Sole for a shoe, boot or sandal

Abstract

An insert 2, 3, for a sole of a shoe, boot or sandal is provided to give a cushioning effect. The sole 1 comprises a first integrally formed member which forms part of the sole 1 and which has a sole tread pattern on the first surface thereof, and a second integrally formed member 2, 3, in the form of an insert received in a cavity of the first member so that it is received in the cavity above a mounting surface 5, the mounting surface 5 being formed on a surface opposed to the surface having the sole tread pattern. There are a plurality of projections 6 projecting away from the mounting surface 5. The inserts 2,3, have parts whose thickness in a direction normal to the mounting surface is lower than the thickness of other parts of the respective insert in a direction parallel to the mounting surface 5. The projection 6 engage the parts of the inserts 10 having lower thickness, at least the insert being formed of a resilient material to increase the springiness of the sole, the projections and the reduced thickness portions each extending in two directions parallel to the mounting surface for a distance lower than the corresponding dimensions of the mounting surface.

1 . A sole for shoe, boot or sandal, having a first integrally formed member which forms part of the sole and which has a sole tread pattern on a first surface thereof, and a second integrally formed member in the form of an insert received in a cavity of the first member so that it is received in the cavity above a mounting surface, the mounting surface being formed on a surface opposed to the surface having the sole tread pattern, there being a plurality of projections projecting away from the mounting surface, the insert having parts whose thickness in a direction normal to the mounting surface is lower than the thickness of other parts of the insert in the direction normal to the mounting surface, the projections engaging parts of the insert having lower thickness, at least the insert being formed of a resilient material to increase the springiness of the sole, the projections and the reduced thickness portions each extending in two directions parallel to the mounting surface for a distance lower than the corresponding dimensions of the mounting surface.  
   
   
       2 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the projections are formed of a resilient material.  
   
   
       3 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the projections have a maximum dimension parallel to the mounting surface in the range 3-8 mm.  
   
   
       4 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the projections are generally circular in cross section in a plane parallel to the mounting surface.  
   
   
       5 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced thickness portions of the insert have a maximum dimension in the plane parallel to the mounting surface in the range 5-12 mm.  
   
   
       6 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the reduced thickness portions of the insert are generally circular or elliptical when seen in a plane parallel to mounting surface.  
   
   
       7 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the insert is displaceable with respect to the projections in a direction generally parallel to the mounting surface, the reduced thickness portions of this part of the insert having an elliptical shape when seen in a plane parallel to the mounting surface.  
   
   
       8 . The sole of any of  claim 1 , wherein each projection engages a respective reduced thickness portion over at least 50% of its area seen in the plane parallel to the mounting plane.  
   
   
       9 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is in the fore part of the sole.  
   
   
       10 . The sole the sole of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is in the heel of the sole.  
   
   
       11 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the Shore hardness of the insert is not more than 65.  
   
   
       12 . The sole of  claim 12 , wherein the Shore hardness of the material of the insert is not less than 40.  
   
   
       13 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the specific gravity of the insert is not more than 1.15 g/cm 3 .  
   
   
       14 . The sole of  claim 14 , wherein the specific gravity of the material from which the insert is made is not less than 0.4 g/cm 3 .  
   
   
       15 . A shoe, boot or sandal comprising a sole according to  claim 1.