Sole with variable damping properties

Abstract

A sole for a running shoe including an elastic midsole with a base surface, which delimits the midsole opposite the vertical direction of the midsole, and a surface, which delimits the midsole in the vertical direction. The midsole is divided into a heel region, a central foot region, and a front foot region, and includes multiple channels which run in the transversal direction of the midsole and are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the midsole. Each of the channels has an elongated contour in the cross-section along a cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction of the midsole and perpendicularly to the transverse direction of the midsole, and each channel has a main longitudinal axis in the cross-section along the cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction and perpendicularly to the transversal direction.

1 . A sole for a shoe comprising:
 an elastic midsole ( 1 ) comprising a base surface ( 2 ) and divided into a heel area (FB), a midfoot area (MFB), and a forefoot area (VFB);   wherein the midsole ( 1 ) includes several channels ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ), which extend in a transverse direction (Q) of the midsole ( 1 ) and which are arranged one behind the other in a longitudinal direction (L) of the midsole ( 1 ), wherein the channels ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) each have an elongated contour in a cross-section along a cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction (L) of the midsole ( 1 ) and perpendicularly to the transverse direction (Q) of the midsole, and wherein each channel ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) has a main longitudinal axis ( 411 ,  421 ) in the cross-section along the cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction (L) and perpendicularly to the transverse direction (Q);   wherein an acute angle (α- 41 ) between the main longitudinal axis ( 411 ) and the base surface ( 2 ) of at least one channel ( 41 ) arranged in the heel area is greater than an acute angle (α- 42 ) between the base surface ( 2 ) and the main longitudinal axis ( 421 ) of at least one channel ( 42 ,  43 ) arranged in the midfoot area (MFB) and/or in the forefoot area (VFB);   wherein the channels in the heel area have a drop-shaped contour, wherein the drop shaped contour comprises an isosceles triangle and a circular segment connected to the base of the triangle, wherein the base surface is located closer to the circular segment than the tip of the triangle; and   wherein the midsole comprises, in the heel area, a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel arranged consecutively from the heel edge of the midsole toward the sole tip, wherein the first channel is arranged closest to the heel edge of the midsole, and wherein the third channel includes a different acute angle between the main longitudinal axis ( 411 ) and the base surface ( 2 ) than the first channel or the second channel.   
     
     
         2 . The sole according to  claim 1  wherein the acute angle (α- 41 ) between the main longitudinal axis ( 411 ) and the base surface ( 2 ) of each channel first becomes greater from the channel ( 41 ) arranged closest to the heel edge ( 5 ) of the midsole ( 1 ) from channel to channel in the direction of the sole tip ( 6 ), and subsequently becomes smaller from channel to channel in the direction of the sole tip ( 6 ). 
     
     
         3 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the acute angle (α- 41 ) between the main longitudinal axis ( 411 ) and the base surface ( 2 ) becomes continuously smaller from channel to channel from a channel in the heel area to a channel in the forefoot area. 
     
     
         4 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the main longitudinal axis of all of the channels arranged in the forefoot area (VFB), is arranged essentially parallel to the base surface. 
     
     
         5 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein each channel ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) has a main lateral axis ( 422 ) and wherein the height along the main lateral axis of a channel ( 43 ) arranged in the forefoot area (VFB) is smaller than the height along the main lateral axis ( 422 ) of a channel ( 41 ,  42 ) arranged in the midfoot area (MFB) and/or in the heel area (FB). 
     
     
         6 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein for the channels in the heel area, the vertical distance between the respective channel and top surface of the midsole of each channel becomes smaller from the channel ( 41 ) arranged closest to the heel edge ( 5 ) of the midsole ( 1 ) from channel to channel in the direction of the sole tip ( 6 ). 
     
     
         7 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the vertical distance between the third channel and the top surface of the midsole is smaller than the vertical distance between any other channel of the midsole and top surface of the midsole. 
     
     
         8 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the channels ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) in the forefoot area and part of the midfoot area each have a rectangular contour with rounded corners, in the cross section along the cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction (L) of the midsole ( 1 ) and perpendicularly to the transverse direction (Q) of the midsole ( 1 ). 
     
     
         9 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of each of the channels of the midsole taper in the transverse direction from the lateral side to the medial side of the midsole, and/or wherein at least a portion of each of the channels of the midsole taper in the transverse direction from the medial side towards the lateral side of the midsole. 
     
     
         10 . A sole for a shoe comprising:
 an elastic midsole ( 1 ) comprising a base surface ( 2 ) and divided into a heel area (FB), a midfoot area (MFB), and a forefoot area (VFB);   wherein the midsole ( 1 ) includes several channels ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ), which extend in a transverse direction (Q) of the midsole ( 1 ) and which are arranged one behind the other in a longitudinal direction (L) of the midsole ( 1 ), wherein the channels ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) each have an elongated contour in a cross-section along a cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction (L) of the midsole ( 1 ) and perpendicularly to the transverse direction (Q) of the midsole, and wherein each channel ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) has a main longitudinal axis ( 411 ,  421 ) in the cross-section along the cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction (L) and perpendicularly to the transverse direction (Q);   wherein an acute angle (α- 41 ) between the main longitudinal axis ( 411 ) and the base surface ( 2 ) of at least one channel ( 41 ) arranged in the heel area is greater than an acute angle (α- 42 ) between the base surface ( 2 ) and the main longitudinal axis ( 421 ) of at least one channel ( 42 ,  43 ) arranged in the midfoot area (MFB) and/or in the forefoot area (VFB);   wherein the channels in the heel area have a drop-shaped contour, wherein the drop shaped contour comprises two legs and a circular segment connected to the base of the two legs, wherein the base surface is located closer to the circular segment than a tip of the two legs; and   wherein the midsole comprises, in the heel area, a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel arranged consecutively from the heel edge of the midsole toward the sole tip, wherein the first channel is arranged closest to the heel edge of the midsole, and wherein the third channel includes a different acute angle between the main longitudinal axis ( 411 ) and the base surface ( 2 ) than the first channel and the second channel.   
     
     
         11 . The sole of  claim 10  wherein the acute angle (α- 41 ) between the main longitudinal axis ( 411 ) and the base surface ( 2 ) of each channel first becomes greater from the channel ( 41 ) arranged closest to the heel edge ( 5 ) of the midsole ( 1 ) from channel to channel in the direction of the sole tip ( 6 ), and subsequently becomes smaller from channel to channel in the direction of the sole tip ( 6 ). 
     
     
         12 . The sole according to  claim 10 , wherein the channels ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) are formed essentially mirror-symmetrically about the respective main longitudinal axis ( 411 ,  421 ), in each case along the cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction (L) of the midsole ( 1 ) and perpendicularly to the transverse direction (Q) of the midsole ( 1 ). 
     
     
         13 . The sole according to  claim 10 , wherein for the channels in the heel area, the vertical distance between the respective channel and top surface of the midsole of each channel becomes smaller from the channel ( 41 ) arranged closest to the heel edge ( 5 ) of the midsole ( 1 ) from channel to channel in the direction of the sole tip ( 6 ). 
     
     
         14 . The sole according to  claim 10 , wherein the vertical distance between the third channel and the top surface of the midsole is smaller than the vertical distance between any other channel of the midsole and top surface of the midsole. 
     
     
         15 . A sole for a shoe comprising:
 an elastic midsole ( 1 ) comprising a base surface ( 2 ) and divided into a heel area (FB), a midfoot area (MFB), and a forefoot area (VFB);   wherein the midsole ( 1 ) includes several channels ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ), which extend in a transverse direction (Q) of the midsole ( 1 ) and which are arranged one behind the other in a longitudinal direction (L) of the midsole ( 1 ), wherein the channels ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) each have an elongated contour in a cross-section along a cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction (L) of the midsole ( 1 ) and perpendicularly to the transverse direction (Q) of the midsole, and wherein each channel ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) has a main longitudinal axis ( 411 ,  421 ) in the cross-section along the cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction (L) and perpendicularly to the transverse direction (Q);   wherein an acute angle (α- 41 ) between the main longitudinal axis ( 411 ) and the base surface ( 2 ) of at least one channel ( 41 ) arranged in the heel area is greater than an acute angle (α- 42 ) between the base surface ( 2 ) and the main longitudinal axis ( 421 ) of at least one channel ( 42 ,   
     
     
         43 ) arranged in the midfoot area (MFB) and/or in the forefoot area (VFB);
 wherein the channels in the heel area have a drop-shaped contour, wherein the drop shaped contour comprises a triangle and a circular segment connected to the base of the triangle, wherein the base surface is located closer to the circular segment than the tip of the triangle; and   wherein the midsole comprises, in the heel area, a first channel, a second channel, and a third channel arranged consecutively from the heel edge of the midsole toward the sole tip, wherein the first channel, the second channel, and the third channel each include a different acute angle between the main longitudinal axis ( 411 ) and the base surface ( 2 ).   
     
     
         16 . The sole according to  claim 15 , wherein the channels ( 41 ,  42 ,  43 ) are formed essentially mirror-symmetrically about the respective main longitudinal axis ( 411 ,  421 ), in each case along the cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction (L) of the midsole ( 1 ) and perpendicularly to the transverse direction (Q) of the midsole ( 1 ). 
     
     
         17 . The sole according to  claim 15 , wherein for the channels in the heel area, the vertical distance between the respective channel and top surface of the midsole of each channel becomes smaller from the channel ( 41 ) arranged closest to the heel edge ( 5 ) of the midsole ( 1 ) from channel to channel in the direction of the sole tip ( 6 ). 
     
     
         18 . The sole according to  claim 15  wherein the acute angle (α- 41 ) between the main longitudinal axis ( 411 ) and the base surface ( 2 ) of each channel first becomes greater from the channel ( 41 ) arranged closest to the heel edge ( 5 ) of the midsole ( 1 ) from channel to channel in the direction of the sole tip ( 6 ), and subsequently becomes smaller from channel to channel in the direction of the sole tip ( 6 ). 
     
     
         19 . The sole according to  claim 15  wherein the triangle comprises an isosceles triangle.