Sole and shoe

Abstract

A sole 1 constituting a part of a shoe 9 includes a cup-shaped sole body 10. The sole body 10 has a flat bottom part 11 and a wall part 12 extending upward from an outer edge of the bottom part 11. An inner groove 31 extending along the outer edge of the bottom part 11 is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the wall part 12, and an outer groove 32 extending along the outer edge of the bottom part 11 is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the wall part 12.

Description

Soles and shoes

[0001] [Cross-reference to related applications] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-146579, filed September 9, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a sole and a shoe.

[0003] Court-style shoes with cup-shaped soles are known as athletic shoes used in court sports such as handball. Generally, these types of shoes have thin soles that allow for light footwork during exercise. However, because they are often used as everyday footwear, further improvements in cushioning and lighter weight are desirable to ensure comfort during normal walking. Patent Documents 1 to 3 each disclose sole structures for improving cushioning, but all of them inevitably require thicker soles, and there are concerns about the increased weight of the soles.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-186674 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-261902 Special Publication No. 2008-532618

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a sole and a shoe that can achieve improved cushioning and lighter weight.

[0006] The sole of the present disclosure is a sole that forms part of a shoe and includes a cup-shaped sole body portion having a flat bottom portion and a wall portion that rises upward from the outer edge of the bottom portion, with an inner groove formed on the inner surface of the wall portion that extends along the outer edge of the bottom portion, and an outer groove formed on the outer surface of the wall portion that extends along the outer edge of the bottom portion.

[0007] The shoe of the present disclosure also includes the sole and an upper disposed above the sole.

[0008] 3A perspective view showing a shoe according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0009] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a shoe according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The shoe 9 shown in FIG. 1 is a court-style shoe used in court sports such as handball. However, the shoe 9 can also be used for everyday wear without any particular limitations, and its use is not particularly limited. The sole 1 constitutes a part of the shoe 9. In this embodiment, the sole 1 and shoe 9 for the left foot will be described, but the description can be applied equally to the sole and shoe for the right foot. The sole and shoe for the right foot are formed to have a shape symmetrical to or roughly similar to the sole and shoe for the left foot, respectively.

[0010] The shoe 9 comprises a sole 1 and an upper 2 disposed above the sole 1. The bottom of the upper 2 is joined to the sole 1 by a method such as crimping. The foot of a wearer wearing the shoe 9 is supported from below by the sole 1 and covered from above by the upper 2. The wearer is assumed to be a person of average build whose feet fit the size of the shoe 9. In this embodiment, the upper 2 comprises a midsole 21 (see FIG. 4 ) that forms its lower part. An insole (not shown) may be attached to the upper surface side of the midsole 21.

[0011] The upper 2 is formed with an opening 22 for inserting the wearer's foot, and an instep opening 23 extending forward from the opening 22 (toward the wearer's toes of the shoe 9). The instep opening 23 is closed from the sole by a tongue 24. The tongue 24 covers the area from the front of the wearer's ankle to the instep. Above the tongue 24, shoelaces 25 threaded through multiple eyelets cross. The downward pressing force exerted by the laces 25 when tightened allows the tongue 24 to fit the wearer's foot.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sole 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sole 1. In FIG. 3, the shoe center SC and the heel center HC are each indicated by a dashed line. The shoe center SC is not limited to the center line of the shoe 9, but may be a straight line connecting the center of the calcaneus of a wearer of the shoe 9 and the space between the first and second toes. With the shoe center SC as the reference, the side of the first toe (the right side in FIG. 3) of the foot is the medial side, and the side of the fifth toe (the left side in FIG. 3) of the foot is the lateral side. In a sole for a right foot, the medial side and the lateral side are reversed left and right. The heel center HC is a straight line connecting the center of the calcaneus of a wearer of the shoe 9 and the space between the third and fourth toes.

[0013] The sole 1 includes a cup-shaped sole body 10. In this embodiment, the sole body 10 has a forefoot region Rf that is the region on the toe side of the wearer of the shoe 9, a rearfoot region Rb that is the region on the heel side of the wearer of the shoe 9, and a midfoot region Rm that is the region between the forefoot region Rf and the rearfoot region Rb. The sole body 10 extends continuously without being divided along the way from the forefoot region Rf through the midfoot region Rm to the rearfoot region Rb.

[0014] When the length obtained as the distance from one end to the other end of the sole body 10 in the longitudinal direction is defined as L, the forefoot region Rf may be, for example, a region located in a range of 0 to 40% of the length L from the front end to the rear end of the sole body 10. The rearfoot region Rb may be, for example, a region located in a range of 80 to 100% of the length L from the front end to the rear end of the sole body 10.

[0015] The sole body 10 has a flat bottom 11 and a wall 12 rising upward from the outer edge of the bottom 11. The bottom 11 and the wall 12 are integrally formed from a single member. The bottom 11 extends in the front-to-rear direction (the up-and-down direction in FIG. 3 ), which is also the length direction of the sole body 10. The wall 12 extends continuously along the outer edge of the bottom 11 and has an annular shape in a plan view. The wall 12 includes a forefoot side wall 12f located in the forefoot region Rf, a rearfoot side wall 12b located in the rearfoot region Rb, and a midfoot side wall 12m located in the midfoot region Rm.

[0016] The sole 1 of this embodiment is an outsole, with the underside of the sole body 10 serving as the ground contact surface. The sole body 10 of the sole 1 serving as an outsole is preferably made of rubber from the viewpoint of ensuring abrasion resistance and grip. For example, a rubber obtained by compounding a rubber material as the main component with a plasticizer, a reinforcing agent, a cross-linking agent, and the like as secondary components is used. Butadiene rubber is preferably used as the rubber material, but is not limited thereto, and for example, urethane rubber, silicone rubber, and the like can also be used. The underside of the sole body 10 may be provided with a tread pattern having irregularities such as grooves.

[0017] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 3, which passes through the shoe center SC. The flat surface P corresponds to the ground on which the shoe 9 is placed. Figure 5 shows (A) a side view of the rear foot region Rb of the sole body 10 as seen from the lateral side of the foot, (B) a rear view, and (C) a side view as seen from the medial side of the foot. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Figure 3, which is perpendicular to the heel center HC. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Figure 3, which is perpendicular to the heel center HC. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Figure 3, which is perpendicular to the shoe center SC.

[0018] An inner groove 31 extending along the outer edge of the sole 11 is formed on the inner peripheral surface 12X of the wall 12, and an outer groove 32 extending along the outer edge of the sole 11 is formed on the outer peripheral surface 12Y of the wall 12. This makes the wall 12 more flexible when a load from the wearer's foot acts on it during normal walking, promoting deformation of the sole 1 and improving cushioning. In addition, the hollowing out of the wall 12 associated with the inner groove 31 and outer groove 32 allows the weight of the sole 1 to be reduced. Therefore, this embodiment provides a court-style shoe that has a thin sole but provides comfortable cushioning.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 6 , the inner groove 31 is formed at a position spaced downward from the upper end 12t of the wall 12. The wall 12 has a maximum thickness portion 12w, where the thickness is greatest when the outer groove 32 is filled, and the inner groove 31 is formed below the maximum thickness portion 12w. The inner circumferential surface 12X extends downward from the upper end 12t and reaches the maximum thickness portion 12w via a curved portion 12c with an arc-shaped cross section. The height position (vertical position) of the curved portion 12c varies along the front-to-rear direction. In the rearfoot region Rb and midfoot region Rm, the curved portion 12c is spaced upward from the upper surface of the sole 11 (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ), but is smoothly connected to the upper surface of the sole 11 in the forefoot region Rf (see FIG. 8 ). The inner groove 31 terminates where the curved portion 12c begins to connect to the upper surface of the sole 11 (see FIG. 2 ).

[0020] As shown in Fig. 6 , in this embodiment, when viewed in a cross section of the wall portion 12 along the vertical direction, the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 are arranged so as to have a horizontally overlapping portion with the opposing region 12r of the wall portion 12 interposed therebetween. In the enlarged view of a main portion in Fig. 6 , the opposing region 12r of the wall portion 12 where the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 face each other is depicted with hatching, and the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 overlap in the horizontal direction in this region. This positional relationship between the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 favorably increases the flexibility of the wall portion 12, thereby effectively improving cushioning properties.

[0021] The inner groove 31 is formed as a groove recessed toward the outer peripheral surface 12Y and not penetrating the wall portion 12. The outer groove 32 is formed as a groove recessed toward the inner peripheral surface 12X and not penetrating the wall portion 12. At least one of the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 preferably has a rounded cross-sectional shape, as shown in FIG. 6 , and more preferably has a cross-sectional shape curved like an arc. This reduces stress concentration on the inner surface of the groove when the wall portion 12 is flexurally deformed, thereby improving durability. Furthermore, this also provides excellent demoldability when removing the sole body 10 from a mold during molding of the sole body 10. In this embodiment, both the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 have a cross-sectional shape curved like an arc.

[0022] As in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the deepest portion 31d of the inner groove 31 in the facing region 12r is vertically offset from the deepest portion 32d of the outer groove 32 in the facing region 12r. This configuration increases the flexibility of the wall portion 12 while preventing the thickness of the wall portion 12 from becoming too small locally, making it easier to ensure appropriate rigidity in the wall portion 12. In the present embodiment, the deepest portion 31d is offset downward from the deepest portion 32d, but it may also be offset upward, or their height positions may be the same.

[0023] In this embodiment, the facing region 12r of the wall portion 12 extends upward at an incline toward the shoe center SC. With this configuration, the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 increase the flexibility of the wall portion 12 while also making it easier to resist the load from the wearer's foot, thereby preventing the wall portion 12 from excessively collapsing, which could cause discomfort or annoyance to the wearer.

[0024] The cross-sectional shape of the inner groove 31 is curved like a modified circular arc so that the depth increases downward, and the cross-sectional shape of the outer groove 32 is curved like a modified circular arc so that the depth increases upward. This is convenient for overlapping the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 in the horizontal direction, applying rounded cross-sectional shapes to them, and vertically shifting the positions of the deepest parts 31d, 32d. Furthermore, with this cross-sectional shape of the inner groove 31, when molding the sole body 10, the mold part that molds the inner groove 31 can easily move upward relative to the inner groove 31 and thereby be released from the inner groove 31, thereby improving demoldability.

[0025] The cross-sectional shapes of the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 are not particularly limited. Therefore, for example, they may be a shape obtained by inverting the shape of the present embodiment upside down, a simple arc shape, a polygonal shape with rounded corners, or the like.

[0026] The depth D31 of the inner groove 31 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 mm or more, more preferably 1.0 mm or more, from the viewpoint of improving cushioning properties. Moreover, the depth D31 is preferably 20 mm or less, more preferably 10 mm or less, from the viewpoint of preventing the wall portion 12 from excessively collapsing.

[0027] The depth D32 of the outer groove 32 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1.0 mm or more, more preferably 3.0 mm or more, from the viewpoint of improving cushioning properties. Moreover, the depth D32 is preferably 20 mm or less, more preferably 10 mm or less, from the viewpoint of preventing the wall portion 12 from excessively collapsing.

[0028] In order to ensure appropriate rigidity in the wall portion 12, the minimum thickness T12r in the facing region 12r is preferably equal to or greater than 1.0 mm, and more preferably equal to or greater than 2.5 mm.

[0029] When the depth of the lateral groove 32 varies along its extension direction, the maximum depth D32 of the lateral groove 32 is used. From the viewpoint of improving cushioning when the heel strikes the ground during normal walking, the depth D32 is preferably a depth measured at the rearfoot sidewall portion 12b. The depth D31 of the medial groove 31 is measured at a location corresponding to the measurement location of the depth D32 of the lateral groove 32, and when the depth of the medial groove 31 varies along its extension direction, the maximum depth D31 is preferably used.

[0030] In order to improve comfort during normal walking, it is particularly effective to improve cushioning when the heel strikes the ground (when the foot starts to land). From this perspective, it is preferable that the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 are formed at least on the rear foot sidewall portion 12b.

[0031] Sections Z31 and Z32 shown in Figure 3 represent sections in which the medial groove 31 and lateral groove 32 are formed, respectively. The rearfoot sidewall 12b has a U-shape in plan view extending from the medial side of the sole body 10 via the rear end to the lateral side, and the lateral groove 32 formed in the rearfoot sidewall 12b includes a portion that is U-shaped in plan view along the U-shape of the rearfoot sidewall 12b. This configuration effectively improves cushioning when the heel strikes the ground during normal walking.

[0032] The inner groove 31 formed in the rearfoot sidewall 12b includes a portion that is U-shaped in plan view, following the U-shape of the rearfoot sidewall 12b. The section Z31 in which the inner groove 31 is formed extends over a range that encompasses the section Z32 in which the lateral groove 32 is formed. Therefore, the inner groove 31 is formed throughout the entire section Z32 in which the lateral groove 32 is formed. In this embodiment, the positional relationship (see FIG. 6 ) in which the inner groove 31 and the lateral groove 32 overlap in the horizontal direction, with the opposing region 12r of the wall 12 interposed between them, is established throughout the entire section Z32.

[0033] In this embodiment, the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 are each a single groove that extends continuously, but this is not limited thereto and they may be interrupted along the way. Therefore, for example, it is also possible to form both or either of the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 only at the rear end of the rearfoot sidewall 12b, or only on both sides (the inner foot side and the outer foot side).

[0034] 5A and 5C, the width of the outer groove 32 gradually decreases toward its end, thereby suppressing a sudden change in the flexibility of the wall portion 12 around the end of the outer groove 32. In this embodiment, the outer groove 32 gradually decreases not only in width but also in depth toward its end, enhancing the above-mentioned effect.

[0035] In this embodiment, the length of the lateral groove 32 formed in the midfoot sidewall 12m is reduced from the viewpoint of improving cushioning when the heel strikes the ground during normal walking while ensuring sufficient stability during walking. In this case, the lateral groove 32 is preferably formed so that its length from the rear end to the front end of the sole body 10 falls within a range of 0 to 30% of the length L. In addition, it is preferable that the end of the lateral groove 32 be located rearward (closer to the heel of the wearer of the shoe 9) than the end of the medial groove 31.

[0036] In this embodiment, the medial groove 31 formed in the rear foot sidewall portion 12b has substantially the same depth on the medial side and the lateral side, but this is not limited thereto and may have different depths on the medial side and the lateral side. For example, if the depth of the medial groove 31 is greater on the lateral side than on the medial side in a cross section perpendicular to the heel center HC, the lateral side of the sole 1 becomes relatively more easily deformed, thereby suppressing overpronation during walking. On the other hand, if the depth of the medial groove 31 is smaller on the lateral side than on the medial side, the medial side of the sole 1 becomes relatively more easily deformed, which helps to achieve an inner center of gravity (a state in which the center of gravity is closer to the medial side), which is advantageous in skateboarding and other sports.

[0037] The sole 1 further includes a flat cushioning member 13 disposed on the upper surface side of the bottom portion 11. The cushioning member 13 has a lateral portion 13s disposed opposite the inner groove 31. The cushioning member 13 absorbs impacts applied to the wearer's foot (particularly the heel). The cushioning member 13 is made of a soft material with a low elastic modulus, and therefore elastically deforms relatively easily when subjected to a compressive load, resulting in excellent cushioning properties. The cushioning member 13 preferably has a lower hardness (e.g., Asker C hardness) than the sole body 10. For example, a material with an Asker C hardness of 30 or more and 90 or less is preferably used for the cushioning member 13. The Asker C hardness is determined in accordance with JIS K7312:1996.

[0038] The buffer member 13 preferably has an appropriate strength and excellent cushioning properties. From this perspective, for example, a resin foam material is used for the buffer member 13, which is made by blending a resin material as a main component with a blowing agent, a cross-linking agent, and the like as secondary components. Suitable examples of the resin material include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyolefin resin, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic polyamide elastomer (TPA, TPAE), and thermoplastic polyester elastomer. Alternatively, a rubber foam material may be used, which is made by blending a rubber material as a main component with a plasticizer, a blowing agent, a reinforcing agent, a cross-linking agent, and the like as secondary components. Suitable examples of the rubber material include butadiene rubber.

[0039] The cushioning member 13 is formed from a separate member from the sole body 10 and is attached to the sole body 10 with or without adhesive. The cushioning member 13 is formed in the shape of a plate extending in the front-to-rear direction. The cushioning member 13 has a shape corresponding to the bottom 11 in a plan view, but extends forward from the rear end and terminates in the midfoot region Rm. The inner groove 31 extends to near the front end of the cushioning member 13. The thickness of the cushioning member 13 gradually decreases from midway in the front-to-rear direction toward the front end, and is substantially constant in the rearfoot region Rb. The upper surface of the cushioning member 13 is positioned at a height that generally corresponds to the curved portion 12c of the inner circumferential surface 12X (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ).

[0040] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, a gap is formed between the side portions 13s and the inner groove 31. This provides an escape space when the cushioning member 13 receives a compressive load from the wearer's foot and bulges and deforms toward the wall portion 12, thereby promoting deformation of the cushioning member 13 and further improving cushioning properties. In this way, the inner groove 31 cooperates with the outer groove 32 to not only promote the flexural deformation of the wall portion 12 but also promote the deformation of the cushioning member 13, both of which contribute to improving cushioning properties. In this embodiment, the side portions 13s are formed by flat surfaces parallel to the up-down direction, but are not limited to this.

[0041] In this embodiment, the inner surface of the inner groove 31 is smoothly continuous with the upper surface of the bottom portion 11. This configuration is advantageous for allowing the inner groove 31 to function as an escape space when the buffer member 13 bulges and deforms.

[0042] The wall 12, in which the inner groove 31 and the outer groove 32 are formed, contributes to improved cushioning due to its flexibility, but excessive collapse when a relatively large load is applied may cause discomfort or an unpleasant feeling to the wearer. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example that can serve as a preventative measure, corresponding to Figure 6 (the cross-section taken along line VI-VI in Figure 3). In this modified example, the side portions 13s of the cushioning member 13 protrude toward the wall 12 and are configured to be able to enter the inner groove 31. By having the side portions 13s enter part or all of the inner groove 31 in this way, the effect of suppressing excessive collapse of the wall 12 is achieved.

[0043] The volume of the lateral portion 13s that fits into the medial groove 31 may be substantially the same on the medial side and the lateral side of the foot, or may be different. In the example of FIG. 9(A), the volume of the lateral portion 13s that fits into the medial groove 31 is smaller on the lateral side (left side in FIG. 9) than on the medial side (right side in FIG. 9). With this configuration, the lateral side of the cushioning member 13 is relatively more easily deformed, thereby suppressing overpronation during walking. In the example of FIG. 9(B), the volume of the lateral portion 13s that fits into the medial groove 31 is larger on the lateral side than on the medial side. With this configuration, the medial side of the cushioning member 13 is relatively more easily deformed, which helps to achieve an inner center of gravity.

[0044] Because the buffer member 13 is made of a relatively soft material, even if the lateral portions 13s are configured to fit into the medial groove 31 as described above, the cushioning effect of the medial groove 31 and the lateral groove 32 is still achieved. While Fig. 9 shows an example in which the lateral portions 13s fit into the medial groove 31 formed in the rearfoot sidewall 12b, alternatively or in addition, the lateral portions 13s may fit into the medial groove 31 formed in the midfoot sidewall 12m or the forefoot sidewall 12f. In that case, the medial groove 31 is naturally formed in the midfoot sidewall 12m or the forefoot sidewall 12f, and the buffer member 13 has lateral portions 31s facing the medial groove 31.

[0045] As shown in Figures 10 to 16, the cushioning member 13 may be provided with a lightening portion 14. With such a configuration, the flexibility of the cushioning member 13 is increased, and the lightening portion 14 functions as an escape space when the cushioning member 13 is deformed due to the compressive load from the wearer's foot, thereby further improving cushioning. In addition, the weight of the sole 1 can be reduced. As will be specifically described below, the lightening portion 14 can be formed by, for example, a hole, a recess, a notch, a groove, or the like, and these can also be used in combination.

[0046] In the example shown in FIG. 10 , the cushioning member 13 is provided with a plurality of through-holes 14A penetrating in the vertical direction over the entire surface. This configuration provides improved cushioning across the entire surface of the cushioning member 13 during general walking movements. The through-holes 14A are preferably arranged with a substantially uniform density over the entire surface of the cushioning member 13. The through-holes 14A are circular in plan view, but may have other shapes. Instead of the through-holes 14A, a plurality of non-penetrating recesses (including dimples) may be provided. The recesses are provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the cushioning member 13. The through-holes 14A and recesses may be mixed. Furthermore, the plurality of through-holes 14A may be provided in a partial region rather than the entire surface of the cushioning member 13.

[0047] 11, the buffer member 13 is provided with a plurality of notches 14B formed by cutting out the edge of the buffer member 13. The notches 14B are formed by cutting out the edge of the buffer member 13 around the heel. With this configuration, when the heel strikes the ground during walking, the cushioning effect is improved in the area around the heel of the buffer member 13. The notches 14B are D-shaped in plan view, but may be other shapes.

[0048] The central region CA shown in Figures 12 to 16 is a region that ranges from 0.25W to 0.75W from one end to the other in the width direction (left-right direction in Figure 12) of the sole body 10, where W is the width calculated as the distance from one end to the other in the width direction (left-right direction in Figure 12). In other words, the central region CA is a region that extends within a range of 0.50W (a range that is 50% of the width W) from the center of the width of the sole body 10. The center line CL of the center of gravity movement during normal walking is located within this central region CA of the sole body 10. The width direction of the sole body 10 is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, which is also the length direction of the sole body 10.

[0049] In the example shown in FIG. 12 , the buffer member 13 is divided into left and right halves within the central region CA along the front-to-rear direction of the sole body 10. A through groove 14C is formed in the central region CA, penetrating the buffer member 13 in the up-down direction. The through groove 14C extends forward from the rear end of the buffer member 13 to the front end. The width of the through groove 14C is, for example, 0.1W to 0.25W. This configuration improves cushioning within the central region CA (particularly in the vicinity of the through groove 14C) throughout walking. Furthermore, because the center line CL of the center of gravity movement is located within the central region CA, the through groove 14C formed within this region and the center line CL of the center of gravity movement tend to overlap, reducing variation in the center of gravity movement during walking and promoting stable walking.

[0050] In the example shown in Figure 13, a longitudinal groove 14D extending within the central region CA along the front-to-rear direction of the sole body 10 is provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the cushioning member 13. The longitudinal groove 14D extends forward from the rear end of the cushioning member 13, crossing the rearfoot region Rb, but terminating midway without reaching the front end of the cushioning member 13. This configuration improves cushioning at least when the heel strikes the ground during walking, and also suppresses variations in center of gravity movement during walking, promoting stable walking. The longitudinal groove 14D is a non-through groove, but may also be a through groove that penetrates vertically.

[0051] In the example shown in Fig. 14, vertical grooves 14E extending within the central region CA along the front-to-rear direction of the sole body 10 are provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the buffer member 13. This embodiment has the same configuration and function as the example shown in Fig. 13 except that the vertical grooves 14E extend intermittently, and therefore a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0052] In the example shown in FIG. 15 , the cushioning member 13 is provided with a plurality of through-holes 14F penetrating in the vertical direction, which are linearly arranged in the central region CA along the front-to-rear direction of the sole body 10. The linear arrangement of the through-holes 14F extends forward from the rear end of the cushioning member 13, crossing the rearfoot region Rb, but terminating midway without reaching the front end of the cushioning member 13. This configuration improves cushioning at least when the heel strikes the ground during walking, and also reduces variations in center of gravity movement during walking, promoting stable walking. It is also possible to provide a plurality of non-penetrating recesses (including dimples) instead of the through-holes 14F, and these may be mixed.

[0053] 16, the cushioning member 13 is provided with a plurality of through-holes 14G that penetrate in the up-down direction, and these are arranged linearly in the central area CA along the front-to-back direction of the sole body 10. This embodiment has the same configuration and function as the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, except that the through-holes 14G of different sizes are arranged in a row, and therefore a duplicated description will be omitted.

[0054] 13 to 16, the hollowed-out portion 14 is formed so as to become wider as it approaches the rear end of the cushioning member 13. This configuration is advantageous in improving the cushioning properties of the cushioning member 13 in the area around the heel when the heel strikes the ground during walking.

[0055] In this embodiment, the cutout portion 14 is an empty space, but is not limited to this. For example, the cutout portion 14 may be filled with a low-rigidity material, and in such a case, the effect of the cutout portion 14 described above is still achieved based on the difference in rigidity between the cutout portion 14 and the buffer member 13. As the low-rigidity material, a foam material, gel material, rubber material, or the like having a hardness (e.g., Asker C hardness) lower than that of the buffer member 13 is preferably used.

[0056] Unless otherwise specified, the shapes, dimensions, positional relationships, etc. of the sole 1 and the shoe 9 are based on an unloaded state in which no external force is acting (a state in which the wearer is not wearing the shoe 9 and no load is acting from the wearer's foot).

[0057] In the present embodiment, the sole 1 is an outsole that is disposed at the lowest part of the shoe 9, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the sole may be a midsole that is disposed above the outsole, and the underside of the sole body of the sole (midsole) may be partially or entirely covered by the outsole.

[0058] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the above-described embodiments are examples of the following aspects.

[0059] [1] The sole of the present disclosure is a sole that constitutes a part of a shoe and includes a cup-shaped sole body portion, the sole body portion having a flat bottom portion and a wall portion rising upward from the outer edge of the bottom portion, an inner groove extending along the outer edge of the bottom portion being formed on the inner surface of the wall portion, and an outer groove extending along the outer edge of the bottom portion being formed on the outer surface of the wall portion.

[0060] This configuration allows the wall portion to bend more easily when the wearer's foot applies load during normal walking, promoting deformation of the sole and improving cushioning. Additionally, the hollowing out of the wall portion due to the inner and outer grooves allows for a lighter sole. This allows for improved cushioning and a lighter sole.

[0061] [2] In the sole of [1] above, it is preferable that, when the wall portion is viewed in a cross section along the vertical direction, the inner groove and the outer groove are arranged so as to have a horizontally overlapping portion with the opposing region of the wall portion interposed therebetween, thereby favorably increasing the flexibility of the wall portion and effectively improving cushioning properties.

[0062] [3] In the sole of [1] or [2], it is preferable that at least one of the inner groove and the outer groove has a cross-sectional shape that is curved like an arc, thereby suppressing stress concentration on the inner surface of the groove when the wall portion is flexed and deformed, thereby achieving the effect of improving durability.

[0063] [4] In the sole of [2] above, it is preferable that the deepest part of the inner groove in the facing region is vertically offset from the deepest part of the outer groove in the facing region. This configuration increases the flexibility of the wall portion while preventing the wall portion from becoming too thin locally, making it easier to ensure appropriate rigidity in the wall portion.

[0064] [5] In the sole of any one of [1] to [4] above, the sole body has a forefoot region that is the region on the toe side of the wearer of the shoe, a rearfoot region that is the region on the heel side of the wearer of the shoe, and a midfoot region that is the region between the forefoot region and the rearfoot region, and the wall portion includes a forefoot sidewall portion located in the forefoot region, a rearfoot sidewall portion located in the rearfoot region, and a midfoot sidewall portion located in the midfoot region, and it is preferable that the medial groove and the lateral groove are formed at least in the rearfoot sidewall portion, thereby effectively improving cushioning when the heel strikes the ground.

[0065] [6] In the sole of [5] above, it is preferable that the rear foot side wall portion has a U-shape in plan view extending from the medial side of the sole body portion through the rear end portion to the lateral side of the sole body portion, and the lateral groove formed in the rear foot side wall portion includes a portion that is U-shaped in plan view along the U-shape of the rear foot side wall portion, thereby effectively improving cushioning when the heel strikes the ground.

[0066] [7] In the sole of the above [6], it is preferable that the inner groove formed in the rear foot sidewall portion includes a portion that is U-shaped in a plan view along the U-shape of the rear foot sidewall portion, thereby effectively improving cushioning when the heel strikes the ground.

[0067] [8] In the sole of any one of [5] to [7] above, the medial groove formed in the rear foot sidewall portion may have different depths on the medial side and the lateral side. This configuration makes the lateral side or the medial side of the sole relatively more deformable, which helps to suppress overpronation and achieve an inner center of gravity.

[0068] [9] In the sole of any one of [1] to [8] above, it is preferable that the width of the outer groove gradually decreases toward its end, thereby suppressing a sudden change in the flexibility of the wall portion around the end of the outer groove.

[0069]

[10] In the sole of any one of [1] to [9] above, it is preferable that the sole further comprises a flat cushioning member disposed on the upper surface of the bottom portion, the cushioning member having a side portion disposed opposite the inner groove. By providing the cushioning member in the sole, further improved cushioning can be achieved.

[0070]

[11] In the sole of the above

[10] , it is preferable that a gap is formed between the side portion and the inner groove. With this configuration, an escape space is provided when the buffer member bulges and deforms toward the wall portion, which promotes deformation of the buffer member and further improves cushioning properties.

[0071]

[12] In the sole of

[10] , the side portions may protrude toward the wall portions and be configured to be able to enter the inner groove. With this configuration, it is possible to obtain the effect of suppressing excessive collapse of the wall portions.

[0072]

[13] In the sole of any one of

[10] to

[12] above, the cushioning member may be provided with a plurality of through holes that penetrate vertically or a plurality of non-through recesses over the entire surface. With this configuration, it is possible to further improve the cushioning properties of the cushioning member while reducing the weight.

[0073]

[14] In the sole of any one of

[10] to

[13] above, the buffer member may be provided with a plurality of notches cut out from the edge of the buffer member. With this configuration, it is possible to further improve the cushioning properties of the buffer member while reducing the weight.

[0074]

[15] In any of the soles described in

[10] to

[14] above, when the width W obtained as the distance from one end to the other end of the sole body in the width direction is defined as a width W, and the range from 0.25W to 0.75W from the one end to the other end is defined as a central region of the sole body, the cushioning member may be divided into left and right halves within the central region along the front-to-rear direction of the sole body. This configuration can further improve the cushioning provided by the cushioning member while reducing weight. Furthermore, it can suppress variations in center of gravity movement during walking, promoting stable walking.

[0075]

[16] In any of the soles described in

[10] to

[15] above, when the width W obtained as the distance from one end to the other end of the sole body in the width direction is defined as a width W, and the range from 0.25W to 0.75W from the one end to the other end is defined as a central region of the sole body, vertical grooves extending within the central region along the front-to-rear direction of the sole body may be provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the cushioning member. This configuration can further improve the cushioning properties of the cushioning member while reducing weight. Furthermore, it can suppress variations in center of gravity movement during walking, promoting stable walking.

[0076]

[17] In any of the soles described in

[10] to

[16] above, when the width W, measured as the distance from one end to the other end of the sole body in the width direction, is defined as a central region of the sole body, and the range from 0.25W to 0.75W from the one end to the other end is defined as a central region of the sole body, the cushioning member may be provided with a plurality of through-holes extending vertically or a plurality of non-through-hole recesses, which may be linearly arranged within the central region along the front-to-rear direction of the sole body. This configuration further improves the cushioning properties of the cushioning member while reducing weight. Furthermore, it is possible to suppress variations in center of gravity movement during walking, promoting stable walking.

[0077]

[18] In the sole of any of [1] to [9] above, it is preferable that the sole further comprises a flat cushioning member disposed on the upper surface of the bottom, and that the cushioning member has a plurality of through-holes penetrating in the vertical direction or a plurality of non-penetrating recesses formed over the entire surface. By providing the cushioning member in the sole, further improvement in cushioning properties can be achieved. Furthermore, by providing the above-described through-holes or recesses, it is possible to further improve the cushioning properties provided by the cushioning member while reducing the weight.

[0078]

[19] A shoe according to the present disclosure includes a sole according to any one of [1] to

[18] above and an upper disposed above the sole. By including such a sole, it is possible to improve cushioning and reduce weight.

[0079]

[20] In the shoe of

[19] above, the sole is preferably an outsole in which the underside of the sole body serves as the ground contact surface. With this configuration, it is possible to improve cushioning and reduce weight in a shoe equipped with the sole as an outsole.

[0080] Although the embodiments of the sole and shoe according to the present disclosure have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration should not be considered to be limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention is indicated not only by the description of the above embodiments but also by the claims, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0081] The sole and shoe according to the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and are not limited to the above-described effects. The sole and shoe according to the present disclosure can be variously improved or modified without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the configurations employed in the above-described embodiments can be combined in any desired manner.

[0082] The following [Reference 1] to [Reference 5] are provided as reference examples relating to soles and shoes having the configurations described in the present disclosure.

[0083] [Reference 1] A sole that forms part of a shoe, comprising a cup-shaped sole body, the sole body having a flat bottom and a wall rising upward from the outer edge of the bottom, an inner groove extending along the outer edge of the bottom being formed on the inner surface of the wall, and further comprising a flat buffer member arranged on the upper surface side of the bottom, the buffer member having a side portion arranged opposite the inner groove, and a gap being formed between the side portion and the inner groove.

[0084] According to this configuration, an escape space is provided when the buffer member bulges and deforms toward the wall portion, thereby promoting the deformation of the buffer member and further improving cushioning. The characteristic configuration of the sole of [Reference 1] above can be seen, for example, in Figure 6. The configurations described in the above embodiments can be applied to the sole of [Reference 1] above without any particular restrictions, as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the sole. However, the sole of [Reference 1] above is not limited to a configuration in which an outer groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the wall portion.

[0085] [Reference 2] A sole that forms part of a shoe, comprising a cup-shaped sole body, the sole body having a flat bottom and a wall rising upward from the outer edge of the bottom, an inner groove extending along the outer edge of the bottom being formed on the inner surface of the wall, and further comprising a flat buffer member arranged on the upper surface side of the bottom, the buffer member having lateral portions arranged opposite the inner groove, the lateral portions protruding toward the wall and configured to be able to fit into the inner groove.

[0086] This configuration has the effect of suppressing excessive collapse of the wall portion due to the inner groove. The characteristic configuration of the sole of [Reference 2] above can be seen, for example, in Figure 9. The configurations described in the above embodiments can be applied to the sole of [Reference 2] above without any particular restrictions, as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the sole. However, the sole of [Reference 2] above is not limited to a configuration in which an outer groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the wall portion.

[0087] [Reference 3] A sole that forms part of a shoe, comprising a cup-shaped sole body, the sole body having a flat bottom and a wall rising upward from the outer edge of the bottom, and further comprising a flat cushioning member disposed on the upper surface side of the bottom, the cushioning member having a lightening portion.

[0088] This configuration increases the flexibility of the buffer member, and the hollowed-out portions function as escape spaces when the buffer member deforms under compressive load, further improving cushioning. Additionally, the sole can be made lighter. The characteristic configuration of the sole of [Reference 3] above can be seen, for example, in Figures 10 to 16. The configurations described in the above embodiments can be applied to the sole of [Reference 3] above without any particular restrictions, as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the sole. However, the sole of [Reference 3] above is not limited to a configuration in which inner grooves and outer grooves are formed in the wall portion.

[0089] [Reference 4] A sole that forms part of a shoe, comprising a cup-shaped sole body, the sole body having a flat bottom and a wall rising upward from the outer edge of the bottom, and further comprising a flat buffer member arranged on the upper surface side of the bottom, the buffer member having a plurality of through holes that penetrate in the vertical direction or a plurality of non-penetrating recesses over the entire surface.

[0090] This configuration improves the cushioning effect of the buffer member. Furthermore, by providing the through-holes or recesses as described above, it is possible to further improve the cushioning effect of the buffer member while reducing the weight. The characteristic configuration of the sole of [Reference 4] above can be seen, for example, in FIG. 10. The configurations described in the above embodiments can be applied to the sole of [Reference 4] above without any particular restrictions, as long as they do not deviate from the spirit of the sole. However, the sole of [Reference 4] above is not limited to a configuration in which an inner groove or an outer groove is formed in the wall portion.

[0091] [Reference 5] A shoe comprising a sole according to any one of [Reference 1] to [Reference 4] above and an upper disposed above the sole. With this configuration, the effects achieved by including the sole as described above are achieved.

[0092] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 sole, 2 upper, 9 shoe, 10 sole body portion, 11 bottom portion, 12 wall portion, 12b rear foot side wall portion, 12f forefoot side wall portion, 12m midfoot side wall portion, 12r opposing region, 12X inner peripheral surface, 12Y outer peripheral surface, 13 cushioning member, 13s side portion, 14 lightening portion, 14A through hole, 14B cutout, 14C through groove, 14D longitudinal groove, 14E longitudinal groove, 14F through hole, 14G through hole, 31 inner groove, 31d deepest portion, 32 outer groove, 32d deepest portion, Rf forefoot region, Rb rear foot region, Rm midfoot region

Claims

1. A sole that constitutes part of a shoe, comprising a cup-shaped sole body, the sole body having a flat bottom and a wall rising upward from the outer edge of the bottom, an inner groove formed on the inner surface of the wall extending along the outer edge of the bottom, and an outer groove formed on the outer surface of the wall extending along the outer edge of the bottom.

2. The sole according to claim 1, wherein, when the wall portion is viewed in a cross section along the up-down direction, the inner groove and the outer groove are arranged so as to have a horizontally overlapping portion with the opposing area of ​​the wall portion interposed between them.

3. The sole according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the inner groove and the outer groove has a cross-sectional shape curved in an arc.

4. The sole according to claim 2, wherein the deepest portion of the inner groove in the facing region is vertically offset from the deepest portion of the outer groove in the facing region.

5. A sole as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the sole body portion has a forefoot region which is the region on the toe side of the wearer of the shoe, a rear foot region which is the region on the heel side of the wearer of the shoe, and a midfoot region which is the region between the forefoot region and the rear foot region, and the wall portion includes a forefoot side wall portion located in the forefoot region, a rear foot side wall portion located in the rear foot region, and a midfoot side wall portion located in the midfoot region, and the medial groove and the lateral groove are formed in at least the rear foot side wall portion.

6. A sole as described in claim 5, wherein the rear foot side wall portion has a U-shape in plan view extending from the inner foot side of the sole body portion through the rear end portion to the outer foot side, and the outer groove formed in the rear foot side wall portion includes a portion that has a U-shape in plan view along the U-shape of the rear foot side wall portion.

7. The sole according to claim 6, wherein the inner groove formed in the rear foot side wall portion includes a portion that is U-shaped in a plan view along the U-shape of the rear foot side wall portion.

8. The sole according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the inner groove formed in the rear foot side wall portion has a different depth between the inner foot side and the outer foot side.

9. The sole according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the width of the outer groove gradually decreases toward the end.

10. The sole according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a flat cushioning member arranged on the upper surface side of the bottom portion, the cushioning member having a side portion arranged opposite the inner groove.

11. The sole according to claim 10, wherein a gap is formed between said lateral portion and said inner groove.

12. The sole according to claim 10, wherein the side portions protrude toward the wall portions and are configured to be able to enter the inner grooves.

13. The sole according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the cushioning member is provided with a plurality of through holes extending vertically or a plurality of non-through recesses over the entire surface.

14. The sole according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the buffer member is provided with a plurality of notches formed by cutting out an edge of the buffer member.

15. A sole according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein when the width obtained as the distance from one end to the other end of the sole body in the width direction is W and the range from 0.25W to 0.75W from the one end to the other end is defined as the central region of the sole body, the cushioning member is divided into left and right parts within the central region along the front-to-rear direction of the sole body.

16. A sole according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein when W is the width obtained as the distance from one end to the other end in the width direction of the sole body, and the range from 0.25W to 0.75W from the one end to the other end is defined as the central region of the sole body, a vertical groove extending within the central region along the front-to-rear direction of the sole body is provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the cushioning member.

17. A sole as described in any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein when W is the width obtained as the distance from one end to the other end of the sole body in the width direction, and the range from 0.25W to 0.75W from the one end to the other end is the central region of the sole body, the cushioning member is provided with a plurality of through holes that run through in the vertical direction or a plurality of non-through recesses that are linearly arranged within the central region along the front-to-rear direction of the sole body.

18. A sole as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a flat cushioning member arranged on the upper surface side of the bottom portion, the cushioning member being provided with a plurality of through holes extending in the vertical direction or a plurality of non-through recesses over its entire surface.

19. A shoe comprising a sole according to any one of claims 1 to 18 and an upper disposed above the sole.

20. The shoe according to claim 19, wherein the sole is an outsole, the lower surface of the sole body being the ground contact surface.

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