Footwear Sole Structure with Suspended Elastomeric Web or Mesh Support

Abstract

A footwear sole structure has a suspended elastomer web or mesh ( 1 ) support for a foot of a wearer of the footwear. A gap or space under the web/mesh allows it to flex down e.g. towards the outsole ( 3 ) or the ground. The web or mesh can be secured to a peripheral portion of the sole base by projections or loops ( 5 ) on the web or mesh. The web or mesh can be a one piece or multi part moulded component. The web or mesh can provide a peripheral zone around a central zone. The central body ( 2 ) can be a moulding incorporating a front strap pair ( 6 ) and rear strap pair ( 7 ) folded up into a wearing position and lugs ( 8 ), and have a higher density elastomer sole that fits up and is bonded into a matching lip in the base of the central body ( 2 ) and the elastomer web or mesh ( 1 ) fits down over the central body ( 2 ) such that the loops ( 5 ) stretch around corresponding lugs ( 8 ) on the central body ( 2 ) and the web or mesh ( 1 ) is largely held in pre-tension via the strength of the sole supports and there is still space between the web or mesh 1 and the sole for the web/mesh ( 1 ) to flex down into via weight of foot.

1 . A sole structure for footwear, the sole structure including a suspended elastomer web or mesh support for a foot of a wearer of the footwear. 
     
     
         2 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , including a gap space under the web or mesh allowing the web or mesh, in use, to flex down into the gap space between the web/mesh and the outsole or, in an open soled footwear where the ground engaging part is the surround supporting the web/mesh, the ground. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , including open or closed cell foam material under the web or mesh providing impact cushioning. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , the web or mesh/net stretched across a sole base. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure of  claim 4 , wherein the web or mesh is secured to a peripheral portion of the sole base by projections on the web or mesh 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure of  claim 5 , wherein the projections include knobs or loops or combinations thereof to fit into or over corresponding recesses or lugs respectively designed into the footwear peripheral portion. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible web or mesh is a one piece or multi part moulded component. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible web or mesh is injection moulded. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible web or mesh includes polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer. 
     
     
         10 . The sole structure of  claim 7 , the web or mesh being moulded with a sole peripheral portion of the footwear in one part. 
     
     
         11 . The sole structure of  claim 10 , the moulding being a single shot injection mould from the same material for both the flexible web or mesh and the sole peripheral portion, or an over-mould process using differing materials that bond together during the two shot over-mould process. 
     
     
         12 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , the web or mesh pre-tensioned in the mould and the outer sole and/or sole base is moulded around it to form a sole structure with the pre-tension maintained after the sole structure is removed from the mould. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure of  claim 9 , the web or mesh elastomer having a durometer value of 30-120 Shore A. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure of  claim 13 , the durometer value being between 80 and 95 Shore A. 
     
     
         15 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the web or mesh forms a peripheral zone around a central zone of a different material or grade of material or a material having at least one different physical characteristic(s) to that of the peripheral web/mesh. 
     
     
         16 . Footwear including a sole structure including a suspended elastomer web or mesh support for a foot of a wearer of the footwear. 
     
     
         17 . Footwear according to  claim 16 , the footwear being a shoe, boot, trainer or running shoe or sandal.