SOLE FOR A SHOE, IN PARTICULAR FOR A RUNNING SHOE

• US 20110030245A1
• Filed: 06/22/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecco Sko A/S (Anpartsselskabet af 1. Oktober 2011)
• Original Assignee: Ecco Sko A/S (Anpartsselskabet af 1. Oktober 2011)
• Inventors: Truelsen, Ejnar
• Granted Patent: US 10,165,821 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/30.R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/026 Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/22 Supports for the shank or arch of the uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/06 Running shoes; Track shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone

Abstract

A sole for a shoe, in particular for a running shoe which sole comprises a polyurethane injected midsole, a longitudinally extending shank and an outsole. The shank extends from the forefoot of the sole through an arch area to a heel area and has an opening in its heel area for receiving polyurethane during injection of the polyurethane for the midsole. Further, the shank has a cavity (17) for receiving a comfort element (9). The heel area of the shank is offset to be closer to the outsole (3) than the shank in the arch area. The invention solves the problem of designing a sole having a low weight but still providing comfort to the wearer of the shoe. By placing a comfort element in the cavity (17) in the heel area of the shank, which comfort element has a higher elasticity than the polyurethane of the midsole, an overall solution with improved energy absorption and energy return is provided.

Claims

1. Sole for a shoe, in particular for a running shoe, the sole comprising a polyurethane injected midsole, a longitudinally extending shank and an outsole, said shank extending from a forefoot of the sole through an arch area to a heel area and having an opening in its heel area for receiving polyurethane wherein the shank (4) in the heel area (25) is offset to be closer to the outsole (3) than the shank in the arch area, and the sole further comprising a comfort element (9) having a higher elasticity than the polyurethane of the midsole wherein the comfort element is placed in a cavity (17) above said opening (8) of the shank, and is bonded to the polyurethane of the midsole (1).

2. Sole according to claim 1, wherein the comfort element (9) on the surface (65) facing the textile sole (53) of the upper is devoid of polyurethane from the midsole.

3. Sole according to claim 2 wherein the comfort element (9) on the surface facing the shank (4) has a nose (58) corresponding to the opening'"'"'s (8) size and protruding into the opening.

4. Sole according to claim 2, wherein a ratio of the height of the comfort element (9) to the height of polyurethane below the cavity is below 2:

1.

5. Sole according to claim 2, wherein a ratio of the comfort element'"'"'s (9) height to the polyurethane'"'"'s height below the cavity is below 1,5:

1.

6. Sole according to claim 2 wherein an energy absorption polyurethane layer (51), which has a lower density than the polyurethane of the midsole (1) and has a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 millimetres, is placed on the side of the textile sole (53) of the upper facing the shank (4) and the polyurethane midsole.

7. Sole according to claim 2, wherein the shank in a transition zone (39) from the arch area of the shank to the heel area has an angle of maximum 50°

related to the horizontal plane of the offset shank in the heel area.

8. Sole according to claim 7 wherein the transition zone (39) slopes from the arch area towards the heel area, and from the medial side to the lateral side.

9. Sole according to claim 1, wherein the opening (8) in the offset heel area is essentially elliptical, and positioned above the point of touch down (C).

10. Sole according to claim 1, wherein the shank (4) has curved fingers (15,16) in the forefoot area, said shank having a hard region and a soft region and the fingers being bendable around a bending line (18) between the hard region and the soft region.