Abstract: A shoe sole includes a midsole and an outsole having discrete outsole elements. The midsole has on the side facing the outsole a multiple of flex grooves crossing each other and creating pads in the midsole. A curved forefoot flex groove emanates from the medial side of the arc and essentially follows a path over one or more of the cuneiform bones and continues between the third and fourth metatarsal phalanges, over the third proximal phalange and continues between the first and second metatarsal phalanges in a direction towards the heel. Both the outsole elements and the pads are arranged to follow an essentially spiral curve around the curved forefoot flex groove. The sole reduces the risk of injury during running, and gives the foot increased compensation possibilities for correcting imbalances especially after heel strike.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shank adapted for being integrated into a shoe sole and for mounting a heel element, wherein said shank at its heel portion is adapted to be connected to the heel element and wherein said shank comprises an upper surface pointing towards the inner shoe. At least a part of the upper surface at the heel portion is cup-shaped and adapted for receiving sole material inside the cup when integrating said shank in said sole during moulding of said shoe sole. Thereby, due to the amount of sole material present in the heel portion, the sole material covers the means used for connecting the shank to the heel element. Thereby, based on the properties of the sole material, the heeled shoe becomes comfortable and flexible at the heel portion. The invention further relates to a sole for a shoe with a cup-shaped shank and more specifically to a shoe with a cup-shaped shank.

Abstract: An article of footwear comprising: an upper having an outer surface, a foot insertion volume and a sole facing surface; and a sole assembly comprising: a midsole having a foot facing surface, a ground facing surface, a heel region, forefoot region and an arch region between the heel region and the forefoot region in a longitudinal direction, a medial reinforcement member positioned at a medial side of the midsole and/or a lateral reinforcement member positioned at a lateral side of the midsole, where the medial and/or the lateral reinforcement member is/are configured to increase the rigidity of the midsole in a longitudinal direction in the arch region.

Abstract: An article of footwear, comprising: an upper having an outer surface, a foot insertion volume and a sole facing surface, a sole assembly comprising: a midsole having a foot facing surface, a ground facing surface, a heel region, forefoot region and an arch region between the heel region and the forefoot region in a longitudinal direction, where the midsole in the arch region comprises a medial support element covering at least a part of the cuboid bone of the foot and/or a lateral support element covering at least a part of the navicular bone, a medial reinforcement member positioned medial to the medial support element and/or a lateral reinforcement member positioned lateral to the lateral support element, where the medial and/or the lateral reinforcement member is configured to increase the rigidity of the medial support element and/or the lateral support element.

Abstract: A midsole for a shoe, in particular a running shoe, is described which midsole is asymmetric in a midfoot area, has an upper heel portion embracing the calcaneus of a wearer and has an upwardly extending toe end. In the midfoot area a vertical medial support structure originates from the midsole and supportively embraces the arch. Correspondingly, a vertical lateral support structure supports the lateral side of the foot in the midfoot area. The medial support structure covers a larger area than the lateral support structure, and is connected to the vertically extending upper heel portion of the midsole. The toe end of the midsole is extended upwardly, and provides in combination with the vertically extending upper heel portion and said vertically extending medial and lateral arch support structures a midsole which firmly embraces the foot. The result is a shoe, in particular a running shoe, which reduces the risk of injury during running.

Abstract: A midsole for a shoe, in particular a running shoe, is described which midsole is asymmetric in a midfoot area, has an upper heel portion embracing the calcaneus of a wearer and has an upwardly extending toe end. In the midfoot area a vertical medial support structure originates from the midsole and supportively embraces the arch. Correspondingly, a vertical lateral support structure supports the lateral side of the foot in the midfoot area. The medial support structure covers a larger area than the lateral support structure, and is connected to the vertically extending upper heel portion of the midsole. The toe end of the midsole is extended upwardly, and provides in combination with the vertically extending upper heel portion and the vertically extending medial and lateral arch support structures a midsole which firmly embraces the foot. The resulting shoe reduces the risk of injury during running.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article of footwear comprising an upper having a first ground facing surface; a primary sole part having a first foot facing surface defining a first volume for receiving an injected material in a cross-sectional area between the first proximal surface and the first distal surface of the upper, a second ground facing surface and a peripheral surface; and a secondary sole part having a second foot facing surface and a second ground facing surface, where the secondary sole part and extends between the upper and the primary sole part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shank adapted for being integrated into a shoe sole and for mounting a heel element, wherein said shank at its heel portion is adapted to be connected to the heel element and wherein said shank comprises an upper surface pointing towards the inner shoe. At least a part of the upper surface at the heel portion is cup-shaped and adapted for receiving sole material inside the cup when integrating said shank in said sole during moulding of said shoe sole. Thereby, due to the amount of sole material present in the heel portion, the sole material covers the means used for connecting the shank to the heel element. Thereby, based on the properties of the sole material, the heeled shoe becomes comfortable and flexible at the heel portion. The invention further relates to a sole for a shoe with a cup-shaped shank and more specifically to a shoe with a cup-shaped shank.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shank adapted for being integrated into a shoe sole and for mounting a heel element, wherein said shank at its heel portion is adapted to be connected to the heel element and wherein said shank comprises an upper surface pointing towards the inner shoe. At least a part of the upper surface at the heel portion is cup-shaped and adapted for receiving sole material inside the cup when integrating said shank in said sole during molding of said shoe sole. Thereby, due to the amount of sole material present in the heel portion, the sole material covers the means used for connecting the shank to the heel element. Thereby, based on the properties of the sole material, the heeled shoe becomes comfortable and flexible at the heel portion. The invention further relates to a sole for a shoe with a cup-shaped shank and more specifically to a shoe with a cup-shaped shank.

Abstract: A sole for a shoe, in particular for a running shoe, the sole having a polyurethane injected midsole, a longitudinally extending shank, and an outsole. The shank extends from the forefoot of the sole through an arch area to a heel area and has an opening in its heel area for receiving polyurethane during injection of the polyurethane for the midsole. Further, the shank has a cavity for receiving a comfort element. The heel area of the shank is offset to be closer to the outsole than the shank in the arch area. The sole provides a low weight sole while still providing comfort to the wearer of the shoe. By placing a comfort element in the cavity, in the heel area of the shank, which comfort element has a higher elasticity than the polyurethane of the midsole, the sole provides improved energy absorption and energy return.