Support element for improved foot shank alignment

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a support element which is configured to be arranged in a sole structure of a shoe. The support element may include a first portion associated with a lateral side of the sole structure and a second portion associated with a medial side of the sole structure. The first portion may include a first segment exhibiting a wave structure. The second portion may include a second segment exhibiting a uniform structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support element configured to be arranged in a sole structure of a shoe, comprising:
 a first portion associated with a lateral side of the sole structure, the first portion comprising a first segment exhibiting a wave structure;   a second portion associated with a medial side of the sole structure, the second portion comprising a second segment exhibiting a uniform structure.   
     
     
         2 . The support element of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wave structure comprises at least one peak and at least one valley.   
     
     
         3 . The support element of  claim 2 , wherein the uniform structure comprises less peaks and/or less valleys than the wave structure. 
     
     
         4 . The support element of  claim 1 , wherein the wave structure comprises peaks and valleys which are non-continuously connected. 
     
     
         5 . The support element of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a distance between two consecutive peaks of the wave structure is at least 0.5 cm.   
     
     
         6 . The support element of  claim 2 , wherein a distance between two consecutive peaks of the wave structure is at most 8 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The support element of  claim 2 , wherein a height of a peak of the wave structure is in a range from at least 0.1 cm to at most 4 cm. 
     
     
         8 . The support element of  claim 2 , wherein a depth of a valley of the wave structure is in a range from at least 0.1 cm to at most 4 cm. 
     
     
         9 . The support element of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a height of a peak decreases along the wave structure of the first segment from a mid portion of the sole structure towards a front part of the sole structure; and/or   a depth of a valley decreases along the wave structure of the first segment from the mid portion of the sole structure towards the front part of the sole structure.   
     
     
         10 . The support element of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between two consecutive peaks decreases along the wave structure of the first segment from a mid portion of the sole structure towards a front part of the sole structure; and/or
 a distance between two consecutive valleys decreases along the wave structure of the first segment from the mid portion of the sole structure towards the front part of the sole structure.   
     
     
         11 . The support element of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the wave structure of the first segment extends in a direction of a longitudinal axis of the sole structure; and   the uniform structure of the second segment extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the sole structure; and the first segment and/or the second segment are configured to be located in a front part of the sole structure.   
     
     
         12 . The support element of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first portion comprises a first component comprising the first segment, wherein the first component is elongate; and   the second portion comprises a second component comprising the second segment, wherein the second the component is elongate.   
     
     
         13 . The support element of  claim 12 , wherein the first component and the second component are connected to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The support element of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first component and the second component is configured to be arranged in a rim portion of the sole structure. 
     
     
         15 . The support element of  claim 1 , further comprising a portion associated with a mid portion of the sole structure, wherein the portion associated with the mid portion comprises:
 a first aperture located within the first portion; and   a second aperture located within the second portion.   
     
     
         16 . The support element of  claim 15 , wherein the portion associated with the mid portion further comprises:
 an intermediate section separating the first aperture from the second aperture.   
     
     
         17 . The support element of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a portion associated with a rear part of the sole structure, wherein the portion comprises at least one aperture.   
     
     
         18 . The support element of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the intermediate section is in connection with a bottom component of the sole structure; and   a mid part of the support element is gapped from a top component of a midsole but in connection with a bottom component of the midsole.   
     
     
         19 . A shoe comprising the support element of  claim 1 .