Dual rigidity shoe sole

Abstract

The invention provides bicycling shoes having soles containing materials of at least two different material densities configured to provide improved comfort, and fit for a wearer when walking or running in the shoes, while providing enhanced force transfer from the wearer to a bicycle pedal when bicycling in the shoes.

1 . A sole for an athletic shoe comprising:
 a midsole comprising a metatarsal region and a heel region,   wherein a material of the metatarsal region is a high rigidity material, and wherein   a material of the heel region is a low rigidity material.   
     
     
         2 . The sole of  claim 1 , further comprising a fore midsole region, wherein a material of the fore midsole region is a low rigidity material. 
     
     
         3 . The sole of  claim 2 , wherein the material of the heel region and the material of the fore midsole region are identical. 
     
     
         4 . The sole of  claim 1 , further comprising a rear midsole region, wherein a material of the rear midsole region is a low rigidity material. 
     
     
         5 . The sole of  claim 2 , wherein the material rigidity of the fore midsole and the material rigidity of the heel portion of the midsole are substantially equal and less than the material rigidity of the metatarsal region of the midsole. 
     
     
         6 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the metatarsal region is configured to attach to a clipless bicycle cleat. 
     
     
         7 . The sole of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a metatarsal insert, an arch insert and a heel insert. 
     
     
         8 . The sole of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper, wherein the upper comprises at least one durable material selected from the group consisting of natural leather, synthetic leather, a polymeric material, a polymeric mixture, a polymeric alloy, a laminate, a natural textile, a synthetic textile material, and a mesh material. 
     
     
         9 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the high rigidity material of the metatarsal region is selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a metal, a wood, a composite, a foam, a reinforced polymer, a plurality of carbon fibers, a plurality of carbon fibers configured in a unidirectional alignment and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the low rigidity material of the heel region is selected from the group consisting of a leather, a polyurethane foam, a canvas, a rubber, EVA, a polyester, a nylon, a nylon textile, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a composite, a polymer, a foam, a unidirectional carbon fiber laminate, a polymeric material, a polymeric mixture, a polymeric alloy and combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the metatarsal region and the heel region are at least two distinct pieces which are nested together to form the midsole. 
     
     
         12 . The sole of  claim 7 , wherein a material of the at least one of the metatarsal insert, the arch insert and the heel insert is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane a foam, a leather, a canvas, a rubber, an EVA, a polyester, a nylon, a nylon textile, a thermoplastic polyurethane and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The sole of  claim 1 , further comprising an outersole. 
     
     
         14 . The sole of  claim 13 , wherein the outersole comprises at least one tread element, wherein a material of the tread is selected from the group consisting of a polymeric, a rubber or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A bicycling shoe comprising:
 an upper comprising a throat, a tongue and an opening for a user's foot;   a closure system to draw the throat closed with even force across the tongue of the upper, and,   a sole comprising a midsole comprising at least two materials of different rigidity, wherein a material rigidity in a metatarsal region of the midsole is greater than a material rigidity in a heel region of the midsole.   
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the closure system comprises at least one of shoelaces, a plurality of hook and loop (Velcro™) straps, a zipper, and a cord in conjunction with a dial to tighten the cord. 
     
     
         17 . The sole of  claim 15 , further comprising an upper, wherein the upper comprises at least one durable material selected from the group consisting of natural leather, synthetic leather, a polymeric material, a polymeric mixture, a polymeric alloy, a laminate, a natural textile, a synthetic textile material, and a mesh material. 
     
     
         18 . The sole of  claim 15 , wherein the upper comprises at least one of an advertisement, a team logo and a brand. 
     
     
         19 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the high rigidity material of the metatarsal region is selected from the group consisting of a polymer, a metal, a wood, a composite, a foam, a reinforced polymer, a plurality of carbon fibers, a plurality of carbon fibers configured in a unidirectional alignment and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The sole of  claim 1 , wherein the low rigidity material of the heel region is selected from the group consisting of leather, polyurethane foam, canvas, rubber, EVA, polyester, nylon, nylon textile, thermoplastic polyurethane, composite, polymer, foam, unidirectional carbon fiber laminate, polymeric material, polymeric mixture, polymeric alloy and combinations thereof.