초록 ▼

A shoe sole having improved cushioning characteristics is disclosed. The sole includes a midsole having a top layer of material and a bottom layer of material. In one embodiment, the top layer of material may be harder than the bottom layer of material. A pattern of lugs defining a wave may be forme

A shoe sole having improved cushioning characteristics is disclosed. The sole includes a midsole having a top layer of material and a bottom layer of material. In one embodiment, the top layer of material may be harder than the bottom layer of material. A pattern of lugs defining a wave may be formed on the bottom layer of material. The wave may generally be in the shape of sine wave so as to provide improved cushioning characteristics for the sole. An outsole may also be formed on the bottom layer of material and an upper may be connected to the top layer of material, such that a shoe is formed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A shoe sole comprising: a sole member having a first layer of material overlying a second layer of material, the first and second layers of material including opposing first and second surfaces, respectively, wherein the second surface of the first layer of material is continuously attached to th

1. A shoe sole comprising: a sole member having a first layer of material overlying a second layer of material, the first and second layers of material including opposing first and second surfaces, respectively, wherein the second surface of the first layer of material is continuously attached to the first surface of the second layer of material along at least a portion of a length of the first surface;a plurality of lugs extending along a longitudinal axis of the sole member, each of the lugs defining a crest, wherein separate axes extend transverse to the longitudinal axis through the first and second layers of material at the location of each crest, and the first and second layers of material, at least at the axes, form a solid body with the first layer of material being harder than the second layer of material, wherein each of the plurality of lugs is separated from an adjacent lug by a recess extending in a medial-lateral direction so that each of the plurality of lugs is compressible and/or deflectable independently of adjacent lugs,wherein a first and a second of the plurality of lugs extend continuously from a lateral side of the sole member to a medial side of the sole memberwherein an amplitude of at least a first of the plurality of lugs in a heel region of the sole member is greater than an amplitude of a second of the plurality of lugs in a midfoot or forefoot region of the sole member, the first layer of material being thicker in the heel region than in the midfoot or forefoot region, andwherein the lugs are arranged in a repetitive wave pattern along the sole member, the wave having a triangular or trapezoidal shape. 2. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the repetitive wave pattern extends longitudinally along the sole member. 3. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amplitude of the first and second lugs remains substantially constant between the medial and lateral sides of the sole member. 4. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second layers of material is a completely solid body of material. 5. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second surface of the first layer of material is continuously attached to the first surface of the second layer of material along an entire length of the first surface. 6. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of each lug in the medial-lateral direction substantially matches the shape of an adjacent one of the plurality of lugs in the medial-lateral direction so as to arrange the lugs in the nested configuration. 7. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pods adhered to the second surface of the second layer, each of the plurality of pods placed at sections of the first wave pattern configured to contact ground. 8. A shoe sole comprising: a sole member having a first layer of material overlying a second layer of material, the first and second layers of material including opposing first and second surfaces, respectively, wherein the second surface of the first layer of material is continuously attached to the first surface of the second layer of material along at least a portion of a length of the first surface;a plurality of lugs extending along a longitudinal axis of the sole member, each of the lugs defining a crest, wherein separate axes extend transverse to the longitudinal axis through the first and second layers of material at the location of each crest, and the first and second layers of material, at least at the axes, form a solid body with the first layer of material being harder than the second layer of material, wherein each of the plurality of lugs is separated from an adjacent lug by a recess extending in a medial-lateral direction so as to isolate adjacent lugs from each other; andan outsole engaged to the second layer of material along at least a portion of the second surface thereof, wherein each of the plurality of lugs is compressible and deflectable independently of adjacent lugs, and wherein an amplitude of at least a first of the plurality of lugs in a heel region of the sole member is greater than an amplitude of a second of the plurality of lugs in a midfoot or forefoot region of the sole member, the first layer of material being thicker in the heel region than in the midfoot or forefoot region,wherein the lugs are arranged in a repetitive wave pattern across the sole member, the wave having a triangular or trapezoidal shape, andwherein a first and a second of the plurality of lugs extend continuously from a lateral side of the sole member to a medial side of the sole member. 9. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of lugs extend continuously from a lateral side of the sole member to a medial side of the sole member. 10. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first and second lugs each has an amplitude that remains substantially constant between the medial and lateral sides of the sole member, the amplitude of the first and second lugs being measured as a maximum distance between the second surface of the first layer of material and the second surface of the second layer of material at the location of each respective crest. 11. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the first and second layers of material is a completely solid body of material. 12. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of lugs is non-linear in shape in a medial-lateral direction across the sole member and each lug includes an apex and a trough, and wherein the apex of each lug is aligned with the trough of an adjacent one of the plurality of lugs. 13. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 12, wherein the apex of each lug extends into the trough of the adjacent one of the plurality of lugs, thereby arranging the lugs in a nested configuration along the longitudinal axis of the sole member. 14. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first layer of material, at least at the axes, has a hardness of between about 60-63 Asker C, and the second layer of material, at least at the axes, has a hardness of between about 48-50 Asker C. 15. A shoe comprising: an upper;a sole member comprising:a first layer of material overlying a second layer of material, the first and second layers of material including opposing first and second surfaces, respectively, wherein the second surface of the first layer of material is continuously attached to the first surface of the second layer of material along at least a portion of a length of the first surface; anda plurality of lugs extending along a longitudinal axis of the sole member, each of the lugs defining a crest, wherein separate axes extend transverse to the longitudinal axis through the first and second layers of material at the location of each crest, and the first and second layers of material, at least at the axes, form a solid body with the first layer of material being harder than the second layer of material,wherein each of the plurality of lugs extend continuously across the sole member in a medial-lateral direction, and a recess separates adjacent lugs across an entirety of the sole member in the medial-lateral direction, such that each lug is isolated from adjacent lugs, and wherein a heel and a forefoot region of the sole member each includes a series of the plurality of lugs, an amplitude of the lugs in the heel region being greater than an amplitude of the lugs in the forefoot region; andan outsole engaged to the second layer of material along at least a portion of the second surface thereof,wherein the lugs are arranged in a repetitive wave pattern across the sole member, the wave having a triangular or trapezoidal shape. 16. The shoe as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of lugs is compressible and deflectable independently of adjacent lugs. 17. The shoe as claimed in claim 15, wherein each of the lugs has substantially the same shape in the medial-lateral direction across the sole member so as to arrange the lugs in a nested configuration along the longitudinal axis of the sole member. 18. The shoe as claimed in claim 15, wherein a first of the plurality of lugs is non-linear in shape in the medial-lateral direction and includes an apex, and a second of the plurality of lugs is non-linear in shape in the medial-lateral direction and includes a trough, the apex of the first lug being aligned with the trough of the second lug. 19. The shoe as claimed in claim 18, wherein the apex of the first lug extends into the trough of the second lug. 20. The shoe as claimed in claim 15, wherein the amplitude of each lug is measured as a maximum distance between the second surface of the first layer of material and the second surface of the second layer of material at the location of each lug's crest. 21. The shoe as claimed in claim 20, wherein the lugs each has an amplitude that remains substantially constant in the medial-lateral direction across the sole member.