Sole Structure for a Shoe

Abstract

The invention is directed to improving a sole deformability of a forefoot portion and a heel portion. The sole structure 1 includes an upper plate 2 disposed on an upper side of the sole assembly 1 , a lower plate 3 that is disposed under the upper plate 2 and that forms a gap S with the upper plate 2 , and a pillar-shaped connecting member 4 that is provided in the gap S and that vertically interconnects the upper plate 2 with the lower plate 3 . At least a portion of the lower plate 3 is divided in the longitudinal direction by a lateral indentation 30 at a position that the connecting member 4 is in contact with.

1 . A sole structure for a shoe comprising:
 an upper plate disposed on an upper side of said sole structure;   a lower plate that is disposed on a lower side of said sole structure and that forms a gap with said upper plate; and   an elastic member that is provided in said gap and that vertically interconnects said upper plate with said lower plate,   wherein at least a portion of said lower plate is divided in a longitudinal direction by a lateral indentation provided at a position where said lower plate is in contact with said elastic member.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper plate and said lower plate are provided at a forefoot region of said sole structure, said elastic member being disposed at a medial side end portion and a lateral side end portion of said sole structure, said lower plate extending continuously in the longitudinal direction at a laterally central region of said sole structure. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure according to  claim 2 , wherein said lower plate has a laterally extending first indentation that divides said lower plate in the longitudinal direction at the medial side end portion and the lateral side end portion of said sole structure, said lower plate further having a longitudinally extending second indentation at the laterally central region of said sole structure, said second indentation being integrated with said first indentation. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure according to  claim 3 , wherein said first indentation and said second indentation form a generally T-shaped indentation in said lower plate. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure according to  claim 2 , wherein a longitudinally continuously extending portion of said lower plate has an upwardly convexly bulging shape at the laterally central region of said sole structure. 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said elastic member has a recess formed on a lower surface thereof, said recess being disposed at a position corresponding to said indentation of said lower plate and extending along said indentation. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said elastic member extends along an entire width of said sole structure. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper plate and said lower plate are provided at a forefoot region of said sole structure, said elastic member being disposed inside a medial side end portion and inside a lateral side end portion of said sole structure, said lower plate extending continuously in the longitudinal direction at a laterally central region, the medial side end portion and the lateral side end portion of said sole structure. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure according to  claim 8 , wherein said lower plate has a laterally extending third indentation that divides said lower plate in the longitudinal direction inside at the medial side end portion and inside at the lateral side end portion of said sole structure, said lower plate further having a longitudinally extending fourth indentation at the laterally central region of said sole structure, said fourth indentation being integrated with said third indentation, said lower plate still further having a longitudinally extending fifth indentation inside the medial side end portion and inside the lateral side end portion of said sole structure, said fifth indentation being integrated with said third indentation. 
     
     
         10 . The sole structure according to  claim 9 , wherein said third to fifth indentations form a generally H-shaped indentation in said lower plate. 
     
     
         11 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper plate and said lower plate are disposed at a heel region of said sole structure, said elastic member is disposed on a heel lateral side and a heel rear end side, at least a portion of said lower plate is divided in the longitudinal direction by a lateral indentation provided at a position where said lower plate is in contact with said elastic member on the heel lateral side, and at least a portion of said lower plate is divided in a lateral direction by a longitudinal indentation provided at a position where said lower plate is in contact with said elastic member on the heel rear end side. 
     
     
         12 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower plate has a downwardly convex shape at a longitudinally region extending in front of and in the rear of said lateral indentation. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower plate has a plurality of bulges that respectively bulge downwardly convexly, said elastic member being disposed at a position where said respective bulges are longitudinally adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said lower plate has an outsole fixedly attached on a lower surface of said lower plate, said outsole being divided in the longitudinal direction by an indentation that corresponds to said indentation of said lower plate.