# US 12,178,279 B2 · Sole comprising individually deflectable reinforcing members, and shoe with such a sole > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,279 B2 - Document ID: US12178279B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/179,769 - Filed: 2021-02-19 - Published: 2021-08-26 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2020-02-21 - Assignees: adidas AG - Applicants: adidas AG - Inventors: Robbie Paterson; Harry Miles; Daniel Ruiz; Fabian Schweizer; Sam Forester; Falk Bruns; Peter Valdivia; Jochen Bartl; Tobias Biegel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178279B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/14: characterised by the constructive form - A43B 13/181: {Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole} - A43B 5/06: Running shoes; Track shoes - A43B 7/14: with foot-supporting parts - A43B 7/1445: situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal - A43B 13/125: {characterised by the midsole or middle layer} - B29D 35/0009: {by injection moulding; Apparatus therefor} - B29D 35/122: {Soles} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) ## Abstract A sole for a shoe, in particular for a running shoe, as well as a shoe comprising such a sole. A sole for a shoe includes reinforcing members extending in a front half of the sole. The reinforcing members are configured to be independently deflected by forces acting on the sole during a gait cycle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sole for a shoe, the sole comprising: reinforcing members extending in a front half of the sole; wherein the reinforcing members are configured to be independently deflected by forces acting on the sole during a gait cycle, wherein each of the reinforcing members comprises a portion completely embedded within a midsole of the sole, wherein each of the reinforcing members comprises a low point relative to a plane tangential to an uppermost forward surface of the reinforcing members and an uppermost rearward surface of the reinforcing members, wherein each of the low points is a lowest point of each of the reinforcing members relative to the plane, wherein each of the low points of the reinforcing members is located in the portion of the reinforcing member embedded within the midsole, and wherein the low point of a first one of the reinforcing members is located at a first distance from the tangential plane, the low point of a second one of the reinforcing members is located at a second distance from the tangential plane, and the first distance is different from the second distance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sole according to claim 1, wherein each of the reinforcing members comprises a non-linear section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sole according to claim 2, wherein the non-linear section comprises a section having a concave shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sole according to claim 3, wherein each of the low points is a localized low point located on the concave shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sole according to claim 1, wherein each of the low points is configured to support a region of metatarsophalangeal joints for a wearer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sole according to claim 1, wherein each of the low points is located at a distance of at least 5 mm beneath the plane. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sole according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing members are rod-shaped or tube-shaped members. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sole according claim 1, wherein a diameter of the reinforcing members varies. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sole according claim 1, wherein there are five reinforcing members, each corresponding to a respective metatarsal bone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sole according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing members comprise carbon fibers, a carbon fiber composite material, or a glass fiber composite material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sole according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the reinforcing members are connected by a connecting member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sole according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing members extend substantially along a longitudinal direction of the sole. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sole according to claim 1, further comprising a load distribution member arranged in a back half of the sole. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sole according to claim 13, wherein the reinforcing members and the load distribution member at least partially overlap. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The sole according to claim 13, wherein the reinforcing members and the load distribution member are independent elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The sole according to claim 1, wherein the midsole comprises a plastic foam material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sole according to claim 16, wherein the midsole comprises a lower midsole part and an upper midsole part, and wherein the reinforcing members are positioned between the lower midsole part and the upper midsole part. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The sole according to claim 17, further comprising a load distribution member arranged in a back half of the sole, wherein the reinforcing members and the load distribution member are separated by the upper midsole part. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The sole according to claim 18, wherein the load distribution member is at least partially embedded within the upper midsole part. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) A shoe comprising a sole according to claim 1. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The sole according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing members comprise hollow sections. ### Claim 22 A sole for a shoe, the sole comprising: a midsole; an outsole; reinforcing members extending in a front half of the sole and spaced apart from the outsole; and a load distribution member arranged in a back half of the sole and comprising a terminating end in a midfoot area of the sole, wherein the reinforcing members are configured to be independently deflected by forces acting on the sole during a gait cycle, wherein each of the reinforcing members comprises a portion completely embedded within the midsole of the sole, wherein each of the reinforcing members comprises a lowest point relative to a plane tangential to an uppermost forward surface of the reinforcing members and an uppermost rearward surface of the reinforcing members, wherein each of the lowest points of the reinforcing members is located in the portion of the reinforcing member embedded within the midsole, and wherein the reinforcing members and the load distribution member at least partially overlap. ### Claim 23 A sole for a shoe, the sole comprising: a plurality of reinforcing members, wherein each one of the reinforcing members comprises a first terminating end and a second terminating end; wherein the reinforcing members are configured to be independently deflected by forces acting on the sole during a gait cycle, and wherein each of the plurality of the reinforcing members is unconnected to another of the plurality reinforcing members, wherein each of the reinforcing members comprises a low point relative to a plane tangential to an uppermost forward surface of the reinforcing members and an uppermost rearward surface of the reinforcing members, wherein each of the low points is a lowest point of each of the reinforcing members relative to the plane, and wherein the low point of a first one of the reinforcing members is located at a first distance from the tangential plane, the low point of a second one of the reinforcing members is located at a second distance from the tangential plane, and the first distance is different from the second distance. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The sole according to claim 23, wherein the first terminating end is disposed in a toe area of the sole and the second terminating end is disposed in a midfoot area.