Sole Structure for a Shoe

Abstract

The sole structure includes a sole body comprising a wavy structure and a midsole, and an outsole disposed below the sole body and having a ground contact surface. The wavy structure comprises a plurality of wavy extending parts that respectively extend in a wavy shape in the foot-length direction and that are disposed side by side in the foot-width direction, and a connecting portion that connects the wavy extending parts respectively in the foot-width direction. A thickness center plane of the wavy structure extends curvedly in the vertically direction toward the foot-length direction. The midsole is formed of a soft elastic member and includes a lower surface and an upper surface. The lower surface has a contact surface that the wavy structure is in contact with. The upper surface is fitted to an upper of a shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole structure fora heel region, midfoot region, or a forefoot region of a shoe, said sole structure comprising:
 a sole body having a first shock absorbing component and a second shock absorbing component that are adapted to cooperate with each other; and   an outsole provided below said sole body and having a ground contact surface,   wherein said first shock absorbing component is formed of a wavy structure that comprises a plurality of wavy extending parts respectively extending in a wavy shape in a foot-length direction and disposed side by side in a foot-width direction and a connecting portion connecting the wavy extending parts respectively in said foot-width direction, and a thickness center plane of said wavy structure extends curvedly in a vertical direction toward said foot-length direction,   wherein said second shock absorbing component is formed of a soft elastic member and includes a contact surface that said wavy structure is in contact with and a fitted surface that an upper of said shoe is fitted to.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said wavy structure is fixedly attached to said second shock absorbing component, and wherein said first shock absorbing component formed of said wavy structure and said second shock absorbing component adapted to cooperate with said first shock absorbing component are integrated to constitute said sole body. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure according to  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of said wavy structure is bonded to a lower surface of said second shock absorbing component. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure according to  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of said wavy structure is embedded in an interior of said second shock absorbing component. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure according to  claim 2 , wherein said second shock absorbing component is formed of a soft foamed member in a foamed bead shape and said wavy structure is embedded in an interior of said second shock absorbing component. 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said wavy structure further comprises an upraised part that extends upwardly, and said upraised part is provided at said wavy extending parts of said wavy structure disposed on an outermost side in said foot-width direction. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said wavy structure extends from said heel region through said midfoot region to said forefoot region of said shoe, and wherein said thickness center plane of said wavy structure is disposed below a thickness center plane of said sole body at said forefoot region, disposed above said thickness center plane of said sole body at an anterior end portion of said heel region, and disposed below said thickness center plane of said sole body at a posterior end portion of said heel region. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure according to  claim 2 , wherein said wavy structure extends from said heel region through said midfoot region to said forefoot region of said shoe, and wherein said thickness center plane of said wavy structure is disposed below a thickness center plane of said sole body at said forefoot region, disposed above said thickness center plane of said sole body at an anterior end portion of said heel region, and disposed below said thickness center plane of said sole body at a posterior end portion of said heel region. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure according to  claim 3 , wherein said wavy structure extends from said heel region through said midfoot region to said forefoot region of said shoe, and wherein said thickness center plane of said wavy structure is disposed below a thickness center plane of said sole body at said forefoot region, disposed above said thickness center plane of said sole body at an anterior end portion of said heel region, and disposed below said thickness center plane of said sole body at a posterior end portion of said heel region. 
     
     
         10 . The sole structure according to  claim 4 , wherein said wavy structure extends from said heel region through said midfoot region to said forefoot region of said shoe, and wherein said thickness center plane of said wavy structure is disposed below a thickness center plane of said sole body at said forefoot region, disposed above said thickness center plane of said sole body at an anterior end portion of said heel region, and disposed below said thickness center plane of said sole body at a posterior end portion of said heel region. 
     
     
         11 . The sole structure according to  claim 5 , wherein said wavy structure extends from said heel region through said midfoot region to said forefoot region of said shoe, and wherein said thickness center plane of said wavy structure is disposed below a thickness center plane of said sole body at said forefoot region, disposed above said thickness center plane of said sole body at an anterior end portion of said heel region, and disposed below said thickness center plane of said sole body at a posterior end portion of said heel region. 
     
     
         12 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said wavy extending parts of said wavy structure disposed adjacent to each other in said foot-width direction are integrated to each other to constitute an unitary wavy extending part at either of positions in said foot-length direction. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure according to  claim 2 , wherein at least two of said wavy extending parts of said wavy structure disposed adjacent to each other in said foot-width direction are integrated to each other to constitute an unitary wavy extending part at either of positions in said foot-length direction. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure according to  claim 3 , wherein at least two of said wavy extending parts of said wavy structure disposed adjacent to each other in said foot-width direction are integrated to each other to constitute an unitary wavy extending part at either of positions in said foot-length direction. 
     
     
         15 . The sole structure according to  claim 4 , wherein at least two of said wavy extending parts of said wavy structure disposed adjacent to each other in said foot-width direction are integrated to each other to constitute an unitary wavy extending part at either of positions in said foot-length direction. 
     
     
         16 . The sole structure according to  claim 5 , wherein at least two of said wavy extending parts of said wavy structure disposed adjacent to each other in said foot-width direction are integrated to each other to constitute an unitary wavy extending part at either of positions in said foot-length direction. 
     
     
         17 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said wavy structure is provided plurally in said foot-width direction or said foot-length direction. 
     
     
         18 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said wavy extending parts and said connecting portion of said wavy structure are formed integrally of the same material. 
     
     
         19 . The sole structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said wavy structure is formed of a material of a higher rigidity than a material of said second shock absorbing component.