JP2011527924A - Improved sole construction - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention includes an outsole and an insole, and an insertion member between the outsole and the insole, wherein the insertion member includes at least one cage portion having a first cavity for accommodating a cushion member, The insole relates to a shoe sole structure including a second cavity into which the cushion member can be inserted at least in part.

Description

  The present invention relates to an improved sole structure. In particular, the present invention relates to a sole structure that has improved performance in terms of shock absorption and is comfortable on the user's foot.

  As is well known, conventional shoes typically include a shoe upper coupled with a sole structure. The sole structure includes an outsole of the shoe with a ground contact surface in contact with the ground, a midsole that supports the user's foot, and one or more that make the user's foot more comfortable. Usually equipped with insoles.

  Sole structures often include additional elements such as shanks and counter members located respectively in the arch and heel regions of the user's foot to provide additional support.

  As is well known, shock absorption is an important factor to consider in the sole structure, especially when adapting the shoe to the development of sports activities. For this reason, shoe technology is constantly focused on the development of shoe sole structures for the purpose of providing shock absorbing action.

  Most shoe sole structures employ shock absorbers made of molded elastomeric materials such as polyurethane and soft rubber, usually a recess formed in the bottom of the user's heel area, below the insole To be paid. Unfortunately, these conventional structures provide a weak and less perceptible absorption effect and exhibit severe limitations in terms of robustness and pressure resistance. The insole itself is a separation element between the user's foot and the shock absorber, thus hindering effective damping of the shock.

  In some known sole structures, the shock absorber has a path structure with a number of vertical paths with fillers disposed therein. This arrangement is characterized by a relatively weak level of compression in the direction towards the ground. This is because the vertical path is defined by a support grid having walls oriented in the same direction as the pressure applied by the user's foot. This fact severely limits shock absorption.

  In patent application US2008 / 0115389A1, the shock absorber has a cell structure that is instead oriented horizontally and partitions cells at different levels filled with a filler such as gel, silicone, polyurethane resin or soft rubber. Yes.

  This solution has the disadvantage of increasing the thickness of the sole structure. This is because a multilayer cell is required to provide a sufficient impact absorbing effect. The distance between the user's foot and the ground adversely affects the user's balance and gait control.

  Furthermore, this sole structure has been shown to be quite complex in arrangement and is relatively expensive to manufacture on an industrial level.

  Obviously from the above circumstances, a shoe sole that is quite easy to manufacture at relatively low labor costs but that can provide a significant impact absorption effect and, more generally, a high degree of satisfaction to the user's foot. The demand for structure still feels great.

  The main object of the present invention is to provide a sole structure that overcomes the drawbacks of the state of the art and satisfies the aforementioned needs. This object is achieved by a sole structure according to claim 1 of the present invention.

  In a more general definition, the sole structure according to the present invention comprises an insertion member located between the outsole and the insole, and comprises at least one car part located in the heel region of the user's foot. The cage portion includes a first cavity that accommodates the cushion member at least in part. The second cavity in the insole can insert at least a part of the cushion member.

  The sole structure according to the present invention has improved performance in terms of shock absorption and support to the user's foot, while at the same time being extremely rugged and easy to manufacture.

  Other features and advantages of the sole structure according to the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an athletic shoe having a sole structure according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective partial view of the sole structure according to the present invention of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the sole structure according to the present invention of the first embodiment. FIG. 4 schematically shows a partial side view of the sole structure of FIGS. FIG. 5 schematically shows a partial cross-sectional view of the sole structure of FIGS. FIG. 6 shows a partial side view of a sole structure according to the invention in another embodiment. FIG. 7 schematically shows a partially exploded view of the sole structure of FIG.

  Referring now to the drawings, the present invention relates to a sole structure 10 that forms a shoe 100 by typically joining to a shoe upper 11 that defines a region that normally receives a user's foot.

  The shoe sole structure 10 includes a main sole 31. The main base 31 may include a grounding surface 313. The ground plane 313 may have different shapes according to demand.

  In the cited figure, the outsole 31 is divided into two different portions 311 and 312 located in the heel region 100A and toe region 100C of the user's foot, respectively. Depending on demand, the outsole 31 may be provided with a unique portion including the arch region 100B instead.

In the heel region 100A, the outsole 31 may preferably be provided with a window (not shown) and / or made of a transparent material so that internal inspection is possible.
The bottom 31 may be made of a wear-resistant polymeric material such as rubber, thermoplastic rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane or other polyurethane material.

The shoe sole structure 10 includes an insole 33 that extends above the outsole 31 to support a user's foot.
The insole 33 is preferably made from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and includes a lower surface 332 and an upper surface 331.

  The sole structure 10 also includes one or more insoles 150 (shown only in FIG. 3) that preferably lie in an area defined by the shoe upper 11 and preferably lie on a removable insole 33.

The shoe sole structure 10 includes an insertion member 4 that is positioned at least between the outsole 31 and the midsole 33 in the heel region 100A.
The insertion member 4 includes at least one car portion 410 located in the heel region 100A.

Preferably, the cage portion 410 is made from a unique portion made of a relatively hard plastic material, such as, for example, a polyurethane material.
As an alternative, the car portion may be obtained by overlapping a number of relatively hard shells.

Advantageously, the car portion 410 may be integral with the arch portion 420 located in the arch region 100B.
As an alternative, the arch 420 may be provided as a separate part operably coupled to the insert 4 and / or the outsole 31.

The car portion 410 includes a first cavity 41 that preferably extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the ground.
The first cavity 41 preferably comprises a lower end 41A with a bottom wall 414.
The bottom wall 414 may optionally comprise a window (not shown) and / or be made from a transparent material.

In the upper end portion 41B, the first cavity 41 may instead be fully or partially opened toward the insole 33.
The insole 33 includes a second cavity 330 disposed substantially in alignment with the upper end portion 41 </ b> B so as to be connected to the first cavity 41.

The second cavity 330 is preferably a hole that penetrates the entire thickness of the insole between the surfaces 331 and 332.
In this case, the first cavity 41 is connected to the inner region of the shoe 100 defined by the shoe upper 11.

  As a possible option (not shown), the second cavity 330 may be closed on the top by a layer of material bonded to the insole 33 or by a wall integral with the insole 33. Preferably, the material layer (or the wall) is relatively thin and flexible. Further, such a material layer may be at least partially removable.

The car portion 410 preferably includes a first side wall 411. The first side wall 411 may have a horseshoe shape having a cavity toward the toe region 100C.
The side wall 411 has an inner surface 412 that partitions at least part of the periphery of the first cavity 41 in the side surface direction, and an outer surface 413 that partitions at least part of the outer shape of the sole structure 10 in the heel region 100A.

  The cage portion 410 also includes a second side wall 415 having an arcuate shape that preferably has a convex portion facing the toe region 100C. Side wall 415 advantageously partitions the remainder of first cavity 41.

In another embodiment (not shown), the first cavity 41 may be partitioned laterally by a unique side wall having an annular shape.
The cage portion 410 preferably includes one or more third cavities 43 that connect to the first cavity 41 and that advantageously extend at least partially through the first side wall 411.

  Preferably, the third cavity 43 is a hole that penetrates the entire thickness of the first side wall 411 from the inner surface 41 to the outer surface 413 so that the first cavity 41 is connected to the external environment.

  As an alternative, the third cavity may be closed at an end 43A (FIG. 2) located on the opposite side of the first cavity 41. The first cavity 41 and the third cavity 43 extend along a non-parallel direction, preferably a vertical direction.

Preferably, each side of the side wall 411 comprises a plurality of parallel third cavities 43 having a substantially tubular shape as shown in FIGS.
In another embodiment of the sole structure 10 shown in FIGS. 6-7, the car portion 10 includes two elongated cavities 43 located on one side of the first side wall 411.

In yet another embodiment (not shown), the third cavity 43 may be located along the second side wall 415 or along both the walls 411 and 415.
In general, the shape of the third cavity 43 may be any shape depending on the demand and the position along the side walls 411 and / or 415.

The first cavity 41 accommodates at least a part of the cushion member 5. The cushion member 5 preferably includes a body 51 having at least an upper portion 510. The upper portion 510 may be at least partially housed or housed in the second cavity 330.
Advantageously, at the upper portion 510, the cushion member 5 can contact the user's foot or insole 150.

When the cavity 330 is a hole that penetrates the thickness of the insole 33, an advantageous direct contact between the cushion member 5 and the user's foot or insole 150 is achieved.
Indirect contact is obtained when the cavity 330 is closed up by a thin flexible layer or wall.

  In both of these cases, the user's foot can benefit from improved cushioning. This is because the pressure of the user's heel is directly applied to the cushion member 5 and is no longer applied to the insole. Thus, the insole 33 does not weaken the cushion effect provided by the cushion member 5 at all.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the upper portion 510 is preferably inserted into the cavity 330 so as to protrude slightly from the upper surface 331. This solution significantly facilitates contact between the cushion member 5 and the user's foot or insole 150.

  According to this preferred embodiment, the top 510 has a slightly rounded profile as shown in FIG. 5, a stepped profile to ensure good coupling with the sidewalls of the second cavity 330, or a first profile. You may process according to the mushroom-like external shape for ensuring the favorable coupling | bonding with the upper surface 331 of the upper end of 2 hollows, and the midsole 33.

As an alternative, the upper portion 510 may be inserted into the second cavity 330 so as to be flush with the upper surface 331 of the midsole 33.
As yet another alternative, the upper portion 510 may be inserted only partially into the second cavity, and as a further alternative, the upper portion 510 may be located outside the cavity 330 and lined up with the cavity 330.

  In all these other embodiments (not shown), the pressure of the user's foot results in complete insertion of the upper portion 510 into the second cavity 330 and protrusion of the upper portion 510 from the upper surface 331 of the insole 33. The cushion member 5 is brought into contact with the user's foot or insole 150.

  The cushion member 5 preferably also includes one or more side portions 520 that are at least partially housed within the third cavity 43 and are advantageously machined to conform to the internal contour of the third cavity 43.

  When pressure is applied, the cushion member 5 changes its area in a predetermined manner, in particular along one or more predetermined directions 200 that are not parallel to the direction 201 in which the user's foot pressure is applied, preferably perpendicular. Arranged to be expandable.

  Preferably, the cushion member is arranged to be expandable along one or more directions 200 that are horizontal to the ground while pressure is applied along the vertical direction 201.

It should be noted how the third cavity 43 facilitates this anisotropic expansion to provide a predetermined expansion path for the cushion member 5.
Therefore, the cushion member 5 may expand through the third cavity 43 when pressure is applied (eg, for the user to lean his foot against the ground). Conversely, when pressure is released (because the user raises his foot from the ground), the cushion member 5 may recover at least in part from the initial region.

The cushion member 5 may preferably be made from a gel material, an impact-resistant elastic material (eg d3o®) or an elastomeric material.
According to the embodiment of the present invention, the cushion member 5 is formed of a molding pad filled with a gel material. This solution allows for faster expansion of the cushion member 5 when pressure is applied.

  The cushion member 5 may include a plurality of portions made of the same material made of different materials and / or having different densities, such as, for example, a plurality of layers made of different materials that overlap or be adjacent to each other. .

  As an example, the upper portion 510 may comprise a gel layer that is injected onto the body 51 comprising gels having different materials or different densities. Of course, other combinations of layers and / or materials are possible.

In another example, the body 51 may be formed by a plurality of vertical layers of different materials that have a cylindrical shape and are positioned according to a concentric arrangement.
The sole structure according to the invention makes it possible to achieve the intended aim and purpose.

  The shoe sole structure 10 includes an insertion member 4 having a cage portion 410 that includes a cavity 41 that houses the cushion member 5 and is partitioned by one or more side walls. This provides a relatively small thickness of the sole structure 10 in the heel region 100A while supporting the user's foot.

The insole 33 includes a second cavity 330 into which the cushion member 5 can be inserted.
This feature brings the cushion member into direct contact with the user's foot or insole.
Therefore, the presence of the insole 33 is no longer an obstacle to achieving maximum impact absorption and cushioning effect.

  The cushion member 5 may expand in a predetermined direction, preferably in a direction perpendicular to the applied pressure. The cage portion 410 of the insertion member 41 is constructed with a third cavity 43 so as to support the user's foot while facilitating anisotropic expansion of the cushion member 5.

  Manufacturing inspections prove that the sole structure 10 according to the invention can be easily assembled, especially at the industrial level. This feature significantly reduces manufacturing costs.

Claims (15)

A sole (31), an insole (33), and an insertion member (4) positioned between the sole and the insole,
The insertion member comprises at least one cage portion (410) located in a heel region of a user's foot;
The car portion includes a first cavity (41) for accommodating the cushion member (5) at least in part,
The shoe sole structure (10), wherein the insole includes at least a second cavity (330) into which the cushion member can be inserted at least partially.   The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the cushion member can be in contact with a user's foot or an insole (150) of the sole structure.   The shoe sole structure according to claim 2, wherein the second cavity is a hole penetrating the entire thickness of the insole.   The sole structure according to claim 3, wherein the cushion member is inserted through the hole so as to be able to enter a user's foot or an insole (150) of the sole structure.   The sole structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the car portion includes at least one side wall (411) having an inner surface (412) that at least partially defines the periphery of the first cavity. .   The sole structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the car portion includes at least one third cavity (43) connected to the first cavity.   The shoe sole structure according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the third cavity extends through at least a part of the first side wall.   The sole structure of claim 7, wherein the third cavity extends through the first side wall from an inner surface of the first side wall to an outer surface (413).   The shoe sole structure according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the third cavity has a tubular shape.   The shoe sole structure according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the third cavity has an elongated shape.   The shoe sole structure according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cushion member is capable of expanding at least partially along at least one predetermined direction when pressure is applied.   The shoe sole structure according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the cushion member is expandable along at least a part of the third cavity when pressure is applied.   The shoe sole structure according to claim 11, wherein the cushion member is inserted at least partially through the third cavity.   The shoe cushion structure according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the cushion member is made of a gel material, an elastomer material, or an impact resistant material.   A shoe (100) comprising a sole structure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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