Shoe with midsole

Abstract

A shoe comprising an upper, a sole and a midsole that comprises a plurality of projections received inside corresponding recesses defined in the sole. The recesses are blind at a relative bottom surface. One end of the projections is in contact with the bottom surface of the recesses at least in a forefoot region such that, in the course of a walking movement, the projections are compressed by the foot of the wearer.

1 . A shoe comprising an upper, a sole which defines a substantially flat tread surface that makes contact with the ground, and a midsole that can be removably accommodated inside said upper and can be placed on top of said sole, said midsole comprising a plurality of projections at least in a forefoot region, which are received inside corresponding recesses made in said sole, said recesses being blind at a relative bottom surface such that said projections do not project from said tread surface, wherein one end of said plurality of projections is in contact with said bottom surface of said recesses at least in said forefoot region such that said projections are subjected to compression by the foot of the wearer during a walking movement. 
     
     
         2 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said projections are accommodated inside said recesses such that a gap remains defined between a projection and a lateral wall of the corresponding recess. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein said gap has different characteristics on the side facing the toe of the shoe to those on the side facing the heel. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein the lateral wall portion of the projection and/or of the corresponding recess that faces the toe is at a greater incline with respect to a vertical direction than the portion that faces the heel. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein the end of the projection is substantially flat and is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction defined by a plane of contact between the sole and the ground. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe according to  claim 5 , wherein said end is inclined such that the portion of the end that faces the toe of the shoe is closer to the ground than the portion facing the heel. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein said projections comprise first projections and second projections, wherein the gap defined between a first projection and a lateral wall of the corresponding recess has a different size to the gap defined between a second projection and a lateral wall of the corresponding recess. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe according to  claim 7 , wherein the gap between the first projections and the lateral walls is no greater than between 0.25 mm and 0.75 mm, and the gap between the second projections and the lateral walls is no greater than between 1 mm and 2 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe according to  claim 7 , wherein the first projections and the second projections comprise respective graphic elements. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein said gaps are defined in said recess at least in the toe-to-heel direction of the shoe. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein said gaps widen in a longitudinal extent direction of the projection extending away from said end. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said midsole is spaced apart from said sole in regions that are adjacent to an inlet mouth of said recesses. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said projections ( 31 ,  32 ) are cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said projections have a length (d) in a direction extending away from a contact surface that is variable in a direction transverse to the toe-to-heel direction of the shoe. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper comprises a base surface having through-openings, through which said projections pass. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe according to  claim 15 , wherein said base surface has a first through-opening that occupies a central region of the forefoot region, and a second through-opening that occupies a central region of the rearfoot region. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe according to  claim 16 , comprising a plurality of forefoot projections and a plurality of rearfoot projections, which pass through said first through-opening and through said second through-opening, respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein altogether three rearfoot projections are provided, which are oriented in the shape of a triangle. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom surface is defined by a sheet fixed to said sole, said sheet being made of a material having higher hardness than said sole. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe according to  claim 19 , wherein said sheet is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material. 
     
     
         21 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said projections ( 31 ,  32 ) are made of a material having a Shore hardness of between 18 and 25. 
     
     
         22 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the midsole has a greater capability of compression in the forefoot region on the side facing an outer edge ( 15 ) of the shoe. 
     
     
         23 . The shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein said projections ( 31 ,  32 ) are substantially uniformly distributed in the forefoot region.