US Patent 8387278 Sole for footwear

A sole (12) for an item of footwear such as a shoe (10) includes a heel part (18) and a forefoot part (16), the forefoot part (16) including a rocker region (20). The rocker region (20) has a length extending transversely across the sole (12) and a width extending along the sole (12). The sole (12) is arranged so that in use during a gait cycle in which the sole (12) contacts a substantially planar support surface (38), a region of contact between the sole (12) and the support surface (38) moves across the width of the rocker region (20).