Shoe soles and shoes

Abstract

To provide a sole of a shoe which can suppress overpronation even in such a state that fatigue is increased following travel.SOLUTION: A sole 3 of a shoe 1 is the sole 3 of the shoe 1 in which a forefoot support part R1 that supports a forefoot part of a foot of a wearer, a middle foot support part R2 that supports a middle foot part of the foot of the wearer and a rear foot support part R3 which supports a rear foot part of the foot of the wearer are continuous in the order from the front side to the rear side. In a region on the inner foot side on a bottom surface of the middle foot support part R2, a grounding part 33a which has a portion located on the lowest line connecting the lowest point of the forefoot support part R1 and the lowest point of the rear foot support part R3 in the side view is formed. On the inner foot side surface of the middle foot support part R2, a protrusion 33b which protrudes toward the inner foot side is formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe sole and a shoe.

Background Art

[0002] When a person walks, at the moment of landing, the foot falls inward, and the collapse of the inner longitudinal arch of the foot occurs. This series of foot movements is also called pronation and is known as the natural movement of the foot to disperse the impact at the time of landing. However, when the foot falls too much inward, that is, when overpronation occurs, the landing becomes unstable, and the burden on the leg muscles, joints, and knees tends to increase.

[0003] Therefore, techniques for suppressing excessive pronation have been conventionally known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004] [[ID=,27]]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, the shoes disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not consider overpronation in a state where fatigue increases with running.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to obtain a shoe sole that can suppress overpronation even in a state where fatigue increases with running.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the sole of a shoe according to the present invention is a sole of a shoe in which a forefoot support portion that supports the forefoot of the wearer's foot, a midfoot support portion that supports the midfoot of the wearer's foot, and a rearfoot support portion that supports the rearfoot of the wearer's foot are connected in order from front to rear. On the medial side of the bottom surface of the midfoot support portion, a contact portion is formed which has a part located on the lowest line connecting the lowest point of the forefoot support portion and the lowest point of the rearfoot support portion in a side view. On the medial side surface of the midfoot support portion, a convex portion is formed which protrudes toward the medial side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The sole of the shoe according to the present invention has the effect of suppressing overpronation even when fatigue increases due to running. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a bottom view showing a shoe according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an inner foot side view of a shoe according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic bottom view showing the outline and fixing lines of the sole of a shoe according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a bottom view showing a shoe according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a shoe according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and corresponds to the cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 1. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a bottom view showing a shoe according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view along the line VIII-VIII shown in Figure 7. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The following describes in detail embodiments of the shoe sole and shoe according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0011] (Embodiment 1) Figure 1 is a bottom view showing a shoe 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Each figure, including Figure 1, shows only the shoe 1 for the left foot. Since the shoe 1 has a symmetrical structure for the left and right feet, this embodiment will only describe the shoe 1 for the left foot, and the description of the shoe 1 for the right foot will be omitted. In the following description, the direction in which the shoe center axis C, which is a perpendicular line passing through the center of the shoe 1 when viewed from the bottom, extends will be referred to as the front-to-back direction, and the direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction when viewed from the bottom of the shoe 1 will be referred to as the foot width direction.

[0012] In the following explanation, the direction from the heel to the toe of shoe 1 will be referred to as the front, and the direction from the toe to the heel of shoe 1 will be referred to as the rear.

[0013] In the following explanation, the midline side of the foot in its anatomical position will be referred to as the medial foot, and the side of the foot opposite the midline in its anatomical position will be referred to as the lateral foot. That is, the side closer to the midline in its anatomical position will be referred to as the medial foot, and the side further from the midline in its anatomical position will be referred to as the lateral foot.

[0014] In the following explanation, unless otherwise specified, "up and down direction" refers to the direction perpendicular to both the front-to-back direction and the foot-width direction.

[0015] The sole 3 includes a forefoot support section R1 that supports the forefoot of a wearer with a standard build, a midfoot support section R2 that supports the midfoot of a wearer with a standard build, and a rearfoot support section R3 that supports the rearfoot of a wearer with a standard build. The forefoot support section R1, the midfoot support section R2, and the rearfoot support section R3 are arranged in order from front to back on the sole 3.

[0016] A line along the foot width direction passing through a position corresponding to approximately 37% of the front-rear dimension of the sole 3 from the front end of the sole 3 is defined as the first boundary line S1, and a line along the foot width direction passing through a position corresponding to approximately 71% of the front-rear dimension of the sole 3 from the front end of the sole 3 is defined as the second boundary line S2. The first boundary line S1 is a line generally along the MP joint of a wearer with a standard body type. The second boundary line S2 is a line generally along the Chopart joint of a wearer with a standard body type. The forefoot support portion R1 is a portion located forward of the first boundary line S1. The midfoot support portion R2 is a portion located between the first boundary line S1 and the second boundary line S2. The hindfoot support portion R3 is a portion located rearward of the second boundary line S2.

[0017] FIG. 2 is an inner foot side view of the shoe 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The shoe 1 is preferably a running shoe, but may also be other sports shoes, walking shoes, hiking shoes, etc. The shoe 1 includes an upper 2 and a sole 3.

[0018] The upper 2 is located above the sole 3. The upper 2 includes an upper main body 20, a tongue 21, and a shoelace 22.

[0019] The upper main body 20 covers the top side portion of the wearer's foot. An opening edge 20a and a throat portion 20b are formed in the upper part of the upper main body 20. The opening edge 20a is an opening for putting the wearer's foot inside the upper main body 20. The throat portion 20b is an opening that communicates with the opening edge 20a and extends forward from the opening edge 20a. A plurality of lace passages 20c that are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction are provided on both side edges in the foot width direction of the throat portion 20b. In FIG. 2, only the lace passage 20c provided on the inner foot side edge of the throat portion 20b is shown. The lace passage 20c only needs to be able to pass the shoelace 22. The lace passage 20c is, for example, a through hole that penetrates the upper main body 20 in the vertical direction.

[0020] The shoe tongue 21 is a component that protects the wearer's instep. The shoe tongue 21 covers the throat portion 20b inside the upper body 20. The shoe tongue 21 is fixed to the upper body 20 by stitching, welding, bonding, or a combination thereof. The materials of the upper body 20 and the shoe tongue 21 are, for example, woven fabric, knitted fabric, synthetic leather, or resin. In shoes 1 where breathability and lightness are required, the materials of the upper body 20 and the shoe tongue 21 are preferably double raschel warp knit fabric with polyester yarn woven in. However, the materials of the upper body 20 and the shoe tongue 21 are not limited to the materials exemplified above.

[0021] The shoelaces 22 are string-like members that are alternately threaded through eyelets 20c provided on one side edge in the width direction of the throat portion 20b and eyelets 20c provided on the other side edge in the width direction of the foot. The shoelaces 22 are detachably attached to the upper body 20.

[0022] In this embodiment, the upper 2, including the tongue 21 and shoelaces 22, is described as an example. However, the upper 2 may be a monosock structure in which the portion corresponding to the tongue 21 is integrated with the ankle portion of the upper body 20. Furthermore, the means for securing the upper body 20 to the foot may be, for example, hook-and-loop fasteners instead of shoelaces 22. If hook-and-loop fasteners are used to secure the upper body 20 to the foot, the lace-through portion 20c is not formed on the upper body 20.

[0023] The sole 3 is located below the upper 2. The sole 3 covers the sole of the wearer's foot. The sole 3 is fixed to the upper 2 by stitching, welding, bonding, or a combination thereof. The sole 3 comprises an outsole 30 and a midsole 31. The sole 3 includes an insole (not shown) that covers the lower opening of the upper body 20. The insole is fixed to the upper surface of the midsole 31 by bonding or welding. The insole is fixed to the lower edge of the upper body 20 by stitching. Although not shown, the shoe 1 may have an insole. If the shoe 1 has an insole, the insole is placed inside the upper 2 on top of the sole 3. The sole 3 may also have a structure without an insole.

[0024] The midsole 31 is located on the upper surface of the outsole 30. The midsole 31 is located between the upper 2 and the outsole 30. The midsole 31 is a softer material with a lower Young's modulus than the outsole 30. The midsole 31 has cushioning properties. The midsole 31 is positioned over the entire area of ​​the forefoot support R1, the midfoot support R2, and the rearfoot support R3. The midsole 31 has a first midsole portion 32 and a second midsole portion 33. In Figure 2, for ease of understanding, the first midsole portion 32 is shown with diamond hatching and the second midsole portion 33 is shown with dot hatching.

[0025] The second midsole portion 33 is formed separately from the first midsole portion 32. The second midsole portion 33 is fixed to the first midsole portion 32 by welding, bonding, or a combination thereof. The hardness of the second midsole portion 33 is lower than that of the first midsole portion 32. By changing the material of the first midsole portion 32 and the material of the second midsole portion 33, the hardness of the first midsole portion 32 and the hardness of the second midsole portion 33 can be made different. The materials of the first midsole portion 32 and the second midsole portion 33 are, for example, resin foam material and rubber foam material.

[0026] The first midsole portion 32 is positioned over the entire area of ​​the forefoot support portion R1, the midfoot support portion R2, and the rearfoot support portion R3. The second midsole portion 33 is positioned below the portion of the first midsole portion 32 located in the midfoot support portion R2. Specifically, a notch 32a that is recessed upward is formed on the lower surface of the portion of the first midsole portion 32 located in the midfoot support portion R2, and the second midsole portion 33 is positioned within the notch 32a. The notch 32a opens downward and toward the medial side. The lateral view shape of the upper surface 33g of the second midsole portion 33 is a curved shape that is convex upward. The lateral view shape of the upper surface 33g of the second midsole portion 33 is a shape that follows the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, or a shape that approximates the medial longitudinal arch of the foot.

[0027] In Figure 1, for ease of understanding, the outer shape of the second midsole portion 33 is shown with a dashed line and dot hatching is applied to the second midsole portion 33, and diagonal hatching is applied to the outsole 30. As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the second midsole portion 33 is located only in the medial foot area of ​​the metafoot support portion R2. The second midsole portion 33 only needs to be located in the medial foot area of ​​the metafoot support portion R2. The second midsole portion 33 only needs to be located below at least a part or all of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. The bottom surface of the second midsole portion 33 is the medial foot area of ​​the bottom surface of the metafoot support portion R2. The second midsole portion 33 plays a role in absorbing the impact of the shoe 1 when it makes contact with the ground by deforming under load when the shoe 1 makes contact with the ground. In this embodiment, the bottom view shape of the second midsole portion 33 is triangular in that the width in the front-to-back direction narrows from the medial foot side to the lateral foot side.

[0028] The second midsole portion 33 includes a contact portion 33a that contacts the ground. The contact portion 33a is formed on the bottom surface of the second midsole portion 33. In this embodiment, the contact portion 33a is an outsole 30 attached to the bottom surface of the second midsole portion 33. The contact portion 33a is located below the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. Preferably, the position of the contact portion 33a in the anterior-posterior direction is within a region of 30% to 60% of the anterior-posterior dimension of the sole 3 from the rear end of the sole 3. Preferably, the position of the contact portion 33a in the foot width direction is on the medial side of the shoe center axis C. As shown in Figure 2, the contact portion 33a has a portion located on the lowest line Z along the anterior-posterior direction, which connects the lowest point P1 of the forefoot support portion R1 and the lowest point P2 of the rearfoot support portion R3 in a side view.

[0029] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III shown in Figure 1. The medial side surface of the second midsole portion 33 is the medial side surface of the metafoot support portion R2. A protrusion 33b projecting toward the medial side is formed on the medial side surface of the second midsole portion 33. The protrusion 33b is formed along the entire length of the medial side surface of the second midsole portion 33. Preferably, the protrusion 33b is located in a region extending from the rear end of the sole 3 to 30% to 60% of the length of the sole 3 in the anterior-posterior direction. The protrusion 33b includes a protruding end surface 33c facing toward the medial side. The protruding end surface 33c has a first protruding end surface 33d and a second protruding end surface 33e. The first protruding end surface 33d extends upward toward the medial side from the medial side edge of the bottom surface 31b of the midsole 31 (the bottom surface of the second midsole portion 33). The second protruding surface 33e is connected to the first protruding surface 33d and extends upward so as to be located on the outer side of the foot.

[0030] The boundary between the first protruding surface 33d and the second protruding surface 33e becomes the vertex 33f of the convex portion 33b, which is located on the inner side of the foot. The vertex 33f is the part of the protruding surface 33c where the direction of inclination changes. The vertex 33f extends in the front-to-back direction. When a hypothetical straight line L is drawn connecting the inner-foot edge of the upper surface 31a of the midsole 31 (upper surface of the first midsole portion 32) and the inner-foot edge of the bottom surface 31b of the midsole 31 (bottom surface of the second midsole portion 33), it is preferable that the vertex 33f of the convex portion 33b is located on the inner side of the hypothetical straight line L and below the vertical center of the hypothetical straight line L. The upper surface 33g of the second midsole portion 33 slopes downward from the inner side to the outer side. In other words, the cross-sectional shape of the upper surface 33g of the second midsole portion 33 along the width direction of the foot is inclined downward from the inner side to the outer side.

[0031] As shown in Figure 2, the outsole 30 is positioned below the midsole 31. The outsole 30 is a rigid material with a higher Young's modulus than the midsole 31. The material of the outsole 30 is, for example, a material containing rubber as the main component and auxiliary components. The auxiliary components are, for example, plasticizers, reinforcing agents, and crosslinking agents. As shown in Figure 1, the outsole 30 is partially positioned in the forefoot support section R1, the midfoot support section R2, and the rearfoot support section R3. The outsole 30 is partially attached to the bottom surface 31b of the midsole 31. In this embodiment, a portion of the outsole 30 positioned in the midfoot support section R2 becomes the contact area 33a. The outsole 30 that becomes the contact area 33a and the other parts of the outsole 30 are provided independently of each other. In other words, the outsole 30 that becomes the contact area 33a and the other parts of the outsole 30 are separated from each other.

[0032] Figure 4 is a schematic bottom view showing the sole outline M and fixing line N of a shoe 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. For ease of understanding, scale lines G are shown in Figure 4. The scale line G at the position corresponding to the rear end of the sole 3 is set to 0%, and the scale line G at the position corresponding to the front end of the sole 3 is set to 100%. Scale lines G are placed every 10% of the front-to-back dimension of the sole 3. When the sole 3 is viewed from the bottom, the sole outline M is defined as the line connecting the outermost parts of the sole 3, and the fixing line N is defined as the line connecting the part where the sole 3 and the upper 2 located above the sole 3 are fixed. The sole outline M extends so as to surround the fixing line N. When D1 is the distance in the foot width direction between the medial foot portion M1 of the sole outline M and the medial foot portion N1 of the fixed line N, and D2 is the distance in the foot width direction between the lateral foot portion M2 of the sole outline M and the lateral foot portion N2 of the fixed line N, it is preferable that the distances D1 and D2 at the same position in the front-to-back direction of the sole 3 satisfy the relationship D1 > D2 in the region extending from 30% to 60% of the front-to-back dimension of the sole 3 from the rear end of the sole 3. It is more preferable that the relationship D1 > D2 is satisfied in the region extending from 20% to 80% of the front-to-back dimension of the sole 3 from the rear end of the sole 3.

[0033] Next, the effects of the sole 3 and shoe 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0034] First, the inventors conducted experiments focusing on the angle of foot pronation and body posture in a fatigued state after a person has run a predetermined distance. Specifically, subjects were asked to run a distance of 20 km or more, and the body tilt angle and foot contact state were observed and compared at the initial stage of running when fatigue was not visible and at the point when fatigue was visible after running nearly 20 km. From this experiment, it was found that as the subject's fatigue level increased, the midfoot of the foot was more likely to make contact with the ground at the same time as the heel, and the medial longitudinal arch was more likely to collapse. It was also found that when the inward pronation of the foot was greatest between contact and lift-off, the pressure from the midfoot to the forefoot was higher than the pressure from the heel. Therefore, if inward pronation of the foot can be suppressed even when fatigued during running, it is expected that the stability of the runner's foot during ground contact can be maintained for a long period of time during running.

[0035] In the sole 3 according to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, a contact portion 33a is formed on the medial side of the bottom surface of the metafoot support portion R2, having a portion located on the lowest line Z connecting the lowest point P1 of the forefoot support portion R1 and the lowest point P2 of the rearfoot support portion R3 in a side view. The contact portion 33a supports the medial longitudinal arch of the foot from below, thereby suppressing the collapse of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, a convex portion 33b is formed on the medial side surface of the metafoot support portion R2, projecting toward the medial side. The convex portion 33b supports the medial longitudinal arch of the foot from the medial side, thereby suppressing the inward collapse of the foot. In other words, in this embodiment, the midfoot portion of the wearer's sole can be stably supported in such a way that the collapse of the medial longitudinal arch and the inward collapse of the foot are suppressed. Suppressing the collapse of the medial longitudinal arch and the inward collapse of the foot, as in this embodiment, is particularly useful when the person running is experiencing increased fatigue. In other words, it can suppress overpronation even when fatigue increases during running.

[0036] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the protrusion 33b is formed on the medial side surface of the midsole 31. When a hypothetical line L is defined as the line connecting the medial edge of the upper surface 31a of the midsole 31 and the medial edge of the bottom surface 31b of the midsole 31, the apex 33f of the protrusion 33b is located medial to the medial side of the hypothetical line L and below the vertical center of the hypothetical line L. This configuration prevents the protrusion 33b from bending locally when the medial longitudinal arch of the foot tries to collapse medially. In other words, it promotes compressive deformation of the protrusion 33b when the medial longitudinal arch of the foot tries to collapse medially. Therefore, the collapse of the foot medially can be further suppressed.

[0037] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the protrusion 33b includes a protruding end surface 33c facing the medial side of the foot. The protruding end surface 33c has a first protruding end surface 33d that extends upward from the medial edge of the bottom surface 31b of the midsole 31 toward the medial side, and a second protruding end surface 33e that is connected to the first protruding end surface 33d and extends upward toward the lateral side of the foot. With this configuration, the apex 33f located at the boundary between the first protruding end surface 33d and the second protruding end surface 33e is located away from the ground, so that the protrusion 33b does not bend locally when the medial longitudinal arch of the foot tries to collapse toward the medial side. In other words, when the medial longitudinal arch of the foot tries to collapse toward the medial side, compressive deformation of the protrusion 33b can be promoted. Therefore, the collapse of the foot toward the medial side can be further suppressed.

[0038] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, in the region extending from the rear end of the sole 3 to 30% to 60% of the length of the sole 3 in the anterior-posterior direction, the distance D1 in the foot width direction between the medial foot portion M1 of the sole outline M and the medial foot portion N1 of the fixed line N is longer than the distance D2 in the foot width direction between the lateral foot portion M2 of the sole outline M and the lateral foot portion N2 of the fixed line N. With this configuration, the medial longitudinal arch of the foot is supported from the medial side by the sole 3, thereby suppressing the inward collapse of the foot.

[0039] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the outsole 30 that forms the contact area 33a and the other parts of the outsole 30 are provided independently of each other. This configuration makes it easier to transmit the load generated when the contact area 33a makes contact with the ground only to the second midsole portion 33 on which the contact area 33a is formed, thereby allowing the second midsole portion 33 to be compressed and deformed more reliably. As a result, the cushioning of the second midsole portion 33, which is located below the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, can be enhanced. In other words, the second midsole portion 33, which is located below the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, can more easily absorb the impact when the contact area 33a makes contact with the ground.

[0040] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the second midsole portion 33, located below the medial longitudinal arch where the wearer is most likely to feel the impact, is formed separately from the first midsole portion 32, and the hardness of the second midsole portion 33 is lower than that of the first midsole portion 32. This configuration makes it less likely for the impact generated when the shoe 1 makes contact with the ground to be transmitted to the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, and is expected to improve the wearer's comfort while running.

[0041] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, the upper surface 33g of the second midsole portion 33 slopes downward from the inner side to the outer side of the foot. This configuration reduces the feeling of pressure on the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, and is expected to improve comfort for the wearer while running.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3, if the sole 3 is provided with a protrusion 33b that projects inward from the medial side surface of the metafoot support R2, it is possible to suppress the inward collapse of the foot. Therefore, the configuration of the protrusion 33b is not limited to the illustrated example. For example, the apex 33f of the protrusion 33b is preferably located below the vertical center of the virtual straight line L, but it may be at the same height as the vertical center of the virtual straight line L, or above the vertical center of the virtual straight line L. For example, the shape of the tip surface 33c of the protrusion 33b is preferably the shape shown, but it may be a straight line along the vertical direction, or it may be a shape that slopes downward from above to the medial side of the foot.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the contact area 33a located on the midfoot support R2 was the outsole 30, but the contact area 33a may be part of the midsole 31. For example, part or all of the bottom surface of the second midsole 33 may be the contact area 33a. If the contact area 33a located on the midfoot support R2 is part of the midsole 31, the outsole 30 only needs to be located on at least the forefoot support R1 and the rearfoot support R3.

[0044] The bottom view shape of the second midsole portion 33 shown in Figure 1, the side view shape of the top surface 33g of the second midsole portion 33 shown in Figure 2, and the cross-sectional shape of the top surface 33g of the second midsole portion 33 along the width direction of the foot shown in Figure 3 are not limited to the illustrated examples and may be modified as appropriate. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the top surface 33g of the second midsole portion 33 along the width direction of the foot may be flat along the width direction of the foot.

[0045] (Embodiment 2) Figure 5 is a bottom view showing shoe 1A according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Shoe 1A according to Embodiment 2 differs from shoe 1 according to Embodiment 1 in the extent of the second midsole portion 33. In Figure 5, the extent of the second midsole portion 33 is shown with a dashed line.

[0046] The second midsole portion 33 is positioned from the medial side of the metafoot support portion R2 to the lateral side of the rearfoot support portion R3. The second midsole portion 33 includes a first portion 33h, a second portion 33i, and a third portion 33j. The first portion 33h is positioned in the medial side of the metafoot support portion R2. The third portion 33j extends diagonally backward from the first portion 33h toward the lateral side. The third portion 33j is positioned across a portion of the central side of the metafoot support portion R2 in the width direction of the foot and a portion of the central side of the rearfoot support portion R3 in the width direction of the foot. The second portion 33i extends backward and toward the lateral side from the third portion 33j. The second portion 33i is positioned across a portion of the lateral side of the metafoot support portion R2, the lateral side of the rearfoot support portion R3, and the heel side of the rearfoot support portion R3. The second portion 33i extends to the posterior end of the rearfoot support portion R3. The second midsole portion 33 is positioned to avoid the medial side of the rearfoot support portion R3.

[0047] A contact surface 33a is provided on the bottom surface of the first part 33h and the bottom surface of the second part 33i. The contact surface 33a is provided on the medial side of the metafoot support part R2 on the bottom surface of the second midsole part 33, and on the lateral side and heel side of the rearfoot support part R3 on the bottom surface of the second midsole part 33. The third part 33j may be omitted. The second midsole part 33 only needs to be provided on the medial side of the metafoot support part R2 and on the lateral side of the rearfoot support part R3. In this embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment described above can be achieved.

[0048] In heel-strike running, the outer foot portion of the rearfoot support area R3 makes contact with the ground first, and then the outer foot portion of the rearfoot support area R3 makes contact with the ground sequentially, moving towards the inner foot portion of the midfoot support area R2. In this embodiment, the second midsole portion 33 is positioned from the inner foot portion of the midfoot support area R2 to the outer foot portion of the rearfoot support area R3. This configuration enhances the cushioning not only of the inner foot portion of the midfoot support area R2 but also of the outer foot portion of the rearfoot support area R3. As a result, the speed at which the foot rolls inward can be slowed down.

[0049] In this embodiment, the second midsole portion 33 is also positioned in the central area of ​​the midfoot support portion R2 in the width direction of the foot and in the central area of ​​the rearfoot support portion R3 in the width direction of the foot. With this configuration, when the foot makes contact with the ground sequentially from the outer foot area of ​​the rearfoot support portion R3 to the inner foot area of ​​the midfoot support portion R2, the wearer is less likely to feel localized pressure, and thus it is expected that the wearer's comfort while running will be improved.

[0050] (Embodiment 3) Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing shoe 1B according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention, and corresponds to the cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 1. Shoe 1B according to Embodiment 3 differs from shoe 1 according to Embodiment 1 in that a plate 4 is placed between the first midsole portion 32 and the second midsole portion 33.

[0051] A plate 4 is positioned between the first midsole portion 32 and the second midsole portion 33. The plate 4 is positioned within a groove 34 formed on the bottom surface of the first midsole portion 32. The groove 34 only needs to be formed in either the first midsole portion 32 or the second midsole portion 33. The hardness of the plate 4 is higher than the hardness of both the first midsole portion 32 and the second midsole portion 33.

[0052] The material of plate 4 is, for example, a carbon short fiber reinforced material, a fiber-reinforced resin, a non-fiber-reinforced resin, or a fibrous fabric material. The fiber-reinforced resin is, for example, carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber, Dyneema fiber, Zylon fiber, or boron fiber. The non-fiber-reinforced resin is, for example, a polymer resin. The polymer resin is, for example, a polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer (TPU) or an amide thermoplastic elastomer (TPA). The fibrous fabric material is, for example, a knitted or woven fabric made of polyester fiber, nylon fiber, etc. In this embodiment, the same effects as in Embodiment 1 described above can be achieved.

[0053] In this embodiment, a plate 4 is positioned between the first midsole portion 32 and the second midsole portion 33, and the hardness of the plate 4 is higher than that of the first midsole portion 32 and the second midsole portion 33. This configuration makes it easier to transmit the load generated when the contact portion 33a makes contact with the ground to a wide area of ​​the second midsole portion 33, allowing the second midsole portion 33 to be compressed and deformed over a wide area. As a result, the second midsole portion 33, which is located below the medial longitudinal arch of the foot within the sole 3, can more easily absorb the impact when the contact portion 33a makes contact with the ground.

[0054] (Embodiment 4) Figure 7 is a bottom view showing shoe 1C according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view along the line VIII-VIII shown in Figure 7. Shoe 1C according to Embodiment 4 differs from Embodiments 1 to 3 in that at least a part of the outsole 30 that forms the ground contact portion 33a and at least a part of the other outsole 30 are connected to each other, and the part in which the outsole 30 that forms the ground contact portion 33a and the other outsole 30 are connected to each other is located within a recess 35. In the following description, the part in which the outsole 30 that forms the ground contact portion 33a and the other outsole 30 are connected to each other may be referred to as the connecting portion 36. The connecting portion 36 is also the outsole 30, but in order to clarify the extent of the connecting portion 36, the connecting portion 36 is not hatched with diagonal lines in Figures 7 and 8.

[0055] As shown in Figure 8, a recessed area 35 is formed on the bottom surface 31b of the midsole 31, which is indented upwards. In this embodiment, the recessed area 35 is formed on the bottom surface of the first midsole portion 32. As shown in Figure 7, the recessed area 35 is located in the area around the second midsole portion 33, excluding the area along the inner edge. As shown in Figure 8, the connecting portion 36 is located within the recessed area 35. In Figure 8, the boundary between the outsole 30 that forms the contact area 33a and the connecting portion 36, and the boundary between the other parts of the outsole 30 and the connecting portion 36 are shown by dashed lines. It is sufficient that at least a part of the outsole 30 that forms the contact area 33a and at least a part of the other parts of the outsole 30 are connected to each other. In this embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment described above can be achieved.

[0056] In this embodiment, the portion of the outsole 30 that forms the contact area 33a and the rest of the outsole 30 that connects to each other is located within the recess 35. This configuration makes it easier to transmit the load generated when the contact area 33a makes contact with the ground only to the second midsole portion 33 on which the contact area 33a is formed, thereby ensuring that the second midsole portion 33 is reliably compressed and deformed. As a result, the second midsole portion 33, which is located below the medial longitudinal arch of the foot, can more easily absorb the impact when the contact area 33a makes contact with the ground.

[0057] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples of the content of the present invention, and it is possible to combine them with other known technologies, combine different embodiments, and omit or modify parts of the configuration without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0058] The sole of the shoe relating to the first aspect is a sole of a shoe in which a forefoot support portion that supports the forefoot of the wearer's foot, a midfoot support portion that supports the midfoot of the wearer's foot, and a rearfoot support portion that supports the rearfoot of the wearer's foot are connected in order from front to back, In the medial foot region of the bottom surface of the metafoot support portion, a contact portion is formed which is located on the lowest line connecting the lowest point of the forefoot support portion and the lowest point of the hindfoot support portion in a side view. A protrusion is formed on the medial side surface of the metatarsal support portion, projecting toward the medial side.

[0059] The sole of the shoe according to the second aspect comprises a midsole that is arranged across the forefoot support portion, the midfoot support portion and the rearfoot support portion, in the sole of the shoe according to the first aspect. The aforementioned protrusion is formed on the medial side surface of the midsole, When a line is drawn connecting the inner foot edge of the upper surface of the midsole and the inner foot edge of the bottom surface of the midsole, the apex of the convex portion is located on the inner foot side of the virtual line and below the vertical center of the virtual line.

[0060] The sole of the shoe according to the third viewpoint is the sole of the shoe according to the second viewpoint, wherein the convex portion includes a protruding end surface facing the medial side of the foot. The aforementioned protruding surface has a first protruding surface that extends upward from the medial foot edge of the bottom surface of the midsole so as to be located on the medial foot side, and a second protruding surface that is connected to the first protruding surface and extends upward so as to be located on the lateral foot side.

[0061] The sole of the shoe according to the fourth viewpoint, in the sole of the shoe according to the first or second viewpoint, when the sole is viewed from the bottom, the sole outline is defined as the line connecting the outermost parts of the sole, and the fixing line is defined as the line connecting the part to which the sole and the upper located above the sole are fixed, and the sole outline extends so as to surround the fixing line. In the region extending from the rear end of the sole to 30% to 60% of the length of the sole in the front-to-back direction, the distance in the width direction between the medial foot portion of the sole outline and the medial foot portion of the fixed line is longer than the distance in the width direction between the lateral foot portion of the sole outline and the lateral foot portion of the fixed line.

[0062] The sole of the shoe according to the fifth aspect comprises, in the sole of the shoe according to any of the second to fourth aspects, an outsole which is positioned at least in the forefoot support portion and the rearfoot support portion, and which is positioned below the midsole. The contact area and the outsole are provided independently of each other.

[0063] The sole of the shoe according to the sixth aspect comprises, in the sole of the shoe according to any of the second to fourth aspects, an outsole that is positioned at least in the forefoot support portion and the rearfoot support portion, and is positioned below the midsole, The bottom surface of the midsole has a recess that is indented upwards. At least a portion of the contact area and at least a portion of the outsole are connected to each other. The portion connecting the contact area and the outsole is located within the recess.

[0064] The sole of a shoe according to the seventh aspect is, in the sole of a shoe according to any of the second to sixth aspects, the midsole comprises a first midsole portion that is arranged across the forefoot support portion, the midfoot support portion and the rearfoot support portion, and a second midsole portion that is arranged at least in the medial foot region of the midfoot support portion and below the first midsole portion, and includes the contact portion. The hardness of the second midsole is lower than that of the first midsole.

[0065] The sole of the shoe according to the eighth viewpoint is such that, in the sole of the shoe according to the seventh viewpoint, the upper surface of the second midsole portion slopes downward from the medial side to the lateral side.

[0066] The sole of the shoe according to the ninth aspect is the sole of the shoe according to the seventh or eighth aspect, wherein a plate having a hardness higher than the hardness of the first midsole portion and the hardness of the second midsole portion is arranged between the first midsole portion and the second midsole portion.

[0067] The sole of the shoe according to the tenth aspect is the sole of the shoe according to any of the seventh to ninth aspects, wherein the second midsole portion is arranged from the medial side region of the metafoot support portion to the lateral side region of the rearfoot support portion. The contact area is located on the medial side of the midfoot support portion and on the lateral side of the rearfoot support portion of the bottom surface of the second midsole portion.

[0068] A shoe relating to the eleventh aspect comprises a sole relating to any of the first to tenth aspects of the shoe, and an upper located above the sole of the shoe. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1,1A,1B,1C Shoe, 2 Upper, 3 Sole, 4 Plate, 20 Upper body, 20a Collar, 20b Throat, 20c Lace eyelet, 21 Tongue, 22 Shoelaces, 30 Outsole, 31 Midsole, 31a,33g Top surface, 31b Bottom surface, 32 First midsole section, 32a Notch, 33 Second midsole section, 33a Contact area, 33b Convex part, 33c Protruding end surface, 33d First protruding end surface, 33e Second protruding end surface, 33f Apex, 33h First part, 33i Second part, 33j Third part, 34 Groove, 35 Recess, 36 Connection part, C Shoe center axis, G Scale line, L Virtual straight line, M Sole outline, M1,N1 Medial foot side section, M2,N2 Outer foot portion, N fixed line, P1, P2 lowest point, R1 forefoot support, R2 midfoot support, R3 hindfoot support, S1 first boundary line, S2 second boundary line, Z lowest line.

Claims

1. The sole of a shoe is characterized by having, in order from front to back, a forefoot support section that supports the forefoot of the wearer's foot, a midfoot support section that supports the midfoot of the wearer's foot, and a rearfoot support section that supports the rearfoot of the wearer's foot, The midsole is provided, which extends across the forefoot support portion, the midfoot support portion, and the rearfoot support portion. In the medial foot region of the bottom surface of the metafoot support portion, a contact portion is formed which is located on the lowest line connecting the lowest point of the forefoot support portion and the lowest point of the hindfoot support portion in a side view. A protrusion is formed on the medial side surface of the metatarsal support portion, projecting toward the medial side. The aforementioned protrusion is formed on the medial side surface of the midsole, When a line is drawn connecting the inner foot edge of the upper surface of the midsole and the inner foot edge of the bottom surface of the midsole, the apex of the convex portion is located on the inner foot side of the virtual line and below the vertical center of the virtual line. The midsole comprises a first midsole portion that extends across the forefoot support portion, the midfoot support portion, and the rearfoot support portion, and a second midsole portion that is positioned at least in the medial foot region of the midfoot support portion and below the first midsole portion, and includes the contact portion. The sole of a shoe wherein the hardness of the second midsole is lower than that of the first midsole.

2. The aforementioned protrusion includes a tip surface facing the inner side of the foot. The sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein the protruding surface has a first protruding surface that extends upward from the medial foot edge of the bottom surface of the midsole so as to be located on the medial foot side, and a second protruding surface that is connected to the first protruding surface and extends upward so as to be located on the lateral foot side.

3. When the sole is viewed from the bottom, the line connecting the outermost parts of the sole is defined as the sole outline, and the line connecting the part where the sole and the upper located above the sole are fixed is defined as the fixing line. The sole outline extends so as to surround the fixing line. The sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein in a region extending from the rear end of the sole to 30% to 60% of the length of the sole in the front-to-back direction, the distance in the width direction between the inner foot portion of the sole outline and the inner foot portion of the fixed line is longer than the distance in the width direction between the outer foot portion of the sole outline and the outer foot portion of the fixed line.

4. The outsole is provided, which is positioned at least on the forefoot support portion and the rearfoot support portion, and is positioned below the midsole. The sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion and the outsole are provided independently of each other.

5. The outsole is provided, which is positioned at least on the forefoot support portion and the rearfoot support portion, and is positioned below the midsole. The bottom surface of the midsole has a recess that is indented upwards. At least a portion of the contact area and at least a portion of the outsole are connected to each other. The sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein the portion connecting the contact portion and the outsole is located within the recess.

6. The sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the second midsole portion slopes downward from the inner side to the outer side of the foot.

7. The sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein a plate having a hardness higher than the hardness of the first midsole portion and the hardness of the second midsole portion is disposed between the first midsole portion and the second midsole portion.

8. The second midsole portion is arranged from the medial side region of the midfoot support portion to the lateral side region of the rearfoot support portion, The sole of a shoe according to claim 1, wherein the contact area is located on the medial side of the metafoot support portion and on the lateral side of the rearfoot support portion of the bottom surface of the second midsole portion.

9. A shoe comprising a sole of a shoe according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and an upper located above the sole of the shoe.

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