Sole plate for article of footwear

Abstract

To provide an improved sole plate for an article of footwear.SOLUTION: A sole plate (110a, 110b) comprises: a first portion (115a, 115b) comprising a first material; and a second portion (116a, 116b) comprising a second material; where the second material has a greater stiffness than the first material. When the sole plate is for a right shoe (100a), the first portion is arranged on a medial side (121a) of the sole plate, and the second portion is arranged on a lateral side (120a) of the sole plate; and / or, when the sole plate is for a left shoe (100b), the first portion is arranged on a lateral side (120b) of the sole plate, and the second portion is arranged on a medial side (121b) of the sole plate. The sole plate comprises one or more first apertures (125a, 125b).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sole plate for footwear products, particularly sports shoes such as running shoes. The sole plate comprises a first part containing a first material and a second part containing a second material, and the second material has a higher rigidity than the first material.

[0002] The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing one or more sole plates for one or more footwear products, a sole manufactured by said method, a footwear product, particularly a sports shoe, an apparatus for manufacturing one or more sole plates, and a pair of shoes comprising a right shoe and a left shoe.

Background Art

[0003] Footwear products and sole plates for footwear products are generally known and have various purposes and use cases. For example, such sole plates can be designed to provide advantages for sports applications, daily work, leisure, etc. Particularly in sports applications, sole plates for shoes can potentially provide advantageous performance characteristics that can improve the overall performance of the wearer during physical activity.

[0004] Footwear products are generally described as a combination of an upper and a sole. Usually, the upper covers areas such as the top of the wearer's foot, toes, inner side, outer side, and heel, and provides an opening through which the wearer can insert their foot into the footwear. The sole is connected to the upper such that the upper side of the sole faces the sole of the foot of the upper, and the lower side of the sole is adapted to contact the ground during normal use of the shoe.

[0005] In footwear, the sole typically includes a midsole and an outsole. The midsole is usually formed from a foam material or an elastomeric deformable foam material. The midsole is typically placed between the insole and the outsole and can provide sufficient cushioning and energy return to the wearer. The outsole can provide ground contact and is often formed from a durable wear-resistant material. In some cases, the outsole comprises means for improving traction with respect to the ground. For example, the outsole can comprise one or more cleats, studs, spikes, etc. Spikes can be important for running shoes used in track and field events.

[0006] Particularly with respect to running shoes for track events, such footwear is becoming increasingly important and has specific requirements to facilitate the wearer's ability to perform athletic activities. An important exemplary requirement for such footwear is that the shoes must improve running performance. This can be particularly important when an athlete runs on a curved track, which is common in track and field events.

[0007] Exemplarily, in the context of the present disclosure, reference can be made to the following prior art documents.

[0008] The prior art document, U.S. Patent No. 11,412,812, relates to a complementary pair of sole plates for use with the left and right footwear articles of a pair of shoes. The complementary pair of sole plates comprises a first plate for one footwear article of the pair of shoes and a second plate for the other footwear article of the pair of shoes. The first plate includes a first groove extending through the entire thickness of the first plate, the first groove dividing the forefoot portion of the first plate into a first continuous outer plate portion and a first continuous inner plate portion, and only the first groove is a groove that extends completely through the first plate. The second plate includes a second groove extending through the entire thickness of the second plate and a third groove extending through the entire thickness of the second plate, and only the second groove and the third groove are grooves that extend through the entire thickness of the second plate. The second groove and the third groove divide the forefoot portion of the second plate into a second continuous outer plate portion, a first continuous intermediate plate portion, and a second continuous inner plate portion, and the complementary pair of sole plates has an asymmetric configuration relative to each other.

[0009] The prior art document, U.S. Patent No. 6,954,998, relates to a footwear article having a sole including a chassis, the chassis being configured to provide various degrees of rigidity of the footwear by varying the chassis configuration, thickness, and / or material in various regions of the chassis in a preselected manner to provide comfort, flexibility, support, and power transmission.

[0010] The prior art document US Patent No. 9,713,357 relates to an asymmetric pair of shoes for optimizing performance during sports activities. The asymmetric pair of shoes includes a first shoe having a first upper and a first sole attached to the first upper. The first upper includes a first support mechanism configured to provide strong support to at least one portion of the first upper during the performance of a first predetermined movement of the first foot of the wearer. The first sole includes a first traction mechanism configured to provide strong traction to at least one portion of the first sole during the performance of the first predetermined movement of the first foot. The asymmetric pair of shoes further includes a second shoe having a second upper and a second sole attached to the second upper, wherein the first support mechanism and the first traction mechanism are not present at the corresponding mirror image positions of the second shoe.

[0011] Furthermore, for background knowledge, reference can be made to the following prior art documents, namely, Chinese Patent Application Publication No. 102631049 and International Publication No. 2005 / 090062 Pamphlet.

[0012] The above-mentioned documents claim improvements over the known prior art, but the proposed solutions of the said documents still have some drawbacks with respect to meeting the above requirements of footwear products.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0013]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

[0014] In view of this background, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved sole plate for footwear. A wearer of footwear should be able to perform athletic activities in an improved manner, particularly when the sole plate is used for running in track and field events. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a sole plate and an apparatus therefor. MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0015] The above object is at least partially achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, and other suitable aspects of the invention are described throughout the disclosure of this application. It should be noted that the headings of this disclosure are presented for the sole purpose of assisting in grasping the overview when reading and do not mean that the features of each embodiment cannot be combined.

[0016] Sole plate for footwear In one aspect, the object of the present disclosure is a sole plate for footwear, particularly for sports shoes such as running shoes, the sole plate comprising a first part containing a first material and a second part containing a second material, the second material having a higher rigidity than the first material, the first part being disposed on the inner side of the sole plate when the sole plate is for a right shoe, the second part being disposed on the outer side of the sole plate, and / or when the sole plate is for a left shoe, the first part being disposed on the outer side of the sole plate, the second part being disposed on the inner side of the sole plate, and the sole plate having one or more first openings, which is at least partially solved by the sole plate.

[0017] Thus, a sole plate for footwear facilitates improved support for the wearer, particularly when used in shoes during running, such as running on a competitive track. In particular, when an athlete typically runs on a curve (which can be understood as a turning part) of a competitive track, an optimized behavior of the runner can be realized. Alternatively or additionally, an optimized behavior can be realized for long jump or other sports categories in track and field sports. When the sole plate can be a sole plate for a right shoe and / or a sole plate for a left shoe, it should be understood that the arrangement of the first part of the sole plate and the second part of the sole plate is adjusted accordingly. Thereby, different sole plates for the left shoe and the right shoe can be provided, which is particularly useful when running on a curve. Thereby, the left shoe and the right shoe may have different material properties, which is useful for sufficient support and / or cushioning. Additionally, thereby, the left shoe and the right shoe may have different geometries. For example, the left shoe and the right shoe may be asymmetric. Thus, the sole plate provides shoes that are particularly adapted to the left and right feet of the wearer.

[0018] As described above, the sole plate can be particularly useful for track and field runners. Without wishing to be bound by theory, such track and field runners typically run counterclockwise on a track. This can apply, for example, during competition and / or normal training. Thereby, the runner tends to lean inward on the left side. Thus, the left shoe and the right shoe are subjected to different loading conditions than when running in a substantially straight line. In addition, the internal load distribution of only the shoe and thereby only one sole plate can be different. This may require adjustment of the sole plate in order to account for such differences. According to the sole plate proposed herein, by providing a more rigid material on the outer side of the sole plate when used for the right shoe and a more rigid material on the inner side of the sole plate when used for the left shoe, these needs can be addressed. Further, when used for the right shoe, a less rigid, for example softer, material is provided on the inner side of the sole plate, and when used for the left shoe, a less rigid, for example softer, material is provided on the outer side of the sole plate. This can have the advantage that the softer and / or less rigid material is provided on the side of the sole plate that can first contact the ground.

[0019] One or more first apertures have the advantage of contributing to the improvement of the performance of the sole plate. For example, the behavior under load impact can thereby be improved. This may be because the extension of the first material and / or the second material into the one or more first apertures can be facilitated. In one example, due to the one or more first apertures, the first material and / or the second material may be able to extend substantially horizontally. However, other directions of extension and / or combinations of other directions are also included in the present disclosure. This can improve the buffering effect and be recognized by the wearer. In particular, through the adaptive design of the one or more first apertures, the buffering effect can be improved without substantially affecting the stability and durability of the sole plate. Furthermore, the one or more first apertures have the additional advantage of reducing the total weight of the shoe comprising the sole plate by reducing the weight of the sole plate. Lightweight shoes are particularly advantageous when used in sports activities such as running. The one or more first apertures can also enable different layers of the shoe to extend into the one or more first apertures. For example, the insole can extend at least partially into the one or more first apertures. Alternatively or in addition, it is conceivable that the foam material of the midsole may extend partially into the one or more first apertures. Since shoes for track and field events are generally quite rigid, such extension can be recognized by the wearer and contribute to the reduction of fatigue.

[0020] Another advantage is that one or more first apertures can reduce the rigidity of the portion of the sole plate where the one or more first apertures are located. For example, the one or more first apertures can provide lateral flexibility while maintaining the longitudinal rigidity of the sole plate. This is particularly recognized during sports activities.

[0021] The first part of the sole plate and / or the second part of the sole plate can have any dimensions. In particular, the first part and / or the second part can have any dimensions along the heel-to-toe axis and / or the medial-lateral axis. Further, the first part and / or the second part can have any dimensions along the vertical axis, i.e., in the depth direction of the sole plate. Note that such axes described herein are generally known to those skilled in the art. The first part and / or the second part can extend strategically up to a certain part of the sole plate according to the specific needs of the movement activity.

[0022] The "medial side" of the sole plate can cover approximately half of the part of the sole plate that is arranged medially when viewed from the heel-to-toe center line of the sole plate. The heel-to-toe center line of the sole plate can pass along the heel-to-toe axis of the sole plate. The "lateral side" of the sole plate can cover approximately half of the part of the sole plate that is arranged laterally when viewed from the heel-to-toe center line. The heel-to-toe center line of the sole plate can pass along the heel-to-toe axis of the sole plate. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, since the sole plate can be asymmetric, the "half of the part" of the sole plate can vary slightly in some cases. This variation is represented by the term "about".

[0023] The "opening" used in this disclosure can be essentially understood as an opening or the like. One or more first openings of the sole plate can be implemented in various ways including, but not limited to, recesses, grooves, slots, slits, notches, etc., which will be described in more detail elsewhere in this specification. One or more first openings of the sole plate can be through holes. This can further contribute to improving the stretching effect of the first material and / or the second material included in the entire sole plate and / or the first part and / or the second part. In some examples, the opening can be understood as an opening through which the free flow path can be adjustable. This can have further advantages regarding the adapted cushioning.

[0024] One or more first openings of the sole plate can have a closed boundary. The closed boundary can be understood as one or more first openings of the sole plate being surrounded by the perimeter of the sole plate. In other words, one or more first openings of the sole plate may be within the sole plate. One or more first openings of the sole plate may be shaped such that light can pass through.

[0025] It should be noted that the term "first" in the expression "one or more first openings" does not limit the term "opening" itself. In particular, this does not mean that the "first opening" must necessarily be different from the "second opening" and / or that the "first opening" is more restrictive than just an "opening". The term "first" is simply used to appropriately refer to the opening. In particular, the same features and advantages described with respect to "one or more first openings" may equally apply to "one or more second openings". This is also explained elsewhere in this specification.

[0026] The "wearer" referred to in this specification can be any type of person who can wear footwear. The term "wearer" can be used synonymously with terms such as "user", "athlete", "human", "person", etc.

[0027] It should be understood that the advantages described for the sole plate for the above-mentioned footwear also apply to the following preferred embodiments.

[0028] Properties of the sole plate In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for footwear articles described herein, the second material has a rigidity that is at least 1.1, preferably at least 1.2, more preferably at least 1.5, still more preferably at least 2.0, still more preferably at least 2.5, still more preferably at least 3.0, still more preferably at least 3.5, still more preferably at least 4.0, still more preferably at least 4.5, still more preferably at least 5.0, still more preferably at least 5.5, and most preferably at least 6.0, compared to the first material.

[0029] The different levels of rigidity of the second material compared to the first material defined in this embodiment provide at least the following advantages. That is, a more rigid material can make the sole plate more durable and more resistant to damage or deformation due to pressure or load. A rigid material can help improve the stability of the sole plate. Further, a more rigid material in the context of the sole plate can improve accuracy and precision. This can be particularly important when the sole plate is used in shoes during running on a competitive track. This is because in track and field events, high accuracy can be useful to reach a high level of performance. Further, in addition to this advantage, rigidity can help avoid displacement or deviation of the second part and / or can predict and / or maintain its position to a considerable extent even under pressure or load. A more rigid material can make the sole plate more durable and more resistant to damage or deformation due to pressure or load.

[0030] Furthermore, this embodiment has the advantage that when the sole plate is for a right shoe, it can provide a softer and / or smoother landing and ground contact on the outer side of the sole plate. Further, when the sole plate is for a left shoe, it can provide a softer and / or smoother landing and ground contact on the inner side of the sole plate.

[0031] It can generally be noted that the sole plate has the advantage that a softer and / or less rigid material is provided on the side of the sole plate that can first come into contact with the ground. The ground can be a track such as a curve of a track in a sports track. Also, the ground can be considered to be the ground on which an athlete walks or runs in preparation for a long jump or other sports events in track and field sports. Such a softer and / or less rigid material can improve the entry transition during the foot landing phase. Additionally or alternatively, a softer and / or less rigid material on the outer side of the left sole plate and the inner side of the right sole plate can enable the foot to have a natural tilting effect, especially when running through a curved portion.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for a footwear article described herein, the second material has a higher hardness than the first material.

[0033] This has the advantage that the first material can be sufficiently deformed, for example, elastically deformed, and the second material is less likely to be deformed simultaneously. Thereby, the second material can provide sufficient stability.

[0034] The fact that the second material is less likely to be deformed simultaneously can help improve the running experience, particularly by providing the required bending stiffness. Without wishing to be bound by theory, this can be explained as follows. The high bending stiffness can generally help the athlete by reducing the energy lost due to the athlete's movement, such as kinetic energy. The sole plate can interact with the joints of the foot and ankle in the form of a lever against the input force into the ground. And this can minimize the ground contact time and provide a higher energy return, especially by the forefoot of the athlete.

[0035] For such a sole plate, it is particularly advantageous if the plate is asymmetric, since this enables the athlete to impart a high degree of flexibility to the side closest to the inner diameter of the track on which he or she is running. It is conceivable that such an asymmetric arrangement can be even more advantageous when the sole plate is used for longer sprints, for example, the 200 m or 400 m sprints that require running through the curves of the track, since it can ensure maximum rigidity at the position of the sole plate where rigidity is most required, while at the same time suppressing muscle fatigue caused by changes in body position and form during the sprint.

[0036] "Hardness" can be understood as the ability of a material to withstand forces without deformation, scratching, penetration, and / or indentation. In other words, hardness can be the ability of a material to substantially maintain its physical characteristics even when a force is applied.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for footwear articles described herein, the first material has a Shore D hardness of at most 70 Shore D, preferably at most 65 Shore D, and most preferably at most 60 Shore D, and / or the second material has a Shore D hardness of at least 65 Shore D, preferably at least 70 Shore D, and most preferably at least 72 Shore D.

[0038] This further contributes to the above-described advantages explained in relation to the higher hardness of the second material compared to the first material.

[0039] The Shore D hardness of the first material and / or the second material should be within certain limits proposed in this embodiment. Thereby, conflicting requirements regarding manufacturing characteristics and functional characteristics can be advantageously taken into account. The proposed Shore D values in the preferred embodiment enable an optimal balance to be achieved.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for footwear articles described herein, the second material has a higher flexural modulus than the first material.

[0041] This further contributes to the above-described advantages regarding the different functions that can be imparted to the first and second materials of the sole plate.

[0042] As used herein, "flexural modulus" can be understood as the bending coefficient. The flexural modulus may be the ratio of stress to strain in bending deformation and / or an indication of strength determined as the tendency of the material to withstand bending.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for footwear articles described herein, the first material has a flexural modulus of at most 1000 MPa, preferably at most 800 MPa, more preferably at most 600 MPa, still more preferably at most 400 MPa, still more preferably at most 300 MPa, and most preferably at most 250 MPa, and / or the second material has a flexural modulus of at least 800 MPa, preferably at least 900 MPa, more preferably at least 1000 MPa, still more preferably at least 1100 MPa, still more preferably at least 1200 MPa, still more preferably at least 1300 MPa, still more preferably at least 1400 MPa, and most preferably at least 1500 MPa.

[0044] The flexural modulus of the first material and / or the second material should be neither too high nor too low. This ensures that conflicting requirements regarding the manufacturing characteristics and functional characteristics of the sole plate can be considered. It is considered that an optimal balance can be found with the proposed values of the flexural modulus in this preferred embodiment.

[0045] Openings in the sole plate In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for footwear articles described herein, one or more first openings have an elongated shape, preferably one of the shapes of a slit, groove, cut, and vent hole.

[0046] This has the advantage that the material of the sole plate (including the first material and the second material) is configured to at least partially extend into one or more openings while substantially maintaining the stability of the sole plate.

[0047] The shape defined in the preferred embodiment has the further advantage that it can improve ventilation, cooling, aesthetics, functionality, etc. Exemplarily, it can somewhat improve the ventilation of the wearer's foot and suppress the accumulation of moisture. Thereby, the lifespan of the sole plate and / or the entire footwear article can also be extended. Additionally, the shape has the advantage that interfering objects from the environment such as small stones cannot essentially accumulate within the openings and / or protrude through the openings. Otherwise, this can reduce the wearer's performance and irritate the wearer. This can be particularly important when the outsole is not provided and / or when the sole plate is used as the outsole.

[0048] One or more first apertures can additionally or alternatively have a segmented shape. For example, the first aperture can have a discontinuous shape. This discontinuous shape is preferably oriented along the heel-to-toe axis of the sole plate. It should be noted that having one or more first apertures along the heel-to-toe axis of the sole plate provides lateral flexibility while maintaining longitudinal rigidity. The segmented shape or discontinuous shape can have several advantages. For example, one or more first apertures can have higher flexibility and can bend or conform to different shapes and / or loading conditions that may occur during running. This is because the segments can potentially move independently of each other to at least some extent. Furthermore, due to the segmented shape or discontinuous shape, the individual segments of one or more apertures can be designed and modified without affecting the entire aperture, enabling more extensive customization. Different segments can have the advantage of serving different purposes. For example, different segments can have a wider or narrower extension laterally than other segments. Additionally, in the event that damage may occur to the segmented or discontinuous aperture, in many cases, the damage can be limited to a single segment. This can mean that the entire aperture does not lose its effectiveness. Thus, reliability is improved. Furthermore, the segmented shape or discontinuous shape can better adapt to additional functional elements provided in the vicinity of one or more apertures. A suitable example of such an additional functional element can be a receptacle for spikes. This can be advantageous when the available space for use is limited. Additionally, it allows the aperture to be designed to fit precisely or accurately into the sole plate. Furthermore, the segmented shape or discontinuous shape can facilitate stretching and contraction.

[0049] A segmented or discontinuous shape can be understood as a shape of an opening where different segments can be recognizable. Such segments can define sub-openings. In one example, the segments can be connected by the material of the sole plate. In some examples, the sub-openings are not connected and are thus considered discontinuous. Discontinuous can mean that the sub-openings are separate and apart from each other. Nevertheless, the entire perimeter of these sub-openings can be within the material of the sole plate. The entire perimeter of these sub-openings can be oriented in one direction. Thus, the sub-openings can be separate and apart from each other but can form one group.

[0050] The term "elongated" (e.g., when used to describe the shape of an opening) can mean that a dimension along one axis of the opening can be greater than one dimension, preferably both dimensions, along the remaining axis, where the remaining axis is substantially perpendicular to the one axis. It should be understood that when dimensions are described herein, manufacturing tolerances are usually to be taken into account. Thus, the dimensions described herein can vary slightly. The term elongated, used to describe a shape, can additionally or alternatively mean, for example, that the shape is narrow.

[0051] As will be described in more detail elsewhere herein, regardless of the shape of the one or more first openings, the first openings can still have a closed boundary, i.e., be surrounded by the perimeter of the sole plate.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for a footwear article described herein, the one or more first openings define through-holes.

[0053] This further contributes to the above advantages of the opening. The through-hole has the potential to impart certain functional characteristics to the sole plate to a significant extent. For example, it can thereby affect the distribution of pressure loads, which can be perceived by the athlete during their movement activities. In addition, the part of the shoe behind the opening may be visible from the sole plate and / or the bottom of the footwear item, thus facilitating a person's easy evaluation of the condition, integrity, etc. of that part. To illustrate this visibility with a non-limiting example, it is possible for the user to at least partially contact the part of the shoe behind the opening. Such contact can be possible, for example, when not wearing each shoe provided with a sole plate.

[0054] Furthermore, the through-hole can facilitate the manufacture of the footwear item. In addition, it can increase the space provided for the material of the sole plate to stretch. In addition, the one or more first openings defining the through-hole have the further advantage of reducing the weight of the sole plate, and this has the potential to reduce the total weight of the shoe provided with the sole plate. Lightweight shoes are particularly advantageous when used in movement activities such as running.

[0055] The term through-hole can mean that the hole completely penetrates the material of the object.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for a footwear item described herein, the one or more first openings extend in the longitudinal direction of the sole plate and in the transverse direction of the sole plate, and it is preferred that the longitudinal extension is greater than the transverse extension.

[0057] One or more first apertures that extend substantially greater in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction can have the advantage of being able to substantially maintain the rigidity and / or stability of the sole plate. Additionally or alternatively, the rigidity and / or stability of the sole plate is not substantially impaired. Nevertheless, the extension of the material (including the first material and the second material) of the sole plate into one or more of the apertures is facilitated.

[0058] The longitudinal direction can be substantially parallel to and / or the same as the heel-to-toe axis of the sole plate. The transverse direction can be substantially parallel to and / or the same as the medial-lateral axis of the sole plate.

[0059] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for a footwear article described herein, one or more first apertures are disposed in a first portion of the sole plate.

[0060] This has the advantage that an aperture is provided in the first portion of the sole plate, thus facilitating the extension of the first material. This is advantageous because the first material is less rigid than the second material. Thus, the first material is more deformable. Thus, it can provide an improvement in cushioning for the wearer.

[0061] As described elsewhere herein, when the sole plate is for a left shoe, the first portion of the sole plate can be disposed on the outer side of the sole plate. Further, when the sole plate is for a right shoe, the first portion of the sole plate can be disposed on the inner side of the sole plate.

[0062] Second aperture In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for a footwear article described herein, the sole plate comprises one or more second apertures disposed in a second portion of the sole plate.

[0063] This further contributes to the above advantages of the first opening. In particular, by providing one or more second openings disposed in the second portion, an improvement in functionality, an improvement in performance capabilities, and higher versatility can be provided. For example, one or more second openings can be used for a different complementary function compared to one or more first openings. Further, although the second material of the second portion has a higher rigidity than the first material of the first portion, nevertheless, the second opening may be configured such that the second material can be at least partially deformed within one or more second openings.

[0064] As described elsewhere in this specification, the same features (including but not limited to shape, extension direction, etc.) and advantages described with respect to "one or more first openings" are equally applicable to "one or more second openings". For the sake of brevity, the repetition of these features and advantages is omitted in this specification.

[0065] In one example, one or more second openings may be spaced apart from one or more first openings on both sides of the heel-to-toe center line of the sole plate (the heel-to-toe center line may pass along the heel-to-toe axis of the sole plate). However, it should be noted that the arrangement of one or more second openings with respect to one or more first openings is not limited to this specific example.

[0066] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for a footwear article described herein, the number of one or more first openings is greater than the number of one or more second openings.

[0067] A configuration in which the number of first openings is greater than the number of second openings can have several advantages. For example, this can provide a more balanced function. The primary function for the deformation of the first material of the first part can be performed through a larger number of first openings. Additionally, a secondary or complementary function can be performed through a smaller number of second openings. This can achieve a balance between different functions and improve the overall effectiveness. Moreover, it can be ensured that more (first) openings are provided in the first part, which has been found to be particularly useful for improving the cushioning and / or performance of the runner. Further, the number of openings can reflect the priority of the function. For example, the first openings can be for functions that are used more frequently. Thereby, having more of these first openings ensures the efficient performance of that function. The difference in the number of openings can also provide a more asymmetric function, which can help improve the performance of the sole plate. Additionally, by limiting the number of second openings, it may be possible to reduce any unwanted or undesirable effects that could occur if both the first and second openings were equal in number. Furthermore, thereby, the first material (e.g., a less rigid material) can deform more than the second material (e.g., a more rigid material).

[0068] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for a footwear article described herein, the number of one or more first openings is different from the number of one or more second openings. As will be appreciated, this can contribute to the advantages described in the above embodiments.

[0069] Spike In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for footwear articles described herein, one or more spikes are disposed on the sole plate, preferably on the forefoot portion of the sole plate. The sole plate preferably comprises one or more receptacles, and the one or more receptacles are disposed on the sole plate, preferably on the forefoot portion of the sole plate, and the one or more receptacles are configured to receive the one or more spikes.

[0070] One or more spikes may face the ground during normal use of the sole plate. One or more spikes can provide several advantages. For example, the spikes can improve traction. This can help the wearer grip the ground more efficiently. This can apply to any type of ground, especially soft ground. Such ground is commonly found on athletic tracks. Further, the spikes can help the wearer accelerate, decelerate, and change direction more quickly and surely. This can improve performance and can be particularly important when the sole is used on shoes during running, such as running on an athletic track. This can also improve the performance of athletes performing long jump or other sports events, especially in track and field sports events involving running or accelerating on a curved track. This is because a high level of performance may be required for track and field events. The spikes can also provide better stability to the foot and make it easier to maintain balance. In activities such as running, the forefoot spikes can help the wearer kick off the ground more effectively, promote better energy transfer, and in some cases optimize performance. Further, the forefoot spikes can encourage the wearer to land more on the forefoot rather than the heel. This can reduce the risk of injury and improve running efficiency.

[0071] As described elsewhere in this specification, the sole plate can comprise one or more receptacles disposed on the sole plate, preferably at the front foot portion of the sole plate. The one or more receptacles are configured to receive one or more spikes. Thereby, the one or more receptacles are configured to engage with the one or more spikes. This can have the advantage of firmly fitting into the one or more spikes.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for footwear articles described herein, one or more first openings and / or one or more second openings can be disposed between two or more of the spikes, and / or one or more spikes can be disposed between two or more first openings and / or two or more second openings.

[0073] Thereby, the traction with respect to the ground can be improved by the arrangement of the one or more spikes with respect to the one or more first openings and / or second openings. Further, by disposing the openings in proximity to the spikes, the extension of the first material and / or the second material into their respective openings can be improved. This can be due to the relatively high pressure acting on the spikes during running, and thus this can be compensated to a significant extent.

[0074] Dimensions and overall features In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for footwear articles described herein, one or more first openings and / or one or more second openings preferably have a length of at least 1 cm, preferably at least 2 cm, more preferably at least 3 cm, still more preferably at least 4 cm, still more preferably at least 5 cm, still more preferably at least 6 cm, still more preferably at least 7 cm, still more preferably at least 8 cm, still more preferably at least 9 cm, still more preferably at least 10 cm, still more preferably at least 11 cm, still more preferably at least 12 cm, still more preferably at least 13 cm, still more preferably at least 14 cm, and most preferably at least 15 cm in the longitudinal direction of the sole plate, and / or one or more first openings and / or one or more second openings preferably have a length of at most 25 cm, preferably at most 23 cm, more preferably at most 20 cm, still more preferably at most 19 cm, still more preferably at most 18 cm, still more preferably at most 17 cm, still more preferably at most 16 cm, and most preferably at most 15 cm in the longitudinal direction of the sole plate.

[0075] The length of one or more first openings and / or one or more second openings as defined herein allows for an optimal balance of the following conflicting requirements. On the one hand, sufficient elongation of the material of the sole plate (including the first material and the second material) should be provided. This can, in some cases, reduce the pressure exerted on the wearer and make the grounding more comfortable for the wearer. For this purpose, a long length is desirable. On the other hand, sufficient support and / or stability for the wearer's foot should be provided. This can, in some cases, reduce the horizontal displacement during landing. For this purpose, a short length is desirable.

[0076] As described elsewhere herein, the longitudinal direction of the sole plate may be substantially parallel to the heel-to-toe axis of the sole plate.

[0077] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for footwear articles described herein, the sole plate has a maximum thickness of up to 10 mm, preferably up to 9 mm, more preferably up to 8 mm, even more preferably up to 7 mm, even more preferably up to 6 mm, even more preferably up to 5 mm, even more preferably up to 4 mm, and most preferably up to 3 mm.

[0078] This has the advantage that the sole plate does not act and / or is not felt like a bulky object of the footwear article. On the contrary, the sole plate can be smoothly incorporated into the footwear article, which is recognized by the wearer. Furthermore, a smaller thickness can be advantageous as it can thereby reduce the amount of material used. This has economic and environmental advantages. In addition, this contributes to lightweight shoes. Nevertheless, the thickness is large enough to provide a certain degree of stability to the wearer's foot.

[0079] As will be understood, when the sole plate is used in accordance with normal use, the thickness can be measured along a substantially vertical axis. For example, when viewed from the perspective of the wearer, the thickness can be measured from top to bottom or from bottom to top. A person skilled in the art will generally be able to determine said thickness.

[0080] Furthermore, the sole plate can include a varying thickness, which can contribute to the tapered shape of the sole plate. By varying the thickness of the sole plate, various different effects can be achieved at different parts of the sole plate. Thereby, the rigidity, hardness, and flexural modulus of the sole plate can be easily affected in the same sole plate.

[0081] In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for footwear articles described herein, the sole plate is a one-piece component extending from the heel region of the sole plate to the toe region of the sole plate.

[0082] This preferred embodiment can be understood as having a sole plate that is a one-piece component. Additionally, when the shoes with the sole plate are worn by the wearer during normal use, the component extends from the heel region of the wearer's foot to the toe region of the wearer's foot.

[0083] Forming the sole plate integrally, for example, as a one-piece component, may also be known as a monolithic or integral design. This can provide several advantages. For example, an integrally formed component can often have fewer weak points and / or potential defects compared to the assembly of multiple components, thus providing strength and durability. This can improve the overall strength and durability. Furthermore, since the integrally formed component may require substantially no separate parts, fasteners, or connectors (although this is not excluded), manufacturing and / or assembly can be simpler and easier. This can also reduce manufacturing costs. Additionally, the integrally formed component can reduce the total weight of the resulting sole plate. This can be particularly advantageous in the context of sports shoes where weight reduction can play an important role. Moreover, the integrally formed component can reduce wear, vibration, noise, etc. associated with separate moving parts, thus improving performance. Further, by eliminating the need for additional components, parts, elements, etc., the integrally formed component can reduce material costs, labor costs, and / or shorten assembly time, resulting in cost savings. In addition, having fewer components can often mean a simpler structure and can reduce material waste during manufacturing and disposal. This can contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly sole plate.

[0084] Method In a further aspect, the object of the present disclosure is a method for manufacturing one or more sole plates for one or more footwear articles, in particular sports shoes such as running shoes, the method comprising providing a mold, injecting a first material into the mold, and injecting a second material into the mold, wherein injecting the first material and injecting the second material are at least partially carried out simultaneously, and is at least partially solved by the method.

[0085] It should be understood that any one or more of the embodiments, features, advantages, examples, etc. described herein with respect to aspects and / or embodiments related to the sole plate can be combined with aspects and / or embodiments related to the method, and vice versa. In particular, it goes without saying that the technical characteristics illustrated and described for the sole plate, the advantages and improvements compared to the prior art are equally applicable to the method, and vice versa.

[0086] The method can include a plurality of injection processes, in particular a double injection process. The double injection process can mean that two materials can be used for injection. For example, as described elsewhere in this specification, two supply lines can be used. However, the method is not limited thereto, and additional materials may be used for injection.

[0087] The number of injection nozzles in the method is not limited. The injection nozzle can be understood as the final part of the supply line through which the material is injected into the mold. For example, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or more injection nozzles can be used to inject the first material and / or the second material.

[0088] Injecting the first material and injecting the second material are performed "at least partially" simultaneously. This can include the injection steps only partially overlapping over time. For example, the injection of the first material can be started before the start of the injection of the second material. Further, the injection of the first material can be started after the start of the injection of the second material. Nevertheless, both injection steps can have a period of overlap. In a preferred embodiment, injecting the first material and injecting the second material are performed simultaneously. Thereby, the injection of the first material can be started simultaneously with the injection of the second material, and the injection of the first material can be ended simultaneously with the injection of the second material.

[0089] By performing the injection of the first material and the injection of the second material at least partially simultaneously, various drawbacks of a single injection process can be overcome. For example, this facilitates the use of different materials. This has the advantage, for example, that more functions can be provided by a single integral part.

[0090] Furthermore, by injecting the first material and the second material at least partially simultaneously, it may be possible to execute the manufacturing method more rapidly, and the overall manufacturing time is shortened. Thereby, productivity can be improved and costs can be reduced. Further, by injecting the first material and the second material at least partially simultaneously, a more homogeneous mixing or a better controlled reaction of the first material and the second material occurs, and the quality of the product can be improved. Further, when the first material and the second material react with each other, by injecting the first material and the second material at least partially simultaneously, potential problems such as one material curing or deteriorating prematurely before the introduction of the other material can be prevented. Further, by injecting the first material and the second material at least partially simultaneously, the possibility of contamination that can occur when there is a time difference between the injection of the first material and the injection of the second material can be reduced. Also, labor costs can be reduced, or the need for complex machinery that would normally be required for continuous injection can be reduced.

[0091] The method described has the further advantage that all the advantageous features described herein for the sole plate can be realized by substantially one design component in substantially one process step.

[0092] In a preferred embodiment of the method described herein, the first material is different from the second material.

[0093] This enables different functions to be provided on one and the same sole plate.

[0094] In a preferred embodiment of the method described herein, the second material has a higher rigidity than the first material.

[0095] The higher rigidity of the second material compared to the first material enables advantages similar to those described above with respect to the sole plate to be realized.

[0096] In a preferred embodiment of the method described herein, the method includes simultaneously forming a first sole plate and a second sole plate.

[0097] Forming the first sole plate and the second sole plate simultaneously during the manufacturing process can exhibit several advantages. For example, the simultaneous formation of both sole plates can improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process and, in some cases, result in a greater output in a shorter time. Further, forming the two sole plates simultaneously can reduce labor-related costs, time, and energy consumption. This cost efficiency can reduce the overall manufacturing cost. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment of this method, since the two sole plates are formed simultaneously under substantially the same conditions, the consistency between the two sole plates can be guaranteed. This can contribute to the overall quality and uniformity of the sole plates, especially when the two sole plates are used for a pair of shoes. Additionally, a preferred embodiment of this method can simplify the process flow by eliminating the need to complete one part before starting another. This reduces the number of manufacturing steps and can shorten the possible downtime of the machine. Further, when manufacturing two parts simultaneously, the utilization of manufacturing capacity becomes better, ultimately resulting in higher profitability.

[0098] When referring herein to forming the first sole plate and the second sole plate "simultaneously", there may be slight variations regarding the specific time for each sole plate. For example, depending on environmental conditions and / or specific material compositions, it may take slightly longer or slightly shorter time to form one of the sole plates than the other. This means that manufacturing tolerances should be included. Nevertheless, when the injection step is carried out and subsequently the mold is opened, it is conceivable that both sole plates are formed simultaneously.

[0099] In a preferred embodiment of the method described herein, the first sole plate is a sole plate for a right shoe, and the second sole plate is a sole plate for a left shoe.

[0100] This further contributes to the above-described advantages explained with respect to the first sole plate and the second sole plate. In particular, this can improve the performance of the shoe wearer, especially when the shoe is used for running in track and field events.

[0101] In a preferred embodiment of the method described herein, the first sole plate includes a first portion disposed on the inner side of the first sole plate and a second portion disposed on the outer side of the first sole plate, and the second sole plate includes a first portion disposed on the outer side of the second sole plate and a second portion disposed on the inner side of the second sole plate. Injecting the first material includes injecting the first material into the first portion of the first sole plate and the first portion of the second sole plate, and injecting the second material includes injecting the second material into the second portion of the first sole plate and the second portion of the second sole plate.

[0102] Thus, the method has the advantage of being able to manufacture the right and left sole plates, in addition to the advantages described elsewhere herein. In particular, the sole plates may be asymmetric due to differences in geometry and / or material and / or material properties. For example, a more rigid and / or harder material can be provided on the outer side of one shoe (right shoe) and the inner side of another shoe (left shoe). Further, a less rigid and / or softer material can be provided on the inner side of one shoe (right shoe) and the outer side of the other shoe (left shoe). In this way, it can be ensured that the sole plate has the advantage that a less rigid and / or softer material is provided on the side of the sole plate that can first contact the ground.

[0103] In a preferred embodiment of the method described herein, the first sole plate and the second sole plate form an asymmetric pair of sole plates.

[0104] This contributes to the advantages described elsewhere in this specification. In particular, generally, in conventional shoes, the right shoe can be a mirror image of each left shoe. This typically provides the same function and / or symmetric functions to the wearer's foot. However, when used, for example, when running on a curve, such a design may not result in optimal outcomes. On the contrary, some types of running, such as running on a curve, may cause an asymmetric movement of the wearer's foot. Therefore, by providing each pair of asymmetric sole plates, the performance of the wearer can be improved.

[0105] The advantage of having a pair of asymmetric sole plates where the first sole plate and the second sole plate are not the same lies in the special functions that the sole plates can provide. This difference allows for different performance characteristics and / or different functions and can vary according to the specific features of each sole plate. Being asymmetric can help improve the performance of the wearer, provide better comfort, reduce the risk of injury, and better adapt to the specific characteristics and the needs of each foot, considering that the biomechanics of the foot is not always symmetric.

[0106] A pair of asymmetric sole plates can further respond to the differences in the needs of each foot when the foot moves in a certain way. For example, when running in a specific direction on a track. Alternatively or in addition, a pair of asymmetric sole plates can have advantages when the athlete is running under specific running conditions.

[0107] For the purpose of merely supporting the understanding of the term "asymmetric" used in the present disclosure, the following may be useful. Such understanding may be particularly illustrative when the term "asymmetric" is compared with the term "symmetric", and two sole plates may be symmetric when the pair of sole plates has symmetry with respect to a common axis. This may mean that one sole plate is a mirror image of the other respective sole plate. In contrast, two sole plates may be asymmetric when the portion of the sole plate does not have symmetry with respect to the common axis. That is, there may be no axis with respect to which the two sole plates have symmetry. In other words, an asymmetric pair of sole plates may mean that the mirror image of one sole plate is not equal to the other respective sole plate.

[0108] In a preferred embodiment of the method described herein, injecting the second material includes using more injection nozzles than injecting the first material.

[0109] This has the advantage that by using more injection nozzles, the second material of the second portion can more easily have higher rigidity. For example, more material can be supplied simultaneously than when using fewer injection nozzles. This excess material can ultimately increase the rigidity further (e.g., by increasing the density). For example, by using more nozzles, a larger amount of material can be supplied to the second portion substantially simultaneously. In this way, the injection speed can be reduced to a certain extent, thereby reducing the loss of the injection nozzles. This can have the advantage of reducing the frictional loss of the second material passing along the inner wall of the supply line to the injection nozzles.

[0110] Sole plate by method In a further aspect of the present disclosure, the object is at least partially solved by a sole plate for footwear articles, in particular sports shoes such as running shoes, produced by any one of the method aspects and / or embodiments described herein.

[0111] Needless to say, the technical characteristics, advantages compared to the prior art and improvements illustrated or described elsewhere in this specification for sole plates for footwear articles are equally applicable to sole plates produced by the method described herein.

[0112] One skilled in the art will readily recognize whether a sole plate for a footwear article has been produced by the method described herein or by a different method. For example, when injecting a first material and injecting a second material are at least partially carried out simultaneously, this can improve the material composition of the sole plate. For example, the cooling of the first material and the second material and their subsequent curing can be carried out substantially simultaneously. This may be readily recognizable by a particular structure of the sole plate. Further, by injecting the first material and the second material at least partially simultaneously, a more homogeneous mixing and / or a better control reaction between the first material and the second material can be achieved. This improves the quality of the product and distinguishes the sole plate produced in this way from sole plates produced by other methods.

[0113] Furthermore, one skilled in the art can readily recognize a sole plate for a footwear article produced by the method described herein because the method described herein enables a seamless transition from one material to another (e.g., from a first material to a second material and / or from a second material to a first material).

[0114] Device In a further aspect of the present disclosure, the object is at least partially solved by an apparatus for manufacturing one or more sole plates for one or more footwear articles, in particular for sports shoes such as running shoes, the apparatus comprising means for carrying out the method according to any one of the embodiments described herein.

[0115] As will be appreciated, each of the features and advantages described with respect to the method of manufacturing one or more sole plates for one or more footwear articles is also applicable to the apparatus.

[0116] The apparatus can comprise a mold, one or more first injection nozzles for injecting a first material, one or more second injection nozzles for injecting a second material, and control means, the control means being configured to control the injection such that the injection of the first material and the injection of the second material are carried out at least partially simultaneously. The apparatus can optionally comprise a cover that at least partially covers the mold.

[0117] A manufacturing apparatus designed in this way occupies only a relatively small construction space and can enable significant automation of the manufacturing. Thus, this manufacturing apparatus can be particularly suitable for continuous mass production. Various manufacturing parameters can also be adjusted individually so that individualized sole plates can be manufactured using a single manufacturing apparatus.

[0118] Material In a preferred embodiment of the sole plate for a footwear article described herein, the first material comprises one or more of polyamide (PA), polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and / or the second material comprises one or more of polyamide (PA), in particular fiber-reinforced PA such as carbon fiber-reinforced PA, the carbon content by weight being at least 1%, preferably at least 2%, more preferably at least 4%, most preferably at least 6%.

[0119] These materials have the advantage of providing sufficient rigidity, hardness, and / or flexural modulus, as described elsewhere in this specification. Further, these materials can contribute to improving the wearer's performance when wearing shoes with a sole plate. In addition, these materials are relatively readily available, cost-effective, and widely accepted in the field of shoe soles.

[0120] Footwear In a further aspect of the present disclosure, the object is at least partially solved by a footwear, in particular a sports shoe such as a running shoe, comprising a sole plate according to any one of the embodiments described herein and an upper, wherein the sole plate is attached to the upper.

[0121] It should be understood that the footwear of this aspect includes a sole plate for footwear as described elsewhere in this specification, so that the technical characteristics, advantages and improvements compared with the prior art illustrated or described for the sole plate for footwear are equally applicable to the footwear, and vice versa.

[0122] It should be noted that the sole plate can be attached to the upper by any suitable type of attachment means. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, attaching the sole plate to the upper of a shoe can involve various methods and techniques depending on the type of shoe, the materials used, and / or the desired level of durability and robustness of the upper.

[0123] In a preferred embodiment of the footwear article described herein, the footwear article is a running shoe, particularly for use on a competitive track. Such shoes can be used, for example, in track and field events. As described elsewhere herein, the footwear article can be used for any type of athletic activity. Nevertheless, the advantages are more pronounced when used for running, particularly running on a competitive track. Alternatively or in addition, the advantages are pronounced when used for running high jump or other sports categories in track and field events.

[0124] A pair of shoes In a further aspect of the present disclosure, the object is a pair of shoes comprising a right shoe and a left shoe, wherein the right shoe comprises a first sole plate as described in any one of the embodiments herein, and the left shoe comprises a second sole plate as described in any one of the embodiments herein, and is at least partially solved by the pair of shoes.

[0125] Since the pair of shoes of this aspect includes the first sole plate and the second sole plate for the footwear article described elsewhere herein, it should be understood that the technical characteristics, advantages and improvements compared with the prior art illustrated or described for the sole plate for the footwear article are equally applicable to the pair of shoes, and vice versa.

[0126] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0127]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 2a

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0128] Hereinafter, only some possible embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and many other embodiments are applicable without departing from the scope of the present invention. The presented embodiments can be modified in several ways, can be combined with each other whenever they are compatible, and a feature can be omitted as long as it is considered unimportant. In particular, the disclosed embodiments can be modified by combining a feature of one embodiment with one or more features of another embodiment.

[0129] It should be understood that not all features of the described aspects / embodiments need to be present in order to achieve the technical advantages presented by the present disclosure as defined by the subject matter of the claims. The disclosed aspects / embodiments can be modified by combining a feature of one aspect / embodiment with one or more features of another aspect / embodiment. Specifically, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the features and / or functional elements of one aspect / embodiment can be combined with the technically compatible features and / or functional elements of any other aspect / embodiment of the present disclosure, as long as the resulting combination is included in the definition of the present disclosure.

[0130] The following embodiments will be described primarily with respect to footwear articles, particularly sole plates for sports shoes, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure according to the present invention can be equally applied to a plurality of different technical fields and / or use cases.

[0131] Throughout this specification and the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. For clarity and conciseness, certain features, parts, elements, aspects, components, and / or steps of an embodiment are presented without more detail than necessary. Such details are obvious to those skilled in the art in light of the teachings of this specification, and / or such details obscure the understanding of more relevant aspects of the embodiment.

[0132] As will be understood by those skilled in the art and / or to avoid duplication, reference is also made to the description in the preceding paragraphs, which also applies to the following detailed description. Further, for brevity and clarity, not all features, parts, elements, aspects, components, and / or steps are explicitly indicated by reference numerals. This is particularly true when those skilled in the art recognize the existence of multiple such features, parts, elements, aspects, components, and / or steps.

[0133] Definitions As used herein, the terms "heel portion" and / or "heel region" of a sole plate can refer to the back portion of the sole plate, e.g., the rear portion of the sole plate, which is typically proximate to the wearer's heel when worn in normal use. The front end of the wearer's foot can be received in the heel portion and / or heel region of the sole plate. In particular, the "calcaneal region" of the wearer's foot can be received. The calcaneus is the large bone that forms the heel of the foot.

[0134] As used herein, the terms "toe portion" and / or "toe region" of a sole plate can refer to the front portion of the sole plate, such as the forefoot portion of the sole plate, that can receive the toes of the wearer's foot when worn during normal use. The toes of the wearer's foot can include the big toe and / or the big toe joint. The toe portion and / or toe region can include the front end portion of the foot when worn. Further, the toe portion and / or toe region can include the distal phalanx, middle phalanx, and proximal phalanx of the wearer's foot when worn. The toe portion and / or toe region can further include the front portion of the midfoot bone of the wearer's foot when worn.

[0135] As used herein, the terms "medial", "medial side", "medial side region", and / or "medial side portion" of a sole plate can refer to the inner side of the sole plate. This inner side can be closer to the center line of the wearer's body than the outer side when the shoe with the sole is worn. This inner side can extend from the toe region to the heel region. This inner side can include approximately half of the portion of the sole plate that is disposed medially when viewed from the heel-toe center line of the sole plate. The heel-toe center line can pass along the heel-toe axis of the sole plate.

[0136] As used herein, the terms "lateral", "lateral side", "lateral side region", and / or "lateral side portion" of a sole plate can refer to the outer side of the sole plate. This outer side can be farther from the center line of the wearer's body than the medial side when the shoe with the sole is worn. This outer side can extend from the toe region to the heel region. This outer side can include approximately half of the portion of the sole plate that is disposed laterally when viewed from the heel-toe center line. The heel-toe center line can pass along the heel-toe axis of the sole plate.

[0137] As used herein, the term "vertical axis" can approximately correspond to the main body axis of the wearer from head to foot when the wearer is standing on the ground.

[0138] Unless otherwise specified, the term "substantially" as used in the present context can be understood as considerably or significantly, or mostly or essentially. In particular, manufacturing tolerances are included in this term. Thus, any value or arrangement described by using the term "substantially" may deviate slightly from the described value or arrangement.

[0139] The term "and / or" is simply an associative relationship describing related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent three states: only A exists, both A and B exist, and only B exists. In addition, the character " / " in the present disclosure usually represents that the preceding and following related objects form an "or" relationship.

[0140] Terms such as "bottom", "top", "one end", "the other end", "outer side", "upper", "above", "inner side", "lower", "below", "horizontal", "coaxial", "center", "end", "portion", "length", "outer end", etc., indicating orientation or positional relationship, are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings.

[0141] The terms "upper", "above", "lower", "below", etc., used in the present invention to indicate relative positions in space, are used for the purpose of facilitating the description of the sole plate, footwear article, element, portion, object, and / or feature shown in the drawings in relation to another footwear article, element, portion, object, and / or feature.

[0142] Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 shows a first sole plate 110a and a second sole plate 110b for footwear articles, particularly sports shoes 100a, 100b, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0143] The sole plates 110a, 110b include first portions 115a, 115b (exemplarily shown by the dashed frames 115a, 115b) that contain a first material 115c (shown in FIG. 3). The sole plates 110a, 110b also include second portions 116a, 116b (exemplarily shown by the dotted frames 116a, 116b) that contain a second material 116c (shown in FIG. 3). The second material 116c has a higher rigidity than the first material 115c. When the sole plates 110a, 110b are for the right shoe 100a, the first portion 115a is disposed on the inner side 121a of the sole plate 110a, and the second portion 116a is disposed on the outer side 120a of the sole plate 115a. Additionally or alternatively, when the sole plate 110b is for the left shoe 100b, the first portion 115b is disposed on the outer side 120b of the sole plate 110b, and the second portion 116b is disposed on the inner side 121b of the sole plate 110b. Further, as can be inferred from FIG. 1, the sole plates 110a, 110b include one or more first openings 125a, 125b.

[0144] It should be noted that the sole plate 110a may be the first sole plate 110a corresponding to the right sole plate 110a, that is, the sole plate 110a for the right shoe 100a. Further, the sole plate 110b may be the second sole plate 110b corresponding to the left sole plate 110b, that is, the sole plate 110b for the left shoe 100b.

[0145] As described elsewhere in this specification, when running on a competitive track during a track and field event or the like, a runner typically runs on a curved track. This can apply when running on a competitive track in a counterclockwise direction. For this reason, it has been found that runners tend to lean inward on the left side. Therefore, in order to consider such a state of a competitive track, means must be provided. The inventors have found that the sole plates 110a, 110b for the shoes 100a, 100b proposed in this specification can provide such means. In particular, progress can be achieved by the sole plates 110a, 110b that are specially adapted to the impact that occurs during running on a competitive track. Similarly, advantages can be realized when an athlete is running on a curved track during a running high jump or other sports event preparation in a track and field sports event.

[0146] The second material can have a rigidity that is at least 1.1, preferably at least 1.2, more preferably at least 1.5, still more preferably at least 2.0, still more preferably at least 3.0, still more preferably at least 4.0, still more preferably at least 5.0, and most preferably at least 6.0, compared to the first material.

[0147] Furthermore, the second material can have a higher hardness than the first material. For example, the first material can have a Shore D hardness of at most 70 Shore D, preferably at most 65 Shore D, and most preferably at most 60 Shore D, and / or the second material can have a Shore D hardness of at least 65 Shore D, preferably at least 70 Shore D, and most preferably at least 72 Shore D.

[0148] The Shore D hardness can be determined using a hardness tester such as a device that presses a specific indenter into the surface of the material and measures the depth of the indentation. In this way, the force of the device can be fixed and the depth for the fixed force can be measured. Those skilled in the art can easily recognize how to determine the Shore D hardness.

[0149] The Shore D scale is generally used for harder materials, while the Shore A scale is generally used for softer materials. Measuring the Shore D hardness provides insights into the flexibility, elasticity, and suitability of materials for various applications. The Shore D scale ranges from 0 to 100, with higher numbers indicating higher hardness.

[0150] In one specific non - limiting example, the first material can include a polyether block (e.g., Pebax® 63R53), which is a thermoplastic elastomer formed from a flexible polyether and a rigid polyamide. This material can be based on renewable resources. The material can have a hardness of 60 Shore D. In one specific non - limiting example, the second material can include a fiber - glass reinforced polyamide (e.g., Rilsan® BZM7). This material can be based on renewable resources. The material can have a hardness of 72 Shore D.

[0151] The second material can have a higher flexural modulus than the first material. For example, the first material can have a flexural modulus of up to 1000 MPa, preferably up to 800 MPa, more preferably up to 600 MPa, still more preferably up to 400 MPa, still more preferably up to 300 MPa, and most preferably up to 250 MPa, and / or the second material can have a flexural modulus of at least 800 MPa, preferably at least 1000 MPa, more preferably at least 1200 MPa, still more preferably at least 1300 MPa, still more preferably at least 1400 MPa, and most preferably at least 1500 MPa. In one specific non - limiting example, the first material can have a flexural modulus of about 245 MPa. In one specific non - limiting example, the second material can have a flexural modulus of about 15000 MPa.

[0152] Furthermore, as can be best seen in FIG. 2a (and also derivable by one or more of the receptacles 127' of FIGS. 1 and 2), the sole plates 110a, 110b can comprise one or more spikes 127 disposed on the sole plates 110a, 110b, preferably on the front foot portions 111a, 111b of the sole plates 110a, 110b. Furthermore, as can be best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sole plates 110a, 110b can comprise one or more receptacles 127' disposed on the sole plates 110a, 110b, preferably on the front foot portions 111a, 111b of the sole plates 110a, 110b. The one or more receptacles 127' are configured to receive the one or more spikes 127.

[0153] The one or more spikes 127 (shown in FIG. 2a) are preferably disposed on the front foot portions 111a, 111b of the sole plates 110a, 110b, but in addition or alternatively, they may be disposed on different portions 112a, 112b, 113a, 113b of the sole plates 110a, 110b. In one example, the one or more spikes 127 may be disposed on the middle foot portions 112a, 112b of the sole plates 110a, 110b in addition or alternatively. In one example, the one or more spikes 127 may be disposed on the rear foot portions 113a, 113b of the sole plates 110a, 110b in addition or alternatively.

[0154] In various embodiments, the one or more spikes 127 may be arranged according to a pattern designed to improve traction with the ground. In various embodiments, the arrangement of the one or more spikes 127 includes one or more groups of spikes 127 that can be arbitrarily arranged and one or more groups of spikes 127 that are arranged according to a pattern designed to improve traction with the ground. As will be appreciated, the arrangement of the one or more spikes 127 can vary depending on the type of ground on which the sole plates 110a, 110b are used.

[0155] One or more spikes 127 (shown in FIG. 2a) can be attached to the sole plates 110a, 110b and / or one or more receptacles 127'. Various attachment means that can be used to attach the one or more spikes 127 to the sole plates 110a, 110b to each other are included in the present disclosure. Such attachment means include, but are not limited to, the following list: fasteners (screws, bolts, nuts, rivets, clamps, staples, etc.), adhesives and adhesives (various types of adhesive substances that can bond to each other when dried or cured, double-sided tape including adhesives on both sides of the tape), welding (at least partially melting a part of the parts and fusing them together), soldering (melting a low-temperature part for joining), mechanical connections (latches and catches, surface fasteners, zip ties), magnetic attachments, snap-fit connections (interlocking parts that snap-fit to each other), one or more or all of which are included. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the method by which the spike 127 is attached to the sole plates 110a, 110b can depend on the materials involved and / or the specific intended purpose.

[0156] In a preferred embodiment, it should be noted that one or more spikes 127 can be fixedly attached to the sole plates 110a, 110b, i.e., made non-removable. In another preferred embodiment, one or more spikes 127 can be screwed into the sole plates 110a, 110b, i.e., made removable.

[0157] As can be seen in FIG. 1 (and most clearly in FIG. 2), one or more first openings 125a, 125b and / or one or more second openings 126a, 126b may be disposed between two or more of the spikes 127 and / or between two or more of the receptacles 127'. For example, the largest first opening 125b may be designated as 125b' as shown in FIG. 2, and may have a spike 127 on the outer side 120b (right side of FIG. 2) and a spike 127 on the inner side 121b (left of FIG. 2). As can be further seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 (and most clearly in FIG. 2a), one or more spikes 127 and / or one or more receptacles 127' may be disposed between two or more of the first openings 125a, 125b and / or between two or more of the second openings 126a, 126b. For example, the three outermost first openings 125b may be designated as 125b'' as shown in FIG. 2, and may have receptacles 127' and / or spikes 127 disposed between each pair of these three first openings 125b''.

[0158] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Exemplarily, only the left shoe 100b and the corresponding left sole plate 110b are shown. For simplicity, the right shoe 100a and the right sole plate 110a are not shown in FIG. 2.

[0159] As can be seen from FIG. 2, when the sole plates 110a, 110b are for the left shoe 100b, the first portion 115b is disposed on the outer side 120b of the sole plate 110b, and the second portion 116b is disposed on the inner side 121b of the sole plate 115b. This is most clearly seen when looking at the heel-to-toe center line 128 of the sole plate 110b, which is illustratively shown in FIG. 2 by a dashed line passing along the heel-to-toe axis HT. The center line 128 of the sole plate 110b can divide the sole plate 110b into approximately two halves, i.e., approximately half of the inner side 121b and approximately half of the outer side 120b. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, since the sole plate 110b can be asymmetric, the halves of the inner side 121b and the outer side 120b of the sole plate 110b may vary slightly in some cases. This variation is represented by the term "approximately". It should be noted that a similar arrangement of the first portion 115a and the second portion 116a can be imagined for the sole plate 110b when used for the right shoe 100a. This will also be described with respect to FIG. 1.

[0160] It should be noted that although the first portion 115b is disposed on the outer side 120b of the sole plate 110b and the second portion 116b is disposed on the inner side 121b of the sole plate 115b, it is not excluded that a part of the first material is located on the inner side 121b of the sole plate 110b close to the center line 128. This may be recognizable from the exemplary dashed-line frame 115b (showing the arrangement of the first portion 115b) in FIG. 2 and the exemplary dashed center line 128. Further, it is not excluded that a part of the second material is located on the outer side 120b of the sole plate 110b close to the center line 128. This may be recognizable from the exemplary dotted-line frame 116b (showing the arrangement of the second portion 116b) in FIG. 2 and the exemplary dashed center line 128.

[0161] As can be seen in Fig. 2 (and also in Fig. 1), one or more first openings 125a, 125b have an elongated shape, preferably the shape of one of a slit, a groove, a cut, and a vent hole. As described elsewhere in this specification, these shapes of the openings 125a, 125b further contribute to the advantage of substantially maintaining the stability of the sole plates 110a, 110b while allowing the material of the sole plates 110a, 110b to extend at least partially into the one or more first openings 125a, 125b. In addition, specific shapes are described as follows and can have the following advantages. That is, the slit may be a fairly long and narrow opening and / or cut in the material of the sole plates 110a, 110b. The slit generally has a length greater than its width, and in some cases, its length is significantly greater than its width. For example, its length may be at least 2 times, at least 3 times, at least 4 times, at least 5 times, at least 6 times, at least 7 times, at least 8 times, at least 9 times, at least 10 times or more greater than its width. The slit may be straight or curved and may be composed of one or more straight segments and one or more curved segments. The segments can be arranged arbitrarily or alternately along a line. The slit can be used to allow air, light, or other substances to pass through or flow between them. In addition, the slit can provide additional functions, for example, it can contribute to the appearance. The groove may be a long and narrow channel and / or recess that can be cut into the material of the sole plates 110a, 110b. The groove can be useful for various purposes such as guiding the flow of liquid. This can help remove moisture such as sweat. And this can also improve the smell. The groove may be wide or narrow. The groove can occur in various shapes including one or more of a straight segment, a curved segment, an angular segment, a regular segment, or an irregular segment. The segments can be arranged arbitrarily along the longitudinal direction of the groove or alternately along the longitudinal direction of the glove.The cut can refer to a separation line or a dividing line formed in a material such as the material of the sole plates 110a, 110b described in this specification. The cut can be straight or angled and can be used for various purposes including the formation of an opening, the shaping of a material, or the modification of the structure of the sole plates 110a, 110b. The cut can occur in various shapes including one or more of a straight segment, a curved segment, an angular segment, a regular segment, or an irregular segment. The segments can be arranged arbitrarily or alternately along the longitudinal direction of the cut. The ventilation hole is an opening or a passage in a material such as the material of the sole plates 110a, 110b described in this specification. The ventilation hole can enable a gas such as air or a liquid to move therethrough. The ventilation hole can be useful for adjusting the temperature of the wearer's foot. The ventilation hole can be implemented in various different shapes and / or sizes including one or more of a straight segment, a curved segment, an angular segment, a regular segment, or an irregular segment. The segments can be arranged arbitrarily or alternately along the longitudinal direction of the ventilation hole.

[0162] Regardless of the shape of the one or more first openings 125a, 125b, the first openings 125a, 125b can still have a closed boundary, that is, be surrounded by the periphery of the sole plates 110a, 110b.

[0163] The three outermost first openings 125b (shown as 125b” in Fig. 2) can be shown in an example that can be understood by the segmented and / or discontinuous shapes described elsewhere in this specification. The three first openings 125b” can be regarded as three separate segments, which can have an extension that is wider or narrower in the lateral direction (substantially parallel to the inner-outer axis ML) than the other segments among the three first openings 125b”. Fig. 2 also shows that the first opening 125b” enables the available space of the sole plate 110b to be used to an optimal extent. This is particularly advantageous because only the sole plate 110b allows for a limited available space. Each of the three outermost first openings 125b” can define a sub-opening. In the example of Fig. 2, the first openings 125b” are not connected to each other by the material of the sole plate 110b. On the contrary, the three first openings 125b” are not connected and are thus considered discontinuous. However, as shown in Fig. 2, the entire perimeter of the three first openings 125b” is within the material of the sole plate 110b and has a closed boundary. The three first openings 125b” can form a group as described elsewhere in this specification.

[0164] Furthermore, as can be inferred from Fig. 2 (and Fig. 1), one or more of the first openings 125a, 125b define through-holes.

[0165] Furthermore, one or more of the first openings 125a, 125b can extend in the longitudinal direction of the sole plates 110a, 110b and in the lateral direction of the sole plates 110a, 110b. The longitudinal extension can be greater than the lateral extension. The longitudinal direction can be substantially parallel to and / or identical to the heel-to-toe axis HT of the sole plates 110a, 110b. The lateral direction can be substantially parallel to and / or identical to the inner-outer axis ML of the sole plates 110a, 110b.

[0166] Furthermore, one or more first openings 125a, 125b can be arranged in the first portions 115a, 115b of the sole plates 110a, 110b. Furthermore, the sole plates 110a, 110b can include one or more second openings 126a, 126b arranged in the second portions 116a, 116b of the sole plates 110a, 110b.

[0167] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2 (and FIG. 1), the number of one or more first openings 125a, 125b may be different from the number of one or more second openings 126a, 126b. Preferably, the number of one or more first openings 125a, 125b is greater than the number of one or more second openings 126a, 126b.

[0168] Furthermore, one or more first openings 125a, 125b and / or one or more second openings 126a, 126b preferably have a length L (exemplarily shown for one of the second openings 126b among the one or more second openings 126b at the lower left part of the forefoot portion 111b of the sole plate 110b in FIG. 2) of at least 1 cm, preferably at least 2 cm, more preferably at least 4 cm, still more preferably at least 6 cm, still more preferably at least 7 cm, still more preferably at least 8 cm, still more preferably at least 10 cm, still more preferably at least 12 cm, still more preferably at least 14 cm, and most preferably at least 15 cm in the longitudinal direction of the sole plates 110a, 110b (corresponding to the heel-to-toe axis HT). Additionally or alternatively, one or more first openings 125a, 125b and / or one or more second openings 126a, 126b preferably have a length L of at most 25 cm, preferably at most 23 cm, more preferably at most 20 cm, still more preferably at most 18 cm, still more preferably at most 16 cm, and most preferably at most 15 cm in the longitudinal direction of the sole plates 110a, 110b (corresponding to the heel-to-toe axis HT).

[0169] Furthermore, the sole plates 110a, 110b can have a maximum thickness of up to 10 mm, preferably up to 8 mm, more preferably up to 6 mm, even more preferably up to 5 mm, even more preferably up to 4 mm, and most preferably up to 3 mm. As described elsewhere in this specification, the sole plates 110a, 110b can include a varying thickness that can contribute to the tapered shape of the sole plates 110a, 110b. By varying the thickness of the sole plates 110a, 110b, various different effects such as differences in the rigidity, hardness, and / or flexural modulus of the sole plates 110a, 110b can be achieved.

[0170] When the sole plates 110a, 110b are used in accordance with normal use, the thickness can be measured along a substantially vertical axis. The thickness of the sole plates 110a, 110b in FIG. 2 may be substantially parallel to a line that projects substantially perpendicularly through the image plane.

[0171] Furthermore, the sole plates 110a, 110b may be integrally formed components. Further, the sole plates 110a, 110b can extend from the heel regions of the sole plates 110a, 110b (similar to reference numerals 113a, 113b) to the toe regions of the sole plates 110a, 110b (similar to reference numerals 111a, 111b).

[0172] It should be noted that an "integrally formed" component can be understood as one in which distinct material boundaries cannot be determined at various parts of the component. Thereby, a person skilled in the art can easily distinguish, based on the sole plates 110a, 110b, whether the sole plates 110a, 110b can be formed from one integrally formed component or from a plurality of components.

[0173] Figure 2a is a detailed view of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Exemplarily, only the right shoe 100a and the corresponding right sole plate 110a are shown. For simplicity, the left shoe 100b and the left sole plate 110b are not shown in FIG. 2a. The embodiment of FIG. 2a is similar to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2. Therefore, the descriptions of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be equally applied to the embodiment of FIG. 2a, where only some of the differences can be emphasized here.

[0174] FIG. 2a shows one or more spikes 127 received in one or more receptacles 127' shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, it is also conceivable that one or more spikes 127 can be formed integrally with the sole plates 110a, 110b, which means that one or more receptacles 127' may not be necessary in such an example.

[0175] One or more spikes 127 in FIG. 2a are shown in a conical shape. However, one or more spikes 127 are not limited to such geometric shape examples. In particular, one or more spikes 127 can be implemented in various shapes and configurations according to the type of running surface and / or the specific needs of the athlete.

[0176] For example, the following shapes and / or configurations may be included non-exhaustively.

[0177] One or more spikes 127 can have a pyramidal tip. These spikes 127 can be very versatile. Such spikes 127 provide good traction on various surfaces including tracks and grass.

[0178] One or more spikes 127 may be needle spikes that can be thin and needle-like to provide a minimum surface area. Such spikes 127 are designed to be used on softer surfaces such as grass or well-maintained tracks.

[0179] One or more spikes 127 can have a Christmas tree shape. These spikes, due to resembling a Christmas tree, have a pyramidal shape with multiple tips. These spikes provide a good balance of traction and durability and are suitable for various running surfaces.

[0180] One or more spikes 127 can have blade - type spikes 127. These spikes 127 have a flat blade - like shape and provide a larger surface area than pyramidal spikes. Blade - type spikes 127 can be useful on synthetic tracks and can provide good grip.

[0181] One or more spikes 127 can be wrench spikes 127. These spikes 127 have a unique twisted shape similar to a wrench. These spikes 127 are designed for maximum traction on soft or muddy surfaces and are suitable for cross - country running.

[0182] One or more spikes 127 can be hexagonal spikes 127. These spikes 127 have a hexagonal shape and provide a combination of grip and stability. These spikes 127 are generally used in short - distance track events.

[0183] One or more spikes 127 can be compression spikes 127. These spikes 127 have a flatter and wider shape and are designed to slightly compress the track upon impact, providing better energy return. These spikes 127 are often used in short - distance running events.

[0184] The selection of one or more spikes 127 can be influenced by factors such as the type of running, the running surface, and personal preference.

[0185] Figure 3 shows a first sole plate 110a and a second sole plate 110b of a footwear article during manufacture, particularly for sports shoes 100a, 100b, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0186] In particular, FIG. 3 can show the first sole plate 110a and the second sole plate 110b during method 200, which will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4. As can be seen, injecting the second material 116c (seen in FIG. 4 at 230) can include using more injection nozzles 143 than the injection nozzle 142 used for injecting the first material 115c (seen in FIG. 4 at 220). FIG. 3 shows that four injection nozzles 143 are used for injecting the second material 116c at 230. Further, FIG. 3 shows that two injection nozzles 142 are used for injecting the first material 115c at 220. Further, FIG. 3 also shows a supply line 140 for the first material 115c and a supply line 141 for the second material 116c. However, it should be noted that various different numbers of injection nozzles 142, 143 and / or various different numbers of supply lines 140, 141 may be used.

[0187] Furthermore, injecting the second material 116c using more injection nozzles 143 than those used to inject the first material 115c at 220 can provide various advantages. For example, having more nozzles can mean that the second material 116c can be dispersed over a wider area or in a larger quantity. Although not preferred, it may also be possible that it may be necessary to mix the first material 115c and the second material 116c. Thereby, using more nozzles for the second material 116c can improve the quality of the mixing and the uniform dispersion of the materials 115c, 116c. Additionally, the additional injection nozzles 143 can better control the amount and speed of the injection 230 of the second material 116c. Further, more injection nozzles 143 than the injection nozzles 142 can, in some cases, improve the speed of the injection 230 of the second material 116c, thereby accelerating the overall process. In addition, due to certain material properties such as viscosity or reaction rate, it may be advantageous to use more injection nozzles 143 for smooth and efficient processing.

[0188] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method 200 for manufacturing one or more sole plates 110a, 110b according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0189] The method 200 includes providing a mold at 210, injecting a first material 115c (most preferably seen in FIG. 3) into the mold at 220, and injecting a second material 116c (most preferably seen in FIG. 3) into the mold at 230. Further, injecting the first material 115c at 220 and injecting the second material 116c at 230 are performed at least partially simultaneously.

[0190] As described elsewhere in this specification, by performing at least partially simultaneously the injection 220 of the first material 115c and the injection 230 of the second material 116c, the manufacturing method 200 can be executed more quickly, reducing the overall manufacturing time. This can improve productivity, reduce costs, result in a more homogeneous mixing or better controlled reaction between the first material 115c and the second material 116c, and improve the quality of the product. In particular, as described elsewhere in this specification, by performing at least partially simultaneously the injection 220 of the first material 115c and the injection 230 of the second material 116c, this enables a seamless transition from one material to the other (e.g., from the first material 115c to the second material 116c and / or from the second material 116c to the first material 115c). Thereby, a seamless transition between the two different materials 115c, 116c can be achieved. And this can provide sole plates 110a, 110b without weak points and / or weak joints.

[0191] Furthermore, potential problems such as one material 115c, 116c curing or deteriorating earlier than the other material 115c, 116c can be prevented.

[0192] The first material 115c may be different from the second material 116c. For example, the second material 116c can have a higher rigidity than the first material 115c.

[0193] Furthermore, as an optional step (shown by the dashed frame in FIG. 4), method 200 includes simultaneously forming a first sole plate 110a and a second sole plate 110b. The first sole plate 110a may be a sole plate 110a for the right shoe 100a, and the second sole plate 110b may be a sole plate 110b for the left shoe 100b. By simultaneously forming the first sole plate 110a and the second sole plate 110b, the two sole plates 110a, 110b can be formed simultaneously under substantially the same conditions, so it should be noted that the consistency between the two sole plates 110a, 110b can be guaranteed. This can contribute to the overall quality and uniformity of the sole plates 110a, 110b, especially when the two sole plates 110a, 110b are used for a pair of shoes 100a, 100b. Furthermore, by simultaneously forming the first sole plate 110a and the second sole plate 110b, the process flow can be simplified. This may be because the need to complete one part before starting another part can be eliminated, resulting in fewer manufacturing steps and a reduction in the possible machine downtime. Furthermore, when manufacturing the two sole plates 110a, 110b simultaneously, the utilization of manufacturing capacity becomes better, which can ultimately lead to higher profitability.

[0194] Furthermore, in method 200, the first sole plate 110a can include a first portion 115a disposed on the inner side 121a of the first sole plate 110a and a second portion 116a disposed on the outer side 120a of the first sole plate 110a. Further, the second sole plate 110b can include a first portion 115b disposed on the outer side 121b of the second sole plate 110b and a second portion 116b disposed on the inner side 121b of the second sole plate 110b. Further, injecting the first material 115c 220 can include injecting the first material 115c into the first portion 115a of the first sole plate 110a and the first portion 115b of the second sole plate 110b. Further, injecting the second material 116c 230 can include injecting the second material 116c into the second portion 116a of the first sole plate 110a and the second portion 116b of the second sole plate 110b.

[0195] Furthermore, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first sole plate 110a and the second sole plate 110b form an asymmetric pair of sole plates 110a, 110b. The asymmetric design is not normally used because the manufacturing is more complex and in some cases more expensive. Nevertheless, the proposed manufacturing method can at least partially overcome this drawback. Further, the asymmetric design provides possibilities for fine-tuning and individual customization that are not achievable with a symmetric design.

[0196] As will be appreciated, by implementing the method 200 described herein, sole plates 110a, 110b for footwear articles, particularly sports shoes 100a, 100b such as running shoes, are manufactured.

[0197] As described elsewhere in this specification, a further aspect relates to an apparatus (not shown) for manufacturing one or more sole plates 110a, 110b for one or more footwear articles, particularly sports shoes 100a, 100b such as running shoes, the apparatus comprising means for carrying out the method 200 according to any one of the embodiments described herein.

[0198] As described elsewhere in this specification, a further aspect relates to a footwear article (shown in FIG. 1), particularly sports shoes 100a, 100b such as running shoes, the footwear article comprising sole plates 110a, 110b and uppers 130a, 130b according to any one of the embodiments described herein. Further, the sole plates 110a, 110b are attached to the uppers 130a, 130b.

[0199] As described elsewhere in this specification, a further aspect relates to a pair of shoes 100a, 100b (shown in FIG. 1) comprising a right shoe 100a and a left shoe 100b, the right shoe 100a including a first sole plate 110a according to any one of the embodiments described herein. Further, the left shoe 100b includes a second sole plate 110b according to any one of the embodiments described herein.

[0200] FIG. 5 shows a second sole plate 110b for a footwear article, particularly sports shoes 100a, 100b, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Exemplarily, only the second sole plate 110b is shown. For the sake of brevity, the first sole plate 110a is not shown in FIG. 5. The features of the embodiment of FIG. 5 are not particularly described as being different from the features of the remaining embodiments of the present disclosure and may be the same as the features of the remaining embodiments of the present disclosure. For the sake of brevity, only some features are described in FIG. 5.

[0201] The sole plate 110b shown in FIG. 5 comprises a first portion including a first material 115c (the first material 115c is also shown in FIG. 3). The sole plate 110b also comprises a second portion including a second material 116c (the second material 116c is also shown in FIG. 3). The second material 116c has a higher rigidity than the first material 115c. In the specific example of FIG. 5, the second sole plate 110b may be the left sole plate 110b for the left shoe 100a. Further, as can be inferred from FIG. 5, the sole plate 110b comprises one or more first openings 125a (at the forefoot portion of FIG. 5 on the left side of FIG. 5).

[0202] The second material 116c is mainly provided in the arch portion of the sole plate 110b.

[0203] The arch portion is a support structure usually located between the insole (e.g., the midsole of the shoe) and the outsole (e.g., the bottom of the shoe that contacts the ground). The arch portion is usually a thin and flat material part often formed from metal, plastic, or fiberglass, and extends in the longitudinal direction from the heel of the foot to the ball of the thumb.

[0204] The main purpose of the arch portion is to provide stability and support to the arch of the foot. The arch portion can help prevent the shoe from being crushed by the body weight and can provide a structure to the midfoot portion 112b of the (left) sole plate 110b. In addition, the arch portion can provide protection against sharp objects on the ground.

[0205] Since the arch portion requires more support, it is advantageous to make the rigidity of the sole plate 110b higher in this region than in other regions of the sole plate 110b. Reinforcement of the arch portion, i.e., making the rigidity of the arch portion higher, can be achieved by positioning an injection runner including a second material 116c (a more rigid material) for the arch portion of the sole plate 110b and a first material 115c (a softer material) for the remaining portion of the sole plate 110b during the injection step.

[0206] The toe spring portion shown in FIG. 5 may vary in flexibility and rigidity according to the type of shoe and the purpose of use. For example, a more flexible toe spring portion may be desirable to allow for more natural foot movement. In other cases, a more rigid toe spring portion may be advantageous for providing additional support on uneven terrain.

[0207] In various examples, the sole plates 110a, 110b for footwear items that provide the additional advantages described herein can be used in addition to or instead of any device, component, or apparatus used in any type of athletic activity. That is, the sole plates 110a, 110b are not necessarily limited to examples of footwear items. It may be possible to transfer the concept of the sole plates 110a, 110b to any type of athletic activity that requires more conforming and / or targeted functions and support for the athlete.

[0208] Nevertheless, the advantages of the sole plates 110a, 110b described herein have been found to be particularly prominent when applied to footwear items such as sports shoes 100a, 100b used during athletic activities, particularly running such as running on a competitive track. This may often apply to track and field event categories. Another example is the long jump or other suitable sports categories in track and field sports.

[0209] The term "athletic activity" is to be understood to include one or more and / or any combination of at least the following non-exhaustive list, namely, aerobics, exercise practice, running, hiking, mountain climbing, group fitness classes, walking, cycling, yoga, soccer, tennis, football, basketball, exercise, volleyball, gymnastics, weightlifting, cross-training, baseball, softball, rugby, field hockey, wrestling, squash, track and field (sprinting, long jump, high jump, etc.), cross-country skiing.

[0210] In any of the embodiments of the sole plates 110a, 110b for the footwear articles described herein, particularly the sports shoes 100a, 100b, the first material 115c can include one or more of polyamide (PA), polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

[0211] In any of the embodiments of the sole plates 110a, 110b for the footwear articles described herein, particularly the sports shoes 100a, 100b, the second material 116c can include one or more of polyamide (PA), particularly fiber-reinforced PA such as carbon fiber-reinforced PA, and the carbon content by weight is at least 1%, preferably at least 2%, more preferably at least 4%, and most preferably at least 6%.

[0212] It should be noted that many material combinations are possible. This can depend on specific requirements for performance and / or stiffness and / or hardness and / or flexural modulus. Both materials, namely, the first material 115c (seen in Figure 3) and the second material (seen in Figure 3), can be injected at least partially simultaneously. Thereby, both materials can be liquid inside the mold. And the materials can advantageously melt well with each other and not be subject to the problem of delamination.

[0213] In particular, these materials used for the first material 115c and / or the second material 116c have various characteristics and can be handled for many applications due to various degrees of hardness, density, flexural modulus, elasticity, cold resistance and heat resistance, durability, and elasticity. Furthermore, these materials are known to be suitable for the sole plates 110a, 110b which have high wear resistance and may require a long lifespan. Polyamide (PA), and in particular fiber-reinforced PA, polyurethane (PU), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) have excellent resistance to oil, grease, and various chemicals. They also have excellent weather resistance and aging resistance. In particular, by using fiber-reinforced polyamide (PA) in which fibers strengthen the strength and rigidity of the material, better performance and durability of the sole plates 110a, 110b can be obtained. Furthermore, PA, PU, and TPU are thermoplastic and can be easily molded into complex shapes and designs, enabling the production of complex and precise parts. In addition, because they are thermoplastic materials, in many cases, these materials can be melted and reused, contributing to waste reduction and sustainability efforts.

[0214] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, any one or more of the embodiments and / or examples described herein can be combined with the further aspects described herein, and it should be noted that the details of the embodiments and / or examples may also be omitted. The scope of protection is determined by the claims and is not limited by the embodiments and / or examples disclosed in the above drawings.

[0215] Furthermore, the present application discloses the following embodiments.

[0216] [1] A sole plate (110a, 110b) for footwear, particularly sports shoes (100a, 100b) such as running shoes, the sole plate (110a, 110b) comprising a first portion (115a, 115b) including a first material (115c), and a second portion (116a, 116b) including a second material (116c) and comprising The second material (116c) has a higher rigidity than the first material (115c), When the sole plate (110a, 110b) is for the right shoe (100a), the first portion (115a) is disposed on the inner side (121a) of the sole plate (110a), the second portion (116a) is disposed on the outer side (120a) of the sole plate (110a), and / or When the sole plate (110a, 110b) is for the left shoe (100b), the first portion (115b) is disposed on the outer side (120b) of the sole plate (110b), the second portion (116b) is disposed on the inner side (121b) of the sole plate (110b), The sole plate (110a, 110b) includes one or more first openings (125a, 125b).

[0217] [2] The second material (116c) has a rigidity of at least 1.1, preferably at least 1.2, more preferably at least 1.5, still more preferably at least 2.0, still more preferably at least 3.0, still more preferably at least 4.0, still more preferably at least 5.0, and most preferably at least 6.0, as compared with the first material (115c), for the sole plate (110a, 110b) of [1].

[0218] [3] The second material (116c) has a higher hardness than the first material (115c), for the sole plate (110a, 110b) of [1] or [2].

[0219] [4] The first material (115c) has a Shore D hardness of at most 70 Shore D, preferably at most 65 Shore D, and most preferably at most 60 Shore D, and / or The second material (116c) has a Shore D hardness of at least 65 Shore D, preferably at least 70 Shore D, and most preferably at least 72 Shore D, for the sole plate (110a, 110b) of [3].

[0220] [5] The sole plate (110a, 110b) according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the second material (116c) has a higher flexural modulus than the first material (115c).

[0221] [6] The first material (115c) has a flexural modulus of at most 1000 MPa, preferably at most 800 MPa, more preferably at most 600 MPa, still more preferably at most 400 MPa, even more preferably at most 300 MPa, and most preferably at most 250 MPa, and / or The sole plate (110a, 110b) according to [5], wherein the second material (116c) has a flexural modulus of at least 800 MPa, preferably at least 1000 MPa, more preferably at least 1200 MPa, still more preferably at least 1300 MPa, even more preferably at least 1400 MPa, and most preferably at least 1500 MPa.

[0222] [7] The sole plate (110a, 110b) according to any one of [1] to [6], wherein one or more first openings (125a, 125b) have an elongated shape, preferably one of the shapes of a slit, a groove, a cut, and a vent hole.

[0223] [8] The sole plate (110a, 110b) according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein one or more first openings (125a, 125b) define a through hole.

[0224] [9] One or more first openings (125a, 125b) extend in the longitudinal direction and the transverse direction of the sole plate (110a, 110b), and it is preferable that the longitudinal extension is larger than the transverse extension, for the sole plate (110a, 110b) according to any one of [1] to [8].

[0225]

[10] One or more first openings (125a, 125b) are arranged in a first portion (115a, 115b) of a sole plate (110a, 110b), the sole plate (110a, 110b) being any one of [1] to [9].

[0226]

[11] The sole plate (110a, 110b) comprises one or more second openings (126a, 126b) arranged in a second portion (116a, 116b) of the sole plate (110a, 110b), the sole plate (110a, 110b) being any one of [1] to

[10] .

[0227]

[12] The number of one or more first openings (125a, 125b) is greater than the number of one or more second openings (126a, 126b), the sole plate (110a, 110b) being any one of [1] to

[11] .

[0228]

[13] One or more spikes (127) are arranged on the sole plate (110a, 110b), preferably on a front foot portion (111a, 111b) of the sole plate (110a, 110b). The sole plate (110a, 110b) optionally comprises one or more receptacles (127’). One or more receptacles (127’) are arranged on the sole plate (110a, 110b), preferably on a front foot portion (111a, 111b) of the sole plate (110a, 110b). One or more receptacles (127’) are configured to receive one or more spikes (127), the sole plate (110a, 110b) being any one of [1] to

[12] .

[0229]

[14] One or more first openings (125a, 125b) and / or one or more second openings (126a, 126b) preferably have a length (L) of at least 1 cm, preferably at least 2 cm, more preferably at least 4 cm, still more preferably at least 6 cm, still more preferably at least 7 cm, still more preferably at least 8 cm, still more preferably at least 10 cm, still more preferably at least 12 cm, still more preferably at least 14 cm, and most preferably at least 15 cm in the longitudinal direction of the sole plate (110a, 110b), and / or One or more first openings (125a, 125b) and / or one or more second openings (126a, 126b) preferably have a length (L) of up to 25 cm, preferably up to 23 cm, more preferably up to 20 cm, still more preferably up to 18 cm, still more preferably up to 16 cm, and most preferably up to 15 cm in the longitudinal direction of the sole plate (110a, 110b), for any one of the sole plates (110a, 110b) according to [1] to

[13] when dependent on claim 11.

[0230]

[15] The sole plate (110a, 110b) has a maximum thickness of up to 10 mm, preferably up to 8 mm, more preferably up to 6 mm, still more preferably up to 5 mm, still more preferably up to 4 mm, and most preferably up to 3 mm, for any one of the sole plates (110a, 110b) according to [1] to

[14] .

[0231]

[16] The sole plate (110a, 110b) is a one-piece component extending from the heel region to the toe region of the sole plate (110a, 110b), for any one of the sole plates (110a, 110b) according to [1] to

[15] .

[0232]

[17] A method (200) for manufacturing one or more sole plates (110a, 110b) for one or more footwear articles, in particular sports shoes (100a, 100b) such as running shoes, Providing a mold (210), Injecting a first material (115c) into the mold (220), Injecting a second material (116c) into the mold (230), and including a method in which injecting the first material (220) and injecting the second material (230) are performed at least partially simultaneously.

[0233]

[18] The method (200) according to

[17] , wherein the first material (115c) is different from the second material (116c).

[0234]

[19] The method (200) according to

[17] or

[18] , wherein the second material (116c) has higher rigidity than the first material (115c).

[0235]

[20] The method (200) according to any one of

[17] to

[19] , including simultaneously forming a first sole plate (110a) and a second sole plate (110b) (240).

[0236]

[21] The method (200) according to

[20] , wherein the first sole plate (110a) is a sole plate (110a) for a right shoe (100a), and the second sole plate (110b) is a sole plate (110b) for a left shoe (100b).

[0237]

[22] The first sole plate (110a) includes a first portion (115a, 115b) disposed on the inner side (121a, 121b) of the first sole plate (110a), and a second portion (116a, 116b) disposed on the outer side (120a, 120b) of the first sole plate (110a), and the second sole plate (110b) includes a first portion (115a, 115b) disposed on the outer side (120a, 120b) of the second sole plate (110b), and A second portion (116a, 116b) disposed on the inner side (121a, 121b) of the second sole plate (110b), and comprising injecting a first material (115c) (220) includes injecting the first material (115c) into a first portion (115a) of the first sole plate (110a) and a first portion (115b) of the second sole plate (110b) (220), injecting a second material (116c) (230) includes injecting the second material (116c) into a second portion (116a) of the first sole plate (110a) and a second portion (116b) of the second sole plate (110b) (230), a method (200) according to

[20] or

[21] .

[0238]

[23] A method (200) according to any one of

[20] to

[22] , wherein the first sole plate and the second sole plate form an asymmetric pair of sole plates (110a, 110b).

[0239]

[24] Injecting the second material (116c) (230) includes using more injection nozzles (143) than injecting the first material (115c) (220), a method (200) according to any one of

[17] to

[23] .

[0240]

[25] A sole plate (110a, 110b) for a footwear article, particularly a sports shoe such as a running shoe (100a, 100b), the sole plate being manufactured by a method (200) according to any one of

[17] to

[24] .

[0241]

[26] An apparatus for manufacturing one or more sole plates (110a, 110b) for one or more footwear articles, particularly sports shoes such as running shoes (100a, 100b), the apparatus comprising means for performing a method (200) according to any one of

[17] to

[24] .

[0242]

[27] The first material (115c) includes one or more of polyamide (PA), polyurethane (PU), and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and / or the second material (116c) includes one or more of polyamide (PA), especially fiber-reinforced PA such as carbon fiber-reinforced PA, A sole plate (110a, 110b) and / or a method (200) according to any one of [1] to

[27] , wherein the carbon content by weight is at least 1%, preferably at least 2%, more preferably at least 4%, and most preferably at least 6%.

[0243]

[28] A footwear article, especially a sports shoe (100a, 100b) such as a running shoe, comprising a sole plate (110a, 110b) according to any one of [1] to

[16] , and an upper (130a, 130b), and the sole plate (110a, 110b) is attached to the upper (130a, 130b).

[0244]

[29] The footwear article according to

[28] , wherein the footwear article is a running shoe (100a, 100b) especially used for track and field running.

[0245]

[30] A pair of shoes (100a, 100b) comprising a right shoe (100a) and a left shoe (100b), wherein the right shoe (100a) includes a first sole plate (110a) according to any one of [1] to

[16] , and the left shoe (100b) includes a second sole plate (110b) according to any one of [1] to

[16] .

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0246] 100a (right) shoe, especially a sports shoe 100b (left) shoe, especially a sports shoe 110a (right) (first) sole plate 110b (left) (second) sole plate 111a (right) front foot portion of the sole plate 111b (left) front foot portion of the sole plate 112a (right) middle foot portion of the sole plate 112b (left) middle foot portion of the sole plate 113a (right) rear foot portion of the sole plate 113b (left) rear foot portion of the sole plate 115a (right) first part of the sole plate 115b (left) first part of the sole plate 115c first material 116a (right) second part of the sole plate 116b (left) second part of the sole plate 116c second material 120a (right) outer side of the sole plate 120b (left) outer side of the sole plate 121a (right) inner side of the sole plate 121b (left) inner side of the sole plate 125a (right) one or more first openings in the sole plate 125b (left) one or more first openings in the sole plate 125b’ (left) one or more first openings in the sole plate 125b” (left) one or more first openings in the sole plate 126a (right) one or more second openings in the sole plate 126b (right) one or more second openings in the sole plate 127 one or more spikes 127’ one or more receptacles for one or more spikes 128 heel-to-toe center line of the sole plate 130a upper (right shoe) 130b upper (left shoe) 140 Supply line of the first material 141 Supply line of the second material 142 One or more injection nozzles for the first material 143 One or more injection nozzles for the second material 200 Method for manufacturing one or more sole plates 210 Providing a mold 220 Injecting the first material 230 Injecting the second material 240 Simultaneously forming the first sole plate and the second sole plate L Length of one or more first openings and / or one or more second openings HT Heel-to-toe axis (longitudinal direction of the outsole) ML Inward-outward axis

Claims

1. 1. A sole plate for an article of footwear, in particular a sports shoe such as a running shoe, comprising: a first portion including a first material; a second portion including a second material; and Equipped with the second material having a higher stiffness than the first material; When the sole plate is for a right shoe, the first portion is located on the inner side of the sole plate and the second portion is located on the outer side of the sole plate; and / or When the sole plate is for a left shoe, the first portion is disposed on an outer side of the sole plate, and the second portion is disposed on an inner side of the sole plate; A soleplate, said soleplate comprising one or more first openings.

2. 2. The soleplate according to claim 1, wherein the second material has a stiffness of at least 1.1, preferably at least 1.2, more preferably at least 1.5, even more preferably at least 2.0, even more preferably at least 3.0, even more preferably at least 4.0, even more preferably at least 5.0 and most preferably at least 6.0 compared to the first material.

3. The soleplate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second material has a higher hardness than the first material.

4. the first material has a Shore D hardness of at most 70 Shore D, preferably at most 65 Shore D, most preferably at most 60 Shore D; and / or The soleplate according to claim 3, wherein said second material has a Shore D hardness of at least 65 Shore D, preferably at least 70 Shore D, most preferably at least 72 Shore D.

5. A soleplate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second material has a higher flexural modulus than the first material.

6. said first material has a flexural modulus of at most 1000 MPa, preferably at most 800 MPa, more preferably at most 600 MPa, even more preferably at most 400 MPa, even more preferably at most 300 MPa, most preferably at most 250 MPa; and / or 6. The soleplate according to claim 5, wherein said second material has a flexural modulus of at least 800 MPa, preferably at least 1000 MPa, more preferably at least 1200 MPa, even more preferably at least 1300 MPa, even more preferably at least 1400 MPa and most preferably at least 1500 MPa.

7. The soleplate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more first openings have an elongated shape, preferably one of the following shapes: slits, grooves, cuts and vents.

8. The soleplate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more first openings define through holes.

9. the one or more first openings extend longitudinally of the sole plate and laterally of the sole plate; A soleplate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said longitudinal extension is preferably greater than said lateral extension.

10. The soleplate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more first openings are located in the first portion of the soleplate.

11. The soleplate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the soleplate comprises one or more second openings arranged in the second portion of the soleplate.

12. The soleplate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the number of said one or more first openings is greater than the number of said one or more second openings.

13. one or more spikes are disposed on said sole plate, preferably on a forefoot portion of said sole plate; said sole plate optionally comprising one or more receptacles; the one or more receptacles are disposed in the soleplate, preferably in a forefoot portion of the soleplate; The soleplate of claim 1 or 2, wherein the one or more receptacles are configured to receive the one or more spikes.

14. said one or more first openings and / or said one or more second openings preferably have a length (L) in the longitudinal direction of said sole plate of at least 1 cm, preferably at least 2 cm, more preferably at least 4 cm, even more preferably at least 6 cm, even more preferably at least 7 cm, even more preferably at least 8 cm, even more preferably at least 10 cm, even more preferably at least 12 cm, even more preferably at least 14 cm, most preferably at least 15 cm; and / or 12. The soleplate according to claim 11, wherein the one or more first openings and / or the one or more second openings have a length (L), preferably in the longitudinal direction of the soleplate, of at most 25 cm, preferably at most 23 cm, more preferably at most 20 cm, even more preferably at most 18 cm, even more preferably at most 16 cm and most preferably at most 15 cm.

15. 3. The soleplate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the soleplate has a maximum thickness of at most 10 mm, preferably at most 8 mm, more preferably at most 6 mm, even more preferably at most 5 mm, even more preferably at most 4 mm, most preferably at most 3 mm.

16. The soleplate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the soleplate is a one-piece molded part extending from a heel region of the soleplate to a toe region of the soleplate.

17. 1. A method for manufacturing one or more articles of footwear, in particular one or more sole plates for sports shoes such as running shoes, comprising the steps of: Providing a mold; injecting a first material into the mold; injecting a second material into the mold; Including, A method, wherein the ejecting of the first material and the ejecting of the second material occur at least partially simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first material is different from the second material.

19. 19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein the second material has a higher stiffness than the first material.

20. 19. A method according to claim 17 or 18, comprising forming the first soleplate and the second soleplate simultaneously.

21. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first soleplate is a soleplate for a right shoe and the second soleplate is a soleplate for a left shoe.

22. The first sole plate comprises: a first portion disposed on an inner side of the first sole plate; a second portion disposed on an outer side of the first sole plate; Including, The second sole plate comprises: a first portion disposed on an outer side of the second sole plate; a second portion disposed on an inner side of the second sole plate; Including, injecting the first material includes injecting the first material into the first portion of the first soleplate and into the first portion of the second soleplate; 21. The method of claim 20, wherein injecting the second material comprises injecting the second material into the second portion of the first soleplate and into the second portion of the second soleplate.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the first soleplate and the second soleplate form an asymmetric pair of soleplates.

24. 19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein ejecting the second material comprises using more ejection nozzles than ejecting the first material.

25. A soleplate for an article of footwear, in particular a sports shoe such as a running shoe, manufactured by the method according to claim 17 or 18.

26. 19. Apparatus for manufacturing one or more articles of footwear, in particular one or more sole plates for sports shoes such as running shoes, comprising means for carrying out the method according to claim 17 or 18.

27. the first material comprises one or more of polyamide (PA), polyurethane (PU), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU); and / or the second material comprises one or more of polyamide (PA), in particular fibre-reinforced PA, such as carbon fibre-reinforced PA; 19. A soleplate according to claim 1 or 2 and / or a method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the carbon content by weight is at least 1%, preferably at least 2%, more preferably at least 4% and most preferably at least 6%.

28. An article of footwear, in particular a sports shoe such as a running shoe, A sole plate according to claim 1 or 2; Upper and Equipped with The article of footwear, wherein the sole plate is attached to the upper.

29. 29. An article of footwear according to claim 28, wherein the article of footwear is a running shoe, in particular for use in athletics running.

30. A pair of shoes including a right shoe and a left shoe, The right shoe comprises a first sole plate according to claim 1 or 2, A pair of shoes, wherein the left shoe comprises a second sole plate according to claim 1 or 2.

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