Patent ID: 11925238
Assignee: FITFLOP LIMITED
Field: Other consumer goods (Other fields)
Classification: CPC A  B | IPC A  B

Claim 9:
10. A method of manufacturing a sole for an item of footwear, the method comprising:
providing a midsole material comprising a thermoplastic elastomer;
placing the midsole material in a mould; and
heating the midsole material so that it expands to fill the mould,, wherein:
the midsole material has an expansion ratio of from 1.55 to 1.7;, wherein the sole has an integral raised protrusion forming an upper surface in a first portion of a heel region;
wherein the raised protrusion is surrounded by an integral annular protrusion;
the sole has first and second lateral edges;
in the forward region:
a thickness of the sole along the first and second lateral edges tapers so as to reduce in a forward longitudinal direction; and
between the first and second lateral edges, the sole comprises a first central region in which a thickness of the sole is maintained or increased in the forward longitudinal direction as the first and second lateral edges taper so as to reduce in the forward longitudinal direction, wherein the first central region is configured to be vertically beneath a ball of the user's foot in use; and

in a forwardmost tip portion the thickness of the sole along the first and second lateral edges does not taper in the forward longitudinal direction.