Sole series and method for manufacturing sole

Abstract

To reduce an initial investment cost in manufacturing a sole series including a plurality of types of soles.SOLUTION: Each of midsoles 2A-2C of a plurality of types of soles 1A-1C that constitutes a sole series S includes an upper midsole 4 and a corresponding one of lower midsoles 5A-5C. Each of the plurality of types of soles 1A-1C is configured such that, in a non-wearing state, while the sole contacts the ground surface G at an intersection C, a heel region does not contact the ground surface G. While the upper midsoles 4 of the plurality of types of soles 1A-1C are formed to have the same shape, the lower midsoles 5A-5C of the plurality of types of soles 1A-1C are formed to have different shapes such that an angle α between a straight line T and the ground surface G is a forwardly descending angle that differs between the soles 1A-1C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sole series and a method for manufacturing the sole. [Background technology]

[0002] There are three types of running styles, namely forefoot running, midfoot running, and heel-strike running, which have different landing patterns. In recent years, it has been thought that forefoot running or midfoot running is more effective for running quickly and efficiently.

[0003] However, forefoot and midfoot running techniques are not easy for everyone to perform, and there is a risk that they may promote muscle fatigue around the calf, so in middle to long distance running, it is not easy to maintain a forefoot or midfoot running technique until the end.

[0004] In response to this, in recent years, various shoes have been proposed that encourage efficient and fast running by providing soles that encourage a forefoot or midfoot running style (see, for example, Patent Document 1 listed below).

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a shoe with a sole in which the thickness of the midpoint in the front-to-rear direction of the sole is thicker than the thickness of the heel and toe, and the underside of the rear foot is inclined upward toward the rear. With such shoes, the forefoot or midfoot can easily touch the ground when landing, while the heel cannot easily touch the ground, encouraging the wearer to run with a forefoot or midfoot running style. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-163084 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Incidentally, the angle of the foot when landing varies from person to person, and the angle of the foot that the sole should encourage in order to run efficiently and quickly also varies from person to person. For this reason, it is preferable to have multiple types of soles available for running efficiently and quickly.

[0008] On the other hand, the sole of a shoe for running efficiently and quickly must be elastically deformable, have high bending rigidity, and be lightweight. In particular, the midsole must have low hardness, high resilience, and be lightweight.

[0009] However, to form a low-hardness, high-resilience, and lightweight midsole, it is necessary to use an expensive mold. Therefore, as described above, in order to prepare multiple types of soles (to develop variations), multiple expensive molds must be prepared, which increases the initial investment, making it difficult to develop variations.

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the initial investment cost when manufacturing a sole series consisting of a plurality of types of soles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention is A sole series including a plurality of types of soles each having a midsole extending from a heel portion to a toe portion and having an upper surface serving as a sole support surface for supporting the sole of a shoe wearer, Each of the midsoles of the plurality of types of soles is an upper midsole made of an elastic material extending from the heel portion to the toe portion; a lower midsole having an upper surface that conforms to the lower surface of the upper midsole and extending from the heel portion to the toe portion and made of an elastic material; In each of the above soles, The position of the rear end on the sole support surface is P0. The position of the most extreme point on the sole support surface is P100, The straight line connecting the above-mentioned position P0 and the above-mentioned position P100 is Ls. A curve connecting the position P0 and the position P100 along the sole support surface is Lc. The length of the above curve Lc is L, The position on the curve Lc that is 0.15L away from the position P0 is P15. The position on the curve Lc that is 0.45L away from the position P0 is P45. P68 is the position on the curve Lc that is 0.68L away from the position P0. The intersection point between the lower surface and a straight line perpendicular to the straight line Ls passing through the position P45 is C, When the straight line connecting the above-mentioned position P15 and the above-mentioned position P68 is T, The plurality of types of soles are configured such that, when not worn, they contact the ground at the intersection point C, while the heel portion does not contact the ground, The upper midsoles of the plurality of types of soles are formed to have the same shape, The lower midsoles of the plurality of types of soles are formed in different shapes so that the angle between the straight line T and the ground is a different angle downward from one another among the plurality of types of soles. It is characterized by the above.

[0012] The sole series of the first embodiment is composed of a plurality of types of soles, and each of the plurality of types of soles is configured so that when not worn, the soles touch the ground at a position (intersection C) corresponding to the plantar arch of the wearer's foot, but the heel does not touch the ground, and further, the inclination angle of the sole support surface (the angle between the line T and the ground) is a forward downward angle. With this configuration, each of the plurality of types of soles constituting the sole series makes it difficult for the heel to touch the ground when landing, but makes it easy for the forefoot or midfoot to touch the ground. In other words, the sole series of the first embodiment can provide a plurality of types of soles that can encourage the wearer to run with a forefoot running style or a midfoot running style.

[0013] In the first embodiment, the midsole has a two-layer structure, with the upper midsole having the same shape among the multiple types of soles (only one model is prepared), while the lower midsole has a different shape among the multiple types of soles (multiple models are prepared), thereby providing multiple types of soles with different inclination angles of the sole support surface (angle between the line T and the ground). With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of types of molds that need to be prepared to form the midsole when manufacturing multiple types of soles. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to reduce the initial investment cost when manufacturing a sole series consisting of multiple types of soles that can encourage the wearer to run with a forefoot running style or a midfoot running style.

[0014] The second form is the first form of the Sole series, In each of the above soles, The intersection point between the line perpendicular to the line Ls passing through the position P45 and the lower surface of the upper midsole is P45', The intersection point between the line perpendicular to the line Ls passing through the position P68 and the lower surface of the upper midsole is P68', When the straight line connecting the above-mentioned position P45' and the above-mentioned position P68' is T', The lower midsole of the plurality of types of soles is formed such that the angle between the straight line T' and the ground is a different forward downward angle between the plurality of types of soles. It is characterized by the above.

[0015] In the second form, the multiple types of soles are configured such that when not worn, the angle of the midfoot region of the boundary surface between the upper midsole and the lower midsole (the angle between the line T' and the ground) is a downward angle. With this configuration, the multiple types of soles that make up the sole series promote the forward movement of the center of gravity after landing. In other words, the sole series of the second form can provide multiple types of soles that allow the wearer to run smoothly using a forefoot running style or a midfoot running style.

[0016] In the second embodiment, the shape of the lower midsole is made different between the different types of soles, thereby providing different types of soles with different angles (the angle between the line T' and the ground) in the midfoot region of the boundary surface between the upper midsole and the lower midsole. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a wide variety of soles that provide different sensations when stepping in after landing.

[0017] The third embodiment is the first or second embodiment, At least one of the lower midsoles of the plurality of types of soles is a long lower midsole whose front end is located forward of the front end of the upper midsole, and whose upper surface of the front end located forward of the front end of the upper midsole constitutes the front end of the sole support surface. It is characterized by the above.

[0018] In the third embodiment, at least one of the lower midsoles of the multiple types of soles is configured as a long lower midsole whose front end is located forward of the front end of the upper midsole. With this configuration, soles of different sizes can be provided by using an upper midsole of the same shape, but using a lower midsole whose front end is not located forward of the front end of the upper midsole and the long lower midsole. That is, in the third embodiment, soles of different sizes as well as the inclination angle of the sole support surface (angle between the line T and the ground) can be provided by using an upper midsole of the same shape and changing the type of the lower midsole. Therefore, according to the third embodiment, the initial investment cost can be further reduced when manufacturing a sole series consisting of multiple types of soles that can encourage the wearer to run with a forefoot running style or a midfoot running style.

[0019] The fourth embodiment is the third embodiment, The above long lower midsole is When the position P90 on the curve Lc is 0.90L away from the position P0, The position P90 is configured to be on the upper surface of the upper midsole. It is characterized by the above.

[0020] In the fourth form, the long lower midsole is configured so that the boundary between the upper midsole and the long lower midsole is located forward of position P90 on the sole support surface (upper surface) of the sole. Usually, the wearer's foot rests on the area rearward of position P90 on the sole support surface of the sole, and the wearer's foot does not rest on the area from position P90 to the tip position P100 on the sole support surface. Therefore, by configuring as described above, the wearer's foot does not rest on the boundary between the upper midsole and the long lower midsole when wearing the sole, and therefore does not feel uncomfortable.

[0021] The fifth embodiment is the second embodiment, Each of the plurality of types of soles includes a plate made of an elastic material having a harderness than that of the upper midsole, the plate being provided between the upper midsole and the lower midsole, The plates of the plurality of types of soles are formed in the same shape. It is characterized by the above.

[0022] In the fifth embodiment, since the same shape of upper midsole is used between the multiple types of soles, the same shape of plate can also be used. This makes it possible to further reduce the initial investment cost when manufacturing a sole series consisting of multiple types of soles that can encourage the wearer to run with a forefoot running style or a midfoot running style.

[0023] The sixth form is A method for manufacturing a sole having a midsole extending from a heel portion to a toe portion and having an upper surface serving as a sole support surface for supporting the sole of a shoe wearer, comprising: The sole is one of the soles constituting the sole series described in claim 1, A selection step is provided for selecting one of the lower midsoles from a plurality of types of the lower midsoles having different shapes. It is characterized by the above.

[0024] According to the sixth embodiment, it is possible to reduce the initial investment cost in producing a sole series consisting of a plurality of types of soles. Effect of the Invention

[0025] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the initial investment cost when manufacturing a sole series consisting of a plurality of types of soles. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sole series S according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the sole 1A of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sole 1B of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the sole 1C of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the sole 1A of FIG. 1 as viewed from the outer instep side. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the sole 1B of FIG. 1 as viewed from the outer instep side. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the sole 1C of FIG. 1 as viewed from the outer instep side. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the inclination angle of the sole support surface and the foot angle. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the forefoot part of the sole 1D of the sole series S of the second embodiment, viewed from the instep side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are essentially preferred examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0028] First Embodiment of the Invention 1 to 7 are diagrams for explaining the configuration of a sole series S according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and show only the left foot side portions of all or any of the three types of soles 1A to 1C constituting the sole series S. Note that Figs. 5 to 7 are cross-sectional views of the left foot side portions of the soles 1A to 1C as viewed from the instep side, and for ease of explanation, hatching is omitted. The soles 1A to 1C can be applied to sports shoes worn by athletes of various sports, but here, an example in which the soles are applied to shoes SA to SC for middle- to long-distance running will be described.

[0029] The shoes SA to SC are composed of a left foot side portion shown in Figs. 5 to 7 and a right foot side portion (not shown) that is symmetrical to the left foot side portion. The shoes SA to SC each have a sole 1A to 1C and an upper (vamp portion) U that is fixed thereon by gluing or sewing. Although only the outline of the upper U is shown by a two-dot chain line in Figs. 5 to 7, the upper may have any shape as long as it can cover the instep of the shoe wearer. In this embodiment 1, the uppers U of the shoes SA to SC are formed in the same shape.

[0030] In the following description, only the left foot side portion of the soles 1A to 1C of the sole series S shown in Figs. 5 to 7 will be described, and a description of the right foot side portion will be omitted.

[0031] In the following description, the terms "upper" and "lower" refer to the vertical positional relationship of the soles 1A to 1C. The terms "front" and "rear" refer to the vertical positional relationship of the soles 1A to 1C. The terms "medial side" and "lateral side" refer to the horizontal positional relationship of the soles 1A to 1C.

[0032] -Sole Series S Composition- 1, in this embodiment 1, the sole series S is composed of three types of soles 1A to 1C that aim to encourage the wearer to run using a forefoot running style or a midfoot running style. As will be described in detail later, the soles 1A to 1C are configured to have different inclination angles of the sole support surface (upper surface).

[0033] [Common composition for soles 1A to 1C] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, each of the soles 1A to 1C includes a midsole 2A to 2C, an outsole 3A to 3C, and a plate 6. As shown in FIG.

[0034] The midsoles 2A to 2C are provided so as to extend from the rear end to the front end of the soles 1A to 1C (from the heel to the toe). The midsoles 2A to 2C are formed of a soft elastic material having a lower hardness than the outsoles 3A to 3C described later. Specifically, suitable materials for the midsoles 2A to 2C include thermoplastic synthetic resins such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and foams thereof, thermosetting resins such as polyurethane (PU) and foams thereof, and rubber materials such as butadiene rubber and chloroprene rubber and foams thereof. The materials for the midsoles 2A to 2C are not limited to those mentioned above.

[0035] The midsoles 2A to 2C are separated into upper and lower parts. Specifically, the midsoles 2A to 2C each have an upper midsole 4 and a lower midsole 5A to 5C provided below the upper midsole 4.

[0036] The upper midsole 4 is provided over the entire range from the rear end to the front end (from the heel to the toe) of the soles 1A to 1C in the front-rear direction, and from the medial end to the lateral end of the soles 1A to 1C in the foot width direction. The upper surface of the upper midsole 4 is formed in a curved shape so as to fit the sole of the shoe wearer's foot, and serves as a sole support surface that supports the sole of the shoe wearer's foot via an insole (not shown). An upper U is fixed to the upper surface of the upper midsole 4.

[0037] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, a groove 7 for accommodating a plate 6, which will be described later, is formed on the underside of the upper midsole 4. The groove 7 is formed by depressing a portion of the underside of the upper midsole 4 upward. The groove 7 is formed at a position, with a size and depth corresponding to the plate 6, so that the underside of the plate 6 and the underside of the upper midsole 4 are flush with each other when the plate 6 is fitted.

[0038] The lower midsoles 5A to 5C are provided over the entire range from the rear end to the front end (from the heel to the toe) of the soles 1A to 1C in the front-rear direction, and from the medial end to the lateral end of the soles 1A to 1C in the foot width direction. The upper surfaces of the lower midsoles 5A to 5C are formed in a curved shape that fits along the lower surface of the upper midsole 4, and the upper surfaces are fixed to the lower surface of the upper midsole 4 and the lower surface of the plate 6 described later by adhesive or the like.

[0039] The upper midsole 4 and the lower midsoles 5A to 5C are made of the same elastic material. The upper midsole 4 and the lower midsoles 5A to 5C may be made of elastic materials having different hardnesses.

[0040] The outsoles 3A to 3C are provided over the entire range of the soles 1A to 1C from the rear end to the front end in the front-rear direction (from the heel to the toe) and from the medial end to the lateral end in the foot width direction. The outsoles 3A to 3C are made of a hard elastic material that is harder than the midsoles 2A to 2C. Specifically, suitable materials for the outsoles 3A to 3C include thermoplastic resins such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), thermosetting resins such as polyurethane (PU), or rubber materials such as butadiene rubber and chloroprene rubber. The materials for the outsoles 3A to 3C are not limited to those mentioned above.

[0041] The upper surfaces of the outsoles 3A to 3C are formed in a curved shape that fits along the lower surfaces of the lower midsoles 5A to 5C, and the upper surfaces are fixed to the lower surfaces of the lower midsoles 5A to 5C by adhesive, etc. The lower surfaces of the outsoles 3A to 3C form contact surfaces that come into contact with the ground G during running.

[0042] Plate 6 is provided in a range extending from the rear end to the front end (from the heel to the toe) of soles 1A to 1C in the front-to-rear direction, and from the medial end to the lateral end of soles 1A to 1C in the foot width direction, but plate 6 is shorter in both the front-to-rear direction and the foot width direction than midsoles 2A to 2C and outsoles 3A to 3C.

[0043] The plate 6 is formed in a thin plate shape from an elastic material having a higher hardness than the midsoles 2A to 2C. Specifically, suitable materials for the plate 6 include thermoplastic synthetic resins such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyamide elastomer (PAE), polyamide, and the like, and resins to which fibrous materials such as glass fiber and carbon fiber are added. The plate 6 is an injection-molded product obtained by injection molding the above-mentioned thermoplastic resin materials (including those to which fibrous materials are added). The flexural modulus of the plate 6 is preferably set to, for example, 100 MPa to 400 MPa (specifically, 390 MPa).

[0044] The plate 6 may be a heat-press molded product obtained by heat-press molding a thermosetting fiber-reinforced plastic material, or may be a heat-press molded product obtained by heat-press molding a thermoplastic fiber-reinforced plastic material or a resin sheet material.

[0045] The plate 6 has a flat base portion 6a and a plurality of ribs 6b protruding upward from the upper surface of the base portion 6a. The plate 6 is accommodated in the groove 7 of the upper midsole 4, and the lower surface is fixed to the upper surfaces of the lower midsoles 5A to 5C by adhesive or the like. With this configuration, the plate 6 is sandwiched between the upper midsole 4 and the lower midsoles 5A to 5C.

[0046] The upper midsoles 4 of the soles 1A to 1C are formed in the same shape. Also, the plates 6 of the soles 1A to 1C are formed in the same shape. In other words, when manufacturing the three types of soles 1A to 1C that constitute the sole series S, only one model of each of the upper midsoles 4 and plates 6 is prepared.

[0047] [Different sole configurations for soles 1A to 1C] In the soles 1A to 1C, the lower midsoles 5A to 5C and the outsoles 3A to 3C are formed in different shapes. Specifically, the upper midsoles 4 of the same shape are used for the three types of soles 1A to 1C, but the shapes of the lower midsoles 5A to 5C are made different between the soles 1A to 1C so that the inclination angles of the sole support surfaces (upper surfaces of the soles 1A to 1C) are different from one another. The outsoles 3A to 3C are formed in shapes that fit the lower surfaces of the lower midsoles 5A to 5C, which have different shapes, and thus have different shapes from one another. The lower midsoles 5A to 5C are different in overall shape from one another between the soles 1A to 1C, but the shapes of the upper surfaces are formed in the same shape because they come into contact with the lower surfaces of the upper midsoles 4, which have the same shape.

[0048] (Design intent of lower midsole 5A~5C) The differences in shape (design intent) of the lower midsoles 5A to 5C will be described in detail below. As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, each part of each of the soles 1A to 1C is defined as follows. P1: The rearmost position on the sole support surface P100: The most extreme position on the sole of the foot Ls: A straight line connecting positions P0 and P100 Lc: A curve along the sole support surface connecting positions P0 and P100 L: Length of curve Lc P15: A position on curve Lc whose distance (path) from position P0 is 0.15L P45: A position on curve Lc whose distance (path) from position P0 is 0.45L P68: A position on curve Lc whose distance (path) from position P0 is 0.68L P45': Intersection point between the line Ls passing through position P45 and the bottom surface of the upper midsole at right angles P68': Intersection point between the line Ls passing through position P68 and the line perpendicular to the line and the bottom surface of the upper midsole C: Intersection of the line perpendicular to the line Ls passing through position P45 and the bottom surface of the sole T: A straight line connecting positions P15 and P68 T': A straight line connecting positions P45' and P68'

[0049] In the sole series S, the lower midsoles 5A-5C are configured such that, when the shoes SA-SC are not worn, the soles 1A-1C all come into contact with the ground G at the intersection C (a position corresponding to the plantar arch of the wearer's foot), but the heels do not come into contact with the ground, and the angle α (the inclination angle α of the sole support surface) between the straight line T and the ground G in each sole 1A-1C is an angle that slopes downward toward the front. With this configuration, the soles 1A-1C constituting the sole series S all make it difficult for the heels to come into contact with the ground when landing, but make it easy for the forefoot or midfoot to come into contact with the ground. Thus, the soles 1A-1C of the sole series S all encourage the wearer to run using a forefoot or midfoot running style.

[0050] In addition, with the Sole Series S, the angle of the foot when landing varies from person to person even when running with the same forefoot running style. To encourage a variety of people to run with a forefoot or midfoot running style without feeling uncomfortable, three types of soles 1A to 1C with different inclination angles α of the sole support surface (upper surface) are prepared (designed).

[0051] Therefore, the lower midsoles 5A to 5C used in the three types of soles 1A to 1C are formed in different shapes so that the angle α between the straight line T and the ground G (the inclination angle α of the sole support surface) is a different forward downward angle between the soles 1A to 1C.

[0052] Specifically, the angle α between the line T and the ground G (the inclination angle α of the sole support surface) is 5° or more and 16° or less. In this embodiment 1, the lower midsoles 5A to 5C are designed so that the angle α of the sole 1A is 5°, the angle α of the sole 1B is 8°, and the angle α of the sole 1C is 11°. If the angle α between the line T and the ground G (the inclination angle α of the sole support surface) is less than 5°, the deviation from the angle of the foot of the wearer who runs in a forefoot style becomes large, and there is a risk that the foot of the wearer who runs in a forefoot style cannot be stably supported. In addition, if the angle α between the line T and the ground G (the inclination angle α of the sole support surface) is greater than 16°, the foot of the wearer is tilted too far forward, and the wearer's posture is tilted too far forward, making it impossible to kick the ground G powerfully, and making it impossible to run efficiently and quickly. Therefore, the angle α between the straight line T and the ground G (the inclination angle α of the sole support surface) is set to be equal to or greater than 5° and equal to or less than 16°.

[0053] In the present embodiment 1, the lower midsoles 5A-5C are configured such that when the shoes SA-SC are not being worn, the angle α' (angle α' of the midfoot region of the boundary surface between the upper midsole 4 and the lower midsole 5A-5C) of each sole 1A-1C between the straight line T' and the ground G is a forward-downward angle. With this configuration, all three types of soles 1A-1C constituting the sole series S promote the movement of the wearer's center of gravity so that the wearer can smoothly move the center of gravity forward when stepping in after landing.

[0054] Furthermore, in the sole series S of this embodiment 1, the angle of the foot when stepping off after landing also varies from person to person, just like when landing, so in order to encourage a forward shift of the center of gravity for a variety of people without discomfort, the lower midsoles 5A-5C are formed (designed) so that the angle α' of the midfoot region of the boundary surface between the upper midsole 4 and the lower midsoles 5A-5C is a different downward angle from one another among the three types of soles 1A-1C.

[0055] Specifically, the lower midsoles 5A to 5C are designed so that the angle α' between the line T' and the ground G (the angle α' of the midfoot region of the boundary surface between the upper midsole 4 and the lower midsole 5A to 5C) is greater than 0° and less than 45°. If the angle α' between the line T' and the ground G is less than 0° (horizontal or upwardly raised), the center of gravity cannot be moved smoothly when stepping on the ground after landing, and it may be difficult to move forward. If the angle α' between the line T' and the ground G is greater than 45°, the wearer's foot may feel a strong upward thrust from the plate 6 when stepping on the ground after landing, which may cause pain to the wearer. Therefore, the angle α' between the line T' and the ground G (the angle α' of the midfoot region of the boundary surface between the upper midsole 4 and the lower midsole 5A to 5C) is set to be greater than 0° and less than 45°.

[0056] (Relationship between the angle of the sole support surface and the angle of the wearer's foot) As described above, in the sole series S, the three types of soles 1A to 1C use a common upper midsole 4, but use lower midsoles 5A to 5C of different shapes, making it possible to provide three types of soles 1A to 1C with different sole support surface angles α (angle α between the straight line T and the ground G).

[0057] According to such sole series S, as shown in FIG. 8, for a low type person who has a small angle of the foot F1 when landing (angle between the sole B and the ground G), a low type shoe SA with a small sole support surface angle α (angle between the line T and the ground G) is most suitable, and when the shoe SA is selected, the sole 1A encourages the person to run efficiently and fast using a forefoot running technique or a midfoot running technique. Even if a low type person selects a mid type shoe SB with a medium sole support surface angle α, the sole 1B encourages the person to run efficiently and fast using a forefoot running technique or a midfoot running technique, but the effect is inferior to that of the shoe SA. This is because the angle α of the sole support surface of the sole 1B is slightly larger than the angle of the foot F1 of a low type person, and there is a risk that the running movement will become unnatural. Furthermore, it is not appropriate for a Low type person to select a High type shoe SC with a large sole support surface angle α, because the angle α of the sole support surface of the sole 1C is too large compared to the angle of the foot F1 of a Low type person, resulting in a large deviation from normal running movements and possibly causing the wearer to feel very uncomfortable while running.

[0058] For a Mid type person with a medium angle of the foot F2 when landing, Mid type shoes SB with a medium angle α of the sole support surface are most suitable, and when shoes SB are selected, the sole 1B encourages efficient and fast running with a forefoot or midfoot running style. Even if a Mid type person selects a Low type shoe SA with a small sole support surface angle α or a High type shoe SC with a large sole support surface angle α, the sole 1A or sole 1C encourages efficient and fast running with a forefoot or midfoot running style, but the effect is inferior to that of shoes SB. This is because the angle α of the sole support surface of the sole 1A or sole 1C is smaller or larger than the angle of the foot F2 of a Mid type person, and there is a risk that the running movement will be unnatural.

[0059] For a High type person with a large angle of the foot F3 when landing, a High type shoe SC with a large sole support surface angle α is most suitable. When the shoe SC is selected, the sole 1C encourages efficient and fast running with a forefoot running method or a midfoot running method. Even if a High type person selects a Mid type shoe SB with a medium sole support surface angle α, the sole 1B encourages efficient and fast running with a forefoot running method or a midfoot running method, but the effect is inferior to that of the shoe SC. This is because the sole support surface angle α of the sole 1B is slightly smaller than the angle of the foot F3 of a High type person, so there is a time when the foot F3 is not supported by the sole 1B when stepping in after landing. And it is not suitable for a High type person to select a Low type shoe SA with a small sole support surface angle α, because the sole 1A does not encourage running with a forefoot running method or a midfoot running method at all because the sole 1A does not encourage running at all with a forefoot running method or a midfoot running method.

[0060] -Method of manufacturing soles 1A to 1C- Next, a method for manufacturing the soles 1A to 1C that constitute the sole series S will be described.

[0061] First, the components of the soles 1A to 1C are manufactured (component manufacturing process). Specifically, one type of upper midsole 4 is manufactured using one type of mold, three types of lower midsoles 5A to 5C are manufactured using three types of molds, three types of outsoles 3A to 3C are manufactured using three types of molds, and one type of plate 6 is manufactured using one type of mold.

[0062] Next, components are selected according to the object to be manufactured (selection process). Specifically, when manufacturing sole 1A, lower midsole 5A is selected from three types of lower midsoles 5A to 5C, and outsole 3A is selected from three types of outsoles 3A to 3C. When manufacturing sole 1B, lower midsole 5B is selected from three types of lower midsoles 5A to 5C, and outsole 3B is selected from three types of outsoles 3A to 3C. When manufacturing sole 1C, lower midsole 5C is selected from three types of lower midsoles 5A to 5C, and outsole 3C is selected from three types of outsoles 3A to 3C.

[0063] Then, soles 1A-1C are assembled by stacking components according to the object to be manufactured one above the other and bonding them together with an adhesive or the like (assembly process). Specifically, the upper midsole 4, plate 6, lower midsole 5A, and outsole 3A are stacked in this order from top to bottom and bonded together with an adhesive or the like to assemble sole 1A. The upper midsole 4, plate 6, lower midsole 5B, and outsole 3B are stacked in this order from top to bottom and bonded together with an adhesive or the like to assemble sole 1B. Furthermore, the upper midsole 4, plate 6, lower midsole 5C, and outsole 3C are stacked in this order from top to bottom and bonded together with an adhesive or the like to assemble sole 1C.

[0064] As described above, the soles 1A to 1C constituting the sole series S are manufactured by carrying out a component part manufacturing step, a selection step, and an assembly step.

[0065] -Effects of embodiment 1- As described above, the sole series S of the present embodiment 1 is composed of multiple types of soles 1A-1C (three types in the present embodiment 1), and each of the multiple types of soles 1A-1C is configured so that, when not worn, the intersection C (the position corresponding to the plantar arch of the wearer's foot) touches the ground G, while the heel does not touch the ground G, and further, the inclination angle α (the angle α between the straight line T and the ground G) of the sole support surface is an angle downward toward the front. With this configuration, each of the multiple types of soles 1A-1C constituting the sole series S makes it difficult for the heel to touch the ground when landing, while making it easy for the forefoot or midfoot to touch the ground. In other words, the sole series S of the present embodiment 1 can provide multiple types of soles 1A-1C that can encourage the wearer to run with a forefoot running style or a midfoot running style.

[0066] In addition, in the present embodiment 1, the midsoles 2A-2C have a two-layer structure, and the upper midsoles 4 have the same shape among the multiple types of soles 1A-1C (only one model is prepared), while the lower midsoles 5A-5C have different shapes among the multiple types of soles 1A-1C (multiple models are prepared), thereby providing multiple types of soles 1A-1C with different inclination angles α (angle α between the line T and the ground) of the sole support surface. With this configuration, when manufacturing multiple types of soles 1A-1C, the number of types of molds to be prepared for forming the midsoles 2A-2C can be reduced (reduced from six types, three types each for the upper and lower parts, to four types). Therefore, according to the present embodiment 1, the initial investment cost can be reduced when manufacturing a sole series S consisting of multiple types of soles 1A-1C that can encourage the wearer to run with a forefoot running style or a midfoot running style.

[0067] In addition, in the present embodiment 1, the multiple types of soles 1A-1C are configured such that when not worn, the angle α' (the angle α' between the line T' and the ground G) of the midfoot region of the boundary surface between the upper midsole 4 and the lower midsole 5A-5C is a forward-downward angle. With this configuration, the multiple types of soles 1A-1C constituting the sole series S all promote forward movement of the center of gravity after landing. In other words, the sole series S of the present embodiment 1 can provide multiple types of soles 1A-1C that allow the wearer to smoothly run using a forefoot running style or a midfoot running style.

[0068] In addition, in the present embodiment 1, the shapes of the lower midsoles 5A-5C are made different between the multiple types of soles 1A-1C, thereby providing multiple types of soles 1A-1C with different angles α' (angle α' between the line T' and the ground G) of the midfoot region of the boundary surface between the upper midsole 4 and the lower midsole 5A-5C. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a wide variety of soles 1A-1C that provide different sensations when stepping in after landing.

[0069] In addition, in this embodiment 1, the upper midsole 4 has the same shape among the multiple types of soles 1A to 1C, so that the plate 6 can also have the same shape. This makes it possible to reduce the number of types of molds (reduced from three to one) that need to be prepared for forming the plate 6 when manufacturing the multiple types of soles 1A to 1C. Therefore, according to this embodiment 1, it is possible to further reduce the initial investment cost when manufacturing the sole series S made up of the multiple types of soles 1A to 1C that can encourage the wearer to run with a forefoot running style or a midfoot running style.

[0070] In the present embodiment 1, the manufacturing method of the soles 1A-1C constituting the sole series S includes a selection step of selecting one lower midsole 5A, 5B, 5C from among the multiple types of lower midsoles 5A-5C having different shapes, and in the selection step, one of the lower midsoles 5A-5C to be used for manufacturing the soles 1A-1C is selected from the lower midsoles 5A-5C. However, since the upper midsoles 4 have the same shape among the soles 1A-1C, there is no need to select one, and there is also no need to prepare multiple types of molds to manufacture multiple types of upper midsoles 4. Therefore, according to the manufacturing method of the soles 1A-1C of the present embodiment 1, it is possible to reduce the initial investment cost when manufacturing the sole series S consisting of multiple types of soles 1A-1C.

[0071] Second Embodiment of the Invention The sole series S of the embodiment 2 is composed of soles 1A to 1C constituting the sole series S of the embodiment 1 and soles 1D to 1F which are one size larger than the soles 1A to 1C. The soles 1A to 1C are configured in the same manner as in the embodiment 1, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0072] The soles 1D to 1F each include midsoles 2D to 2F, outsoles 3D to 3F, and a plate 6. The midsoles 2D to 2F each include an upper midsole 4 and lower midsoles 5D to 5F provided below the upper midsole 4.

[0073] As shown in Fig. 9, sole 1D is configured almost the same as sole 1A, except that lower midsole 5D is formed to be longer in the front-rear direction than lower midsole 5A of sole 1A. Sole 1E is configured almost the same as sole 1B, except that lower midsole 5E is formed to be longer in the front-rear direction than lower midsole 5B of sole 1B. Sole 1F is configured almost the same as sole 1C, except that lower midsole 5F is formed to be longer in the front-rear direction than lower midsole 5C of sole 1C. In other words, soles 1D to 1F are used for shoes SD to SF, which are one size larger than shoes SA to SC.

[0074] 9, the lower midsole 5D of the sole 1D is configured so that its front end is located further forward than the front end of the upper midsole 4, and is configured to be a longer lower midsole than the lower midsole 5A of the sole 1A. The upper surface of the front end of the lower midsole 5D, which is located further forward than the front end of the upper midsole 4, constitutes the front end of the sole support surface of the sole 1A. In other words, in the sole 1D, the sole support surface is constituted by the upper surface of the upper midsole 4 and the upper surface of the front end of the lower midsole 5D.

[0075] Furthermore, the lower midsole 5D of the sole 1D is configured such that, when a position P90 is a position on the curve Lc whose distance (path) from the position P0 is 0.90L, the position P90 is on the upper surface of the upper midsole 4. That is, in the sole 1D, the long lower midsole 5D is configured such that the boundary between the upper midsole 4 and the long lower midsole 5D is located forward of the position P90 on the sole support surface (upper surface).

[0076] The lower midsole 5E, 5F of the sole 1E, 1F is also configured such that its front end is located forward of the front end of the upper midsole 4, similar to the lower midsole 5D of the sole 1D, and is configured to be a longer lower midsole than the lower midsole 5B, 5C of the sole 1B, 1C. The upper surfaces of the front ends of the lower midsole 5E, 5F, which are located forward of the front end of the upper midsole 4, respectively, form the front end of the sole support surface of the sole 1B, 1C. In other words, in the sole 1E, 1F, the sole support surface is formed by the upper surface of the upper midsole 4 and the upper surfaces of the front ends of the lower midsole 5E, 5F.

[0077] Similarly to the lower midsole 5D of the sole 1D, the lower midsole 5E, 5F of the sole 1E, 1F is configured so that position P90 is on the upper surface of the upper midsole 4. That is, in the sole 1E, 1F, the long lower midsole 5E, 5F is configured so that the boundary between the upper midsole 4 and the long lower midsole 5E, 5F is located forward of position P90 on the sole support surface (upper surface).

[0078] As described above, soles 1D to 1F are configured in the same manner as soles 1A to 1C, except that the lower midsoles 5D to 5E are configured to be longer lower midsoles than the lower midsoles 5A to 5C of soles 1A to 1C. Therefore, a detailed description of other configurations will be omitted.

[0079] As described above, according to the second embodiment, at least one of the lower midsoles 5A to 5F (three lower midsoles 5D to 5F in the second embodiment) of the multiple types (six types) of soles 1A to 1F is configured as a long lower midsole whose front end is located forward of the front end of the upper midsole 4. With this configuration, while using the upper midsole 4 of the same shape, the lower midsoles 5A to 5F whose front ends are not located forward of the front end of the upper midsole 4 (lower midsoles 5A to 5C) and the above-mentioned long lower midsoles (lower midsoles 5D to 5F) are used, so that soles of different sizes (soles 1A to 1C and soles 1D to 1F) can be provided. In other words, in the second embodiment, by using the upper midsole 4 of the same shape and changing the type of the lower midsole 5A to 5F, soles 1A to 1F that are different in size as well as the inclination angle α of the sole support surface (angle α between the straight line T and the ground) can be provided. Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the initial investment cost can be further reduced when manufacturing the sole series S consisting of multiple types of soles 1A to 1F that can encourage the wearer to run using a forefoot running style or a midfoot running style.

[0080] In the second embodiment, the lower midsole 5D-5F (long lower midsole) is configured so that the boundary between the upper midsole 4 and the lower midsole 5D-5F (long lower midsole) is located forward of the position P90 on the sole support surface (upper surface) of the sole 1D-1F. Usually, the wearer's foot rests on the area behind the position P90 on the sole support surface of the sole, and the wearer's foot does not rest on the area from the position P90 on the sole support surface to the tip position P100. Therefore, by configuring as described above, the wearer's foot does not rest on the boundary between the upper midsole 4 and the lower midsole 5D-5F (long lower midsole) when wearing the sole, and does not feel uncomfortable.

[0081] Other Embodiments In the above embodiments 1 and 2, the soles (soles 1A to 1C or soles 1A to 1F) constituting the sole series S each had a plate 6, but the soles (soles 1A to 1C or soles 1A to 1F) constituting the sole series S may not have the plate 6.

[0082] In the first and second embodiments, the plates 6 of the soles (soles 1A to 1C or soles 1A to 1F) constituting the sole series S all have the same shape. However, the shapes of the plates 6 may be varied.

[0083] In the above embodiment 1, the sole series S is composed of three types of soles 1A to 1C with different inclination angles α of the sole support surface, and in the above embodiment 2, the sole series S is composed of a total of six types of soles 1A to 1F with three types (three kinds) of inclination angles α of the sole support surface and two sizes (two kinds), but the number of types of soles constituting the sole series S is not limited to the above. The sole series S may be composed of soles with four or more types (four kinds) of inclination angles α of the sole support surface and / or three or more sizes (three kinds). [Industrial Applicability]

[0084] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY As described above, the present invention is useful for a sole series and a method for manufacturing a sole. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] S Sole Series 1A~1F Sole 2A~2F Midsole 3A~3F Outsole 4. Upper midsole 5A~5F Lower midsole 6 Plate

Claims

1. A sole series including a plurality of types of soles each having a midsole extending from a heel portion to a toe portion and having an upper surface serving as a sole support surface for supporting the sole of a shoe wearer, Each of the midsoles of the plurality of types of soles is an upper midsole made of an elastic material extending from the heel portion to the toe portion; a lower midsole having an upper surface that conforms to the lower surface of the upper midsole and extending from the heel portion to the toe portion and made of an elastic material; In each of the above soles, The position of the rear end on the sole support surface is P0. The position of the most distal end on the sole support surface is P100, A straight line connecting the position P0 and the position P100 is denoted by Ls. A curve along the sole support surface connecting the position P0 and the position P100 is Lc. The length of the curve Lc is L, P15 is a position on the curve Lc that is 0.15L away from the position P0. P45 is a position on the curve Lc that is 0.45L away from the position P0. P68 is a position on the curve Lc that is 0.68L away from the position P0. The intersection point between the lower surface and a straight line perpendicular to the straight line Ls passing through the position P45 is C, When the straight line connecting the position P15 and the position P68 is T, The plurality of types of soles are configured such that, when not worn, they contact the ground at the intersection point C, while the heel portion does not contact the ground, The upper midsoles of the plurality of types of soles are formed to have the same shape, The lower midsoles of the plurality of types of soles are formed in different shapes so that the angle between the straight line T and the ground is a different angle downward from the front between the plurality of types of soles. The sole series is characterized by its

2. In the sole series according to claim 1, In each of the above soles, The intersection point between the line perpendicular to the line Ls passing through the position P45 and the lower surface of the upper midsole is P45'. The intersection point between the line perpendicular to the line Ls passing through the position P68 and the lower surface of the upper midsole is P68'. When the straight line connecting the position P45' and the position P68' is T', The lower midsole of the plurality of types of soles is formed such that the angle between the straight line T' and the ground is a different downward angle between the plurality of types of soles. The sole series is characterized by its

3. In the sole series according to claim 1 or 2, At least one of the lower midsoles of the plurality of types of soles is a long lower midsole whose front end is located forward of the front end of the upper midsole, and whose upper surface of the front end located forward of the front end of the upper midsole constitutes the front end of the sole support surface. The sole series is characterized by its

4. In the sole series according to claim 3, The above long lower midsole is When a position P90 on the curve Lc that is 0.90L away from the position P0 is defined as P90, The position P90 is configured to be on the upper surface of the upper midsole. The sole series is characterized by its

5. In the sole series according to claim 2, Each of the plurality of types of soles includes a plate made of an elastic material having a harderness than that of the upper midsole, the plate being provided between the upper midsole and the lower midsole, The plates of the plurality of types of soles are formed in the same shape. The sole series is characterized by its

6. A method for manufacturing a sole having a midsole extending from a heel portion to a toe portion and having an upper surface serving as a sole support surface for supporting the sole of a shoe wearer, comprising: The sole is one of the soles constituting the sole series described in claim 1, A selection step is provided for selecting one of the lower midsoles from a plurality of types of the lower midsoles having different shapes. A method for manufacturing a sole comprising the steps of:

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