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US 9,968,157 B2Granted
Sole for a shoe
Assigneeadidas AG
InventorsAngus Wardlaw, John Whiteman, Tru Huu Minh Le, Stuart David Reinhardt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Improved soles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. A sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, is provided that includes a midsole with randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The sole further includes an element having a higher deformation stiffness in at least one direction than the expanded material. The material of the midsole at least partially surrounds the element.
Claims23
A sole for a shoe comprising:
- (a) a midsole comprising an expanded material in the form of randomly arranged particles that are directly bonded to one another at their surfaces while substantially retaining their individual particle shapes in the expanded material;
- and
- (b) an element comprising a higher deformation stiffness in at least one direction than the expanded material, wherein the element is oriented underneath a foot of a wearer;
- (c) wherein the element is at least partially embedded within and is not adhesively bonded to the expanded material of the midsole so that movement of the element is at least partially decoupled from the expanded material of the midsole to selectively increase stability of the expanded material of the midsole;
- and
- wherein the element is at least partially embedded within the expanded material of the midsole so that the element does not protrude through a surface of the expanded material of the midsole that faces the foot of the wearer when worn.
3 more elements
A sole for a shoe comprising:
- (a) a midsole comprising an expanded material in the form of randomly arranged particles that are directly bonded to one another at their surfaces while substantially retaining their individual particle shapes in the expanded material;
- and
- (b) an element comprising a higher deformation stiffness in at least one direction than the expanded material, wherein the element is oriented underneath a foot of a wearer;
- (c) wherein the element is at least partially embedded within and is not adhesively bonded to the expanded material of the midsole so that movement of the element is at least partially decoupled from the expanded material of the midsole to selectively increase stability of the expanded material of the midsole and the element extends at least partially like a skeleton throughout the expanded material of the midsole;
- and
- wherein the element is at least partially embedded within the expanded material of the midsole so that the element does not protrude through a surface of the expanded material of the midsole that faces the foot of the wearer when worn.
3 more elements
A shoe comprising a sole comprising:
- (a) a midsole comprising an expanded material in the form of randomly arranged particles that are directly bonded to one another at their surfaces while substantially retaining their individual particle shapes in the expanded material;
- and
- (b) an element comprising a higher deformation stiffness in at least one direction than the expanded material, wherein the element is oriented underneath a foot of a wearer;
- (c) wherein the element is at least partially embedded within and is not adhesively bonded to the expanded material of the midsole so that movement of the element is at least partially decoupled from the expanded material of the midsole to selectively increase stability of the expanded material of the midsole;
- and
- wherein the element is at least partially embedded within the expanded material of the midsole so that the element does not protrude through a surface of the expanded material of the midsole that faces the foot of the wearer when worn.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.