sole element

Abstract

Sole element (10) for a studded shoe, in particular for a football boot, comprising: (a) a composite element (11) with an anisotropic bending property, wherein the composite element (11) has a first bending stiffness for upward bending in a toe region of the sole element (10) and a second bending stiffness for downward bending in the toe region of the sole element (10), wherein the second bending stiffness is less than the first bending stiffness; and (b) a polymer element (12) which at least partially covers the composite element (11).

Description

1. Technical field The present invention relates to a sole element for a shoe article, a shoe article and methods for manufacturing such articles. 2. State of the art The sole of a footwear product, such as a shoe, is critically important for the comfort perceived by an athlete, as well as for achieving maximum performance. A key aspect for both comfort and performance is the stiffness of the sole. For example, a flexible sole may be perceived as more comfortable by an athlete when walking or running at a moderate pace. On the other hand, a stiffer sole can be advantageous at higher running speeds to prevent injuries and improve an athlete's performance. Therefore, developers face a trade-off in order to provide a sole that is comfortable, protects the wearer's foot, and enables maximum performance. US 2017 / 0157893A1 discloses an anisotropic composite material structure comprising a first layer with a tensile modulus different from its bulk modulus and which exhibits variable modulus behavior. The first layer bends elastically under compression. A second layer has a tensile modulus that is essentially the same as its bulk modulus. The first and second layers are bonded together, and the structure is flexible in a first direction with the outer surface of the first layer under compression, and the structure has a first bending stiffness during bending in the first direction. The structure is flexible in a second direction opposite to the first direction with the outer surface of the first layer under tensile stress, and the structure has a second bending stiffness greater than the first bending stiffness during bending in the second direction. However, such anisotropic composite materials are unsuitable for providing a complete sole due to their weight and thickness. Unfortunately, these anisotropic composite materials also tend to bond poorly with other materials. WO 2018 / 118 430 A1 describes a sole plate for a footwear article comprising a plate body with a first side, a second side, an outer perimeter, at least one opening extending from the first side to the second side through the plate, and an inner perimeter that defines the at least one opening. The plate body is distorted in one direction of the inner perimeter relative to the outer perimeter. Such a plate does not exhibit anisotropic bending properties. DE 41 20 136 A1 relates to a shoe sole, in particular a sports shoe sole. The load-bearing sole component consists of at least one fiber composite part made of a plastic matrix and fibers embedded within it, which is inseparably bonded to the rest of the sole body by welding or chemical bonding. US Patent 2018 / 0177261A1 relates to a method for forming a plate which includes attaching a first strand section to a flexible substrate to form a first layer on the substrate and positioning a second strand section on the first layer to form a second layer on the first layer in a variety of discrete areas on the substrate. EP 0 857 435 A2 relates to a sole for sports shoes, in particular for sports shoes equipped with gripping elements such as spikes, studs, cleats and the like, or a swimming / diving fin, with zones of different material stiffness, consisting of a combination of plastic materials of different stiffness that can be welded together and are capable of forming a fusion bond. DE 10 2008 064 493 A1 relates to a sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, which has a unidirectional bending element. The unidirectional bending element allows dorsal bending of the sole and blocks plantar bending. The unidirectional bending element is arranged on a first layer of the sole and projects vertically above the first layer. It is an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages in the prior art and to provide an improved sole for a shoe article. 3. Summary of the invention This problem is solved by the teachings of the independent claims, in particular by a sole element for a studded shoe, especially for a football boot, comprising: (a) a composite element with an anisotropic bending property, wherein the composite element has a first bending stiffness for upward bending in a toe region of the sole element and a second bending stiffness for downward bending in the toe region of the sole element, wherein the second bending stiffness is less than the first bending stiffness and (b) a polymer element which at least partially covers the composite element. The anisotropic bending property of the composite element thus gives the sole element an anisotropic bending property for maximum comfort and performance. The polymer element may have at least one opening on its side facing the ground in order to expose at least part of the composite element. The polymer element may have at least one stud base for supporting a stud tip, wherein the stud base and / or the stud tip do not substantially overlap with the composite element. One embodiment of the invention relates to a sole element for a studded shoe, in particular a football boot, comprising: (a) a composite element; (b) a polymer element which at least partially covers the composite element, and wherein the polymer element has at least one opening on its side facing the ground in order to expose at least part of the composite element. The opening allows for the creation of a bending property because the sole element can bend more easily at the opening than further away from it. The shape of the opening, e.g., elliptical or circular, allows for the simple creation of a desired bending direction. This enables the incorporation of anisotropic bending properties into the sole element, so that the sole element exhibits anisotropic bending properties even with a composite element that itself does not possess anisotropic bending properties. The polymer element can have at least one stud base for supporting a stud tip, whereby the stud base does not substantially overlap with the composite element. The composite element can exhibit anisotropic bending properties. Another embodiment relates to a sole element for a studded shoe, in particular for a football boot, comprising: (a) a composite element comprising a gap arranged substantially along a longitudinal direction of the sole element; (b) a polymer element covering at least part of the composite element, wherein the polymer element has at least one stud base for supporting a stud point, and wherein the stud base is substantially unable to overlap with the composite element. The inventors have discovered that such a design can reduce the overall weight of the shoe and simplify its construction. The polymer element can have at least one opening to expose at least part of the composite element. A substantial absence of overlap can mean that there is essentially no overlap when viewing the sole element in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the sole plate, e.g., when viewed at a right angle to a ground-facing surface of the sole element. In particular, "substantial" means that the overlap can be less than 20%, preferably 10%, of a cross-sectional area when viewed at a right angle to a ground-facing surface of the sole element. In each embodiment, the at least one opening of the polymer element can extend along a longitudinal direction of the sole element. The length along a longitudinal direction of the at least one opening can be greater than the width of the sole element along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In this way, the sole element can allow lateral bending of a right side relative to a left side of the sole element about a longitudinal axis of the sole element to improve the player's mobility. The at least one opening can be located in a metatarsal region of the sole element. All described embodiments relate to improved possibilities of providing optimal bending properties, for example bending stiffness, in a sole element. The studded shoe is preferably a football shoe or football boot. Alternatively, the sole element according to this invention can be used for any other type of shoe or boot, in particular for athletic activities, for example a running shoe, tennis shoe, hiking shoe, hiking boot, etc. The anisotropic bending property can be a bending stiffness. This allows the sole element to exhibit lower bending stiffness in one direction compared to another. Similarly, the composite element can also exhibit lower bending stiffness in one direction compared to another. The composite element thus allows the bending properties of the sole element to be optimally tailored to the specific requirements of a given application. The polymer element bonds well to the composite element, enabling the formation of a complete sole element with a suitable thickness and low weight. The flex direction of the sole plays an important role in the comfort and performance of a shoe. The composite element, the sole element, or both, can have a first flexural stiffness for upward bending in a toe region of the sole element and a second flexural stiffness for downward bending in the toe region of the sole element, with the second flexural stiffness being less than the first. This allows the composite element, the sole element, or both, to flex more easily downwards than upwards in the toe region of the sole element. This ensures optimal support while walking, preventing foot injuries caused by excessive upward toe flexion. Downward flexion refers to a downward bend when the shoe is worn in its standard configuration. Upward flexion refers to a upward bend when the shoe is worn in its standard configuration. In other words, the sole element allows for plantar flexion of the foot rather than dorsiflexion. The inventors have discovered that limited dorsiflexion helps reduce foot injuries, while easier plantarflexion allows for optimal performance, for example during running. The sole element can bend more easily downwards in the toe region than upwards, but only up to a certain bending angle. The geometry of the ground-facing surface of the sole element can limit downward bending. At a certain point, the lugs of the sole element can interact with each other and affect further bending. Similarly, the sole element can become stiffer in the upward direction when approaching a certain bending range, for example, 40-45° upward bending. It is also possible that the bending stiffness is the same for both upward and downward bending within a specific bending range. Such a bending range could be between 20° upward and 20° downward bending. The composite element can be located solely in the forefoot area of ​​the sole element. The inventors have found that the stiffness provided by the composite element is particularly important in the forefoot region of the sole element. Thus, this design allows for a preferred degree of stiffness while also enabling a low overall weight for the sole element. The length of the composite element can be adapted for a specific purpose. For example, it may be advantageous for the composite element to be longer in a cleat intended for use on hard surfaces such as asphalt, polymer-coated concrete, or asphalt like Tartan®, than in a cleat intended for use on soft surfaces such as grass. Varying the length of the composite element can alter the overall stiffness of the sole element, which can affect performance. As described above, in some embodiments the polymer element can comprise at least one stud base for supporting a stud point. The studs can be any element that engages the ground, for example, for a soccer cleat. The stud base is preferably manufactured and provided as a single piece with the polymer element. Furthermore, stud points can be injection-molded onto the stud base. Alternatively, the stud points are first inserted into indentations in a mold, and then the stud base and the polymer element are injection-molded onto the stud points. Alternatively, the stud points can be screwed into a thread provided in the stud base. The stud points can comprise a different material than the stud base; preferably, the stud points comprise a TPU material that exhibits high abrasion resistance. It is possible that the stud base does not overlap with the bonding element, i.e., the stud base may be such that it is not positioned under the bonding element in the usual orientation of the footwear article during its use. Alternatively, it is possible that the stud tip does not overlap with the bonding element, i.e., the stud tip may be such that it is not positioned under the bonding element in the usual orientation of the footwear article during its use, while at least one of the stud bases overlaps at least slightly with the bonding element in at least one region, particularly in the outer circumference of the stud base. To provide a lightweight yet strong sole element, a technique called "coring" must be applied behind the lugs to create a hollowed-out lug area. This allows for a consistent sole material thickness. If the lug base were to significantly overlap the composite element, especially more than on the outer perimeter of the lug base, such a "coring" technique would have to be applied to the composite element, which is difficult and expensive and would reduce the stiffness provided by the composite. The polymer element can comprise a polyamide. Polyamides, such as polyamide 12, have excellent bonding properties. The composite element can include carbon fibers. Carbon fiber composite materials are lightweight yet exceptionally strong. The composite element can be at least partially covered by the polymer element on its downward-facing surface, for example by covering 50–65% of the surface area. In contrast, the upper surface of the composite element may not be substantially covered by the polymer element 12. Alternatively, the composite element can be essentially completely embedded in the polymer element. This arrangement allows for optimal protection of the composite element against dirt and wear. Complete embedding does not necessarily mean that 100% of the composite element's surface is covered by the polymer element. For example, it is possible that up to 10%, preferably up to 20%, of the composite element's surface is not covered by a polymer element, for example, to provide an opening as discussed below. The polymer element can include at least one opening for exposing part of the composite element, for example, on a bottom side (e.g., a downward-facing side) of the composite element. The opening helps to provide sufficient flexibility, i.e., sufficiently low flexural stiffness in a downward bending direction. Furthermore, such an opening is advantageous from a manufacturing perspective because it allows the composite element to be fixed in a mold while the polymer element is overmolded onto the composite element, as discussed below. The upper surface of the sole element can be essentially flat. For example, the upper surface can be essentially smooth, i.e., essentially untextured. Such a surface allows for easier bonding with other components, such as components of the shoe upper or other sole elements. The contour of the composite element can be essentially smooth. Essentially smooth means that the composite element has essentially no sharp-edged features. A sharp-edged feature can be any feature with a width of less than 1 mm, preferably less than 2 mm, and more preferably less than 5 mm. The composite element is subjected to significant stress and strain. A sharp-edged contour would be a likely point of failure for the composite element. Therefore, this design allows for a more resilient composite element. The sole element can further include an insole board attached to the polymer element. The insole board can provide additional stiffness to the sole element. Due to the excellent bonding properties of the polymer, such as polyamide, the insole board bonds very well to the polymer element. The insole panel can be arranged as a forefoot insole panel. The forefoot insole panel and the first forefoot region can partially or completely overlap. Therefore, it is possible to further adjust the flexural rigidity of the insole element. The insole board can be made of polyether block amide or thermoplastic polyurethane. These materials exhibit good bonding properties and durability. The insole element and / or the composite element may have nonlinear flexural stiffness. Thus, the torque required to bend the insole element and / or the composite element may increase nonlinearly as a function of the bending angle. The flexural stiffness of the sole element and / or the composite element may be lower in a first bending range than in a second bending range. For example, a flexural stiffness for a bending angle below 45 degrees (first bending range) may be lower than for a bending angle above 45 degrees (second bending range). The rear part of the composite element can be wider than the front part. The front part of the composite element can be located closer to the toe area, while the rear part of the composite element can be located closer to the heel area. The composite element may also include a gap. This gap, at least one of them, can help to generate better and more tailored flexural properties of the sole element. The gap is also advantageous from a manufacturing perspective, as it can serve as an injection point. The gap can be located in a different region, but preferably not in the area between the second and third front rows of lugs, in order to simplify production and to guarantee sufficient support and comfort for the wearer's feet. In other words, it is possible for the gap to be located outside the metatarsal region of the sole element. The gap can be arranged essentially along a longitudinal direction of the sole element. The gap in the composite element can extend longitudinally from a front end of the composite element to a rear end. In this way, the big toe, for example, can have a different flexion than the other toes. Thus, it is possible to further adjust the flexural stiffness of the sole element to better meet the requirements of a specific athletic activity. The invention further relates to a shoe comprising a sole element as described herein. The shoe therefore comprises a lightweight, durable sole element which offers optimal support and wearing comfort. The shoe can still include an upper, with the heel area of ​​the upper being attached to the sole by stitching. The upper can also be molded around the insole board in the forefoot area of ​​the sole. This construction allows for a low overall weight while maintaining a good degree of stability in the connection between the upper and the sole. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a sole element for a shoe article, comprising: (a) providing a composite element with an anisotropic bending property, wherein the composite element has a first bending stiffness for upward bending in a toe region of the sole element and a second bending stiffness for downward bending in the toe region of the sole element, wherein the second bending stiffness is less than the first bending stiffness, and (b) overmolding a polymer element onto the composite element to at least partially cover the composite element. The process may involve forming at least one opening in the polymer element on its side facing the ground in order to expose part of the composite element. The method can further include forming at least one stud base on the polymer element to support a stud tip, whereby it is possible that the stud base does not overlap with the composite element. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a sole element for a shoe article comprising: (a) providing a composite element; (b) overmolding a polymer element onto the composite element to at least partially cover the composite element; (c) and forming at least one opening in the polymer element on its floor-facing side to expose part of the composite element. The method may further include forming at least one stud base on the polymer element to support a stud tip, wherein the stud base does not substantially overlap with the composite element. The composite element can include an anisotropic bending property. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a sole element for a footwear article comprising: (a) providing a composite element; (b) overmolding a polymer element onto the composite element to at least partially cover the composite element; (c) forming at least one stud base on the polymer element to support a stud tip, wherein the stud base does not substantially overlap with the composite element; and (d) forming a gap in the composite element, wherein the gap is arranged substantially along a longitudinal direction of the sole element. The process may further include forming at least one opening in the polymer element on its side facing the ground in order to expose part of the composite element. The composite element can include an anisotropic bending property. In each embodiment, the at least one opening in the polymer element can extend along a longitudinal direction of the sole element. The length along a longitudinal direction of the at least one opening can be greater than the width of the sole element along a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In this way, the sole element can allow lateral flexion of a right side relative to a left side of the sole element along a longitudinal axis of the sole element to increase the player's mobility. The at least one opening can be located in a metatarsal region of the sole element. All described embodiments relate to improved methods for providing optimal flexural stiffness in a sole element. Further details, technical effects, and advantages are described in detail above with reference to the sole element. Overmolding a polymer element onto the composite element can involve any suitable technique known in the prior art, for example, injection molding. The composite element can be fixed in a mold while a liquid polymer element is injected into the mold. In this way, a good degree of bonding can be achieved between the composite element and the polymer element. In particular, small breaks and cracks in the composite element can be filled by the polymer element. The composite element can have a first flexural stiffness for bending upwards in a toe region of the sole element and a second flexural stiffness for bending downwards in the toe region, where the second flexural stiffness can be smaller than the first flexural stiffness, as discussed with reference to the product above. The process may further include forming at least one opening in the polymer element to expose part of the composite element, as described above. The method can further include arranging the composite element in a mold in such a way that the opening is formed during overmolding. For example, the composite element can be secured at a clamping point by a clamping mechanism during overmolding. This can prevent unwanted movement of the composite element during the casting process and provide a simple way to form openings during overmolding. In particular, one or more openings, as described here, can be formed by resting the composite element on a support point on the surface of the mold. During overmolding, the overmolded material flows around the support or clamping points, so that the openings are formed at the support or clamping point.In a preferred embodiment, raised elements on the inner surface of a first casting press the composite element against an inner surface of a second casting. In this way, the raised elements of the first casting act as clamping elements. The method can also include arranging the composite element solely in a forefoot region of the sole element, as already described here. Further details, technical effects, and advantages are described in detail above with reference to the sole element. The process can further include forming at least one stud base on the polymer element to support a stud tip, as described here. The tunnel base can be arranged so that it does not overlap with the composite element, as described here. The composite element can comprise a polyamide, for example polyamide 12, as described here. The overmolding process can involve an essentially complete embedding of the composite element in the polymer element, as described here. The overmolding may involve shaping an essentially flat upper surface of the sole element, as described here. The process may also include forming a substantially smooth contour of the composite element, as described here. The process may further include attaching an insole board to the polymer element, as described here. The procedure may also include arranging the insole board in a forefoot region, as described here. The insole board can comprise a polyether block amide or thermoplastic polyurethane, as described here. The base element and / or the composite element may exhibit nonlinear bending stiffness. The bending stiffness of the base element and / or the composite element may be lower in a first bending direction than in a second bending direction. For example, the bending stiffness for a bending angle below 45 degrees (first bending range) may be lower than for a bending angle above 45 degrees (second bending range). The rear part of the composite element can still be a front area of ​​the composite element, as described here. The process can further include forming at least one gap in the composite element, as described here. The gap can essentially be arranged along a longitudinal direction of the sole element, as described here. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a shoe comprising manufacturing a sole element by a method as described herein. The method for manufacturing a shoe may further include providing a shoe upper and attaching a heel region of the shoe upper to the sole element by sewing. A toe region of the shoe upper may be attached to the sole element by lasts of the shoe upper around the sole element, as described herein. 4. Brief description of the characters Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the figures. Fig. 1: shows a bottom view of an exemplary sole element according to the present invention; Fig. 2: shows a top view of an exemplary sole element according to the present invention; Fig. 3: shows an exemplary side view of an exemplary sole element according to the present invention; Fig. 4: shows two exemplary bottom views of exemplary sole elements according to the present invention; Fig. 5: shows an exemplary torque measurement for a sole element with and without a composite element; Fig. 6: schematically shows an exemplary torque measurement similar to that shown in Fig. 5 to visualize the nonlinear bending stiffness of a sole element or a composite element; and Fig. 7: illustrates an anisotropic bending property of a sole element. 5. Detailed description of preferred embodiments Some embodiments of the invention are described in detail below. However, it should be understood that these exemplary embodiments can be modified and combined in a variety of ways, provided they are compatible, and that certain features can be omitted if they appear unnecessary. Fig. 1 shows a bottom view of an exemplary sole element 10 according to the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a top view of the exemplary sole element 10. Fig. 3 shows a side view of the exemplary sole element 10. Here, the surface of the sole element 10 facing the ground can be understood as the underside, and the opposite surface of the sole element 10, which is used to be connected to a shoe upper, can be understood as the top side, as shown in Fig. 2. The sole element 10 is for a shoe article and comprises: (a) a composite element 11 with anisotropic bending properties, and (b) a polymer element 12 which at least partially covers the composite element 11. The composite element 11 with anisotropic bending properties has a lower bending stiffness in one direction compared to another. In this example, the composite element 11 has a first bending stiffness for upward bending in a toe region of the sole element and a second bending stiffness for downward bending in the toe region of the sole element 10, where the second bending stiffness is lower than the first. Thus, the composite element 11 bends downward more easily than upward in the toe region of the sole element 10. Therefore, the sole element 10 allows plantar flexion of the foot more easily than dorsiflexion of the foot. The composite element 11 comprises carbon fiber and has a thickness of approximately 1.3 mm. The polymer element 12 can comprise any thermoplastic material suitable for overmolding, for example polyamide 12. The polymer element 12 is overmolded to at least partially cover the composite element 11 on the lower surface of the sole element 10, i.e., the surface facing the ground as shown in Fig. 1. The exemplary polymer element 12 comprises two stud bases 53a for a laterally overmolded stud, three stud bases 53b for a lateral screw-in stud, two stud bases 54a for a medial overmolded stud, three stud bases 54b for a medial screw-in stud and a central stud base for supporting a central stud tip. The combination of a stub base and a stub tip is called a stub. Two stub tips 51a are integrally connected to the two stub bases 53a for a lateral overmolded stub, thereby forming a lateral overmolded stub 55a. Laterally screw-in stub tips are not shown, but are to be screwed into the three stub bases 53b for a lateral screw-in stub to form a lateral screw-in stub 53b. Two medial overmolded stub tips 52a are integrally connected to the three stub bases 54a for a medial overmolded stub to form a medial overmolded stub 56a. Medial screw-in stub tips are not shown, but are to be screwed into the three stub bases 54b for a medial screw-in stub 54b.A central cleat tip 15b is integrally connected to a central cleat base 15a to form a central cleat 16. In one embodiment, the cleat tips 51a, 52a, 15b can be inserted in a first step into indentations of a mold, and then the cleat bases 53a, 53b, 54b, 15a and the polymer element 12 are injection-molded onto the cleat tips 51a, 52a, 15b. This arrangement is best illustrated in Fig. 3. The stud bases are manufactured integrally with other parts of the polymer element 12 and therefore comprise the same polymer material as the polymer element 12, e.g., polyamide 12. The stud tips can be made, for example, of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The composite element 11 is located solely in a forefoot region 10 of the sole element 10. The forefoot region 19 is located in an anterior part of the sole element 10, which is larger than, but not identical to, the forefoot region 19. The anterior part of the sole element 10 may be closer to a toe region, opposite a posterior part of the sole element 10, which may be closer to a heel region. The composite element 11 is arranged in the front part of the sole element 10 in such a way that the composite element 11 does not substantially overlap with any of the stud bases 53a, 53b, 54a, 54b, or 15a of the polymer element 12. Therefore, the studs 55a, 55b, 56a, 56b, and 16 in their respective stud bases 53a, 53b, 54a, 54b, or 15a also do not overlap with the composite element 11. As shown in Fig. 1, in other words, the studs 55a, 55b, 56a, 56b, and 16 are not located above the composite element 11 when the sole element 10 is viewed from the surface facing the ground. Alternatively, it is also possible that the composite element 11 in the front part of the sole element 10 is arranged in such a way that the composite element 11 does not substantially overlap with any of the stud tips 51a, 52a, 15b, but at least one of the stud bases 53a, 53b, 54a, 54b, or 15a of the polymer element 12 slightly overlaps with the composite element 11 in its outer circumference. The gap 13 is essentially arranged along a longitudinal direction of the sole element 10 and extends longitudinally from a front end of the composite element 11 to a rear end of the composite element 11. In this way, the big toe can have a different flexion than the other toes. As shown in Fig. 1, the gap 13 is located in the toe region of the sole element 10 between the first two lateral stud bases 53b and the first two medial stud bases 54b. It should be noted that the gap 13 extends into the region of the central stud 16, so that the central stud 16 does not substantially overlap with the composite element 11, as mentioned above. The gap 13 can be located in a different region of the composite element 11. However, it is preferred that the gap not be located in the metatarsal region of the sole element in order to guarantee sufficient support and comfort for the wearer's feet. Alternatively, the composite element 11 can have more than one gap 13. For example, two substantially parallel gaps can be used. Certainly, other arrangements of more than one gap are also possible. Furthermore, the gap 13 can serve as an injection port during manufacturing. In this example, the lower surface of the composite element 11 (i.e., the downward-facing surface as shown in Fig. 1) is covered by the polymer element over approximately 50-65% of its surface area. In contrast, the upper surface of the composite element 11 (shown in Fig. 2) is essentially not covered by the polymer element 12. The upper surface of the composite element 11 is essentially smooth. In other embodiments, the composite element 11 can be completely embedded in the polymer element 12 by any preferred percentage of its surface area. As shown in Fig. 1, the polymer element 12 comprises two openings 14 to expose a portion of the composite element 11 on a lower side of the polymer element 12. The lower side is the side of the polymer element 12 facing downwards. During manufacturing, the composite element 11 is fixed at a rest point in a mold while the polymer element 12 is injected over the composite element 11, thereby forming the openings 14. Alternatively, the polymer element can comprise more or fewer than two openings 14. On the upper side of the sole element 10, as shown in Fig. 2, the composite element 11 is arranged substantially in the center of the front part of the sole element 11 and is surrounded by the polymer element 11. The polymer element 11 comprises a first connecting edge on its outer circumference for attaching a shoe upper to the sole element 10. The first connecting edge is preferably 8 to 10 mm wide on its outer circumference to provide a strong connection between the sole element 10 and a shoe upper. One contour of the composite element 11 is essentially smooth. The composite element 11 is essentially free of any sharp-edged features with a width of less than 2 mm, measured as the width between two parallel and opposite portions of the composite element 11. Note that the gap has a width w but does not provide any sharp-edged features. The composite element 11 has a smooth contour on each side of the gap 13 with a width greater than width w. In other embodiments, the sole element 10 can further comprise an insole board which is attached to the polymer element 12. The insole board can provide additional stiffness for the sole element 10. Due to the excellent bonding properties of the polymer, such as polyamide, the insole board bonds very well to the polymer element 12. The insole board can be arranged as a forefoot insole board. The forefoot insole board and the first forefoot region 19 can partially or completely overlap. Therefore, it is possible to further adjust the flexural stiffness of the sole element. The insole board can be made of polyether block amide or thermoplastic polyurethane. These materials have good flexural properties and durability. The sole element 10 can include a variety of reinforcing ribs 17 in a midfoot region 27 of the lower surface to advantageously increase the stiffness of the midfoot region 27 without increasing the weight of the sole element 10. The sole element 10 incorporates a grid structure 18 in a midfoot region 27, which provides further improved stiffness while allowing some torsional movement of the anterior and posterior parts of the sole element 10 relative to each other. Furthermore, the weight of the sole element 10 is reduced compared to a more rigid construction. The reinforcing ribs 17 and lattice structure 18, in combination with the use of the polyamide polymer material 12, form a very lightweight sole element 10 that, on the other hand, exhibits the appropriate stiffness. By adjusting the reinforcing ribs 17 and lattice structure 18, the stiffness and weight of the sole element 10 can be adapted to any desired design. The upper surface of the sole element 10 is essentially flat and essentially smooth, i.e., essentially untextured, as shown in Fig. 2. A second connecting edge 41 is formed around the openings 14 of at least 5 mm and overlaps between the polymer element 12 and the composite element 11 to allow for good connection strength. Fig. 4 shows two exemplary views of exemplary shoe elements 10a, 10b, similar to those shown in Figs. 1-3. The composite element 11a of the sole element 10a is longer than the composite element 11b of the sole element 11b. Sole element 10a does not include screw-in studs. Sole element 10b includes stud bases 53b and 54b for screw-in studs, the corresponding stud bases 53a and 54a of the sole element 10a being for overmolded studs. Sole element 10a is configured for use on hard ground, while sole element 10b is configured for use on soft ground. Fig. 5 shows an exemplary torque measurement for a sole element with and without a composite element. A vertical axis 63 indicates the torque required to bend a sole element about a specific angle, shown on the horizontal axis 64, around the bending axis 59, as shown in Fig. 3. Two curves are shown. Curve 61 shows the torque required to bend the sole element about the bending axis 59 without a composite element. Curve 62 shows the torque required to bend the sole element about the bending axis 59 with a composite element. A greater torque required for a specific angle indicates higher bending stiffness. Thus, the bending stiffness is increased by the presence of the composite element. Fig. 6 schematically illustrates an exemplary torque measurement similar to that shown in Fig. 5 to visualize the nonlinear bending stiffness of a sole element or a composite element. A vertical axis 63 indicates the torque required to bend a sole element around a bending axis, e.g., the bending axis 59 shown in Fig. 3, by a specific angle, specified on the horizontal axis. For the example schematically illustrated in Fig. 6, a wedge element was placed under the heel portion of the sole before the measurement. The wedge has an angle of 15°. This is why the horizontal axis 64 in Fig. 6 starts at 15° as opposed to 0°; 15° is relative to horizontal, where 0° would correspond to the rear portion of the sole being horizontal.The wedge is placed under the rear part to create a normalized starting position, which is necessary because the sole element 10 is not perfectly horizontal from toe to heel in an unloaded state. In other words, it is necessary to normalize the plates using the wedge element because different sole elements have different toe lifts in an unloaded state. Additionally, 15° is a more realistic starting position considering the outsole application. As can be seen in Fig. 6, the curve 62 has a non-linear bending stiffness. In region I, the bending stiffness is lower than the bending stiffness after 45° in region II. This means that in region I (0-45 degrees), the sole element or composite element has a first stiffness, and in region II, a second stiffness (45 degrees and above). Fig. 7 schematically illustrates an anisotropic bending property of a sole element or a composite element. A vertical axis 63 indicates the torque required to bend a sole element about a bending axis, e.g., bending axis 59 as shown in Fig. 3, by a specific angle shown on the horizontal axis 64. Two curves are shown. Curve 71 shows the torque required to bend the sole element about the bending axis 59 for negative angles 64b. Curve 72 shows the torque required to bend the sole element about the bending axis 59 for positive angles 64a. As can be seen, for a given angle, the required torque is significantly higher for negative angles 64b than for positive angles 64a. Therefore, a bending property, in this case a bending stiffness, of the sole element is anisotropic.A positive angle can correspond to downward bending or plantar flexion of the foot, while a negative angle can correspond to upward bending or dorsiflexion of the foot. Reference sign 10 Sole element 11 Composite element 12 Polymer element 13 Gap 14 Opening 15a Central stud base 15b Central stud tip 16 Central stud 17 Reinforcing ribs 18 Lattice structure 19 Forefoot region 26 Stud base for central stud 27 Midfoot region 30 Shoe 31 Shoe upper 41 Second connecting edge 42 Distance from sidewall 51a Laterally overmolded stud tip 52a Medially overmolded stud tip 53a Stud base for laterally overmolded stud 53b Stud base for laterally screw-in stud 54a Stud base for medially overmolded stud 54b Stud base for medially screw-in stud 55a Laterally overmolded stud 55b Laterally screw-in stud 56a Medially overmolded stud 56b Medially screw-in stud 59 Bending axis 61 Torque without composite element 62 Torque with composite element 63 Vertical axis 64 Horizontal axis 64a Positive angles 64b Negative angles 71 Torque for negative angles 72 Torque forpositive Shop

Claims

Sole element (10) for a studded shoe, in particular for a football boot, comprising: (a) a composite element (11) with an anisotropic bending property, wherein the composite element (11) has a first bending stiffness for upward bending in a toe region of the sole element (10) and a second bending stiffness for downward bending in the toe region of the sole element (10), wherein the second bending stiffness is less than the first bending stiffness; and (b) a polymer element (12) which at least partially covers the composite element (11). Sole element (10) according to claim 1, wherein the polymer element (12) has at least one opening (14) on its side facing the ground in order to expose at least part of the composite element (11). Sole element (10) for a studded shoe, in particular for a football boot, comprising: (a) a composite element (11) comprising a gap (13) arranged substantially along a longitudinal direction of the sole element (10); (b) a polymer element (12) which at least partially covers the composite element (11), wherein the polymer element (12) comprises at least one stud base (53a, 53b, 54a, 54b, 15a) for supporting a stud tip (51a, 52a), and wherein the stud base (53a, 53b, 54a, 54b, 15a) does not substantially overlap with the composite element (11). Sole element (10) according to one of claims 1 or 3, wherein the polymer element (12) has at least one opening (14) on its side facing the ground in order to expose at least a part of the composite element (11). Sole element (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the polymer element (12) comprises at least one stud base (53a, 53b, 54a, 54b, 15a) for supporting a stud tip (51a, 52a), and wherein the stud base (53a, 53b, 54a, 54b, 15a) and / or the stud tip (51a, 52a) does not substantially overlap with the composite element (11). Sole element (10) according to claim 3, wherein the composite element (11) has an anisotropic bending property. Sole element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer element is overmolded onto the composite element. Sole element (10) according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the composite element (11) has a first bending stiffness for bending upwards in a toe region of the sole element (10) and a second bending stiffness for bending downwards in the toe region of the sole element (10), wherein the second bending stiffness is smaller than the first bending stiffness. Sole element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the composite element (11) is arranged solely in a forefoot region of the sole element (10). Sole element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the polymer element comprises a polyamide. Sole element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a surface of the composite element (11) facing the ground is at least partially covered by the polymer element. Sole element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an upper surface of the sole element (10) is substantially flat. Sole element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a contour of the composite element (11) is substantially smooth. Sole element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an insole board which is attached to the polymer element (12). Sole element (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the insole board is a forefoot insole board. Sole element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sole element (1) and / or the composite element (11) has a nonlinear bending stiffness. Sole element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the bending stiffness of the sole element (10) and / or the composite element (11) is lower in a first bending region than in a second bending region. Sole element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a rear part of the composite element (11) is wider than a front part of the composite element (11). Shoe (30) comprising a sole element (10) according to one of the preceding claims. Shoe (30) according to the preceding claim, further comprising a shoe upper, wherein a heel region of the shoe upper is attached to the sole element (10) by sewing. A method for manufacturing a sole element (10) for a footwear article, comprising: (a) providing a composite element (11) having an anisotropic bending property, wherein the composite element (11) has a first bending stiffness for upward bending in a toe region of the sole element (10) and a second bending stiffness for downward bending in the toe region of the sole element (10), wherein the second bending stiffness is less than the first bending stiffness; and (b) overmolding a polymer element onto the composite element (11) to at least partially cover the composite element (11). The method according to claim 21 further comprises forming at least one opening (14) in the polymer element on its side facing the ground in order to expose part of the composite element (11). A method for manufacturing a sole element (10) for a footwear article, comprising: (a) providing a composite element (11); (b) overmolding a polymer element onto the composite element (11) to at least partially cover the composite element (11); (c) forming at least one stud base (53a, 53b, 54a, 54b, 15a) on the polymer element (12) for supporting a stud tip (51a, 52a), wherein the stud base (53a, 53b, 54a, 54b, 15a) does not overlap with the composite element (11); (d) forming a gap (13) in the composite element (11), wherein the gap (13) is arranged substantially along a longitudinal direction of the sole element (10). Method according to one of claims 21 or 23, further comprising forms of at least one opening (14) in the polymer element on its side facing the ground to expose a part of the composite element (11). Method according to one of claims 21 or 22, further comprising forming at least one stud base (53a, 53b, 54a, 54b, 15a) on the polymer element (12) for supporting a stud tip (51a, 52a), wherein the stud base (53a, 53b, 54a, 54b, 15a) and / or the stud tip (51a, 52a) does not overlap with the composite element (11). Method according to claim 23, wherein the composite element (11) has an anisotropic bending property. Method according to one of claims 21 or 26, wherein the composite element (11) has a first bending stiffness for bending upwards in a toe region of the sole element (10) and a second bending stiffness for bending downwards in the toe region of the sole element (10), wherein the second bending stiffness is smaller than the first bending stiffness. Method according to one of claims 21-27, further comprising arranging the composite element (11) solely in a forefoot region of the sole element (10). Method according to one of claims 21-28, wherein the polymer element comprises a polyamide. Method according to one of claims 21-29, wherein overmolding comprises at least partial covering of a side of the composite element (11) facing the ground by the polymer element. Method according to one of claims 21-30, wherein overmolding comprises forming a substantially flat upper surface of the sole element (10). Method according to one of claims 21-31, further comprising forms of a substantially smooth contour of the composite element (11). Method according to one of claims 21-32, further comprising attaching an insole board to the polymer element. Method according to one of claims 21-33, wherein a rear part of the composite element (11) is wider than a front part of the composite element (11).

Images