Outsole with tangential deformation

Abstract

An outsole, especially for sports shoes, that can be formed with a large amount of elastic deformability even in the tangential direction towards the front and the back, enabling a good cushioning effect even when the tread of the foot is inclined and somewhat slipping. Beyond at least one critical deformation in the deformed region, the sole remains essentially rigid in relation to tangential deformation. In this way, the runner has a secure footing on the respective tread point. The elastic deformability of the sole also in the tangential direction is caused by at least one first element, and the rigidity of the sole in relation to tangential deformation beyond the at least one critical deformation, in addition to the degree of the at least one critical deformation in the deformed region is due to at least one second element.

1 . An outsole having a heel region and a ball region along a longitudinal direction, said outsole being elastically deformable both forwards and backwards in the tangential direction and being essentially stiff with respect to tangential deformation only beyond a critical deformation in the region deformed so far,
 wherein said outsole comprises first elements and at least one second element,   wherein said first elements affect the elastic deformability of said outsole in the tangential direction,   wherein said at least one second element affects the stiffness opposing the tangential deformation beyond said critical deformation as well as the degree of said critical deformation in the region deformed so far, and   wherein said first elements are tangentially deformable in all directions,   wherein said first elements are hollow and are thereby deformable up to the critical deformation also in case of strictly vertical stresses,   wherein, in the heel region and in the ball region of the outsole:
 said first elements form first zones, 
 said at least one second element forms second zones, 
 said first and second zones repeatedly alternate in the longitudinal and in a transverse direction transverse to the longitudinal direction, 
 said a least one second element forms a coherent surface, in which said first elements are disposed in a scattered fashion, said at least one coherent surface having depressions and 
 said first elements are disposed in said depressions of said coherent surface, protrude with respect to said surface and can be deformed also at an angle into said depressions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The outsole according to  claim 1 , wherein, beyond the critical deformation, said first elements are aligned with said at least one second element in the region deformed up to the critical deformation. 
     
     
         3 . The outsole according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second element is not stressed until said critical deformation in the region, deformed up to the critical deformation, is reached. 
     
     
         4 . The outsole according to  claim 1 , wherein said first elements and said at least one second element are fastened to the underside of an intermediate sole. 
     
     
         5 . The outsole according to  claim 1  and having a vertical axis, wherein said first elements have a rotationally symmetric shape with regard to the vertical axis. 
     
     
         6 . The outsole according to  claim 1 , wherein said critical deformation is reached only after a tangential and/or vertical deformation path which is greater than 20% of the deformable thickness of the outsole. 
     
     
         7 . The outsole according to  claim 1 , said outsole having a possible tangential deformation path and a possible vertical deformation path, wherein the extent of the possible tangential deformation path until the critical deformation is reached corresponds approximately to the possible vertical deformation path until the critical deformation is reached. 
     
     
         8 . The outsole according to  claim 1 , said outsole having a tangential path and/or a vertical deformation path, wherein said critical deformation is reached only after reaching the tangential and/or vertical deformation path, the tangential and/or vertical deformation path being greater than 50% of the deformable thickness of said outsole. 
     
     
         9 . The outsole according to  claim 1 , wherein said first elements and said at least one second element are formed at a layer of an elastically deformable material in one-piece. 
     
     
         10 . The outsole according to  claim 9 , wherein the layer has a total height of h 1 , said first elements have a height in the range of 8 to 12 mm, and said at least one second element has a height h 2  in the range of 4 to 8 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The outsole according to  claim 1 , being an outsole for sport shoes.