Reinforced structure for footwear

Abstract

A reinforced structure for footwear includes a rod and a reinforcing structure. At least a portion of the rod protrudes toward or away from a horizontal plane in a curved manner. When the rod is subjected to a pressure from the horizontal plane, the curvature of the rod decreases, and the rod deforms in an elongating manner along a longitudinal direction. The reinforcing structure is joined to at least a portion of the rod via a connecting part, thereby providing the reinforced structure for footwear with high stability and enhanced adaptability through a balanced combination of rigidity and flexibility.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reinforced structure for footwear, comprising:
 A rod, wherein at least a portion of the rod is curved either toward or away from a horizontal plane, and when the rod receives a pressure from the horizontal plane, the bending amplitude of the rod is reduced and the rod deforms in a longitudinal direction; and   a reinforcing structure, coupled to at least a portion of the rod via a coupling part.   
     
     
         2 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein an angle is formed between any two segments of the rod, a gap is formed between any two segments of the rod, the two ends of the rod correspond to respective ends in the longitudinal direction, and an opening is formed between the two ends. 
     
     
         3 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein a second rod is arranged with spacing or in an interleaved manner from the rod, a gap is formed between the rod and the second rod, the rod and the second rod having an axis defining the longitudinal direction, the rod and the second rod defining a width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, at least a portion of the rod and the second rod being formed in a common plane, and at least a portion of the longitudinal direction of the rod and the second rod forming a height difference. 
     
     
         4 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing structure is continuously disposed in the width direction between the rod and the second rod, so that when the rod and the second rod receive pressure from the horizontal plane, the reinforcing structures, the rod and the second rod extend in the width direction. 
     
     
         5 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the second rod are bent in different bending directions or have different bending curvatures relative to the horizontal plane, wherein the rod and the second rod are arranged in an interlaced or intertwined manner to form a mesh-like structure, and wherein at least a portion of the rod and the second rod collectively form a curved surface. 
     
     
         6 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing structure is disposed in the gap, and the reinforcing structure is coplanar with the gap. 
     
     
         7 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing structure is disposed in the gap, and the reinforcing structure is coplanar with the gap. 
     
     
         8 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing structure is disposed in the gap, and connects to at least one portion of the rod. 
     
     
         9 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the reinforcing structure is disposed in the gap, and the second rod protrudes relative to the bending direction. 
     
     
         10 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein both the rod and the reinforcing structure are concavely curved toward the bending direction, and the bending amplitude of the reinforcing structure is smaller than the bending amplitude of the rod. 
     
     
         11 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein both the second rod and the reinforcing structure are concavely curved toward the bending direction, and the bending amplitude of the reinforcing structure is smaller than the bending amplitude of the second rod. 
     
     
         12 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the reinforcing structure extends along the longitudinal direction of the rod, and the two coupling parts are connected to the rod at both ends in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         13 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein the reinforcing structure extends along the longitudinal direction of the rod and the second rod, and the two coupling parts are connected to the rod and the second rod at both ends in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         14 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing structure is disposed between the rod and the second rod, and the reinforcing structure is positioned in a region where a bending curvature of the rod and the second rod is greatest. 
     
     
         15 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein a free end of the rod and the second rod of the reinforcing structure is either integrally formed or connected via a bent rod to form a connection part. 
     
     
         16 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 15 , wherein the connection part connects to two portions of the second rod. 
     
     
         17 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 15 , wherein the connection part connects to at least one portion of the rod or the second rod. 
     
     
         18 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing structure is a continuous wave-shaped structure, and the wave-shaped structure comprises a U-shape or a V-shape. 
     
     
         19 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing structure is a discontinuous structure with multiple components, and the configuration of the reinforcing structure comprises a rod-shaped or plate-shaped form. 
     
     
         20 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 19 , wherein the rod and the second rod of the reinforcing structures is laterally interconnected between different layers, and the interconnection is achieved by fusion bonding into an integral unit or by an interlocking arrangement. 
     
     
         21 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the reinforcing structure is an elastomer, and the material of the elastomer comprises one or a combination of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), silicone rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), neoprene, or polyester elastomer. 
     
     
         22 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of the rod and the second rod comprises a composite material, a polymer (plastic), a metal, or multiple fiber bundles coated with a thermoplastic resin. 
     
     
         23 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 22 , wherein the thermoplastic resin comprises one or a combination of the following polymers: polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP), polyester (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyoxymethylene (POM), polyurethane (PU), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), vinylon, polyethersulfone (PES), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE), styrene-based elastomer (TPS), thermoplastic polyamide elastomer (PAE), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polysulfone (PSU), liquid-crystalline polymer (LCP), polyetherimide (PEI), polyamide-imide (PAI), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyphenylene ether (PPE), acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA), cellulose acetate (CA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), styrene copolymer (MS), or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 22 , wherein the material of the fiber bundle comprises glass fiber, carbon fiber, micro steel fiber, natural fiber, synthetic fiber, metal fiber, ceramic fiber, or a combination of any of the foregoing fiber materials. 
     
     
         25 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing structure is a sole framework formed by mutually joining multiple corresponding connection points between multiple elastic units, wherein the sole framework connects the rod via at least a portion of the connection points to form the reinforced structure for footwear. 
     
     
         26 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 25 , wherein the reinforcing structure is manufactured by following steps:
 at least partially heating one or more continuous fiber bundles to render the continuous fiber bundles deformable, and bending each of the continuous fiber bundles in three dimensions along its longitudinal axis in space to form multiple elastic units, wherein the continuous fiber bundles comprise multiple continuous fibers and a thermoplastic resin covering the continuous fibers; and   mutually joining multiple corresponding connection points between the elastic units to form the sole framework.   
     
     
         27 . The reinforced structure for footwear according to  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the sole framework is covered with a covering material to form a continuous fiber structured sole.