Sole and shoe

Abstract

A sole includes: a midsole main body; an elastic portion; and a pressing member. The midsole main body includes a containing portion. The elastic portion is contained in the containing portion in a compressed state. The pressing member has an elastic modulus higher than an elastic modulus of the elastic portion in the compressed state, and presses the elastic portion so that the elastic portion is maintained in the compressed state. The elastic modulus of the elastic portion in the compressed state is larger than an elastic modulus of the midsole main body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole comprising:
 a midsole main body;   an elastic portion made of an elastic body and disposed in the midsole main body; and   a pressing member that presses the elastic portion, wherein   the midsole main body includes a containing portion that contains the elastic portion,   the elastic portion is contained in the containing portion in a compressed state in which a volume of the elastic portion is compressed to be smaller than a volume of the elastic portion in an unloaded state in which no external force acts on the elastic portion,   the pressing member has an elastic modulus higher than an elastic modulus of the elastic portion in the compressed state, and presses the elastic portion so that the elastic portion is maintained in the compressed state, and   the elastic modulus of the elastic portion in the compressed state is larger than an elastic modulus of the midsole main body.   
     
     
         2 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the midsole main body includes an upper surface,   the containing portion has a shape opening toward the upper surface of the midsole main body,   the elastic portion includes a supporting surface that is exposed from the containing portion and indirectly supports a foot of a wearer, and   the pressing member presses the supporting surface in a state in which the pressing member is fixed to the upper surface of the midsole main body.   
     
     
         3 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the midsole main body has an upper surface,   the elastic portion is made of a material identical with a material of the midsole main body and is formed integrally with the midsole main body so as to be connected to the midsole main body,   the elastic portion includes a supporting surface that indirectly supports a foot of a wearer, and   the supporting surface in the unloaded state protrudes upward from the upper surface of the midsole main body.   
     
     
         4 . The sole according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the elastic portion includes end surfaces connected to ends of the supporting surface in a foot width direction, and   each of the end surfaces has a shape gradually extending downward from the supporting surface toward outside in the foot width direction in the unloaded state.   
     
     
         5 . The sole according to  claim 3 , wherein a cut is provided at a boundary between the midsole main body and the elastic portion. 
     
     
         6 . The sole according to  claim 2 , wherein the pressing member has an outer shape larger than an outer shape of the supporting surface in plan view, and is disposed so as to cover an entire area of the supporting surface. 
     
     
         7 . The sole according to  claim 2 , wherein the pressing member includes a pressing surface that presses the supporting surface downward. 
     
     
         8 . The sole according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the pressing member further includes a protruding portion protruding from the pressing surface toward the elastic portion, and   the protruding portion has a shape extending in a foot length direction.   
     
     
         9 . The sole according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the pressing member further includes restraint walls extending downward from ends of the pressing surface in a foot width direction, and   the restraint walls restrain the elastic portion from sides in the foot width direction.   
     
     
         10 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic portion includes a plurality of elastic elements, each of which is independently and elastically deformable in a thickness direction of the sole. 
     
     
         11 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the midsole main body includes an MP joint supporting region that supports an MP joint of a foot of a wearer of a shoe, and   the elastic portion is provided in the MP joint supporting region.   
     
     
         12 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressing member is made of fiber-reinforced plastic. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe comprising:
 the sole according to  claim 1 ; and   an upper that is directly or indirectly connected to the sole and located above the sole.