A sole for a shoe

Abstract

A sole for a shoe may be provided. In one implementation, the sole may include an outsole having a ground contacting surface and a foot facing surface, and an injection-molded midsole configured to be positioned between the outsole and the foot of the user. The outsole may include at least a first projection and a second projection that extend from the foot facing surface towards the midsole, each projection having a proximal part joined to the foot facing surface and a distal part opposite from the proximal part, so that the distal part extends into the midsole. The polymer material of the midsole may extend into a space between the first projection and the second projection so that the polymer material provides a coupling between the first projection and the second projection in an area that is distal to the proximal parts of the first and second projections.

1 . A sole for a shoe comprising:
 an outsole having a ground contacting surface and a foot facing surface opposite from the ground contacting surface, the outsole having a peripheral edge defining an outer periphery of the outsole; and   a midsole having a foot facing surface and an outsole facing surface opposite from the foot facing surface, the midsole being injection molded from a polymer material so that the midsole is configured to be positioned between the outsole and a foot of a user while the user wears the shoe,   wherein the outsole comprises at least a first projection and a second projection that extend from the foot facing surface and in a direction towards the midsole, each of the first projection and second projection comprising:
 a proximal part joined to the foot facing surface, and 
 a distal part opposite from the proximal part, so that the distal part of the first projection and the distal part of the second projection extend into the midsole of the sole, 
 wherein the first projection and the second projection are positioned adjacent to each other and define a space between the first projection and the second projection, and 
 wherein the polymer material of the midsole extends into the space defined between the first projection and the second projection so that the polymer material provides a coupling between the first projection and the second projection in an area that is distal to the proximal parts of the first projection and the second projection. 
   
     
     
         2 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the outsole in an area of the first projection or second projection is larger than the thickness of the outsole in an area devoid of a projection. 
     
     
         3 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first projection has a side wall and the second projection has a side wall, and   wherein the polymer material connects the side wall of the first projection to the side wall of the second projection.   
     
     
         4 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the polymer material fills the space defined between the first projection and the second projection. 
     
     
         5 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first projection or the second projection extends longitudinally along a plane of the foot facing surface of the outsole. 
     
     
         6 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first projection or the second projection extends from the peripheral edge of the outsole and in a direction inwards towards a central part of the outsole. 
     
     
         7 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the outsole further comprises:
 a third projection and a fourth projection that is adjacent to the third projection, wherein the polymer material of the midsole extends into a space defined between the third and fourth projections to couple the third and fourth projections to each other.   
     
     
         8 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the sole comprises a direct injected midsole. 
     
     
         9 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second projections extend in parallel along the foot facing surface. 
     
     
         10 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second projections extend at an angle towards each other. 
     
     
         11 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first projection or the second projection has a variable height along the length of the at least one projection. 
     
     
         12 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first projection or the second projection has an annular cross-sectional shape. 
     
     
         13 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first projection or the second projection has a first width in the proximal part thereof and a second width in the distal part thereof, the first width being different than the second width. 
     
     
         14 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first projection or the second projection is solid from the proximal part thereof to the distal part thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A sole for a shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the proximal part of at least one of the first projection or the second projection is joined to the foot facing surface across an entire width between one side wall of the at least one projection to an opposing side wall of the at least one projection, relative to a cross sectional direction of the at least one projection.