US 12,114,734 B2
Shoe sole
Kadunori Iuchi, Osaka (JP); Junichi Kikuta, Osaka (JP); and Toshiaki Aoki, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to Shimano Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed by Shimano Inc., Osaka (JP)
Filed on May 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/747,437.
Prior Publication US 2023/0371656 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. A43B 13/14 (2006.01); A43B 5/14 (2006.01); A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43C 15/16 (2006.01)
CPC A43C 15/161 (2013.01) [A43B 5/14 (2013.01); A43B 13/122 (2013.01); A43B 13/125 (2013.01); A43B 13/14 (2013.01); A43B 13/141 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shoe sole comprising:
a first sole layer including a first region having a first rigidity, and a second region having a second rigidity that is more flexible than the first rigidity and extending in a longitudinal direction of the shoe sole, the first sole layer having an inner side edge and an outer side edge; wherein
the second region is spaced from a toe edge of the first sole layer and is spaced from a heel edge of the first sole layer, the inner and outer side edges extending between the toe edge and the heel edge to define a periphery of the first shoe layer,
the first sole layer has a cleat engagement part, the cleat engagement part having at least two attachment openings, the at least two attachment openings including a toe end and a heel end, and
the second region is located between the cleat engagement part and one of the inner and outer side edges of the first sole layer, the second region includes at least one through opening, the at least one through opening being disposed adjacent to the cleat engagement part and at least one of the inner and outer side edges, the at least one through opening having a toe opening end and a heel opening end, the toe end and the heel end of the at least two attachment openings overlapping the at least one through opening in a lateral direction of the shoe sole that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.