Running shoe sole comprising a soft-elastic midsole

Abstract

A sole for a running shoe with a soft-elastic midsole (1) includes an underside (2) at least partially contacting the ground (B) during running and comprises a plurality of channels (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 4a, 4b, 4c) extending in the transverse direction (Q). The channels (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 4a, 4b, 4c) are arranged in a lateral area of the midsole (1) in at least a first and a second in horizontal plane, wherein the first and second horizontal plane are vertically offset from each other, and wherein the channels (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 4a, 4b, 4c) are each delimited in longitudinal direction (L) by a front wall and a rear wall. The channels (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 4a, 4b, 4c) are vertically and/or horizontally in the longitudinal direction (L) deformable until their closure under the action of forces occurring during running acting vertically (V) and/or longitudinally.

1 . A sole for a running shoe having a soft-elastic midsole having an underside, the midsole comprising: a plurality of channels extending in a transverse direction, the channels being arranged in a lateral area of the midsole in at least a first and a second horizontal plane, wherein the first and second horizontal plane are vertically offset from one another, wherein the channels of the first horizontal plane are horizontally in the longitudinal direction offset from the channels of the second horizontal plane and wherein longitudinally adjacent channels are alternatingly offset both vertically and horizontally, and wherein the channels are each delimited in a longitudinal direction by a front wall and a rear wall and wherein the channels in the lateral area of the midsole are completely delimited by the soft-elastic midsole, wherein the channels in a medial area of the midsole are delimited on one side by an elastic incompressible plate extending over at least one of the heel area, the midfoot area and the forefoot area. 
     
     
         2 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein in the vertical direction there is no overlap between the channels of the first horizontal plane and the channels of the second horizontal plane. 
     
     
         3 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the channels have lateral openings in the lateral area of the midsole, and wherein the channels are vertically and/or horizontally in the longitudinal direction deformable under the action of forces occurring during running acting vertically and/or in the longitudinal directional until the lateral openings are closed. 
     
     
         4 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the channels have an elongated shape in cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the midsole has a groove extending longitudinally from a heel area to at least a midfoot area. 
     
     
         6 . The sole according to  claim 5 , wherein the groove extends only to at least the midfoot area (MB). 
     
     
         7 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one channel has an inclination in the vertical direction. 
     
     
         8 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein a width of the soft-elastic midsole between at least one channel and the underside is thinner in the lateral area of the midsole than in a medial area of the midsole. 
     
     
         9 . The sole according to  claim 1 , wherein the channels of the first horizontal plane are horizontally in the longitudinal direction offset from the channels of the second horizontal plane. 
     
     
         10 . A sole for a running shoe having a soft-elastic midsole ( 1 ) which has an underside ( 2 ) which comes at least partially into contact with the ground (B) during running, the midsole ( 1 ) comprising:
 a plurality of channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) extending in a transverse direction (Q) and arranged in a lateral area of the midsole ( 1 ) in at least a first and a second horizontal plane, wherein the first and second horizontal plane are vertically offset from one another, wherein the channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e ) of the first horizontal plane are horizontally in the longitudinal direction offset from the channels ( 4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) of the second horizontal plane and longitudinally adjacent channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) are alternatingly offset both vertically and horizontally, and wherein the channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) are vertically and/or horizontally in the longitudinal direction (L) deformable until their closure under the action of forces occurring during running, acting vertically (V) and/or in the longitudinal direction, and wherein the channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) in a medial area of the midsole ( 1 ) are delimited on one side by an elastic incompressible plate extending over at least one of a heel area (FB), a midfoot area (MB) and a forefoot area (VB).   
     
     
         11 . The sole according to  claim 10 , wherein the channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) have an elongated shape in cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The sole according to  claim 10 , wherein the midsole ( 1 ) has a groove ( 6 ) extending longitudinally from a heel area (FB) to at least a midfoot area (MB). 
     
     
         13 . The sole according to  claim 12 , wherein the groove ( 6 ) extends only to at least the midfoot area (MB). 
     
     
         14 . The sole according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one channel ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) has an inclination ( 8 ) in the vertical direction. 
     
     
         15 . The sole according to  claim 10 , wherein a width of the soft-elastic midsole ( 1 ) between at least one channel ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) and the underside is thinner in the lateral area of the midsole than in a medial area of the midsole. 
     
     
         16 . The sole according to  claim 10 , wherein the channels ( 3   e ) in a forefoot area (VB) are arranged in a single horizontal plane only. 
     
     
         17 . The sole according to  claim 10 , wherein the channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e ,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) have a hexagonal and/or pentagonal cross-section. 
     
     
         18 . The sole according to  claim 10 , wherein a front wall ( 31 ) of at least one channel ( 3   a,    3   b ) in the first horizontal plane in a heel area (FB) has a folding edge ( 33 ) and a rear wall ( 32 ) of the at least one channel ( 3   a,    3   b ) in the first horizontal plane in the heel area (FB) is formed as a stable wall. 
     
     
         19 . The sole according to  claim 10 , wherein the channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) in a heel area (FB) and midfoot area (MB) have an inclination ( 8 ) in the vertical direction and the channels ( 3   e ) in a forefoot area (VB) have no inclination in the vertical direction. 
     
     
         20 . A sole for a running shoe having a soft-elastic midsole ( 1 ) which has an underside ( 2 ) which comes at least partially into contact with the ground (B) during running, the midsole ( 1 ) comprising:
 a plurality of channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) extending in a transverse direction (Q) and arranged in a lateral area of the midsole ( 1 ) in at least a first and a second horizontal plane, wherein the first and second horizontal plane are vertically offset from one another, wherein the channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e ) of the first horizontal plane are horizontally in the longitudinal direction offset from the channels ( 4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) of the second horizontal plane and longitudinally adjacent channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) are alternatingly offset both vertically and horizontally, and wherein the channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) are each delimited in a longitudinal direction (L) by a front wall ( 31 ) and a rear wall ( 32 ) and the channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) in the lateral area of the midsole ( 1 ) are completely delimited by the soft-elastic midsole ( 1 ), and wherein the channels ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) are vertically and/or horizontally in the longitudinal direction (L) deformable until their closure under the action of forces occurring during running, acting vertically (V) and/or in the longitudinal direction, wherein at least one channel ( 3   a,    3   b,    3   c,    3   d,    3   e,    4   a,    4   b,    4   c ) has an inclination ( 8 ) in the vertical direction,, wherein the midsole ( 1 ) has a groove ( 6 ) extending longitudinally from a heel area (FB) to the midfoot area (MB).   
     
     
         21 . The midsole according to  claim 20 , wherein the channels have in a medial area of the midsole a U-shaped, V-shaped or trapezoidal shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         22 . The midsole according to  claim 20 , wherein the channels each have a cross-section with two sides being essentially parallel to each other and to an underside of the midsole.