Sports shoe and method for the manufacture thereof

Abstract

A shoe, in particular a running shoe, may include an upper and a sole unit. The upper is attached to the sole unit such that in a midfoot region there is a gap between a lower side of the upper and a top side of the sole unit. The gap may extend from a lateral side of the shoe to a medial side of the shoe.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A shoe comprising:
 a. an upper, and   b. a sole unit,   c. wherein the upper is attached to the sole unit in a midfoot region,   d. wherein there is a gap between a lower side of the upper and a top side of the sole unit,   e. wherein the upper comprises a knitted material, and   f. wherein the sole unit comprises particles of expanded material.   
     
     
         24 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein the gap extends from a lateral side of the shoe to a medial side of the shoe. 
     
     
         25 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein the upper is attached to the sole unit in a heel region and a forefoot region and wherein the heel region is a minimum of 15% of the longitudinal shoe length from the rear of the shoe and the forefoot region is a minimum of 20% of the longitudinal shoe length from the front of the shoe. 
     
     
         26 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein the gap has a longitudinal extension up to 20 cm. 
     
     
         27 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein the gap extends essentially over the length of the arch of a foot of a user. 
     
     
         28 . The shoe according to  claim 27 , wherein in the midfoot region the lower side of the upper has a shape configured to adapt to a lower side of the arch of the foot of the user. 
     
     
         29 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein in the midfoot region where the gap is located the upper is configured to allow a minimum strain of 5% in both the medial-lateral direction and the forefoot-to-rearfoot direction and/or wherein in the midfoot region where the gap is located the upper is configured to allow a maximum strain of 150% in both the medial-lateral direction and the forefoot-to-rearfoot direction. 
     
     
         30 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein a material of the upper comprises an elastic content. 
     
     
         31 . The shoe according to  claim 30 , wherein a material of the upper comprises at least one of: a natural material, a synthetic material, synthetic fibers, synthetic leather, thermoplastic polyurethane, leather, cotton, elastane fibers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein a material of the upper comprises Shoe according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the upper comprises a knitted material, in particular at least one of: a circular knitted material, a flat knit material, a warp knit material, and/or wherein the upper comprises an engineered mesh. 
     
     
         33 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein in the midfoot region, the lower side of the upper is seamless. 
     
     
         34 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein the upper encompasses the arch of a foot of a user. 
     
     
         35 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein the upper comprises at least one reinforcing element extending from a medial side of the instep around the lower side of the upper to a lateral side of the instep. 
     
     
         36 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein the reinforcing element connects to or is integrated with a lacing system of the shoe on the medial and the lateral side of the instep. 
     
     
         37 . The shoe according to  claim 35 , wherein the reinforcing element comprises a flexible and tear resistant material including at least one of the following: a textile material, a synthetic material, a synthetic hybrid material, polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane, polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         38 . The shoe according to  claim 35 , wherein the reinforcing element comprises at least one of: a webbing, a stretchable webbing, a non-stretch webbing, a mesh, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The shoe according to  claim 35 , wherein the reinforcing element is printed or welded or stitched to a fabric of the upper. 
     
     
         40 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein the upper further comprises a lacing element extending from a heel region to a lateral and/or a medial side of the instep and connecting to a lacing system of the shoe. 
     
     
         41 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein the lacing element is integrally provided as one piece and extends from the medial side of the instep around the heel to the lateral side of the instep. 
     
     
         42 . The shoe according to  claim 23 , wherein the sole unit comprises particles of an expanded material, in particular particles of at least one of: expanded thermoplastic polyurethane, expanded polyetherblockamide, expanded polyamide.