Sole for a trail running shoe

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sole for a shoe, in particular a trail running shoe. The sole includes at least one first ground engaging profile element having a first flexibility and at least one second ground engaging profile element having a second flexibility. The second profile element has a ridge or riblike shape and the second flexibility is greater than the first flexibility. The invention also relates to a sole for a shoe including at least two ground engaging profile elements and a plurality of second ground engaging profile elements. The invention further relates to a shoe including a sole having at least one first ground engaging profile element with a first flexibility and at least one second ground engaging profile element with a second flexibility.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising: 
 at least one first ground engaging profile element with a first flexibility; and    at least one second ground engaging profile element with a second flexibility, wherein the second profile element has a riblike shape and the second flexibility is greater than the first flexibility.    
     
     
         2 . A sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second profile elements are substantially the same height.  
     
     
         3 . A sole according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a plurality of second profile elements are arranged around the at least one first profile element.  
     
     
         4 . A sole according to  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of second profile elements comprise parallel ridges spaced apart from each other to allow substantially independent deflecting of the ridges.  
     
     
         5 . A sole according to  claim 4 , wherein the ridges are about 1 mm to about 2 mm wide.  
     
     
         6 . A sole according to  claim 4 , wherein the ridges are spaced about 1 mm to about 2 mm apart.  
     
     
         7 . A sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second profile element is oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sole.  
     
     
         8 . A sole according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of first profile elements are arranged in a forefoot area and a midfoot area of the sole.  
     
     
         9 . A sole according to  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of first profile elements are essentially sickle-shaped.  
     
     
         10 . A sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first profile element is oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sole.  
     
     
         11 . A sole according to  claim 10 , wherein additional first profile elements are arranged along an outer edge of a forefoot area and a midfoot area of the sole.  
     
     
         12 . A sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second profile elements are between about 1 mm to about 10 mm high.  
     
     
         13 . A sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second profile elements are about 5 mm high.  
     
     
         14 . A sole according to  claim 1 , further comprising an elongate indentation disposed between a forefoot part and a midfoot part extending from a lateral side to a medial side of the sole to facilitate flexibility in the sole in a wearer's natural gait cycle.  
     
     
         15 . A sole according to  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing element disposed in a midfoot area of the sole for support of an arch of a wearer's foot.  
     
     
         16 . A sole according to  claim 1 , further comprising a damping element disposed in a heel area of the sole.  
     
     
         17 . A sole for an article of footwear, comprising: 
 at least two first ground engaging profile elements with a first flexibility; and    a plurality of second ground engaging profile elements with a second flexibility, wherein the plurality of second profile elements are arranged on the sole to encompass the at least two first profile elements and the second flexibility is greater than the first flexibility.    
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear including a sole, the sole comprising: 
 at least one first ground engaging profile element with a first flexibility; and    at least one second ground engaging profile element with a second flexibility, wherein the second profile element has a riblike shape and the second flexibility is greater than the first flexibility.