EP0619084A1 - Athletic shoe sole assembly with flexible arches - Google Patents

Athletic shoe sole assembly with flexible arches Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0619084A1
EP0619084A1 EP94102637A EP94102637A EP0619084A1 EP 0619084 A1 EP0619084 A1 EP 0619084A1 EP 94102637 A EP94102637 A EP 94102637A EP 94102637 A EP94102637 A EP 94102637A EP 0619084 A1 EP0619084 A1 EP 0619084A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
arch
heel
portions
base portions
pair
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94102637A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Dennis R. Driscoll
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Wilson Sporting Goods Co
Original Assignee
Wilson Sporting Goods Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Wilson Sporting Goods Co filed Critical Wilson Sporting Goods Co
Publication of EP0619084A1 publication Critical patent/EP0619084A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • A43B13/187—Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
    • A43B13/188—Differential cushioning regions

Definitions

  • This invention relates to athletic shoes, and, more particularly, to a sole assembly for athletic shoes which includes flexible arch portions.
  • the design of athletic shoes requires consideration of a number of complex biomechanical principles regarding proper foot support and weight bearing structure. Such shoes are required to function properly even while the user is engaged in strenuous athletic activity which severely stresses the shoes.
  • the shoes should not only provide proper foot support, but it is advantageous if the shoes also absorb shocks and provide for energy return to the user.
  • the shoes should achieve the foregoing objectives while remaining flexible and lightweight. It is not easy to satisfy all of these somewhat competing factors in a single shoe design.
  • the invention provides a sole assembly for an athletic shoe which absorbs shocks and returns energy to the foot while remaining flexible and lightweight.
  • the sole includes a midsole which is provided with flexing arches in the weight bearing areas of the foot, namely, the heel, metatarsals, and toes.
  • An outer sole is attached to the arches, and the bottom surface of the outer sole is provided with a skid-resistant tread. Sole material is substantially eliminated between the arches to reduce weight.
  • the arches provide a spring-like function when force is applied by the foot which absorbs shocks and returns energy to the foot when the applied force decreases.
  • a wedge-shaped cut or some other form of relief can be provided in the bottom surface of the crest of each arch to create a hinge effect which will facilitate flexing of the arch without movement of the legs of the arch.
  • an athletic shoe 10 includes an upper 11, a midsole 12, and an outer sole 13.
  • the outer sole is attached to the midsole, and the midsole is attached to the upper.
  • an insole can be inserted in the shoe.
  • the midsole includes an elongated body 15 which extends below the foot and which includes a heel portion 16, an instep portion 17, a metatarsal portion 18, and a toe portion 19.
  • the body includes a top surface 20 which, in the embodiment illustrated, has raised or contoured edge portions 21 and 22, a generally flat bottom surface 23 (Fig. 3), and right and left edge portions 24 and 25.
  • a pair of arch members 25 and 26 extend downwardly from the heel portion of the body 15.
  • the arch member 25 is located at the rear of the heel and includes a curved rear surface 27.
  • the arch member 26 is spaced longitudinally forwardly of the arch 25 by a slot 28.
  • the arch 25 includes a pair of base portions 29 and 30 which have generally flat bottom surfaces and an upwardly curved concave arch surface 31 which extends laterally between the base portions.
  • the arch 26 similarly includes a pair of base portions 32 and 33 and a concave arch surface 34.
  • An arch member 36 extends downwardly from the metatarsal portion of the body 15.
  • the metatarsal arch includes a base portion 37 adjacent the left edge of the sole and a base portion 38 adjacent the right edge of the sole.
  • the arch 36 is provided with a laterally extending notch 39 which divides the base portion 38 into forward and rearward portions 38a and 38b.
  • the notch 39 can be omitted if desired.
  • the midsole illustrated in Fig. 2 is for the left foot, and the two base portions 38a and 38b are located in the portion of the midsole which supports the ball of the foot.
  • a concave arch surface 40 extends laterally between the base portions 37 and 38 and is also intersected by the notch 39.
  • An arch member 42 extends downwardly from the toe portion of the body 15.
  • the toe arch 42 includes right and left base portions 43 and 44 adjacent the right and left edges of the body and an intermediate base portion 45.
  • a concave arch surface 46 extends between the base portions 43 and 45, and a concave arch surface 47 extends between the base portions 45 and 44.
  • the toe arch 43 and the metatarsal arch 36 are separated by a slot 48.
  • the two concave arch surfaces 46 and 47 provide two arches in the toe area. If desired, the toe area can be provided with only one arch depending upon the sport category of the particular shoe for which the midsole unit is designed.
  • Right and left longitudinally extending ribs 51 and 52 are attached to the body 15 between the heel arch 26 and the metatarsal arch 36.
  • the forward ends of the ribs merge with the metatarsal arch 36 and the rear ends terminate in laterally outwardly extending portions 53 and 54.
  • a pair of laterally extending ribs 55 and 56 extend between the longitudinal ribs.
  • Each of the lateral ribs includes an arched bottom surface 57.
  • the midsole can be molded integrally, or can be formed from separate parts which are suitably secured, as by adhesive.
  • the material of the midsole is compressible and resilient, and suitable materials include ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), compression molded rubber (CMR), and polyurethane (PU).
  • EVA ethylene vinyl acetate
  • CMR compression molded rubber
  • PU polyurethane
  • Some flexible yet relatively rigid composite material such as Kevlar, graphite, or Hytrel could be laminated to the inner or lower surfaces of the arches to increase support and performance. Such composite material could also be used to enhance the mid foot structure.
  • the thickness of the body portion 15 was about 3/16 inch
  • the vertical dimension of the heel arches 35 and 26 was about 15/16 inch
  • the vertical dimension of the metatarsal arch 36 was about 5/8 inch
  • the vertical dimension of the toe arch 42 was about 1/2 inch.
  • the thickness of the arch members at the top of the arch was about 1/4 inch.
  • the body portion therefore was inclined upwardly from the toe portion to the heel portion when the midsole was supported by the base portions of the arches.
  • the bottom edges of the longitudinal ribs 51 and 52 slope gradually upwardly from the bottom surface of the metatarsal arch 36 to the bottom surface of the heel arch 26 to support the edges of the instep portion of the midsole.
  • the foregoing dimensions may vary according to the sport shown for the drawing for which the shoe is designed.
  • the outer sole 13 is substantially flat and relatively thin (see Fig. 6). However, the outer sole could have a side wall structure which could interface with the feet of the arches.
  • the outer sole includes a bottom surface 59 which is provided with a skid-resistant tread (Fig. 5) and a substantially flat top surface 60.
  • the particular tread illustrated in Fig. 5 is designed for use on a court shoe such as a basketball shoe.
  • the weight of the outer sole is reduced by a central opening 61.
  • the central opening could be filled with transparent rubber or other material which would allow the arch system to be visible.
  • the top surface 60 of the outer sole is provided with a plurality of elevated ridges or side wall portions which surround the base portions of the arches on the midsole for positioning the outer sole relative to the midsole.
  • L-shaped ridges 62 and 63 at the rear end of the heel are shaped and sized to extend along the inside and front surfaces of the base portions 29 and 30 of the heel arch 25.
  • U-shaped ridges 64 and 65 extend along the rear, inside, and front surfaces of the base portions 32 and 33 of the front heel arch 26.
  • Ridge 66 is shaped to extend around the base portian 17 of the metatarsal arch 36.
  • Ridges 67 and 68 are shaped to extend around the base portions 38a and 38b, respectively, of the metatarsal arch.
  • Ridges 67, 70, and 71 at the toe end are shaped to extend around the base portions 43-45, respectively, of the toe arch 42.
  • the ridges form a frame within which the feet of the arches can rest.
  • the feet rest within the perimeter of the ridges.
  • the foot could be provided with notches or grooves and could rest on the ridges with a tongue and groove or dove tail effect.
  • indentations instead of ridges could be formed in the outer sole into which portions of the feet of the arches would extend.
  • the outer sole is molded from material which provides the desirable properties of wear resistance and skid resistance. Suitable materials are conventional outsole rubber compounds or polyurethane. Any footwear soling compound which offers the desired properties of durability, traction, and flexion would be appropriate.
  • the outer sole is permanently attached to the midsole by adhesives, fusion, or the like.
  • Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a midsole and an outer sole for a running shoe for a right foot
  • Figures 9-12 illustrate a midsole and an outer sole for a running shoe for the left foot
  • the midsole 75 is substantially the same as the midsole 12 except that the top surface 76 is substantially flat and does not include the raised edge portions.
  • the midsole 75 similarly includes a body portion 77, a pair of heel arches 78 and 79, a metatarsal arch 80, and a toe arch 81 which correspond to the arch members previously described. Longitudinal right and left ribs 82 and 83 extend between the metatarsal arch 80 and the heel arch 79.
  • the outer sole 84 for the flat shoe is substantially the same as the outer sole 13 except that the bottom surface 85 thereof (Fig. 11) is provided with a tread which is suitable for flat shoes.
  • the upper surface 86 of the inner sole 84 is provided with raised ridges as illustrated in Figure 4 which are designed to surround the base portions of the arches on the midsole 75.
  • the arch members in the heel, metatarsal, and toe portions of the midsole are located under the primary weight-bearing areas of the sole.
  • the mid portions of the arches have less material than the ends or base portions, and the midportions flex as downward force is applied during running, jumping, etc.
  • the flexing of the compressible, and resilient material of the arches absorbs shock and cushions the foot.
  • the resilient material of the arches also acts as a spring and returns energy upwardly against the foot as the force exerted by the root decreases.
  • the material of the midsole can be substantially eliminated in the areas between the arches.
  • the relatively thin body portion provides sufficient support for the foot in the areas between the arches.
  • the midsole is therefore extremely lightweight yet still provides excellent support.
  • the voided areas between the arch members also improve ventilation through the midsole.
  • An athletic shoe 90 includes an upper 91 and a sole assembly 92.
  • the sole assembly includes a midsole 93, an outer sole 94, and a liner 95 which is sandwiched between the midsole and the outer sole.
  • Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate a sole assembly 92 for a right shoe
  • Figs. 15-20 illustrate a similar sole assembly for a left shoe.
  • the midsole 93 includes a heel portion 96, an instep portion 97, a metatarsal portion 98, and a toe portion 99.
  • a pair of arch members 100 and 101 extend downwardly from the heel portion.
  • the arch member 100 includes an upwardly curved arch surface 102
  • the arch member 101 includes an upwardly curved arch surface 103 which is corrugated or ribbed. The corrugations act as an accordion pleat and allows the material to flex and move.
  • Three arch members 105, 106, and 107 extend downwardly from the toe portion of the midsole.
  • a surface 108 extends between the arch members 105 and 106 and is curved at the juncture with the arch members.
  • a surface 109 extends between the arch member 106 and 107 and is curved adjacent the arch members.
  • a rib 111 extends along the right side of the midsole between the instep portion and the metatarsal portion.
  • a notch 112 is formed in the rib in the metatarsal area.
  • a shorter rib 113 extends along the left side of the midsole.
  • the ribs 111 and 113 are joined by cross ribs 114 and 115.
  • Recessed areas 116, 117, and 118 are provided between the ribs 111, 113, 114, and 115. The longer ribs 111 and 112 provide greater stability, and the notch 112 facilitates flexing.
  • the liner 95 includes a bottom 120 and a side wall 121 which extends upwardly around the sides and heel of the midsole 93.
  • the bottom conforms to the bottom surface of the midsole and includes heel arch portions 122 and 123 which are shaped to abut the heel arch members 100 and 101 and arch surfaces 102 and 103 of the midsole; toe arch portions 124, 125, and 126 which are shaped to abut the toe arch members 105-107 and surfaces 108-109 of the midsole, and rib portions 127, 128, 129, and 130 which are shaped to abut the ribs 111, 113-115 and recess 116-118. Openings 131, 132, 133, and 134 are extended through the bottom of the midsole.
  • the heel arch portion 123 includes a corrugated arch 135.
  • the liner is stiffer than the relatively soft midsole and provides stability and rigidity to the midsole.
  • the outer sole 94 includes a bottom surface 138 and an upwardly extending side wall 139.
  • the bottom surface of the midsole is provided with a skid-resistant tread (Fig. 20).
  • the bottom of the midsole has a shape corresponding to the bottom of the liner 95.
  • the outer sole includes a pair of pocket portions 140 and 141 which receive and support the base portions of the heel arch 122, a pair of pocket portions 142 and 143 which receive and support the base portions of the heel arch 123, pocket portions 144, 145, and 146 which receive and support the toe arch portions 124-126, and pocket portions 147 and 148 which receive and support the rib portions 127, and 128.
  • the bottom of the outer sole is provided with a central opening 149 which exposes the cross ribs 129 and 130 of the liner (Figs. 15 and 17) and the portions of the midsole which are exposed by the openings 131-134 in the liner.
  • the sole assembly 92 functions in the same way as the sole assemblies illustrated in Figs. 1-12.
  • the arch member of the midsole and the liner in the heel and toe areas and the ribs 111 and 113-115 of the midsole and 127-130 of the liner in the metatarsal and instep areas are located in the primary weight-bearing areas of the sole.
  • the mid-portions of the arches and the areas between the ribs can flex downwardly as forces are applied during running, jumping, etc.
  • the flexing of the compressible and resilient material absorbs shocks and cushions the foot and returns energy upwardly against the foot as the downward force decreases.
  • the forward portions of the ribs 111 and 113 or the midsole 93 correspond to the metatarsal arches 37 and 38 of the midsole of Fig. 2.
  • the upwardly extending recessed portion 118 of the midsole 93 corresponds to the arch surface 40 of Fig. 2 and can flex downwardly under loads applied to the sole assembly.
  • the material of the midsole 93 and the outer sole 94 can be the same as previously described.
  • the material of the liner 95 can be polyurethane, nylon, or other plastics.
  • the liner is advantageously injection molded.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)
EP94102637A 1993-02-23 1994-02-22 Athletic shoe sole assembly with flexible arches Withdrawn EP0619084A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US2122293A 1993-02-23 1993-02-23
US21222 1993-02-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0619084A1 true EP0619084A1 (en) 1994-10-12

Family

ID=21803042

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94102637A Withdrawn EP0619084A1 (en) 1993-02-23 1994-02-22 Athletic shoe sole assembly with flexible arches

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0619084A1 (ja)
JP (1) JPH0747003A (ja)
CN (1) CN1099247A (ja)
AU (1) AU5631294A (ja)
CA (1) CA2116206A1 (ja)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0777982A1 (en) * 1995-12-04 1997-06-11 Global Sports Technologies Inc. Sports footwear with a composite sole
EP0836395A1 (en) * 1995-06-05 1998-04-22 Brian Russell Sculptured athletic footwear sole construction
US5832634A (en) * 1995-12-04 1998-11-10 Fila Sport S.P.A. Sports footwear with a sole unit comprising at least one composite material layer partly involving the sole unit itself
WO1999039601A1 (en) * 1998-02-03 1999-08-12 Spenco Medical Corporation Shoe sole
US6449878B1 (en) 2000-03-10 2002-09-17 Robert M. Lyden Article of footwear having a spring element and selectively removable components
US6601042B1 (en) 2000-03-10 2003-07-29 Robert M. Lyden Customized article of footwear and method of conducting retail and internet business
US7107705B2 (en) 2002-12-23 2006-09-19 Spenco Medical Corporation Insole with improved cushioning and anatomical centering device
WO2007014712A1 (de) * 2005-08-01 2007-02-08 Puma Aktiengesellschaft Rudolf Dassler Sport Schuh, insbesondere sportschuh
US7752775B2 (en) 2000-03-10 2010-07-13 Lyden Robert M Footwear with removable lasting board and cleats

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2004281112C1 (en) * 2003-10-17 2009-01-08 Asics Corporation Sole with reinforcement structure
US7484319B2 (en) * 2005-08-12 2009-02-03 Spenco Medical Corporation Shoe insole
JP5249193B2 (ja) * 2009-12-30 2013-07-31 Ｏｐｅｎ Ｙｏｕｒ Ｅｙｅｓ 株式会社 履物
US8584377B2 (en) * 2010-09-14 2013-11-19 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with elongated shock absorbing heel system
CN108601423B (zh) * 2016-02-19 2021-03-12 彪马欧洲股份公司 用于鞋、特别是运动鞋的鞋垫

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2611122A1 (fr) * 1987-02-20 1988-08-26 Autry Ind Chaussure avec semelle intercalaire amortissante, semelle intercalaire amortissante et procede de fabrication de ladite chaussure
WO1992008383A1 (de) * 1990-11-07 1992-05-29 Adidas Ag Schuhboden, insbesondere für sportschuhe

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2611122A1 (fr) * 1987-02-20 1988-08-26 Autry Ind Chaussure avec semelle intercalaire amortissante, semelle intercalaire amortissante et procede de fabrication de ladite chaussure
WO1992008383A1 (de) * 1990-11-07 1992-05-29 Adidas Ag Schuhboden, insbesondere für sportschuhe

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0836395A1 (en) * 1995-06-05 1998-04-22 Brian Russell Sculptured athletic footwear sole construction
EP0836395A4 (en) * 1995-06-05 1999-06-30 Brian Russell SOLE STRUCTURE FOR ATHLETIC SHOES
EP0777982A1 (en) * 1995-12-04 1997-06-11 Global Sports Technologies Inc. Sports footwear with a composite sole
US5832634A (en) * 1995-12-04 1998-11-10 Fila Sport S.P.A. Sports footwear with a sole unit comprising at least one composite material layer partly involving the sole unit itself
US5918338A (en) * 1995-12-04 1999-07-06 Global Sports Technologies, Inc. Sports footwear with a sole unit comprising at least one composite material layer partly involving the sole unit itself
US6082023A (en) * 1998-02-03 2000-07-04 Dalton; Edward F. Shoe sole
WO1999039601A1 (en) * 1998-02-03 1999-08-12 Spenco Medical Corporation Shoe sole
US6449878B1 (en) 2000-03-10 2002-09-17 Robert M. Lyden Article of footwear having a spring element and selectively removable components
US6601042B1 (en) 2000-03-10 2003-07-29 Robert M. Lyden Customized article of footwear and method of conducting retail and internet business
US7752775B2 (en) 2000-03-10 2010-07-13 Lyden Robert M Footwear with removable lasting board and cleats
US7770306B2 (en) 2000-03-10 2010-08-10 Lyden Robert M Custom article of footwear
US7107705B2 (en) 2002-12-23 2006-09-19 Spenco Medical Corporation Insole with improved cushioning and anatomical centering device
WO2007014712A1 (de) * 2005-08-01 2007-02-08 Puma Aktiengesellschaft Rudolf Dassler Sport Schuh, insbesondere sportschuh

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5631294A (en) 1994-09-01
CN1099247A (zh) 1995-03-01
CA2116206A1 (en) 1994-08-24
JPH0747003A (ja) 1995-02-21

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