A sole, shoe

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of shoe sole, shoe, shoe sole includes: rigid support piece, it includes the first support portion extending along the lateral side of the forefoot of shoe sole and the second support portion extending along the medial side of the forefoot of shoe sole, first support portion and second support portion are spaced apart along the width direction of shoe sole, and form opening between two;First insole, it includes the main body portion located in the upper side of rigid support piece, and the through portion formed by the downward extension of main body portion, through portion passes through opening and extends to the lower side of rigid support piece;And second insole, it includes the first side portion and the second side portion respectively located in the lower side of first support portion and second support portion;Wherein, through portion is located between first side portion and second side portion along the width direction of shoe sole, first support portion is clamped between first side portion and main body portion, and second support portion is clamped between second side portion and main body portion;Through portion, first side portion and second side portion jointly form the bottom side insole structure of the forefoot area of shoe sole.The shoe sole can give consideration to forefoot rigid support performance and buffering resilience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of shoe sole technology, specifically to a shoe sole and a shoe. Background Technology

[0002] Running shoe soles typically need to balance cushioning and rebound, support and stability, and push-off propulsion. The midsole material absorbs impact through compressive deformation and recovers its shape after the load decreases, providing cushioning and rebound; while rigid support components improve the flexural stiffness and structural stability of the sole and transfer the load applied to the foot during running.

[0003] The forefoot area is a crucial region for flexion and extension of the shoe sole during running, and also a vital area for the midsole material to compress and deform and release rebound energy. To improve the support and propulsion performance of the sole, current running shoes typically incorporate rigid support components in the midsole. However, when rigid support components occupy a large support area in the forefoot, their high structural stiffness can limit the compression and recovery deformation of adjacent midsole materials along the thickness direction of the sole. This reduces the effective area and thickness of the midsole material that can fully participate in deformation, thus affecting the overall cushioning and rebound performance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned defects or problems in the prior art and to provide a sole and shoe that can take into account both forefoot rigid support performance and cushioning and rebound performance.

[0005] The applicant found that during running, the forefoot area of ​​the sole simultaneously bears the foot load, sole flexion, and midsole compression and rebound. Rigid support components can improve the forefoot's flexural support and load transfer capabilities; however, when rigid support components form a large, continuous coverage area in the forefoot region, they also restrict the compression and recovery of adjacent midsole materials along the sole thickness direction, limiting the area and effective thickness of the midsole capable of sufficient deformation. Especially when rigid support components are sandwiched between the upper and lower midsole materials, the upper and lower midsoles are easily separated by the rigid support components, making it difficult for the forefoot area to simultaneously achieve sufficient midsole deformation and stable rigid support.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the following technical solution is adopted: In at least one embodiment, a shoe sole is disclosed, the shoe sole comprising: a rigid support member including a first support portion extending along the outer side of the forefoot of the shoe sole and a second support portion extending along the inner side of the forefoot of the shoe sole, the first support portion and the second support portion being spaced apart along the width direction of the shoe sole and forming an opening between them; a first midsole including a main body portion located above the rigid support member and a through portion extending downward from the main body portion, the through portion passing through the opening and extending to the lower side of the rigid support member; and a second midsole including a first side portion and a second side portion located below the first support portion and the second support portion respectively; wherein the through portion is located between the first side portion and the second side portion along the width direction of the shoe sole, the first support portion is sandwiched between the first side portion and the main body portion, and the second support portion is sandwiched between the second side portion and the main body portion; the through portion, the first side portion, and the second side portion together form the bottom side midsole structure of the forefoot region of the shoe sole.

[0007] The above structure creates two spaced-apart support paths in the forefoot region for the rigid support member. The first support extends along the outer side of the forefoot, and the second support extends along the inner side of the forefoot, providing rigid support to the outer and inner sides of the forefoot respectively; at the same time, an opening is maintained between the two, so that the rigid support member does not run across the entire forefoot in the form of a continuous plate.

[0008] The main body of the first midsole is located above the rigid support member. A through-hole extends downwards from the main body through this opening to the lower side of the rigid support member, ensuring continuity of the first midsole across the thickness of the rigid support member in the middle forefoot region. When the sole is subjected to a vertical load applied by the foot, the area where the through-hole is located is not directly covered by the continuous rigid support member. It can utilize its own thickness and the space provided by the opening to compress along the thickness direction of the sole, continuously participating in deformation with the upper main body. Therefore, compared to the upper and lower midsole layers separated by the rigid support member, the main body and the through-hole can form a more continuous midsole deformation area, giving the middle forefoot a larger effective compression thickness and deformation space. After the load decreases, the through-hole and the main body recover together, which helps improve the cushioning and rebound capabilities of the middle forefoot region.

[0009] Meanwhile, the first support portion is sandwiched between the main body and the first side portion, and the second support portion is sandwiched between the main body and the second side portion. Thus, while providing sufficient deformation space in the central area, the outer and inner sides of the forefoot still retain the support structure consisting of the upper midsole, the rigid support portion, and the lower midsole, respectively. The first and second support portions can withstand the bending load generated when the forefoot is bent and constrain excessive compression and lateral deformation on both sides of the forefoot.

[0010] Therefore, the through section and the two support sections form an overall structural relationship in the width direction of the sole, where the center can deform fully and the sides maintain rigid support. The central area mainly provides continuous compression and recovery space, while the two support sections establish stable load transfer paths on both sides of this area. This allows the sole to obtain midsole deformation space without sacrificing overall forefoot stiffness, thus balancing forefoot cushioning and rebound with support and stability.

[0011] In the sole disclosed in at least one embodiment, preferably, the rear ends of the first support portion and the second support portion converge and connect to form a connecting portion, the connecting portion extending at least rearward to the arch region of the sole.

[0012] The aforementioned first and second support components are located on the outer and inner sides of the forefoot, respectively, thus allowing for corresponding responses to different stress states on the inner and outer sides of the sole. During running, the load on the forefoot is not always evenly distributed along the width direction. When the outer side bears a larger load, the first support component experiences greater bending; when the inner side bears a larger load, the second support component bears more of the corresponding load. The two support components thus have the ability to respond to loads in different lateral regions respectively.

[0013] If the two support sections remain independent of each other from front to back, the load and deformation of one support section will be mainly limited to the corresponding side, and there will be no effective rearward force transmission relationship between the two support sections. By converging and connecting the rear ends of the first and second support sections to form a connecting section, the two rigid support paths that are separated in the forefoot area can be re-converged in the rear while retaining the opening in the middle of the forefoot.

[0014] When the outer side of the forefoot experiences greater force, the first support portion bends accordingly. The load it bears, as well as the force and torque generated by the bending, are transmitted rearward along the first support portion to the connecting portion, causing the connecting portion to bend, deflect, or twist in response to the force on the first support portion. The response of the connecting portion can further affect the second support portion connected to it. Conversely, when the inner side of the forefoot experiences greater force, the load and deformation borne by the second support portion can also be transmitted to the connecting portion, and further to one side of the first support portion and the rear of the sole.

[0015] The connecting section thus becomes the load and deformation transfer area between the two support sections. The first and second support sections can still respond to local loads on the inner and outer sides in the forefoot area, while in the rear, they form a certain degree of force linkage through the connecting section, so that the two support sections are neither completely independent components, nor do they need to be directly connected into a whole by a transverse rigid structure in the forefoot area.

[0016] After the connecting part extends further back to at least the arch area, the forefoot load borne by the first and second support parts can continue to be transmitted along the connecting part to the middle of the sole. Thus, the rigid support forms a force path that is borne by the outer and inner sides of the forefoot respectively, converges rearward, and extends to the arch area. While retaining the through-section in the middle of the forefoot and the local responsiveness of the inner and outer sides, it improves the load transfer and force coordination between the left and right sides of the forefoot and between the forefoot and the arch.

[0017] The applicant further discovered that the connecting part needs to bear the load transmitted backward from the two support parts, and also needs to deform accordingly with the different stress states of the first and second support parts. Therefore, when further strengthening the rigid support of the rear of the sole, if the connecting part is fixed to the heel area through a large-area continuous rigid structure, it is easy to impose excessive constraints on the bending and torsion of the connecting part, thereby weakening the ability of the two support parts in the forefoot to respond separately to uneven forces on the inner and outer sides.

[0018] In the sole disclosed in at least one embodiment, preferably, the rigid support member has an annular portion on the outer periphery of the connecting portion that is connected to the first support portion and the second support portion; the annular portion extends outward from the outer periphery of the heel area of ​​the sole and forms a relief groove that extends through the thickness direction at least in the width direction with the connecting portion.

[0019] The annular portion is located on the outer periphery of the connecting part and extends along the outer periphery of the heel area of ​​the sole, allowing the rigid support to form a relatively continuous support structure around the heel. When the heel strikes the ground or is subjected to large vertical and lateral loads, the annular portion can constrain the outer periphery of the heel midsole, reducing the possibility of excessive expansion of the heel midsole outward and large lateral displacement of the heel area, thereby improving the support stability of the outer periphery of the heel.

[0020] Meanwhile, the connecting portion and the annular portion are spaced apart at least in the width direction of the sole, and a clearance groove extending through the thickness direction is formed between them. Although the annular portion is arranged around the connecting portion and maintains a structural connection with the first support portion and the second support portion, a large-area continuous rigid connection is not formed between the connecting portion and the annular portion. Therefore, the connecting portion can retain local deformation freedom relative to the annular portion within the area formed by the annular portion.

[0021] When the outer side of the palm is subjected to a large load, the first support portion bends, and the load and deformation are transmitted rearward to the connecting portion. Because there is a clearance groove between the connecting portion and the outer annular portion, the connecting portion can bend, deflect, or twist accordingly to the stress state of the first support portion, without forcing the entire heel annular portion to deform to the same degree. When the inner side of the palm is subjected to a large load, the second support portion and the connecting portion can also respond according to the corresponding force direction.

[0022] Furthermore, since the annular portion is connected to the first and second support portions, the load on the forefoot support portion can be partially transferred to the outer annular portion. Thus, when a support portion is subjected to a large unilateral load, the connecting portion can absorb and transfer some of the load change through its own deformation, while the outer annular portion can provide constraint to the rear of the sole from a larger spatial range. Therefore, the connecting portion and the annular portion can have different degrees of deformation and stress distribution: the connecting portion is more prone to local bending and torsion along with the forefoot support portion, while the annular portion remains relatively stable to maintain peripheral heel support.

[0023] Thus, the first support, the second support, the connecting part, the annular part, and the relief groove form a mutually cooperating force-bearing system. The two support parts respond to the local loads on the inner and outer sides of the forefoot, respectively; the connecting part bears the rearward load and deformation of the two support parts and allows the forces on the inner and outer sides to be linked through the connecting part; the annular part maintains the stability of the heel from the outside; and the relief groove prevents the annular part from completely locking the connecting part, allowing the connecting part to undergo the necessary local deformation according to the force on one side of the forefoot.

[0024] This structure ensures that the enhanced rigid support at the rear of the sole does not necessarily lead to complete synchronous deformation of the entire rigid support component. The inner and outer sides of the forefoot can still maintain a certain degree of local stress response, and the connecting part can deform with the corresponding support part, while the outer heel is simultaneously stabilized by the ring-shaped part. This is beneficial for balancing local adaptability of the forefoot, lateral load linkage, front-to-back load transfer, and outer heel stability.

[0025] In the sole disclosed in at least one embodiment, preferably, the front ends of the first support portion and the second support portion are disposed separately, so that the opening is open toward the front end of the sole.

[0026] With the first and second support sections already connected by a rear-end connector, separating the front ends of the two support sections allows the rigid support components to form a structure where the rear ends are interconnected while the front ends are relatively independent. The connector ensures load transfer between the two support sections, while the separation of the front ends allows each support section near the front of the sole to bend accordingly.

[0027] In this way, when the forefoot areas corresponding to the first and second support parts are subjected to different loads, their front ends do not need to be forced to maintain the same deformation state. One support part can generate a larger local bending when the load on its corresponding side is greater, while the opposite side still maintains a different support state; the resulting load difference can be gradually transmitted and coordinated at the rear through the connecting part.

[0028] At the same time, after the front ends of the two support sections separate, the opening between them can remain open towards the front of the sole, preventing the central midsole area where the through section is located from being closed off again by a lateral rigid connection structure at the forefoot. This allows for more continuous compression and flexion space in the central area during forefoot extension and flexion.

[0029] Therefore, the front separation and rear connection work together. The rear connection ensures that the load can be transmitted between the two support parts and towards the arch of the foot, while the front separation releases the local deformation freedom of the two support parts near the toe, so that the rigid support part has both overall force transmission capability and local adaptability, and together with the through part located between the two support parts, it improves the flexibility of the forefoot when bending.

[0030] The applicant also found that after the front ends of the two support parts have separated from each other, the forward extension length of the two support parts will further affect the bending constraint range of the inner and outer sides of the forefoot. If the two still have exactly the same termination position, although they can deform separately, the effective support lengths formed on the inner and outer sides of the forefoot are still relatively close, making it difficult to further utilize the difference in support length to adjust the stress and bending state of different lateral areas.

[0031] In the sole disclosed in at least one embodiment, preferably, the front end of the first support portion is recessed relative to the front end of the second support portion.

[0032] Since the first support extends along the outer side of the forefoot and the second support extends along the inner side of the forefoot, the front end of the first support is retracted relative to the front end of the second support, and the two support parts that have separated from each other form different effective forward extension lengths.

[0033] The first support terminates earlier, allowing the front part of the outer forefoot to be freed from the direct constraint of the rigid support at a more rearward position, thereby increasing the local bending freedom of the front part of the outer forefoot. The second support extends further forward, allowing the medial forefoot to still receive rigid support and load transfer at a position closer to the front of the sole.

[0034] Therefore, the first and second support sections can not only bend independently to a certain degree, but also have different bending lengths and support termination positions, allowing the rigid constraints on the outer and inner sides of the forefoot to differ according to their lateral positions. The open front end provides the structural conditions for the two support sections to respond independently, while the front end retraction further determines the degree of difference in this independent response. The two work together to help different lateral regions of the forefoot form support and bending characteristics that better match their stress states.

[0035] In the sole disclosed in at least one embodiment, preferably, the Shore C hardness of both the first side portion and the second side portion is greater than the Shore C hardness of the through portion.

[0036] The aforementioned sole already has a central area and rigid support areas on both sides in the width direction. Further hardness differences are incorporated into this spatial structure to ensure that the material properties correspond to the stress experienced by each area.

[0037] The through-hole is located between the first and second support sections and is not directly covered by a continuous rigid support. With a relatively low Shore C hardness, the through-hole can compress more fully along the sole thickness under foot loads and store the corresponding deformation using the midsole thickness formed by its continuity with the main body. After the load is released, the through-hole can recover, allowing it to more effectively provide cushioning and rebound in the middle forefoot area.

[0038] The first and second side sections are located below the first and second support sections, respectively. Their high rigidity provides more stable support for the corresponding rigid support sections. When the first support section bends due to external forces, or the second support section bends due to internal forces, the higher rigidity of the side sections below the support sections reduces excessive collapse of their support bases. This allows the bending load borne by the support section to be more effectively transferred rearward along itself to the connecting section, rather than being largely absorbed by localized compression in the midsole below the support section.

[0039] Therefore, the first and second sides have a direct force-bearing relationship with the first and second support parts. The higher-hardness side provides a relatively stable reaction force base for the rigid support part, enabling the support part to more stably perform its bending support and load transfer functions; the low-hardness through part located between the two support parts retains a large compressive deformation capacity. For structures that include connecting parts and annular parts, this material partitioning can further cooperate with the aforementioned force chain, allowing the load on both sides of the forefoot to be transferred to the connecting part through the stable support part of the first or second support part, while the central midsole can still deform sufficiently, thereby preventing the rigid support system from extending to the arch and heel and making the entire forefoot too hard.

[0040] Thus, the sole forms a relationship between structural zones and material performance zones: the central area provides greater compression and recovery capacity, while the higher hardness areas on both sides support the rigid support and provide a stable foundation for the transfer of rigid loads to the rear of the sole, thereby further enhancing the coordination between rebound performance and support performance.

[0041] The applicant further discovered that after forming a material partition with a more easily deformable center and more stable supports on both sides, the lateral dimensions of the through-hole directly affect the actual area occupied by the two effects. When the through-hole is too narrow, although the central low-hardness area is easy to deform, its pressure area and effective deformation volume are limited; when the through-hole is too wide, the first and second sides become correspondingly narrower, and the stable support area that can be obtained below the two rigid supports is reduced accordingly.

[0042] In the sole disclosed in at least one embodiment, preferably, on a projection plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the sole, the two side edges of the through portion in the width direction are adapted to the edge shape of the corresponding side of the sole, and the width of the through portion at the position of the maximum width dimension of the sole is 50% to 80% of the width dimension of the sole at that position.

[0043] The shape of the two sides of the through-section in the width direction matches the corresponding side edge of the sole, allowing the through-section to extend accordingly with changes in the width of the forefoot contour, rather than forming a narrow, elongated area of ​​fixed width. Thus, the central deformable area can maintain a distribution that adapts to the actual lateral dimensions of the sole at different forefoot positions, and the first and second side sections on either side can also form corresponding support areas along the sole contour.

[0044] At the maximum width of the sole, the width of the through section is 50% to 80% of the corresponding width of the sole. This allows the through section to occupy the main part of the forefoot's lateral range, thus providing a larger pressure area and deformation volume for the low-hardness midsole, enabling the through section to generate sufficient compression and recovery. At the same time, this dimensional relationship still retains a certain width of first and second side sections on both sides of the through section, so that the first and second support sections continue to have stable midsole support below them.

[0045] Therefore, the width of the through section, the width of the first and second sides, and the position of the two rigid support sections together determine the force distribution of the forefoot, so that the central area has sufficient deformation capacity, while the sides still retain sufficient support range, thereby truly transforming the material hardness difference into the corresponding structural function difference.

[0046] In the sole disclosed in at least one embodiment, preferably, the through-hole is located in the middle region of the sole width direction.

[0047] With the through-hole already occupying a significant lateral area of ​​the forefoot, its specific position in the width direction will further affect the remaining width of the first and second sides. If the through-hole is significantly offset to one side, even if its total width remains unchanged, it may make the corresponding side with higher stiffness too narrow, thereby weakening the support capacity of that side for the rigid support and causing a large difference in compression and lateral stiffness between the two sides of the sole.

[0048] The through-hole is positioned in the middle region of the sole's width, so that its larger compressible area is mainly distributed between the two support sections. Meanwhile, a first side section and a second side section are retained on the outer and inner sides of the through-hole, respectively. In this way, when the sole is under load, the middle region can withstand sufficient compression in the thickness direction, while the two side sections provide support for the first and second support sections, respectively.

[0049] This positional relationship, combined with the aforementioned 50% to 80% width range and hardness difference, ensures that the central low-hardness area not only has sufficient lateral dimensions but also does not significantly encroach on the support area on one side. This reduces lateral deformation and stiffness imbalance caused by the offset of the soft area, providing a relatively stable support base for both the outer and inner rigid support sections, and helps maintain the stability of the forefoot under lateral forces.

[0050] Thus, from the spatial position of the through-hole and the two sides, to the hardness relationship among the three, and then to the width and lateral position of the through-hole, a layered forefoot partition structure is formed. The through-hole determines that the central midsole can maintain continuity across the rigid support; the lower hardness further enhances the compressibility of this area; the 50% to 80% width ensures that the central deformation area has sufficient effective area; and its location in the middle area ensures that the sides still retain higher hardness areas to support the rigid support. These features work together to transform the central rebound and lateral stability into a clear stress difference through specific spatial arrangement.

[0051] The applicant also found that the aforementioned structure mainly addresses deformation and support distribution in the width direction of the sole, while the sole itself also exhibits thickness variations along the front-to-back direction. If the central through-hole and the two side second midsoles use inconsistent thickness variations, even with reasonable lateral material and structural zoning, areas with abrupt changes in deformation capacity may still form in the front-to-back direction of the sole.

[0052] In the sole disclosed in at least one embodiment, preferably, the thickness of the second midsole increases from front to back, and the thickness of the through portion increases from front to back along with the thickness of the second midsole.

[0053] As the thickness of the second midsole increases from front to back, the structural height of the areas containing the first and second sides, as well as the volume of the midsole that can participate in compression, change with position. If the thickness of the through section remains basically constant, the relationship between the thickness of the midsole in the central region and the side regions will also change continuously as the second midsole gradually thickens, causing the deformation capacity of the through section area to change discontinuously relative to the side support areas.

[0054] By increasing the thickness of the through-hole section from front to back in accordance with the thickness of the second midsole, the thickness variation of the through-hole area and the two side midsole areas can be maintained in the same direction along the longitudinal direction of the sole. In the relatively thinner parts of the sole, both the through-hole section and the two side midsoles have relatively small structural thickness; as the sole thickens towards the rear, the through-hole section also gains a larger midsole volume and effective deformation thickness, allowing the compression capacity of the central area to transition continuously with the changes in the overall midsole structure.

[0055] This thickness relationship can be further coordinated with the aforementioned hardness zoning. In the width direction of the sole, the first and second sides maintain relatively stable support through higher hardness, while the through section obtains greater compressive strength through lower hardness; in the fore-aft direction of the sole, the through section and the second midsole change thickness according to corresponding trends. Thus, the deformation characteristics of the sole are simultaneously regulated by the lateral material property distribution and the longitudinal geometric thickness distribution.

[0056] Therefore, the aforementioned structure does not simply create a static partition with a soft center and hard sides on a single forefoot cross-section, but rather allows this partitioning relationship to achieve a relatively continuous structural transition along the forefoot and hindfoot direction of the sole. This not only helps reduce sudden changes in thickness and deformation between different areas, but also helps the area where the through-hole is located to continuously retain compression space adapted to the surrounding midsole at different forefoot and hindfoot positions, thereby improving the overall support and continuity of deformation transition of the sole.

[0057] In at least one embodiment, a shoe is disclosed, the shoe including an upper and a sole as described in any of the preceding embodiments, the upper being attached to the sole.

[0058] Once attached to the sole, the upper maintains a relatively stable position between the foot and the sole, transferring the load generated during running to the aforementioned sole structure. The sole, in turn, can bear and deform according to the location and direction of the load through the central area, the rigid support structures on both sides, and the corresponding connecting structures. Thus, the midsole material and rigid support components in the sole enable the shoe to achieve appropriate cushioning, rebound, support stability, and structural response performance during push-off. Attached Figure Description

[0059] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments are briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0060] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the shoe sole structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the bottom of the first midsole; Figure 3 for Figure 1 A side view diagram of the second midsole and the heel sole; Figure 4 for Figure 1 Structural schematic diagram of a medium-rigidity support component; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a rigid support member in another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a rigid support member in another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a rigid support member in another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a rigid support member in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] Explanation of key figure labels: Rigid support 100; first support part 110; second support part 120; opening 130; connecting part 140; annular part 150; clearance groove 160; fitting part 170; First midsole 200; main body 210; through-hole 220; Second midsole 300; First side 310; Second side 320; The bottom heel is 400; the outer bottom is 500. Detailed Implementation

[0062] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be considered as excluding other embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0063] Unless otherwise expressly defined, the use of terms such as "first," "second," or "third" in the claims, description, and accompanying drawings of this invention is for distinguishing different objects and not for describing a specific order.

[0064] Unless otherwise expressly defined, in the claims, description, and accompanying drawings of this invention, the use of directional terms such as "center," "lateral," "longitudinal," "horizontal," "vertical," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise" to indicate orientation or positional relationships is based on the orientation and positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and is only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and is not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the specific scope of protection of this invention.

[0065] Unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms "fixed connection" or "fixed connection" used in the claims, description and drawings of this invention should be interpreted broadly to refer to any connection in which there is no displacement or relative rotation relationship between the two parties, including non-removable fixed connection, detachable fixed connection, integral connection and fixed connection by other means or components.

[0066] In the claims, description and accompanying drawings of this invention, the terms "comprising," "having," and variations thereof are used to mean "including but not limited to."

[0067] Example like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, this embodiment provides a shoe sole. For ease of explanation, the side of the sole facing the foot when worn is called the sole side, and the side facing the ground is called the ground side. The sole side is referred to as the upper side below, and the ground side is referred to as the lower side below. The end of the sole closer to the toe in the length direction is called the front end, and the end closer to the heel is called the rear end. The side of the sole closer to the outer side of the foot in the width direction is called the outer side, and the side closer to the inner side of the foot is called the inner side.

[0068] Reference Figure 1 The sole includes a rigid support member 100, a first midsole 200, and a second midsole 300. The first midsole 200 is located on the plantar side of the rigid support member 100 and extends from the forefoot to the heel; the second midsole 300 is located on the ground side of the rigid support member 100 and is located at least in the forefoot area of ​​the sole; the forefoot portion of the rigid support member 100 is thus sandwiched between the first midsole 200 and the second midsole 300.

[0069] Among them, reference Figure 1 and Figure 4 The rigid support member 100 is a plate-shaped component with certain rigidity and toughness, including a first support portion 110, a second support portion 120, a connecting portion 140, an annular portion 150, and a relief groove 160. The rigid support member 100 can be made of high-rigidity and toughness materials such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, or nylon, and its thickness can be from 0.6 mm to 2 mm. The dimension of the rigid support member 100 along the length of the sole is not less than half the length of the sole; in this embodiment, the rigid support member 100 extends from the heel area of ​​the sole to the front end of the sole. The rigid support member 100 is generally a spoon-shaped three-dimensional plate-shaped component extending along the length of the sole, with its front end positioned lower than its rear end.

[0070] The first support portion 110 extends along the outer side of the forefoot of the sole, and the second support portion 120 extends along the inner side of the forefoot of the sole. They are spaced apart along the width of the sole, forming an opening 130 between them. The front ends of the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 are separated, so that the opening 130 is open towards the front end of the sole, and the rigid support member 100 does not form a closed border at the front end of the forefoot. In other embodiments, the front end of the first support portion 110 may also be recessed relative to the front end of the second support portion 120, so that the rigid constraints on the outer and inner sides of the forefoot terminate at different front and rear positions. The rear ends of the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 converge towards the middle in the width direction of the sole and connect to form a connecting portion 140. The opening 130 extends along the length direction of the sole from between the front ends of the two support portions to the connecting portion 140, and its rear end is closed by the connecting portion 140. The connecting portion 140 is located behind the forefoot and extends at least rearward to the arch area of ​​the sole.

[0071] The rigid support member 100 also has an annular portion 150 on the outer periphery of the connecting portion 140. The annular portion 150 is connected to the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120. Specifically, the rear end of the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 continues to extend laterally along the width direction of the sole and connects with the outer periphery of the annular portion 150. The annular portion 150 is extended in a ring shape corresponding to the outer periphery of the heel area of ​​the sole, that is, the annular portion 150 extends in a ring shape along the outer contour of the heel area, covering the outer and inner edges of the heel area. The annular portion 150 and the connecting portion 140 are spaced apart at least in the width direction of the sole, forming a relief groove 160 between them. The relief groove 160 extends through the rigid support member 100 itself along the thickness direction of the sole, that is, there is no plate material in the rigid support member 100 at the relief groove 160. Figure 4 As shown, the relief groove 160 is formed as an elongated groove extending along the length of the sole on both sides of the sole width direction, and each relief groove 160 is closed at both ends in its own length direction; the rear end of the connecting part 140 is integrated with the annular part 150 behind the relief groove 160, thereby keeping the rigid support member 100 as a whole component. The relief groove 160 is filled with midsole material, and the midsole material filled in the relief groove 160 is connected to the midsole material located on the upper and lower sides of the rigid support member 100.

[0072] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the first midsole 200 includes a main body 210 and a through portion 220. The main body 210 is located on the sole side of the rigid support member 100, extending from the forefoot to the heel along the length of the sole, and covering the forefoot in the forefoot area along the width of the sole. The through portion 220 extends downward from the main body 210 and extends through the opening 130 of the rigid support member 100 to the underside of the rigid support member 100. Figure 2As shown, when the first midsole 200 is viewed from the bottom side, the main body 210 extends along the periphery of the forefoot, the through part 220 is located in the middle area of ​​the forefoot and extends further downward relative to the bottom surface of the main body 210, and the two sides in the width direction are respectively formed to cooperate with the first support part 110 and the second support part 120.

[0073] On a projection plane perpendicular to the sole thickness direction, the through-hole 220 is located in the middle region of the sole width direction. Its two side edges in the width direction are adapted to the shape of the corresponding side edges of the sole. That is, the two side edges of the through-hole 220 change accordingly with the width of the forefoot contour and maintain a roughly the same extension trend as the corresponding side edges of the sole. The boundary between the through-hole 220 and the adjacent first side portion 310 and second side portion 320 extends along the forefoot contour. The first side portion 310 and second side portion 320 maintain a roughly uniform width at different positions from front to back. The maximum width dimension of the sole is located in the forefoot region; at this position, the width dimension of the through-hole 220 is 50% to 80% of the width dimension of the sole at that position. In this embodiment, the width of the through-hole 220 at this position is approximately two-thirds of the sole width dimension, and the outer and inner first side portions 310 and second side portions 320 each occupy approximately one-sixth of the sole width dimension.

[0074] The width of the through-hole 220 at this position is not less than 50% of the width of the sole, so that the middle area of ​​the forefoot has a larger pressure area and deformation volume, and the central midsole material can participate more fully in compression and recovery; the width is not greater than 80% of the width of the sole, so that the first side 310 and the second side 320 with a certain width are still retained on both sides of the through-hole 220, so as to reserve sufficient bottom support width for the first support part 110 and the second support part 120.

[0075] The first midsole 200 can be made of polymer foam materials such as EVA, PU, ​​TPU, TPE, TPEE, nylon, and PEBAX (polyether block amide), with a Shore C hardness ranging from 20 to 50 degrees and a density not exceeding 0.2 g / cm³. The thickness of the first midsole 200 in the forefoot area can be 15 mm to 40 mm, and the thickness in the heel area can be 10 mm to 30 mm. In this embodiment, the main body 210 and the through-hole 220 are integrally formed from the same foam material, with a Shore C hardness of approximately 38 degrees.

[0076] like Figure 1As shown, the second midsole 300 includes a first side portion 310 and a second side portion 320. The first side portion 310 is located below the first support portion 110, and the second side portion 320 is located below the second support portion 120. The first side portion 310 and the second side portion 320 are located on both sides of the through portion 220 along the width direction of the sole. After the first midsole 200, the rigid support member 100, and the second midsole 300 are combined, the through portion 220 is located between the first side portion 310 and the second side portion 320 along the width direction of the sole. The first support portion 110 is sandwiched between the first side portion 310 and the main body portion 210, and the second support portion 120 is sandwiched between the second side portion 320 and the main body portion 210. The through portion 220, the first side portion 310, and the second side portion 320 together form the bottom side midsole structure of the forefoot area of ​​the shoe sole. That is, the midsole of the forefoot area facing the ground is composed of the first side portion 310, the through portion 220, and the second side portion 320 in sequence in the width direction of the shoe sole.

[0077] The second midsole 300 can be made of the same type of polymer foam material as the first midsole 200, with a Shore C hardness ranging from 25 to 55 degrees and a density not exceeding 0.2 g / cm³. In this embodiment, the Shore C hardness of the first side portion 310 and the second side portion 320 is approximately 40 degrees, which is greater than the Shore C hardness of the through portion 220. The first side portion 310 and the second side portion 320 are made of foam material with relatively low resilience and relatively high support performance.

[0078] like Figure 3 As shown, the thickness of the second midsole 300 increases from front to back, meaning the second midsole 300 is thinner at the forefoot tip and gradually thickens from front to back. The ground-side surface of the through-hole 220 is continuous with the ground-side surfaces of the first side portion 310 and the second side portion 320, and the three together constitute the ground-facing surface of the bottom midsole structure. Therefore, the thickness of the through-hole 220 increases from front to back with the thickness of the second midsole 300, so that the thickness variation in the middle area of ​​the forefoot and the side areas of the forefoot is in the same direction from front to back. The through-hole 220, the first side portion 310, and the second side portion 320 in the bottom midsole structure can be integrally molded or bonded together.

[0079] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the sole also includes a heel sole 400 in the heel area. The heel sole 400 is located on the ground side of the rigid support member 100 and below the annular portion 150. The heel sole 400 and the second midsole 300 can be an integrally formed structure, in which case the heel sole 400 constitutes the portion of the second midsole 300 located in the heel area; alternatively, the heel sole 400 and the second midsole 300 can be two separate components.

[0080] The outsole also features a 500 section on the ground side, which is attached to the midsole structure and the heel counter 400. The 500 section can be made of one or more of the following: abrasion-resistant rubber, CPU (cast polyurethane), or GPU (liquid injection polyurethane), with a Shore A hardness of 50 to 70, a density not exceeding 1.5 g / cm³, a dry coefficient of friction not less than 0.7, and a wet coefficient of friction not less than 0.5. The 500 section can be a single piece or divided into multiple parts, such as the forefoot and heel sections.

[0081] The first midsole 200 is thicker in the forefoot area than in the heel area, while the thickness of the second midsole 300 increases from front to back. When combined, the sole has a spoon-shaped structure with a thicker forefoot and a thinner heel, exhibiting a negative heel drop—that is, a difference in height between the ground side of the heel area and the ground side of the forefoot area. This drop ranges from 0mm to 20mm. In this embodiment, the drop is approximately 5mm. It should be noted that the aforementioned thicker forefoot and thinner heel refers to the shape when the heel area is suspended in the air under normal sole contact with the ground. Taking a size 41 men's shoe as an example, the width of the forefoot can be 105mm to 120mm, and the width of the heel can be 65mm to 90mm.

[0082] The rigid support member 100 can be bonded to the first midsole 200 and the second midsole 300 by adhesive bonding. Specifically, the main body 210 of the first midsole 200 is bonded to the rigid support member 100, and the rigid support member 100 is bonded to the first side 310 and the second side 320 by adhesive bonding. Alternatively, the rigid support member 100 can be bonded to the first midsole 200 and the second midsole 300 by integral injection molding. In other words, the rigid support member 100 is integrally injection molded between the first midsole 200 and the second midsole 300.

[0083] In the above-described combined configuration, the first support portion 110 is sandwiched between the main body portion 210 and the first side portion 310, and the second support portion 120 is sandwiched between the main body portion 210 and the second side portion 320. This forms a sandwich structure on the outer and inner sides of the forefoot, consisting of an upper midsole, a rigid support member 100, and a lower midsole stacked sequentially. The middle region of the forefoot is connected to the main body portion 210 and the bottom side midsole structure by a through portion 220. This region does not have a transverse rigid plate in the thickness direction of the sole; the main body portion 210 and the through portion 220 together constitute a continuous midsole material that spans the height of the rigid support member 100 and is continuous in the thickness direction.

[0084] Since the front ends of the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 are separated, while their rear ends converge and connect to the same connecting portion 140, the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 each become cantilevered support branches with their front ends as free ends and the connecting portion 140 as roots. The two support branches extend along the length direction of the sole and are separated by an opening 130 in the width direction of the sole.

[0085] During running, the load on the forefoot is typically not evenly distributed along the width of the sole. When the outer forefoot bears a large load, the first support portion 110 experiences a bending moment and bends in the section between its front end and the connecting portion 140. The bending moment and shear force generated by this bending are transmitted rearward along the first support portion 110 to the connecting portion 140. Because the connecting portion 140 and the annular portion 150 are separated by a relief groove 160, the connecting portion 140 is not rigidly clamped by the annular portion 150. The connecting portion 140 can deflect and displace relative to the annular portion 150 within the allowable range of the relief groove 160. The midsole material filled in the relief groove 160 withstands this relative movement in a compression and shear manner and recovers after the load decreases, allowing the connecting portion 140 to return to its initial position. Therefore, the bending of the first support portion 110 is not immediately restricted by the heel structure, and the outer forefoot can continue to bend and deform.

[0086] Since the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 share the same connecting portion 140, the deflection and displacement of the connecting portion 140 cause the rear end of the second support portion 120 to shift and rotate accordingly, thus the side that does not directly bear a large load participates in bearing the load. When the second support portion 120 is constrained by the ground or adjacent structures, its reaction force returns to the first support portion 110 through the connecting portion 140, constraining the bending of the first support portion 110. Therefore, the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 support each other on both sides of the forefoot, and the forefoot achieves lateral stability without relying on the rigid connection at the heel.

[0087] The annular portion 150 bears another load path during the same process. Extending along the outer periphery of the heel and connecting with the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120, the annular portion 150 provides continuous rigid support to the periphery of the heel region when the heel strikes the ground or is subjected to large vertical and lateral loads, suppressing excessive expansion of the heel midsole outwards and large lateral displacement of the heel region. Because the annular portion 150 and the connecting portion 140 are separated by a relief groove 160, the stiffness of the annular portion 150 at the heel is not transmitted to the forefoot along the connecting portion 140, thus preserving the deformation freedom of the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 in the forefoot.

[0088] When the inner forefoot bears a large load, the second support portion 120 bends, and its bending moment and shear force are transmitted to the arch area via the connecting portion 140, pulling on the first support portion 110. The connecting portion 140 deflects and shifts relative to the annular portion 150 to the other side, while the annular portion 150 still supports the heel area along the outer periphery of the heel. When the outer and inner forefoot bear loads simultaneously, the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 simultaneously transmit the load to the connecting portion 140. The connecting portion 140 mainly exhibits a displacement tendency along the thickness direction of the sole; the clearance groove 160 allows the connecting portion 140 to move relative to the annular portion 150 along the thickness direction of the sole, and the midsole material within the groove is compressed accordingly, allowing the midfoot to still deform in the thickness direction. At this time, part of the load is transmitted to the arch area via the connecting portion 140, and the other part is transmitted along the outer periphery of the heel via the annular portion 150, with the two paths sharing the load in the same loading event.

[0089] The relief groove 160 serves both to allow movement and limit travel in the aforementioned process. The relief groove 160 allows the connecting portion 140 to move relative to the annular portion 150, enabling the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 to respond to loads on the outer and inner sides of the forefoot, respectively. The groove wall of the relief groove 160 and the midsole material filling the groove limit the travel of this movement, confining the displacement of the connecting portion 140 within a limited range, where continuous deformation and cushioning are provided by the midsole material. Furthermore, the narrower portion formed by the convergence of the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 at the connecting portion 140 transitions with the wider annular portion 150 in the heel area via the relief groove 160. This transition is borne by the midsole material within the groove, thus preventing changes in stiffness from being concentrated on a single cross-section.

[0090] This embodiment also provides a shoe, which includes an upper and the aforementioned sole, with the upper attached to the sole. After the upper is attached to the sole, the foot and the sole maintain a relatively stable positional relationship, and the load generated during running is transmitted to the aforementioned sole structure; the sole, depending on the location and direction of the load, is supported and deformed by the through portion 220 in the middle area of ​​the forefoot, the rigid support portions on both sides of the forefoot, the connecting portion 140, and the annular portion 150.

[0091] In the above embodiment, the opening 130 of the rigid support member 100 is open at the front end and closed at the rear end by the connecting part 140. The first support part 110 and the second support part 120 extend along the outer and inner sides of the forefoot, respectively. The clearance groove 160 is formed as an elongated groove with closed ends on both sides of the connecting part 140 in the width direction. The rigid support member 100 can also adopt other configurations, as long as it forms a first support part 110 and a second support part 120 that extend along the outer and inner sides and are spaced apart on the forefoot, and forms an opening 130 between them for the through part 220 of the first midsole 200 to pass through; the shape of the opening 130 can also be U-shaped, elongated, or a hole array composed of multiple holes, etc.

[0092] like Figure 5 As shown, in another embodiment of the invention, the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 are formed as relatively long and thin curved strips, and the opening 130 between them is formed as a narrow, elongated opening 130 extending along the length direction of the sole. The front end of the first support portion 110 is recessed relative to the front end of the second support portion 120, so the two support portions have different forward extension lengths in the forefoot. The rigid constraint formed by the first support portion 110 on the outer side of the forefoot terminates at a more rearward position, while the second support portion 120 extends further towards the front end of the sole. The rear ends of the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 converge and connect to form a connecting portion 140. The connecting portion 140 extends rearward to form a tongue-shaped extension, and an annular portion 150 is provided around the tongue-shaped extension. A clearance groove 160 is formed between the annular portion 150 and the tongue-shaped extension. The clearance groove 160 is a U-shaped groove extending around both sides and the rear end of the tongue-shaped extension in the width direction, and its two ends are closed. The front end of the tongue-shaped extension is integrated with the connecting portion 140. The remaining structure is the same as in the aforementioned embodiments.

[0093] like Figure 6 As shown, in another embodiment of the present invention, the front ends of the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 are disposed apart, and protruding fitting portions 170 are formed on the inner edges of the opening 130 respectively: the inner edge of the first support portion 110 protrudes towards the side of the second support portion 120, and the inner edge of the second support portion 120 also protrudes towards the side of the first support portion 110, forming oppositely disposed fitting portions 170. The first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 fit together with the first midsole 200 and the second midsole 300 at the edge of the opening 130 through the fitting portions 170. While keeping the opening 130 open towards the front end, the degree of fitting between the two support portions and the midsole material at the edge of the opening 130 is increased, thereby improving the connection strength between the rigid support member 100 and the midsole material. The clearance groove 160 formed between the annular portion 150 and the connecting portion 140 is the same as in the previous embodiment. The remaining structure is the same as in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0094] like Figure 7 As shown, in another embodiment of the present invention, the front sections of the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 are larger in the width direction of the sole, and the opening 130 between them gradually narrows from front to back. The outline of the opening 130 is formed by a smooth curve extending along the length direction of the sole and has a large front opening range. The front end of the first support portion 110 is recessed relative to the front end of the second support portion 120. The clearance groove 160 formed between the annular portion 150 and the rear end extension of the connecting portion 140 is a U-shaped end-closed groove surrounding both sides of the width direction of the rear end extension and extending to the rear end. The remaining structure is the same as in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0095] like Figure 8 As shown, in another embodiment of the present invention, the rear ends of the first support portion 110 and the second support portion 120 converge toward the middle in the width direction of the sole, forming a neck extending along the length direction of the sole. The size of this neck in the width direction of the sole is smaller than the size of the rear sections of the two support portions. An elongated relief groove 160 extending along the length direction of the sole is formed on both sides of the annular portion 150 and the connecting portion 140 on both sides in the width direction of the sole, respectively. Each relief groove 160 is closed at both ends in its own length direction. The rear end of the connecting portion 140 is integrated with the annular portion 150 behind the relief groove 160. The front end of the first support portion 110 is recessed relative to the front end of the second support portion 120. The remaining structure is the same as in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0096] The rigid support member 100 in each of the above embodiments can be used in conjunction with the aforementioned first midsole 200, second midsole 300, heel sole 400, and outsole 500, and can be combined with each other according to the stress requirements of different parts of the sole. The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0097] The foregoing description of the specifications and embodiments is intended to explain the scope of protection of this invention, but does not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention. Modifications, equivalent substitutions, or other improvements to the embodiments of this invention or a portion thereof that can be obtained by those skilled in the art through logical analysis, reasoning, or limited experimentation, based on the teachings of this invention or the foregoing embodiments, in conjunction with common knowledge, general technical knowledge, and / or existing technology, should all be included within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A shoe sole, characterized in that, include: A rigid support member (100) includes a first support portion (110) extending along the outer side of the forefoot of the sole and a second support portion (120) extending along the inner side of the forefoot of the sole, the first support portion (110) and the second support portion (120) being spaced apart along the width direction of the sole and forming an opening (130) between them. The first midsole (200) includes a main body (210) located on the upper side of the rigid support (100) and a through portion (220) extending downward from the main body (210), the through portion (220) passing through the opening (130) and extending to the lower side of the rigid support (100); as well as The second midsole (300) includes a first side portion (310) and a second side portion (320) located on the underside of the first support portion (110) and the second support portion (120), respectively. The through portion (220) is located between the first side portion (310) and the second side portion (320) along the width direction of the sole. The first support portion (110) is sandwiched between the first side portion (310) and the main body portion (210), and the second support portion (120) is sandwiched between the second side portion (320) and the main body portion (210). The through portion (220), the first side portion (310), and the second side portion (320) together form the bottom midsole structure of the forefoot area of ​​the sole.

2. The sole as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The rear ends of the first support portion (110) and the second support portion (120) converge and connect to form a connecting portion (140), which extends at least rearward to the arch area of ​​the sole.

3. The sole as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The rigid support member (100) has an annular portion (150) on the outer periphery of the connecting portion (140) that is connected to the first support portion (110) and the second support portion (120); the annular portion (150) extends outward from the outer periphery of the heel area of ​​the sole and forms a relief groove (160) that runs through the thickness direction at least in the width direction with the connecting portion (140).

4. The sole as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The front ends of the first support (110) and the second support (120) are arranged apart so that the opening (130) is open toward the front end of the sole.

5. The sole as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The front end of the first support portion (110) is retracted relative to the front end of the second support portion (120).

6. The sole as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The Shore C hardness of the first side portion (310) and the second side portion (320) is greater than that of the through portion (220).

7. The sole as described in claim 6, characterized in that, On the projection plane perpendicular to the thickness direction of the sole, the two sides of the through portion (220) in the width direction are adapted to the edge shape of the corresponding side of the sole, and the width of the through portion (220) at the position of the maximum width of the sole is 50% to 80% of the width of the sole at that position.

8. The sole as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The through portion (220) is located in the middle region of the width direction of the sole.

9. The sole as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The thickness of the second midsole (300) increases from front to back, and the thickness of the through portion (220) increases from front to back along with the thickness of the second midsole (300).

10. A shoe, characterized in that, It includes an upper and a sole as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the upper is attached to the sole.

Images