Shoe soles for shock absorption and energy return

摘要

A shoe sole can comprise one or more resiliently compressible elements received in a foundation and located by the foundation to underlie a portion of a foot, such as metatarsal heads, when the shoe is worn. The resiliently compressible element or elements can be shaped to reduce coupling of compression of adjacent regions of the resiliently compressible element. One or more plate elements can be positioned between the resiliently compressible elements and the foot, e.g. under the metatarsal heads. The plate elements can be separated from each other by spaces, such as slots, to reduce coupling of movement of adjacent plate elements. The plate elements can be elastically interconnected at the spaces between them. A plurality of lugs configured to contact the ground can be located on a lower surface of the foundation such that they are generally aligned with the plate elements. The plurality of lugs can be elastically interconnected.

主权项

1. A shoe sole, comprising:
at least one resiliently compressible element; a foundation comprising a recess in an upper surface of the foundation configured to receive and locate the at least one resiliently compressible element within the recess below a region of a foot during both a relaxed condition and a compressed condition of the shoe sole; a plurality of plate elements located on a top surface of and in direct contact with the at least one resiliently compressible element during both the relaxed condition and the compressed condition of the shoe sole; and a plurality of ground-engaging lugs located beneath and in direct contact with the foundation, the ground-engaging lugs generally aligned with the plate elements in a direction of compression such that at least a portion of the at least one resiliently compressible element is compressed between a plate element, and a generally aligned ground-engaging lug when the shoe sole is in the compressed condition.