Flexible shoe sole

摘要

A sole for dance footwear such as a dance sneaker includes an outsole having forefoot, arch and heel portions and which contains openings in the forefoot and arch portions. The bottom surface of the outsole further includes a plurality of laterally extending spaced grooves. The grooves and openings provide increased flexure of the outsole from heel to toe and from side to side about a longitudinal axis of the outsole. A shank between the openings in the arch portion of the outsole supports the foot during dance movements, maintains the integrity of the shoe, and improves the aesthetics and ergonomic movement of the footwear.

主权项

1. A sole for an article of footwear, comprising
an outsole having, a longitudinal axis extending between a toe end and a heel end, said outsole containing
(a) a plurality of spaced laterally extending grooves in a lower surface thereof for increasing flexure of the outsole in a direction generally normal to said axis, a depth of the grooves being greater in an axial region of said outsole and said depth diminishing in a direction toward side portions of said outsole;(b) a forefoot portion adjacent to said toe end;(c) a heel portion adjacent to said heel end; and(d) an arch portion between said forefoot and heel portions, said forefoot portion containing at least one opening and said arch portion containing at least one opening, said openings increasing the flexure of the outsole relative to said axis, whereby when the footwear is worn, said outsole flexes with the foot during movement of the foot.