Sole and shoe thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a sole and a shoe thereof. The sole comprises a flexible midsole and an outsole. A plurality of grooves used for guiding deformation are distributed in the surface of the flexible insole, the extending direction of the grooves is perpendicular to the telescopic direction of the flexible insole, and the surface of the flexible insole is divided into a plurality of unit blocks through the grooves. The outsole is arranged on the lower surface of the flexible midsole and comprises a plurality of wear-resistant layers and limiting pieces; the wear-resistant layers cover the surfaces of the unit blocks respectively, the limiting pieces are bent in a non-limiting state and contained in the grooves, and the two ends of each limiting piece are connected with the wear-resistant layers on the surfaces of the two adjacent unit blocks.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of footwear technology, specifically relating to a shoe sole and a shoe thereof, and more specifically to a shoe sole and structure capable of adaptively stretching over a wide range. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional shoe soles are mostly rigid or semi-rigid structures with fixed dimensions. Their length and girth cannot be changed, making them unable to adapt to the dynamic changes in the wearer's foot and the changes in children's growth stages. A pair of shoes can only fit a specific size and foot shape. When the user's feet develop or swell due to exercise, the shoes no longer fit properly, causing compression or loosening, affecting comfort and safety. Especially because children's feet grow rapidly, shoes often become unusable due to being too small before the soles wear out, resulting in significant economic waste and resource consumption.

[0003] Existing technologies typically address these issues by focusing on the upper, using elastic bands or Velcro to adjust the fit and achieve limited sizing variations. However, this fails to address the fundamental limitation of the effective support area of ​​the sole. While some commercially available designs utilize complex folding or segmented structures to achieve sizing variations, these solutions generally suffer from significant drawbacks:

[0004] 1. Limited range of extension and retraction, unable to achieve large size changes, making it difficult to adapt to the developmental needs of users' feet;

[0005] 2. It can only achieve limited stretching in the length direction and cannot adapt to changes in foot circumference;

[0006] 3. Due to its complex structure and numerous mechanical parts, it seriously affects wearing comfort and the integrity of the sole, and it is difficult to guarantee stable support performance after stretching.

[0007] 4. After stretching, uneven support, local damage resulting in loss of the sole's protective function, and fatigue are common problems.

[0008] Therefore, existing stretch sole technology still struggles to achieve a good balance between flexibility, comfort, stability, and ease of use, which hinders its widespread adoption and application.

[0009] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a sole structure that can adaptively adjust length and circumference over a wide range, while taking into account flexibility, comfort, stability, and safety. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a sole and shoe thereof, which solves the problem of limited adjustment range in the above-mentioned background art, and further solves the problem of the stretchable sole taking into account comprehensive performance.

[0011] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is: to provide a shoe sole, including a flexible midsole and an outsole;

[0012] The surface of the flexible midsole is provided with a number of grooves for guiding deformation. The extension direction of the grooves is perpendicular to the extension and contraction direction of the flexible midsole, and the grooves divide the surface of the flexible midsole into a number of unit blocks.

[0013] The outsole is disposed on the lower surface of the flexible midsole and includes several wear-resistant layers and limiting members; the wear-resistant layers cover the surface of the unit blocks respectively, and the limiting members are bent and housed in the groove in the non-limiting state and connected at both ends to the wear-resistant layers on the surfaces of two adjacent unit blocks.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the grooves are spaced apart along the length and width of the flexible midsole to form a groove grid composed of transverse grooves and longitudinal grooves.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the wear-resistant layer is 3-5mm, the thickness of the limiting member is no more than 2mm, and the limiting member extends across the transverse groove and the longitudinal groove while avoiding the gap at their intersection.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the grooves are distributed on the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible midsole. The upper surface grooves and the lower surface grooves have the same extending direction, but their projections do not coincide in the direction perpendicular to the flexible midsole.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the depth of the upper surface groove and the lower surface groove is less than the thickness of the flexible midsole, and the misalignment distance between the two at the projected position is at least 3 mm.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an insert is provided in the groove on the upper surface.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insert is mesh-shaped and fills the transverse grooves, longitudinal grooves, and the gaps where the two intersect.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the flexible midsole is made of ETPU and TPE, the outsole is made of rubber and TPU, and the insert is made of ETPU and TPE.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sole further includes an insole disposed on the upper surface of the flexible midsole. The insole is detachably connected to the flexible midsole via Velcro.

[0022] Another technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve its technical problem is: providing a shoe having the above-mentioned sole. The flexible midsole extends upward from its periphery to form a sidewall portion, which is joined to or forms the upper, and the upper includes a toe, a midsole, and a heel portion.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer bottom extends upward to form a sidewall wrap.

[0024] Compared with the prior art, this technical solution has the following advantages:

[0025] 1. The sole of this invention can not only adaptively adjust in multiple directions according to the user's foot movement posture or different temperatures, but also provide a wide range of stretching and adjustment according to growth and development needs, realizing "full life cycle" adaptation of footwear and effectively solving the waste problem caused by foot growth; at the same time, the sole always provides effective support, and the core structure can be applied to different types of footwear (such as casual shoes, outdoor shoes, and sports shoes), achieving the effects of comfort and wide adaptability;

[0026] 2. The sole of this invention adopts a combination of a flexible midsole and a relatively rigid outsole. In addition to the conventional wear-resistant properties, the outsole also incorporates a limiting component. In the relaxed state, the limiting component bends and is housed in the groove of the midsole, greatly reducing its presence. Once the shoe stretch reaches its maximum value, the limiting component is triggered to unfold to a straight state and enter tension, using its structural length to limit further stretching, effectively preventing damage to the main structure of the shoe.

[0027] 3. The present invention also designs the direction, position and depth of the grooves. The consistency of the extension direction of the upper and lower grooves can realize the fine adjustment of the local stretching of the sole, increase the stretching stroke and ensure the uniformity of the overall force. The staggered setting and depth control can ensure that the sole has at least 3mm of protective isolation wall / wall in the stretched state. While maintaining the integrity and support of the sole structure, it avoids the possibility of foreign objects piercing the sole under the through hole design, and realizes waterproof and insulating functions.

[0028] 4. The present invention incorporates inserts in the grooves on the inner surface of the flexible midsole to fill critical load-bearing areas, thereby providing further support, stability, and wearing comfort.

[0029] 5. The flexible midsole and insert of this invention are made of the same material, including ETPU and TPE, providing uniform extensibility and durability; the outsole is made of rubber and TPU, and the outsole can extend upward to form a sidewall wrap, achieving full rubber outsole coverage, expanding synchronously with the sole, providing higher abrasion resistance and longer durability; among which, TPE and TPU are both biodegradable in soil, and ETPU material has thermoregulatory properties, which can dynamically adjust the hardness to respond to temperature changes, thereby enhancing comfort and support. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a diagram of the sole structure in the initial state of Example 1;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a structural diagram of the shoe in Example 1;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a diagram of the shoe sole structure in the stretched state of Example 1;

[0033] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the sole in the stretched state of Example 1;

[0034] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of the insert in Example 1;

[0035] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the fit between the insert and the flexible midsole in Example 1.

[0036] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of the sole of the shoe including the insert in Example 1;

[0037] Figure 8 This is a magnified view of the sole details in Example 1;

[0038] Figure 9 This is a structural diagram of the insole in Example 2;

[0039] Figure 10 This is a diagram showing the position of the Velcro in Example 2;

[0040] Figure 11 This is a structural diagram of the high-top shoe in Example 3;

[0041] Figure 12 This is a diagram of the sole structure of Example 3;

[0042] Figure 13 This is a structural diagram of the shoe in Example 3.

[0043] Among them, 11-flexible midsole, 111-groove, 112-unit block, 12-outsole, 121-abrasion layer, 122-limiting component, 13-insertion component, 14-sidewall wrap, 15-insole, 151-Velcro, 2-upper. Detailed Implementation

[0044] It should be noted that the terms "longitudinal", "lateral", "up", "down", "front", "rear", "inner", and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the present invention.

[0045] In the following embodiments, the flexible midsole is made of ETPU or TPE, the outsole is made of rubber or TPU, and the insert is made of ETPU or TPE. The combinations can be: ① an ETPU midsole (insert) combined with a recycled rubber outsole; ② a full TPE midsole (insert) combined with a TPU outsole.

[0046] Example 1

[0047] This embodiment of a shoe sole includes a flexible midsole 11 and an outsole 12;

[0048] The surface of the flexible midsole 11 is provided with a plurality of grooves 111 for guiding deformation. The extension direction of the grooves 111 is perpendicular to the extension and contraction direction of the flexible midsole 11, and the grooves 111 divide the surface of the flexible midsole 11 into a plurality of unit blocks 112.

[0049] The outsole 12 is disposed on the lower surface of the flexible insole 11 and includes several wear-resistant layers 121 and limiting members 122. The wear-resistant layers 121 respectively cover the surface of the unit block 112. The limiting members 122 are bent and housed in the groove 111 in the non-limiting state and are connected at both ends to the wear-resistant layers 121 on the surfaces of two adjacent unit blocks 112.

[0050] The grooves 111 are spaced apart along the length and width of the flexible midsole 11, forming a groove grid composed of transverse and longitudinal grooves.

[0051] The limiting member 122 is U-shaped, V-shaped, or Ω-shaped. In this embodiment, a U-shaped limiting member 122 is used. The thickness of the wear-resistant layer 121 is 3-5mm, but the thickness of the limiting member 122 is no more than 2mm. It is set across the transverse groove and the longitudinal groove, avoiding the gap at the intersection of the two, which is conducive to controlling its mechanical properties.

[0052] The grooves 111 are distributed on the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible midsole 11. The upper and lower surface grooves have the same extending direction, but their projections do not coincide in the direction perpendicular to the flexible midsole 11. Typically, the transverse and longitudinal grooves are arranged approximately parallel and spaced apart along the length and width of the flexible midsole 11, with local fine-tuning achieved through stretching adaptation between different grooves 111. More specifically, the transverse and longitudinal grooves are adapted to the shoe shape: such as... Figure 1In the illustrated sole surface structure, the transverse grooves generally run along the width of the sole and have openings at both ends. Each transverse groove is not perfectly parallel but has a certain curvature following the shoe shape. Typically, the transverse grooves in the forefoot and arch areas bulge towards the front, while those in the heel area bulge towards the rear. The gaps in the grooves 111 in the main support area are larger than in other areas. The longitudinal grooves generally run along the length of the sole and do not have openings at both ends (to ensure the integrity of the arch shape at the front and rear ends of the shoe). The longitudinal grooves are generally parallel and have a slight concave curvature towards the arch. The groove 111 configuration in this embodiment can better accommodate the user's local fine-tuning in the stretching direction.

[0053] The depth of the upper and lower surface grooves is less than the thickness of the flexible midsole 11 (at least 3 mm distance difference in the stretched state), and the misalignment distance between the two at the projected position is at least 3 mm, ensuring that the sole has a protective wall of at least 3 mm to prevent external sharp objects from penetrating the sole, while also achieving waterproofing and other functions.

[0054] In this embodiment, the sole can achieve overall coordinated expansion, partial area fine-tuning, and maximum expansion stroke control under the action of grooves and limiting components. To further ensure stability and wearing comfort, an insert 13 is provided in the groove on the upper surface. The insert 13 is mesh-shaped and can be detachably filled in the gaps between the transverse grooves, longitudinal grooves, and their intersections. The insert 13 is made of the same material as the flexible midsole 11, and to a certain extent has the same extensibility as the flexible midsole 11, which can achieve uniformity of the force on the sole and ensure overall coordinated expansion.

[0055] Example 2

[0056] The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that this embodiment also includes an insole 15 (removable insole), which is fixed to the upper surface of the flexible midsole 11 by Velcro 151. In this embodiment, there are 4 Velcro 151s, with 2 located at the forefoot and 2 at the heel, avoiding the grooves 111 and inserts 13 on the upper surface of the flexible midsole 11. When the periphery of the flexible midsole 11 in this embodiment extends upward to form a sidewall, and the sidewall joins with or forms the upper 2, a through hole is provided at the toe of the upper 2. In addition to being fixed by Velcro, the insole can also be fixed by insole rope or webbing, which passes through the through hole to prevent the insole from coming off during the process of putting on and taking off the shoes.

[0057] Example 3

[0058] This embodiment provides a shoe with the sole structure of Embodiment 1. The periphery of the flexible midsole 11 extends upward to form a sidewall portion, which is joined to or forms the upper 2. The upper 2 includes a toe, midfoot, and heel portion, wherein the heel portion is differentiated into low-top, mid-top, and high-top shoes based on different extension heights. Furthermore, the abrasion-resistant layer 121 area of ​​the outsole 12 also extends upward to form a sidewall wrap 14, achieving full rubber outsole coverage of the abrasion-resistant area of ​​the sole, which can expand synchronously with the sole.

[0059] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A shoe sole, characterized in that: Includes a flexible midsole and outsole; The surface of the flexible midsole is provided with a number of grooves for guiding deformation. The extension direction of the grooves is perpendicular to the extension and contraction direction of the flexible midsole, and the grooves divide the surface of the flexible midsole into a number of unit blocks. The outsole is disposed on the lower surface of the flexible midsole and includes several wear-resistant layers and limiting members; the wear-resistant layers cover the surface of the unit blocks respectively, and the limiting members are bent and housed in the groove in the non-limiting state and connected at both ends to the wear-resistant layers on the surfaces of two adjacent unit blocks.

2. The shoe sole according to claim 1, characterized in that: The grooves are spaced apart along the length and width of the flexible midsole, forming a groove grid composed of transverse and longitudinal grooves.

3. A shoe sole according to claim 2, characterized in that: The wear-resistant layer has a thickness of 3-5mm, the limiting member has a thickness of no more than 2mm, and the limiting member extends across the transverse groove and the longitudinal groove while avoiding the gap at their intersection.

4. A shoe sole according to claim 2, characterized in that: The grooves are distributed on the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible midsole. The upper surface grooves and the lower surface grooves have the same extending direction, but their projections do not coincide in the direction perpendicular to the flexible midsole.

5. A shoe sole according to claim 4, characterized in that: The depth of the upper and lower surface grooves is less than the thickness of the flexible midsole, and the misalignment distance between the two at the projected position is at least 3 mm.

6. A shoe sole according to claim 4, characterized in that: The upper surface groove is provided with an insert; the insert is mesh-shaped and fills the gaps in the transverse groove, the longitudinal groove and the intersection of the two.

7. A shoe sole according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes an insole, which is disposed on the upper surface of the flexible midsole.

8. A shoe sole according to claim 6, characterized in that: The flexible midsole is made of ETPU and TPE, the outsole is made of rubber and TPU, and the insert is made of ETPU and TPE.

9. A shoe, characterized in that: The sole has any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A shoe according to claim 9, characterized in that: The flexible midsole extends upward from its periphery to form a sidewall portion, which is joined to or forms the upper; the outsole extends upward to form a sidewall wrap.

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