Patent Publication Number: US-2022225730-A1

Title: Shoe with Multiple Material Sole

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/698,940, filed Nov. 27, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     APPENDIX 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to shoes having soles. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the disclosure is a shoe comprising a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The sole has a sole top side facing the upper and a sole bottom side adapted and configured to engage a ground surface, the sole extending longitudinally from a sole heel end to a sole toe end, the sole extending transversely from a sole lateral edge to a sole medial edge. The sole has a sole heel region, a sole midfoot region, and a sole forefoot region, the sole heel region extending longitudinally from the sole heel end to the sole midfoot region, the sole midfoot region extending longitudinally from the sole heel region to the sole forefoot region, the sole forefoot region including a sole metatarsal region, a sole ball region, and a sole toe region, the sole metatarsal region extending longitudinally from the sole midfoot region to the sole ball region, the sole ball region extending longitudinally from the sole metatarsal region to the sole toe region, and the sole toe region extending longitudinally from the sole ball region to the sole toe end. The sole comprises a midsole and an outsole. The midsole is a one-piece body. The midsole has a midsole heel region in the sole heel region, a midsole midfoot region in the sole midfoot region, and a midsole forefoot region in the sole forefoot region, the midsole midfoot region extending longitudinally from the midsole heel region to the midsole forefoot region, the midsole forefoot region including a midsole metatarsal region in the sole metatarsal region, a midsole ball region in the sole ball region, and a midsole toe region in the sole toe region, the midsole metatarsal region extending longitudinally from the midsole midfoot region to the midsole ball region, the midsole ball region extending longitudinally from the midsole metatarsal region to the midsole toe region. The midsole comprises at least a first midsole portion, a second midsole portion circumscribing the first midsole portion, and a third midsole portion circumscribing the second midsole portion and circumscribing the first midsole portion. The first midsole portion has a first midsole durometer hardness, the second midsole portion has a second midsole durometer hardness greater than the first midsole durometer hardness, and the third midsole portion has a third midsole durometer hardness different from the second midsole durometer hardness. The outsole is secured to a bottom surface of the midsole and has an outsole durometer hardness greater than the second midsole durometer hardness. 
     According to another aspect of the disclosure, a shoe comprises a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The sole has a sole top side facing the upper and a sole bottom side adapted and configured to engage a ground surface, the sole extending longitudinally from a sole heel end to a sole toe end, the sole extending transversely from a sole lateral edge to a sole medial edge. The sole has a sole heel region, a sole midfoot region, and a sole forefoot region, the sole heel region extending longitudinally from the sole heel end to the sole midfoot region, the sole midfoot region extending longitudinally from the sole heel region to the sole forefoot region, the sole forefoot region including a sole metatarsal region, a sole ball region, and a sole toe region, the sole metatarsal region extending longitudinally from the sole midfoot region to the sole ball region, the sole ball region extending longitudinally from the sole metatarsal region to the sole toe region, and the sole toe region extending longitudinally from the sole ball region to the sole toe end. The sole comprises a midsole and an outsole. The midsole is a one-piece body. The midsole has a midsole heel region in the sole heel region, a midsole midfoot region in the sole midfoot region, and a midsole forefoot region in the sole forefoot region, the midsole midfoot region extending longitudinally from the midsole heel region to the midsole forefoot region, the midsole forefoot region including a midsole metatarsal region in the sole metatarsal region, a midsole ball region in the sole ball region, and a midsole toe region in the sole toe region, the midsole metatarsal region extending longitudinally from the midsole midfoot region to the midsole ball region, the midsole ball region extending longitudinally from the midsole metatarsal region to the midsole toe region. The midsole includes at least a first midsole portion of a first color, a second midsole portion of a second color different from the first color, and a third midsole portion of a third color different from the second color. The second midsole portion circumscribes the first midsole portion. The third midsole portion circumscribes the second midsole portion and circumscribes the first midsole portion. The outsole is secured to the midsole and is sufficiently translucent so that the first, second, and third midsole portions are discernable and distinguishable one from another by a person of normal, unaided vision viewing the outsole. 
     Further features and advantages of the disclosed subject matter, as well as its operation, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a bottom medial rear perspective view of a shoe in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom medial front perspective view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevation view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a lateral side elevation view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a medial side elevation view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8A  is a bottom plan view of a shoe according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom plan view of a sole of the shoe of  FIG. 8  or the shoe of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 10  is a lateral side elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a medial side elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a rear elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 14  is a front elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 15  is a medial cross-sectional elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 16  is a front cross-sectional elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 17  is a front cross-sectional elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 18  is a front cross-sectional elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 19  is a front cross-sectional elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 20  is a bottom plan view of a shoe in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 20A  is a bottom plan view of a portion of a shoe according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a bottom plan view of a sole of the shoe of  FIG. 20  or the shoe of  FIG. 20A . 
         FIG. 22  is a lateral side elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 23  is a medial side elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 24  is a top plan view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 25  is a rear elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 26  is a front elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 27  is a medial cross-sectional elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 28  is a front cross-sectional elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 29  is a front cross-sectional elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 30  is a front cross-sectional elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 21 . 
         FIG. 31  is a front cross-sectional elevation view of the shoe sole of  FIG. 21 . 
       Reference numerals in the written specification and in the figures indicate corresponding items. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of a shoe in accordance with the present disclosure is indicated by reference numeral  10  and depicted in  FIGS. 1-8 . Another embodiment is a shoe  10 ′ depicted in  FIG. 8A . A sole  12  of the shoe  10  is illustrated by line drawings in  FIGS. 9-19 . Another embodiment is a shoe  20 , depicted in  FIG. 20 . Still another embodiment is a shoe  20 ′, depicted in  FIG. 20A . A sole  22  of the shoe  20  is illustrated by line drawings in  FIGS. 21-31 . 
     The shoe  10  comprises the sole  12  and an upper  14  secured to the sole  12 . The sole  12  has a sole top side  16  facing the upper and a sole bottom side  18  adapted and configured to engage a ground surface, the sole  12  extending longitudinally from a sole heel end  21  to a sole toe end  23 . The sole  12  extends transversely from a sole lateral edge  24  to a sole medial edge  26 . The sole  12  has a sole heel region  28 , a sole midfoot region  30 , and a sole forefoot region  32 , the sole heel region  28  extending longitudinally from the sole heel end  21  to the sole midfoot region  30 , the sole midfoot region  30  extending longitudinally from the sole heel region  28  to the sole forefoot region  32 , the sole forefoot region  32  including a sole metatarsal region  34 , a sole ball region  36 , and a sole toe region  38 , the sole metatarsal region  34  extending longitudinally from the sole midfoot region  30  to the sole ball region  36 , the sole ball region  36  extending longitudinally from the sole metatarsal region  34  to the sole toe region  38 , and the sole toe region  38  extending longitudinally from the sole ball region  36  to the sole toe end  23 . 
     The sole  12  comprises a midsole, indicated generally at  40 , and an outsole, indicated generally at  42 , secured to a bottom surface  62  of the midsole  40 . The midsole  40  is a one-piece body having a midsole heel region  44  in the sole heel region  28 , a midsole midfoot region  46  in the sole midfoot region  30 , and a midsole forefoot region  48  in the sole forefoot region  32 , the midsole midfoot region  46  extending longitudinally from the midsole heel region  44  to the midsole forefoot region  48 , the midsole forefoot region  48  including a midsole metatarsal region  50  in the sole metatarsal region  34 , a midsole ball region  52  in the sole ball region  36 , and a midsole toe region  54  in the sole toe region  38 , the midsole metatarsal region  50  extending longitudinally from the midsole midfoot region  46  to the midsole ball region  52 , the midsole ball region  52  extending longitudinally from the midsole metatarsal region  50  to the midsole toe region  54 . 
     The midsole  40  includes a first midsole portion  56  of a first color, a second midsole portion  58  of a second color different from the first color, the second midsole portion  58  circumscribing the first midsole portion  56 . A third midsole portion  60  of a third color different from the second color circumscribes the second midsole portion  58  and circumscribes the first midsole portion  56 . The third color may also be different from the first color. The outsole  42  is sufficiently translucent so that the first, second, and third midsole portions  56 ,  58 ,  60  are discernable and distinguishable one from another by a person of normal, unaided vision viewing the outsole  42 . The first, second, and third midsole portions  56 ,  58 ,  60  extend from the midsole bottom surface  62  to a top surface  64  of the midsole  40 . The third midsole portion  60  extends to a perimeter  66  of the midsole, which is also the perimeter of the third midsole portion  60 . The second midsole portion  58  contacts the entire perimeter of the first midsole portion  56 , and the third midsole portion  60  contacts the entire perimeter of the second midsole portion  58 . 
     The first midsole portion  56  is softer than the second midsole portion  58 ; that is, the first midsole portion  56  has a first midsole durometer hardness less than a second midsole durometer hardness of the second portion  58 . The third midsole portion  60  has a third midsole durometer hardness different from the second midsole durometer hardness. The third midsole durometer hardness may by greater than or equal to the first midsole durometer hardness and greater than or less than the second midsole durometer hardness. The outsole  42  is typically harder than any of the midsole portions  56 ,  58 ,  60 . In an embodiment, the first midsole portion  56  is of a first ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam having a durometer hardness of about 55+/−2 Asker C, the second midsole portion  58  is of a second EVA foam having a durometer hardness of about 60-70 Asker C, and the third midsole portion  60  is of a third EVA foam having a durometer hardness of about 60+/−2 Asker C. The outsole  42  is of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) rubber having a durometer hardness of about 70+/−2 Shore A. 
     The midsole bottom surface  62  has a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart flex grooves  70  formed thereon, each flex groove  70  having an area extending transversely from the sole lateral edge  24  to the sole medial edge  26  and longitudinally between a flex groove rear edge  72  and a flex groove front edge  74 . The sole  12  devoid of the outsole  42  in the area of each flex groove  70 . In the illustrated embodiments, midsole portions  56 ,  58 , and  60  are exposed in the area of each flex groove  70 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8A , a sole  12 ′ of the shoe  10 ′ comprises a colored outsole  42 ′ that is sufficiently translucent such that the midsole portions  56 ,  58 ,  60  of the midsole  40  are discernable and distinguishable one from another by a person of normal, unaided vision viewing the outsole  42 ′. 
     In the embodiment of a shoe depicted in  FIG. 20  and illustrated by line drawings in  FIGS. 21-31 , the sole  22  of shoe  20  comprises a lugged outsole  76  with a plurality of traction ribs  78  formed thereon. Like sole  12 , sole  22  is devoid of its outsole  76  in the areas of its flex grooves  70 . In the embodiment of a shoe partially depicted in  FIG. 20A , the sole  22  of shoe  20 ′ comprises a lugged outsole  76 ′ that is sufficiently translucent such that the midsole portions  56 ,  58 ,  60  of the midsole  40  are discernable and distinguishable one from another by a person of normal, unaided vision viewing the outsole  76 ′. 
     In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the invention has several advantages over the prior art. 
     As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents 
     It should also be understood that when introducing elements of the present invention in the claims or in the above description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be open-ended and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, the term “portion” should be construed as meaning some or all of the item or element that it qualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as first, second, and third should not be construed in a manner imposing any relative position or time sequence between limitations.