Granted Patent B2

US 12,446,657 · App. 18/608,570 · Granted Oct 21, 2025

Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le (Herzogenaurach, DE); Angus Wardlaw (Herzogenaurach, DE); Dirk Meythaler (Herzogenaurach, DE); Stuart David Reinhardt (Herzogenaurach, DE); Darren Michael Wood (Gresham, OR); Charles Griffin Wilson, III (Portland, OR); Juergen Weidl (Herzogenaurach, DE); Stanislav Goussev (Herzogenaurach, DE); Carl Arnese (Herzogenaurach, DE)

Assignee: adidas AG

A43B13/188A43B7/1425A43B7/1435A43B7/144A43B7/1445A43B7/148A43B13/125A43B13/127A43B13/187

Abstract

Claims (24)

1. A sole comprising:

a midsole;

a first sole region, wherein the first sole region comprises particle foam comprising particles of an expanded material; wherein the particles of an expanded material comprise expanded polypropylene (ePP), expanded polyamide (ePA), expanded polyether-block amine (ePEBA), expanded thermos-plastic polyurethane (eTPU), or combinations thereof;

a deformation region comprising an open space within the midsole, wherein the deformation region comprises a volume greater than that of a single expanded particle and is positioned so that it allows a sideward deformation of the particle foam into the deformation region under a pressure load on the sole; and

a frame element, which completely encircles the midsole except in a toe region and which limits the sideward deformation of at least a portion of the midsole under the pressure load on the sole.

2. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein an opening within the frame element at least partially defines the deformation region.

3. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein the midsole is formed from particles of an expanded material; wherein the particles of an expanded material comprise expanded polypropylene (ePP), expanded polyamide (ePA), expanded polyether-block amine (ePEBA), expanded thermos-plastic polyurethane (eTPU), or combinations thereof.

4. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein the deformation region comprises a material that yields to the deformation of the material of the first sole region.

5. The sole according to claim 4 , wherein the yielding material has a deformation stiffness that is 5% to 40% greater than the deformation stiffness of the first region.

6. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein the frame element completely encompasses a heel region on its sides.

7. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein the frame element may further comprise a supporting element.

8. The sole according to claim 7 , wherein the supporting element is arranged on a lateral side of a heel region.

9. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein the frame element comprises at least one bar that secures the frame element on the midsole.

10. The sole according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one bar is at least partially surrounded by the particle foam of the midsole.

11. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein the deformation region is provided as a rectangular groove within a control element.

12. The sole according to claim 11 , wherein the control element limits the sideward deformation of the material in the first sole region.

13. The sole according to claim 1 further comprising a control element, wherein the control element is free from particle of the particle foam.

14. The sole according to claim 13 , wherein the control element comprises at least one of EVA, PP, PA, PS, TPU, PEBA, and combinations thereof.

15. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein the sole comprises a second sole region and wherein the second sole region has an increasing deformation stiffness along at least one predetermined direction.

16. The sole according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one predetermined direction extends from a medial side of the sole toward a lateral side of the sole.

17. The sole according claim 15 , wherein the increasing deformation stiffness along at least one predetermined direction is due to increasing density in the direction of increasing deformation stiffness.

18. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein the frame element completely encircles the midsole except in a toe region.

19. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein the first sole region is coupled to a first sole part having a grid structure.

20. The sole according to claim 19 , wherein the deformation element extends across the entirety of the grid structure.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (370)