Sole for an Athletic Shoe

Abstract

In the sole, inequalities, m2≥m1, m1≥f and m1≥h are satisfied, wherein the rearmost end of the foot-sole-contact-side surface is set to the origin, the path measured along the surface from the origin to the tip of the toe is set to L, the sole thicknesses at the positions of Sh(0.16×L), Sm2 {(0.3-0.5)×L}, Sm1{(0.4−0.6)×L} and Sf(0.7×L) are set to h, m2, m1 and f, respectively. An inequality, θ2>θ1 is satisfied, wherein the angle between the line connecting the positions Sm1, Sh and the horizontal plane is set to θ1, and the angle between the line connecting the positions Sm1′, Sh′ and the horizontal plane is set to θ2, in which the position where the vertical lines drawn from the positions Sm1, Sh cross the ground-contact surface are set to Sm1′, Sh′, respectively. The ground-contact surface has a downwardly convexly curved shape at the forefoot region.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole for an athletic shoe, said sole extending from a heel region through a midfoot region and a forefoot region to a toe portion and having a foot-sole-contact-side surface on an upper side of said sole and a ground-contact surface on a lower side of said sole,
 wherein inequalities, m 2 ≥m 1 , m 1 ≥f and m 1 ≥h are satisfied, in which a position of a rearmost end of said foot-sole-contact-side surface is set to the origin of a coordinate, a path length measured along said foot-sole-contact-side surface from the origin to a position of a tip of the toe is set to L, with said foot-sole-contact-side surface at said heel region arranged parallel to a horizontal plane, a thickness of said sole at a position Sh of a distance of 0.16×L away from the origin is set to h, a thickness of said sole at a position Sm 2  of a distance of (0.3-0.5)×L away from the origin is set to m 2 , a thickness of said sole at a position Sm 1  of a distance of (0.4-0.6)×L away from the origin is set to m 1  provided that the position Sm 1  is disposed in front of the position Sm 2 , and a thickness of said sole at a position Sf of a distance of 0.7×L away from the origin is set to f,   wherein an inequality, θ 2 ≥θ 1  is satisfied, in which an angle between a line connecting the positions Sm 1  and Sh and said horizontal plane is set to θ 1 , a position where a vertical line drawn from the position Sm 1  crosses a ground-contact surface is set to Sm 1 ′, a position where a vertical line drawn from the position Sh crosses said ground-contact surface is set to Sh′, and an angle between a line connecting the positions Sm 1 ′ and Sh′ and said horizontal plane is set to θ 2 , and   wherein said ground-contact surface has a downwardly convexly curved shape at said forefoot region.   
     
     
         2 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein an inequality, t≤f/2 is satisfied wherein a thickness of said sole at said tip of said toe is set to t. 
     
     
         3 . The sole according to  claim 1  further comprising a plate provided in said sole and extending in a longitudinal direction, said plate comprising a front end, a rear end and a mid-portion disposed between said front end and said rear end, wherein said front end of said plate is disposed on a ground-contact side below a sole thickness centerline at said forefoot region, said rear end of said plate is disposed on a foot-sole-contact side above said sole thickness centerline at said heel region, and said mid-portion of said plate crosses said sole thickness centerline diagonally at said midfoot region. 
     
     
         4 . The sole according to  claim 3 , wherein said plate has a bulged portion that protrudes in a vertical direction at least at a part of a region extending from the position Sm 2  to the position Sf.