CN110113961B

CN110113961B - Sole and shoe provided with same

Info

Publication number: CN110113961B
Application number: CN201780080608.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·布拉马尼; M·桥本
Original assignee: Vibram SpA
Current assignee: Vibram SpA
Priority date: 2016-11-15
Filing date: 2017-11-14
Publication date: 2021-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 2037-11-14
Also published as: EP3541222A1; CN110113961A; EP3541222B1; ES2857605T3; IT201600115444A1; WO2018092023A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a foldable sole for shoes, comprising at least one set of a plurality of first folding lines (2) and at least one set of a plurality of second folding lines (3), at which the sole can be folded starting from its open configuration until a folded configuration is obtained. The plurality of first folding lines (2) and at least the plurality of second folding lines (3) are arranged with respect to each other according to a "Miura" -type folding pattern and are configured on the sole.

Description

Sole and shoe provided with same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a sole for a shoe, and a shoe comprising one such sole.

In particular, the invention relates to soles and shoes that can be folded onto themselves.

Background

In the field of footwear manufacture, or more particularly in the field of soles for shoes, soles for shoes are known that can be easily folded onto themselves: either because the sole is made of a suitably thin material (e.g., rubber that can be easily rolled or otherwise folded onto itself) or because the sole is provided with fold lines or weakened areas in which the sole can be folded.

Such foldable soles are used to make shoes that occupy a rather limited space once the respective sole has been folded, so as to be easily transportable, for example in a small purse or handbag.

However, even when the individual soles are folded onto themselves, such footwear articles only remain capable of reaching at most half or one third of the volume normally occupied when the soles are unfolded or unfolded, and there is a need in the art to be able to arrange soles for shoes such that they can be folded onto themselves in an even more efficient manner, to allow the making of shoes/footwear that, once folded, can occupy an even more limited volume and thus be even easier to transport.

Disclosure of Invention

Object of the Invention

It is therefore a main object of the present invention to provide a sole for shoes that can be easily folded onto itself, as an alternative to a foldable sole for shoes of the conventional type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable sole for shoes which allows to make shoes whose volume can be less than one third of the volume normally occupied by the shoe itself when it is unfolded or unfolded.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable sole for footwear which is strong and lightweight.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable sole for shoes that is easy to manufacture at competitive costs.

A quite important object of the invention is to provide a shoe/footwear provided with a sole according to the invention.

These and other objects are achieved by a foldable sole for a shoe and by a shoe/footwear.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent on the basis of the detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the foldable sole and the shoe/footwear according to the invention, which are given as non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a sole for a right shoe/footwear according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 to 7 are sectional views of the sole for footwear of FIG. 1, taken along respective section lines II-II, III-III, IV-IV, V-V, VI-VI and VII-VII;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the sole for a right shoe/footwear of FIG. 1 in a partially folded step;

FIGS. 9 to 13 are sectional views of the sole for footwear of FIG. 8 taken along the sectional lines IX-IX, X-X, XI-XI, XII-XII and XIII-XIII, respectively;

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of a sole for a right shoe/footwear according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 15 to 21 are sectional views of the sole for a shoe of FIG. 14 taken along section lines XV-XV, XVI-XVI, XVII-XVII, XVIII-XVIII, XIX-XIX, XX-XX, and XXI-XXI, respectively;

FIG. 22 is a bottom view of a sole for footwear according to a variation of the second embodiment of the present invention, in a partially folded step;

FIGS. 23 to 29 are sectional views of the sole for footwear of FIG. 22 taken along sectional lines XXIII-XXIII, XXIV-XXIV, XXV-XXV, XXVI-XXVI, XXVII-XXVII, XXVIII-XXVIII, and XXIX-XXIX, respectively;

FIG. 30 is a bottom view of a sole for a right shoe/footwear according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 31 through 37 are cross-sectional views of the sole for footwear of FIG. 22 taken along section lines XXXI-XXXI, XXXII-XXXII, XXXIII-XXXIII, XXXIV-XXXIV, XXXVI-XXXVI and XXXVII-XXXVII, respectively;

FIG. 38 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 30;

FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of a detail of FIG. 38 taken along section line XXXIX-XXXIX of FIG. 38;

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of a sole made in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention in an open or deployed configuration;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of the sole of FIG. 40 in its folded configuration;

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of a shoe/footwear having a sole according to the present invention in its folded configuration;

FIG. 43 is a side view of the shoe of FIG. 3 in a partially opened step; and

FIG. 44 is a side view of the shoe of FIG. 3 in a fully open configuration;

in the drawings, the same or similar parts or components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

Detailed Description

Referring initially to the drawings, it will be observed that a sole for footwear according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 1. It should be noted that, in the present description and in the following claims, the term "sole" refers to a sole for footwear intended to be in contact, during use, with the external environment (for example with a contact surface or with the ground) on one side and with the user's foot or with the mid-sole or insole of the footwear on the other side.

The sole 1 for footwear according to the present invention comprises at least one set of a plurality of first folding lines 2 and at least one set of a plurality of second folding lines 3, where the sole can be folded onto itself.

According to a first aspect of the invention, said plurality of first folding lines 2 and said plurality of second folding lines 3 are arranged with respect to each other according to a "Miura" type folding pattern and are configured on said sole.

As is known, a folding pattern of the "Miura" type, obtained in the field of origami and also applicable to the aerospace industry, allows folding a laminar material, such as paper, in a very compact manner, and very simply and easily unfolding or stretching it by moving apart the two opposite ends of such a material.

With particular reference to figures 1 to 13, which show a first embodiment of a sole for shoes according to the invention in an open or unfolded configuration (figures 1 to 7) and partially folded onto itself (figures 8 to 13), respectively, it will be observed that, according to a "Miura" folding pattern, at least said plurality of first folding lines 2 comprises folding lines (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27) extending substantially parallel to each other in a zigzag progression.

These fold lines cross the sole 1 from side to side between the lateral 4 and medial 5 sections of the sole itself (i.e. according to the pattern shown in figures 1 and 8), thus dividing the sole into a plurality of first parallel sections 6, indicated in figures 1 and 8 by the

reference numbers

60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67.

According to a variant of the sole for footwear according to the first embodiment of the invention, said plurality of first folding lines 2 extends substantially transversely to an extension axis x-x of the sole 1 (in fig. 1, axis x-x coincides with section line II-II), which axis x-x is substantially longitudinal. As will be observed, this extension axis x-x is an axis passing through the front section 7 and the rear section 8 of the sole 1 according to the invention and does not necessarily coincide with an axis passing through the frontmost end 71 and the rearmost end 81 of the sole itself.

The plurality of first folding lines 2 comprises "convex" folding lines (20, 22, 24 and 26) and "concave" folding lines (21, 23, 25 and 27) alternating with each other according to the "Miura" type folding technique.

In the present description and in the following claims, the term "raised folding line" refers to a folding line between two adjacent sections of said plurality of first sections 6, which are opposite one another with respect to the folding line (for example the

sections

61 and 62 opposite the folding line 22 in fig. 1, 2, 8 and 9), at which the sole 1 forms a peak with respect to these sections in its folded or partially folded configuration (fig. 9).

Similarly, in the present description and in the following claims, the term "concave folding line" refers to a folding line between two adjacent sections of said plurality of first sections 6, which are opposite one another with respect to the folding line (for example the

sections

62 and 63 opposite with respect to the folding line 23 in fig. 1, 2, 8 and 9), at which the sole 1 forms a recess with respect to these sections (62 and 63) in its folded or partially folded configuration (see fig. 9).

According to a "Miura" type of folding, the second plurality of folding lines 3 has a substantially orthogonal extension with respect to the first plurality of folding lines 2.

More particularly, the plurality of second folding lines 3 comprises folding lines (31, 32, 33, 34 and 35) which extend substantially parallel to each other and to the above-mentioned extension axis x-x, thus dividing the sole into a plurality of parallel second sectors 9, some of which second sectors 9 are indicated by way of example in fig. 1 and 8 by the

reference numerals

91, 92 and 93.

Each fold line (31, 32, 33, 34 and 35) of the second plurality of fold lines 3, based on a "Miura" type folding, in turn comprises a plurality of folded portions (see, as an example, portions 331 to 337 of fold line 33 in fig. 1 and 9), each of which is defined between two adjacent fold lines (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) of the first plurality of fold lines 2 on the sole 1.

The folded portions of the plurality of second fold lines 3 include "concave" type folded portions (332, 334, 336) and "convex" type folded portions (331, 333, 335, and 337).

The concave (332, 334, 336) and convex (331, 333, 335, 337) fold portions are arranged alternately with each other along each fold line (e.g. 33) of the plurality of second fold lines 3 and also with respect to respective portions (

e.g. portions

321, 322, 323, etc. of fold line 32 or

portions

341, 342, 343, etc. of fold line 34) of fold lines of the plurality of second fold lines 3 adjacent to the one fold line.

Similar to the description above for the convex or concave folding lines of the first plurality of folding lines 2, the term "convex folding portion" in the present description and in the following claims refers to a folding portion between two adjacent sections of the second plurality of sections 9 of the sole, opposite each other with respect to which it is folded (for example the

sections

91 and 92 opposite the folding portion 333 of the folding lines 33 in fig. 1 and 9), where the sole 1 forms a peak with respect to such sections in its folded or partially folded configuration.

Likewise, the term "concave folded portion" in the present description and in the following claims refers to a folded portion between two adjacent sections of said plurality of second sections 9 of the sole, which are opposite one another with respect to the folded portion (for example the

sections

91 and 92 opposite with respect to the portion 332 of the folding line 33 in fig. 1, 2, 8 and 9), where the sole 1 forms a recess with respect to such sections in its folded or partially folded configuration.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the plurality of second fold lines 3 comprises fold lines (31 to 37), each having a substantially rectilinear course.

However, other embodiments of the invention (especially with reference to figures 30 to 39 showing a third embodiment of the invention) are arranged such that the plurality of second fold lines 3 comprises fold lines (31 to 33) having a substantially zigzag course. In this case, the two adjacent portions of each folding line (31, 32 and 33) may be angularly staggered with respect to each other in a zigzag manner, forming, at the point of connection between one portion and the other, a combination of convex/concave angles comprised between 188 °/172 ° and 240 °/120 °. According to other embodiments of the sole 1 of the invention, the sole may comprise at least one rear extension 10 for covering, during use, the rear area of the heel and calcaneus of the user, and/or at least one front extension 11 for covering, during use, the front area of the toes or toes of the user. For this purpose reference is made to fig. 14 to 39 which show a second and third embodiment of the invention.

A plurality of other variants of the sole according to the invention (not shown in the figures) are possible in which the plurality of first folding lines 2 extends substantially parallel with respect to a substantially longitudinal extension axis x-x of the sole 1, or according to an extension axis inclined with respect to this extension axis x-x, as long as the extension of the plurality of second folding lines 3 is substantially orthogonal with respect to the extension of the plurality of first folding lines 2. In other words, all soles for footwear in which the plurality of first folding lines 2 extend substantially orthogonally with respect to the plurality of second folding lines 3, as described above, are included in the present invention, irrespective of the direction of extension of the plurality of first folding lines with respect to the axis of extension x-x of the sole 1.

Thus, the sole for shoes according to the invention is made starting from at least one bottom layer 12 (for example, with reference to figures 14 to 21), the outer surface 121 of which is opposite to the inner surface 122. The outer surface 121 faces towards the outside environment or towards the abutment surface for the sole itself during use.

The sole 1 according to the invention comprises at least one plurality of sectors 13 associated with the bottom layer 12 at an outer surface 121 thereof. These blocks are applied to the substrate in any suitable manner, for example according to known techniques such as moulding.

According to one aspect of the invention, each of the plurality of zones (see, e.g.,

reference numerals

130, 131, 132, 133, 134, and 135 in fig. 14) occupies a surface of the bottom layer 12 partially or completely defined by at least the plurality of first fold lines 2 and at least the plurality of second fold lines 3.

According to one aspect of the invention, the distance D1 between two adjacent ones of the plurality of sectors 13 at the convex folding line is less than or equal to the distance D1 between two adjacent sectors at the concave folding line when the sole 1 according to the invention is in the open configuration.

Similarly, when the sole 1 according to the invention is in the open configuration, the distance D2 between two adjacent ones of the plurality of sectors 13 at the convex folded portion is less than or equal to the distance D2 between two adjacent sectors at the concave folded portion.

See, for example, fig. 14, which shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, the patches 130-135 are shown comprised between the fold lines 22, 23 and 24 of the first plurality of fold lines 2 and between the folded

portions

323, 324, 325 and 333, 334 and 335 of the fold lines 32 and 33 of the second plurality of fold lines 3.

Thus, the distance D1 between

adjacent ones

133 and 135 of the plurality of sections 13 that are opposite relative to the convex fold line 24 is less than the distance D1 between adjacent sections (e.g., 131 and 133) that are opposite relative to the concave fold line 23.

Similarly, the distance D2 between

adjacent sections

131 and 132 opposite to the convex folded portion 333 is smaller than the distance D2 between

sections

133 and 134 opposite to the concave folded portion 334.

According to a particularly preferred aspect of the invention, with the sole in the open configuration, the distance D1 is equal to the distance D2, and the distance D1 is equal to the distance D2. In the embodiment shown in the figures, distance D1 is equal to distance D2 and comprised between 2mm and 4mm, and distance D1 is equal to distance D2 and comprised between 4mm and 7 mm. However, those skilled in the art will have no difficulty in understanding that the distances D1 and D2 and the distances D1 and D2 may be different from each other as long as the relationships D1 ≦ D1 and D2 ≦ D2 are satisfied. Preferably, D1 equals about half of D1 and D2 equals about half of D2.

As will be observed thereby, the plurality of sectors 13 comprises sectors projecting upwards with respect to the bottom layer 12, having a progression tapering in a direction away from the bottom layer 12 itself. In fact, each block of said plurality of blocks 13 has a top surface 14 substantially flat and parallel to the bottom layer 12, and side walls 15 substantially inclined with respect to the bottom layer 12 (see, in particular, for example, fig. 5, 7 and 12).

According to one aspect of the invention, the inclination of the side wall 15 relative to the base layer 12 is greater at the convex fold lines (20, 22, 24, 26) of the first plurality of fold lines 2 and at the convex fold portions (e.g. 331, 333, 335 and 337) of the fold lines of the second plurality of fold lines 3 (i.e. the side wall 15 projects more steeply upwardly relative to the base layer 12) than the inclination of the side wall 15 of the block 13 at the concave fold lines (21, 23, 25 and 27) of the first plurality of fold lines 2 and at the concave fold portions (e.g. 332, 334, 336) of the fold lines of the second plurality of fold lines 3.

The inclination of the side walls may also be equal between the various portions or fold lines, but it is in any case to be considered that, since the sectors located at the female folding portion or at the female folding line are close to each other during folding of the sole 1, the inclination of the side walls of the sectors at one such fold line or folding portion must be comprised between about 30 ° and 68 ° in order to allow an optimal folding (i.e. with a minimum volume) of the sole.

According to a variant of the invention, with particular reference to figures 14 to 39, which show a second and a third embodiment of the sole 1, a plurality of recesses are formed in the top surface 14 of the blocks of said plurality of blocks 13. Such recesses extend towards the bottom layer 12 of the sole and give the outer surface of the sole a wave-like shape to increase the adherence of the sole with respect to the contact surface.

Such recesses have a course substantially parallel to the portion in each block: this particular structure of the blocks is intended to obtain a shape as similar as possible to the anatomical structure of the foot. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other various configurations of the recess are possible.

As illustrated with reference to the variant of the second embodiment of the sole 1 according to the invention (fig. 22 to 29), the sole comprises at least one plurality of shock-absorbing means 16 associated with the bottom layer 12 at the inner surface 122 of the bottom layer 12, and said shock-absorbing means 16 are designated in fig. 22, 23 and 26 by the

reference numbers

161, 162, 163 and 165.

The shock-absorbing means is arranged to be applied to the bottom layer 12 of the sole 1 according to the invention in any suitable way, for example according to known techniques such as moulding on the bottom layer 12.

According to one aspect of the invention, each cushioning means is disposed on the bottom layer 12 at the side of but opposite to a respective one of the plurality of zones 13 disposed on the outer surface 121 of the bottom layer, and the cushioning means also occupies the surface of the bottom layer 12 partially or completely bounded by the plurality of first fold lines 2 and the plurality of second fold lines 3.

However, conversely, with respect to the arrangement of the blocks of the plurality of blocks 13, the distance D3 between two adjacent shock-absorbing means opposite with respect to the convex folding line is greater than or equal to the distance D3 between two adjacent shock-absorbing means opposite with respect to the concave folding line.

Similarly, the distance D4 between two adjacent shock absorbing means opposing with respect to the convex folded portion is greater than or equal to the distance D4 between two adjacent shock absorbing means opposing with respect to the concave folded portion. By way of example only, referring to fig. 22, 23 and 26, the cushioning means 161, 162, 163 and 165 and the blocks 131 to 135 are shown included between the fold lines 22, 23 and 24 of the plurality of first fold lines 2 and between the folded

portions

323, 324, 325 and 333, 334, 335 of the fold lines 32 and 33 of the plurality of second fold lines 3.

Thus, when the sole 1 according to the present invention is in the open configuration, the distance D3 between adjacent shock-absorbing

means

163 and 165 of the plurality of shock-absorbing means 16 that are opposite with respect to the convex folding line 24 is greater than or equal to the distance D3 between adjacent shock-absorbing means (e.g. 161 and 163) that are opposite with respect to the concave folding line 23. Similarly, when the sole 1 according to the invention is in the open configuration, the distance D4 between adjacent shock-absorbing

means

161 and 162 located at the convex folded portion 333 is greater than or equal to the distance D4 between the shock-absorbing means 163 and 164 opposite with respect to the concave folded portion 334.

According to a particularly preferred aspect of the invention, distance D3 is equal to distance D4 and distance D3 is equal to distance D4 with the sole in the open configuration. In the embodiment shown in the figures, D3 is equal to D4 and comprised between 2mm and 4mm, and distance D3 is equal to distance D4 and comprised between 4mm and 7 mm. However, those skilled in the art will have no difficulty in understanding that the distances D3 and D4 and the distances D3 and D4 may be different from each other as long as the relationships D3 ≦ D3 and D4 ≦ D4 are satisfied. Preferably, D3 equals about half of D3 and D4 equals about half of D4.

Similar to what has been described with respect to the plurality of blocks 13, the plurality of shock-absorbing means 16 comprises shock-absorbing means (for example 161, 162, 163, 164 and 165 in fig. 23 and 26) projecting upwards with respect to the bottom layer 12 with a progression tapering in a direction away from the bottom layer itself. The shock absorbing means (161, 162, 163, 165) have a top surface 17 substantially flat and parallel to the bottom layer 12, and side walls 18 substantially inclined with respect to the bottom layer 12 (fig. 27, 28 and 29).

According to one aspect of the invention, the inclination of the side walls 18 of the cushioning means with respect to the bottom layer 12 at the convex fold lines (20, 22, 24, 26) of the plurality of first fold lines 2 and at the convex fold portions (e.g., 331, 333, 335, and 337) of the fold lines of the plurality of second fold lines 3 is less (i.e., the side walls 15 protrude less steeply upward with respect to the bottom layer 12) than the inclination of the side walls 18 of the cushioning means 20 at the concave fold lines (21, 23, 25, and 27) of the plurality of first fold lines 2 and at the concave fold portions (e.g., 332, 334, 336) of the fold lines of the plurality of second fold lines 3.

The inclination of the side walls 18 can also be equal between the various portions or fold lines, taking into account however that, in order to allow an optimal folding (i.e. with a minimum bulk) of the sole 1, the inclination of the side walls 18 of the shock-absorbing means at one such fold line or fold line must be comprised between 20 ° and 55 °, preferably between 25 ° and 50 °, even more preferably between 31 ° and 44 °, due to the proximity of the shock-absorbing means at the raised fold line or at the raised fold line during folding of the sole 1.

According to one aspect of the invention, it is stated that the bottom layer 12 is made of a fabric material selected from the group comprising: synthetic textiles, natural textiles, leather, metal meshes, meshes made of synthetic fibers, microfibers, or combinations thereof.

The blocks of the plurality of blocks 13 preferably comprise synthetic-based compounds and/or natural rubber-based compounds.

The shock absorbing means of the plurality of shock absorbing means 16 preferably comprise synthetic based compounds and/or natural rubber based compounds and/or various foam materials.

Thus, the sole 1 as described above can be preferably made by co-molding the bottom layer 12 with said plurality of sectors 13 or the bottom layer 12 with said plurality of sectors 13 and with said plurality of shock-absorbing means 16 in a suitable mold (fig. 40 and 41).

The sole 1 thus conceived can be combined in a known manner with an upper to make a shoe/footwear according to the invention (see figures 42, 43 and 44).

Preferably, the upper will be made of an easily foldable material (for example polyester or microfiber fabric or fabric made of cotton or leather or ecological leather) in such a way that the upper itself does not interfere with the folding of the sole 1 according to a folding pattern of the type described above.

Laboratory tests carried out on a plurality of test specimens have shown that the shoe/footwear provided with a foldable sole 1 according to the invention greatly reduces its own bulk when in the folded configuration.

According to a non-limiting example, this reduction is consistent with achieving a volume that is less than one third of the volume that the sole typically occupies when it is open or deployed. According to another non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the foldable sole 1 according to the invention, when folded, can achieve a volume equal to a quarter of the volume normally occupied when it is in the open or unfolded configuration. This reduction in bulk thus makes the sole and the shoe obtainable therewith even easier to transport with respect to shoes having a foldable sole of conventional type.

From the above, it should be clearly understood that the sole 1 according to the present invention is capable of achieving the preset objects.

Moreover, the sole 1 according to the invention has a more limited bulk with respect to the foldable soles of the conventional type, thanks to the particular structure that allows it to be folded according to a folding pattern of the "Miura" type, and at the same time is strong and light.

Furthermore, the sole can be obtained easily with manufacturing techniques that are easy to implement and by using inexpensive materials. All this makes it possible to manufacture the sole 1 according to the invention at competitive costs.

With the sole 1 according to the invention, it is possible to obtain sandals, such as slippers, sandals or shoes suitable for driving (in particular provided with a sole 1 as constructed in the second and third embodiments), or shoes suitable for walking, running or light sports in general (for example yoga), or shoes or sandals suitable for beach or beach.

Since such shoes can be easily folded onto themselves, the shoes can be easily transported in a purse or handbag and used as spare or emergency shoes.

The invention has been described according to a preferred embodiment, but equivalent variants are conceivable without departing from the scope of protection provided by the following claims.

Claims

1. A foldable sole for shoes, comprising at least one set of a plurality of first folding lines (2) and at least one set of a plurality of second folding lines (3), at which the sole is foldable starting from its open configuration until a folded configuration is obtained,

characterized in that said at least one plurality of first folding lines (2) and said at least one plurality of second folding lines (3) are arranged with respect to each other according to a folding pattern of the "Miura" type and are configured on the sole,

wherein the at least one plurality of first folding lines (2) extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal extension axis (x-x) of the sole and

wherein the at least one set of plurality of second folding lines (3) has an extension orthogonal with respect to the extension of the at least one set of plurality of first folding lines (2).

2. The sole according to claim 1, wherein at least said at least one plurality of first folding lines (2) comprises folding lines extending parallel to each other and having a zigzag extension, thereby dividing the sole into a plurality of first sections (6).

3. The sole according to claim 2, wherein the at least one set of a plurality of first fold lines (2) comprises raised fold lines (20, 22, 24, 26) and recessed fold lines (21, 23, 25, 27) alternating with each other, the raised fold lines (20, 22, 24, 26) forming peaks between adjacent sections of the plurality of first sections (6) and the recessed fold lines (21, 23, 25, 27) forming valleys between adjacent sections of the plurality of first sections (6) when the sole is in a folded configuration.

4. A sole according to claim 3, wherein said at least one group of a plurality of second folding lines (3) comprises folding lines (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) extending parallel to each other, thereby dividing the sole into a plurality of second sections (9).

5. A sole according to claim 4, wherein the at least one plurality of second fold lines (3) comprises fold lines (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) each in turn comprising a plurality of folded portions, each folded portion being defined on the sole between two adjacent fold lines of the at least one plurality of first fold lines (2), the plurality of folded portions comprising a concave folded portion (332, 334, 336) and a convex folded portion (331, 333, 335, 337), the concave folded portion (332, 334, 336) forming a concavity between adjacent sections of the plurality of second sections (9) and the convex folded portion (331, 333, 335, 337) forming a crest between adjacent sections of the plurality of second sections (9) when the sole is in a folded configuration.

6. The sole according to claim 5, wherein the concave folding portions (332, 334, 336) and the convex folding portions (331, 333, 335, 337) are arranged in an alternating manner with respect to each other along each folding line (33) of the at least one plurality of second folding lines (3) and also with respect to respective portions (341, 342, 343, 321, 322, 323) of folding lines of the at least one plurality of second folding lines (3) adjacent to this folding line.

7. The sole according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said at least one plurality of second folding lines (3) comprises folding lines (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) each having a rectilinear extension.

8. The sole according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said at least one plurality of second folding lines (3) comprises folding lines (31, 32, 33) each having a zigzag extension.

9. The sole according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a rear extension (10) which, in use, covers a rear region of the heel of a user.

10. The sole according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a forward extension (11) which, in use, covers the forward region of a user's toes or cusps.

11. The sole according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one plurality of second folding lines (3) extends in parallel with respect to an extension axis (x-x) of the sole, and wherein the at least one plurality of second folding lines (3) has an extension orthogonal with respect to the extension of the at least one plurality of first folding lines (2).

12. The sole according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said at least one plurality of first folding lines (2) extends in parallel with respect to an extension axis inclined with respect to said extension axis (x-x) of the sole.

13. The sole according to claim 5 or 6, comprising at least one bottom layer (12) having an outer surface (121) and an inner surface (122), and at least one plurality of panels (13) associated with the at least one bottom layer (12) at the outer surface (121), each panel (131, 132, 133, 134, 135) of the at least one plurality of panels (13) occupying an area on the at least one bottom layer (12) partially or completely delimited by the at least one plurality of first fold lines (2) and the at least one plurality of second fold lines (3).

14. The sole according to claim 13, wherein, when the sole is in the open configuration, a distance (D1) between two adjacent ones (133, 135) of the at least one plurality of tiles (13) at the convex fold line (24) is less than or equal to a distance (D1) between two adjacent ones (131, 133) at the concave fold line (23).

15. The sole according to claim 14, wherein a distance (D2) between two adjacent ones (131, 132) at the convex folded portion (333) of the at least one plurality of nubs is less than or equal to a distance (D2) between two adjacent nubs (133, 134) at the concave folded portion (334) when the sole is in an open configuration.

16. The sole according to claim 15, wherein, when the sole is in the open configuration, the distance (D1) between adjacent sectors at the convex folding line (24) and the distance (D2) between said adjacent sectors at the convex folding portion (333) are equal to half the distance (D1) between two adjacent sectors at the concave folding line (23) and half the distance (D2) between two adjacent sectors at the concave folding portion (334), respectively.

17. The sole according to claim 13, wherein said at least one plurality of sectors (13) comprises sectors (131, 132, 133, 134, 135) which are raised with respect to said at least one bottom layer (12) and have a tapered extension away from said bottom layer (12), said sectors (131, 132, 133, 134, 135) having a sector top face (14) which is flat and parallel to said bottom layer (12), and sector side walls (15) which are inclined with respect to said bottom layer (12).

18. The sole according to claim 17, wherein the inclination of the tile sidewall (15) is greater at the convex fold line (20, 22, 24, 26) of the at least one plurality of first fold lines (2) and at the convex fold portion (333, 335) of the at least one plurality of second fold lines (3) relative to the inclination of the tile sidewall (15) at the concave fold line (21, 23, 25, 27) of the at least one plurality of first fold lines (2) and at the concave fold portion (332, 334, 336) of the at least one plurality of second fold lines (3).

19. The sole according to claim 18, wherein a plurality of recesses parallel to each other in the folded portion are formed in the block top face (14) of the block (13).

20. The sole according to claim 13, comprising at least one plurality of shock-absorbing means (16) associated with the at least one bottom layer (12) at an inner surface (122) of the at least one bottom layer, each shock-absorbing means (161, 162, 163, 165) of the at least one plurality of shock-absorbing means (16) occupying a surface of the bottom layer (12) partially or completely bounded by the at least one plurality of first fold lines (2) and the at least one plurality of second fold lines (3), at a side of the bottom layer (12) on which a respective zone (131, 132, 133, 135) on the outer surface (122) of the bottom layer (12) is located but opposite to the zone.

21. The sole according to claim 20, wherein, when the sole is in the open configuration, a distance (D3) between two adjacent shock-absorbing means (163, 165) of the at least one plurality of shock-absorbing means (16) opposite with respect to the convex folding line (24) is greater than a distance (D3) between two adjacent shock-absorbing means (161, 163) opposite with respect to the concave folding line (23).

22. Sole according to claim 21, wherein, when the sole is in the open configuration, the distance (D4) between two adjacent shock-absorbing means (161, 162) of said at least one plurality of shock-absorbing means (16) opposite with respect to the convex folded portion (333) is greater than the distance (D4) between two adjacent shock-absorbing means (160, 161) opposite with respect to the concave folded portion (323).

23. A sole as claimed in claim 22, wherein, when the sole is in the open configuration, the distance (D3) between adjacent shock-absorbing means (161, 163) opposite with respect to the concave folding line (23) and the distance (D4) between adjacent shock-absorbing means (160, 161) opposite with respect to a portion of the concave folding portion (323) are equal to half the distance (D3) between adjacent shock-absorbing means (163, 165) opposite with respect to the convex folding line (24) and half the distance (D4) between adjacent shock-absorbing means (161, 162) opposite with respect to the convex folding portion (333), respectively.

24. The sole according to claim 20, wherein said at least one plurality of shock-absorbing means (16) comprises shock-absorbing means raised with respect to said at least one bottom layer (12) and having an extension tapered away from said bottom layer (12), said shock-absorbing means (160, 161, 162, 163, 165) having a shock-absorbing means top face (17) that is flat and parallel to said bottom layer (12), and shock-absorbing means side walls (18) that are inclined with respect to said bottom layer (12).

25. The sole according to claim 24, wherein the inclination of the cushioning device sidewall (18) is greater at the female fold lines (21, 23, 25, 27) of the at least one plurality of first fold lines (2) and at the female fold portions (332, 334, 336, 323, 325) of the at least one plurality of second fold lines (3) relative to the inclination of the cushioning device sidewall (18) at the male fold lines (20, 22, 24, 26) of the at least one plurality of first fold lines (2) and at the male fold portions (333, 335, 337, 322, 324) of the at least one plurality of second fold lines (3).

26. The sole according to claim 13, wherein said at least one lower layer (12) is made of a material selected from the group comprising: synthetic textiles, natural textiles, leather, metal meshes, meshes made of synthetic fibers, microfibers, or combinations thereof.

27. The sole according to claim 13, wherein said sectors of said at least one plurality of sectors (13) comprise a synthetic-based compound and/or a natural rubber-based compound.

28. The sole according to claim 20, wherein said shock-absorbing means (160, 161, 162, 163, 165) of said at least one plurality of shock-absorbing means (16) comprise a synthetic-based compound and/or a natural rubber-based compound of different materials and/or various foam materials.

29. The sole according to claim 20, made by co-moulding said at least one lower layer (12) with said at least one plurality of sectors (13) or with said at least one lower layer with said at least one plurality of sectors (13) and with said at least one plurality of shock-absorbing means (16).

30. A shoe comprising a sole according to any one of claims 1 to 29, and an upper associated with the sole.