Patent Description:
Conventionally, a shoe having a structure that lessens an impact applied to a foot at the time of grounding is known. For example, <CIT> discloses a sole that includes a midsole body including a mounting recess in a rearfoot portion and a soft buffer body mounted to the mounting recess. An upper surface of the mounting recess includes a large number of mountains and valleys arranged in a lattice shape. A lower surface of the soft buffer body includes a large number of mountains and valleys arranged in a lattice shape. Each mountain and each valley of the soft shock buffer body fit into the valley and mountain of the mounting recess. Sectional shapes of the upper surface of the midsole body and the lower surface of the soft buffer body are formed in a substantially wavy shape.

Document <CIT> discloses a sole provided with a midsole and a buffer, wherein protrusions are received by cavities.

In the sole as described in <CIT>, because relatively large shearing force acts on the buffer member at the time of grounding, there is a concern that the buffer member is excessively shear-deformed with respect to the midsole body.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a sole and a shoe capable of preventing the excessive shear deformation of the buffer member with respect to the midsole body.

A sole according to the claimed invention is disclosed by independent claim <NUM>; a shoe provided with such a sole is disclosed by independent claim <NUM>.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to below, the same or corresponding member is denoted by the same reference numeral. In the following description, terms such as a longitudinal direction, a width direction, a front, and a rear are used. Terms indicating these directions indicate directions as viewed from the viewpoint of the wearer wearing a shoe <NUM> placed on a flat surface P (see <FIG>) such as the ground. For example, the front refers to a toe side and the rear refers to a heel side. In addition, an inside refers to a first toe side of the foot in the width direction, and an outside refers to a fifth toe side of the foot in the width direction.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating a shoe according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a plan view of the sole. <FIG> is a sectional view taken along a line III-III in <FIG>. <FIG> is a sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in <FIG> illustrates a sole <NUM> for a left foot, but the sole <NUM> is also applicable to a right foot. In this case, the sole for the right foot is formed in a shape symmetrical with or substantially similar to the sole for the left foot. For example, the shoe <NUM> of the embodiment can be applied as sports shoes such as running or walking shoes, and the use of the shoe <NUM> is not limited.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the shoe <NUM> includes the sole <NUM> and an upper <NUM>.

The upper <NUM> is connected to the sole <NUM> and is located above the sole <NUM>. The upper <NUM> forms a space accommodating the foot of the wearer together with the sole <NUM>. The upper <NUM> covers an upper surface of the foot. A middle bottom (not illustrated) may be connected to a lower portion of the upper <NUM>. In this case, the middle base is connected to the surface of the sole <NUM>.

The sole <NUM> constitutes a part of the shoe <NUM>. The sole <NUM> is connected to the lower portion of the upper <NUM>. The sole <NUM> includes an outer sole <NUM> and a midsole <NUM>.

The outer sole <NUM> constitutes a grounding portion. The outer sole <NUM> is made of resin, rubber, or the like.

The midsole <NUM> is provided on the outer sole <NUM>. The upper <NUM> is disposed on the midsole <NUM>. That is, the midsole <NUM> is provided between the upper <NUM> and the outer sole <NUM>. A lower surface of the midsole <NUM> is covered with the outer sole <NUM>. Only a part of the lower surface of the midsole <NUM> may be covered with the outer sole <NUM>, or an entire area of the lower surface of the midsole <NUM> may be covered with the outer sole <NUM>.

The midsole <NUM> includes a midsole body <NUM> and a buffer member <NUM>.

The midsole body <NUM> is provided on the outer sole <NUM>. The midsole body <NUM> includes a surface S. When an intermediate bottom is provided, the intermediate bottom is disposed on the surface S. The midsole body <NUM> has Asker C hardness greater than or equal to HC <NUM>.

For example, the midsole body <NUM> is formed of a resin foam material containing a resin material as a main component and a foaming agent or a crosslinking agent as an accessory component. For example, a resin foam such as a polyolefin resin, a polyurethane resin, a nylon resin, or an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer can be suitably used as the resin material. Alternatively, the midsole body <NUM> may be formed of a rubber foam material including a rubber material as the main component and a plasticizer, a foaming agent, a reinforcing agent, and a crosslinking agent as the accessory components. For example, butadiene rubber can be suitably used as the rubber material. The midsole body <NUM> is not limited to the above materials, but may be formed of a resin or a rubber material having appropriate strength and an excellent buffer property.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the midsole body <NUM> has a forefoot region R1, a midfoot region R2, and a rearfoot region R3.

The forefoot region R1 is a region overlapping with the forefoot portion of the wearer of the shoe <NUM> in a thickness direction of the sole <NUM>. The forefoot portion is a portion located in the longitudinal direction of the shoe <NUM> in the foot of the wearer, namely, at a front portion of a foot length direction (vertical direction in <FIG>). The forefoot region R1 is a region located in a range of about <NUM>% to <NUM>% from a front end toward a rear end of the shoe <NUM> with respect to the entire length of the shoe <NUM>.

The foot length direction is a direction parallel to a shoe center SC (see <FIG>). The shoe center SC is not limited to the center line of the shoe <NUM>, but may be a line corresponding to a straight line connecting the center of a calcaneus B10 of the standard wearer of the shoe <NUM> and a first toe and a second toe gap.

The midfoot region R2 is a region overlapping with a midfoot portion of the wearer of the shoe <NUM> in the thickness direction of the sole <NUM>. The midfoot portion is a portion located at a central portion in the longitudinal direction of the foot of the wearer. The midfoot region R2 is a region located in the range of about <NUM>% to <NUM>% from a distal end toward the rear end of the shoe <NUM> with respect to the entire length of the shoe <NUM>.

The rearfoot region R3 is a region overlapping with the rearfoot portion of the wearer of the shoe <NUM> in the thickness direction of the sole <NUM>. The rearfoot portion is a portion located at a rear portion of the foot of the wearer in the longitudinal direction. The rearfoot region R3 is a region located in the range of <NUM>% to <NUM>% from the front end toward the rear end of the shoe <NUM> with respect to the entire length of the shoe <NUM>.

A mounting portion <NUM> mounting the buffer member <NUM> is formed on at least the surface S of the rearfoot region R3. In the embodiment, the mounting portion <NUM> is formed in the range from the rearfoot region R3 to the midfoot region R2. As illustrated in <FIG>, the rear end of the mounting portion <NUM> is formed at a position overlapping with a calcaneus B10 of the wearer in the thickness direction of the sole <NUM>. The front end of the mounting portion <NUM> is located on a lateral foot side of a heel center HC. More specifically, the front end of the mounting portion <NUM> is formed at the position overlapping with a cuboid bone B20 of the wearer in the thickness direction of the sole <NUM>. That is, the mounting portion <NUM> has a shape extending from the position overlapping with the calcaneus B10 of the wearer to the position overlapping with the cuboid bone B20 in the thickness direction of the sole <NUM>. The heel center HC means a straight line connecting the center of the calcaneus B10 of the standard wearer of the shoe <NUM> and a third toe and a fourth toe.

<FIG> illustrates a section of the shoe <NUM> along a line segment AB, a line segment BC, a line segment CD, and a line segment DE in <FIG>. A point A is an intersection of a shoe center SC and the front end of the sole <NUM>. A point B is an intersection between the rear end of the second metatarsal bone and the shoe center SC. A point C is an intersection of the rear portion of a lateral cuneiform bone and the heel center HC. A point D is an intersection of the heel center HC and the shoe center SC. A point E is an intersection of the shoe center SC and the rear end of the sole <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and the like, the mounting portion <NUM> includes a reference surface <NUM> and a protrusion <NUM>.

The reference surface <NUM> is formed at the position recessed from the surface S toward the outer sole <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and the like, the reference surface <NUM> is formed in a slightly-curved shape so as to protrude toward the outer sole <NUM> side (lower side). However, the reference surface <NUM> may be formed flat.

The protrusion <NUM> has a shape protruding from the reference surface <NUM> toward the side (upper side) opposite to the side where the outer sole <NUM> is located. The protrusion <NUM> includes a plurality of protruding elements <NUM> having shapes protruding from portions of the reference surface <NUM> separated from each other. In the embodiment, each protruding element <NUM> is formed in a hexagonal columnar shape. However, each protruding element <NUM> may be formed in a cylindrical shape or a triangular prism shape. Each protruding element <NUM> is preferably formed in a polygonal shape in planar view, and particularly preferably formed in a polygonal shape greater than or equal to a pentagon.

As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and the like, each protruding element <NUM> has a front side surface 122a, a rear side surface 122b, and a top surface 122c. The front side surface 122a is formed at the front portion in the foot length direction. The rear side surface 122b is formed at the rear portion in the foot length direction. The top surface 122c is constituted of the surface of the protruding element <NUM>. The top surface 122c is formed flat. The top surface 122c is formed at the position closer to the reference surface <NUM> than the surface S. As illustrated in <FIG>, a corner between the rear side surface 122b and the top surface 122c is formed in a curved shape.

The buffer member <NUM> is a member absorbing the impact mainly applied to the heel at the time of grounding. The buffer member <NUM> is formed separately from the midsole body <NUM>. The buffer member <NUM> is mounted on the mounting portion <NUM> in a non-adhesive state. The buffer member <NUM> is made of a material having hardness lower than that of the material constituting the midsole body <NUM>. The hardness of the buffer member <NUM> is preferably about HC <NUM> to HC <NUM> in Asker C hardness, and more preferably about HC <NUM>.

The material constituting the buffer member <NUM> may be basically any material as long as the material is a material rich in elastic force, but may be a resin foam such as a polyolefin resin, a polyurethane resin, a nylon resin, or an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer that is the same as the material constituting the midsole body <NUM>. In this case, the hardness can be made lower than that of the midsole body <NUM> by adjusting the foaming ratio of the material constituting the buffer member <NUM>.

The buffer member <NUM> may be formed of a polymer composition. In this case, olefin-based polymers such as olefin-based elastomers and olefin-based resins can be cited as an example of the polymer contained in the polymer composition. Polyethylene (for example, linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and the like), polypropylene, an ethylene-propylene copolymer, a propylene-<NUM> hexene copolymer, a propylene-<NUM> methyl <NUM> pentene copolymer, a propylene-<NUM> butene copolymer, an ethylene-<NUM> hexene copolymer, an ethylene-<NUM> methyl-pentene copolymer, an ethylene-<NUM> butene copolymer, a <NUM>-butene-<NUM> hexene copolymer, a <NUM>-butene-<NUM> methyl-pentene, an ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, an ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, an ethylene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, an ethylene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, an ethylene-butyl acrylate copolymer, a propylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, a propylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, and a propylene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, Examples thereof include polyolefins such as a propylene-butyl methacrylate copolymer, a propylene-methyl acrylate copolymer, a propylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, a propylene-butyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA), and a propylene-vinyl acetate copolymer can be cited as an example of the olefin-based polymer.

For example, the polymer may be an amide-based polymer such as an amide-based elastomer or an amide-based resin. Polyamide <NUM>, polyamide <NUM>, polyamide <NUM>, polyamide <NUM>, and polyamide <NUM> can be cited as an example of the amide-based polymer.

For example, the polymer may be an ester-based polymer such as an ester-based elastomer or an ester-based resin. Polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate can be cited as an example of the ester-based polymer.

For example, the polymer may be a urethane-based polymer such as a urethane-based elastomer or a urethane-based resin. Polyester-based polyurethane and polyether-based polyurethane can be cited as an example of the urethane-based polymer.

For example, the polymer may be a styrene-based polymer such as a styrene-based elastomer or a styrene-based resin. A styrene-ethylene-butylene copolymer (SEB), a styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS), a hydrogenated product of SBS (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer (SEBS)), a styrene-isoprene-styrene copolymer (SIS), a hydrogenated product of SIS (styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene copolymer (SEPS)), a styrene-isobutylene-styrene copolymer (SIBS), styrene-butadiene-styrene-butadiene (SBSB), and styrene-butadiene-styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBSBS) can be cited as an example of the styrene elastomer. Polystyrene, acrylonitrile styrene resin (AS), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin (ABS) can be cited as an example of the styrene-based resin.

For example, the polymer may be an acrylic polymer such as polymethyl methacrylate, a urethane-based acrylic polymer, a polyester-based acrylic polymer, a polyether-based acrylic polymer, a polycarbonate-based acrylic polymer, an epoxy-based acrylic polymer, a conjugated diene polymerization-based acrylic polymer and hydrogenated products thereof, a urethane-based methacrylic polymer, a polyester-based methacrylic polymer, a polyether-based methacrylic polymer, a polycarbonate-based methacrylic polymer, an epoxy-based methacrylic polymer, a conjugated diene polymerization-based methacrylic polymer and hydrogenated products thereof, a polyvinyl chloride-based resin, a silicone-based elastomer, a butadiene rubber (BR), an isoprene rubber (IR), a chloroprene (CR), a natural rubber (NR), a styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), an acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), and a butyl rubber (IIR).

As illustrated in <FIG> and the like, the buffer member <NUM> has a recess <NUM>. The recess <NUM> has a shape capable of receiving the protrusion <NUM>. In the embodiment, the recess <NUM> includes a plurality of recessed elements <NUM> each of which is capable of receiving the protruding element <NUM>. Each recessed element <NUM> includes a surrounding wall <NUM> and a top wall <NUM>.

The surrounding wall <NUM> has a shape that entirely surrounds a periphery of the protruding element <NUM>. The surrounding wall <NUM> preferably surrounds the entire periphery of the protruding element <NUM>, but may have a configuration in which a part in the circumferential direction is interrupted. An inner peripheral surface of the section of the surrounding wall <NUM> in a plane orthogonal to the thickness direction of the sole <NUM> has the hexagonal shape. A lower surface <NUM> of the surrounding wall <NUM> is opposite to the reference surface <NUM>. The lower surface <NUM> may be in contact with the reference surface <NUM>, or be separated from the reference surface <NUM>. In the embodiment, the lower surface <NUM> of the surrounding wall <NUM> is in contact with the reference surface <NUM>. The thickness of the surrounding wall <NUM> surrounding one protruding element <NUM> of the plurality of protruding elements <NUM> is larger than the thickness of the one protruding element <NUM> over the entire region in the circumferential direction of the surrounding wall <NUM>. The thickness of the protruding element <NUM> means a length between the reference surface <NUM> and the top surface 122c of the protruding element <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the surrounding wall <NUM> of each recessed element <NUM> is connected to the surrounding wall <NUM> in the recessed element <NUM> adjacent to the recessed element <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the buffer member <NUM> includes a support point <NUM> that supports the calcaneus B10. The thickness of the buffer member <NUM> is maximum at the support point <NUM>. The thickness of the surrounding wall <NUM> in the plurality of recessed elements <NUM> gradually decreases from the support point <NUM> toward the front in the foot length direction (the left side in <FIG>).

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the surrounding wall <NUM> has a front opposing surface 222a and a rear opposing surface 222b. The front opposing surface 222a is opposite to the front side surface 122a in the foot length direction. The rear opposing surface 222b is opposite to the rear side surface 122b in the foot length direction. As illustrated in <FIG>, a gap Sr between the rear side surface 122b and the rear opposing surface 222b in the foot length direction is larger than a gap Sf between the front side surface 122a and the front opposing surface 222a in the foot length direction.

The top wall <NUM> has a shape that closes an upper portion of the surrounding wall <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the top wall <NUM> is opposite to the top surface 122c of the protruding element <NUM> while a gap interposed therebetween. The thickness of the top wall <NUM> is smaller than the thickness of the surrounding wall <NUM>. The surface of the top wall <NUM> is formed to be flush with the surface of the surrounding wall <NUM>.

As described above, in the sole <NUM> of the embodiment, because the recess <NUM> includes the surrounding wall <NUM> having a shape surrounding the entire periphery of the protrusion <NUM>, the excessive shear deformation of the buffer member <NUM> can be prevented with respect to the midsole body <NUM> at the time of grounding. Accordingly, both the buffer property and the high stability are achieved.

Hereinafter, modifications of the above embodiment will be described.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the protrusion <NUM> has the plurality of protruding elements <NUM> and the recess <NUM> has the plurality of recessed elements <NUM> has been illustrated. However, the protrusion <NUM> may be constituted of the single protruding element <NUM> and the recess <NUM> may be constituted of the single recessed element <NUM>. In the above embodiment, an example in which the reference surface <NUM> and the protrusion <NUM> are provided on the mounting portion <NUM> of the midsole body <NUM> while the recess <NUM> is provided on the buffer member <NUM> has been illustrated. However, the recess may be provided on the mounting portion <NUM> and the reference surface and the protrusion may be provided on the buffer member <NUM>. In this way, the deformation of the mounting portion <NUM> of the midsole body <NUM> at the time of grounding is further prevented, so that the higher stability can be obtained.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an angle θ2 formed by the reference surface <NUM> and the rear side surface 122b may be larger than an angle θ1 formed by the reference surface <NUM> and the front side surface 122a. In the example of <FIG>, the angle θ1 is set to <NUM> degrees. In this way, an effect that the rear side surface 122b that dominantly acts on the deformation at the time of grounding is easily deformed while the front side surface 122a that dominantly acts on the taking-off toward the separated ground easily contributes to the catching of the buffer member <NUM> can be obtained.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the angle θ1 formed by the reference surface <NUM> and the front side surface 122a may be formed at an acute angle, and the angle θ2 formed by the reference surface <NUM> and the rear side surface 122b may be formed at an obtuse angle. In this way, the effect of catching the front side surface 122a is further enhanced as compared with the second modification.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the section of the protruding element <NUM> on the plane orthogonal to the thickness direction of the sole <NUM> may be formed in a circular or elliptical shape. Also in this example, the angle θ2 formed by the reference surface <NUM> and the rear side surface 122b may be larger than the angle θ1 formed by the reference surface <NUM> and the front side surface 122a. Also in this example, the same effects as those of the second modification can be obtained.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the section of the protruding element <NUM> on the plane orthogonal to the thickness direction of the sole <NUM> may be formed in a triangular shape. In this case, the front side surface 122a is preferably orthogonal to the foot length direction. Also in this example, the angle θ2 formed by the reference surface <NUM> and the rear side surface 122b may be larger than the angle θ1 formed by the reference surface <NUM> and the front side surface 122a. Also in this example, the same effects as those of the second modification can be obtained.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the section of the protruding element <NUM> on the plane orthogonal to the thickness direction of the sole <NUM> may be formed in a quadrangular shape. In this case, the front side surface 122a is preferably orthogonal to the foot length direction. Also in this example, the angle θ2 formed by the reference surface <NUM> and the rear side surface 122b may be larger than the angle θ1 formed by the reference surface <NUM> and the front side surface 122a. Also in this example, the same effects as those of the second modification can be obtained.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the mounting portion <NUM> may be divided into a first region RE1, a second region RE2, and a third region RE3. In <FIG>, the first region RE1 and the second region RE2 are hatched.

The first region RE1 means the region located on the side of the midfoot region R2 and the medial foot side of the mounting portion <NUM>. In this example, five protruding elements <NUM> are arranged in the first region RE1. The second region RE2 means the region located on the side of the midfoot region R2 and the lateral foot side of the mounting portion <NUM>. In this example, four protruding elements <NUM> are arranged in the second region RE2. The third region RE3 means the region other than the first region RE1 and the second region RE2 in the mounting portion <NUM>. In this example, eight protruding elements <NUM> are arranged in the third region RE3.

The angle θ2 formed by the reference surface <NUM> and the rear side surface 122b is formed so as to increase in order of the protruding element <NUM> arranged in the first region RE1, the protruding element <NUM> arranged in the second region RE2, and the protruding element <NUM> arranged in the third region RE3.

In this aspect, the shear deformation amount of each surrounding wall <NUM> in the first region RE1 and the second region RE2 is smaller than the shear deformation amount of each surrounding wall <NUM> in the third region RE3, so that the stability at the time of grounding is improved. Furthermore, the shear deformation amount of each surrounding wall <NUM> in the first region RE1 is smaller than the shear deformation amount of each surrounding wall <NUM> in the second region RE2, so that the generation of pronation at the time of grounding is prevented.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the mounting portion <NUM> may be divided into the first region RE1 and other regions. The range of the first region RE1 and the number of the protruding elements <NUM> arranged in the range of the first region RE1 are the same as those in the seventh modification. In <FIG>, the first region RE1 is hatched.

The height of each of the protruding elements <NUM> arranged in the first region RE1 is formed to be larger than the height of each of the protruding elements <NUM> arranged in other regions. As a result, the gap between the protruding element <NUM> and the recessed element <NUM> in the first region RE1 is smaller than the gap between the protruding element <NUM> and the recessed element <NUM> in other regions. The height of each of the protruding elements <NUM> arranged in the first region RE1 may gradually increase toward the medial foot side in the foot width direction.

In this aspect, the shear deformation amount of each surrounding wall <NUM> in the first region RE1 is smaller than the shear deformation amount of each surrounding wall <NUM> in other regions, so that the generation of the pronation at the time of grounding is prevented.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the density of the protruding elements <NUM> in the front region of the mounting portion <NUM> may be higher than that in the rear region.

In this aspect, the stability at the time of grounding is improved, and the weight is smoothly moved from grounding to taking-off.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the mounting portion <NUM> may be divided into a fourth region RE4, a fifth region RE5, and a sixth region RE6. In <FIG>, the fourth region RE4 and the fifth region RE5 are hatched.

The fourth region RE4 means the region located on the side of the midfoot region R2 and on the medial foot side of the mounting portion <NUM>. In this example, four protruding elements <NUM> are arranged in the fourth region RE4. The fifth region RE5 means a region outside the fourth region RE4 in the foot width direction. In this example, three protruding elements <NUM> are arranged in the fifth region RE5. The sixth region RE6 means the region other than the fourth region RE4 and the fifth region RE5 in the mounting portion <NUM>. In this example, ten protruding elements <NUM> are arranged in the sixth region RE6.

The outer shape of the protruding element <NUM> is formed so as to increase in order of the sixth region RE6, the fifth region RE5, and the fourth region RE4.

In this aspect, the shear deformation amount of each surrounding wall <NUM> in the fourth region RE4 and the fifth region RE5 is smaller than the shear deformation amount of each surrounding wall <NUM> in the sixth region RE6, so that the stability at the time of grounding is improved. Furthermore, the shear deformation amount of each surrounding wall <NUM> in the fourth region RE4 is smaller than the shear deformation amount of each surrounding wall <NUM> in the fifth region RE5, so that the generation of the pronation at the time of grounding is prevented.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the sole <NUM> may further include a holding member <NUM> that holds the buffer member <NUM> in the state of being mounted on the mounting portion <NUM>. The holding member <NUM> is made of a nonwoven fabric. The holding member <NUM> is bonded to the surface S of the midsole body <NUM>. The holding member <NUM> may include an annular portion <NUM> and a bridging portion <NUM>.

The annular portion <NUM> has a shape extending over a boundary portion between the surface S of the midsole body <NUM> and the surface of the buffer member <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the annular portion <NUM> is formed in an annular shape extending over the entire boundary portion. As indicated by a thick line in <FIG>, only a portion outside the boundary portion in the annular portion <NUM> is bonded to the surface S of the midsole body <NUM>. Thus, the positions of the buffer member <NUM> and the midsole body <NUM> are appropriately fixed, and degradation of the buffer property due to curing of the adhesive can be prevented at an inner portion of the boundary portion.

The bridging portion <NUM> is connected to the annular portion <NUM>. The bridging portion <NUM> has a shape extending in the foot width direction. The bridging portion <NUM> is not bonded to the buffer member <NUM>. Thus, a decrease in buffer property due to curing of the adhesive can be prevented at this portion. The bridging portion <NUM> may be omitted.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the sole <NUM> may further include a holding member <NUM> that holds the buffer member <NUM> in the state of being mounted to the mounting portion <NUM>. The holding member <NUM> is made of a resin film (urethane film or the like). The holding member <NUM> includes a covering portion <NUM> and an overhang <NUM>.

The covering portion <NUM> covers the surface of the buffer member <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the covering portion <NUM> may cover the entire surface of the buffer member <NUM>, or cover only a part of the surface of the buffer member <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the overhang <NUM> overhangs to the outside of the buffer member <NUM> in planar view. The overhang <NUM> has a shape connected in an annular shape outside the covering portion <NUM>. As indicated by a thick line in <FIG>, the overhang <NUM> is bonded to the surface S of the midsole body <NUM>. Thus, the positions of the buffer member <NUM> and the midsole body <NUM> are appropriately fixed.

Claim 1:
A sole (<NUM>) constituting a part of a shoe (<NUM>), the sole comprising:
a midsole body (<NUM>) having a surface (S); and
a buffer member (<NUM>) made of a material having hardness lower than that of a material constituting the midsole body,
wherein the midsole body (<NUM>) includes:
a forefoot region (R1) that overlaps with a forefoot portion of a wearer of the shoe in a thickness direction of the sole;
a midfoot region (R2) that overlaps with a midfoot portion of the wearer of the shoe in the thickness direction of the sole; and
a rearfoot region (R3) that overlaps with a rearfoot portion of the wearer of the shoe in a thickness direction of the sole,
a mounting portion (<NUM>) that mounts the buffer member is formed on the surface (S) of the rearfoot region,
the buffer member (<NUM>) is mounted on the mounting portion in a non-adhesive state,
wherein:
the midsole body (<NUM>) includes a reference surface (<NUM>); and
a protrusion (<NUM>) that protrudes from the reference surface toward the buffer member,
the buffer member (<NUM>) includes a recess (<NUM>) that is capable of receiving the protrusion, and
the recess includes a surrounding wall (<NUM>) having a shape that entirely surrounds a periphery of the protrusion,
the protrusion (<NUM>) includes a plurality of protruding elements (<NUM>) having shapes protruding from portions separated from each other on the reference surface,
the recess (<NUM>) has a plurality of recessed elements (<NUM>) each of which is capable of receiving each protruding element of the plurality of protruding elements, and characterized in that
an angle θ2 formed by the reference surface (<NUM>) and a rear side surface (122b) of the protruding elements (<NUM>) formed at a rear portion in a foot length direction is larger than an angle θ1 formed by the reference surface (<NUM>) and a front side surface (122a) of the protruding elements (<NUM>) formed at a front portion in the foot length direction.