Shoe with an articulated spring-loaded outsole

Abstract

Shoe ( 1 ), especially an athletic shoe, with a midsole ( 2 ) and an upper ( 3 ) connected to the midsole ( 2 ), the midsole ( 2 ) having a base body ( 2 a ) which is connected to the upper ( 3 ), and a bottom plate ( 2 b ). To improve the adjustability of the spring properties and/or the damping properties of the shoe sole, it is provided that at least one part ( 4, 5 ) of the bottom plate ( 2 b ) is connected to the base body ( 2 a ) by a hinge at an articulation point ( 7 ). Furthermore, at least one spring element ( 8 ) is provided between the side of the part ( 4, 5 ) of the bottom plate ( 2 b ) facing the base body ( 2 a ) and the side of the base body ( 2 a ) facing the part ( 4, 5 ) of the bottom plate ( 2 b ). Preferably, one spring is provided in the heel area and a plurality of springs are provided in the forefoot area.

1 . Shoe, comprising: 
 an upper and    a midsole connected to the upper, the midsole having a base body which is connected to the upper and a bottom plate,    wherein at part of the bottom plate is connected by a hinge at an articulation point on the base body,    wherein at least one spring element is provided between a side of the part of the bottom plate facing the base body and the side of the base body facing the bottom plate.    
   
   
       2 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate comprises two parts which are coupled to the base body at said articulation point.  
   
   
       3 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base body is made in one piece and is at least partially in the shape of a shell or plate.  
   
   
       4 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hinge comprises at least one extension on in the shape of a crosspiece which has a hole for accommodating a bearing journal.  
   
   
       5 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the bearing journal is formed by a screw which is axially fixed with a nut.  
   
   
       6 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the hinge has two extensions on the base body which are located at a given distance and which are arranged on both sides and off-center relative to the lengthwise axis of the shoe.  
   
   
       7 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the bottom plate is made formed by a curved plate which widens continuously in a direction toward the articulation point at least over part of the transverse extension of the shoe.  
   
   
       8 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a side of the bottom plate facing the ground an outer sole of resilient material provided thereon.  
   
   
       9 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base body has a guide element on its side facing the bottom plate, the guide element being positioned relative to an opposing guide element on the side of the bottom plate facing the base body such that the guide element and the opposing guide element interact so as to at least limit relative displacement of the base body with respect to the bottom plate transversely with respect to the lengthwise axis of the shoe.  
   
   
       10 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spring element, at least in sections, has a cylindrical or prismatic shape.  
   
   
       11 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the spring element has two sections which are connected to one another, the two sections being located coaxially relative to one another and having a shape which is congruent to one another with one section, in a profile perpendicular to a vertical line, having smaller dimensions than the other section.  
   
   
       12 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the section with smaller dimensions is able enter the interior of the section with larger dimensions, at least in part, when a force acts on the spring element.  
   
   
       13 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the two sections are connected to one another via an elastic connecting section which extends only between the two sections.  
   
   
       14 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the two sections in a profile perpendicular to a vertical line have a polygonal shape.  
   
   
       15 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the two sections and the connecting section are made in one piece.  
   
   
       16 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a single spring element is provided in the heel area between the base body and the bottom plate.  
   
   
       17 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of spring elements are provided in the forefoot area between the base body and the bottom plate.  
   
   
       18 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the spring elements are connected to at least one of the base body and the bottom plate by at least one of being cemented, welded, mechanically connected, and connected in situ.  
   
   
       19 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the articulation point, viewed in the direction of the lengthwise axis of the shoe, is located in the area of the metatarsal bone.  
   
   
       20 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the base body and the bottom plate has at least one receiver for interlocking accommodation of a respective spring element.  
   
   
       21 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bottom plate has recesses which are matched to the shape of the spring elements in a profile perpendicular to a vertical line.  
   
   
       22 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the recesses are filled with a transparent plastic material.  
   
   
       23 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one part of the bottom plate has a slot or a groove which extends over the entire thickness of the bottom plate.  
   
   
       24 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the slot extends over at least two thirds of the length said at least one part of the bottom plate in the lengthwise direction of the shoe and runs roughly in the middle in the lengthwise direction of the shoe in a zig-zag or sinusoidal manner.  
   
   
       25 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the slot is filled with a material which is soft relative to the material of said at least one part of the bottom plate.  
   
   
       26 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the base body, the bottom plate and the spring element is made of plastic selected from the group consisting of polyamide, polyurethane, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutane, polyvinyl chloride and a mixture of at least two thereof.  
   
   
       27 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the plastic has a Shore hardness between 75A and 65D.  
   
   
       28 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the plastic is transparent or translucent.  
   
   
       29 . Shoe as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the midsole is free of foamed plastic.