EP4066671B1 - Cross-braced sole for a shoe - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a transversely stiffened sole for a shoe. The sole is constructed in such a way that it has a high degree of stiffness transversely to the longitudinal direction of the sole and a high degree of flexibility along the longitudinal direction of the sole.

Such soles are, for example, made from DE 91 10 849 U1 known, which describes a flexible, sole-like stabilizing element for the manufacture of shoes. The stabilizing element essentially consists of a sole-shaped, spring-hard metal sheet, which, thanks to its shape, has a high degree of rigidity across the shoe's longitudinal axis and a high degree of flexibility along the shoe's longitudinal axis. The metal sheet is profiled like a corrugated sheet and covered with a soft, elastic rubber or plastic material.

A similar sole is used in the DE 10 2013 012 097 B4 which also includes a damping adaptation cushion. The DE 10 2017 116 236 A1 describes an insole or insole for a shoe, which is also designed as a structural sole and is made of spring steel or a comparable plastic material and has a rib-shaped cross-profiling running at an angle to the central longitudinal line, which is designed as a wave profile and consists of a number of consecutive waves. In addition, the sole is designed in such a way that it promotes the circulation of air and moisture.

The DE 200 05 683 U1 describes an insole for placement in a shoe. It has one or more means for transverse stiffening and/or longitudinal flexibility at least in the forefoot area. The means for transverse stiffening and/or longitudinal flexibility can be incisions provided in a thickening on the underside of the sole, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the sole. Alternatively or additionally, the means can be notches formed on the edge of the sole.

US 2017/245590A , US 2016/029741A , US 5025573A describe a sole with elongated structures for transverse stiffening.

The present invention is based on the object of specifying a sole, i.e. a shoe bottom or a part thereof, for a shoe, which provides a cost-effective and easy-to-produce transverse reinforcement with suitable flexibility in the longitudinal direction of the sole and preferably minimal use of material. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to specify a method for producing such a sole.

The objects are achieved with the subject matter of independent claims 1 and 13. Advantageous further developments emerge from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

The invention is based on a sole for a shoe. The sole can form the shoe bottom or be part of the shoe bottom. The sole or the shoe bottom has at least a forefoot area, preferably also a midfoot area and a heel area. When used as intended, a person's foot is positioned over the sole in such a way that their forefoot is positioned over the forefoot area, their midfoot is positioned over the midfoot area and their heel is positioned over the heel area.

The sole further comprises a sole body which, at least in or only in the forefoot area, has a plurality of elongated structures arranged on or in the sole body, such as waves of a wavy profiled plate or individual rods, for transversely stiffening the sole. The elongated structures each have a longitudinal axis. The elongated structures are arranged with their longitudinal axes transverse to the longitudinal direction of the sole, which extends in particular from the heel to the toes. The sole is transversely stiffened by the elongated structures arranged on or in the sole body. In versions with rods, the transverse stiffening and longitudinal flexibility are achieved by the plurality of rods arranged in the longitudinal direction, preferably at a distance from one another. In versions with a wavy profiled plate, the transverse stiffness and longitudinal flexibility are achieved by the waves arranged one after the other in the direction of the waves.

A corresponding method for producing a sole for a shoe comprises the step of arranging, at least in a forefoot region, several elongated structures, such as waves of the wavy profiled plate or the individual rods, for transverse stiffening of the sole on or in a sole body in such a way that the longitudinal axes of the rods are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the sole.

In contrast to profiled plates, which have a wave profile, individual rods are more cost-effective to produce, use less material and allow easy integration into the sole body. Profiled plates have the advantage that they combine several elongated structures in one part, which simplifies handling when producing the sole. In further developments, the individual rods can be connected to one or more flexible elements (not part of the sole body), such as a band or rope or a textile layer, in order to position the rods in relation to one another and to simplify handling when producing the sole. For example, the rods can be attached to the underside of an element to be attached or attached above the sole body, such as an insole, with the rods being or being arranged in the recesses of the sole body. The insole and/or the rods can be or be connected to the sole body in a materially bonded manner, such as by gluing.

A plurality of elongated structures, in particular rods or shafts, i.e. their longitudinal axes, in particular of the forefoot region, can be arranged parallel to one another. For example, all elongated structures or a part thereof, such as at least two, can be arranged parallel to one another. According to the invention, a plurality of elongated structures, in particular all or a part of the elongated structures, of the forefoot region are arranged in such a way that the longitudinal axes of these structures intersect at a point medially, outside the sole. A mixture of parallel and non-parallel elongated structures is also possible. In order for the longitudinal axes to intersect, they can intersect one another or run skewed to one another. For example, at least two elongated structures of the forefoot region can be parallel to one another, wherein at least two elongated structures of the forefoot region can be arranged in such a way that the longitudinal axes of these elongated structures intersect at the point outside the sole.

The parallel and/or non-parallel arrangement of the elongated structures in the forefoot area can have a beneficial effect on the rolling behavior of the forefoot area of the sole and thus also of the foot.

For example, one, several or each of the elongated structures in the forefoot area can be inclined with their longitudinal axes in relation to the sole longitudinal direction such that the lateral The end of each of these structures is closer to the toe end of the sole than the medial end. This arrangement can have an additional beneficial effect on the rolling behavior of the sole.

The bars are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the sole. In particular, the bars or a part of the bars, such as at least two bars, of the forefoot area can be arranged parallel to one another.

Due to the parallel and/or non-parallel arrangement of the rods in the forefoot area, the longitudinal flexibility in relation to the transverse stiffness and thus the rolling behavior of the sole can be influenced in a simple manner during the manufacture of the shoe, without the need for a new punching tool, as would be the case with corrugated profiled plates or corrugated metal sheets from the state of the art.

Alternatively or additionally, several, in particular all or part thereof, elongated structures, in particular rods or shafts, can taper from one end, in particular their lateral end, to the other end, in particular their medial end. If the elongated structures are rods, for example the width extending in the longitudinal direction of the sole and/or the height of the rod can decrease from one end to the other end. If the elongated structures are shafts, for example the wavelength extending in the direction of the shaft and/or the height of the shaft can decrease from one end to the other end of the shaft. For example, all or part of the elongated structures can be non-tapering, i.e. with a constant width and/or height. If the elongated structures are rods, for example the width extending in the longitudinal direction of the sole and/or the height of the rod can be constant or substantially constant from one end to the other end. For example, when the elongated structures are waves, the wavelength extending in the direction of wave travel and/or the wave height may be constant or substantially constant from one end to the other end of the wave.

The tapered and/or non-tapered arrangement of the elongated structures in the forefoot area, for example in combination with parallel or non-parallel elongated structures, can have a beneficial effect on the rolling behavior of the forefoot area of the sole and thus also of the foot.

For example, at least two, preferably at least three, four or five elongated structures, in particular rods or waves, can be provided in the forefoot area. It is also preferred that the number of elongated structures in the forefoot area does not exceed ten.

The material of the rods can differ from the material of the sole body. In particular, the material of the rods can have a higher modulus of elasticity than the material of the sole body. The higher modulus of elasticity can increase the rigidity of the sole in the transverse direction compared to a sole without such rods. Material of the sole body can be arranged between adjacent rods, whereby the longitudinal flexibility is mainly caused by the material of the sole body between the rods.

The material of the sole body can, for example, have a modulus of elasticity of 65 to 2,000 MPa. The material of one of the rods or rods can, for example, have a modulus of elasticity of 3,100 to 88,000 MPa.

Alternatively or additionally, the hardness of the material of the rods can be higher than that of the sole body.

The sole body in which the rods are arranged can preferably be made of a plastic or a polymer. Examples of a suitable plastic are: ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), polyurethane (PUR), rubber, etc. The rods can be made of metal or a plastic or polymer, for example. Examples of the material of the rods are: polyamide (PA), in particular PA 6.6, PA 6.6, glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFK), in particular GFK10-50, polycarbonate (PC), carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFK), etc.

The rods can be round or circular, square or rectangular, trapezoidal, oval or the like in cross-section. The length of the rods or of recesses in the sole body into which the rods are inserted can be dimensioned such that between a medially pointing end of the rod and the medial edge of the sole or sole body and between a laterally pointing end of the rod and the lateral edge of the sole or sole body there is an edge which, for example, has a width from 2 to 15 mm. The edge can in particular be bowl-shaped. Alternatively, the length of the bars and/or the depressions can be such that the bars reach up to the medial and/or lateral outer surface of the sole. The bars, in particular their front surfaces, can then be visible from the outside on the edge(s) of the sole and can be perceived, for example, as functional elements. Optionally, the outer surfaces, in particular the medial and/or lateral surfaces of the sole, can be made of a transparent plastic that covers the front surfaces of the bars, but still allows the front surfaces of the bars to be seen from the outside.

In one example, the sole body can have several, preferably upward-facing, alternatively downward-facing, in particular elongated depressions, wherein one of the rods is arranged in each of the depressions and in particular is connected to the sole body in a material and/or form-fitting manner. The depressions are preferably designed to complement the rod provided for this purpose. The depressions, like the rods, are located in the forefoot area of the sole body. For example, a rod arranged in its depression can be glued to the sole body. Alternatively or additionally, the sole body can enclose the rod or engage in the rod in such a way that the rod is prevented from falling out of the depression.

The sole body can have several recesses in the manufacturing process or the sole body can be provided with or formed with several recesses, in particular by primary molding or injection molding. After the recesses have been molded or introduced, one of the rods can be inserted into the recesses and connected there to the sole body in particular in a material-locking manner, such as by gluing, and/or in a form-fitting manner, for example by snapping.

In an alternative method, the rods or the wavy profiled plate are introduced into a mold, in particular an injection mold, and are encased, in particular overmolded, in a material to form a sole body. Accordingly, the rods can be encased in the sole body, in particular overmolded with the material of the sole body. Encasing or overmolding the rods with the material of the sole body has the advantage that the rods no longer have to be inserted separately into the recesses after molding and connected there with the sole body in a material-locking or form-fitting manner. However, the injection molding tool with which the rods are connected with the material of the sole body are wrapped, more complex to manufacture. The tool for the process in which the sole body is provided with several recesses and the rods are inserted into the recesses after molding is less expensive, but the step of inserting the rods into the sole body is required.

In a preferred embodiment, the downward-facing surface of the rods is concave, in particular curved around a curvature axis running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The bottom of the particularly groove-shaped recess can be designed to complement the downward-facing surface, i.e. convex, and can be glued to the concave surface or lie against the concave surface. This saves material and weight. The concave design of the underside of the rods gives the sole similar properties to the use of a wavy profiled plate.

The upward-facing surface of the rods can, for example, be convex or flat or a mixture of convex and flat. For example, the upward-facing surface of the rod or rods can have a flat partial surface, with a convex partial surface adjoining both sides of the flat partial surface.

Preferably, the upwardly facing surface of the bars is flush or approximately flush with the upwardly facing surface of the sole body.

In general, the sole body in which the rods are arranged can be a midsole, an insole or an insole.

For example, a shoe bottom may include an outsole or outsole with a profile on its underside, a midsole arranged above the outsole, and optionally an insole or insole arranged above the midsole. For example, the insole may be arranged above the insole.

• Figur 1 eine Explosionsdarstellung eines Schuhbodens mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Sohle,
• Figur 2 ein Detail aus Figur 1 in einer ersten Ausführungsform,
• Figur 3 das Detail aus Figur 1 in einer zweiten Ausführungsform,
• Figur 4 das Detail aus Figur 1 in einer dritten Ausführungsform und
• Figur 5 eine Darstellung einer alternativen Sohle mit nicht-parallel zueinander angeordneten Vertiefungen bzw. Stäben.

The invention has been described using several examples and embodiments. Particularly preferred embodiments are described below using figures. The features disclosed thereby advantageously develop the subject matter of the invention individually and in any combination of features. They show:

• Figure 1 an exploded view of a shoe bottom with a sole according to the invention,
• Figure 2 a detail from Figure 1 in a first embodiment,
• Figure 3 the detail Figure 1 in a second embodiment,
• Figure 4 the detail Figure 1 in a third embodiment and
• Figure 5 a representation of an alternative sole with non-parallel arranged depressions or bars.

The figures show embodiments in which the elongated structures are rods 30. As a variation of the rods 30, a wavy profiled plate can be provided in which the individual waves are the elongated structures 30. In particular, in an embodiment with the profiled plate, several waves of the forefoot area can be arranged such that their longitudinal axes intersect medially outside the sole 1 and/or taper from the lateral to the medial end.

In the Figure 1 a shoe bottom or sole 1 is shown, which has an outer or outsole 20 and a midsole 10. The midsole 10 is joined, in particular glued, with its underside to the upper side of the outsole 20. The outsole 20 has a profile 21 on its underside. In the Figure 5 A modified midsole 10 is used for the design of Figure 1 shown. The Figures 2 to 4 The rods 30 shown can be used, for example, for the soles from the Figures 1 and 5 apply.

The midsole 10 has a forefoot area, a midfoot area and a heel area. The forefoot area of the midsole 10 has several elongated depressions 11, which extend with their longitudinal direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the midsole 10. The depressions 11 are designed to complement rods 30. In each of the four elongated depressions 11 shown in the example in the forefoot area, one of the four rods 30 is arranged. The depressions 11 are groove-shaped and were preferably formed during the primary molding, in particular injection molding of the midsole 10. The groove-shaped depressions 11 are open towards the top of the midsole 10 so that the rods 30 can be inserted. The rods 30 have Figure 1 Longitudinal axes 31 which are arranged parallel to each other. The same applies to the recesses 11. Instead of parallel, the rods 30 or the recesses 11 can alternatively be arranged so that their longitudinal axes 31, as in Figure 5 shown, cross outside of sole 1, especially on the medial side of sole 1.

The rods 30 and the depressions 11 each have a medial end 34 and a lateral end 35. The medial end 34 is spaced from the medial outer edge of the forefoot region of the midsole 10 by means of a medial edge. The lateral end 35 is spaced from the lateral outer edge of the forefoot region of the midsole 10 by means of a lateral edge.

In the in the Figure 1 and in detail in Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the rods 30 are ring-shaped in cross-section, in particular circular ring-shaped. The downward-facing surface 32 is concave in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 31. Complementarily, the bottom of the groove-shaped depression 11 is convex. The convex surface can be glued to the concave surface. A layer 12 can be provided on the top side, which ends flush or at least approximately flush with the upward-facing surface of the midsole 10.

In the Figure 3 An alternative embodiment of a rod 30 is shown, which differs from the embodiment of Figure 2 differs in that the rod 30 has a flat surface 33 on its upper side, to which laterally curved surfaces 12 are connected. The area between the side walls of the groove 11 and the flat surface 33 is filled with a filling material 13. The filling material 13 is approximately flush with the upwardly facing surface of the midsole 10 and the surface 33.

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment, wherein the rod 30 has a flat surface 33 on its upper side, which is flush or approximately flush with the upwardly facing surface of the midsole 10 and extends from one groove flank to the other groove flank. As a result, the entire groove 11 is at least substantially filled by the rod 30.

In the example shown, a heel support element 40 is optionally provided on the midsole 10 in the heel area, which has a raised edge that encloses the heel at the sides. For example, a further sole, in particular an insole, can be arranged on the midsole 10.

In the Figure 5 In the embodiment shown - as mentioned above - the longitudinal axes 31 of the bars are arranged non-parallel to one another. The angle α between the first and the last of the bars 31 can, for example, lie in an interval greater than 0° and less than or equal to 15°. The angle α ₁ , α ₂ , α ₃ between adjacent bars 30 can, for example, lie in an interval greater than 0° and less than or equal to 10°. The sum of the angles α ₁ , α ₂ , α ₃ between adjacent bars 30 results in the angle α between the first and the last bar 30 in the forefoot area. In addition, the bars 30 taper from their lateral ends to their medial ends, in particular with the angle β. The angle β can lie in an interval greater than 0° and less than or equal to 10°.

As an alternative to the embodiments shown in the figures, an insole can be equipped with the bars 30 or alternatively with the wavy profiled plate.

Claims (15)

1. A sole (1) for a shoe, comprising a sole body (10) and elongated structures (30) arranged on or in the sole body (10) in a forefoot region only for transversely stiffening the sole (1), wherein the elongated structures (30) are arranged with their longitudinal axes (31) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the sole, and more than one of the elongated structures (30) is arranged such that the longitudinal axes (31) of the structures (30) cross at a point which is medially outside the sole (1).
2. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the structures (30) are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the sole.
3. The sole according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the structures (30) are multiple bars (30) arranged in the sole body (10), wherein at least one of the bars (30) for example tapers from its lateral end towards its medial end.
4. The sole according to claim 3, wherein the downwardly facing surfaces (32) of the bars (30) are concave and/or the upwardly facing surfaces (33) of the bars (30) are convex and/or flat.
5. The sole according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the length of the bars (30) and/or of recesses (11) into which the bars (30) are inserted is dimensioned such that there is a rim, in particular a shell-shaped rim, between a medially facing end (34) of the bar (30) and the medial rim of the sole (1) and between a laterally facing end (35) of the bar (30) and the lateral rim of the sole (1).
6. The sole according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the sole body (10) comprises multiple recesses (11), preferably upwardly facing recesses (11), wherein one of the bars (30) is arranged in each of the recesses (11) and in particular connected to the sole body (10) in a material and/or positive fit.
7. The sole according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the bars (30) are enveloped by the sole body (10), wherein the material of the sole body (10) is in particular injected around them.
8. The sole according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the material of the bars (30) differs from the material of the sole body (10) and in particular exhibits a higher elastic modulus than the material of the sole body (10).
9. The sole according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein a sole body (10) in which the bars (30) are arranged is made of a polymer, and/or wherein the bars (30) are made of metal or a polymer, in particular polyamide or a fibre-reinforced polymer.
10. The sole according to claim 1, wherein the elongated structures (30) are formed by corrugations in a plate, in particular a spring-tempered metal or plastic corrugated-profile plate, wherein the longitudinal direction of the corrugations which extends transversely to the direction of corrugation is arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the sole.
11. The sole according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising an outer sole (20) which exhibits a profile (21) on its lower side, a midsole (10) which is arranged above the outer sole (20), and optionally an inner sole or inserted sole which is arranged above the midsole (10).
12. The sole according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the sole body (10) in which the structures (30) are arranged is a midsole (10), an inner sole or an inserted sole.
13. A method for manufacturing a sole (1) for a shoe, wherein multiple elongated structures (30) are arranged in a sole body (10), in a forefoot region only, such that the longitudinal axes (31) of the elongated structures (30) are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the sole, for transversely stiffening the sole (1), wherein more than one of the elongated structures (30) is arranged such that the longitudinal axes (31) of the structures (30) cross at a point which is medially outside the sole (1).
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the sole body (10) comprises multiple recesses (11) or is provided or designed with multiple recesses (11), wherein one of the bars (30) is inserted into each of the recesses (11) and in particular connected to the sole body (10) in a material and/or positive fit.
15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the elongated structures (30) are introduced into a mould in which they are enveloped in a material and in particular a material is injected around them, to form a sole body (10).

Images