Footwear Comprising an Elastic Intermediate Sole

Abstract

The invention relates to footwear comprising a multi-layer structure of the sole, with said sole being composed of at least one outsole ( 3 ), an optional insole as well as a midsole ( 2 ), wherein the midsole ( 2 ) is made of an elastic material having an open-cell structure provided with a gas- and liquid-tight outer skin, with said cell structure being filled with at least one fluidic medium.

1 . Footwear comprising a multi-layer structure of the sole, with said sole being composed of at least one outsole ( 3 ) and one midsole ( 2 ),
 wherein the midsole ( 2 ) is made of an elastic material having an open-cell structure provided with a gas- and liquid-tight outer skin, wherein said cell structure is filled at least partially with a fluidic medium   
     
     
         2 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material has a spongelike structure. 
     
     
         3 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic material is a foamed plastic. 
     
     
         4 . Footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the foamed plastic consists of an open-pore foam. 
     
     
         5 . Footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the foamed plastic has a volumetric weight ranging between around 40 and around 100 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         6 . Footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the size of the pores is in the range of between around 0.5 and around 3 mm. 
     
     
         7 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluidic medium is a liquid medium. 
     
     
         8 . Footwear according to  claim 7 , wherein the liquid medium is one or more of water, polyol and a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         9 . Footgear according to  claim 8 , wherein the liquid medium is water containing a thickening agent for the purpose of increasing the viscosity. 
     
     
         10 . Footgear according to  claim 5 , wherein aside from the liquid medium the midsole ( 2 ) also contains air. 
     
     
         11 . Footgear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve ( 7 ) arranged in the midsole ( 2 ). 
     
     
         12 . Footgear according to  claim 1 , wherein the midsole ( 2 ) is sandwiched between the outsole ( 3 ) and an insole, with the outsole ( 3 ) being designed so as to be harder than the insole. 
     
     
         13 . Footgear according to  claim 1 , by further comprising an insole provided with recesses intended for the integration of cushioning elements. 
     
     
         14 . Footgear according to  claim 13 , wherein the recesses are located in at least one of the heel and ball area. 
     
     
         15 . Footgear according to  claim 10 , wherein the recesses are provided with Velcro® elements. 
     
     
         16 . Footgear according to  claim 1 , wherein said footgear further comprises sandals. 
     
     
         17 . Footgear according to  claim 1 , wherein said footgear further comprises flip-flops.