EP4066671A1 - Cross-braced sole for a shoe - Google Patents

Abstract

A sole (1) for a shoe is shown, which has a sole body (10) and elongate structures (30) arranged at least in a forefoot area on or in the sole body (10) for transverse reinforcement of the sole (1), the elongate structures ( 30) are arranged with their longitudinal axes (31) transverse to the longitudinal direction of the sole.

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 level of rigidity 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, from DE 91 10 849 U1 known, which describes a flexible, sole-like stabilizing element for the production of shoes. The stabilizing element essentially consists of a sole-shaped stamped, spring-hard metal sheet which, thanks to its shape, has a high level of rigidity transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shoe and a high degree of flexibility along the longitudinal axis of the shoe. The sheet metal is profiled like corrugated sheet metal and covered with a flexible rubber or plastic material.

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

the DE 200 05 683 U1 describes an insole for placement in a shoe. It has one or more means for transverse reinforcement and/or longitudinal flexibility, at least in the forefoot area. The means for transverse reinforcement 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 indentations formed on the edge of the sole.

The object of the present invention is to provide a sole, i. H. a shoe bottom or a part thereof for a shoe, which brings about a cost-effective and easy-to-manufacture transverse stiffening 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 solved with the subject matter of independent claims 1 and 13. Advantageous developments result from the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

The invention is based on a sole for a shoe. The sole can form the bottom of the shoe or be part of the bottom of the shoe. The sole or bottom of the shoe 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 such that their forefoot is over the forefoot area, their midfoot is over the midfoot area, and their heel is over the heel area.

The sole also includes a sole body which, at least in or only in the forefoot area, has a number of elongate structures arranged on or in the sole body, such as e.g. B. waves of a wavy profiled plate or individual rods for transverse stiffening of the sole. The elongate structures each have a longitudinal axis. The elongated structures are arranged with their longitudinal axes transverse to the longitudinal direction of the sole, which in particular extends from the heel to the toes. The sole is transversely stiffened by the elongated structures arranged on or in the sole body. In embodiments with rods, the transverse reinforcement and longitudinal flexibility are achieved by the plurality of rods arranged longitudinally, preferably at a distance from one another. In versions with a corrugated profiled plate, the transverse rigidity and longitudinal flexibility are achieved by the corrugations arranged one after the other in the direction of corrugation.

A corresponding method for producing a sole for a shoe includes the step that, at least in a forefoot area, a plurality of elongated structures, such as e.g. B. waves of the wavy profiled plate or the individual rods, for transverse reinforcement of the sole on or in a sole body are arranged so 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 bars can be produced more cheaply, use less material and allow easy integration into the sole body. Profiled plates have the advantage that they already combine several elongated structures in one part, which simplifies the handling when manufacturing the sole. In further developments, the individual rods can be fitted with one or more flexible elements (not belonging to the sole body), such as e.g. B. a band or rope or a textile layer, to position the rods to each other and to simplify the handling when manufacturing the sole. For example, the bars can be attached to the underside of an element to be attached or attached over the sole body, such as an insole, with the bars being arranged in the indentations of the sole body. The insole and/or the rods can be cohesively connected to the sole body, e.g. B. glued, be or become.

Multiple elongate structures, particularly rods or shafts, i. H. their longitudinal axes, in particular of the forefoot area, can be arranged parallel to one another. For example, all or part of the elongate structures, such as e.g. B. at least two, be arranged parallel to each other. Alternatively or additionally, several elongate structures, in particular all or part of the elongate structures, of the forefoot area can be arranged relative to one another in such a way that the longitudinal axes of these structures intersect at a location, in particular medial, outside the sole. A mixture of parallel and non-parallel elongate structures is also possible. In order for the longitudinal axes to cross, they can intersect or run skewed towards one another. For example, at least two elongate structures of the forefoot area can be parallel to one another, wherein at least two elongate structures of the forefoot area can be arranged such that the longitudinal axes of these elongate structures cross at the point lying outside the sole.

The parallel and/or non-parallel arrangement of the elongate structures in the forefoot area can advantageously influence the rolling behavior of the forefoot area of the sole and thus also of the foot.

For example, one, several or each of the elongate structures in the forefoot area can be inclined with their longitudinal axes in relation to the longitudinal direction of the sole in such a way that the lateral end of each of these structures is closer to the toe end of the sole than the medial end. With this arrangement, the rolling behavior of the sole can also be advantageously influenced.

The bars are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the sole. In particular, the rods or part of the rods, such as. B. 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 way during the manufacture of the shoe, without a new stamping tool being required for this, as is the case with wavy profiled plates or corrugated metal sheets from the prior art is required.

Alternatively or additionally, several, in particular all or part of them, elongate 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. For example, when the elongate structures are rods, the longitudinal width and/or the height of the rod may decrease as it progresses from one end to the other. For example, when the elongate structures are corrugations, the wavelength extending in the corrugation direction and/or the corrugation height may decrease as it progresses from one end to the other end of the corrugation. For example, all or part of the elongate structure may be non-tapered, i. H. be formed with a constant width and / or height. For example, when the elongate structures are rods, the longitudinal width and/or height of the rod may be constant or substantially constant as it extends from one end to the other end. When the elongate structures are corrugations, for example, the wavelength extending in the corrugation direction and/or the corrugation height may be constant or substantially constant as it progresses from one end to the other end of the corrugation.

The tapering and/or non-tapering arrangement of the elongated structures in the forefoot area, for example in connection with parallel or non-parallel elongated structures, can advantageously influence 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 elongate structures, in particular rods or corrugations, can be provided in the forefoot area. It is also preferred that the number of elongate 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. Due to the higher modulus of elasticity, the rigidity of the sole in the transverse direction can be increased compared to a sole without such rods. Material of the sole body can be arranged between adjacent bars, as a result of which the longitudinal flexibility is primarily brought about by the material of the sole body between the bars.

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

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

The sole body, in which the rods are arranged, can preferably be formed from 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 rod material are: Polyamide (PA), in particular PA 6.6, PA 6.6, glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP), in particular GRP10-50, polycarbonate (PC), carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), etc.

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

In one example, the sole body can have a plurality of depressions, preferably pointing upwards, alternatively downwards, in particular elongated, wherein one of the bars is arranged in each of the depressions and is in particular connected to the sole body in a materially and/or form-fitting manner. The depressions are preferably designed to complement the rod provided for this purpose. Like the bars, the indentations are located in the forefoot area of the sole body. For example, a rod arranged in its recess 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 a plurality of indentations in the manufacturing process, or the sole body can be provided or formed with a plurality of indentations, in particular primary formed or injection molded. After the molding or incorporation of the wells, one of the rods can be inserted into the wells and bonded there in particular in a materially bonded manner, e.g. B. glued, and / or form-fitting, for example snapped, are connected to the sole body.

In an alternative method, the rods or the wavy profiled plate are introduced into a mold, in particular an injection mold, and encased therein by a material to form a sole body, in particular overmoulded. Accordingly, the rods can be encased by the sole body, in particular they can be overmoulded with the material of the sole body. The encasing or overmoulding of the rods with the material of the sole body has the advantage that the rods no longer have to be inserted separately into the depressions after molding and connected there to the sole body in a materially or form-fitting manner. However, the injection molding tool used to mold the bars with the material of the sole body are wrapped, more complex to produce. The tooling for the method of providing the sole body with a plurality of indentations and inserting the posts into the indentations after molding is less expensive, but eliminates the step of inserting the posts into the sole body.

In a preferred embodiment, the downward-pointing surface of the rods is concave, in particular curved about an axis of curvature running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the rod. The bottom of the in particular groove-shaped depression can be complementary to the downward-facing surface, i. H. be convex, formed and bonded to the concave surface or abut against the concave surface. This saves material and weight. The concave design of the underside of the bars gives the sole similar properties to using a wavy profiled plate.

For example, the upwardly facing surface of the rods may be convex or planar, or a mixture of convex and planar. For example, the surface of the bar or bars pointing upwards 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 slats is flush or approximately flush with the upwardly facing surface of the sole body.

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

A shoe bottom can e.g. B. an outsole or outsole with a profile on its underside, a midsole arranged over the outsole and optionally an insole or insole arranged over the midsole. For example, the insole can be arranged over the inner sole.

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 with reference to figures. The features disclosed thereby advantageously further develop the subject matter of the invention individually and in any combination of features. Show it:

figure 1

an exploded view of a shoe bottom with a sole according to the invention,

figure 2

a detail out figure 1 in a first embodiment,

figure 3

the detail out figure 1 in a second embodiment,

figure 4

the detail out figure 1 in a third embodiment and

figure 5

a representation of an alternative sole with indentations or bars arranged non-parallel to one another.

Embodiments are shown in the figures in which the elongate structures are rods 30 . As a modification to the rods 30, a wavy profiled plate can be provided, in which the individual waves are the elongate structures 30. In particular, in an embodiment with the profiled plate, several corrugations of the forefoot area can be arranged in such a way that their longitudinal axes cross 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 outsole or outsole 20 and a midsole 10 . The underside of the midsole 10 is joined, in particular glued, to the top of the outsole 20 . The outsole 20 has a profile 21 on its underside. In the figure 5 uses a modified midsole 10 for execution figure 1 shown. The in the Figures 2 to 4 Rods 30 shown can, for example, in the soles from the figures 1 and 5 Find application.

The midsole 10 has a forefoot area, a midfoot area and a heel area. The forefoot area of the midsole 10 has a plurality of elongated indentations 11 which extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the midsole 10 with their longitudinal direction. The depressions 11 are designed to complement the bars 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 here. The depressions 11 are groove-shaped and have preferably been formed during the original molding, in particular injection molding, of the midsole 10 . The groove-shaped depressions 11 are open towards the upper side of the midsole 10, so that the rods 30 can be inserted. The bars 30 indicate in the execution figure 1 Longitudinal axes 31 which are arranged parallel to one another. The same applies to the depressions 11. Instead of being parallel, the rods 30 or the depressions 11 can alternatively be arranged in such a way that their longitudinal axes 31, as in FIG figure 5 cross over outside of sole 1, particularly on the medial side of sole 1.

The rods 30 and the indentations 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 portion of the midsole 10 by a medial rim. The lateral end 35 is spaced apart from the lateral outer edge of the forefoot region of the midsole 10 by means of a lateral margin.

In the in the figure 1 and in detail in figure 2 shown embodiment, the rods 30 are in the form of a ring section in cross section, in particular a circular ring section. The downward-facing surface 32 is concave in cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 31 . Complementary to this, the bottom of the groove-shaped recess 11 is convex. The convex surface can be glued to the concave surface. A layer 12 can be provided on the upper side, which is flush or at least approximately flush with the surface of the midsole 10 pointing upwards.

In the figure 3 An alternative embodiment of a rod 30 is shown which differs from the embodiment figure 2 differs in that the rod 30 has a flat surface 33 on its upper side, which is adjoined by curved surfaces 12 at the sides. 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 bar 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 essentially 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 element has a raised edge that encloses the heel laterally. A further sole, in particular an insole, can be arranged on the midsole 10, for example.

in the in figure 5 shown embodiment - as mentioned above - the longitudinal axes 31 of the rods are arranged non-parallel to each other. The angle α between the first and the last of the rods 31 can, for example, be in an interval greater than 0° and less than or equal to 15°. The angle α ₁ , α ₂ , α ₃ between adjacent rods 30 can, for example, be 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 rods 30 taper from their lateral ends to their medial ends, in particular at the angle β. The angle β can be in an interval greater than 0° and less than or equal to 10°.

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

Claims (15)

Sole (1) for a shoe, which has a sole body (10) and elongate structures (30) arranged at least in a forefoot area on or in the sole body (10) for transverse reinforcement of the sole (1), the elongate structures (30) having their longitudinal axes (31) are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the sole. Sole according to one of Claim 1, wherein several of the elongate structures (30) are arranged parallel to one another and/or in such a way that the longitudinal axes (31) of the structures (30) are located at a location, in particular medial, outside of the sole (1). cross. Sole according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the structures (30) are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the sole and/or are a plurality of rods (30) arranged in the sole body (10), with at least one of the rods (30) extending from its lateral end to its tapering towards the medial end. Sole according to Claim 3, in which the downward-facing surfaces (32) of the rods (30) are concave and/or the upward-facing surfaces (33) of the rods (30) are convex and/or flat. Sole according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the length of the rods (30) and/or indentations (11) into which the rods (30) are inserted is dimensioned such that between a medial-pointing end (34) of the rod (30) and the medial edge and between a laterally pointing end (35) of the rod (30) and the lateral edge of the sole (1) there is an edge, in particular a bowl-shaped edge. Sole according to one of Claims 3 to 5, in which the sole body (10) has a plurality of depressions (11), preferably pointing upwards, one of the bars (30) being arranged in each of the depressions (11) and in particular being material- and/or is positively connected to the sole body (10). Sole according to one of Claims 3 to 5, in which the rods (30) are encased by the sole body (10), in particular overmoulded with the material of the sole body (10). Sole according to one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the material of the rods (30) differs from the material of the sole body (10), in particular has a higher modulus of elasticity than the material of the sole body. Sole according to one of claims 3 to 8, wherein a sole body (10) in which the rods (30) are arranged is formed from a polymer and/or wherein the rods are made of metal or a polymer, in particular polyamide or a fiber-reinforced polymer , are formed. Sole according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongate structures (30) are formed by corrugations of a plate, in particular a spring-hard metal or plastic plate, which has a corrugated profile, the corrugation longitudinal direction running transverse to the direction of wave travel being arranged transverse to the longitudinal direction of the sole. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising: an outsole (20) with a profile (21) on its underside, a midsole (10) arranged over the outsole (20) and optionally an insole arranged over the midsole (10). or insole. Sole according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the sole body (10) in which the structures (30) are arranged is a midsole (10), an insole or an insole. A method for producing a sole (1) for a shoe, wherein at least in a forefoot area, a plurality of elongated structures (30), in particular for transverse reinforcement of the sole (1), are arranged in a sole body (10) in such a way that the longitudinal axes (31) of the elongated Structures (30) are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the sole. Method according to claim 13, wherein the sole body (10) has a plurality of indentations (11) or the sole body (10) is provided or formed with a plurality of indentations (11), one of the rods (30) being inserted into each of the indentations (11). and in particular is connected to the sole body (10) in a materially and/or form-fitting manner. Method according to Claim 13, in which the elongate structures (30) are introduced into a mold and in the mold are encased, in particular overmoulded, by a material for forming a sole body (10).

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