IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,957,206
Granted Patent B2
US 11,957,206 · App. 16/918,905 · Granted Apr 16, 2024

Sole and shoe

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
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,957,206
App. No.
16/918,905
Granted
Apr 16, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described are soles for a shoe, in particular for a sports shoe, with a midsole. The midsole includes a first sole region, which includes particle foam. The midsole further includes a deformation region within the midsole, wherein the deformation region has a volume greater than that of a single expanded particle and is positioned so that it allows a sideward deformation of the material of the first sole region under a pressure load on the sole.

Claims (16)

1. A sole with a midsole, 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;

wherein a portion of the midsole further comprises:

a first sole region comprising 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 control element positioned proximate the first sole region; wherein the control element is free from particles of the particle foam and is formed of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyether-block amine (PEBA), and combinations thereof; and

a deformation region comprising an open space, wherein the deformation region is positioned proximate and sideward to the first sole region and the control element, wherein the deformation region comprises a volume greater than that of a single expanded particle in the particle foam and is configured to allow deformation of the particle foam into the deformation region in a sideward direction under a pressure load on the sole along a vertical direction.

2. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein the control element is configured to limit sideward deformation of the particle foam in the deformation region.

3. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein the control element at least partially bounds the first sole region on its sides.

4. A shoe with a sole according to claim 1 .

5. The sole according to claim 1 , further comprising: a second sole region comprising particle foam and providing an increasing deformation stiffness along at least one predetermined direction.

6. The sole according to claim 5 , wherein the increase in the deformation stiffness is at least partially due to an increase in density of the particle foam of the second sole region along the at least one predetermined direction.

7. The sole according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one predetermined direction extends from a medial side of the sole towards a lateral side of the sole.

8. The sole according to claim 5 , wherein the increase in deformation stiffness in the second sole region is smaller in an area where impact occurs and larger on an opposite side of the second sole region.

9. The sole according to claim 5 , wherein at least the second sole region tilts inwards toward the impact area due to a stronger compression of the second sole region in the impact area.

10. The sole according to claim 5 , wherein the first sole region extends into a forefoot region and wherein the second sole region extends into a heel region.

11. The sole according to claim 5 , wherein the first sole region and the second sole region at least partially coincide.

12. The sole according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of a shape, size, and location of the deformation region provides the deformation region with predetermined properties.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: LE, TRU HUU MINH; WARDLAW, ANGUS; MEYTHALER, DIRK; REINHARDT, STUART DAVID; WOOD, DARREN MICHAEL; WILSON, CHARLES GRIFFIN, III; WEIDL, JUERGEN; GOUSSEV, STANISLAV; ARNESE, CARL
To: ADIDAS AG
Reel/Frame 053104/0268 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15078043 · Mar 23, 2016
Provisional Application 62137139 · Mar 23, 2015
Related Publication 20200329812A1 · Oct 22, 2020
Cited By (5)
US 1,076,362 US 1,089,994 US 1,091,082 US 12,369,685 US 12,702,190