Athletic shoe sole for personal transportation device

Abstract

A shoe sole includes a plurality of zones having different hardness, the zones designed specifically for an extreme athlete to increase wear resistance of the shoe while optimizing flexibility, stability, and performance. The zones can be strategically located on locations of the sole corresponding to particular foot anatomy and expected levels of stress and wear.

1 . A shoe outsole for use with a personal transportation device comprising:
 a first zone having a first durometer hardness, the first zone having a generally U-shaped configuration and comprising:
 a first section configured to extend directly underneath the distal end of a user's toes; 
 a second section configured to extend along the medial aspect of the forefront and/or midfoot of a user's foot; 
 a third section configured to extend generally along the width of the user's foot and underneath the ball of a user's foot; 
   a second zone having a second durometer hardness;   a third zone having a third durometer hardness;   a fourth zone having a fourth durometer hardness, the fourth zone having a generally circular shape and configured, to extend generally underneath the heel of a user's foot; and   a fifth zone having a fifth durometer hardness, the fifth zone having a generally arc-shaped configuration and configured to extend generally underneath the heel of a user's foot;   wherein the first, fourth, and fifth durometer hardnesses are substantially the same, and wherein the second and third durometer hardnesses are substantially the same;   wherein the first, fourth, and fifth durometer hardnesses are greater than the second and third durometer hardnesses.   
     
     
         2 . A shoe sole comprising:
 a first zone having a generally U-shaped configuration, the first zone comprising a first section configured to extend directly underneath the distal end of a user's toes, a second section configured to extend along the medial aspect of the forefront and/or midfoot of a user's foot, a third section configured to extend generally along the width of the user's foot and underneath the ball of a user's foot; and   a second zone adjacent the first zone;   wherein the first zone has a durometer hardness greater than that of the second zone.   
     
     
         3 . The shoe sole of  claim 2 , wherein the first zone has a durometer hardness at least 10 points greater than that of the second zone. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe sole of  claim 2 , wherein the first zone has a durometer hardness at least 20 points greater than that of the second zone. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe sole of  claim 2 , wherein the first zone is a continuous zone that extends from a lateral side of the shoe sole to a medial side of the shoe sole, along an entire big toe, and back again to the lateral side of the shoe sole. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe sole of  claim 2 , wherein the shoe sole has a thickness between approximately 1 mm and 5 mm along the shoe sole. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe sole of  claim 2 , wherein the shoe sole comprises a midline “M” and the second zone extends from a lateral edge of the shoe sole past the midline “M” of the shoe sole. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe sole of  claim 2 , wherein the second zone is bordered by the first zone and a lateral edge of the shoe sole. 
     
     
         9 . A shoe sole comprising:
 a plurality of zones including a first zone, the first zone having a generally U-shaped configuration, the first zone having a durometer hardness at least ten points higher than at least another of the plurality of zones.   
     
     
         10 . The shoe sole of  claim 9 , wherein the first zone is located generally along a portion of the shoe sole configured to be positioned under the ball and toes of a user's foot. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe sole of  claim 9 , further comprising a second zone located generally along a portion of the shoe sole configured to be positioned under the heel of a user's foot, the second zone having a durometer hardness at least ten points higher than at least another of the plurality of zones. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe sole of  claim 11 , wherein the second zone has a generally circular shape. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe sole of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second zones have the substantially same durometer hardness. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe sole of  claim 11 , further comprising a third zone, both the first and second zones having a durometer hardness at least ten points higher than the third zone. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe sole of  claim 11 , wherein the first zone is a continuous zone that extends from a lateral side of the shoe sole to a medial side of the shoe sole, along an entire big toe, and back again to the lateral side of the shoe sole. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe sole of  claim 11 , wherein the shoe sole has a thickness between approximately 1 mm and 5 mm along the shoe sole. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe sole of  claim 11 , further comprising a fourth zone, wherein the shoe sole comprises a midline “M” and the fourth zone extends from a lateral edge of the shoe sole past the midline “M” of the shoe sole. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe sole of  claim 17 , wherein the second zone is bordered by the first zone and a lateral edge of the shoe sole.