Structure of front foot portion of shoe sole

Abstract

There is provided a structure of a sole which may suppress excessive bending, thereby improving the running efficiency, by reinforcing the front foot portion of a sole having a reduced weight. The disclosure is directed to a shoe sole, including a mid sole 2 for absorbing an impact of landing, an outer sole 1 placed under the mid sole 2 so as to be in contact with ground, and a reinforcement element 3 for suppressing bending of a front foot portion Ff during push-off. The reinforcement element 3 is an integral resin part formed in a loop shape, the reinforcement element 3 including a medial reinforcement portion 34 extending in a front-rear direction L along a medial side IN of the front foot portion Ff; a lateral reinforcement portion 35 extending in the front-rear direction along a lateral side of the front foot portion; a connection and reinforcement portion 37 for connecting together the medial and lateral reinforcement portions 34 and 35 and also for providing reinforcement; and a connection portion 38 for connecting together the medial reinforcement portion 34 and the lateral reinforcement portion 35 in an area posterior to the connection and reinforcement portion 37.

1 . A shoe sole, comprising: a mid sole for absorbing an impact of landing, an outer sole placed under the mid sole so as to be in contact with ground, and a reinforcement element for suppressing bending of a front foot portion during push-off, wherein
 the reinforcement element is an integral resin part formed in a loop shape, the reinforcement element including   a medial reinforcement portion extending in a front-rear direction along a medial side of the front foot portion;   a lateral reinforcement portion extending in the front-rear direction along a lateral side of the front foot portion;   a connection and reinforcement portion for connecting together the medial reinforcement portion and the lateral reinforcement portion and also for reinforcing the shoe sole; and   a connection portion for connecting together the medial reinforcement portion and the lateral reinforcement portion in an area posterior to the connection and reinforcement portion.   
     
     
         2 . A shoe sole according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the medial reinforcement portion includes an area of a ball of a big toe;   the lateral reinforcement portion includes an area of an interphalangeal joint of a little toe; and   the connection and reinforcement portion extends diagonally forward from the ball of the big toe, connecting together the medial reinforcement portion and the lateral reinforcement portion.   
     
     
         3 . A shoe sole according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the medial reinforcement portion includes an area of a ball of a big toe;   the lateral reinforcement portion includes an area of an interphalangeal joint of a little toe; and   the connection and reinforcement portion includes a first connection and reinforcement portion and a second connection and reinforcement portion, wherein the first connection and reinforcement portion extends diagonally forward from the ball of the big toe, connecting together the medial reinforcement portion and the lateral reinforcement portion and also reinforcing the shoe sole, and the second connection and reinforcement portion extends, between the connection portion and the first connection and reinforcement portion, diagonally forward from the medial reinforcement portion so as to be connected to the lateral reinforcement portion, connecting together the medial reinforcement portion and the lateral reinforcement portion and also reinforcing the shoe sole.   
     
     
         4 . A shoe sole according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the front foot portion of the outer sole includes a plurality of first island-like portions spaced apart from one another in a peninsula-like or island-like pattern at least in a front-rear direction of a foot;   the front foot portion of the mid sole includes a plurality of second island-like portions spaced apart from one another in a peninsula-like or island-like pattern so as to break continuity of deformation at least in the front-rear direction of the foot; and   the reinforcement element is placed between the plurality of second island-like portions in the front-rear direction of the foot, thereby serving to suppress the bending.   
     
     
         5 . A shoe sole according to  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcement element is placed on an upper surface of the outer sole while being sandwiched between the first island-like portions and the second island-like portions. 
     
     
         6 . A shoe sole according to  claim 5 , wherein the reinforcement element is spaced apart from a lower surface of the mid sole between the first island-like portions. 
     
     
         7 . A shoe sole according to  claim 5 , wherein the reinforcement element is attached to a lower surface of the mid sole and curved in an upwardly protruding shape between the first island-like portions. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe sole according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the mid sole includes a main mid sole of a foamed resin, and a rubber-like or pod-like compressively deformable member exposed on a side surface of the mid sole;   the reinforcement element serves also as a holding member for holding, in cooperation with the main mid sole, the compressively deformable member in a predetermined area; and   the holding member includes an attachment portion secured to an upper surface of the outer sole, and an engagement portion extending upwardly from the attachment portion on the side surface of the mid sole.   
     
     
         9 . A shoe sole according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the main mid sole includes a first main mid sole covering a sole of the foot, and a second main mid sole placed below the first main mid sole; and   the compressively deformable member is sandwiched between the first main mid sole and the second main mid sole.   
     
     
         10 - 20 . (canceled)