Sole for a shoe, in particular for a running shoe

Abstract

A shoe sole ( 7 ) consisting of a midsole ( 1 ) and an outsole ( 3 ) consisting of discrete outsole elements. The midsole ( 1 ) has on the side facing the outsole a multiple of flex grooves ( 27, 29, 34, 51, 53, 55, 57, 63 ) crossing each other and creating pads ( 26, 28, 30, 33, 35, 50, 52, 54, 56 ) in the midsole. A curved forefoot flex groove ( 63 ) emanates from the medial side ( 21 ) of the arch ( 48 ) and essentially follows a path over one or more of the cuneiform bones ( 72, 73, 74 ) and continues between the third ( 83 ) and fourth ( 82 ) metatarsal phalanges, over the third ( 77 ) proximal phalange and continues between the first ( 85 ) and second ( 84 ) metatarsal phalanges in a direction towards the heel. Both the outsole elements and the pads are arranged to follow an essentially spiral curve ( 64 ) around the curved forefoot flex groove. The sole reduces the risk of injury during running, and gives the foot increased compensation possibilities for correcting imbalances especially after heel strike.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . Sole for a shoe, in particular a running shoe, where the sole comprises an outsole and a midsole, which midsole on the side facing the outsole comprises a multiple of flex grooves crossing each other and creating pads in the midsole, and where a curved forefoot flex groove is made in the midsole, said curved forefoot flex groove emanating from the medial side of the arch and essentially following a path over one or more of the cuneiform bones and continues between the third and fourth metatarsal phalanges characterized in that the outsole ( 3 ) comprises discrete outsole elements, and that the pads ( 26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  33 ,  35 ,  50 ,  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  62 ) in the midsole ( 1 ) and the discrete outsole elements ( 106 ,  108 ,  111 ,  114 ) are arranged to follow an essentially spiral curve ( 64 ) around said curved forefoot flex groove ( 63 ). 
     
     
         16 . Sole according to  claim 15 , wherein said curved flex groove ( 63 ) is continued from the start of the proximal phalanges over the third ( 77 ) proximal phalange and continuing between the first ( 85 ) and second ( 84 ) metatarsal phalanges in a direction towards the heel. 
     
     
         17 . Sole according to  claim 15 , wherein the forefoot ( 23 ) of the midsole in a transverse direction from the medial side towards the lateral side comprises at least a first additional flex groove ( 31 ) following a path along the joints between the metatarsal phalanges ( 81 - 85 ) and the proximal phalanges ( 75 - 79 ) and crossing the curved forefoot flex groove ( 63 ). 
     
     
         18 . Sole according to  claim 17 , wherein the forefoot of the midsole comprises a second additional flex groove ( 29 ,  57 ) which follows a path along the joints ( 95 ) between the proximal phalanges ( 75 - 79 ) and the medial phalanges ( 88 ). 
     
     
         19 . Sole according to  claim 16 , wherein the curved forefoot flex groove has a straight portion in the arch area ( 48 ) and runs parallel to a straight reinforcement bar ( 47 ) in the midsole. 
     
     
         20 . Sole according to  claim 16 , wherein the heel portion of the midsole ( 1 ) has a curved heel flex groove ( 45 ) emanating from the medial side of the heel and stretching to the lateral side. 
     
     
         21 . Sole according to  claim 20 , wherein a second curved heel flex groove ( 42 ) delimits a tapered midsole pad ( 40 ,  43 ,  44 ) from a not tapered pad ( 38 ). 
     
     
         22 . Sole according to  claim 15 , wherein the curved forefoot flex groove is not covered by any discrete outsole elements ( 3 ,  106 ,  108 ,  111 ). 
     
     
         23 . Sole according to  claim 20 , wherein the curved heel flex groove is not covered by any discrete elements. 
     
     
         24 . Sole according to  claim 15 , wherein the curved forefoot flex groove is between 1.5 and 3 times wider than the additional flex grooves ( 27 ,  29 ,  31 ,  34 ,  36 ). 
     
     
         25 . Sole according to  claim 20 , wherein the curved heel flex groove is between 1.5 and 3 times wider than the additional flex grooves. 
     
     
         26 . Sole according to  claim 20 , wherein the curved heel flex groove ( 45 ) has a depth of more than 50% of the thickness of the heel. 
     
     
         27 . Sole according to  claim 15 , wherein a shank ( 4 ) is placed in or on the midsole ( 1 ), which shank has two fingers ( 15 ,  16 ) extending in longitudinal direction and supporting the first, fourth and fifth metatarsal phalanges. 
     
     
         28 . Sole according to  claim 15 , wherein an intermediate layer ( 2 ) of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is placed between the outsole ( 3 ) and the midsole ( 1 ), that the intermediate layer is between 0.5 and 2 millimetres thick, preferably 1 millimetre, and that it follows the shape of the flex grooves ( 45 ,  55 ,  63 ) and pads ( 38 ,  50 ,  62 ) of said midsole. 
     
     
         29 . Sole according to  claim 15 , wherein the pads ( 50 ,  52 ,  54 ) of the midsole have a larger surface area than the discrete outsole elements ( 121 ,  122 ,  123 ). 
     
     
         30 . Sole according to  claim 15 , wherein the curved forefoot flex groove ( 63 ) has a width essentially corresponding to between one or two times the distance between the third and the fourth metatarsal phalanges.