Footwear sole, more particularly sports footwear sole, and footwear provided with such a sole

Abstract

A footwear sole, more particularly a sports footwear sole, is provided. The extension of the sole can be adjusted in a transverse direction. The sole comprises a deformable portion made of the same material as the rest of the sole and is made with no discontinuity with the rest of the sole. The deformable portion extends in the longitudinal direction of the sole over the whole length of the sole or at least over a substantial portion thereof. Owing to this solution, the sole does not have any discontinuity areas and the non-uniformities in the structural features of the sole, for instance in terms of flexional and torsional rigidity, are remarkably limited.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A footwear sole, of the kind comprising a deformable portion, extending in a longitudinal direction of the sole, and a pair of side portions, arranged on opposite sides of the deformable portion, wherein the deformable portion is made of the same material as the side portions and is made continuously with the side portions, with no discontinuity. 
     
     
         2 . The footwear sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformable portion is made as a bellows comprising a number of pleats oriented along the longitudinal direction of the sole. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformable portion extends over the whole length of the sole. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformable portion extends over a substantial portion of the length of the sole. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformable portion is made as a single piece with the side portions. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformable portion is provided with an adjusting arrangement for varying the extension of the deformable portion in a transverse direction and for setting the extension of the deformable portion at a preset value. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformable portion has two opposite longitudinal ends in the longitudinal direction and it is anchored at one or both of its longitudinal ends to one or more corresponding rigid members, the one or more rigid members being made of a material having a much higher stiffness than the material of the sole. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear sole according to  claim 7 , wherein the deformable portion is provided with an adjusting arrangement for varying the extension of the deformable portion in a transverse direction and for setting the extension of the deformable portion at a preset value and wherein the one or more rigid members support adjusting elements for adjusting the extension of the deformable portion in the transverse direction. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear sole according to  claim 8 , wherein the adjusting elements comprise respective eccentric elements. 
     
     
         10 . A footwear, more particularly a sports footwear, comprising a sole according to  claim 1 .