Shoe sole

Abstract

Shoe sole comprising a main structure that defines a tread surface and opposing sides of the sole, said main structure comprising a top layer facing, in use, the sole of the foot, a bottom layer facing the ground, and a reinforcing member interposed between said top and bottom layers. The reinforcing member is made of a material with greater rigidity than the bottom layer, and comprises a front portion and a rear portion joined together by a bridging section. A forefoot through opening is defined on the front portion and a hindfoot through opening is defined on the rear portion, in such a way that a midfoot through opening is defined between the bridging section and the bottom layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Shoe sole ( 100 ) comprising:
 a reinforcing member ( 5 ) comprising a front portion ( 52 ) and a rear portion ( 54 ) joined together by a bridging section ( 53 ), and a forefoot through opening ( 20 ), defined in said front portion ( 52 ), and a hindfoot through opening ( 40 ) defined in said rear portion ( 54 ); and   a main structure ( 10 ) that defines a tread surface ( 1 ) and opposing sides ( 11 ,  12 ) of the sole ( 100 ), said main structure ( 10 ) comprising a top layer ( 16 ) facing, in use, the sole of a user's foot, and a bottom layer ( 15 ) facing the ground, the top layer ( 16 ) and the bottom layer ( 15 ) are joined at a front end ( 17 ) of the sole ( 100 ) and at a rear end ( 18 ) of the sole ( 100 ),   
       said reinforcing member ( 5 ) being interposed between said top layer ( 16 ) and said bottom layer ( 15 ), said reinforcing member ( 5 ) being made of a material with greater rigidity than said bottom layer ( 15 ), wherein said reinforcing member ( 5 ) further comprises a plurality of openings ( 57 ), of varying dimensions and/or orientations, extending longitudinally along the reinforcing member. 
     
     
         2 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing member ( 5 ) is formed as a single body. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member ( 5 ) is formed as a single body having an X-shape. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of openings ( 57 ) serve to reduce stiffness of the reinforcing member ( 5 ). 
     
     
         5 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing member ( 5 ) is completely received in said main structure ( 10 ). 
     
     
         6 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing member ( 5 ) has an essentially flat development and extends to occupy the top layer ( 16 ) substantially completely. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 1 , further comprising a midfoot through opening ( 30 ) defined between said bridging section ( 53 ). 
     
     
         8 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein said forefoot through opening ( 20 ) and said hindfoot through opening ( 40 ) partially overlap said midfoot through opening ( 30 ) along a vertical direction defined when said tread surface is supported on the ground. 
     
     
         9 . Shoe sole ( 100 ) comprising:
 a reinforcing member ( 5 ) comprising a front portion ( 52 ) and a rear portion ( 54 ) joined together by a bridging section ( 53 ); and   a main structure ( 10 ) that defines a tread surface ( 1 ) and opposing sides ( 11 ,  12 ) of the sole ( 100 ), said main structure ( 10 ) comprising a top layer ( 16 ) facing, in use, the sole of a user's foot, and a bottom layer ( 15 ) facing the ground, the top layer ( 16 ) and the bottom layer ( 15 ) are joined at a front end ( 17 ) of the sole ( 100 ) and at a rear end ( 18 ) of the sole ( 100 ), the main structure further comprises a forefoot through opening ( 20 ), at said front portion ( 52 ), and a hindfoot through opening ( 40 ) at said rear portion ( 54 );   
       said reinforcing member ( 5 ) being interposed between said top layer ( 16 ) and said bottom layer ( 15 ), said reinforcing member ( 5 ) being made of a material with greater rigidity than said bottom layer ( 15 ), wherein said reinforcing member ( 5 ) further comprises a plurality of openings ( 57 ), of varying dimensions and/or orientations, extending longitudinally along the reinforcing member. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein said reinforcing member ( 5 ) is formed as a single body. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing member ( 5 ) is formed as a single body having an X-shape. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of openings ( 57 ) serve to reduce stiffness of the reinforcing member ( 5 ). 
     
     
         13 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein said reinforcing member ( 5 ) is completely received in said main structure ( 10 ). 
     
     
         14 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein said reinforcing member ( 5 ) has an essentially flat development and extends to occupy the top layer ( 16 ) substantially completely. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 9 , further comprising a midfoot through opening ( 30 ) defined between said bridging section ( 53 ). 
     
     
         16 . The shoe sole ( 100 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein said forefoot through opening ( 20 ) and said hindfoot through opening ( 40 ) partially overlap said midfoot through opening ( 30 ) along a vertical direction defined when said tread surface is supported on the ground. 
     
     
         17 . A method for preparing a shoe sole ( 100 ) comprising:
 providing a main structure ( 10 ) that defines a tread surface ( 1 ) and opposing sides ( 11 ,  12 ) of the sole ( 100 ), said main structure ( 10 ) comprising a top layer ( 16 ) facing, in use, the sole of a user's foot, and a bottom layer ( 15 ) facing the ground;   providing a reinforcing member ( 5 ) comprising a front portion ( 52 ) and a rear portion ( 54 ) joined together by a bridging section ( 53 ), and a forefoot through opening ( 20 ), defined in said front portion ( 52 ), and a hindfoot through opening ( 40 ) defined in said rear portion ( 54 ), the reinforcing member further comprising a plurality of openings ( 57 ), of varying dimensions and/or orientations, extending longitudinally along the reinforcing member;   applying a bi-component adhesive to the main structure ( 10 ) and the reinforcing member ( 5 );   inserting the reinforcing member ( 5 ) into the main structure ( 10 ) laterally, from the inner side ( 11 ) or the outer side ( 12 ) of the sole.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 loading the main structure ( 10 ) with the reinforcing member ( 5 ) inserted therein into a cooling press;   closing the press and, applying adequate pressure for a time sufficient for activation of the bi-component adhesive.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the bottom layer ( 15 ) and the top layer ( 16 ) are separate and connected only by means of the reinforcing member ( 5 ) interposed between them. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the top layer ( 16 ) and the bottom layer ( 15 ) are joined at a front end ( 17 ) of the sole ( 100 ) and at a rear end ( 18 ) of the sole ( 100 ). 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of openings ( 57 ) receive portions of the top and bottom layers ( 15 ,  16 ) therein, when the pressure is applied in the press.