Sole for sports shoe

Abstract

To provide an inner sole and a sole component for a sports shoe.SOLUTION: An inner sole for a sports shoe includes a top surface arranged to face a foot of a wearer of a shoe, where the top surface includes at least two textured areas. The textured areas each include a plurality of protuberances, recesses, or holes. The top surface further includes at least one untextured area not having protuberances, recesses or holes. A first textured area is located in a toe region of the inner sole, and a second textured area is located in a heel region of the inner sole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application is a continuation - in - part of U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 526,888, filed on December 1, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The embodiments described herein relate to insoles for sports shoes. Some embodiments described herein relate to sole components of sports shoes. Further embodiments relate to uppers for sports shoes.

Background Art

[0003] A wide range of factors are known to affect sports performance. The most prevalent ones relate to human physiology, biomechanics, and various movement control factors. Conventional sports equipment has long been regarded as an aid or facilitator for those factors to improve central performance and minimize injuries and discomfort. Over the past 50 to 60 years, researchers and engineers in academia and industry have been pushing the boundaries of both the theoretical knowledge and practical applications of sports through increasingly sophisticated materials, product designs, and the development of training regimens aimed at performance improvement.

[0004] Although these developments are still ongoing, in certain areas, the boundaries achievable from an engineering and design perspective have been reached, and the industry is seeking other avenues that could lead to new performance products with significant and perceivable effects on performance.

[0005] Relatively new categories of sports products focus on manipulating perception and attention to optimize performance in games. One of the underlying mechanisms, also called proprioception (and also kinesthesia), relates to the sense of one's own movement, force, and position. Proprioception is regulated by proprioceptors, mechanosensory neurons located in the skin, muscles, tendons, and joints. Proprioceptive signals are sent to the central nervous system, where they are integrated with information from other sensory systems such as the visual and vestibular systems to create an overall representation of position, movement, and acceleration. Sensory feedback from proprioceptors is important for stabilizing posture and coordinating body movements.

[0006] For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022 / 0134046 refers to a mechanically receptive stimulatory garment having a plurality of protrusions disposed across the inner surface of a fabric garment, the plurality of protrusions being configured with respect to size, clustering, and spacing to target, in particular, skin receptors when brought into contact with a user.

[0007] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005 / 252039 relates to a method for providing an insole and an insole for footwear for enhanced foot sensory stimulation within footwear. The method includes preselecting a position on the foot according to a nerve at a location to be stimulated and providing means for stimulating a raised area of the insole at the preselected position during a walking movement of the foot on the insole.

[0008] German Patent Application Publication No. 102005053768 relates to a method for producing an insole, in particular a proprioceptive insole for footwear, the insole having at least one predetermined raised area, generally a plurality of such areas, on an essentially flat support having an essentially constant thickness.

[0009] Background information on the stimulation of cutaneous receptors or afferent nerves can be found, for example, in Kennedy et al.: “Distribution and behaviour of glabrous cutaneous receptors in the human foot sole” (Journal of Physiology (2002), 538.3, pp. 995 - 1002), as well as Katic et al.: “Modeling foot sole cutaneous afferents: FootSim” (iScience 26, 105874, January 20, 2023).

[0010] However, known sports shoes still have room for improvement with respect to proprioception and motor ability, not only with regard to the location of foot stimulation, but also with regard to other aspects leading to a good experience in training and competition, such as comfort and reduction of unnecessary pressure on the foot.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0011]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Non - Patent Documents

[0012]

Non - Patent Document 1

[0013] The above object is at least partially achieved by the claimed subject matter. Additional embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, and other suitable embodiments are described throughout the disclosure of this application.

[0014] In one aspect, these objects are addressed by an insole for sports shoes having an upper surface arranged to face the foot of the shoe wearer when the insole is disposed within the shoe, the upper surface including at least two texture areas, each texture area including a plurality of protrusions, recesses, holes, or combinations thereof, the upper surface including at least one non - texture area having no protrusions, recesses, or holes, a first texture area being located in the toe region of the insole, and a second texture area being located in the heel region of the insole.

[0015] In the context of the present application, an insole is understood to be adapted or arranged to be disposed in a shoe such that when the shoe is worn in the normal manner, the wearer's foot will touch the insole on the underside of the wearer's foot. An insole may sometimes be referred to as an insole or a sockliner. An insole generally has a flat shape and extends from the toe region of the shoe to the heel region. In the context of the present application, an insole can be fixedly or removably attached to the shoe. The upper surface of the insole is understood to be the surface of the insole that faces the wearer's foot when the insole is disposed in the shoe. The shoe as well as the insole can be "left" or "right", and it is understood that the "left" insole is intended to be inserted or assembled into the "left" shoe and the "right" insole is intended to be inserted or assembled into the "right" shoe.

[0016] According to some embodiments, the insole includes at least two texture areas. The areas are understood to be part of the upper surface of the insole. The texture areas include a plurality of protrusions, recesses, holes, or combinations thereof. Generally, a protrusion is understood to be a protruding feature of the upper surface including a prominent tip, a recess is understood to be a depression of the upper surface that does not form a hole, and a hole is understood to be an opening that extends to the opposite bottom surface. In some embodiments, the texture areas include a plurality of such protrusions, recesses, holes, or combinations thereof. Thus, the texture areas can be distinguished from other areas, represented as non-texture areas, that do not have such protrusions, recesses, or holes. In some embodiments, the non-texture areas can be areas of the upper surface that are smooth, flat, or planar.

[0017] It is understood that the texture area can include only protrusions, only recesses, only holes, or any combination of protrusions, recesses, or holes. Thus, the texture area can include only protrusions, or only recesses, or only holes, or only protrusions and recesses, or only protrusions and holes, or only recesses and holes, or protrusions, recesses, and holes. Also, the first texture area can include one of the combinations described above, and the second texture area can include another one of the combinations described above. For example, while the first texture area can include only recesses, the second texture area can include only protrusions, and vice versa. Surprisingly, the inventors have found that a proprioceptive effect can be achieved by the protrusions, recesses, and holes.

[0018] Furthermore, according to some embodiments, the first texture area is located in the toe region of the insole. The toe region of the insole is understood as the area where the wearer's toes will be located when the insole is properly positioned in the shoe the wearer is wearing. Generally, throughout this description, any reference to an anatomical area or region in the insole, or the upper of the shoe, or the sole of the shoe, is understood to relate to the human foot wearing a shoe having such an insole, upper, or sole. Thus, the heel area or region is understood as any area or region where the heel of the human foot is located. Similar definitions apply to the areas or regions of the "midfoot bone", "arch", "transition area from the midfoot bone to the arch", "medial", and "lateral".

[0019] Furthermore, according to some embodiments, the second texture area is located in the heel region of the insole. Thus, the insole defines at least two texture areas, each located in the toe region and the heel region respectively, and further at least one non-texture area. The inventors have discovered that the protrusions, recesses, or holes in this arrangement enable optimal stimulation of the most important skin receptors or afferent nerves. By stimulating at least the toe region and the heel region of the athlete, the proprioceptive sense of the foot can be enhanced to such an extent that it can measure athletic ability, reactivity, and agility. On the other hand, not all areas of the human foot are equally important for proprioception, and protrusions, recesses, or holes in the high-pressure areas of the foot may be perceived as discomfort, so the non-texture area increases comfort. Additionally, stimulating the targeted locations on the foot enhances the proprioceptive effect.

[0020] Therefore, the insole according to the embodiments described herein strikes a balance between a significant proprioceptive effect on athletic ability and comfort. In addition, the protrusions, recesses, and holes formed in the insole increase the ventilation of the foot. Air can directly ventilate through the holes formed in the insole, while the protrusions and recesses formed in the insole lead to the formation of lateral air paths under the foot. Slight movements of the foot in the shoe promote air flow and exchange, which contributes to a certain degree of thermoregulation.

[0021] Another advantageous effect of the embodiments of the present application is the massage effect on the foot that promotes blood circulation. As a result, the foot is much less likely to get numb compared to the non-patterned surface. Furthermore, the surface pattern formed by the protrusions, recesses, and holes increases the friction between the insole and the foot or sock, enhancing the overall stability of the shoe. Also, the holes generally help to reduce the material and weight of the shoe.

[0022] The insole according to the embodiment described in this specification may be distinguishable from separate elements, i.e., other components of the shoe, or may be an integral component, i.e., integral with one or more other components of the shoe. For example, the insole may be integral with the midsole, outsole, or outsole plate of the shoe. It is also conceivable that the insole is integral with the lasting board or strobel sole. Accordingly, the protrusions, recesses, or holes will be disposed on the inner surface of the midsole, outsole, or outsole plate. Alternatively, the protrusions, recesses, or holes may be disposed on the inner surface of the lasting board or strobel sole.

[0023] The texture area may correspond to the area of the human foot that has a higher density of mechanical receptors as compared to the area of the human foot that corresponds to the non-texture area of the insole. In this way, targeted stimulation is enabled in the area of the foot that leads to the most prominent and beneficial proprioceptive effect. The areas of the insole that correspond to a lower density of mechanical receptors need not be patterned, which increases comfort and enables more differentiated anatomically accurate stimulation. As used herein, "mechanical receptor" is understood to be a cutaneous receptor or afferent nerve in the sole of the human foot that is capable of sensing mechanical pressure, skin stretch, or the absence thereof on the skin of the human foot.

[0024] Another advantage of the insole according to the embodiments described herein is that it can reduce the movement of the foot within the footwear, which can also improve comfort and performance during certain movements. Thus, the protrusions, recesses, or holes increase the friction between the insole and the wearer's foot or sock. In this way, the insole serves to create particular interactions between the insole or insole lining and the sock, skin, or foot. Those interactions have a higher friction than in existing footwear and can even reduce the amount of stability required from the upper part of the shoe, which can not only reduce manufacturing costs but also lead to lighter shoes. Also, athletes and sports players often wear special grip socks, and the insole according to the embodiments described herein can potentially reduce that need. Rather, the athlete or sports player will be able to wear socks that prioritize comfort over grip.

[0025] The first texture area and the second texture area can be separate and can be separated by a non-texture area. Thus, the first texture area and the second texture area form separate and distinct areas on the upper surface of the insole. The non-texture area according to this particular embodiment is disposed at least partially between them to separate the texture areas. This allows for very well-targeted stimulation of the mechanical receptors of the human foot, while at the same time the non-texture area between the two stimulating texture areas adds a contrast of stimulation, which increases the proprioceptive effect as well as the wearing comfort. Additionally, separate patterns of texture areas and non-texture areas can provide stimulation specific to movement. For example, during various stages of the walking cycle, such as staggering, kicking off, landing, etc. through the stance phase, specific stimulation can be provided.

[0026] The second texture area can be located at the very back of the heel region. The inventors have found that this particular location on the human foot is important for a positive proprioceptive effect.

[0027] The insole further includes a third texture area located on the lateral part of the heel region and a fourth texture area located on the inner part of the heel region. The texture areas in this arrangement have the advantage of stimulating the heel during lateral or medial movement where the foot, and thus the shoe and insole, stretch more on the lateral or medial side. The third area and the fourth area can be distinct and distinguishable from each other. For example, a non-texture area can be arranged between the third texture area and the fourth texture area.

[0028] The first non-texture area can be located at the central part of the heel region. Usually, the highest pressure of the human foot on the heel against a flat surface such as an insole is exerted by the central part of the heel. Anatomically, the heel bone, i.e., the calcaneus, is located in the heel and has a spherical shape that gives rise to such a peak-like pressure distribution. By arranging a non-texture area in this central heel region, discomfort due to protrusions, recesses, or holes is avoided. However, texture areas such as the third texture area and the fourth texture area described above that can be arranged around the central heel region still enable sufficient proprioception to achieve a positive effect measurable with respect to motor ability and responsiveness.

[0029] The first non-texture area can extend from the heel region into the midfoot bone region along the inner region and cannot extend into the toe region. The absence of protrusions, recesses, or holes on the inner side and in a part of the midfoot bone region does not adversely affect proprioception but instead enhances wearing comfort.

[0030] The first texture area can extend from the toe region along the lateral region of the midfoot region and can end in front of the heel region. The inventors have found that these regions are important for proprioception and that protrusions, recesses, or holes in these regions increase the positive proprioceptive effect.

[0031] The non-texture area may be located in the area of the big toe of the foot. This increases the overall wearing comfort but does not impair the positive proprioceptive effect described herein.

[0032] The non-texture area may be located in the medial midfoot bone area and may be surrounded by the first texture area. In this way, unnecessary pressure in the medial midfoot bone area is avoided. However, since this area is surrounded by protrusions, recesses, or holes, a significant proprioceptive effect is achieved.

[0033] The non-texture area may be located in the transition area from the lateral midfoot bone to the instep. Similar to the locations described above, unnecessary pressure is avoided, but a significant proprioceptive effect is achieved.

[0034] The insole may further include a fifth texture area located in the transition area from the medial midfoot bone to the instep. The inventors have found that this particular location advantageously increases the proprioceptive effect. This is due to the fact that this particular area exhibits a high density of mechanical receptors.

[0035] The density of protrusions, recesses, or holes may be higher in the first part of the insole compared to the second part of the insole. For example, the density of protrusions, recesses, or holes may be higher on the lateral side of the insole compared to the medial side of the insole. The density of mechanical receptors is generally higher on the lateral side of the human foot, and thus, higher density protrusions, recesses, or holes on this side generally achieve a significant positive proprioceptive effect, while the medial side may have lower density protrusions, recesses, or holes, which increases wearing comfort but clearly contrasts with the lateral side that amplifies the proprioceptive effect. The density in the context of this application is understood as the number of protrusions, recesses, or holes per unit surface area, for example, the number of protrusions, recesses, or holes per square centimeter. The surface area may include the texture area and non-texture area of the insole, and thus, the density is understood as an average value.

[0036] The hardness of the protrusions can vary across the insole. In some embodiments, the first texture area can have protrusions of a first hardness, and the second texture area can have protrusions of a second hardness different from the first hardness. In this way, the hardness can be adapted to the density and sensitivity of the mechanical receptors of the human foot. Additionally or alternatively, the hardness can reflect the local hardness of the skin of the human foot, with harder protrusions being placed in areas of the human foot that are harder compared to softer areas of the skin of the human foot. In another example, the hardness of the protrusions can reflect the thickness of the adipose tissue of the human foot.

[0037] The hardness of the protrusions can be correlated with the hardness of the skin of the human foot. Thus, harder protrusions are placed in areas of the human foot with higher skin hardness, and softer protrusions are placed in areas of the human foot with lower skin hardness. In this way, the underlying mechanical receptors can still be sufficiently stimulated even when harder skin covers those mechanical receptors. On the other hand, mechanical receptors covered by softer skin are not overly stimulated. Furthermore, by targeting the hardness of the protrusions to the surface characteristics of the human foot, wearing comfort is enhanced.

[0038] The non - texture area can be located in an area having a maximum of the pressure distribution of the pressure caused by the human foot standing on the insole. The pressure distribution of the human foot can be generally measured by a pressure plate, which provides a distribution of pressure, i.e., specific pressure values associated with specific locations on the pressure plate. When the insole described herein is placed in a shoe, the pressure distribution of the wearer's foot will be similar if not identical to the measured pressure distribution. The pressure distribution will exhibit a maximum where the pressure is highest compared to surrounding locations. Placing the non - texture area at such a maximum of the pressure distribution increases wearing comfort.

[0039] At least one maximum of the pressure distribution can be surrounded by a texture area. In this way, while avoiding the adverse effects of protrusions, recesses, or holes located at the maximum value of local pressure, the proprioreceptive effect described herein is realized. The maximum of the pressure can exist, for example, in the central region of the heel and the central region of the ball of the big toe. Protrusions, recesses, or holes may be perceived as discomfort in those locations.

[0040] The protrusion can have a pyramid shape. The inventor has found that this shape enables a very remarkable positive proprioreceptive effect. Also, the pyramid is advantageous from the perspective of production and can be obtained, for example, by molding.

[0041] The pyramid can have a rounded tip. The inventor has found that the rounded tip does not impair the proprioreception but is perceived as more comfortable compared to a sharp tip. Also, the rounded tip reduces the wearing of the sock.

[0042] The protrusion can have an average diameter of 1 to 10 mm, 2 to 5 mm, or 3 to 4 mm. The inventor has found that these dimensions produce the desired proprioreceptive effect on the mechanical receptors of the human foot but are perceived as comfortable.

[0043] The protrusion can have an average height of 0.5 to 5 mm, 0.75 to 3 mm, or 1 to 1.5 mm. The inventor has found that these height ranges produce the desired proprioreceptive effect on the mechanical receptors of the human foot but are perceived as comfortable.

[0044] The protrusion can have a hardness of 40 to 70 Shore A or 50 to 60 Shore A. The inventor has found that these hardness ranges produce the desired proprioreceptive effect on the mechanical receptors of the human foot but are perceived as comfortable.

[0045] The insole may further include a fabric layer, and protrusions, recesses, or holes are disposed on the fabric layer. The fabric layer enhances comfort. Further, the fabric has the ability to wick moisture, which is an important aspect for insoles.

[0046] The insole may further include a foam layer, and the fabric layer is disposed on the foam layer. The foam layer creates a soft feel on the foot and can compensate for the different anatomical structures of different wearers' feet. In addition, the foam layer can provide a certain level of cushioning. Despite the foam layer, the protrusions, recesses, or holes on the insole still provide the positive proprioceptive effects described herein.

[0047] The foam layer may include at least one of a polymer foam, particularly a polyurethane (PU) foam such as a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foam, a polyamide (PA) foam, a polyether block amide (PEBA) foam, a thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (TPEE) foam. Alternatively, the foam layer may include one or more of a foamed granular material, particularly the following materials, expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU), expanded polyamide (ePA), expanded polyether block amide (ePEBA), expanded polylactic acid (ePLA), expanded polyethylene terephthalate (ePET), expanded polybutylene terephthalate (ePBT), expanded thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (eTPEE).

[0048] The foam particles can be made of or contain a foamed thermoplastic material, especially thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polylactic acid (PLA), polyamide (PA), polyether block amide (PEBA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (TPEE). The foam particles can be beads containing multiple polymer types in one foam particle, or the foam particles can be a mixture of different particles of different foam polymers, or a combination thereof. The foam particles can contain 90% of the weight of one of these materials or a mixture of these materials. These foam particles are particles containing so-called bead foams, also known in the art as pellets or foam grains. Foams derived from the use of connected foam particles are often given the symbol "e", such as eTPU, to represent the bead form of the polymer foam component.

[0049] Generally, the foam layer can have a number of hardness components or materials. For example, the foam layer can have a higher hardness in the heel region compared to the toe region. In another example, the foam layer can include EVA and PU.

[0050] The height of the protrusions can vary across the insole. For example, the protrusions can be higher in the heel region of the insole compared to other regions of the insole. Generally, the size of the protrusions can be adapted to the sensitivity of the foot region.

[0051] The shape of the protrusions can vary across the insole. Generally, the shape of the protrusions can be adapted to the sensitivity of the foot region.

[0052] The insole may be manufactured by an additive manufacturing process. Exemplary additive manufacturing processes include material extrusion, stereolithography, liquid deposition modeling, and selective laser sintering. Additive manufacturing enables geometries that are not possible with molding and has a high potential for individual customization.

[0053] The insole can be integral with the sole component of the shoe. The sole component can be a midsole, an outsole, or an outsole plate. Thus, the protrusion will protrude from the midsole, the outsole, or the outsole plate. The integral insole has the advantage of not only reducing the weight of the shoe but also avoiding the movement of the insole within the shoe.

[0054] The insole according to the embodiments described herein is an orthopedic insert. Thus, the orthopedic insert can include the protrusions, recesses, or holes described herein. The orthopedic insert can be individually customized for a particular wearer and can compensate for orthopedic problems the wearer may have. Therefore, the orthopedic insert does not cover the entire foot of the wearer. For example, the orthopedic insert can extend only along the inner side or the lateral side. In another example, the orthopedic insert may not extend over the entire length of the foot. For example, the orthopedic insert can cover only the heel region, the arch region, or the toe region of the foot.

[0055] Some of the embodiments described herein relate to shoes having the insole described herein. Needless to say, the technical features illustrated and described for the insole are also applicable to shoes that have advantages and improvements beyond the state of the art, especially sports shoes. The same applies vice versa.

[0056] The shoe further includes a midsole, an outsole, or an outsole plate, and the insole can be a separate element from the midsole, the outsole, or the outsole plate, or the insole can be integral with the midsole, the outsole, or the outsole plate. In this way, the advantageous effects described herein can be provided by the insole itself or by a separate element. This allows for either a very well-integrated solution or the option to customize the insole individually.

[0057] Some embodiments relate to a method of manufacturing an insole as described herein. The method includes providing a base layer and forming protrusions on the base layer to form a textured area and a non-textured area. Also, the technical characteristics illustrated and described for the insole are of course applicable to the method as well, as are the advantages and improvements over the state of the art.

[0058] Generally, the sports shoes in the embodiments described herein relate to soccer shoes, running shoes, and outdoor shoes, or basketball shoes. This list is not exhaustive, but the inventors have noticed that the specific receptive effects are particularly advantageous in the above-mentioned types of sports shoes.

[0059] Some embodiments described herein relate to an article of footwear comprising an insole that includes a first surface opposite a second surface, the first surface having a non-textured area and a plurality of protrusions disposed on the second surface. The article of footwear includes a midsole having an upper surface with a plurality of engagement elements, and the insole is removably fixable to the midsole. When the second surface of the insole is disposed facing the upper surface of the midsole, the plurality of protrusions are engaged by the plurality of engagement elements, and the second surface of the insole faces the engagement with the upper surface of the midsole.

[0060] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the plurality of engagement elements may include a plurality of recesses.

[0061] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the plurality of engagement elements may be arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the plurality of protrusions.

[0062] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the first surface may not have protrusions.

[0063] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the second surface may have protrusions disposed in the first region, and no protrusions may be disposed in the second region.

[0064] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the toe region includes a first protrusion, the heel region includes a second protrusion, and the midfoot region includes a non-textured area without protrusions.

[0065] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the midsole is made of a foam material.

[0066] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the plurality of protrusions may be formed by a liquid polymer coating process.

[0067] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the plurality of protrusions may be integrally formed with the insole.

[0068] Some embodiments described herein are a sole assembly for an article of footwear, the sole assembly having a first sole layer having a first surface opposite the second surface, and a plurality of holes extending through the first sole layer from the first surface to the second surface in one or more regions of the first sole layer and configured to provide a proprioceptive effect. The sole assembly further includes a second sole layer coupled to the second surface, the second sole layer not including holes and configured to be placed in contact with the wearer's foot.

[0069] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the first sole layer includes a foam material.

[0070] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the second sole layer includes a fabric material.

[0071] In any of the various embodiments described herein, a first hole among the plurality of holes may be disposed in the toe region, and a second hole among the plurality of holes may be disposed in the heel region. In some embodiments, the non-texture area may be disposed in the midfoot region of the first sole layer.

[0072] Some embodiments described herein relate to a sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising an insole having a top surface, a toe region, a midfoot region, and a heel region and configured to support a wearer's foot. The sole includes a first protrusion disposed in the toe region of the insole, a second protrusion disposed along a lateral side of the midfoot region of the insole, a third protrusion disposed in the heel region of the insole, and a first non-texture area without a protrusion disposed on an inner side of the midfoot region.

[0073] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the sole may further include a hole extending through the midfoot region.

[0074] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the second protrusion may have a size smaller than the size of the first protrusion.

[0075] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the sole may further include a second non-texture area at the center of the heel region.

[0076] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the sole may further include a second non-texture area on a lateral side of the toe region.

[0077] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the sole includes a widened protrusion disposed in the toe region, and the widened protrusion includes a generally triangular shape.

[0078] The present invention includes the following embodiments. (1) A sole for shoes, An insole, comprising an upper surface arranged to face the foot of a wearer of a shoe when the insole is disposed within the shoe and having the upper surface including a first texture area and a second texture area, the first texture area and the second texture area each including a plurality of protrusions, recesses, or holes, the upper surface including a non - texture area that does not include protrusions, recesses, or holes, the first texture area being located in the toe region of the insole and the second texture area being located in the heel region of the insole. A sole. (2) The sole according to (1), wherein the second texture area is located at the rearmost part of the heel region. (3) The sole according to (1) or (2), further comprising a third texture area located on the lateral part of the heel region and a fourth texture area located on the medial part of the heel region. (4) The sole according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the non - texture area is located at the central part of the heel region. (5) The sole according to (4), wherein the non - texture area extends from the heel region along the medial region into the midfoot bone region and does not extend into the toe region. (6) The sole according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the first texture area extends from the toe region along the lateral region of the midfoot region and ends in front of the heel region. (7) The sole according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein the non - texture area is located in the area of the big toe of the foot. (8) The sole according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the non - texture area is located in the medial midfoot bone region and is surrounded by the first texture area. (9) The sole according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the non - texture area is located in the transition region from the lateral midfoot bone to the instep. The sole according to any one of (1) to (9), further comprising a fifth texture area located in the transition region from the medial intermediate cuneiform bone to the ball of the foot. The sole according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein the density of the plurality of protrusions, recesses, or holes is higher on the lateral side of the insole compared to the inner side of the insole. The sole according to any one of (1) to (11), wherein the plurality of protrusions, recesses, or holes includes protrusions, and the hardness of the protrusions varies across the insole. The sole according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein the plurality of protrusions, recesses, or holes in the first texture area or the second texture area includes protrusions, and one or more of the protrusions have a pyramidal shape. The sole according to (13), wherein one or more of the protrusions have a rounded tip. The sole according to any one of (1) to (14), further comprising a fabric layer, and the plurality of protrusions, recesses, or holes are disposed on the fabric layer. The sole according to (15), further comprising a foam layer, and the fabric layer is disposed on the foam layer. The sole according to any one of (1) to (16), wherein the plurality of protrusions, recesses, or holes includes protrusions, and the height of the protrusions varies across the insole. The sole according to any one of (1) to (17), wherein the plurality of protrusions, recesses, or holes includes protrusions, and the shape of the protrusions varies across the insole. A shoe comprising the sole according to any one of (1) to (18). The shoe according to (19), further comprising a midsole, an outsole, or an outsole plate, and the insole is integral with the midsole, the outsole, or the outsole plate.

[0079] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the following drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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Figure 19

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0081] In the following, only some possible embodiments will be described in detail. However, the present application is not limited to these embodiments, and many other embodiments are applicable without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Whenever it seems that some specific features that are not essential for compliance may be omitted, the embodiments described herein can be modified in multiple ways and combined with each other. In particular, the embodiments of the disclosure may be modified by combining some specific features of one embodiment with one or more features of another embodiment.

[0082] To achieve the technical advantages provided by this disclosure, it should be understood that not all features of the described embodiments need to be present, as defined by the claimed subject matter. Embodiments of the disclosure may be modified by combining some of the specific features of one embodiment with one or more features of another embodiment. Specifically, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that, in view of the resulting combination falling within the definition of this disclosure, the features and functional elements of one embodiment can be combined with the technically compatible features and functional elements of any other embodiment of this disclosure.

[0083] While the following embodiments are mainly described with reference to soles for shoes, particularly sports shoes, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that this disclosure can be equally applied to a plurality of different technical fields or use cases.

[0084] Throughout this application, the same reference numbers refer to the same elements. For clarity and conciseness, where the details are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the teachings herein, or where the details would obscure a more relevant aspect of the embodiment, some specific aspects of the components or steps of some specific embodiments are presented without such excessive detail.

[0085] As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, for the sake of avoiding redundancy, reference is also made to the descriptions in the preceding chapters, which also apply to the following descriptions. Further, for brevity and clarity, not all features, components, elements, aspects, constituents, or steps are explicitly shown by reference numerals. This applies particularly when one of ordinary skill in the art recognizes that there are multiple such features, components, elements, aspects, constituents, or steps.

[0086] Generally, as long as the protrusions are described in the continuing description shown in the drawings, it is understood that they can be replaced by recesses or holes to achieve a similar proprioceptive effect. Similarly, as long as the holes are described in the continuing description shown in the drawings, it is understood that they can be replaced by protrusions or recesses. Similarly, as long as the recesses are described in the continuing description shown in the drawings, it is understood that they can be replaced by protrusions or holes. In particular, any specific pattern of protrusions can be replaced by a similar pattern of recesses or holes, any specific pattern of holes can be replaced by a similar pattern of protrusions or recesses, and any specific pattern of recesses can be replaced by a similar pattern of protrusions or holes.

[0087] Figures 1A and 1B illustrate an embodiment, where Figure 1A shows the insole 1 in a side view from the inner side of the insole 1, and Figure 1B shows the same insole 1 in a rear view. The insole 1 is sometimes referred to as an insole or a sockliner and is generally intended to be placed inside a shoe (not shown in the drawings). Therefore, the insole 1 is to be placed inside the shoe, and thus the foot of the wearer of the shoe can rest on the insole 1. Accordingly, the insole 1 defines an upper surface 2 adapted to face the foot of the wearer and a bottom surface (not shown in the drawings) adapted to face the midsole of the shoe.

[0088] In the exemplary embodiment of Figures 1A and 1B, the insole 1 includes a number of layers. The base layer is formed by a foam layer 11, which makes up most of the insole 1 and generally defines its shape. The foam layer 11 can be made of, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), although other materials may also be used. For example, the foam layer 11 can include at least one of a polymer foam, particularly a polyurethane (PU) foam such as a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foam, a polyamide (PA) foam, a polyether block amide (PEBA) foam, or a thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (TPEE) foam.

[0089] Alternatively, the foam layer 11 may comprise one or more of a foamed particle material, in particular the following materials, foamed thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU), foamed polyamide (ePA), foamed polyether block amide (ePEBA), foamed polylactic acid (ePLA), foamed polyethylene terephthalate (ePET), foamed polybutylene terephthalate (ePBT), or foamed thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (eTPEE).

[0090] The foam particles may be made of or contain a foamed thermoplastic material, in particular thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polylactic acid (PLA), polyamide (PA), polyether block amide (PEBA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (TPEE). The foam particles can also be beads containing multiple polymer types in one foam particle, or the foam particles can be a mixture of different particles of different foam polymers, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the foam particles are 90% by weight of one of these materials, or a mixture of these materials. These foam particles are particles that include so-called bead foams, which are also known in the art as pellets or foam grains. Foams derived from linked foam particles are often given the symbol "e", such as eTPU, to represent the bead form of the polymer foam component.

[0091] Generally, the foam layer 11 may include a number of hardness components or materials. For example, the foam layer 11 has a higher hardness in the heel region compared to the toe region. In another example, the foam layer 11 may include EVA and PU.

[0092] A fabric layer 10 is disposed on the foam layer 11. The fabric layer 10 in the examples of FIGS. 1A and 1B can be a knitted fabric that can be warp or weft knitted. Generally, other fabrics such as woven fabrics, meshes, or non-woven fabrics may be used. Note that the insole 1 in other embodiments may include a single layer or three or more layers.

[0093] In the embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B, a plurality of protrusions 4a are arranged on the fabric layer 10. The protrusions 4a are shown in more detail in FIG. 1C, which shows the same exemplary insole 1 as FIGS. 1A and 1B but in an enlarged view. As shown in FIG. 1C, the protrusions 4a have a pyramidal shape with rounded tips 6, which is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2A and 2B. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, the protrusions 4a are made of polyurethane (PU), although other materials such as rubber may also be used.

[0094] FIGS. 2A and 2B show illustrations of the protrusions 4a used in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C. Each of the protrusions 4a has a rounded tip 6. In alternative embodiments, the tips will not be rounded, as will be described with respect to FIGS. 2C and 2D. In the dimensioned illustration of FIG. 2B, the protrusions 4a each have a height of 1.2 mm and a base area of 2.5 mm × 2.5 mm, as indicated by dimensions 7, 8, and 9 respectively. Dimensions will be different in other embodiments. Also, the present disclosure is not limited to pyramidal protrusions, and in other embodiments, non-limiting examples include that the protrusions can have a hemispherical, diamond-shaped, or elliptical shape.

[0095] FIGS. 2C and 2D show alternative shapes of the protrusions 4a. In this embodiment too, the protrusions 4a have a pyramidal shape. However, the tip 6 of the pyramid is not rounded and is sharp. Similar to the protrusions 4a of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the pyramids shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D each have an exemplary height of 1.2 mm and an exemplary base area of 2.5 mm × 2.5 mm, as indicated by dimensions 7, 8, and 9 respectively. Dimensions may be different in other embodiments.

[0096] In other embodiments, the shape of the protrusion 4a can vary across the surface of the insole 1. Thus, the protrusion 4a can have a different shape in the toe region compared to the heel region. Similarly, in the embodiments of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, while the protrusions 4a have the same dimensions regardless of their location on the upper surface 2 of the insole 1, in other embodiments the dimensions can vary. Thus, the protrusion 4a can have a smaller diameter in the toe region compared to the heel region. As long as reference is made herein to the dimensions of the protrusion 4a, this can also be understood as an average value for a part of the insole 1, for example, the toe region and the heel region. Also, the term "diameter" is not necessarily understood to refer to a circular shape, but rather refers to the general dimensions of the base of the protrusion 4a, or alternatively the distance between the tips of the protrusion 4a. Thus, the protrusion 4a shown in FIG. 2A has a secondary base with a length 8 and a width 9. Thus, the diameter of this particular protrusion 4a can be said to be its length or width. Alternatively, the length of the diagonal can be taken as the diameter, which in the examples of FIGS. 2B and 2D would be √2 of the length 8 or the width 9. Thus, the term "diameter" as used herein relates to the degree of size of the protrusion.

[0097] The protrusions 4a in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C have a hardness of 40 to 70 Shore A and may have a hardness of 50 to 60 Shore A. In other embodiments, the hardness will be different. In still other embodiments, the hardness can vary across the insole 1, for example, by using different materials in different regions of the insole 1. For example, a harder material for the protrusion 4a can be used in the toe region compared to the heel region.

[0098] In some embodiments, the protrusions, recesses, or holes may be arranged in one or more rows or columns, where the rows extend in a direction between the inner and lateral sides of the insole 1, and the columns extend in a direction between the toe region and the heel region. Thus, the protrusions, recesses, or holes may be arranged in a grid-like pattern. The number of protrusions, recesses, or holes in each row or column may be different to provide a desired layout of texture areas.

[0099] As shown in FIGS. 1A - 1C, the insole may include one or more texture areas. The texture areas may be spaced apart from each other and may be separated by one or more non-texture areas 5a. The texture areas of the insole 1 may have different shapes and arrangements. Further, the protrusions in each texture area may differ in one or more of shape, dimension, density, or material, as will be discussed in more detail herein. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1A - 1C, the protrusions 4a form a first texture area 3a in the toe region, a second texture area 3b in the heel region, a third texture area 3c in the lateral portion of the heel region, a fourth texture area 3d in the inner portion of the heel region, and a fifth texture area 3e in the transition region from the inner midfoot bone to the arch. In some embodiments, the second texture area 3b may be located at the rearmost part of the heel region. The non-texture area 5a is located in the inner midfoot bone region. A further non-texture area 5b is located in the transition region from the lateral midfoot bone to the arch. In other embodiments, the arrangement of the texture areas and non-texture areas can be different.

[0100] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary fabric layer 10 overmolded with protrusions 4a. The fabric layer 10 is shown in a state before cutting and before being attached to the foam layer 11, for example, by gluing, sewing, or welding.

[0101] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary method 100 for manufacturing an exemplary insole 1 described herein. Method steps 110, 120, and 130 relate to the step of manufacturing the foam layer 11, and method steps 140, 150, and 160 relate to the step of manufacturing the fabric layer 10 with the protrusions 4a overmolded thereon. Finally, method step 170 relates to the step of attaching the fabric layer 10 to the foam layer 11. Thus, method steps 110, 120, and 130 can be performed simultaneously with method steps 140, 150, and 160. In other embodiments, the foam layer 11 can be manufactured before the fabric layer 10, and in still other embodiments, the fabric layer 10 can be manufactured first.

[0102] In step 110, an EVA foam layer is cut from a block of EVA material. The cutting can be performed with a knife, laser, water jet, etc. The cutting process can be automated, for example, by a robotic arm. Alternatively, the EVA foam layer is directly molded in a mold. For this purpose, raw material of EVA (e.g., in granular form) is placed in the mold and formed using pressure and / or heat to define the shape. In step 120, the cut or molded EVA foam layer is cold pressed, and in step 130, the EVA foam layer is trimmed to the desired shape.

[0103] In step 140, PU is injected into a mold having a recess corresponding to the protrusion 4a on the insole to be manufactured. Then, the PU is molded onto a fabric, such as the fabric shown in FIG. 3 for example. In step 160, the fabric is trimmed to the desired shape by cutting or punching, etc. Finally, in step 170, the fabric is attached to the foam layer to obtain an insole 1 as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C for example.

[0104] To prove the effectiveness of the insole described in this specification, a study was conducted with 20 participants. The study investigated the differences between the patterned insole described in this specification and a control insole with a smooth top surface in side-cutting tasks and start-stop tasks. In the side-cutting task, participants were asked to perform a running motion on grass, where two parallel lines were marked using cones. Participants started from either the randomly selected left or right side and ran 50 meters along the designated line while maintaining a constant speed. Throughout this motion, they listened for an auditory cue of the word "now". When they heard the cue, they were asked to immediately make a sharp (45-degree) turn in the direction of running and move to the other parallel line. This task was designed to test agility and the ability to quickly change direction.

[0105] In the start-stop task, which was conducted along a similar 50-meter straight track, participants were asked to start running when they heard the word "start" and immediately stop when they heard the word "stop". Auditory cues were repeatedly given throughout the task, and each participant heard a total of 15 commands (start, stop, and now) during each task. A "stop" command consistently followed each "start" command, and vice versa. These stimuli were separated at random intervals ranging from 2500 to 5000 milliseconds, during which it was expected that participants would respond appropriately.

[0106] The third test ("acoustic Stroop") consisted of a series of 16 randomized words, "right" or "left" (8 of each). The words were recorded using a 2-channel (stereo) recorder such that when the headphones were worn, each individual word was audible in only one ear (right or left). For half of these words, the meaning of the word was made to correspond to the ear in which it was heard ("right" to the right ear, "left" to the left ear), while for the other half it was reversed ("right" to the left ear, "left" to the right ear). The order of the congruent word-ear pairs and the incongruent word-ear pairs was randomized, and there was a time interval (a random time between 2.5 and 5 seconds) between successive words. Participants were instructed to respond immediately upon hearing the word, responding "correctly" to the congruent word-ear situation and "incorrectly" to the incongruent word-ear situation. A remote telephone recording device was used to record the responses on the same AV track as the stimuli. During processing, the acoustic files were digitized to create sound envelopes for both the stimuli and the responses, and the time between the peaks of the stimulus and the response was quantified and recorded as the "response time".

[0107] Then, the participants completed all three tests, and the reaction times for each test were recorded. The entire dataset recorded for the study consisted of 120 independent sessions (40 sessions each for the independent tests of the acoustic Stroop, side cut, and start stop). Data from 7 of these sessions (5.8%) were unusable due to data recording or synchronization issues. The study results showed that participants wearing the insole described herein showed a significant improvement in reaction time (p-value = 0.044) for the side cut task. The reaction times for the start stop task were virtually identical for the two conditions (p-value = 0.33). The average reaction time for the patterned insole was 1.34 seconds for the side cut task and 1.40 seconds for the start stop task. The average reaction time for the control condition was 1.41 seconds for the side cut task and 1.42 seconds for the start stop task. The average reaction value for the acoustic Stroop test was 606 milliseconds for the control condition and 526 milliseconds for the patterned insole condition. The difference between the two conditions was significant (p-value = 0.003).

[0108] This study shows that the patterned insole described herein shortened the reaction time by a significant amount for a standard cognitive task (acoustic Stroop test) and also led to an improvement in a common football task (side cut). The improvement in side cut time reached statistical significance for 20 issues. Thus, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of the insole described herein.

[0109] Figure 5 shows an embodiment related to another embodiment, namely a sole component 20 for a sports shoe, and the sole component 20 of the embodiment of Figure 5 is a midsole. Generally, the sole component 20 according to this aspect may be a midsole, a strobel sole, a lasting board, or a similar component arranged to contact the wearer's foot. In other embodiments, for example, in a mule - type shoe structure where the vamp extends under the foot and is partially disposed between the foot and the midsole or outsole, the sole component may be part of the vamp. The midsole 20 includes an upper surface 2 that is arranged to face the foot of the wearer of the shoe in which the midsole is to be disposed. The upper surface 2 includes a plurality of protrusions 4a and holes 4b. Thus, what has been described herein with respect to the protrusions 4a on an insole, such as the insole 1 illustratively shown in FIGS. 1A - 1C, 3, 6A - 6D, 7, 8A - 8D, 9A, and 10C, is also applicable to this embodiment of the sole component. In particular, the above - mentioned advantages of the protrusions 4a and the described proprioceptive effects apply to the sole component as well. Similarly, the holes 4b also achieve the proprioceptive effects described herein.

[0110] The midsole 20 in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5 is made of a foam material. As an example, the upper portion of the midsole 20 is made of EVA, and the lower portion of the midsole 20 is made of a supercritical foam material. In other embodiments, the sole component 20 may include at least one of a polymer foam, particularly a polyurethane (PU) foam such as a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) foam, a polyamide (PA) foam, a polyether block amide (PEBA) foam, or a thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (TPEE) foam.

[0111] Alternatively, the sole component may include one or more of a foamed particle material, particularly the following materials: expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU), expanded polyamide (ePA), expanded polyether block amide (ePEBA), expanded polylactic acid (ePLA), expanded polyethylene terephthalate (ePET), expanded polybutylene terephthalate (ePBT), or expanded thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (eTPEE).

[0112] The foam particles can be made of a foamed thermoplastic material, especially thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polylactic acid (PLA), polyamide (PA), polyether block amide (PEBA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), or thermoplastic polyester ether elastomer (TPEE). The foam particles can also be beads containing multiple polymer types in one foam particle, or the foam particles can be a mixture of different particles of different foam polymers, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the foam particles are 90% by weight of one of these materials, or a mixture of these materials. These foam particles are particles that include so-called bead foams, which are also known in the art as pellets or foam grains. Foams derived from connected foam particles are often given the symbol "e", such as eTPU, to represent the bead form of the polymer foam component.

[0113] The protrusion 4a in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5 has an average height of 1.3 mm, which can be different in other embodiments. Generally, the protrusions of the sole component according to this embodiment may be larger (e.g., 1 - 4 mm) than the protrusions on the insole described herein.

[0114] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the shoe to which the midsole 20 is to be integrated will not have an insole disposed on top of the midsole 20. In other embodiments, an insole will be disposed on top of the midsole 20. In this case, the insole will include a plurality of openings such that a plurality of protrusions 4a of the midsole 20 protrude through the plurality of openings. The height of the protrusions 4a and the thickness of the insole in this embodiment can be adapted such that the protrusions 4a protrude, for example, 0.5 mm above the upper surface of the insole. Thus, the positive proprioceptive effect described herein can be realized. Moreover, the insole can have the protrusions 4a described herein. Accordingly, embodiments regarding the insole 1 and the sole component 20 can generally be combined.

[0115] The protrusions 4a in the embodiment of FIG. 5 have a dome-shaped configuration. In other embodiments, the shape will be different, such as spherical, pyramidal, etc. Also, the location of the protrusions 4a can be different. For example, the protrusions can alternatively or additionally be located in the toe region or the arch region to provide arch support. Also, the shape, height, diameter, or hardness of the protrusions 4a can vary across the sole component 20. Generally, these characteristics can be adapted to the density or sensitivity of the mechanical receptors of the human foot or the pressure exerted by the human foot on the sole component 20. The same considerations described for the insole 1 apply in this context as well.

[0116] Hereinafter, embodiments regarding the sole component 20 will be described. 1. A sole component for a sports shoe includes an upper surface disposed to face the foot of a wearer of the sports shoe, the upper surface including a plurality of protrusions. 2. The sole component according to embodiment 1, which is a midsole, a strobel sole, or a lasting board. 3. The sole component according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the protrusions are disposed in the toe region of the sole component. 4. The sole component according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 3, wherein the protrusion is disposed in the heel region of the sole component. 5. The sole component according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the protrusion has a diameter of 1 to 8 mm, 2 to 6 mm, or 3 to 4 mm. 6. The sole component according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the protrusion has a height of 0.5 to 6 mm, 0.8 to 5 mm, or 1 to 4 mm. 7. The sole component according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the protrusion is located around the region having the maximum of the pressure distribution of the pressure caused by a human foot standing on the sole component. 8. The sole component according to Embodiment 7, wherein no protrusion is disposed at the maximum of the pressure distribution. 9. The sole component according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the sole component is manufactured by an additive manufacturing process. 10. A sports shoe having the sole component according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 9. 11. The sports shoe according to Embodiment 10, further comprising an insole disposed on the sole component, the insole including a plurality of openings through which a plurality of protrusions of the sole component protrude. 12. The sports shoe according to Embodiment 11, wherein the insole has an average thickness such that a plurality of protrusions protruding through the plurality of openings protrude 0.1 to 1 mm, 0.2 to 0.8 mm, or 0.3 to 0.7 mm from the upper surface of the insole. 13. The sports shoe according to any one of Embodiments 10 to 12, wherein the insole is manufactured by an additive manufacturing process.

[0117] Figures 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D show further exemplary embodiments in which the insole 1 or the sole component 20 is manufactured by an additive manufacturing process. Thus, Figures 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D, and the following description, are applicable to both an additively manufactured insole and a sole component such as an additively manufactured midsole or a part thereof. Exemplary additive manufacturing processes include material extrusion, stereolithography, liquid deposition modeling, and selective laser sintering. Additive manufacturing is also referred to as 3D printing.

[0118] Figure 6A shows an upper layer of a 3D printed lattice structure including a plurality of arches 61 that form protrusions 4a that cause the proprioreceptive effects described herein. The lattice structure may be provided on the insole 1 or on the sole component 20 as described herein. Similarly, holes 4b are formed between the arches 61, which also cause the proprioreceptive effects described herein. The arches 61 have a certain compressibility so as to bring comfort to the foot. The arches 61 form the textured area 3a of the insole 1 or the sole component 20 shown in Figure 6A. Similarly, a 3D printed non-textured area 5 is also provided.

[0119] Figure 6B shows a very well crushable (highly compressible) layer of thick beams forming the insole 1. The insole 1 in this exemplary embodiment is obtained by 3D printing and is disposed on a midsole 20 also obtained by 3D printing. In the embodiment of Figure 6B, the insole 1 is a separate element from the midsole 20, i.e., it is manufactured in a separate 3D printing process and then disposed on the midsole 20. In other embodiments, the insole 1 can be manufactured together with the midsole 20 in a single 3D printing process such that they are an integral part. The thick beams of the insole 1 or the midsole 20 form holes 4b that cause the proprioreceptive effects described herein between them. Alternatively, the thick beams can be interpreted as protrusions that cause the proprioreceptive effects.

[0120] Figure 6C shows a 3D printed insole 1 or sole component 20 having a raised step region 62 and a heel region 63 to enhance support and deformation. In this example, the upper layer includes a "top plate" element 4a that is the same in the heel region and the inner step region. These elements are the protrusions 4a described herein and cause a proprioceptive effect.

[0121] Figure 6D shows a 3D printed insole 1 or sole component 20 having a bump 4a that protrudes from the upper surface and interacts with the foot. The bump has a mushroom-like shape and forms a protrusion 4a that provides the proprioceptive effect described herein. In other embodiments, the bump can have a different shape. Also, the bump 4a forms a textured area 3a adjacent to a non-textured area 5 that is also 3D printed.

[0122] Figure 7 shows an embodiment of an insole 1 according to one embodiment. The insole 1 according to this embodiment has a two-layer structure with a sole part foam layer and a fabric layer on the foam layer. The insole 1 includes a plurality of holes 4b. A first subset of the holes 4b has a larger diameter than a second subset of the holes 4b. Thus, the holes define a first textured area 3a in the toe region of the insole 1. The first textured area includes large-diameter holes and small-diameter holes. Another textured area 3b is located in the heel region. The area 3b includes only large-diameter holes. Small-diameter holes are located in the arch region of the insole 1, while a mixture of large-diameter and small-diameter holes is located in the region between the toe and the arch. The embodiment of Figure 7 is an example of an insole 1 that has only holes as proprioceptive elements and no protrusions.

[0123] Figures 8A to 8D show embodiments of the insole 1 according to embodiments with protrusions having different shapes. In Figure 8A, the protrusion 4a has a pyramid shape similar to the embodiments of Figures 1A to 1C. However, since the pyramid has a larger bottom area, the number of pyramids is generally smaller in the embodiment of Figure 8A compared to the embodiments of Figures 1A to 1C. In other words, the density of the pyramids 4a is lower.

[0124] In the embodiment of Figure 8B, the protrusion 4a has a dome shape. In the embodiment of Figure 8C, the protrusion 4a has a prism shape. In the embodiment of Figure 8D, the protrusion 4a has a nail shape. An exemplary density of the nails is 5 per cm 2 2, an exemplary height is 7 mm, and an exemplary diameter is 2 mm.

[0125] Generally, for the embodiments of Figures 8A to 8D, the arrangement of the texture areas 3a to 3e and the non-texture area 5 is the same as that of the embodiments of Figures 1A to 1C. Accordingly, what has been described regarding the texture areas and the non-texture area for the embodiments of Figures 1A to 1C is also applicable to the embodiments of Figures 8A to 8D.

[0126] In contrast, Figure 9A shows an embodiment of the insole 1 having both the protrusion 4a and the hole 4b. The insole 1 of this exemplary embodiment is made of a foam material. The protrusion 4a is integral with the foam material and is obtained by molding the material with a mold having a recess corresponding to the protrusion 4a. The hole 4b is also formed during the molding process. Alternatively, the hole can also be obtained by punching. In the embodiment of Figure 9A, the protrusion 4a forms a first texture area 3a in the toe region of the insole 1 and a second texture area 3b in the heel region of the insole 1.

[0127] Figure 9B shows a shoe 80 into which the insole 1 shown in Figure 9A is inserted. The shoe 80 includes an upper portion 30 and a sole structure 81.

[0128] Figure 9C shows only the instep portion 30 of the shoe 80 shown in Figure 9B. The instep portion 30 includes a plurality of protrusions 4a on its inner side, i.e., the side facing the foot of the wearer of the shoe 80. The protrusions 4a of this exemplary embodiment are made of TPU and are applied to the instep portion 30 by printing. As described herein, the protrusions 4a of the instep portion 30 also cause a proprioreceptive effect on the foot of the wearer of the shoe 80. Thus, the instep portion 30 of the shoe in Figure 9C is part of a further embodiment.

[0129] Figure 10A shows another exemplary embodiment of a shoe 80 according to an embodiment. The shoe includes an insole 1 having holes. The insole 1 is made of a foam material and is shown in more detail in Figure 10C. Figure 10B shows the shoe 80 with the insole removed. As can be seen, the upper surface of the sole component 20 of the shoe 80 includes protrusions 4a that are configured to project through corresponding holes 4b in the insole 1 as also shown in Figure 10A. In this way, the protrusions 4a engage some of the holes 4b in the insole 1. This causes the insole 1 to be "positioned" with the sole component 20 and prevents the insole 1 from slipping within the shoe. Further, since the insole 1 is soft and compressible, it compresses when pressure is exerted by the foot, and thus the protrusions come into contact with the foot. In this way, a proprioreceptive effect is achieved by both the protrusions 4a and the holes 4b. For example, depending on the amount of pressure that varies during the walking cycle, the stimulation of the foot will mainly be caused by the protrusions 4a of the sole component 20 or the holes 4b of the insole 1.

[0130] Some embodiments relate to the upper 30 of a sports shoe. An exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 11. The upper 30 includes a plurality of protrusions 4a. Thus, the positive proprioceptive effects described herein for the insole 1 can also be applied to the upper 30. Additionally, embodiments related to the inner sole 1 and the sole component 20 can be generally combined with embodiments of the upper 30. In this way, a sports shoe can include the inner sole 1 and the upper 30 described herein. Alternatively, a sports shoe can include the sole component 20 and the upper 30 described herein.

[0131] In the example of FIG. 11, the upper 30 is based on a mesh fabric. Generally, in the context of this embodiment, the upper can be based on a knitted fabric, a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric, or a combination thereof. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the protrusions 4a are visible because they penetrate through the mesh. In other embodiments, the protrusions 4a will not be visible from the outside because they protrude from the inner surface of the upper to provide a proprioceptive effect to the wearer's foot. Thus, the protrusions 4a define a raised portion on the inner surface of the upper 30. The inner surface of the upper 30 is defined as a surface adapted to face the foot of the wearer of the shoe into which the upper 30 is incorporated.

[0132] The protrusions 4a can be provided during the manufacturing process of the fabric that makes up the upper. For example, in the case of a knitted upper, specific knitting elements can be provided during the knitting process, which protrude from the surface of the knitted fabric. Alternatively, the protrusions can be provided on an existing fabric by gluing, welding, or sewing, etc. Another possibility is the molding of protrusions onto the fabric as described above with respect to the fabric layer 10 of the inner sole 1.

[0133] Generally, the insole 1, sole component 20, and vamp 30 described herein having protrusions, recesses, or holes to achieve the proprioceptive effect may be individually modified according to the needs of the wearer. In particular, a shoe including the first insole 1, sole component 20, vamp 30, or one or more of those components having a specific patterning may be provided to the wearer. And, for example, the proprioceptive effect can be measured as described above. Thereby, information about the impact of the insole 1, sole component 20, or vamp 30 on the wearer's performance can be obtained. Considering the wearer's feedback, the patterning can be redesigned, and an insole 1, sole component 20, vamp 30, or shoe including one or more of such components can be provided to the wearer again for another round of testing. By such a feedback loop, the insole 1, sole component 20, or vamp 30 can be individually modified to further improve performance.

[0134] The user may desire to have the option to select whether the insole provides a flat or unpatterned surface for contact with the foot or has a textured area that provides the proprioceptive effect described herein. Replacing various articles of footwear to provide a flat or patterned surface would not be desirable as the user may need to purchase, store, and carry multiple articles of footwear. Similarly, having multiple insoles with different patterned and unpatterned surfaces would also be cumbersome. Thus, an article of footwear having a removable insole with an unpatterned first surface and a patterned second surface (including, for example, protrusions, recesses, or holes) can serve to increase the versatility of the article of footwear and provide convenience to the user.

[0135] Figures 12A and 12B show a top perspective view and a bottom perspective view of an insole 200 according to an embodiment. The insole 200 includes a first surface 210 opposite the second surface 220. The insole 200 includes a toe region 202, a midfoot region 204, and a heel region 206 that generally correspond to the wearer's toe, midfoot or arch, and heel, respectively, when the insole 200 is in use. The insole 200, also referred to as an insole or insole liner, may have the features described herein with respect to insole 1. The insole 200 may be formed in the same manner using the materials described herein with respect to insole 1.

[0136] The first surface 210 of the insole 200 has no protrusions, recesses, or holes. The first surface 210 is not patterned. In some embodiments, a cover layer for contact with the wearer's foot may be disposed on the first surface 210. The cover layer may include a fabric layer. The cover layer may improve the comfort of the wearer and / or provide an absorbent effect and reduce slippage of the wearer's foot relative to the insole 200.

[0137] The second surface 220 of the insole 200 may include one or more regions having a textured area with one or more protrusions, recesses, or holes 224. The protrusions, recesses, or holes may be disposed in one or more of the toe region 202, the midfoot region 204, the heel region 206, the medial side, or the lateral side of the insole 200, and combinations thereof. The protrusions 224 may have the geometries and arrangements described herein with respect to the protrusions 4a. In some embodiments, one or more of the toe region 202, the midfoot region 204, and the heel region 206 of the second surface 220 may include protrusions, recesses, or holes 224. One or more regions of the second surface 220 are non-textured areas 226 and may be generally smooth or flat. The non-textured areas 226 have no protrusions, holes, or recesses. In the embodiment of FIG. 12A, a plurality of first protrusions 224a are disposed in the toe region 202. The midfoot region 204 is a non-textured area 226 and does not include any protrusions, recesses, or holes. The heel region 206 includes a plurality of second protrusions 224b. The first protrusions 224a and the second protrusions 224b may differ in geometry, size, arrangement, hardness, or combinations thereof. For example, the first protrusions 224a may have a first shape, while the second protrusions 224b may have a second shape different from the first shape. In a further example, the first protrusions 224a may have a first size, while the second protrusions 224b may have a second size different from the first size. In a further example, the first protrusions 224a may be arranged in a first pattern or have a first density (number of protrusions per unit area), while the second protrusions 224b may be arranged in a second pattern or have a second density.

[0138] In some embodiments, the second surface 220 may include a cover layer thereon. The cover layer may include a fabric layer. The cover layer may improve the comfort of the wearer and / or provide an absorption effect and reduce slippage of the wearer's foot relative to the insole 200. The cover layer may conform to the protrusions, recesses, or holes such that the wearer's foot can feel the protrusions, recesses, or holes through the cover layer.

[0139] The user can choose to position the insole 200 within the footwear article such that either the first surface 210 or the second surface 220 faces the wearer's foot. Thus, if the user desires the non-patterned surface to face the user's foot, the user can position the insole 200 with the first surface 210 facing upward toward the wearer's foot. This can provide comfort to the wearer. The first surface 210 does not provide a proprioceptive effect. In contrast, if the user desires to engage the foot with the patterned surface with the protrusions 224, for example, for a proprioceptive effect, the user can position the second surface 220 facing the wearer's foot.

[0140] In other embodiments, the first surface 210 can have a first texture area, and the second surface 220 can be provided with a second texture area different from the first texture area. Thus, the user can choose which pattern to contact the foot with. For example, the first surface 210 can have protrusions having a first geometry in a first pattern, and the second surface 220 can have protrusions having a second pattern and / or a second geometry. In a further example, while the first surface can include protrusions, the second surface can include recesses or holes.

[0141] Figure 13 shows a midsole 250 configured to removably receive an insole 200 according to one embodiment. The midsole 250 may include a foam material. The midsole 250 may include a toe region 252, a midfoot region 254, and a heel region 256. The midsole 250 is configured to support the wearer's foot from the heel to the toe. The upper surface 262 of the midsole 250 may include one or more engagement elements 264 for engaging with the protrusions 224 of the insole 200. As shown in Figure 13, the engagement element 264 may include a recess for receiving the protrusion of the insole 200. However, in an alternative embodiment where the insole 200 includes a recess, the midsole may include a protrusion for placement within the recess. The engagement elements 264 may be arranged in a pattern corresponding to the pattern of the protrusions 224 so as to align and engage with the protrusions 224. In this way, the second surface 220 of the insole 200 may be placed facing the engagement with the upper surface 262 of the midsole 250. As a result, the insole 200 is fixedly positioned on the midsole 250 and there is no gap or space between the insole 200 and the midsole 250.

[0142] In some embodiments, the midsole 250 may include a rim 270 that extends around all or a portion of the outer periphery of the upper surface 262 of the midsole 250. The rim 270 may extend upwardly from the upper surface 262 in a direction away from the midsole 250. The insole 200 may be configured to be received on the upper surface 262 of the midsole 250 and within the area defined by the rim 270. The rim 270 may help to smoothly facilitate properly positioning the insole 200 on the midsole 250.

[0143] The insole 200 is received on the midsole 250 as shown, for example, in FIGS. 14A and 14B. As shown in FIG. 14A, the first surface 210 of the insole 200 faces upward toward the wearer's foot. The first surface 210 is not patterned and provides a flat surface for contact with the wearer's foot. The protrusions on the second surface face downward toward the upper surface of the midsole 250 and are engaged within the recesses of the midsole 250. On the other hand, if the wearer desires to use the patterned surface, the wearer can position the insole 200 on the midsole 250 with the second surface 220 facing upward toward the wearer's foot as shown in FIG. 14B. The first surface 210 faces downward toward the upper surface of the midsole.

[0144] When the user switches from the first surface facing upward to the second surface facing upward, the user switches which shoe the insole 200 is inserted into. For example, if the insole 200 is positioned in the left shoe with the first surface 210 facing upward, to make the second surface 220 face upward, the user places the insole 200 in the right shoe, and vice versa.

[0145] FIGS. 15A and 15B show cross-sectional views of the insole 200 disposed on the midsole 250 according to one embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15A, the insole 200 is disposed with the second surface 220 facing downward toward the upper surface 262 of the midsole 250. The protrusion 224 is aligned with and received within the engagement element 264 shown as a recess. The protrusion 224 partially or completely fills the recess 264. The protrusion 224 and the recess 264 may have complementary shapes. For example, the protrusion 224 may have a hemispherical shape and the recess 264 may have a hemispherical shape. When the protrusion 224 is received by the engagement element 264, the second surface 220 may face the engagement with the upper surface 262 or may be flush with the upper surface 262. In this way, the first surface 210 may remain substantially flat.

[0146] Figure 15B shows the insole 200 with the second surface 220 facing upward towards the wearer's foot. In this way, the protrusion 224 faces towards the wearer's foot. The first surface 210 is disposed facing downward towards the upper surface 262 of the midsole 250. The first surface 210 is substantially flat and rests on the upper surface 262 of the midsole 250 with the recess 264 remaining empty or unfilled.

[0147] In some embodiments, the insole 300 may have one or more layers. As shown in FIG. 16, the insole 300 has at least a first sole layer 320 and a second sole layer 330. The first sole layer 320 may include a foam material. The second sole layer 330 may include a fabric material. The insole 300 may include protrusions, recesses, or holes 324 formed in the first sole layer 320, for example, to provide a proprioceptive effect. As shown in FIG. 16A, the first sole layer 320 includes a plurality of holes 324 formed therein. The holes 324 may extend completely through the first sole layer 320 from the first surface 322 to the opposite second surface. As shown in FIG. 16A, the first hole 324 may be disposed in the toe region 302, such as the inner side 307 of the toe region 302. The toe region 302 may further include a non-textured area 326 without holes. The non-textured area 326 may be disposed on the lateral side 309 of the toe region 302. No holes are disposed in the midfoot region 304, and thus the midfoot region 304 has the non-textured area 326. A second hole 324 is disposed in the heel region 306.

[0148] The second sole layer 330 may be disposed on the second surface of the first sole layer 320. The second sole layer 330 may completely or partially cover the second surface of the first sole layer 320. The second sole layer 330 does not include any protrusions, holes, or recesses. The second sole layer 330 may cover the holes 324, as shown in FIG. 16B. The second sole layer 330 may be thin enough such that when the wearer is wearing footwear including the insole 300, the holes 324 can be felt by the foot. The second sole layer 330 may cover the holes 324 to prevent dirt and debris from entering the holes 324. The second sole layer 330 also serves to provide additional comfort, wicking, and / or reduce slippage between the wearer's foot and the insole 300.

[0149] For example, as shown in FIG. 17, the first sole layer 320 includes a plurality of holes 324 that extend from the first surface 322 to the opposite second surface 328. The second sole layer 330 is disposed on the second surface 328. The second sole layer 330 does not include holes and covers the holes 324 of the first sole layer 320. The second sole layer 330 is thin enough such that the wearer's foot can feel the holes 324 of the first sole layer 320 through the second sole layer 330.

[0150] The first sole layer 320 may be formed, among other materials, by molding a foam material such as EVA. The fabric material of the second sole layer 330 is manufactured separately and attached to a surface of the first sole layer 320, such as the second surface 328. The second sole layer 330 may be fixed to the first sole layer 320 by any of a variety of means, including, among other fasteners and fastening methods known in the art, by glue or an adhesive. Although the first and second layers are shown, it is understood that additional layers, such as multiple fabric layers and / or multiple foam layers, may be present. Further, the sole layer may include additional components therein, such as, among other things, reinforcing bars or plates.

[0151] In some embodiments, the midsole or footwear may include a sole having integrally formed protrusions, recesses, or holes. In such embodiments, the footwear may include sandals or slippers. The slipper may include a sole and a vamp. The vamp may include one or more straps configured to overlap or partially cover a portion of the wearer's foot to help secure the slipper to the wearer's foot. The sole may include an upper surface having one or more integrally formed protrusions, recesses, or holes. Thus, the sole and the protrusions may be integrally formed, such as by molding the sole and the protrusions as a single piece. This helps simplify manufacturing. The user may wear the slipper during training or before a game or match and may switch to different footwear, such as spikes and sneakers, for use during the game or match.

[0152] Figures 18A - 18C show an insole 500 according to some embodiments. The insole 500 may include a first surface 510 opposite the second surface 520, and the first surface 510 may have protrusions, recesses, or holes for contacting the wearer's foot to provide a proprioceptive effect. The insole 500 includes a first protrusion 514a that extends along the inner side 507 of the toe region 502 towards the midfoot region 504. The first protrusion 514a may be disposed in an area corresponding to the thumb of the wearer's foot. The center of the area corresponding to the thumb of the wearer's foot will not include a protrusion. To improve wearing comfort, a non - textured area is disposed on the lateral side of the toe region 502 in the area under the other toes of the wearer's foot. The insole 500 includes a second protrusion 514b that extends from the heel region 506 along the lateral side 509 of the insole 500 towards the toe region 502 along the midfoot region 504 to provide a proprioceptive effect. The inner side 507 of the midfoot region 504 may include a non - textured area 516a. The non - textured area may correspond to the arch of the wearer's foot and provides comfort to the wearer. A third protrusion 514c is disposed in the heel region 506 on the inner side 507 and the lateral side 509. The protrusions may provide a proprioceptive effect. The center of the heel region 506 may include a non - textured area 516b. This may help reduce the pressure on the center of the wearer's heel.

[0153] As shown in FIG. 18B, the protrusion 514 may have a rounded shape and may have a hemispherical shape in a side cross - section. The protrusion 514 may have a width or diameter D of about 3.5 mm. The protrusion 514 may have a maximum height H of about 2.5 mm above the first surface 510 of the insole 500. In some embodiments, each protrusion 514 may have substantially the same shape and dimensions.

[0154] The insole 500 may further include one or more extended protrusions 518. The extended protrusions may be small mounds. The extended protrusions 518 may be disposed in the toe region 502 of the insole. The extended protrusions 518 may enhance the connection of the wearer's foot to the insole 500 and, in particular, may provide a surface for the wearer's big toe to grip. The extended protrusions 518 may be disposed at the center of the toe region 502 and may extend between the inner side 507 and the lateral side 509 of the insole 500. The extended protrusions 518 are shown to generally have a triangular or pyramidal shape. In other embodiments, the extended protrusions 518 may have alternative shapes such as, among others, elliptical or circular shapes. The extended protrusions 518 may have a maximum height H of about 3.5 mm, measured from the first surface 510 to the highest point 519, in a direction perpendicular to the first surface 510, as shown in FIG. 18C. The extended protrusions 518 may slope downward from the highest point 519 having the maximum height H toward the inner side 507 and the lateral side 509, and may also slope downward toward the tip of the toe region 502. The highest point 519 may be disposed approximately at the center of the toe region 502 between the inner side 507 and the lateral side 509.

[0155] FIG. 19 shows an insole 600 according to one embodiment. The insole 600 includes one or more regions with protrusions to provide proprioceptive effects and one or more regions with non-textured areas for comfort. The insole 600 is disposed across the entire toe region 602 and includes a first protrusion 614a of a first size that extends between the inner side 607 and the lateral side 609. The toe region 602 includes a non-textured area 616a on its lateral side 609. This area may correspond to the space between the wearer's second to fifth toes such that when the insole 600 is in use, the protrusion 614 is positioned under the wearer's big toe but not under the other toes. This can provide proprioceptive effects while maintaining wearing comfort. In some embodiments, the first protrusion 614a may decrease in size towards the non-textured area 616a to provide a gradual transition between the area with the protrusion and the non-textured area. The midfoot region 604 may include a plurality of openings 614d disposed at the center of the midfoot region 604. A second protrusion 614b having a second size may be disposed on the lateral side 609 of the midfoot region 604. The second protrusion 614b may have a smaller size than the first protrusion 614a, having a smaller diameter, a smaller height, or both. The first protrusion 614a and the second protrusion 614b are shown as each having a circular shape in a top view. However, in alternative embodiments, the first protrusion 614a and the second protrusion 614b may have different shapes. In some embodiments, the first protrusion 614a may gradually decrease in size towards the midfoot region 604. The heel region 606 may include a third protrusion 614c. The third protrusion 614c may extend across the entire heel region 606 from the inner side 607 to the lateral side 609. The third protrusion 614c may have a third size. The third size may be the same as the first size. In some embodiments, the third protrusion 614c may decrease in size towards the midfoot region 604.

[0156] In some embodiments, the protrusions described herein can be formed by a liquid polymer coating process, such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 806,358. The liquid polymer coating process can be used to form three-dimensional structures, such as protrusions, e.g., pyramids or cylinders. Protrusions formed by the liquid polymer coating process can create additional gripping force and can help minimize the difference in gripping force between dry and wet conditions, so that the gripping force is maintained even under wet conditions.

[0157] The liquid polymer coating process can include steps of preparing a polymer, preparing a solvent, and mixing the polymer with the solvent to produce a liquid polymer.

[0158] In some embodiments, the polymer used in the liquid polymer coating process can be an elastomer or a thermoplastic elastomer. The polymer can be selected from the group of polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyamide (TPE-A or TPA), thermoplastic polyester (TPE-E or TPE), thermoplastic styrene block copolymer (TPE-S or TPS), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPE-U or TPU), thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPE-V or TPV), rubber or ethylene vinyl copolymer (EVA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPE-U or TPU), and / or combinations thereof.

[0159] In some embodiments, the solvent used in the liquid polymer coating process is a mixture selected from the group of solvent-based solvents and / or water-based solvents. The solvent is from the group of solvent-based solvents, or (C 1 -C 6 ) ether, (C 1 -C 10 ) ester, (C 1 -C 8 ) ketone, (C 1 -C 8) It can be selected from the group of alkanes and / or combinations thereof. The solvent can be tetrahydrofuran (THF), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), cyclohexane (CYC), ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, or one or more mixtures of THF and / or CYC.

[0160] Deposit the liquid polymer at one or more desired locations, such as on the surface of the sole. The liquid polymer can be deposited by brushing, coating, dipping, painting, automatic dispensing, automatic printing, or controlled dispensing.

[0161] After depositing the liquid polymer at the desired location, the liquid polymer may be patterned or structured to provide a desired shape or pattern. The liquid polymer can then be cured to form protrusions on the sole. The curing step can be performed using radiation such as infrared (IR). In this way, the liquid component deposited on the second component is cured on the second component while removing the solvent and drying the deposited liquid component.

[0162] The liquid polymer coating process can be advantageous over injection molding, which requires a custom mold and may require removal or trimming of excess material after molding, to form protrusions. Additionally, in the liquid polymer coating process, it is possible to place the protrusions more accurately on the sole without the use of glue or adhesive.

[0163] The embodiments described herein relate to an insole for a sports shoe that includes an upper surface that is arranged to face the foot of a wearer of the shoe when an insole is disposed within the shoe. The upper surface includes at least two texture areas, each of which includes a plurality of protrusions, recesses, or holes. The upper surface includes at least one non-texture area that does not have protrusions, recesses, or holes. The first texture area is located in the toe region of the insole, and the second texture area is located in the heel region of the insole. The insole may be removably fixable to an article of footwear. The second surface or bottom surface of the insole may not be patterned and may not have any protrusions, recesses, or holes. The insole may be positioned with the upper surface or the bottom surface facing upwardly toward the foot of the wearer. The midsole of the article of footwear may include engagement elements, such as recesses, for receiving the protrusions of the insole. The protrusions may be formed on the upper surface by a liquid polymer coating process. The protrusions may be formed integrally with the upper surface of the insole by a process such as additive manufacturing or injection molding. The insole may include a fabric layer on the upper surface and / or the bottom surface. The protrusions, recesses, or holes may be felt by the wearer through the fabric layer.

[0164] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the texture area corresponds to an area of the human foot that has a higher density of mechanical receptors compared to an area of the human foot that corresponds to the non-texture area of the insole.

[0165] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the texture areas are distinct and separated by the non-texture area.

[0166] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the hardness of the protrusions is correlated with the hardness of the skin of the human foot.

[0167] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the non-texture area is located in a region corresponding to a maximum of the pressure distribution of the pressure caused by a human foot standing on the insole. In some embodiments, at least one maximum of the pressure distribution is surrounded by the texture area.

[0168] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the protrusions have an average diameter of 1 to 10 mm, 2 to 5 mm, or 3 to 4 mm.

[0169] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the protrusions have an average height of 0.5 to 5 mm, 0.75 to 3 mm, or 1 to 1.5 mm.

[0170] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the protrusions have a hardness of 40 to 70 Shore A or 50 to 60 Shore A.

[0171] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the insole is manufactured by a fused deposition modeling process.

[0172] In any of the various embodiments described herein, the insole is integral with an additional sole component of the shoe.

[0173] Some embodiments described herein relate to a method of manufacturing an insole as described herein, the method including providing a base layer, molding protrusions on the base layer to form a texture area and a non-texture area, and forming one or both of a recess or a hole in the base layer to form the texture area and the non-texture area.

Description of the Reference Numerals

[0174] 1 Insole 2 Upper surface 3a~e Texture area 4a Protrusion 4b Hole 5, 5ab Non-texture area 6 Tip of the protrusion 7 Height of the protrusion 8 Length of the protrusion 9 Width of the protrusion 10 Fabric layer 11 Foam layer 20 Sole component 30 Upper part 61 Arch 62 Instep area 63 Heel area 80 Shoe 81 Sole structure 100 Method for manufacturing an insole 110 Cutting step 120 Cold pressing step 130 Trimming step 140 Injecting step 150 Molding step 160 Trimming step 170 Attaching step 200 Insole 202 Toe area 204 Midfoot area 206 Heel area 210 First surface 220 Second surface 224a, b Protrusions, holes, or recesses 226 Non-texture area 250 Midsole 252 Toe area 254 Midfoot area 256 Heel area 262 Upper surface 264 Engaging element 270 Edge 300 Insole 302 Toe area 304 Midfoot area 306 Heel area 307 Inner side 309 Lateral side 320 First sole layer 324 Holes 330 Second sole layer 500 Insole 502 Toe region 504 Midfoot region 506 Heel region 507 Inner side 509 Lateral side 510 First surface 514a, b, c Protrusions 516a, b Non-texture areas 518 Extended protrusions 519 Highest point 520 Second surface 600 Insole 602 Toe region 604 Midfoot region 606 Heel region 607 Inner side 609 Lateral side 610 Upper surface 614a, b, c, d Protrusions, holes, or recesses 616a, b Non-texture areas

Claims

1. A sole for a shoe, comprising: An innersole including an upper surface positioned to face a foot of a wearer of the shoe when the innersole is positioned within the shoe, Equipped with the top surface includes a first textured area and a second textured area; the first textured area and the second textured area each include a plurality of protrusions, recesses, or holes; the upper surface includes a non-textured area that does not include protrusions, recesses, or holes; the first textured area is located in a toe region of the innersole and the second textured area is located in a heel region of the innersole. Sole.

2. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the second textured area is located at a rearmost portion of the heel region.

3. The sole of claim 1 , further comprising a third textured area located on a lateral side of the heel region and a fourth textured area located on a medial side of the heel region.

4. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the non-textured area is located in a central portion of the heel region.

5. The sole of claim 4 , wherein the non-textured area extends from the heel region along the medial region into the metatarsal region and does not extend into the toe region.

6. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the first textured area extends from the toe region along a lateral region of the midfoot region and terminates in front of the heel region.

7. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the non-textured area is located in the big toe area.

8. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the non-textured area is located in a medial metatarsal region and is surrounded by the first textured area.

9. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the non-textured area is located in the lateral metatarsal to arch transition region.

10. 10. The sole of claim 1, further comprising a fifth textured area located in a medial metatarsal to arch transition region.

11. The sole of claim 1 , wherein a density of the plurality of projections, recesses, or holes is higher on a lateral side of the innersole compared to a medial side of the innersole.

12. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections, recesses, or holes includes projections, the hardness of the projections varying across the inner sole.

13. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions, recesses, or holes in the first textured area or the second textured area include protrusions, one or more of the protrusions having a pyramidal shape.

14. The sole of claim 13, wherein the one or more projections have rounded tips.

15. The sole of claim 1 , further comprising a fabric layer, the plurality of protrusions, recesses, or holes being disposed on the fabric layer.

16. The sole of claim 15, further comprising a foam layer, the textile layer being disposed over the foam layer.

17. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections, recesses, or holes includes projections, the height of the projections varying across the inner sole.

18. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections, recesses, or holes includes projections, the shape of the projections varying across the inner sole.

19. A shoe comprising the sole according to claim 1.

20. 20. The shoe of claim 19, further comprising a midsole, an outsole, or an outsole plate, the innersole being integral with the midsole, the outsole, or the outsole plate.

Images