 to improve traction, as well as grommets or sockets 1198 into which spikes or cleats (not shown) may be mounted (removably or permanently). In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 11f, each socket 1198 is further fitted with a (e.g., plastic or metal) thread 1198a for such spikes to cleats to be removably screwed into.

[0316] In FIGS. 11a-e, the medial and lateral reinforcing members 1121 and 1125 are connected to the forefoot support plate 1190 by two connectors or wings 1195a and 1195b, respectively. In some embodiments, for example, as shown in FIG. 11f, there are additional connectors 1195c and 1195d between the reinforcing members 1122 and 1124, respectively, and the forefoot support plate 1190. These connectors serve, for example, the purpose of further increasing the mechanical coupling and general rigidity of the forefoot support construction provided by the reinforcing structure 1120 and forefoot support plate 1190, and hence facilitate the transmission of high push-off force from the leg and foot to the ground.

[0317] What is not shown in FIG. 11a-f, for clarity of exposition, is the midsole material that will generally be arranged between the forefoot support plate 1190 and the reinforcing members 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, 1125, and into which the reinforcing members 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, 1125 will generally be at least partially embedded, as already discussed. Reference is therefore made in this regard to the explanations already given herein, for conciseness.

[0318] FIGS. 12a-i show a sole 1200 (or parts thereof), according to some embodiments, having at least two reinforcing members extending in a front half of the sole, wherein at least a first one of the reinforcing members further extends rearwardly beyond the midfoot area and into a heel area of the sole and wraps up to a posterior portion of the ankle region.

[0319] FIGS. 12a and 12b show a top view of the reinforcing structure 1220 of this sole 1200, FIG. 12c a tilted lateral side view, FIG. 12d a front view, FIG. 12e another tilted lateral side view, FIG. 12f an example of the reinforcing structure 1220 being embedded within a midsole 1210, and FIGS. 12g, 12h and 12i show constructional drawings pertaining to the shown embodiment.

[0320] It is once again pointed out that everything that has been said or disclosed so far, in particular with regard to the embodiments and examples of FIGS. 1a-11f, may also apply (if not physically or technically impossible, of course) to the embodiments and examples described and disclosed in the following, even if not explicitly discussed in every detail.

[0321] The sole 1200 comprises a reinforcing structure 1220 containing five reinforcing members 1221, 1222, 1223, 1224, 1225 extending in the front half of the sole 1200 and each corresponding to a toe/metatarsal bone of the foot (however, in some embodiments a smaller or larger number of reinforcing members is also possible, e.g. 2, 3, 4 or 6 or 7 reinforcing members).

[0322] A first, medial reinforcing member 1221 corresponds to the big toe/first metatarsal bone. A second, later reinforcing member 1225 corresponds to the 5.sup.th metatarsal bone. Between these two, three reinforcing members 1222, 1223 and 1224 are arranged, corresponding to the 2.sup.nd, 3.sup.rd and 4.sup.th metatarsal bone, respectively.

[0323] The first, medial reinforcing member 1221 comprises a flattened or taper tip that extends towards the front edge/tip of the sole 1200 (cf., e.g., FIGS. 12h and 12i) and ‘curls in’ underneath the big toe (cf. the region 1226), to provide additional support for toe-off.

[0324] The reinforcing members 1221 and 1223 corresponding to the 1.sup.st and 3.sup.rd metatarsal bones have a larger diameter as the remaining three reinforcing members 1222, 1224 and 1225. This can be seen from FIG. 12g, where several cross-sections through the reinforcing structure 1220 are shown. Going from medial to lateral (i.e. from member 1221 to member 1225), the indicated diameters of the five reinforcing members are: at their tips just in front of cross section B-B′ 4 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 3 mm and 3 mm; around the region of cross section C-C′ 6 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 5 mm and 5 mm; just in front of cross section D-D′: 6 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, 5 mm and 5 mm. At every longitudinal position along the sole 1200, the reinforcing members 1221 and 1223 are therefore thicker, and hence stiffer and more resistant to deformation that the other members (a wall thickness of 1 mm is also indicated for some sections of the reinforcing members in FIG. 12g). However, the wall thickness is another parameter besides the diameter that may be varied among the reinforcing members 1221, 1222, 1223, 1224, 1225 and/or along a given reinforcing member to change and influence their physical properties.

[0325] In the region of the arch of the foot, the reinforcing members 1222, 1223, 1224, 1225 are further connected by a hollow connection region 1228 with a central surface bulge (s. the cross-section n-n′ in FIG. 12g) to provide additional support and stability to this region of the sole 1200.

[0326] It is pointed out that in the center of the hollow connection region 1228, in the area indicated by the ellipse 1299, the dashed lines do not indicate a separate tube-shaped member, but a surface bulge on the hollow connection region 1228 which is slightly higher (6 mm) than the rest of this hollow midfoot connection region 1228 (5 mm) (s. also the cross section n-n′).

[0327] The first, medial reinforcing member 1221 and the second, lateral reinforcing member 1225 further extends rearwardly beyond the midfoot area and into the heel area of the sole and form sections 1221a and 1225a, respectively, that wrap up to the posterior portion of the ankle region and merge into each other behind the heel in region 1227 (s. FIGS. 12c, 12d, 12e, 12f and 12h for information about the three-dimensional configuration of this region). In this manner, a support structure for the heel of a wearer is provided that ‘locks the heel in place’ and allows for a particular good transmission of forces and an increased lever during push-off and a sufficient stabilization of the foot.

[0328] To further promote this effect, and while most of the reinforcing members may be provided as hollow members, i.e. tube-shaped (cf. the cross-sections in FIG. 12g), the first reinforcing member 1221 can be provided as a solid member, i.e. rod-shaped. This is indicated in FIG. 12b by the dashed line 1221b, showing the (approximate) extension of this solid section of the reinforcing structure 1220. As mentioned, the remaining parts may be provided as hollow structures (although not absolutely necessary), e.g. to save weight.

[0329] Irrespective of the additional support provided by the sections 1221a and 1225a and heel support where the two are joined in the region 1227, the reinforcing members 1221, 1222, 1223, 1224, 1225 are still adapted to be independently deflected by forces acting on the sole during a gait cycle in the front half of the sole 1200, so that the corresponding advantages, which have already been discussed in detail, are not lost.

[0330] Finally, as already mentioned, FIGS. 12f, 12h and 12i shown examples of how the reinforcing structure 1220 may be implemented into and embedded within a midsole 1210 of the sole, and how it may be arranged in relation to the midsole 1210 and a potential outsole 1260.

[0331] FIG. 13 shows another example of a reinforcing structure 1320 quite similar to the reinforcing structure 1220, in a tilted medial side view. It contains five reinforcing members 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325 and all of the statements made above with regard to the reinforcing members 1221-1225 generally also apply to the reinforcing members 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325. In reinforcing structure 1320, as shown in FIG. 13, however, the core of the reinforcing members 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325 is filled with a filling (e.g. plastic or metal) material, as indicated by the different color compared to the reinforcing member 1321 in FIG. 13.

[0332] A sole 1400, according to some embodiments, is shown in FIG. 14 in an exploded view. Sole 1400 includes a reinforcing structure 1420, which may e.g. be the reinforcing structure 1220 or 1320 just discussed. All of what has been said about the corresponding members, elements and components of the reinforcing structures 1220 and 1320 therefore also applies to the reinforcing structure 1420 (unless physically or technically ruled out, of course) and is therefore not repeated.

[0333] The sole 1400 comprises a midsole 1410 with an upper midsole part 1411 and a lower midsole part 1412, between which reinforcing structure 1420 is positioned. It is completely embedded within the midsole 1410. The sole also comprises an outsole 1460, which in the embodiment shown here comprises several individual sub-parts (this need not always be the case, however).

[0334] With regard to the different midsole parts 1411, 1412, the outsole 1460 and possible details and materials etc. that may be used in this regard, reference is in particular made to the corresponding statements and explanations given with regard to these components in relation with FIGS. 1a-f, 2, 3a-b, 4, 5a-b, 6a-d, 7a-b, 8a-b and 9a, which apply analogously here and are therefore not repeated again.

[0335] FIGS. 15a-b show methods 1500a and 1500b for the manufacture of a reinforcing structure or part of a reinforcing structure for a shoe sole with at least one reinforcing member with a hollow section, for example the manufacture of any of the reinforcing structures 120, 220, 320, 420, 720, 820, 1020, 1120, 1220, 1320, 1420 or hollow part thereof discussed herein so far.

[0336] The following discussion will focus on the manufacture of one single hollow section of such a reinforcing structure for clarity of exposition, but the skilled person will understand that the method may also be expanded to the manufacture of several such hollows section, potentially in combination with solid/non-hollow sections, on a single machine and in a single go. The component obtained by the method may, of course, also be subsequently joined, glued, connected etc. to other components or parts to for the reinforcing structure if need be. Details about such steps will not be the focus of the following discussion, however.

[0337] The method 1500a comprises the step of injecting a liquid molding material into a molding cavity 15 of a mold, the molding cavity 15 having a shape corresponding to the outer dimensions of the reinforcing member with the hollow section that is to be manufactured (as mentioned, for clarity of exposition, the simple case the one hollow reinforcing member is manufactured is discussed here and shown in FIGS. 15a and 15b, but the generalization to and modifications necessary for more complicated configurations are clear to the skilled person). The result of this step is shown at reference 1510a in FIG. 15a where the molding cavity 15 is filled with the (still liquid) molding material.

[0338] The liquid molding material may be a plastic material suitable for injection molding, e.g., EVA or TPU or some other material known to the skilled person of that purpose.

[0339] The method further comprises, see reference 1520a in FIG. 15a, the step of injecting a displacement gas into the molding cavity under pressure. Instead of a displacement gas, also a displacement liquid could be sued, as explained below in relation to FIG. 15b. The displacement gas can be air or nitrogen, for example, or another gas which may be inert in the sense that it does not react with the liquid injection material but simply displaces it and pushes the injected material against the walls of the molding cavity 15.

[0340] To achieve this displacement of the injected material, during the above two steps. An exit path 20 leading to an outlet well 30 is closed, such that the gas pressure mounts and can be maintain within the molding cavity 15.

[0341] Once a sufficient amount of gas has been injected and a sufficient gas pressure been established, the exit path 20 is opened such that the pressurized displacement gas ‘washes out’ the still liquid material from the center of the molding cavity 15 and into the outlet well 30, see reference 1530a in FIG. 15a, thus creating a hollow tube of injected material in the molding cavity 15 that then solidifies to form the hollow section of the reinforcing member.

[0342] FIG. 15b shows a modified method 1500b wherein the exit path 20 for removing the displacement medium from the molding cavity is also used as an injection path for the medium, so that the medium itself closes the exit path 20 during its injection under pressure into the molding cavity 15, which can simplify the operation of the machine.

[0343] At reference 1510b, a liquid material is injection molded by an injection molding machine 40 into a molding cavity 15 having a shape corresponding to the outer dimensions of the reinforcing member with the hollow section that is to be manufacture.

[0344] At reference 1520b, the method 1500b comprises injecting a displacement gas or liquid (e.g., water) into the molding cavity 15 under pressure. In the present case, this is done via an inlet path 20 that will also be used as exit path to wash out the liquid material from the center of the molding cavity 15. Since the displacement medium is injected via the path 20 into the molding cavity 15 under pressure, the medium itself seals off the path 20 as long as the injection pressure is kept up, and no additional valve or outline line is needed in this case.

[0345] This is done at reference 1530b, where the displacement gas or liquid is removed again from the molding cavity 15 via the path 20 and into an outlet well 30 within a corresponding unit 50, ‘taking with it’ the liquid material still present in the center of the molding cavity 15 at this point in time.

[0346] Prior to the removal at reference 1530b, the injected molding material may be allowed to set or cure at least partially within the molding cavity 15, particularly at the walls of the molding cavity 15 (which may, e.g., be heated for this purpose), while the material in the center is still kept in the liquid phase. This facilitates the removal of the unwanted molding material in the center of the molding cavity along with the removal of the displacement medium (this option also applies to the embodiment 1500a discussed above).

[0347] Afterwards, the component may be allowed to set and cure (e.g., while being actively cooled), and then be demolded, see reference 1540b in FIG. 15b.

[0348] FIGS. 16a-e show a shoe 1600, or parts thereof, of a shoe according to some embodiments the present disclosure, from different view angles. FIGS. 16a and 16b show an exploded view of the entire shoe 1600, from the lateral side and from two slightly different angles. FIGS. 16c and 16d show close-up views of the front of the sole 1605 of the shoe 1600. FIG. 16e illustrates the concept of the first and second layer used in the discussion herein.

[0349] The shoe 1600 comprises an upper 1601, which will not be discussed in further detail herein. The shoe 1600 further comprises a sole 1605 with a midsole 1610 with an upper midsole part 1611, a lower midsole part 1612 and an intermediary midsole part 1613. Fully embedded within the midsole 1610 is a reinforcing structure 1620 comprising five rod-shaped and/or tube-shaped reinforcing members, individually referenced by reference numerals 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625. The five reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625 each correspond to a respective metatarsal bone. The sole 1605 of the shoe 1600 further comprises a load distribution member 1640 partially embedded within the top side of the upper midsole part 1611. The upper midsole part 1611 thus separates the reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625 from the load distribution member 1640, i.e., the reinforcing members 1621-1625 on the one hand and the load distribution member 1640 on the other hand are provided as separate and individual elements. The load distribution member 1640 and the upper midsole part 1611 may further be covered by a sock-liner (not shown), which may be replaceable or permanently connected to the load distribution member 1640 and the upper midsole part 1611. The sole 1605 of the shoe 1600 also comprises an outsole 1660, to improve traction and wear resistance. The shoe 1600 may also be fitted with cleats and/or spikes, to make it suitable for track-and-field activities, for example. The shoe 1600 may be a sports shoe, in particular a running shoe.

[0350] The upper, lower and/or intermediary midsole parts 1611, 1612, 1613 may comprise or be made of a polymer foam material. The midsole parts 1611, 1612, 1613 can comprise or be made of the same material, or they can comprise or be made of different materials. It is also possible that within a given midsole part, the material composition changes locally, i.e., that different materials are used in different regions, e.g., to locally influence the mechanical properties of the upper, lower and/or intermediary midsole part 1611, 1612, 1613. The polymer foam material can comprise a homogeneous foam material, like ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA) or injection-molded thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (TPEE), Polyamide, PEBA or other suitable materials. The polymer foam material can also comprise a particle foam. For example, particle foams made of or comprising particles of expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU), expanded polyamide (ePA), expanded polyether-block-amide (ePEBA) and/or expanded thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (eTPEE) are particularly well suited for use in performance footwear, because they provide a high degree of cushioning and energy return back to the wearer. For example, particle foams of eTPU maintain their beneficial properties over a large temperature range (e.g., from −20° C. up to 40° C.). Particle foams including particles of expanded polylactide (ePLA), expanded polyethylene terephthalate (ePET), expanded thermoplastic olefin (eTPO) and/or expanded polybutylene terephthalate (ePBT) are also possible. To give one specific example, the lower midsole part 1612 may be made from a homogeneous EVA- or TPU- or TPEE-foam material, to provide good overall stability and wear resistance to the sole of the shoe 1600, while the upper midsole part 1611 and/or intermediary midsole part 1613 may be made from a particle foam comprising particles of eTPU, ePA, ePEBA and/or eTPEE, to provide good cushioning, high energy return, and a smoother transition which reduce eccentric forces and give a comfortable ride.

[0351] It is emphasized, however, that alternatively or in addition to using a foam material for the midsole 1610, other materials and manufacturing options may also be used. For example, the midsole 1610 or parts thereof may comprise or be comprised of a lattice structure, for example an additively manufactured lattice structure (e.g., a structure made using a 3D printing method or a laser sintering method or a stereo-lithography method), which, as already mentioned farther above, may be useful both for long distance running shoes, where a high cushioning is preferred, and for sprint spikes or lower distance running shoes where high cushioning is not a necessity, but high stiffness and anatomical guidance of the foot during ground contact is beneficial.

[0352] Moreover, it is also emphasized that the present disclosure also covers embodiments wherein the midsole 1610 does not comprise separate upper, lower and intermediary midsole parts, but only one unified midsole component. Or at least two of the upper, lower and intermediary midsole parts may be a unified midsole component, while the remaining midsole component is separate. Such a midsole may also comprise or be made of one or more of the above-mentioned homogeneous foam materials and/or particle foams and/or non-foamed materials like a lattice structure as mentioned above, for example.

[0353] It will be appreciated that in what has been said so far about the sole 1605 of the shoe 1600, this sole 1605 is very similar to, for example, the sole 100 shown in FIGS. 1a-f or the sole 200 shown in FIG. 2. Everything that has been discussed, for example, about the reinforcing structures 120 and 220 therefore also applies to the reinforcing structure 1620 with reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625 discussed here, and vice versa, unless physically or technically impossible, of course.

[0354] More generally, all of what has been said about specific members, elements and components in the context of the embodiments of present disclosure that have already been discussed above also applies to the corresponding members, elements and components (if present) of the shoe 1600 discussed here, and also to the corresponding members, elements and components (if present) of the further shoes and shoe soles that will still be discussed below in relation to FIGS. 17-24 (unless physically or technically ruled out, of course). To avoid redundancies, not all of these option will therefore be discussed again, but reference is made to corresponding statements above.

[0355] In addition to the reinforcing members 1621-1625, the sole 1605 also comprises at least two blade members also extending in the front half of the sole 1605, in the present case three blade members 1671, 1672 and 1673, collectively referred to by the reference numeral 1670 in FIGS. 16a-e. In some embodiments, the blade members 1671, 1672 and 1673 do not extend into the back half of the sole but their extension is restricted to the region from the toe area to the area of the arch of the foot, but in some embodiments this may be different and the blade members (or one or two of them) may also extend beyond the arch region and into the back half of the foot. One or several or all of the blade members 1671, 1672 and 1673, for example the medial blade member 1671, may also protrude from the front of the sole 1605 and be visible from the outside. Moreover, the above-said can also apply to the reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625, which also extend, at least, in the front half of the sole 1605.

[0356] Similar to the grooves 215 for the reinforcing members 220 of the sole 200 shown in FIG. 2, the lower midsole part 1612 of the sole 1605 may comprise three grooves 1616 in which the three blade members 1671, 1672 and 1673 may rest. This may help to secure the blade members 1671, 1672 and 1673 in their position and thus help to avoid or limit the use of adhesives or glues, for example, and to generally facilitate assembly of the sole 1605. Similar grooves 1615 also exist for the reinforcing members 1621-1625, in the upper midsole part 1611, as shown in FIGS. 16c and 16d, for example.

[0357] The reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625 define a first layer 1608 within the sole 1605, and the blade members 1671-1673 define a second layer 1609 in the sole 1605. In FIG. 16e, these two layers 1608 and 1609 have been indicated. As the skilled person understands, the two layers 1608 and 1609 can be thought of as being spanned or defined by the reinforcing members 1621-1625 and blade members 1671, 1672, 1673, respectively, in much the same way the canopy of an umbrella is spanned by the foldable ribs of the umbrella. A different way to determine the two layers 1608 and 1609 would be to imagine that the reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625 and the blade members 1671, 1672, 1673 were glued or welded to a respective piece of textile material (or something similar, for example a mesh-like material or a foil), with any excess around the outermost members being cut off. It is also emphasized that such a construction may actually be used within the scope of the present disclosure, even though this is not shown here and this concept is only discussed as a conceptual aid.

[0358] In the sole 1605, the first layer 1608 and the second layer 1609 are displaced from one another in a vertical direction, wherein the first layer 1608 is arranged above the second layer 1609, and the two layers are fully distinct from one another (s. FIG. 16e), meaning there is no direct connection between the reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625 and the blade members 1671, 1672, 1673 in the case shown here. In some embodiments, this may be different, though.

[0359] In the gap defined between the first layer 1608 and the second layer 1609, the intermediary midsole part 1613 is arranged, such that the gap is filled with the (foam) material of the intermediary midsole part 1613. Suitable materials for this part and the other parts of the midsole have been discussed above.

[0360] Moreover, in a vertical projection of the sole 1605 (i.e., when viewed “from the top”) the first layer 1608 and the second layer 1609 at least partially overlap (as opposed to the members being arranged in totally different regions of the sole, for example). In other words, the reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625 “are stacked on top” of the blade member 1671, 1672, 1673 within the sole 1605.

[0361] As can been seen, for example, in FIGS. 16b and 16c, the first layer 1608 and the second layer 1609 comprise respective sections, in the forefoot area and generally in the region underneath the metatarsal bones, with corresponding curvature. This has been indicated in FIG. 16c by the two lines 1608a and 1609a. Pictorially speaking, the two layers 1608 and 1609, and hence the reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625 and blade members 1671, 1672, 1673, have a geometry in this region that fits together like two “onion shells”. This allows the foot to settle nicely and snugly into the supporting structure provided by the reinforcing- and blade members and allows for a natural roll-off movement of the foot.

[0362] The blade members 1671, 1672, 1673 of the sole 1605 have a flattened, oval cross-section, as can be seen particularly well in FIG. 16c. This can help to keep the stack height or thickness of the sloe 1605 down, despite two sets of structural members (i.e., the reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625 and the blade members 1671, 1672, 1673) being stacked on top of each other and being interspersed and displaced by the intermediary midsole part 1613 within the sole 1605.

[0363] As has already been discussed, for example, in detail with regard to the sole 100 of FIG. 1, a diameter of the reinforcing members can vary between some or all of the reinforcing members. This also applies, with all options and corresponding technical effects, to the reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625 of the sole 1605. Alternatively or in addition, a diameter of at least one of the reinforcing members 1621-1625 can also vary along said reinforcing member. Also in this regard, reference is made to the corresponding statements and explanations above.

[0364] Further, much the same also applies to the blade members 1671, 1672, 1673. In other words, a diameter of the blade members 1671, 1672, 1673 can vary between at least two of the blade members 1671, 1672, 1673, and alternatively or in addition, a diameter of at least one of the blade members 1671, 1672, 1673 can vary along said blade member. For example, each blade member 1671, 1672, 1673 can have a thicker center portion compared to its front and back tips, and the lateral blade member 1673 could have a smaller cross-section (for example, taken as the average value along the respective blade member, or taken at a specific position along the longitudinal axis of the sole 1605) than the medial blade member 1671, and hence be more flexible than the medial blade member 1671. The cross-section of one or more of the blade members 1671, 1672, 1673 could also become more rounded in certain sections or portions, to increase the bending stiffness of the respective member in that section or portion compared to an oval or even flatter blade member.

[0365] Possible materials for reinforcing members have already been discussed above in relation to some embodiments of the present disclosure, and these considerations also apply to the reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625. The blade members 1671, 1672, 1673 can comprise a reinforced polymer material, for example a reinforced polyamide (PA) material, in particular a glass-fiber reinforced-, or carbon-fiber reinforced-, or carbon infused polymer material.

[0366] In some embodiments, a sole with at least two reinforcing members and at least two blade members will now be discussed in relation to FIGS. 17 and 18a-e. Insofar as no explicit statements about specific members, elements and components of the following embodiments will be made, all of the options and possibilities that have already been discussed up to this point for corresponding members, elements and components of the previous embodiments may apply, even if not explicitly repeated and discussed again—unless, of course, this is physically or technically ruled out.

[0367] FIG. 17 shows a shoe 1700 with a sole 1705, which is very similar to the shoe 1600 discussed above. The shoe 1700 comprises an upper 1701, and the sole 1705 comprises a midsole 1710 with an upper midsole part 1711, a lower midsole part 1712 and an intermediary midsole part 1713. Fully embedded within the midsole 1710 is a reinforcing structure 1720 comprising five rod-shaped and/or tube-shaped reinforcing members, each corresponding to a respective metatarsal bone. The sole 1705 of the shoe 1700 further comprises three blade members 1770 vertically displaced and arranged below the reinforcing members 1720. The lower midsole part 1712 comprises three grooves 1716 in which the three blade members 1770 sit, and the upper midsole part 1711 may comprise corresponding grooves (in its bottom surface, which is not visible in FIG. 17) for the reinforcing members 1720. The sole 1705 further comprises a load distribution member 1740 partially embedded within the top side of the upper midsole part 1711. The sole 1705 also comprises an outsole 1760, and it may further contain a sock-liner or insole (not shown here).

[0368] What is different compared to the sole 1605 of the shoe 1600 is that the three blade members 1770 of the sole 1705 of the shoe 1700 have a slightly smaller width (in medial-to-lateral direction) namely a width that is comparable to the diameter of the rod-/tube shaped reinforcing members 1720 in this case. In the sole 1605 of the shoe 1600, by contrast, the blade members 1671, 1672, 1673 have a width that is larger than the diameter of the rod-/tube-shaped reinforcing members 1621, 1622, 1623, 1624, 1625, at least in their central section away from their tips. This can result in the blade members 1770 having a slightly smaller deformation stiffness and a slightly larger flexibility, for example, than the blade members 1671, 1672, 1673.

[0369] FIGS. 18a-e show another sole 1800 (for the left foot, in the case shown here) with three blade members 1871, 1872 and 1873 (collectively referred to by the reference numeral 1870) and further details about the geometry of these blade members. The blade member 1871 is arranged on the medial side of the sole 1800, the blade member 1872 is a central member, and the blade member 1873 is arranged on the lateral side of the sole 1800, cf. FIG. 18a.

[0370] The sole 1800 comprises a midsole 1810 with an upper midsole part 1811, a lower midsole part 1812 and an intermediary midsole part 1813. Fully embedded within the midsole 1810 is a reinforcing structure comprising several reinforcing members, which are not visible in FIG. 18 and which will not be further discussed here, for conciseness. Reference is instead made to the corresponding options and possibilities discussed so far. The sole 1800 also comprises an outsole 1860, and the sole 1800 may further contain a sock-liner, a load distribution member, etc., as already discussed numerous times by now (all not shown here).

[0371] The three blade members 1871, 1872 and 1873 are arranged (in the assembled state of the sole 1800) in corresponding grooves 1816 in the lower midsole part 1811, similar to what has already been discussed with regard to the soles 1605 and 1705, for example.

[0372] FIGS. 18b-18e are included to provide a better understanding of the possible geometry of such blade members.

[0373] FIG. 18b shows the blade members 1871, 1872, 1873 in a top view (with reference to their arrangement within the assemble state of the sole 1800).

[0374] FIG. 18c shows a perspective lateral side view of the blade members 1871, 1872, 1873 in an upside-down configuration, i.e., as viewed in a lateral side view of the sole 1800 when looking at it with its bottom side turned upwards and in a direction from the heel towards the toes.

[0375] FIG. 18d shows the members from the front, again in an upside-down configuration, i.e., with the bottom side of the sole 1800 facing upwards in FIG. 18d.

[0376] FIG. 18e shows a lateral side view (projection on the sagittal plane), also in an upside-down configuration.

[0377] As can be seen from these figures, the blade members 1871, 1872, 1873 both comprise non-linear sections or curvature in the top view (s. FIG. 18b) as well as in the front- and side view (s. FIGS. 18c-e), which allow the blade members to follow the natural anatomy and anatomical landmarks of the foot of a wearer.

[0378] FIGS. 19-23 show additional shoe soles with reinforcing members and blade members according to some embodiments, and FIG. 24 shows a possible modification of the sole shown in FIG. 23. Again, insofar as no detailed statements about specific members, elements and components of the following embodiments will be made, all of the options and possibilities that have already been discussed up to this point for corresponding members, elements and components of the previous embodiments may apply, even if not explicitly repeated and discussed again—unless, of course, this is physically or technically ruled out.

[0379] FIG. 19 shows a sole 1900 for a shoe, for example, a sports shoe, with a midsole 1910 with five reinforcing members 1920 (one for each metatarsal bone) and two blade members 1970 embedded therein, namely a medial blade member 1971 and a lateral blade member 1972. The two blade members 1971 and 1972 are generally arranged beneath the reinforcing members 1920, such that the layer defined or spanned by the reinforcing members 1920 and the layer defined or spanned by the blade members 1970 are generally distinct and vertically displaced from one another.

[0380] But, in the sole 1900, the blade members 1971 and 1972 are connected to (some) of the reinforcing members 1920 in a region 1978 towards the back end of the sole 1900. In other words, the layers defined or spanned by the two sets of members 1920 and 1970 meet or merge in the region 1978. In the case shown here, the medial blade member 1971 is connected to outmost two reinforcing members on the medial side of the sole 1900 in the region 1978, and the lateral blade member 1972 is connected to outmost two reinforcing members on the lateral side of the sole 1900 in the region 1978. The connection may be created, for example, by means of a glue or adhesive, or by welding the elements together, or the elements may by integrally manufactured, such as by injection molding or 3D-printing methods, for example.

[0381] In the forefoot region of the sole 1900 and also extending partially into the back half of the sole 1900, there is hence a gap 1979 between the reinforcing members 1920 and the blade members 1970, and this gap 1979 may be filled by a foam material or intermediary midsole part 1913, as shown in the bottom half of FIG. 19. Such a construction may improve the forward propulsion of the sole during walking or running, as illustrated in the bottom half of FIG. 19 at steps S19A, S19B and S19C:

[0382] At step S19A, showing the sole in an uncompressed state at or just before landing and foot strike, the forefoot region of the sole 1900 still has its original stack height/thickness and the foam material 1913 is (largely) uncompressed and does not store a significant amount of elastic energy.

[0383] At step S19B, during the stance phase, the foam material 1913 gets “squeezed in” by the supporting structure created by the reinforcing members 1920 and the blade members 1970 arranged above and beneath the foam material 1913, respectively, leading to a decreases stack height/thickness of the sole 1900 in the forefoot region and the storage of elastic energy in the system.

[0384] At step S19C, upon lift-off and unloading, this elastic energy in the system gets (at least partially) released, helping forward propulsion of the wearer, and the original configuring of the sole 1900 is basically restored (generally, some small energy losses, for example, due to hysteresis in the involved materials, may occur).

[0385] FIG. 20 shows a sole 2000 and possible modifications thereof with a midsole 2010 including reinforcing members 2020 (for example, five reinforcing members, each corresponding to a metatarsal bone, as shown in the sole 2004 at the bottom of FIG. 20) and blade members 2070 (for example, two blade members as discussed in relation to FIG. 19, or three blade members as discussed in relation to FIGS. 16a-e, 17 and 18a-e). The blade members 2070 are generally arranged beneath the reinforcing members 2020, such that the layer defined or spanned by the reinforcing members 2020 and the layer defined or spanned by the blade members 2070 are generally distinct and vertically displaced from one another, but in a region 2078 towards the back end of the sole 2000 the blade members 2070 are connected to (some) of the reinforcing members 2020, hence the layers defined by the two sets of members 2020, 2070 meet or merge in this region.

[0386] In the forefoot region of the sole 2000 and also extending partially into the back half of the sole 2000, there is again a gap 2079 between the reinforcing members 2020 and the blade members 2070, similar to the sole 1900 discussed above with relation to FIG. 19. Here, however, a spring member 2077 is arranged in the gap 2079, instead of the gap being filled by a foam material as above. It is emphasized, however, that also in the sole 2000 and the modifications thereof discussed below, the gap 2079 may further contain a foam material, in addition to the spring member 2077.

[0387] In the sole 2000, the spring member 2077 is provided as a bounceball-type element (e.g., a rubber ball) arranged at or close to the hinge point where the reinforcing members 2020 and blade members 2070 meet and are connected to one another.

[0388] In the modification shown below, i.e. in the sole 2001, the spring member 2077 is provided as a springy tube (e.g., a rubber tube) at the rocker loading point, i.e. towards the front end of the arch region of the foot. The spring member 2077 of the sole 2001 may thus potentially allow, for example, to store energy during the transition phase (>50 ms), wherein the storage of energy through the spring element 2077 may come from the collapsing load of the plantar arch during the middle of the stance phase. It may also allow to transfer energy towards the last point of contact during push-off, and/or to return energy during the push-off when the spring element 2077 gets unloaded at the end of the stance phase.

[0389] In the modification shown below that, i.e. in the sole 2002, the spring member 2077 is provided by a (biased) spring steel insert.

[0390] In each of the soles 2000, 2001, 2002, there may be, for example, one such spring member 2077 in total, or one spring member 2077 per blade member, or one spring member 2077 per reinforcing member, and so forth. The precise number of spring members 2077 can be determined according to the desired degree of “springiness” of the sole, for example.

[0391] In the bottom two modifications shown in FIG. 20, i.e., in the soles 2003 and 2004, the blade members 2070 themselves act as spring-like members, namely as spring steel members connected at their front and rear end to at least one reinforcing member in the sole 2003, and as a kind of interlocking finger elements in the sole 2004. This reduces the number of individual components in the sole and may hence reduce weight and manufacturing complexity and expenses, for example.

[0392] FIG. 21 shows a sole 2100 and possible modifications thereof with a midsole 2110 with a springboard-type supporting structure formed by a set of reinforcing members 2120 (for example, five reinforcing members, each corresponding to a metatarsal bone, as shown in the sole 2103 at the bottom of FIG. 21) and a set of blade members 2170 (for example, two blade members as also shown in the sole 2103 at the bottom of FIG. 21, or three blade members as discussed above) with the blade members 2170 again being generally arranged beneath the reinforcing members 2120.

[0393] In the version of the springboard structure included in the sole 2100, a slight modification of which is shown in insolation (i.e., without a surrounding midsole 2110) at the top of FIG. 21, there is a spring member (or several spring members) 2177 arranged between the front tip portion of one or more of the blade members 2170 and the front or middle portion of one or more of the reinforcing members. This spring member 2177 or the spring members may be connected to the blade member(s) and/or reinforcing member(s), or it may be held in position by the surrounding material of the midsole 2110, for example, without being attached to these members.

[0394] In the versions of the springboard structures included in the soles 2101 and 2102, however, there is no additional spring member but the blade members 2170 themselves provide the springboard structure by forming the “loop” that can be seen in the side view of these two soles that is depicted in FIG. 21.

[0395] In some embodiments, as shown in the sole 2103 at the bottom of FIG. 21, which may, for example, be a bottom view of the sole 2101 or the sole 2102, there can be two blade members 2170, namely a medial blade member 2171 and a lateral blade member 2172 that form the “loop” of the sole 2101 or 2102, and that are arranged beneath the five reinforcing members 212o of the sole 2003. The medial and lateral blade members 2171 and 2172 are further connected at the front and back ends, to increase the overall stability of this springboard construction.

[0396] Such a connection between two or more of the blade members and a design of the blade members as a segmented plate is possible also for all the other embodiment discussed herein, if not explicitly stated otherwise or physically or technically ruled out.

[0397] FIG. 22 shows a sole 2200, which is a modification of the sole 1900 shown in FIG. 19. There are again five reinforcing members 2220, each corresponding to a metatarsal bone, and two blade members 2271 and 2272 (collectively referred to by the reference numeral 2270), which are connected to the outmost two medial and lateral reinforcing members, respectively, in the region 2278 in the back half of the sole 2200.

[0398] The main difference is that the medial and lateral blade members 2271 and 2272 of the sole 2200 only extend up towards the middle of the front half of the sole, while the blade members 1971 and 1972 extend almost the entire way up towards the tip of the sole 1900 (cf., e.g., the top picture in FIG. 19 and the top picture in FIG. 22). This may make the tip of the sole 2200 softer and more flexible than the tip of the sole 1900, for example, and it may also help to reduce the stack height/thickness of the tip of the sole 2200 compared to the sole 1900.

[0399] FIG. 23 shows a possible variation of the sole 2200 in the form of a sole 2300, wherein the medial and lateral blade members 2371 and 2372 (collectively referred to by the reference numeral 2370) are now connected to the outmost two medial and lateral reinforcing members 2320 not in the back half of the sole 2300, but at the tip of the sole 2300 and of the reinforcing members 2320, i.e. in the region 2378.

[0400] Finally, FIG. 24 shows yet another possible variation of the sole 2300, namely sole 2400, wherein the blade members are replaced by five “spring-arm” rods 2420a extending in a downward- and backward direction from the tip of each one of the five reinforcing members 2420. As shown in the top picture of FIG. 24, there may also be one or more reinforcing members (e.g. the outmost lateral and/or medial one), that extend rearwardly beyond the midfoot area and into a heel area of the sole and wrap up to a posterior portion of the ankle region, as discussed, for example, in detail in the context of FIGS. 12a-i, 13 and 14, to which discussion reference is therefore made in this regard.

[0401] The following examples are described to facilitate the understanding of the disclosure:

[0402] Aspect 1 of the description—A sole for a shoe, such as a running shoe, includes at least two reinforcing members extending in a front half of the sole, wherein the reinforcing members are adapted to be independently deflected by forces acting on the sole during a gait cycle.

[0403] Aspect 2 of the description—The sole according to aspect 1, wherein each of the reinforcing members comprises a non-linear section.

[0404] Aspect 3 of the description—The sole according to aspect 2, wherein each of the reinforcing members comprises a section having a concave shape in a side view of the sole.

[0405] Aspect 4 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 2-3,

[0406] wherein each of the reinforcing members has a shape comprising a localized low point relative to a horizontal plane, and

[0407] wherein each of said low points is located in the front half of the sole.

[0408] Aspect 5 of the description—The sole according to aspect 4, wherein each of said low points is located in a region between a midfoot area and a toe area of the sole.

[0409] Aspect 6 of the description—The sole according to aspect 5, wherein each of said low points is located in a region of the metatarsophalangeal joints, MTP joints.

[0410] Aspect 7 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 4-6, wherein each of said low points is located at a distance of at least 5 mm beneath a plane that is tangential to an upper side of a structure formed by the reinforcing members. In some embodiments, each of said low points is located at a distance of at least 8 mm beneath a plane that is tangential to an upper side of a structure formed by the reinforcing members.

[0411] Aspect 8 of the description—The sole according to aspect 7, wherein the distance between the tangential plane and each of said low points depends on the position of the respective low point relative to a lateral or a medial edge of the sole.

[0412] Aspect 9 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 2-8, wherein the section of each reinforcing member with the non-linear shape extends at least from the midfoot area to the toe area of the sole.

[0413] Aspect 10 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 1-9, wherein the reinforcing members extend rearwardly beyond the midfoot area and into a heel area of the sole.

[0414] Aspect 11 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 1-10, wherein the reinforcing members are plate-like members.

[0415] Aspect 12 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 1-10, wherein the reinforcing members are rod-shaped and/or tube-shaped members.

[0416] Aspect 13 of the description—The sole according to aspect 11 or 12, wherein the reinforcing members comprise solid sections.

[0417] Aspect 14 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 11-13, wherein the reinforcing members comprise hollow sections.

[0418] Aspect 15 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 11-14, wherein a diameter of the reinforcing members varies between at least two of the reinforcing members and/or wherein a diameter of at least one of the reinforcing members varies along said reinforcing member.

[0419] Aspect 16 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 11-15, wherein there are five reinforcing members, each corresponding to a respective metatarsal bone.

[0420] Aspect 17 of the description—The sole according to aspect 16, wherein the reinforcing members corresponding to the first and the third metatarsal bone have a higher deflection stiffness than the three remaining reinforcing members.

[0421] Aspect 18 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 16-17, wherein the reinforcing members corresponding to the first and the third metatarsal bone have a larger diameter than the three remaining reinforcing members.

[0422] Aspect 19 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 1-18, wherein the reinforcing members comprise one or more of the following materials: carbon fibers, a carbon fiber composite material, a glass fiber composite material.

[0423] Aspect 20 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 1-19, wherein at least two of the reinforcing members are connected by a connecting member.

[0424] Aspect 21 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 1-20, wherein the reinforcing members extend substantially along a longitudinal direction of the sole.

[0425] Aspect 22 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 1-21, wherein the reinforcing members are arranged next to each other in a medial-to-lateral direction.

[0426] Aspect 23 of the description—The sole according to aspect 22, wherein the reinforcing members are connected to a mesh-like material.

[0427] Aspect 24 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 1-23, further comprising a load distribution member arranged in a back half of the sole. In some embodiments, the load distribution member may be arranged in the heel area of the sole.

[0428] Aspect 25 of the description—The sole according to aspect 24, wherein the load distribution member comprises a load distribution plate.

[0429] Aspect 26 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 24-25, wherein the load distribution member comprises one or more of the following materials: carbon fibers, a carbon fiber composite material, a glass fiber composite material.

[0430] Aspect 27 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 24-26, wherein the load distribution member extends into the midfoot area of the sole.

[0431] Aspect 28 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 24-27, wherein the reinforcing members and the load distribution member at least partially overlap.

[0432] Aspect 29 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 24-28, wherein the reinforcing members and the load distribution member are independent elements.

[0433] Aspect 30 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 1-29, wherein the reinforcing members are at least partially embedded within a midsole of the sole, wherein the midsole comprises a polymer foam material.

[0434] Aspect 31 of the description—The sole according to aspect 30, wherein the reinforcing members are completely embedded within the midsole.

[0435] Aspect 32 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 30-31, wherein the midsole comprises a particle foam, such as a particle foam comprising particles of expanded thermoplastic polyurethane, eTPU, particles of expanded polyamide, ePA, particles of expanded polyether-block-amide, ePEBA, and/or particles of expanded thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer, eTPEE.

[0436] Aspect 33 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 30-32, wherein the midsole comprises a homogeneous foam material.

[0437] Aspect 34 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 30-33, wherein the midsole comprises a lower midsole part and an upper midsole part, and wherein the reinforcing members are positioned between the lower midsole part and the upper midsole part.

[0438] Aspect 35 of the description—The sole according to aspect 34 in combination with one of aspects 24-29, wherein the reinforcing members and the load distribution member are separated by the upper midsole part.

[0439] Aspect 36 of the description—The sole according to aspect 35, wherein the load distribution member is at least partially embedded within the upper midsole part.

[0440] Aspect 37 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 1-36, further comprising a sock-liner.

[0441] Aspect 38 of the description—The sole according to aspect 37 in combination with one of aspects 35-36, wherein the sock-liner is arranged on top of the upper midsole part and at least partially covers the load distribution member.

[0442] Aspect 39 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 1-38, further comprising an outsole.

[0443] Aspect 40 of the description—The sole, such as running shoe, comprising a sole according to one of the preceding aspects 1-39.

[0444] Aspect 41 of the description—The sole for a shoe, such as a running shoe, including at least two reinforcing members extending in a front half of the sole, wherein at least a first one of the reinforcing members further extends rearwardly beyond the midfoot area and into a heel area of the sole and wraps up to a posterior portion of the ankle region.

[0445] Aspect 42 of the description—The sole according to aspect 41, wherein also a second one of the reinforcing members further extends rearwardly beyond the midfoot area and into the heel area of the sole and wraps up to the posterior portion of the ankle region.

[0446] Aspect 43 of the description—The sole according to aspect 41 or 42, wherein the reinforcing members are adapted to be independently deflected by forces acting on the sole during a gait cycle, such as in the front half of the sole.

[0447] Aspect 44 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 42-43, wherein the first reinforcing member is a medial reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member is a lateral reinforcing member.

[0448] Aspect 45 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 42-44, wherein the first reinforcing member and the second reinforcing member are joined behind the heel.

[0449] Aspect 46 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 41-45, wherein the first reinforcing member further comprises a flattened tip extending into a region underneath the first metatarsophalangeal head.

[0450] Aspect 47 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 41-46, wherein the reinforcing members are rod-shaped and/or tube-shaped members.

[0451] Aspect 48 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 41-47, wherein a diameter of the reinforcing members varies between at least two of the reinforcing members and/or wherein a diameter of at least one of the reinforcing members varies along said reinforcing member.

[0452] Aspect 49 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 41-48, wherein some or all of the reinforcing members comprise hollow sections and wherein a wall thickness of the hollow sections varies between at least two of the reinforcing members and/or along at least one of the reinforcing members.

[0453] Aspect 50 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 41-49, wherein there are five reinforcing members, each corresponding to a respective metatarsal bone, and wherein the first reinforcing member corresponds to the first metatarsal bone.

[0454] Aspect 51 of the description—The sole according to aspect 50, wherein the reinforcing members corresponding to the first and the third metatarsal bone have a higher deflection stiffness than the three remaining reinforcing members.

[0455] Aspect 52 of the description—The sole according to one of aspects 50-51, wherein the reinforcing members corresponding to the first and the third metatarsal bone have a larger diameter and/or larger wall thickness than the three remaining reinforcing members.

[0456] Aspect 53 of the description—The sole, such as running shoe, comprising a sole according to one of the preceding aspect 41-52.

[0457] Aspect 54 of the description—A method for the manufacture of a reinforcing structure or part of a reinforcing structure for a shoe sole with at least one reinforcing member with a hollow section, the method includes the steps of injecting a liquid molding material into a molding cavity of a mold, the molding cavity having a shape corresponding to the outer dimensions of the reinforcing member with the hollow section; injecting a displacement gas into the molding cavity under pressure, wherein during steps a. and b. an exit path connecting the molding cavity to an outlet well is closed; and opening the exit path to release the pressurized displacement gas and remove the liquid molding material from the center of the molding cavity to form the hollow section.

[0458] Aspect 55 of the description—The method according to aspect 54, wherein the method is used in the manufacture of a sole according to one of aspects 41-52, or of a shoe according to aspect 53.