Patent ID: 7503132

Claim:
A foot-wear comprising a sole ( 3 ; 30 ) made of synthetic material, the sole ( 3 ; 30 ) having a rearfoot region, a forefoot region and a instep region between the rearfoot and the forefoot regions, each of said regions having two respective lateral portions and one medial portion between the lateral portions, each of said portions extending in a longitudinal direction of the sole ( 3 ; 30 ); sole stiffening means comprising a one-piece insert consisting of a wire member ( 4 ) having a length and being shaped to define a first end portion (A) of the insert, a second end portion (P) of the insert and an intermediate portion (M) of the insert between the first and second end portions thereof (A, P), the wire member ( 4 ) having a plurality of intermediate bends ( 4 A) to define a plurality of wire portions ( 4 B, 4 D) along the length of the wire member ( 4 ); wherein the intermediate portion (M) of the insert includes a plurality of first intermediate bends ( 4 A) of the wire member ( 4 ) to define at least one pair of first wire portions ( 4 B) arranged side by side in a transverse direction of the sole ( 3 ; 30 ), the first wire portions ( 4 B) of the respective pair being consecutive and separated from each other by a respective one of said first intermediate bends ( 4 A), the first wire portions ( 4 B) extending in the medial portion of said instep region of the sole ( 3 ; 30 ) in a substantially longitudinal direction of the sole ( 3 ; 30 ); and wherein the first end portion (A) of the insert includes a plurality of second intermediate bends ( 4 A) of the wire member ( 4 ) to define at least one pair of second wire portions ( 4 D) arranged side by side in longitudinal direction of the sole ( 3 ; 30 ), the second wire portions ( 4 D) of the respective pair being consecutive and separated from each other by a respective one of said second intermediate bends ( 4 A), the second wire portions ( 4 D) extending between the lateral portions of a respective one of said rearfoot and forefoot regions, to cross the medial portion thereof, in a substantially transverse direction of the sole ( 3 ; 30 ).