Shoe sole

Abstract

A shoe sole with a guide element which is embedded between a ground contact surface and a foot contact surface of the shoe sole, is designed to control the optimum movement sequence of the foot, has a smaller width extension than the shoe sole and extends along an S-shaped line, in such a way that the shoe sole further supports the natural or correct gait of the user, it is proposed that the guide element is a proprioceptive guide element and has elevations extending towards the foot contact surface, and/or that the shoe sole has, in the heel section arranged medially to the substantially S-shaped line, a stabilization element which can be detachably fastened in the shoe sole and which extends out of the shoe sole in the direction of and up to the plane of the ground contact surface.

Claims

1. A shoe sole for a footwear, the shoe sole comprising an outsole having a ground contacting surface, the ground contacting surface comprising a heel section, a midfoot section, a ball of the foot section and a forefoot section in a sequence running from a rear end to a front end along the shoe sole; wherein the shoe sole comprises at least one guide element embedded between the ground contact surface and a foot contact surface of the shoe sole and designed to control the optimal movement sequence of the foot, wherein the guide element has a smaller width extension than the shoe sole and extends along an S-shaped line, wherein the S-shaped line begins at the heel section, extends along the midfoot section and ball of the foot section and ends at the forefoot section, and wherein the ground contact surface extends along the S-shaped line and is narrower than the shoe sole in order to provide transverse instability of the foot when walking or running, wherein in that the shoe sole has, in the heel section arranged medially to the substantially S-shaped line, a single stabilizing element which can be detachably fastened in the shoe sole and which extends out of the shoe sole in the direction of and up to the plane of the ground contact surface.

2. A shoe comprising a shoe sole according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) As already discussed above, there are various ways of advantageously designing and further developing the teaching of the present invention. For this purpose, reference is made on the one hand to the embodiments following embodiment 1, and on the other hand further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below, inter alia with reference to the two embodiments illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 8.

(2) It shows:

(3) FIG. 1: is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a shoe sole according to the present invention;

(4) FIG. 2: Top view of the shoe sole from FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3: Bottom view of the shoe sole from FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 4 cross-sectional view of the shoe sole from FIG. 1 along the sectional line shown in FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 5: Side view of the shoe sole from FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 6 Exploded view and assembled arrangement of the stabilizing element of the shoe sole from FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 7: Bottom view of a second embodiment of a shoe sole according to the present invention; and

(10) FIG. 8: Side view of the shoe sole from FIG. 7.

(11) Identical or similar designs, elements or features are provided with identical reference symbols in FIGS. 1 to 8.

BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

(12) In the two embodiments of the present invention illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, a shoe sole suitable for footwear is shown, which is designed for gait correction or gait maintenance, in particular for preventive support and for therapeutic treatment of the physiological gait pattern.

(13) As shown in FIG. 1, the shoe sole 100 comprises a heel section 3, a midfoot section 4, a ball of the foot section 5 and a forefoot section 6 on the ground contact surface 12 of its outsole 10 in a sequence running from a rear end to a front end along the shoe sole 100. The heel, midfoot and ball of the foot sections are each adjacent to an arch area below the arch of a foot 2 when wearing the shoe sole 100. The outsole can, for example, be designed as a durable anti-slip sole, which also provides a good grip on wet roads.

(14) Furthermore, the shoe sole 100 comprises at least one substantially S-shaped guide element 40, 41 embedded between the ground contact surface 12 and a foot contact surface of the shoe sole 100 and formed to control the optimal movement of the foot. In other words, the guide element 40, 41 extends along a substantially S-shaped line (G) which starts at the heel section 3, extends along the midfoot section 4 and ball of the foot section 5 and ends at the forefoot section 6.

(15) In the embodiment examples shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the shoe sole 100 has a first guide element, namely a proprioceptive guide element 40 with elevations 42, 44 extending towards the foot contact surface (see FIGS. 2 and 4). This essentially S-shaped proprioceptive guide element 40 supports the pressure line of the foot 2 on contact with the ground as information on the physiological gait pattern. Furthermore, the pressure points serve to stimulate and improve blood circulation and thus as a light massage.

(16) With regard to its properties, in particular with regard to the distribution of its hardness and/or its thickness as well as its arrangement in the shoe sole, and its shape, the proprioceptive guide element 40 can be designed like the second or upper insole described in the publication WO 2013056864 A1.

(17) In addition, the shoe sole 100 has a further guide element 41 arranged between the ground contact surface 12 and the proprioceptive guide element 40, namely a stabilizing guide element 41, for example a guiding stability element, which is formed from a harder material than the shoe sole material surrounding the guide elements 40, 41. The local thickness and/or the local hardness of the stabilizing guide element 41 is therefore greater than the local thickness and/or the local hardness of the material of the shoe sole 100 surrounding the guide elements 40, 41, in particular laterally.

(18) The stabilizing guide element 41 always guides the shoe back to its original position and thus prevents the shoe from slanting. For this purpose, the stabilizing guide element 41 is made of a harder material than a midsole 20.

(19) With regard to its properties, in particular with regard to the distribution of its hardness and/or its thickness as well as its arrangement in the shoe sole and its shape, the stabilizing guide element 41 can be designed like the first insole described in the publication WO 2013056864 A1.

(20) The material surrounding the guide elements 40, 41 is associated with the midsole 20 of the shoe sole 100. This midsole 20 can be designed with regard to its properties, in particular with regard to its shape, its material, its functions and its advantages, like the base body described in the publication WO 2013056864 A1.

(21) The midsole 20 can be made of polyurethane, for example. The density of polyurethane enables high elasticity and gives the wearer of the shoe sole a very comfortable feeling. Polyurethane is also durable and remains stable even when exposed to heat and cold.

(22) The guide elements 40, 41 are integrated into the midsole 20 when in use, for example glued to the midsole 20 or molded into the midsole.

(23) The guide elements 40, 41 have a smaller width extension than the midsole 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the ground contact surface 12 advantageously has the same shape as the at least one guide element 40, 41.

(24) FIGS. 1 to 6 thus show a shoe sole with an outsole 10, a midsole 20 and at least one essentially S-shaped guide element 40, 41. The outsole 10 has an essentially S-shaped ground contact surface 12. At least one of the guide elements 40, 41 is harder than the material of the shoe sole 100, which laterally surrounds the at least one substantially S-shaped guide element 40, 41. The ground contact surface 12 and the guide element 40, 41 are both narrower than the midsole 20 and are shaped such that they extend along the S-shaped line G.

(25) The ground contact surface 12 is designed to cause transverse instability of the foot 2 when walking or running. The at least one guide element or at least one of the guide elements 40, 41 is designed to provide the wearer's foot 2 with a localized increase in pressure along the gait line.

(26) The outsole 10 also has a removable stabilization element 50, which is designed to provide additional ground contact in the heel section 3 and medially to the ground contact surface 12. The stabilization element 50 can optionally be inserted or removed in order to increase the lateral stability of the foot when walking or running. Lateral stability of the foot is understood here to mean the stability of the foot about its longitudinal axis. The transverse stability thus counteracts a rolling tendency of the foot about its longitudinal axis.

(27) A cross-section through the heel area of a shoe sole 100, which is suitable for a left shoe, is shown in FIG. 4.

(28) The stabilization element 50 can, for example, be made of at least one material selected from the group of thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU).

(29) The stabilization element 50 guides the hindfoot or heel bone by giving the shoe support in torsion. In this way, the stabilization element 50 always guides the hindfoot back to its natural, original position. The stabilization element 50 therefore prevents the foot from buckling, twisting or deforming prematurely.

(30) Laterally on the outside, the ground contact surface 12 is also narrower than the shoe sole 100 in the heel area 3. Thus, transverse instability is maintained in the heel area despite the stabilization element 50.

(31) To accommodate the stabilization element 50, the outsole 10 advantageously has a receiving element 14. As shown in FIG. 6, the receiving element 14 can have a fastening means 16, which is designed to cooperate with a complementary fastening means 52 of the stabilization element 50 in such a way that the stabilization element 50 can be detachably fastened in the receiving element 14. Furthermore, the stabilizing element 50 can also be held in the shoe sole by means of at least one plug-in connection and/or by means of at least one screw connection.

(32) As described above and shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the at least one guide element or at least one of the guide elements 40, 41 may have a plurality of proprioception-enhancing elevations or projections 42, 44 on its surface facing the foot 2. These proprioception-promoting elevations 42, 44 may, for example, have a bubble-like shape. The elevations can be formed in two or three different sizes, for example, whereby the foot can be guided towards the gait line G. The proprioceptive guiding element 40, 41 is preferably formed in one piece with the proprioception-promoting elevations 42, 44.

(33) The second embodiment example of the shoe sole according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 differs from the embodiment example shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 in that recesses 18, for example U-shaped or V-shaped transverse notches, such as transverse flexion grooves, are arranged in the outsole and in the midsole. These recesses 18 run transversely to the S-shaped line in the forefoot area and have the effect of making the shoe sole even more flexible and easier to roll.

(34) The notches can have a depth of at least 2 mm to a maximum of 1 cm extending from the ground contact surface 12 to the central sole 20. Furthermore, the notches can have a width of 1 mm to 1 cm at the ground contact surface. The longitudinal spacing of the notches can be between 1 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 6 mm, for example.

(35) The shoe sole shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 enables the wearer to roll better and thus to walk more upright and healthier. The sole of the shoe guides the foot with gentle pressure along the S-shaped line G by means of the proprioceptive guide element 40.

REFERENCE LIST

(36) 2 Feet 3 Heel section or heel area or hindfoot area, in particular area of the heel bone 3a Medial heel section, arranged medial to the S-shaped line 3b Lateral heel section, arranged laterally to the S-shaped line 4 Midfoot section or midfoot area 5 Ball of the foot section or ball of the foot area 5a medial section of the ball of the foot, arranged medial to the S-shaped line 5b lateral section of the ball of the foot, arranged laterally to the S-shaped line 6 Forefoot section or forefoot area, especially toe area 6a medial forefoot section, arranged medial to the S-shaped line 6b lateral forefoot section, arranged laterally to the S-shaped line 10 Outsole 10a medial side or inner side of the outsole 10 10b lateral side or outer foot side of the outsole 10 12 Floor contact area of the outsole 10 14 Receiving element of the outsole 10 for receiving the stabilizing element 50 16 Fastening means of the mounting element 14 18 Recess, in particular transverse notch for more dynamic rolling, for example transverse flex groove 20 Midsole, e.g. midsole or body of the shoe sole 100 40 Proprioceptive guide element with elevations 42, 44 extending towards the foot contact surface 41 Stabilizing guide element, in particular guiding stability element 42 Elevation or proprioception-promoting projection, in particular spherical segment, of the proprioceptive element 40 extending towards the foot contact surface, for example elevation with a height of approximately 1 mm 44 Further elevation or proprioception-promoting projection, in particular further spherical segment, of the proprioceptive element 40 extending towards the foot contact surface, for example elevation with a height of approximately 2 mm 50 Stabilization element 52 Fastening means of the stabilization element 50 100 Shoe sole G S-shaped line, in particular physiological hydrograph

EMBODIMENTS

(37) Embodiment 1. A shoe sole (100) for a footwear, the shoe sole (100) comprising an outsole (10) having a ground contacting surface (12), the ground contacting surface (12) comprising a heel section (3), a midfoot section (4), a ball of the foot section (5) and a forefoot section (6) in a sequence running from a rear end to a front end along the shoe sole (100); wherein the shoe sole (100) comprises at least one guide element (40, 41) embedded between the ground contact surface (12) and a foot contact surface of the shoe sole (100) and designed to control the optimum movement sequence of the foot, wherein the guide element (40, 41) has a smaller width extension than the shoe sole (100) and extends along an S-shaped line (G), wherein the S-shaped line (G) starts at the heel section (3), runs along the midfoot (4) and ball of the foot section (5) and ends at the forefoot section (6), characterized in that the guide element (40) is a proprioceptive guide element and has elevations (42, 44) extending towards the foot contact surface, wherein the elevations (42, 44) are arranged

(38) at least in regions along the S-shaped line and are designed to impart a localized increase in pressure to the foot (2) of the wearer of the shoe sole (100).

(39) Embodiment 2. Shoe sole according to embodiment 1, characterized in that the elevations (42, 44) are designed as spherical segments.

(40) Embodiment 3. Shoe sole according to one of embodiments 1 or 2, characterized in that the elevations (42, 44) are located in the region of the heel section (3), the ball of the foot section (5) and the forefoot section (6).

(41) Embodiment 4. Shoe sole according to embodiment 3, characterized in that the elevations (42, 44) in a medial heel section (3a) arranged medially from the substantially S-shaped line (G) have a smaller height and/or a smaller volume than the elevations (42, 44) in a lateral heel section (3b) arranged laterally from the substantially S-shaped line (G).

(42) Embodiment 5. Shoe sole according to embodiment 3 or 4, characterized in that the elevations (42, 44) in a medial foot ball section (5a) arranged medially from the substantially S-shaped line (G) have a greater height and/or a greater volume than the elevations (42, 44) in a lateral foot ball section (5b) arranged laterally from the substantially S-shaped line (G).

(43) Embodiment 6. Shoe sole according to at least one of embodiments 1 to 5, characterized in that the shoe sole (100) has at least one midsole (20) arranged between the outsole (10) and the proprioceptive guide element (40), the proprioceptive guide element (40) being narrower than the midsole (20), in particular in that the ground contact surface (12) and the proprioceptive guide element (40) are both narrower than the midsole (20).

(44) Embodiment 7. Shoe sole according to embodiment 6, characterized in that the ground contact surface (12) is narrower than the midsole (20) in such a way that transverse instability of the foot (2) is brought about when walking or running, and the outsole (10) furthermore has at least one stabilizing element (50) which is detachably fastened in the shoe sole (100), wherein the stabilizing element (50) extends out of the shoe sole (100) in the direction of and up to the plane of the ground contact surface (12), is arranged in the region of the heel section (3) and medially to the substantially S-shaped line (G), and can optionally be inserted into the shoe sole (100) or removed from the shoe sole (100) in order to increase the transverse stability of the foot (2) when walking or running.

(45) Embodiment 8. Shoe sole according to at least one of embodiments 1 to 7 characterized in that the proprioceptive guide element (40) is made of a harder material than the shoe sole material which surrounds the proprioceptive guide element (40), in particular laterally.

(46) Embodiment 9. Shoe sole according to at least one of embodiments 1 to 8, characterized in that the outsole (10) has recesses (18) extending from a medial side (10a) of the outsole (10), as seen from the substantially S-shaped line (G), to a lateral side (10b) of the outsole (10), as seen from the substantially S-shaped line

(47) (G), in particular transversely to the shoe sole (100) or at right angles to the S-shaped line (G), for example U-shaped or V-shaped notches, the width of which corresponds to the width of the proprioceptive guide element (40) and which are arranged at a distance from one another along the S-shaped line (G) on the heel section (3), on the metatarsal section (4) and on the ball of the foot section (5).

(48) Embodiment 10. Shoe sole according to at least one of embodiments 1 to 9, characterized in that the shoe sole has, in addition to the proprioceptive guide element (40), at least one further guide element (41), the further guide element (41) being designed as a stabilizing guide element (41) which is arranged between the ground contact surface (12) and the proprioceptive guide element (40) and is made of a harder material than the shoe sole material which laterally surrounds the stabilizing guide element (40).

(49) Embodiment 11. Shoe sole according to embodiments 9 and 10, characterized in that the recesses (18) extend through the stabilizing quide element (41) and interrupt it.

(50) Embodiment 12. Shoe sole according to embodiment 10 or 11, characterized in that the stabilizing guide element (41) is made of a harder material than the proprioceptive guide element (40), in particular in that the hardness of the stabilizing guide element (41) is in the range from about 80 Shore to about 98 Shore and the hardness of the proprioceptive guide element (40) is in the range from about 75 Shore to about 90 Shore.

(51) Embodiment 13. Shoe sole according to at least one of embodiments 10 to 12, characterized in that, in addition to the proprioceptive guide element (40), the stabilizing guide element also has the elevations (42, 44) extending to the foot contact surface, which are designed to impart a localized increase in pressure to the foot of the wearer of the shoe sole (100).

(52) Embodiment 14. A shoe sole (100) for a footwear, the shoe sole (100) comprising an outsole (10) having a ground contacting surface (12), the ground contacting surface (12) comprising a heel section (3), a midfoot section (4), a ball of the foot section (5) and a forefoot section (6) in a sequence running from a rear end to a front end along the shoe sole (100); wherein the shoe sole (100) comprises at least one guide element (40, 41) embedded between the ground contact surface (12) and a foot contact surface of the shoe sole (100) and designed to control the optimal movement sequence of the foot, wherein the guide element (40, 41) has a smaller width extension than the shoe sole (100) and extends along an S-shaped line (G), wherein the S-shaped line (G) begins at the heel section (3), extends along the midfoot section (4) and ball of the foot section (5) and ends at the forefoot section (6), and wherein the ground contact surface (12) extends along the S-shaped line (G) and is narrower than the shoe sole (100) in order to provide transverse instability of the foot (2) when walking or running, characterized in that in that the shoe sole (100) has, in the heel section (3) arranged medially to the substantially S-shaped line (G), a stabilizing element (50) which can be detachably fastened in the shoe sole (100) and which extends out of the shoe sole (100) in the direction of and up to the plane of the ground contact surface (12).

(53) Embodiment 15. A shoe comprising a shoe sole according to at least one of embodiments 1 to 14.