US20150157089A1 - Shoe sole for gait correction or gait preservation - Google Patents

Shoe sole for gait correction or gait preservation Download PDF

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Publication number
US20150157089A1
US20150157089A1 US14/352,993 US201214352993A US2015157089A1 US 20150157089 A1 US20150157089 A1 US 20150157089A1 US 201214352993 A US201214352993 A US 201214352993A US 2015157089 A1 US2015157089 A1 US 2015157089A1
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Prior art keywords
hardness
sole
shoe sole
thickness
region
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US14/352,993
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English (en)
Inventor
Tobias Schumacher
Jan Swager Van Dok
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GVB SHOETECH AG
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Individual
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Assigned to GVB SHOETECH AG reassignment GVB SHOETECH AG ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SCHUMACHER, TOBIAS, VAN DOK, JAN SWAGER
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/0036—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use characterised by a special shape or design
    • A43B3/0057—S-shaped
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/143—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form provided with wedged, concave or convex end portions, e.g. for improving roll-off of the foot
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/18—Resilient soles
    • A43B13/181—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
    • A43B13/186—Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/18—Resilient soles
    • A43B13/187—Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
    • A43B13/188—Differential cushioning regions
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/141—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form having an anatomical or curved form
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a shoe sole which is suitable for an article of footwear.
  • such a shoe sole comprises in rear-end-to-front-end sequence along the sole a heel portion, a midfoot portion, a ball portion and a forefoot portion, with the heel, midfoot and ball portions each being adjacent to an arch region below the arch of a foot wearing this shoe sole.
  • Shoe soles of this type increase user comfort both by providing cushioning elements for the foot in some or all of the heel, midfoot, ball and forefoot portions of the shoe sole primarily for dampening ground impact during running or walking and/or by providing support elements spread throughout the bottom surface of the shoe sole primarily for stabilizing the foot and preventing or at least minimizing any tilt of the foot in a direction transverse to the running or walking direction (longitudinal direction).
  • this optimal ground contact line typically is a substantially/approximately S-shaped line on the sole of each foot starting at the heel portion, passing along the midfoot and ball portions and ending at the forefoot portion, typically on the medial side of the forefoot portion in the region of the first and second metatarsals and the first and second toes.
  • the invention provides a shoe sole, suitable for an article of footwear, the shoe sole comprising at its ground-contact surface in rear-end-to-front-end sequence along the sole a heel portion, a midfoot portion, a ball portion and a forefoot portion, said heel, midfoot and ball portions each being adjacent to an arch region below the arch of a foot when wearing the shoe sole; wherein the shoe sole comprises first sole portions extending along a substantially S-shaped line of optimal ground contact during walking or running, which line starts at the heel portion, passes along the midfoot and ball portions and ends at the forefoot portion; the sole comprises second sole portions extending along both sides of said substantially S-shaped line; and wherein the local thickness and/or the local hardness of a first sole portion is/are greater than the local thickness and/or the local hardness of a second sole portion adjacent to said first sole portion.
  • the shoe sole comprises an insole fixed at the foot-contact surface or embedded underneath the foot-contact surface of the shoe sole, and the insole has a smaller width extension than the shoe
  • a walker or runner wearing a shoe provided with the shoe sole according to the invention experiences increased or concentrated pressure between the insole and the bottom surface of his foot.
  • the walker or runner feels the substantially S-shaped line as a pressure line at the bottom surface of his foot.
  • Typical support force values may relate to the static support forces measured during standing or the instantaneous dynamic support forces measured during walking, more specifically the locally acting reaction forces (ground forces) in the ground-contact regions of the shoe sole during the rolling action of a foot on the ground.
  • This causes the person to do a more or less conscious active and dynamic “balancing act” during the rolling action with each foot on the corresponding line of optimal ground contact defined by shoe sole hardness and/or shoe sole thickness.
  • This dynamic balancing or feedback-controlled rolling action of each foot involves many parts of the body, i.e. ankle joints, knee joints, hip joints, vertebral column, etc. as well as the associated tendons, muscles, nerves, etc. and has a beneficial influence on the entire body.
  • the insole extending along the substantially S-shaped line and contacting the foot contributes to the above-described feedback to the walker or runner.
  • the walker's or runner's senses detect any deviation of his foot or the other above-mentioned body parts from their ideal positions and movements during walking or running (proprioception).
  • the insole is made from a material having a greater hardness than the hardness of the shoe sole material surrounding said insole.
  • This insole with greater hardness results in further improvement of the walker's or runner's proprioception.
  • it provides the shoe sole with increased structural stability (form stability), thus preventing the shoe sole from being worn out or losing its overall stiffness too early.
  • a second insole may be provided, preferably one on top of the other and spaced along the thickness direction of the shoe sole. Using two insoles with similar or different hardness, the structural stability of the shoe sole can be adjusted.
  • a dampening insole insert may be embedded in the shoe sole.
  • Such dampening insole may be made from a foamed material and may comprise a dampening fluid.
  • the local thickness of a first sole portion i.e. a portion located on the substantially S-shaped line of optimal ground contact or “on-line” portion” is greater than the local thickness of a second sole portion adjacent to said first sole portion, i.e. a portion adjacent to the substantially S-shaped line of optimal ground contact or “off-line” portion”, and the first sole portion and the second sole portion may have the same hardness.
  • a specific material having a specific hardness may be used for each transverse “set” consisting of a first (on-line) portion and one or two second (off-line) portions (typically one on each side of the substantially S-shaped line).
  • all transverse sets aligned along the substantially S-shaped line in a longitudinal manner may define a hardness profile with different hardness values along the substantially S-shaped line, i.e. an “along-the-line” hardness profile.
  • an individualized shoe sole may be composed using sets made from different materials and having different shapes and lined up “along the line”. Once lined up, these individual sets may be permanently joined by attaching them to each other and/or to a common sole portion such as a midsole by gluing or welding.
  • the entire shoe sole may consist of one material having one hardness value. This allows the entire sole, i.e. all sets aligned and spaced along the line, to be made using only one molding process, for instance injection molding.
  • the shoe sole comprises a protrusion protruding from its ground-facing bottom surface and extending at least along parts of the substantially S-shaped line.
  • a person wearing this shoe sole on each foot will feel more pressure/support from points located on this protruding line (first sole portions) than from points located off said protruding line (second sole portions).
  • the person shifts his/her dynamic force vector resulting from the static weight and the dynamic force during the rolling action of each foot such that this dynamic vector no longer passes through this protruding line the person will experience the above-mentioned “instant feedback” and “feel” during walking or running whenever he/she deviates from this protruding line of optimal ground contact.
  • This protrusion may have different cross-sectional shapes, i.e. different thickness profiles, that require different levels of skill for dynamically balancing on this line during walking or running.
  • the protrusion may have a trapezoidal cross section (trapezoidal thickness profile) in a plane perpendicular to the substantially S-shaped line and with a first trapezoid base-line defining a plateau-like region of the sole surface and with a second trapezoid base-line defining a sloping transition region between the trapezoidal protrusion and the bulk (rest) of the sole, with the second trapezoid base-line being longer than the first trapezoid base-line.
  • the plateau-like region bottom region
  • the person will feel strong support from the sole.
  • the dynamic force vector passes through one of the sloping transition regions (decreasing thickness regions) with weaker support on either side of the plateau-like region, the person will feel a slight reduction of support with a potential slight tilt in the ankle joint.
  • the protrusion may have a rectangular cross section (rectangular thickness profile) in a plane perpendicular to the substantially S-shaped line and with a first rectangular base-line defining a plateau-like region of the sole surface and with a second rectangular base-line defining an abrupt transition region (i.e. very steep slope) between the rectangular protrusion and the bulk (rest) of the sole, with the second rectangular base-line having the same length as the first rectangular base-line.
  • Both the first variant with the trapezoidal thickness profile and the second variant with the rectangular thickness profile define a plateau-like region of the sole surface.
  • the surface of this plateau-like region is preferably planar and may be substantially parallel to the substantially planar upper surface of the shoe sole on which the foot rests.
  • the preferably planar surface of this plateau-like region may be tilted with respect to the substantially planar upper surface of the shoe sole on which the foot rests.
  • the protrusion will then have a non-trapezoidal or non-rectangular thickness profile rather than one of the above trapezoidal or rectangular profiles.
  • the angle between the surface of the plateau-like region and the upper surface may be such that the thickness of the sole decreases from the lateral side (“outside of a foot”) toward the medial side (“inside of a foot”) or vice-versa.
  • the person's dynamic balancing act during walking or running will induce a medial tilt of the feet and shinbones or a lateral tilt of the feet and shinbones when the feet with their shoe soles rest on the ground or during each rolling action of the feet with their shoe soles on the ground.
  • the shoe sole with the plateau-like region tilted toward the lateral side may be used for correcting the gait of a bow-legged person
  • the shoe sole with the plateau-like region tilted toward the medial side may be used for correcting the gait of a knock-kneed person.
  • these plateau-like ground-contact regions tilted with respect to the substantially planar upper surface of the shoe sole are provided at least in the midfoot portion, but preferably only in the midfoot portion, the ball portion and the forefoot portion of the shoe sole.
  • the plateau-like region may extend all the way to the lateral side border-line of the shoe sole at least in longitudinal parts of the bottom sole surface, preferably in the midfoot portion. In addition, within parts of the heel portion and/or within parts of the ball portion, the plateau-like region may also extend all the way to the lateral side border-line of the shoe sole.
  • the protrusion may have a curved convex cross section (curved convex thickness profile) in a plane perpendicular to the substantially S-shaped line and with a curved line defining a bead-like or lens-like region of the sole surface and with a base-line defining a transition region between the curved convex protrusion and the bulk (rest) of the sole.
  • curved convex cross section curved convex thickness profile
  • the protrusion may have a curved concave portion within its convex cross section (globally convex thickness profile with a locally curved concave thickness profile section) in a plane perpendicular to the substantially S-shaped line.
  • This type of thickness profile is often referred to as a “cantilever profile” or “bridge profile”. It defines a trough-like or channel-like region within the protrusion of the sole surface, i.e. a trough-like or channel-like region surrounded by a first raised ridge-like region on one side (the medial side) of the thickness profile and a second raised ridge-like region on the other side (the lateral side) of the thickness profile.
  • the protrusion may have a transition region of decreasing thickness between at least one of the ridge-like regions on the one hand and the bulk (rest) of the sole on the other.
  • this “cantilever” or “bridge” thickness profile it is easier and thus less challenging to dynamically balance on the line of strong support than with the corresponding curved convex thickness profile or rectangular thickness profile or even trapezoidal thickness profile.
  • this cantilever or bridge thickness profile can also be thought of as two curved convex cross-sectional thickness profiles next to each other, i.e. two bead-like or ridge-like protrusions each arranged along the substantially S-shaped line and thus in parallel to each other.
  • this less challenging dynamic balancing act may be thought of as having a similar effect as the case of a tight-rope walker walking on two closely spaced parallel tight ropes.
  • the protrusion may also have a non-uniform longitudinal thickness profile, as measured along a section following the substantially S-shaped line.
  • the heel portion of the protrusion has a smaller thickness than the midfoot portion of the protrusion, or vice-versa.
  • the heel portion of the protrusion has a smaller thickness than the midfoot portion and the ball portion of the protrusion, or vice-versa.
  • the non-uniform longitudinal thickness profile of the protrusion may be used to fine-tune the different levels of skill for dynamically balancing on this line of defined thicknesses during walking or running.
  • the local hardness of a first sole portion is greater than the local hardness of a second sole portion adjacent to said first sole portion and wherein the first sole portion and the second sole portion have the same thickness.
  • the first and second sole portions of each “set” are made from different materials.
  • Each of these transverse “sets” has its first (on-line) portion and its one or two second (off-line) portions (typically one on each side of the substantially S-shaped line), with a harder material having a first hardness being used for the on-line portion and a softer material having a second hardness less than the first hardness being used for each of the off-line portions.
  • all of these transverse sets aligned along the substantially S-shaped line in a longitudinal manner may define a hardness profile with different hardness values along the substantially S-shaped line, i.e. an “along-the-line” hardness profile.
  • an individualized shoe sole may be composed using sets made from different materials and having different shapes and lined up “along the line”. Again, once lined up, these individual sets may be permanently joined by attaching them to each other and/or to a common sole portion such as a midsole by gluing or welding.
  • the entire sole may have substantially the same thickness and look like the sole of a “regular” shoe.
  • the shoe sole comprises a hard region having greater hardness than surrounding soft regions of the sole and extending at least along parts of said substantially S-shaped line.
  • a person wearing this shoe sole on each foot will feel more pressure/support from points located on this harder-material line (first sole portions) than from points located off said harder-material line (second sole portions).
  • the person shifts his/her dynamic force vector resulting from the static weight and the dynamic force during the rolling action of each foot such that this dynamic vector no longer passes through this harder-material line the person will again experience the above-mentioned “instant feedback” and “feel” during walking or running whenever he/she deviates from this harder-material line of optimal ground contact.
  • This harder-material line may have different cross-sectional hardness profiles that require different levels of skill for dynamically balancing on this line during walking or running.
  • the hard region has a trapezoidal hardness profile in a plane perpendicular to the substantially S-shaped line defining a maximum hardness core region and a decreasing hardness transition region on each side of said core region, where the hardness decreases from the maximum hardness to a lesser hardness of the soft regions.
  • the hard region has a rectangular hardness profile in a plane perpendicular to the substantially S-shaped line defining a maximum hardness core region and defining a region having the lesser hardness of the soft regions on each side of the core region.
  • Both the first variant with the trapezoidal hardness profile and the second variant with the rectangular hardness profile define a maximum hardness core region of the sole surface.
  • the hardness profile, i.e. the cross-sectional hardness distribution, within this core region is preferably a straight line which may be substantially parallel to the substantially planar upper surface of the shoe sole on which the foot rests.
  • the preferably straight line of the hardness profile within this core region may be tilted with respect to the substantially planar upper surface of the shoe sole on which the foot rests.
  • the cross-sectional hardness distribution will then have a non-trapezoidal or non-rectangular hardness profile rather than one of the above trapezoidal or rectangular profiles.
  • the angle between the straight line of the hardness profile within the core region and the upper surface may be such that the hardness values of the sole decrease from the lateral side (“outside of a foot”) toward the medial side (“inside of a foot”) or vice-versa.
  • the person's dynamic balancing act during walking or running will induce a medial tilt of the feet and shinbones or a lateral tilt of the feet and shinbones when the feet with their shoe soles rest on the ground or during each rolling action of the feet with their shoe soles on the ground.
  • the shoe sole with the hardness values in the core region decreasing toward the lateral side may be used for correcting the gait of a bow-legged person
  • the shoe sole with the hardness values in the core region decreasing toward the medial side may be used for correcting the gait of a knock-kneed person.
  • these hard core ground-contact regions with their straight line of the hardness-profile tilted with respect to the substantially planar upper surface of the shoe sole are provided at least in the midfoot portion, but preferably only in the midfoot portion, the ball portion and the forefoot portion of the shoe sole.
  • the core region with the straight-line hardness value distribution may extend all the way to the lateral side border-line of the shoe sole at least in longitudinal parts of the bottom sole surface, preferably in the midfoot portion.
  • the core region with the straight-line hardness value distribution may also extend all the way to the lateral side border-line of the shoe sole.
  • the hard region may have a curved convex hardness profile in a plane perpendicular to the substantially S-shaped line defining a hardness maximum and defining a decreasing hardness transition region on each side of the hardness maximum, where the hardness decreases from the hardness maximum to a lesser hardness of the soft regions.
  • the hard region may have a curved concave hardness profile portion within its convex cross-sectional hardness profile (globally convex hardness profile with a locally curved concave hardness profile section) in a plane perpendicular to the substantially S-shaped line.
  • This type of hardness profile may also be referred to as a “cantilever profile” or “bridge profile”. It defines a local trough or channel of relatively soft material (locally concave hardness profile) within the overall hard core region (globally convex hardness profile) of the sole surface, i.e.
  • the hard overall hard core region may have a transition region of decreasing hardness between at least one of the two relatively hard regions on the one hand and the bulk (rest) of the sole on the other.
  • the rectangular hardness profile or even the trapezoidal hardness profile the more intensely compressed two regions of relatively hard material provide more support than the less intensely or non-compressed trough-like or channel-like portions of relatively soft material.
  • this cantilever or bridge hardness profile can also be thought of as two curved convex cross-sectional hardness profiles next to each other, i.e. two longitudinally extending hard core regions each arranged along the substantially S-shaped line and thus in parallel to each other.
  • This less challenging dynamic balancing act may be thought of as similar to the case of a tight-rope walker walking on two closely spaced parallel tight ropes.
  • the hard core region may also have a non-uniform longitudinal hardness profile, as measured along a section following the substantially S-shaped line.
  • the heel portion of the hard region has a smaller hardness than the midfoot portion of the hard region, or vice-versa.
  • the heel portion of the hard region has a smaller hardness than the midfoot portion and the ball portion of the hard region, or vice-versa.
  • the non-uniform longitudinal hardness profile of the hard region may be used to fine-tune the different levels of skill for dynamically balancing on this line of defined hardnesses during walking or running.
  • the difference in local thickness and/or in local hardness between a first sole portion and a second sole portion adjacent to said first sole portion is greatest in said midfoot portion extending between said heel portion and said ball portion.
  • the first sole portions on the substantially S-shaped line and/or the second sole portions on both sides of the substantially S-shaped line may comprise a plurality of transverse slits or “cuts” spaced in the longitudinal direction of the sole along the substantially S-shaped line and extending in a transverse direction of the sole across the substantially S-shaped line.
  • the features of different variants of the first major embodiment i.e. a protrusion along the S-shaped line with defined transverse thickness profiles, may be combined independently with features of different variants of the second major embodiment, i.e. a hard region along the S-shaped line with defined transverse hardness profiles.
  • the longitudinal spacing of these transverse slits is between 1 mm and 10 mm, most preferably between 2 mm and 6 mm.
  • the length of these slits i.e. their first transverse dimension, extends across the entire width of the protrusion and/or across the entire width of the hard region or (overall) hard core region.
  • the depth of these slits i.e. their second transverse dimension, extends across 1 ⁇ 3 to 2 ⁇ 3 of the entire thickness of the protrusion and/or across 1 ⁇ 3 to 2 ⁇ 3 of the entire thickness of the hard region or (overall) hard core region.
  • the minimum thickness of the protrusion of the shoe sole is about 2 mm.
  • a preferred thickness range of the protrusion of the shoe sole is between 2 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 4 mm and 30 mm.
  • preferred elasticity/hardness scales are the Shore hardness scales.
  • the minimum hardness i.e. the hardness value of the softest regions of the shoe sole
  • the minimum hardness is about 30 Shore.
  • a preferred hardness range of the shoe sole is between 40 Shore and 80 Shore.
  • the shoe sole according to the invention is composed of several different components each of which is fabricated independently using a component-specific material.
  • the shoe sole comprises an outsole-portion and an insole-portion.
  • the outsole portion may comprise in rear-end-to-front-end sequence along the sole a heel portion, a midfoot portion, a ball portion and a forefoot portion. Together, these four ground-contact sole portions constitute the ground-contact region of the shoe sole which ground-contact region includes the substantially S-shaped line of optimal ground contact during walking or running.
  • All or some of these four portions may be formed integrally from a suitable elastomer.
  • Preferably all four portions are formed in one piece with one or several narrow connecting portions between the heel portion and the midfoot portion, between the midfoot portion and the ball portion as well as between the ball portion and the forefoot portion. This guarantees a high amount of flexibility between the interconnected portions of the outsole.
  • all of these four portions may be formed separately as individual pieces each from a suitable elastomer. Again, this guarantees a high amount of flexibility between the portions of the outsole and allows each portion to be made from a suitable material having individual properties.
  • the piece constituting the heel portion is made from a softer elastomeric material than the pieces constituting the midfoot portion and the ball portion.
  • the outsole portion may comprise a base body made from a suitable elastomer to which base body the above-described heel, midfoot, ball and forefoot portions are connected e.g. by welding, gluing or vulcanization.
  • One or more of the four portions, such as the heel portion may have the same hardness as the base body and may therefore be formed integrally, e.g. by injection molding, from a first elastomer having a first hardness.
  • the other ones of the four portions, such as the midfoot, ball and forefoot portions may be formed, e.g. by injection molding, from a second elastomer having a second hardness, preferably greater than the first hardness of the first elastomer, and then connected to the base body e.g. by welding, gluing or vulcanization.
  • an optional first or lower insole portion made of a third elastomer having a third hardness, preferably greater than the hardness of the base body, may be provided between the base body and the four portions of the ground-contact region.
  • this lower insole portion may have the shape of a layer which is located between the base body and the ground-contact portions.
  • this lower insole portion may be cut out from a sheet material such that the cut-out is long enough and wide enough to include and support the substantially S-shaped line of optimal ground contact defined by the protrusion region and/or hard core region in the ground-contact portions underneath the lower insole portion.
  • the lower insole portion is a thin layer having a thickness between 1 mm and 5 mm, more preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm.
  • the lower insole material is harder than the base body material, it may still be quite flexible due to its thin shape.
  • an optional second or upper insole portion made of a fourth elastomer having a fourth hardness, preferably also greater than the hardness of the base body, may be provided at the upper side of the base body on which the foot rests.
  • this upper insole portion may again have the shape of a layer which is located at the upper side of the base body.
  • this upper insole portion may be cut out from a sheet material such that the cut-out is long enough and wide enough to include and support the substantially S-shaped line of optimal ground contact defined by the protrusion region and/or hard core region in the ground-contact portions underneath the base body and/or underneath the lower insole portion.
  • the upper insole portion is a thin layer having a thickness between 1 mm and 5 mm, more preferably between 2 mm and 4 mm.
  • the upper insole is quite flexible due to its thin shape.
  • the contours of the cut-out of the upper insole portion and the lower insole portion are identical.
  • both the lower and upper optional insole portion can be formed with the same manufacturing equipment.
  • the above-mentioned plurality of transverse slits or “cuts” spaced in the longitudinal direction of the sole along the substantially S-shaped line and extending in a transverse direction of the sole may be provided in any one of the ground contacting portions, the lower insole portion and the upper insole portion.
  • the sole flexibility increasing transverse slits are provided as “embedded slits” in the lower and/or upper insole portions only.
  • the shoe sole ball portion has a first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsal part between the medial side M and lateral side L of the shoe sole, and the following conditions apply to the transverse thickness and/or hardness profile of the ball portion:
  • the above thickness and/or hardness conditions in the ball portion cause the foot to pronate, i.e. the weight acting on the foot is shifted from its initial position in the midfoot portion at the lateral side L of the shoe sole to the subsequent position in the ball portion at the medial side M.
  • the foot is forced into pronation while the ball portion of the foot and the shoe sole are rolling on the ground.
  • the weight acting on the lateral side of the midfoot portion and then on the lateral side of the ball portion is shifted from the lateral side of the ball portion toward the medial side of the ball portion, and during a second phase of the foot's rolling on the ground, the weight then acts on the medial side of the ball portion and then on the medial side of the forefoot portion, i.e. the big toe.
  • the second metatarsal part has a thickness and/or hardness less than the thickness and/or hardness of any of the third, fourth and fifth metatarsal parts. This further improves the shifting of the weight acting on the foot from the lateral side to the medial side.
  • the ball portion then rolls on the ground with the weight being shifted from the lateral side L of the ball portion toward the medial side M of the ball portion, and finally the forefoot portion rolls on the ground with the weight located on the medial side M.
  • the fifth metatarsal part of the ball portion provides more support than the neighbouring fourth and third metatarsal parts of the ball portion.
  • the first metatarsal part of the ball portion provides more support than the second metatarsal part of the ball portion.
  • the fifth metatarsal part on the lateral side L causes the foot to pronate, and the first metatarsal part on the medial side M prevents excessive pronation of the foot.
  • these conditions of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsal parts in the ball portion of the shoe sole have an effect similar to two consecutive banked curves placed along the substantially S-shaped line.
  • the right foot first passes through a banked curve with a left turn at the lateral side L and then through a banked curve with a right turn at the medial side M.
  • the left foot first passes through a banked curve with a right turn at the lateral side L and then through a banked curve with a left turn at the medial side M.
  • the width, as measured across the S-shaped line, of the locally thicker and/or harder first sole portion of the midfoot portion is smaller than the width, as measured across the S-shaped line, of the locally thicker and/or harder first sole portion of the heel portion.
  • the broader first sole portion of the heel portion provides a safe landing with stable positioning of the heel.
  • the dynamic balancing or feedback-controlled rolling action of each foot does not begin until the foot's rolling action reaches the narrower midfoot portion.
  • the width, as measured across the S-shaped line, of the locally thicker and/or harder first sole portion of the midfoot portion is smaller than the width, as measured across the S-shaped line, of the locally thicker and/or harder first sole portion of the ball portion.
  • the local thickness T and/or the local hardness H of the locally thicker and/or harder first sole portion of the heel portion decreases from the medial side M towards the lateral side L of the shoe sole.
  • the thickness T of the heel portion decreases along the width W of the first sole portion (i.e.
  • the harder and/or thicker portion for ground-contact) of the heel portion from the medial side M towards the lateral side L by an amount ⁇ T such that the inclination of the ground-contact surface of the first sole portion of the heel portion, as measured with respect to a horizontal planar ground surface onto which the shoe sole is placed, has an average slope (grade) between 2% and 20%, where slope (grade) is defined as the ratio ⁇ T/W of thickness difference ⁇ T versus width W of the first sole portion of the heel portion. Note that this width W is the width as measured along the gradient line of the heel portion slope.
  • the inclined ground-contact surface of the heel portion is a planar surface or a surface at least 80% of which is planar. As a result, a wedge-shaped gap between the heel portion of the shoe sole at rest and the horizontal planar ground surface is formed.
  • the decreasing local thickness T and/or local hardness H of the first sole portion of the heel portion guides and/or forces the foot into slight supination, i.e. the weight acting on the foot is shifted from its initial neutral or substantially central position at the moment of landing toward the lateral side L of the shoe sole.
  • the weight is guided toward the midfoot portion at the lateral side L of the shoe sole.
  • the wedge-shaped gap between the heel portion and the planar ground surface is closed.
  • these conditions of the heel portion of the shoe sole have an effect similar to a substantially straight, but tilted road surface with one road side being higher than the other road side.
  • the shoe sole comprising in rear-end-to-front-end sequence the heel portion, the midfoot portion, the ball portion or metatarsal portion and the forefoot portion or toe portion at the bottom side of the shoe sole base body as defined above, has a special transverse thickness and/or hardness profile in the ball portion.
  • the region of the shoe sole associated with or underneath the second metatarsal bone (M2) has a lesser thickness and/or lesser hardness than the region of the shoe sole associated with or underneath any of the first, third, fourth and fifth metatarsal bones.
  • the same condition may apply to at least a part of the forefoot portion or toe portion of the shoe sole adjacent to the ball portion, i.e.
  • the region of the shoe sole associated with or underneath the second toe (T2) has a lesser thickness and/or lesser hardness than the region of the shoe sole associated with or underneath any of the first, third, fourth and fifth toes.
  • this applies to the part of the forefoot or toe portion adjacent to the ball portion.
  • This concave (“cantilever”) and/or soft region in the M2 part of the ball portion and optionally in the T2 part of the adjoining forefoot portion provides some pressure relief for the second metatarsal bone.
  • the amount of local support i.e. the local support forces acting from below on the sole of a foot wearing the shoe sole according to the invention, is determined by the overall thickness and/or hardness profile of the shoe sole. At least the base body and the ground-contact portions connected with the base body contribute with their local hardnesses and local geometries, for instance local thickness distribution and distribution of possible slits, to the resulting amount of local support. In addition, the lower and/or upper insole portions may be provided, with their additional contribution to the resulting amount of local support.
  • ground-contact portions here, midfoot, ball and forefoot portions
  • optional insole portions lower and/or upper insole portion
  • FIG. 1 is a side view showing the medial side of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a side view showing the lateral side of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing the ground-contact region of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a top view showing the foot-contacting region of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective bottom view of a first component (base body) of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a second component (ground-contact portions) of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a top view of the first component (base body) of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a top view of a third or fourth component (lower or upper insole) of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 9A is a first preferred cross section along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 , viewed in direction a) of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 , of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 9B is a second preferred cross section along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 , viewed in direction a) of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 , of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 9C is a third preferred cross section along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 , viewed in direction a) of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 , of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 10A is a first preferred thickness profile or hardness profile along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 10B is a second preferred thickness profile or hardness profile along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 10C is a third preferred thickness profile or hardness profile along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 10D is a fourth preferred thickness profile or hardness profile along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 10E is a fifth preferred thickness profile or hardness profile along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 10F is a sixth preferred thickness profile or hardness profile along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 10G is a seventh preferred thickness profile or hardness profile along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 10H is an eighth preferred thickness profile or hardness profile along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 10I is a ninth preferred thickness profile or hardness profile along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 of the embodiment of the shoe sole according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2 the medial side (side of the arch of the foot) and the lateral side, respectively, of a right foot shoe sole 1 according to the invention is shown together with a right foot last 2 .
  • the shoe sole 1 comprises in rear-end-to-front-end sequence a heel portion 3 , a midfoot portion 4 , a ball portion 5 and a forefoot portion 6 at the bottom side of a shoe sole base body 7 which can be better seen in FIG. 5 (perspective bottom view) and in FIG. 7 (top view). Also, a slope region 7 c and an upper edge 7 e of the base body 7 are shown.
  • the slope region 7 c of the base body 7 constitutes a transition region between a relatively narrow ground-contact region defined by the bottom surfaces of the heel portion 3 , the midfoot portion 4 , the ball portion 5 and the forefoot portion 6 of the shoe sole 1 , as best seen in FIG. 3 , and a much broader foot-contacting region defined by the foot-contacting surfaces of an upper side 7 f and an upper insole 8 of an upper foot-contact plateau of the shoe sole 1 , as best seen in FIG. 4 .
  • the forefoot portion 6 comprises a front joining portion 66 extending in an upward direction for partially covering the front portion of the base body 7 and joining some toe portions 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 and 65 ( FIGS. 3 and 6 ).
  • FIG. 3 a bottom view of the ground-contact region of the shoe sole 1 according to the invention is shown.
  • the ground-contact region defined by the bottom surfaces of the heel portion 3 , the midfoot portion 4 , the ball portion 5 and the forefoot portion 6 of the shoe sole 1 includes a substantially S-shaped line G of optimal ground contact during walking or running.
  • This line G starts at the heel portion 3 , passes along the midfoot portion 4 and ball portion 5 and ends at the forefoot portion 6 .
  • line G has one inflection point P I somewhere in the ball portion 5 .
  • the forefoot portion 6 of the shoe sole 1 comprises a big toe portion 61 , a second toe portion 62 , a third toe portion 63 , a fourth toe portion 64 and a fifth toe portion 65 .
  • All or some portions 3 , 4 , 5 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 of the ground-contact region are connected to the base body 7 and at least partially surrounded or “framed” by a lower edge 7 b of the base body 7 .
  • the slope region 7 c extends from the lower edge 7 b towards the much broader foot-contacting region of the upper foot-contact plateau of the shoe sole 1 .
  • this slope region 7 c extends from the lower edge 7 b to a lower side 7 d of the upper foot-contact plateau.
  • this slope region 7 c extends from the lower edge 7 b to a step region 7 d ′.
  • the slope 7 c is steeper than on the medial side M.
  • the arch region of the shoe sole comprises this step region 7 d ′ and the rest of the lower side 7 d of the upper foot-contact plateau.
  • the shoe sole 1 is thicker than in the rest of the lower side 7 d on the medial side M and the lateral side L. The extra thickness of step region 7 d ′ gives the base body 7 of the shoe sole 1 more stability.
  • FIG. 4 a top view of the foot-contacting region of the embodiment of the shoe sole 1 according to the invention is shown.
  • the foot-contacting region defined by the foot-contacting surfaces of the upper side 7 f and the upper insole 8 of the upper foot-contact plateau of the shoe sole 1 again includes the substantially S-shaped line G of optimal ground contact during walking or running.
  • the upper insole 8 is shaped such that it extends both on the medial side M and on the lateral side L of line G which starts from the heel portion 3 and extends all the way to the forefoot portion 6 typically with one inflection point P I somewhere in the ball portion 5 .
  • the foot-contacting region defined by the upper side 7 f and the upper insole 8 is surrounded or “framed” by the upper edge 7 e .
  • the upper insole 8 is located in a complementary recess in the upper foot-contacting surface.
  • the preferred embodiment of the shoe sole 1 shown in FIGS. 1 , 2 , 3 and 4 comprises: first, the base body 7 ( FIG. 5 , FIG. 7 ); second, the ground-contact region located at the bottom side of the base body 7 and defined by the bottom surfaces of the heel portion 3 , the midfoot portion 4 , the ball portion 5 and the forefoot portion 6 ( FIG. 6 ); and the upper insole 8 located in a recess in the foot-contacting region ( FIG. 8 ).
  • a lower insole (not shown), preferably having the same shape as the upper insole 8 , may be inserted between the base body 7 and the ground-contact region.
  • FIG. 5 a perspective bottom view of the base body 7 of the shoe sole 1 according to the invention is shown. Some of the portions of the base body 7 already shown and described in FIGS. 1 , 2 and 3 can be better seen in FIG. 5 .
  • the bottom side of the base body 7 has formations that are complementary to the contour of the ground-contact region defined by the heel portion 3 , the midfoot portion 4 , the ball portion 5 and the forefoot portion 6 shown in FIG. 6 . More specifically, the base body 7 has a lower recessed surface 7 a surrounded or “framed” by the lower edge 7 b .
  • the main portion 7 a of the lower recessed surface has the same contour as the recess in the upper foot-contacting surface for receiving a lower insole having the same contour as the upper insole 8 .
  • the lower insole (not shown) and the upper insole 8 may be of identical shape, i.e. same contour and same thickness, and may be made from the same material which is preferably harder than the material of the base body 7 .
  • the smaller portions 7 a 1 , 7 a 2 , 7 a 3 , 7 a 4 and 7 a 5 of the lower recessed surface of the base body 7 correspond to the forefoot portion 6 of the shoe sole 1 and are separated by lower edge portions 7 b of the base body 7 .
  • contours of these smaller portions 7 a 1 , 7 a 2 , 7 a 3 , 7 a 4 and 7 a 5 are complementary to the contours of the toe portions 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 and 65 , respectively.
  • the heel portion 3 , the midfoot portion 4 and the ball portion 5 may be received in the main portion 7 a of the lower recessed surface
  • the toe portions 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 and 65 of the forefoot portion 6 may be received in the smaller portions 7 a 1 , 7 a 2 , 7 a 3 , 7 a 4 and 7 a 5 of the lower recessed surface.
  • the slope region 7 c extending from the lower edge 7 b to the lower side 7 d of the upper foot-contact plateau also extends in the longitudinal direction from the smaller portion 7 a 5 of the lower recessed surface 7 a to the heel portion 3 .
  • the slope region 7 c extending from the lower edge 7 b to a step region 7 d ′ also extends in the longitudinal direction from the ball portion 5 to the heel portion 3 .
  • the slope 7 c is steeper than on the medial side L where the arch of the foot is located.
  • FIG. 6 a bottom view of the ground-contact portions 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 of the shoe sole 1 according to the invention is shown.
  • the heel portion 3 , the midfoot portion 4 , the ball portion 5 and the forefoot portion 6 all extend almost all the way to the lateral (L) outer contour line of the shoe sole 1 , i.e. to the lateral (L) outer contour line of the base body 7 .
  • the transverse direction towards the medial side M only the rear part of the heel portion 3 , the front part of the ball portion 5 and the entire forefoot portion 6 extend almost all the way to the medial (M) outer contour line of the shoe sole 1 , i.e.
  • the big toe portion 61 , second toe portion 62 , third toe portion 63 , fourth toe portion 64 and fifth toe portion 65 are separated from each other by slits corresponding to the pattern of the lower edge 7 b .
  • the individual toe portions 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 are joined by a joining portion 66 .
  • the ground-contact portions 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 are inserted into the lower recessed surface 7 a . More specifically, the ground-contact portions 3 , 4 , 5 are inserted into the main portion 7 a of the lower recessed surface, and the ground-contact toe portions 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 and 65 are inserted into the smaller portions 7 a 1 , 7 a 2 , 7 a 3 , 7 a 4 and 7 a 5 , respectively, of the lower recessed surface.
  • FIG. 7 a top view of the base body 7 of the shoe sole 1 according to the invention is shown.
  • the upper side 7 f has an upper recessed surface 7 g for receiving the upper insole 8 .
  • the upper edge 7 e surrounding the entire upper side 7 f and the joining portion 66 of the forefoot-portion 6 extends in an upward direction at the front end of the base body 7 for partially covering the front portion of the base body 7 .
  • FIG. 8 a top view of the lower or upper insole 8 of the shoe sole 1 according to the invention is shown.
  • the lower and upper insole have the same contour, but may consist of different materials and/or have different thicknesses.
  • the lower insole 8 and/or the upper insole (not shown) have a thickness profile in the transverse direction, i.e. in a direction extending orthogonally to the substantially S-shaped line of optimal ground contact.
  • the lower insole 8 and/or the upper insole have slits extending in the transverse direction or in a direction orthogonal to the substantially S-shaped line of optimal ground contact.
  • the overall transverse thickness profiles and/or hardness profiles of the shoe sole 1 according to the invention i.e. the thickness profiles and/or hardness profiles in a cross-sectional plane extending in a direction orthogonal to or normal to the substantially S-shaped line G can be determined by the transverse thickness profile(s) and/or hardness profile(s) of the base body 7 , by the transverse thickness profile(s) and/or hardness profile(s) of each of the ground-contact portions 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 and by the transverse thickness profile(s) and/or hardness profile(s) of the upper insole 8 and optionally by the transverse thickness profile(s) and/or hardness profile(s) of the lower insole (not shown).
  • the overall longitudinal thickness profiles and/or hardness profiles of the shoe sole 1 according to the invention i.e. the thickness profiles and/or hardness profiles in a cross-sectional plane extending in a direction parallel to or tangential to the substantially S-shaped line G can be determined by the longitudinal thickness profile(s) and/or hardness profile(s) of the base body 7 , by the longitudinal thickness profile(s) and/or hardness profile(s) of each of the ground-contact portions 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 and by the longitudinal thickness profile(s) and/or hardness profile(s) of the upper insole 8 and optionally by the longitudinal thickness profile(s) and/or hardness profile(s) of the lower insole (not shown).
  • the overall flexibility and in particular the torsional flexibility of the shoe sole 1 according to the invention around a longitudinal axis i.e. the flexibility around an axis parallel to or tangential to the substantially S-shaped line G, can be determined by longitudinally spaced slits extending in a direction transverse to the substantially S-shaped line. These slits may be located in the base body 7 , in any one or all of the ground-contact portions 3 , 4 , 5 and 6 , in the upper insole 8 and optionally in the lower insole (not shown).
  • FIGS. 9A , 9 B and 9 C preferred midfoot portion cross sections along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 , viewed in direction a) of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 , of the shoe sole 1 according to the invention are shown, with points P M and P L along the plane M-L indicating the corresponding locations in FIGS. 3 and 4 and in FIG. 9A .
  • any structural differences in the cross sections that would be expected to be visible in these cross sections due to a preferred composite or multi-layer structure base body 7 , ground-contact portions 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , upper insole 8 , lower insole are not shown in these cross-sections.
  • the transverse thickness T profile (with constant hardness) of the transverse cross section shown in FIG. 9A is a transverse thickness T profile having a relatively narrow ground-contact plateau-like region 11 including the substantially S-shaped line G of optimal ground contact, and having a first slope region 12 of decreasing thickness towards the medial side M and having a second slope region 13 of decreasing thickness towards the lateral side L.
  • This is an example of a visible protrusion 11 , 12 , 13 extending at least along a longitudinal part of the substantially S-shaped line G.
  • the transverse thickness T profile of the transverse cross section shown in FIG. 9B is a transverse thickness T profile having a relatively broad and relatively thick ground-contact plateau-like region 11 ′ including the substantially S-shaped line G of optimal ground contact, and again having a first slope region 12 ′ of decreasing thickness towards the medial side M and again having a second slope region 13 ′ of decreasing thickness towards the lateral side L.
  • this cross section has a transverse thickness profile of a second material of lesser hardness than the hardness of the first material. This is an example of an invisible hard core region 11 ′, 12 ′, 13 ′ extending at least along a longitudinal part of the substantially S-shaped line G.
  • the transverse hardness H profile, i.e. hardness H curve (with constant thickness), of the transverse cross section shown in FIG. 9C is a transverse hardness H profile having a relatively narrow hard-core region 11 ′′ including the substantially S-shaped line G of optimal ground contact, and having a first slope region 12 ′′ in the hardness curve with decreasing hardness towards the medial side M and having a second hardness slope region 13 ′′ in the hardness curve with decreasing hardness towards the lateral side L.
  • FIGS. 10A , 10 B, 10 C, 10 D, 10 E, 10 F and 10 G preferred transverse thickness profiles (protrusions) and/or hardness profiles (hard-core regions) along plane M-L of FIG. 3 or FIG. 4 of the shoe sole 1 according to the invention are shown, again with points P M and P L along the plane M-L indicating the corresponding locations in FIGS. 3 and 4 and in FIG. 9A .
  • any structural differences in the cross sections that would be expected to be visible in these cross sections due to a preferred composite or multi-layer structure base body 7 , ground-contact portions 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , upper insole 8 , lower insole are not shown in these cross-sections.
  • FIG. 10A a trapezoidal profile is shown.
  • FIG. 10B a rectangular profile is shown.
  • FIG. 10C a curved convex profile is shown.
  • FIG. 10D a modified trapezoidal profile with a curved concave bottom line (“cantilever trapezoidal profile”) is shown.
  • FIG. 10E a modified rectangular profile with a curved concave bottom line (“cantilever rectangular profile”) is shown.
  • FIG. 10F a profile with a laterally tilted straight bottom line (thickness and/or hardness decreasing toward the lateral side) is shown.
  • FIG. 10G a profile with a medially tilted straight bottom line (thickness and/or hardness decreasing toward the medial side) is shown.
  • FIG. 10H a profile with a laterally tilted curved convex profile (thickness and/or hardness decreasing toward both sides and decreasing more toward the lateral side) is shown.
  • FIG. 10I a profile with a medially tilted curved convex profile (thickness and/or hardness decreasing toward both sides and decreasing more toward the medial side) is shown.
  • these profiles are used in the midfoot-portion 4 .
  • some of these profiles may be used in shoe sole portions other than the midfoot-portion 4 , such as in the heel portion 3 or in the ball portion 5 .
  • the profile shown in FIG. 10F may be used in the heel portion 3 .
  • a cantilever profile such as the one shown in FIG. 10D or in FIG. 10E , may be provided in the ball portion 5 and the forefoot portion 6 of the shoe sole 1 .
  • the region of the shoe sole 1 associated with the second metatarsal bone (M2) has a lesser thickness and/or lesser hardness than the region of the shoe sole associated with the other metatarsal bones.
  • at least the part of the forefoot portion 6 or toe portion of the shoe sole adjacent to the ball portion 5 i.e. the region of the shoe sole 1 associated with the second toe (T2) has a lesser thickness and/or lesser hardness than the region of the shoe sole associated with the other toes.
  • This design reduces pressure to the second metatarsal (M2) and provides some relief for the joint between the second metatarsal (M2) and the second toe (T2) during walking.
  • the following conditions may apply to the transverse thickness and/or hardness profile of the ball portion 5 having a first metatarsal part M1, a second metatarsal part M2, a third metatarsal part M3, a fourth metatarsal part M4 and a fifth metatarsal part M5 between the medial side M and lateral side L of the shoe sole 1 :
  • the thickness and/or hardness of M1 is greater than the thickness and/or hardness of M5.
  • the ball portion 5 After touching ground with the heel portion 3 and the subsequent rolling action of the midfoot portion 4 on ground with the weight located on the lateral side L (dynamic balancing act), the ball portion 5 then rolls on the ground with the weight being shifted from the lateral side L of the ball portion 5 toward the medial side M of the ball portion 5 , and finally the forefoot portion 6 rolls on the ground with the weight located on the medial side M.
  • the fifth metatarsal part M5 of the ball portion 5 provides more support than the neighbouring fourth and third metatarsal parts M4 and M3 of the ball portion 5 .
  • the first metatarsal part M1 of the ball portion 5 provides more support than the second metatarsal part M2 of the ball portion 5 .
  • the fifth metatarsal part M5 on the lateral side L causes the foot to pronate, and the first metatarsal part M1 on the medial side M prevents excessive pronation of the foot.
  • the transition between the thickness and/or hardness sections M1, M2, M3, M4, M5 and T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, respectively, may be a stepwise or a smooth transition.
  • the following conditions may apply to the transverse thickness and/or hardness profile of the heel portion 3 :
  • the maximum widths W3, W4 and W5 are measured along a direction perpendicular to the S-shaped line G in the heel portion 3 , the midfoot portion 4 and the ball portion 5 , respectively.
  • widths W3, W4 and W5 are averaged over all (typically different) widths along the S-shaped line G within the heel portion 3 , the midfoot portion 4 and the ball portion 5 , respectively.
  • At least conditions f) and g) are combined in a shoe sole 1 according to the invention. This will cause the foot to supinate after the heel portion 3 lands on the ground and provide a smooth transition from the heel portion 3 to the midfoot portion 4 .
  • condition e) and h) for the ball portion 5 condition f) for the heel and midfoot portions 3 and 4 , and condition g) for the heel portion 3 are combined.
  • each foot undergoes the following three phases during its rolling action on the ground:
  • the walker or runner feels the substantially S-shaped line of optimal ground contact for walking or running.
  • Total proprioception based on pressure provided by the insole 8 at or near the foot-contact surface of the shoe sole 1 and by the T and/or H profile of the S-shaped line at the ground-contact surface of the shoe sole 1 , is most intense during the dynamic balancing phase in the midfoot portion 4 where it provides feedback to the walker or runner.

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EP11186010.2 2011-10-20
EP11191114 2011-11-29
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PCT/EP2012/063054 WO2013056864A1 (fr) 2011-10-20 2012-07-04 Semelle de chaussure pour permettre une correction de la démarche ou un maintien de la démarche

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EP2768336A1 (fr) 2014-08-27
CA2886888A1 (fr) 2013-04-25
WO2013056864A1 (fr) 2013-04-25

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