EP0706767B1 - Outsole for a sports shoe such as a tennisshoe - Google Patents

Outsole for a sports shoe such as a tennisshoe Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0706767B1
EP0706767B1 EP95114841A EP95114841A EP0706767B1 EP 0706767 B1 EP0706767 B1 EP 0706767B1 EP 95114841 A EP95114841 A EP 95114841A EP 95114841 A EP95114841 A EP 95114841A EP 0706767 B1 EP0706767 B1 EP 0706767B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
outsole
projection
recesses
ground
recess
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP95114841A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0706767A1 (en
Inventor
Joachim Rduch
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.)
Adidas AG
Original Assignee
Adidas AG
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 Adidas AG filed Critical Adidas AG
Publication of EP0706767A1 publication Critical patent/EP0706767A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0706767B1 publication Critical patent/EP0706767B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • A43B13/22—Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer
    • A43B13/223—Profiled soles

Definitions

  • the invention concerns an outsole of elastically deformable material for a sports shoe such as a tennis shoe.
  • Shoes such as tennis shoes and other sports shoes which are intended for use on relatively hard playing surfaces cannot generally have gripping elements which project downwardly from the ground-engaging side of the outsole of the shoe, as such gripping elements cannot or should not penetrate into the playing surface when a weight is applied to the shoe. This applies for example in regard to sports shoes which are intended for sports and games which are performed indoors on hard surfaces such as wooden floors and the like.
  • the outsole of such a shoe frequently has cup-shaped recesses which perform a kind of suction cup function.
  • Shoes intended for use in situations like those outlined above may therefore be provided with a sole profiling in the form of a multiplicity of recesses in the ground-engaging side of the outsole, in order thereby to enhance the non-slip nature of the outsole.
  • the profiling on the ground-engaging side of the outsole is in the form of suction cups, formed by projections in the form of circular rings. Projecting from the bottom of each of those suction cups is a respective peg which projects beyond the edge of the circular rings.
  • the intention with that configuration is that the pegs can loosen any dirt which has penetrated into the suction cups and remove same, by virtue of the bending and deformation effects occuring when the pegs are subjected to a loading in use of the shoe. It has been found however that the desired self-cleaning effect is only highly incomplete while in addition that outsole is not suitable for sports shoes which are to be used both in the open air and also on relatively smooth and possibly hard surfaces.
  • the FR-A-2308324 discloses a shoe with an air-cooled insole comprising a network of air channels arranged above the outsole of the shoe. Further, a series of cells or voids are provided to reduce the overall weight of the shoe.
  • the document discloses an outsole of elastically deformable material for a sports shoe having a sole profiling and comprising a multiplicity of recesses in the ground-engaging side of the outsole having an elastically deformable bottom, a plurality of projections being connected to said elastically deformable bottom of said respective recesses, said projection is projecting towards the ground engaging side of said outsole such that in a non-deformed condition of the bottom the projection is not projecting beyond said ground engaging side of the outsole.
  • a self-cleaning effect of the profile is not addressed in this document.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide an outsole for a shoe such as a sports shoe and more especially a tennis shoe which affords an improved self-cleaning effect without thereby adversely affecting the grip of the outsole.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved outsole for a sports shoe which enjoys universal suitability for use on smooth and rough surfaces with a good gripping action and a self-cleaning effect.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide an outsole of elastically deformable material for a sports shoe which enjoys good grip by virtue of a suction cup-like effect while exhibiting a self-cleaning action.
  • ground-engaging side is used here to denote the side of the outsole which in use is intended to engage the ground and is therefore the side of the outsole which in the normal position of use faces downwardly.
  • the invention is primarily based on the realization that deformation, which occurs under the effect of a loading applied to the outsole, of the peg projecting from the bottom of a suction cup in the sole profiling, as in the above-described prior construction, is not adequate to displace therefrom dirt which has penetrated into same to a significant degree.
  • the projection performs significant upward and downward movements under the alternating loading applied to the outsole in use thereof, even if the projections are of very small dimensions, because the bottom of each recess is designed in the manner of an elastic diaphragm which, with a suitable loading applied to the projection, can move into the free space disposed above the above-mentioned diaphragm portion.
  • the bottom of the recess which constitutes the diaphragm portion, causes the projection to move back into its starting position again and in so doing displaces out of the recess any dirt which has penetrated into same.
  • the length of the projection does not exceed the depth of the recess, that is to say the projection does not project downwardly beyond the edge of the recess, there is only a slight tendency on the part of the projection to be held fast at the peripheral surface of the recess, by dirt which has penetrated into same.
  • the upward and downward movement of the projection which is necessary to produce the self-cleaning effect and which is guaranteed by the bottom of the recess which can move in a diaphragm-like manner can always be sufficiently large, substantially irrespective of the size of the recesses, by virtue of a suitable choice in respect of the thickness of the bottom of each recess.
  • the essential consideration in regard to mobility of the bottom of each recess is the space disposed thereabove.
  • the space can be formed by a suitable opening on the side of the sole layer having the profiling, being the side which is towards the foot of the person wearing the shoe on which the outsole is used.
  • the outsole may be of a multi-layer structure comprising the sole layer having the sole profiling and a further sole layer disposed thereabove. Openings may be provided on the underneath side of the further sole layer, corresponding to the recesses in the layer of the sole which has the sole profiling.
  • the recesses are of a cup-like configuration and each contain only one respective projection. It is however also possible for more than one projection to be arranged in a correspondingly larger recess. In that case, at least the bottom region of the recess, which immediately adjoins those projections, is elastically deflectable and stretchable in a diaphragm-like manner.
  • each projection In addition to the edge of the recess, the end edge of each projection also engages into the court or playing surface with a positively locking engagement if the end face of the projection is substantially flat and is flush with the ground-engaging side of the outsole. This increases the gripping capability of the outsole, in comparison with a profiling which involves just cup-shaped recesses. It has been found however that, if the end of the projection is rounded off or curved, that can afford a markedly increased amount of grip, in comparison with just ordinary recesses. Therefore, a considerable self-cleaning effect is achieved even in the case of relatively shallow recesses in which the projection is substantially in the form of a shallow dish or a lens-like portion.
  • the sole material is an elastically deformable material such as rubber or rubber-like material.
  • the projection it is possible for the projection to be made from a relatively hard and substantially non-deformable material as the important consideration, in regard to the desired mode of operation, is only the elastic deformability of the bottom of each recess in the region which surrounds or adjoins the respective projection.
  • the projection it is necessary for the projection to be connected to the bottom of the respective recess in a suitable fashion, for example by being formed directly thereon in an injection-molding process.
  • the projection is formed integrally with the bottom of the respective recess and from the same material as the outsole itself.
  • a further possible configuration provides that the diaphragm-like bottom of each recess is formed by a thin elastically deformable sole layer which carries the projections and which is fixed on the top side of the sole or wearing layer which has the recesses.
  • the recesses are through holes which extend through the wearing layer and which for example can be formed therein by stamping.
  • the sole layer having the projections is joined in surface contact throughout to the top side of the wearing layer, in order thereby to produce the local deformation and resulting upward and downward movements of the bottom of the respective recesses.
  • an outsole for a sports shoe such as a tennis shoe which is generally identified by reference numeral 1
  • the projection 3 thus constitutes a kind of short peg in the recess 2.
  • the entire ground-engaging side of the outsole is occupied by approximately 120 recesses 2, of which however the drawing clearly shows only the recesses 2 which are disposed in the ball region 4 of the foresole portion, the recesses disposed on the rearsole 5, and some recesses which are to be found in the arch region 6.
  • the further recesses 2 which are disposed at positions other than the above-indicated areas of the outsole are only diagrammatically indicated.
  • the illustrated configuration is intended to express the fact that complete occupation of the outsole 1 with recesses 2 is conceivable, but preferably it is only the ball region 4 and the heel region 5 of the outsole that are provided with group-like arrangements of recesses 2 in the illustrated manner, with for example about 50 recesses 2 on the foresole portion.
  • the remaining part of the ground-engaging side of the outsole which is of less significance in regard to the grip afforded by the sole by virtue of the lower level of loading applied thereto can in this case be substantially smooth.
  • the recesses are of a diameter of about 10 mm and a depth of between about 1 and 1.5 mm.
  • each recess 2 extends inwardly in a toroidal configuration and forms a bottom 8 which surrounds in an annular configuration the projection 3 which projects therefrom towards the ground-engaging side of the outsole.
  • the peripheral surface 3' of the projection 3 extends the wall of the recess 2, also in a toroidal configuration, and extends to a relatively sharp edge 9 at the end face 10 of the projection 3, which is at the ground-engaging side of the outsole.
  • openings 12 Formed in the outsole 1 on the side thereof which is towards the foot of the wearer of the shoe in which the outsole 1 is fitted are openings 12, disposed at locations corresponding to the respective recesses 2 on the ground-engaging side of the outsole 1.
  • the openings 12 extend into the outsole 1 to such an extent that the annular bottom 8 of each recess 2 is of relatively small thickness, being here for example 1 mm.
  • a respective abutment body as indicated at 14 projects from the side of the bottom 8 that is towards the foot, into the free space formed by the recesses 12.
  • the height of the abutment body 14 constitutes approximately half the depth of the opening 12.
  • the outsole 1 comprises rubber or a rubber-like material and the recesses 2, the openings 12 and the projections 3 and abutment bodies 14 respectively provided therein are formed integrally with the outsole 1.
  • the end faces 10 are involved in the frictional engagement with the floor surface, that affords the grip of the outsole 1.
  • the desired gripping capability of the sole profiling is achieved by virtue of the fact that, as a result of the relative softness and roughness of the surface on which the shoe is used, said or earth passes into the recesses 2 and that gives rise to a kind of positive locking engagement with the surface, with the edges of the recesses 2 and the edges 9 of the end faces 10 of the projections 3 digging into the playing surface.
  • the projections 3 of at least a majority of the recesses 2 are displaced inwardly by virtue of the respective projections 3 being suspended in an elastically yielding manner on the annular bottom 8 of the respective recess.
  • the extent of penetration of the projection 3 into the associated recess 2 is determined predominantly by the elastic stretchability of the annular recess bottom 8 which thus acts as a kind of diaphragm.
  • Figure 3 showing a modified embodiment which differs from that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 only by virtue of the end face 10' of the projection 3 being curved in a lens-like configuration.
  • the projection 3 does not project beyond the ground-engaging side of the outsole 1, but is at least substantially in one plane therewith, at the apex of its end face 10'.
  • the projection 3 in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 is substantially in the form of a small plate portion with a sharp edge, while in the embodiment shown in Figure 3 it is in the shape of half a lens configuration.
  • the end faces 10 and 10' respectively do not need to extend in one plane with the ground-engaging surface of the outsole 1, but can be disposed in such a position as to be set further into the respective recess 2.
  • More than one projection may also be arranged in a recess, when of suitable size.
  • the recesses do not have to extend in a rounded configuration towards the bottom 8 thereof but may also be cylindrical so that an edge is formed with the annular bottom 8 of the recess.
  • the projection itself may also have a cylindrical peripheral surface so that an edge is also formed between the peripheral surface and the annular bottom 8.
  • the recesses do not have to be arranged as close together as is shown in Figure 1.
  • the spacings between the individual recesses and therewith also the number thereof can be selected having regard to the intended purpose of the sports shoe to be equipped with the outsole according to the invention.

Landscapes

  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
EP95114841A 1994-10-11 1995-09-21 Outsole for a sports shoe such as a tennisshoe Expired - Lifetime EP0706767B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE9416333U DE9416333U1 (de) 1994-10-11 1994-10-11 Laufsohle für einen Sportschuh, insbesondere Tennisschuh
DE9416333U 1994-10-11

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0706767A1 EP0706767A1 (en) 1996-04-17
EP0706767B1 true EP0706767B1 (en) 2000-12-20

Family

ID=6914727

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95114841A Expired - Lifetime EP0706767B1 (en) 1994-10-11 1995-09-21 Outsole for a sports shoe such as a tennisshoe

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0706767B1 (ja)
JP (1) JPH08252102A (ja)
AT (1) ATE198129T1 (ja)
DE (2) DE9416333U1 (ja)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1287224B1 (it) * 1996-03-29 1998-08-04 D B A S R L Suola per calzature
JP4286584B2 (ja) * 2003-05-15 2009-07-01 輝彩工房株式会社 靴底
ES1056719Y (es) * 2004-01-23 2004-08-16 Cauchos Ruiz Alejos S A Suela para calzado.
FR2912038A1 (fr) * 2007-02-07 2008-08-08 Michelin Soc Tech Chaussure de sport de haute performance
IT1391646B1 (it) * 2008-11-07 2012-01-17 Gommus Societa Cooperativa Per Azioni Fondo per calzature.
ES2447217B1 (es) * 2012-07-26 2015-01-08 Calzados Hergar, S.A. Suela para calzado
DE102013100432A1 (de) * 2013-01-16 2014-07-31 Deeluxe Sportartikel Handels Gmbh Sohle
US20200128913A1 (en) * 2018-10-31 2020-04-30 Wolverine Outdoors, Inc. Footwear with active gripping outsole
USD888391S1 (en) 2018-10-31 2020-06-30 Wolverine Outdoors, Inc. Footwear sole

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1559450A (en) * 1922-03-06 1925-10-27 Essex Rubber Company Shoe sole
GB205161A (en) * 1922-07-06 1923-10-08 Frederick William Hilliar Improvements in and relating to rubber bodies such as tyres, boot soles and the like
US1653059A (en) * 1923-04-27 1927-12-20 Nels H Nelson Shoe tread
GB1076729A (en) * 1965-11-29 1967-07-19 Cat S Paw Rubber Company Inc Improvements in or relating to shoe soles and heels
FR2115746A5 (ja) * 1970-11-30 1972-07-07 Phoenix Sa
US4000566A (en) * 1975-04-22 1977-01-04 Famolare, Inc. Shock absorbing athletic shoe with air cooled insole
DE3521141A1 (de) * 1985-02-20 1986-08-21 adidas Sportschuhfabriken Adi Dassler Stiftung & Co KG, 8522 Herzogenaurach Laufsohle fuer sportschuhe
DE9302067U1 (ja) 1993-02-13 1993-04-15 Adidas Ag, 8522 Herzogenaurach, De

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0706767A1 (en) 1996-04-17
JPH08252102A (ja) 1996-10-01
DE9416333U1 (de) 1995-07-13
DE69519655T2 (de) 2001-05-23
DE69519655D1 (de) 2001-01-25
ATE198129T1 (de) 2001-01-15

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