Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
  • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
  • A43B13/18—Resilient soles
  • A43B13/20—Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas
  • A43B13/206—Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
  • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
  • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
  • A43B13/18—Resilient soles
  • A43B13/187—Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/06—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated
  • A43B7/08—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures
  • A43B7/081—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures the air being forced from outside

Definitions

• the present invention relates to improved articles of footwear, particularly shoes having improved step cushioning and ventilation of the foot of the wearer. More particularly still, it relates to improvements in midsoles.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,608,768 issued September 2, 1986, to Cavanagh discloses the use of plugs which are inserted in an openwork support forming a midsole.
• the plugs are made of a material that is harder than that of the midsole.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,831,749 issued May 23, 1989, to Tsai discloses a footwear including a ventilating and massaging insole having a plurality of upper be m ads protruding upwardly to touch a wearer's foot and a plurality of lower beads protruding downwardly to ride on a footwear sole so that upon a depression of a wearer's foot on the insole, an air flow will be pumped through holes each hole formed between each upper bead and each lower bead for ventilating the wearer's foot and for massaging the same.
• U.S. Patent No. 4,685,224 issued August 11, . 1987, to Anger discloses the use of a labyrinth of ventilation channels between the top-sole of a shoe and the underside of the foot. This is intended to provide a pumping effect to move air around and ventilate the foot of the wearer.
• U.S. Patent 3,418,731 issued December 31, 1968, to Anciaux discloses the use of an insole for a shoe provided with upper and lower surfaces of resilient material, and the upper surface of the sole being provided with a plurality of blind recesses, and the bottom surface being provided with corresponding projections so as to provide some ventilation during the action of walking.
• the apparently closest background art encountered in the preparatory search is U.S. Patent 4,845,863 issued July 11, 1989, to Lin Yung-Mao which discloses the use of an insole or midsole in an active wear shoe.
• conventional midsoles do not offer anything in the way of independent suspension or deformation of various areas thereof, and further are suited to only a particular weight class or cushionability preference of wearers.
• the present invention is not directed to an objective of maximizing, or even obtaining, energy return to the walkers, but to the objective of shock-absorbing relatively gentle shocks of the steps of a normal walker and simultaneously ventilating the inside of the shoes worn.
• the present invention provides an article of footwear which includes in the sole area a number of vertical plugs or columns adapted to easily compress and bulge with each step of the wearer.
• This provides a shock-absorbing element of special value as it provides a comfortable base for the foot, fairly conformable to its sole contours, and cushions each step of the wearer.
• the compressibility of the thermoplastic material is such that the plugs are compressed and significantly deformed to cushion each step of the wearer, the deformation being accompanied by substantial bulging of the plugs, and the compression, bulging, and subsequent recovery of the shape of the plugs providing significant flow of air in the sole region, for ventilating the article of footwear.
• One embodiment of the present invention provides a midsole or part midsole adapted for inclusion in an article of footwear, to provide step cushioning and ventilation for the wearer.
• the midsole or part midsole comprises a web portion adapted to extend along at least a portion of an outsole of the footwear and includes a cushioning element comprising a plurality of plugs projecting perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the web.
• Each plug is made of elastic but easily compressible thermoplastic rubber or the like. The plugs are distributed on a web so as to provide a comfortable base for the foot of a wearer to cushion each step of the wearer.
• the distribution, size and number of the plugs, and the compressibility of the material is such that the plugs are easily deformed and significantly compressed to cushion each step of the wearer, the compression being accompanied by substantial bulging of the plug.
• the compression, bulging, and subsequent recovery of the shape of the plug provides movement of the surrounding air, for ventilation of the article of footwear.
• the invention provides an article of footwear comprising an outsole and an upper, the outsole being provided with a plurality of upstanding plugs formed of resilient easily compressible material.
• the plugs are distributed on the outsole so as to provide a comfortable base for the foot of a wearer, and to cushion the steps of a wearer.
• the distribution, size and number of said plugs and the compressibility of the plastic is such that the plugs are deformed and significantly compressed to cushion each step of the wearer, the compression being accompanied by substantial bulging of the plug.
• the compression, bulging, and subsequent recovery of the shape of the plug providing a significant flow of air along the outsole, for ventilation of the article of footwear.
• Figure 1 shows a plan view of a midsole manufactured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention
• Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a portion of a web shown in Figure 1;
• Figures 3, 4, and 5 are side elevations of a portion of web as shown in Figure 2, illustrating three embodiments of the upstanding plugs of the invention
• Figure 6 shows a different embodiment of a web, provided with a sock-sole
• Figure 7 shows a cut-away view of a complete shoe embodying one aspect of this invention
• Figure 8 shows a further embodiment of the inventive concept employing the compressible plugs
• Figure 9 shows an outsole provided with cavities or spaces for installation of partial midsole sections of the type shown in Figure 2;
• FIGS 10 and 11 show sections of web such as shown in Figure 2, with variations in the shape of the plugs;
• Figure 12 shows a toe portion 41 of a web as shown in Figure 9, in which the forwardmost plugs 53 are somewhat progressively shorter in length to suit a specific installation;
• Figure 13 shows a variation of the invention
• Figure 14 shows a partial midsole construction in the heel of a shoe according to the present invention.
• Figure 15 shows a variation of the present invention as applied to the heel of a women's shoe or sandal.
• FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a plan view of a midsole shown generally as web 10 which is provided with a large number of upstanding plugs 11. These plugs are disposed in this embodiment along the entire midsole 10, which extends from the toe portion 12 through the ball portion 13 to the heel portion 14.
• each plug 11 is upstanding with respect to the web 10, and is affixed to the web at its proximal end.
• Each plug 11 in this embodiment displays a central aperture 16.
• the entire midsole 10 is preferably manufactured by injection molding, in which case the web 10 of the midsole as well as the plugs 11 are of the same material, and in which case the web 10 is highly flexible but not air-permeable. Such midsole then would be suitable for inclusion in an article of footwear, where the web 10 is in contact with the top of the outsole and the plugs 11 project upwardly.
• the most suitable material found for such midsole is that known as "Supersoft" thermoplastic resin available from GLS PLASTICS of Woodstock, IL 6009 ⁇ , U.S.A. (sold by them under item #G3294) .
• the material is made from a thermoplastic compound known as "Kraton”TM supplied by the Shell Chemical Company.
• the preferred Kraton compounds are Kraton D-2104 and
• the resulting Supersoft thermoplastic yields a midsole material having Durometer readings below 30, and preferably in the vicinity of 20. In spite of the softness of the resultant midsole, it still exhibits excellent elasticity and long life. Of course, there are other materials besides Kraton, such as Estane, polyvinyl chloride or rubber. The requisite characteristics of the material is that they yield plugs 11 that are easily compressible and significantly deformable (generally having Durometer readings below appr. 30) but that have long life and good elasticity in order to spring back to their original shape once compressive forces have been removed. The shape of the plugs 11 is not critical, and whether they are hollow or solid does not generally affect their deformability. In the embodiment of Figure 1 they are made hollow in order to save thermoplastic resin.
• FIGs 2 and 3 show portions of the midsole shown in Figure 1 in perspective view and side elevation respectively.
• this embodiment is provided with lower projections 20, which provide a small amount of ventilation below the midsole.
• the plugs are shown as items 20 and 21. It will be seen that in the embodiments shown in Figure 4, the plugs are of varying thickness (i.e., height). Such thickness or height is of course discretionary, but values below 10 mm would appear reasonable.
• FIG 6 shows an embodiment in which a portion of midsole as shown in Figure 3 is provided with a top web 25, which suitably can be prepared of porous material, or it can be a perforated material, thereby providing for some movement of air.
• the plugs 11 are shown compressively deformed and bulging.
• Figure 7 shows a cut-away view of a shoe embodying one form of the present invention, in which the midsole shown in Figure 1 is in place on top of outsole 31 in a shoe.
• a flexible, air- permeable top-sole 30 is in place over the midsole.
• Figure 8 shows a variation wherein the outsole 31 in the embodiment shown in Figure 7 is replaced by outsole 32, which is provided with a multiplicity of pockets 33 adapted to receive and retain plugs 11 of the type discussed above, thus eliminating the need for the web 10 to retain these plugs in place.
• Plugs 11 may be retained permanently in holes 33 by adhesion means, or any other suitable means.
• Figure 9 shows an embodiment wherein an outsole 42 is provided during manufacture with cut-away portions 43 and 44 so that suitably sized and shaped sections 40 and 41 of web such as shown in Figures. 2, 3, etc., fit directly into the spaces, thereby taking up less vertical room in the interior of the footwear.
• the web sections 40 and 41 comprising the "midsole” are also thus held effectively in place against lateral movement. It is, of course, possible to provide only one of the sections 40 and 41.
• Figure 10 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which a section of the web 10 such as shown in Figure 2 is provided with plugs 50, which are solid plugs instead of the hollow plugs 11 shown in Figure 2. It may be necessary to use even softer material for the plugs 50, in order to maintain the desired high degree of compressibility, yielding a suitable extent to compression under the step of a wearer, while allowing the plug to bulge, and recover.
• FIG 11 shows still another embodiment of the present invention in which a portion of the web 10 similar to that in Figure 2 is provided with upstanding plugs 51 which are hollow, but essentially square in cross section.
• plugs 51 which are hollow, but essentially square in cross section.
• Such variables as the resiliency of the plastic material, the height and shape of the plugs, the distribution and number of the plugs per unit of area, variations in the heights of various plugs, or rows of plugs, hollow versus solid plugs, and the thickness of the walls in such hollow plugs, can all be varied for the purpose of achieving the objectives of the present invention. Satisfactory results have been obtained using plugs having a cross-sectional area of appr. 0.5 cm with a wall thickness of 1 to 3 mm if hollow.
• Figure 12 shows a further variation of the invention, in which the plugs are not all of the same length, wherein in insert 41 similar to the one shown in Figure 9, for the toe portion of a shoe or sandal, as may be seen from Figure 12, the plugs 11 grow progressively shorter through plugs 52 to 53 as they approach the toe.
• the lengths of the plugs may be varied in any suitable manner to accommodate the geometry of the inside of the item of footwear.
• Figure 13 shows a further embodiment of a portion of a web in accordance with the present invention, wherein the plugs in the upper and lower webs are facing each other for added cushioning.
• the upper web should be flexible and preferably also air-permeable.
• FIG 14 the inner part of a heel section 60 of an outsole or midsole is shown which has a square recess 61 in it.
• the recess 61 has inserted therein a single large diameter cylindrical plug 62 which is shown in its fully compressively deformed position for explanatory purposes.
• the compres ⁇ ive deformation is causing the plug 62 to bulge but, of course, only to partially fill in the space between its circumference and the corners of the recess 61, thus pumping air upwards every time the plug 62 bulges.
• a heel section 70 of a women's shoe or sandal is shown, which has shown in it, for purposes of explanation, cylindrical recesses 71 and rectangular recess 72. Of course, any other polygonal recess may be used. Plugs 73 and 74, when installed in the recesses stick out as desired due to the recesses being shallower than the thickness or length of the plugs.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
• Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
• Materials For Medical Uses (AREA)
• Prostheses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (3)

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ID=23897129

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Citations (5)

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• 1990
  • 1990-07-25 CN CN90104876A patent/CN1053884A/zh active Pending
• 1991
  • 1991-02-04 EP EP91904105A patent/EP0594589B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-02-04 WO PCT/US1991/000590 patent/WO1991011928A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1991-02-04 AT AT91904105T patent/ATE185951T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1991-02-04 JP JP3504469A patent/JPH05503451A/ja active Pending
  • 1991-02-04 CA CA002075989A patent/CA2075989A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1991-02-04 HU HU922576Q patent/HU9202576D0/hu unknown
  • 1991-02-04 RO RO92-01078A patent/RO109029B1/ro unknown
  • 1991-02-04 BR BR919106003A patent/BR9106003A/pt active Search and Examination
  • 1991-02-04 RU SU915053045A patent/RU2085096C1/ru active
  • 1991-02-04 AU AU72426/91A patent/AU648064B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1991-02-04 KR KR1019920701886A patent/KR0148225B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1991-02-04 DE DE69131755T patent/DE69131755D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1991-02-04 HU HU922576A patent/HUT63545A/hu unknown
  • 1991-02-07 YU YU20891A patent/YU20891A/sh unknown
  • 1991-02-08 IN IN126CA1991 patent/IN175339B/en unknown
  • 1991-02-08 PL PL91289003A patent/PL167270B1/pl unknown
  • 1991-02-08 CZ CS91317A patent/CZ280447B6/cs unknown
  • 1991-02-08 GR GR910100070A patent/GR1001110B/el unknown
• 1992
  • 1992-08-07 FI FI923565A patent/FI923565A/fi not_active Application Discontinuation

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