Sole and shoe

Abstract

The utility model discloses a shoe sole which comprises a first face part and a second face part which are oppositely arranged, the first face part and the second face part are arranged in a penetrating mode through face crystal lattices, and the face crystal lattices comprise a plurality of unit cells of a three-dimensional curved surface structure so that the supporting force and the deformation amplitude of the shoe sole can be enhanced at the same time. The surface lattice in the sole comprises the plurality of unit cells with the three-dimensional curved surface structures, so that the sole has high supporting performance and elastic cushioning effect at the same time, and meanwhile, the through gap structure of the surface lattice can bring large enough deformation space to enhance cushioning limit and cushioning performance of the midsole, so that the sole is more comfortable to wear. The sole effectively protects body joints of a sporter from being damaged, the sole is manufactured through the additive manufacturing and supercritical foaming process, the overall weight of the insole is remarkably reduced, light and comfortable foot feeling can be provided, meanwhile, the gap density of all areas of the sole can be adjusted according to user data, the foot feeling requirement of a user is better met, and the user experience is improved. In addition, the unique sense of beauty in the form of laminated grains is also formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of footwear, and more particularly to a sole and a shoe containing the sole. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, with the continuous rise in public enthusiasm for sports, athletic shoes, as an indispensable piece of equipment for running and fitness, have received considerable attention. The midsole of an athletic shoe is a core component that reflects its performance, and its performance parameters, such as density, rebound, and shock absorption, are important indicators for evaluating the overall performance of the midsole, and are also a hot area that major sports brands are vying to pursue.

[0003] 3D printing combined with supercritical foaming technology is one of the important means to achieve lightweight footwear materials. Chinese invention patent CN106493968A discloses a 3D printing technology combining supercritical CO2 and water vapor co-foaming, which can obtain lightweight midsoles with complex structures. Chinese invention patent CN110193931A discloses a method for 3D printing high-performance foam soles, which uses supercritical gas to pre-saturate thermoplastic elastomer resin or filaments for footwear, followed by melt extrusion molding. The resulting samples are lightweight, durable, and dimensionally stable. However, the above-mentioned 3D printing combined with supercritical foaming technologies do not clarify the impact of the 3D printed structure on the performance of the footwear materials. In practical applications, the 3D printed structure has a particularly important impact on the performance of the foamed midsole. Commonly used 3D printed point lattice and array structures, after foaming, have large lattice edge spans, concentrated truss stress, low rigidity, and almost no support, failing to meet the needs of professional sports. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a shoe sole and a shoe containing the sole, which, by combining supercritical foaming technology, gives the sole lightweight, high elasticity, strong support, and excellent cushioning performance. The technical solution is as follows:

[0005] A shoe sole includes a first surface and a second surface disposed opposite to each other, the first surface and the second surface being connected by a surface lattice, the surface lattice including a plurality of unit cells with a three-dimensional curved surface structure to simultaneously enhance the support and deformation range of the shoe sole.

[0006] Furthermore, the three-dimensional curved surface structure is a minimal curved surface.

[0007] Furthermore, the first face includes several first hollow portions, each of which includes multiple protrusions arranged radially.

[0008] Furthermore, the first hollow portion includes a first protrusion, a second protrusion, and a third protrusion that are continuously arranged, and the angle between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, as well as the angle between the second protrusion and the third protrusion, are set to acute angles.

[0009] Furthermore, the second face includes several strip-shaped second hollow portions, which are arranged to extend obliquely.

[0010] Furthermore, the second hollow section includes alternating expansion sections and converging sections.

[0011] Furthermore, both the first and second face sections include a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The density of the first hollowed-out portion gradually increases from the midfoot region of the first face section towards the forefoot region and the heel region of the first face section, and / or the density of the second hollowed-out portion gradually increases from the midfoot region of the second face section towards the forefoot region and the heel region of the second face section.

[0012] Furthermore, the three-dimensional curved structure of the unit cell has the same thickness, ranging from 0.1 to 3 mm, and / or the duty cycle of the planar lattice is 1:1 to 1:20.

[0013] Furthermore, the thickness of the three-dimensional curved surface structure is 0.5–2 mm, with a thickness error of ±0.02 mm, and / or the duty cycle of the surface lattice is 1:2–1:10.

[0014] Furthermore, the material of the planar lattice is at least one of aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane, aromatic thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether ester elastomer, polyamide elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer and their blended modified materials.

[0015] A shoe comprising the sole described above.

[0016] The sole and shoe of this invention have the following advantages:

[0017] 1. Through the relatively set first and second face surfaces, there is a vertically connected surface lattice between the first and second face surfaces. The surface lattice includes several unit cells with three-dimensional curved surface structures, so that the sole has both high support and elastic shock absorption effect.

[0018] 2. The through-hole structure of the planar lattice can provide a sufficiently large deformation space to enhance the cushioning limit, improve the cushioning performance of the midsole, and effectively protect the athlete's joints from damage.

[0019] 3. The sole is manufactured using additive manufacturing and supercritical foaming technology, which significantly reduces the overall weight of the midsole and provides a lightweight and comfortable feel. At the same time, the gap density of each area of ​​the sole can be adjusted based on user data to better meet the user's foot feel needs. In addition, it also forms a unique layered pattern aesthetic. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional view of the sole of the shoe according to this utility model.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the first surface of the sole of the shoe according to this utility model.

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the second surface of the sole of the shoe according to this utility model.

[0023] Figure 4 This is a partial sectional view of the sole of the shoe according to this utility model.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the sole of the shoe according to this utility model.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cell in the sole of the shoe according to this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To better understand the purpose, structure, and function of this utility model, the sole of this utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, the sole has a midsole structure, which includes a forefoot area 100, a midfoot area 200, and a heel area 300 connected in sequence. The side of the sole body closest to the inside of the human foot is defined as the inner side of the sole body, the side of the sole body closest to the outside of the human foot is defined as the outer side of the sole body, the end of the sole body closest to the toe is defined as the front side of the sole body, and the end of the sole body closest to the heel is defined as the rear side of the sole body. The side of the midsole facing the sole of the human foot is defined as the first surface 101 of the sole body, and the side of the midsole facing the ground is defined as the second surface 102 of the sole body. The line connecting the inner and outer sides is horizontal, the line connecting the front and rear sides is vertical, and the line connecting the first surface 101 and the second surface 102 is vertical.

[0028] The first face 101 and the second face 102 of the midsole are arranged opposite each other. A number of unit cells 104 extend in the horizontal and vertical directions to form a planar lattice 103. That is, a unit cell is a minimal, repeatable geometric structure composed of nodes and pillars connecting these nodes. Unit cells can form larger-scale lattice structures by periodically repeating them in space. When unit cells fill a three-dimensional space in a planar or curved arrangement, a planar lattice is formed.

[0029] like Figure 5As shown, each unit cell 104 is vertically connected, thereby connecting the first face 101 and the second face 102 through a surface lattice 103. The unit cells 104 of the surface lattice 103 have a three-dimensional curved surface structure. This structure provides sufficient support for the sole and increases its deformation range. Specifically, each unit cell 104 has a three-dimensional curved surface structure, i.e., a curved surface structure in three-dimensional space, such as a hyperbolic paraboloid, a spherical dome, or a catenary surface. When subjected to vertical pressure, the three-dimensional curved surface structure generates a certain reaction force, thus providing good support for the foot. The interconnected structure design makes the first face 101 and the second face 102 form a whole, enhancing the structural strength of the entire sole and further improving its support performance. While providing strong support, the connection between the unit cells 104 and their own three-dimensional curved surface design allow for a certain degree of bending and torsion. This gives the sole a greater elastic deformation range, adapting to different terrains and sports needs, thereby increasing the wearer's freedom of movement. It should be noted that by connecting each cell 104 vertically, the foaming ratio of the facet lattice 103 in the vertical direction can be balanced, preventing deformation and enhancing the breathability of the sole.

[0030] Furthermore, the 104 cell structure effectively disperses pressure under stress. When a foot steps down, the force is distributed across all 104 cells, rather than concentrated at a single point or area. This reduces the damage to the foot caused by excessive localized pressure and also improves the overall comfort of the shoe. The 104 cell structure is typically made of high-strength materials, and its unique geometry gives it excellent pressure resistance and resilience. This allows the sole to withstand greater external forces without easily breaking down, and it maintains good elastic recovery even after prolonged use, extending the lifespan of the sole.

[0031] Preferred, such as Figure 6As shown, in this embodiment, the three-dimensional curved surface structure of cell 104 is a minimal surface 105. It should be noted that a minimal surface 105 refers to a surface with the smallest area under given boundary conditions. Such surfaces mathematically satisfy the condition that the average curvature is zero, that is, the two principal curvature values ​​at each point on the surface are equal and opposite in direction. Due to the above-mentioned structural characteristics of the minimal surface 105, on the one hand, the sole can minimize the amount of material used while maintaining structural strength, thereby reducing the weight of the sole and optimizing its mechanical properties. For sports shoes containing this sole, a lighter wearing experience and higher energy return efficiency can be obtained. On the other hand, the shape of the minimal surface 105 can more effectively disperse pressure, that is, avoid the stress concentration problem of existing beam-type lattices. Moreover, due to its unique geometry, it can generate a more uniform deformation mode when subjected to force, which helps to improve the cushioning performance of the sole, while ensuring that it quickly returns to its original shape after the pressure is released, providing a better rebound effect.

[0032] Understandably, the Minimal Curvature 105 structure, due to its more uniform surface tension distribution, is less prone to fatigue damage or cracking than existing sole structures when subjected to repeated pressure over a long period. This not only extends the lifespan of the sole but also reduces the risk of performance degradation due to material aging.

[0033] Preferred, such as Figure 2 As shown, the first face 101 includes a plurality of first hollow portions 106. The number of protrusions of the first hollow portions 106 can be set to a plurality, and they are arranged radially to extend outwards. This can provide additional compression space when force is applied, which helps to disperse pressure and absorb impact force, thereby enhancing the cushioning capacity of the sole and better protecting the foot from the ground reaction force. In addition, the number of radial protrusions and the angle of their arrangement can be finely adjusted according to the characteristics of different users' foot shapes, so that the shoe fits the foot better. This fixed arrangement not only improves comfort, but also effectively improves athletic performance.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first hollow portion 106 includes a first protrusion 107, a second protrusion 108, and a third protrusion 109 continuously arranged. The angle between the first protrusion 107 and the second protrusion 108, and the angle between the second protrusion 108 and the third protrusion 109 are set as acute angles. By setting an acute angle structure, the rigidity and stability of the structure can be increased while maintaining lightweight. The acute angle connection point can more effectively disperse the force applied to the sole, reduce local stress concentration, and thus improve the durability of the overall structure.

[0035] It should be noted that although the acute angle structure enhances the stability between the protrusions, it also allows for a certain degree of bending and deformation, so that the sole can be adjusted appropriately according to the needs of foot movement. At the same time, the acute angle structure helps to convert energy more efficiently during compression and rebound. When the foot applies pressure, these angles can guide the direction of material deformation, ensuring that energy is absorbed and released in the most efficient way, thereby improving the energy return efficiency when running or walking.

[0036] Preferred, such as Figure 3 As shown, the second surface 102 includes several strip-shaped second hollow portions 110. The direction on the sole that has an acute angle offset from the lateral or longitudinal direction is defined as oblique. Therefore, the second hollow portions 110 extend obliquely. On one hand, the obliquely extending second hollow portions 110 help improve the stability and support of the sole during lateral movements, better cope with lateral shear forces, and reduce the risk of ankle sprains. On the other hand, the strip-shaped hollow portions can provide additional compression space while maintaining structural integrity, which helps absorb and disperse vertical impact forces. Furthermore, the obliquely extending structure allows the sole to have better flexibility in multiple directions, making the shoe more conform to the natural bending of the foot. This is crucial for improving wearer comfort and athletic performance, as it supports a more natural gait and movement.

[0037] Furthermore, the second hollow portion 110 includes alternating expansion portions 111 and convergent portions 112. The distance perpendicular to the extension direction of the second hollow portion is defined as its width. The width of the expansion portion 111 is greater than the width of the convergent portion 112, meaning the width of the second hollow portion 110 varies periodically in its linear direction. On one hand, the alternating arrangement of the expansion portions 111 and convergent portions 112 allows the sole structure to adapt to deformation more flexibly under different stress conditions. The expansion portion 111 provides more space for the material to expand under stress, while the convergent portion 112 helps maintain the integrity and stability of the structure. This design can better cope with complex movement patterns and different ground conditions. On the other hand, the expansion portion 111 can provide additional space to absorb impact when the foot lands, thereby reducing the impact on the joints. When the foot leaves the ground, these areas can help to recover their original shape more quickly, promoting effective energy return and improving movement efficiency. Furthermore, the above-mentioned structural design allows the sole to have better flexibility and torsional capacity in multiple directions. The expansion portion 111 provides greater freedom to adapt to the natural curvature of the foot, while the converging portion 112 ensures the necessary support, making the shoe both soft and stable.

[0038] Preferably, both the first face 101 and the second face 102 include a forefoot region 100, a midfoot region 200, and a heel region 300. The number of first hollow portions 106 or second hollow portions 110 per unit area in the above regions is defined as density. Then, the density of the first hollow portion 106 gradually increases from the midfoot region 200 of the first face 101 toward the forefoot region 100 and the heel region 300 of the first face 101, and / or, the density of the second hollow portion 110 gradually increases from the midfoot region 200 of the second face 102 toward the forefoot region 100 and the heel region 300 of the second face 102.

[0039] The purpose of the above structure is to adjust the hardness and flexibility of the forefoot region 100, midfoot region 200, and heel region 300 according to ergonomic principles by adjusting the density of the first hollow portion 106 and / or the second hollow portion 110, thereby adapting to the different needs of the wearer's feet. Specifically, increasing the density of the first hollow portion 106 and / or the second hollow portion 110 in areas requiring more support, and decreasing the density of the first hollow portion 106 and / or the second hollow portion 110 in areas requiring greater flexibility, can significantly improve wearing comfort.

[0040] Understandably, by varying the density of the second hollow section 110, the shock absorption effect can be customized according to the needs of different parts of the foot. Reducing the area of ​​the expansion section 111 in the forefoot area 100 and heel area 300, which bear higher pressure, can significantly improve the wearer's support and enhance athletic performance.

[0041] Preferably, the sole of this invention is manufactured using additive manufacturing technology, namely 3D printing technology. The printing material of the face lattice 103 is at least one of aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane, aromatic thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether ester elastomer, polyamide elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer and their blended modified materials. The above materials can significantly improve the support, elasticity, wear resistance, flexibility and reduce the weight of the sole, and are also more environmentally friendly and comfortable.

[0042] Furthermore, the material of the surface lattice 103 is at least one of aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane, aromatic thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether ester elastomer, polyamide elastomer, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer and their blended modified materials, so that the sole has good elasticity and flexibility, can provide excellent comfort and adaptability, and has excellent shock absorption capacity, which can effectively reduce the impact on the feet and joints during exercise.

[0043] Furthermore, the uniform thickness of the three-dimensional curved structure helps ensure that all parts of the sole have similar physical properties, such as elasticity, cushioning, and support. This avoids uneven pressure distribution caused by thickness differences, reducing the risk of localized wear or damage. Setting the thickness before foaming to 0.1–3 mm allows for minimizing sole weight while maintaining necessary strength and support. A thinner design makes the shoe lighter, improving athletic efficiency, while a reasonable thickness ensures sufficient durability and protection. Preferably, the thickness of the three-dimensional curved structure before foaming is set to 0.5–2 mm, with a thickness error of ±0.02 mm. This parameter setting further optimizes the energy absorption and release process. For the foam material, this thickness ensures that the material effectively absorbs impact force under pressure and quickly returns to its original shape, providing a good rebound experience.

[0044] Furthermore, the duty cycle of the facet lattice 103 is 1:1 to 1:20, meaning the ratio of solid material to air or voids is set to 1:1 to 1:20. This allows for a relatively larger number of voids and less solid material. More voids allow the structure more compression space when under pressure, thus more effectively absorbing impact forces and reducing pressure on the feet and joints. This significantly improves the cushioning performance of the sole. At the same time, it helps optimize the energy absorption and release efficiency of the material. When the foot leaves the ground, the voids in the lattice structure help the material quickly return to its original shape, providing good resilience and energy feedback to enhance athletic performance.

[0045] Preferably, the duty cycle of the facet lattice 103 is 1:2 to 1:10. Within this duty cycle range, there is more solid material, which can better balance the cushioning performance and structural support, and provide stronger support. In addition, enough solid material is still retained to ensure the stability and durability of the structure, so that the sole is not easily damaged when subjected to repeated pressure and torsion, thus extending the service life of the product.

[0046] The additive manufacturing technology used to manufacture the sole of this invention can be laser sintering or fused deposition modeling. Correspondingly, in laser sintering, the thermoplastic elastomer is in powder form; in fused deposition modeling, the thermoplastic elastomer is in filament form. The supercritical foaming gas is selected from at least one of N2, CO2, and a mixture of both. In addition to the aforementioned advantages of high support and high elasticity, the sole of this invention also forms a unique layered texture after foaming, providing a more comfortable feel for the user's feet.

[0047] The manufacturing method of the shoe sole of this utility model is as follows:

[0048] Step 1: Design a planar lattice 3D structure to generate a file type that can be recognized by 3D printing equipment;

[0049] Step 2: Using thermoplastic elastomer as raw material, 3D printing technology is used to print the three-dimensional structure from Step 1 into a preform.

[0050] Step 3: Place the 3D printed preform into a supercritical foaming equipment to foam the preform and obtain the midsole.

[0051] This utility model also provides a shoe, including an upper and the sole described above.

[0052] The sole and shoe of this invention have the following advantages:

[0053] 1. Through the relatively set first and second face surfaces, there is a vertically connected surface lattice between the first and second face surfaces. The surface lattice includes several unit cells with three-dimensional curved surface structures, so that the sole has both high support and elastic shock absorption effect.

[0054] 2. The through-hole structure of the planar lattice can provide a sufficiently large deformation space to enhance the cushioning limit, improve the cushioning performance of the midsole, and effectively protect the athlete's joints from damage.

[0055] 3. The sole is manufactured using additive manufacturing and supercritical foaming technology, which significantly reduces the overall weight of the midsole and provides a lightweight and comfortable feel. At the same time, the gap density of each area of ​​the sole can be adjusted based on user data to better meet the user's foot feel needs. In addition, it also forms a unique layered pattern aesthetic.

[0056] The terms “above,” “below,” and “within” as used above include the number itself; the terms “exceeding” and “excluding” do not include the number itself.

[0057] The present invention has been further described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should be understood that the specific description herein should not be construed as limiting the substance and scope of the present invention. Various modifications made to the above embodiments by those skilled in the art after reading this specification are all within the scope of protection of the present invention. The various specific technical features described in the above embodiments can be combined in any suitable manner without contradiction. To avoid unnecessary repetition, the embodiments of the present invention will not further describe various possible combinations.

[0058] If the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

Claims

1. A shoe sole, characterized in that, It includes a first face and a second face that are arranged opposite to each other. The first face and the second face are connected by a surface lattice. The surface lattice includes a number of unit cells with three-dimensional curved surface structures to simultaneously enhance the support and deformation range of the sole.

2. The sole as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A three-dimensional curved surface structure is a minimal curved surface.

3. The sole as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first face includes several first hollow portions, each of which includes multiple protrusions arranged radially.

4. The sole as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The first hollow portion includes a first protrusion, a second protrusion, and a third protrusion arranged in succession. The angle between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, and the angle between the second protrusion and the third protrusion are set to acute angles.

5. The sole as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The second face includes several strip-shaped second hollow sections, which are arranged to extend obliquely.

6. The sole as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The second hollow section includes alternating expansion sections and convergence sections.

7. The sole as described in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, Both the first and second face sections include a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The density of the first hollowed-out portion gradually increases from the midfoot region of the first face section towards the forefoot region and the heel region of the first face section, and / or the density of the second hollowed-out portion gradually increases from the midfoot region of the second face section towards the forefoot region and the heel region of the second face section.

8. The sole as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The three-dimensional curved structure of the unit cell has the same thickness, ranging from 0.1 to 3 mm, and / or the duty cycle of the planar lattice is 1:1 to 1:

20.

9. The sole as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The thickness of the three-dimensional curved surface structure is 0.5~2mm, with a thickness error of ±0.02mm, and / or the duty cycle of the surface lattice is 1:2~1:

10.

10. The sole as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The material of the planar lattice is one of aliphatic thermoplastic polyurethane, aromatic thermoplastic polyurethane, polyether ester elastomer, polyamide elastomer, or ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.

11. A shoe, characterized in that, The sole includes any one of claims 1 to 10 above.

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