Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/28—Adapting the inner sole or the side of the upper of the shoe to the sole of the foot
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B21/00—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts
  • A43B21/24—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by the constructive form
  • A43B21/26—Resilient heels
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
  • A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
  • A43B13/12—Soles with several layers of different materials
• • 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
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a type of footwear as indicated in the preamble of the main claim.
• the foot sole of a human being has a shape that varies from individual to individual. It has also been known for a long time that the more shoes (such as those called “walking shoe”) have anatomically shaped insoles, the more the shoe is comfortable and stable when the foot hits the ground, thereby preventing micro-traumas
• Footwear or shoes that have anatomically shaped insoles have been known for a long time; nevertheless, precisely because the shape of the foot sole varies from person to person, this insole has a vaguely anatomical conformation, i.e. it is generally designed to adapt itself to a generic foot sole of a generic user.
• the anatomic insoles of footwear on the market are shaped so that they only partially adapt themselves to the shape of the foot sole of each wearer.
• known anatomic footwear often is not, causing the wearer to experience significant tiredness in his feet, particularly after long periods, with obvious drawbacks.
• An object of the present invention is that of providing an improved anatomic footwear as compared to the known solutions.
• an object of the present invention is that of offering self-modelling anatomic footwear wherein the insole perfectly and permanently adapts itself to the shape of the specific user's foot sole.
• a further object is that of offering footwear of the aforementioned type that has low production costs and offers, suitable stability to the foot when placed on the ground under any conditions of use, thus preventing bone or muscle micro-traumas in the wearer's lower limbs.
• a further object of the present invention is that of offering footwear of the aforementioned type that, thanks to its anatomic nature, allows to suitably compensate incorrect impact of the foot on the ground.
• footwear according to the attached claims can be either a walking or a sports shoe. In the latter case, it could be equipped with known means capable of absorbing the impact with the ground, and at the same time return the maximum amount of the absorbed energy to the wearer's foot, substantially like a spring springing back.
• Fig. 1 represents an exploded perspective view of a shoe according to the present invention
• Fig. 2 represents a bottom perspective view of part of the shoe in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 represents a cross-section along the 3-3 line in Fig. 1 but of the assembled shoe
• Fig. 4 represents a cross-section along the 4-4 line of Fig. 3;
• Fig. 5 represents a partially exploded perspective view of a variant of the shoe in Fig. 1.
• the sports shoe in the present invention includes uppers A and a lower base or support part 1.
• the latter includes sole 2, for example, of synthetic rubber to which there is fixed by known methods a wedge 3 made of a known porous material (ethylvinylacetate - EVA) or a polyurethane or low-density rubber.
• the wedge has an upper recess 4 (with reference to Fig. 1), delimited by protruding edge 4A wherein there may be placed a mounting insole 5 made of, for instance, cork.
• a further insole 6 made, for instance, of fabric (not shown in Fig. 3) and on which the wearer's foot rests, can be placed on top of insole 5.
• sole 2 shows known groving 8 or parts therof.
• insole or mid-sole 6 on which the wearer's foot rests is permanently deformable after the shoe has been worn at least once.
• This deformation reflects the shape of the foot sole so as to adapt itself to the latter.
• insole 6 takes on an anatomic form corresponding to the sole of the wearer's foot.
• Deformation of the insole is preferably achieved by ensuring that it directly or indirectly rest on an underlying layer of soft material advantageously joined to wedge 3.
• This insole can be deformable over its entire surface or only in correspondence with particular zones.
• the shoe is preferably provided with a wedge 3 having at its bottom a cavity 10 (separated from recess 4 by layer 10A integral with the wedge and endowed with autonomous flexibility) facing towards sole 2 and containing a granular layer with granules having sizes of preferably between 0.7 and 4 mm, depending on the type of footwear.
• This layer can be made of synthetic or natural materials.
• the latter for example, can be of granular ethylvinylacetate (EVA), granular rubber (synthetic or natural) , cork or expanded materials in granular form.
• granular layer 11 can be a mixture of such materials, for example placed in different zones of cavity 10: in this case, as the above-mentioned materials possess a different deformation ability, one obtains a layer 11 with variyng yielding under the wearer's weight in the various areas corresponding to the different zones of the wearer's foot. In this way, thanks to the action of lower part 1 it is possible to support the wearer's foot in a differentiated manner, for example according to the type of shoe (walking or sports) .
• layer 10 Since the wearer's weight operates in a differentiated manner on support part 1 and principally operates on the zone corresponding to the heel (marked K in figure 3) , here layer 10 is thicker than in the metatarsal zone (marked by M in figure 3) .
• layer 10 can be subdivided into several non- communicating zones: for instance, in correspondence with the zone of the foot's arch (marked by P in figure 3) , there is provided a granular layer so as to substantially give the wearer semi-rigid arch support (since wedge 3 is in itself at least partially soft) . Therefore, during use layer 11 yields under the weight of the wearer.
• insole 6 This yielding allows a corresponding deformation of insole 6.
• this weight is distributed, in a natural way, mainly in certain zones of insole 6 (metatarsal M and heel K) , these zones will undergo greater deformation than nearby zones (for example those supporting the side of the foot) .
• the aforesaid deformation consists of the curving the insole towards the sole with the former sinking towards the latter.
• the granular material in layer 11 moves to the respective cavity 10 so as to allow the insole to yield towards the sole and, at the same time, gives support to the foot at the required spots, i.e. those in which the wearer's weight wearer on the lower part (1) of the shoe is less. This permits greater comfort for the wearer and is less tiring for the foot during use.
• the special composition of the shoe in accordance with this invention affords less risk of damage to the wearer's bone and muscle structure during use, such as during sports activity.
• At least one insert 13 comprising suitable means for permitting the mentioned dampening and return of energy to the foot, is planned in correspondence with the shoe's heel zone K.
• This insert could be of a type already described in previous patent applications in the name of the same applicant: for example, it could incorporate an airtight housing in which at least one layer of deformable, barrel-shaped elements (not shown) is placed, these elements being bound to each other at their widest, midway zones, with their opposite edges bound to the opposite surfaces of thehousing.
• this insert could incorporate a housing containing a fluid in the liquid state and one in the gaseous state (not shown) suitable for being absorbed by the liquid when the wearer, stepping on the ground, compresse the aforesaid insert; in this way the absorption of the gas by the liquid generates a dampening effect so as to partially absorb the energy that the wearer transmits to the ground.
• the gas is expelled by the liquid and, freeing itself inside the housing, generates a kind of elastic thrust on the foot, making it easier to lift it from the ground.
• Insert 13 is immersed in granular layer 11 which maintains it in the designated position (zone K) .
• wedge 3 in the latter can incorporate a special housing (bound by physically defined walls) suitable for housing and holding insert 13 in place.
• another insert 13A of a type identical or equivalent to the above cited one 13, could also be placed in the metatarsal zone M of support part 1, as shown by the broken line in figure 2.
• FIG. 5 A further embodiment of the invention is represented in figure 5, where the parts corresponding to those of the already described figures are indicated with the same reference numbers.
• the uppers are shown already joined to wedge 3 (on which at least insole 6, not shown, is positioned) .
• wedge 3 on which at least insole 6, not shown, is positioned.
• insole 40 made of composite materials and positioned between the wedge's cavity 10 and sole 2.
• Insole 4 is supplied with a first portion 50 made of a woven composite material (that is, it incorporates weft fibers T and warp fibers 0 combined together as in a normal fabric) ; these fibres can be of carbon fibre impregnated with a thermosetting resin (or carbon- resins) and/or carboresins of a fibrous material marketed as Kevlar (aramidic fibres impregnated with thermosetting resin) .
• the weft is of carbon fibre and the warp is of aramidic fibre or Kevlar.
• the aforesaid weft-T (or warp-O) fibres are all arranged to be mutually parallel and all with a predetermined angle with respect to the shoe' s longitudinal axis X (even though the weft fibres are at orthogonal to those of the warp) .
• a second portion 51 of woven composite material is associated to the first portion 50 in a known manner and is located in correspondence with the arch of the wearer's foot, and a third portion of woven composite material 52 placed in correspondence with wearer' s metatarsal zone
• the second portion 51 and the third 52 define a second insole layer 55 made of a composite material.
• the first portion includes side tongues 50A and 50B.
• first and second portions 51 and 52 have their fibres (carbon, aramidic or similar) arranged to cross each other in order to offer a rather significant torsional rigidity at the corresponding parts of the sole.
• weft T and warp 0 fibres in a portion (50 for example) are arranged at different spatial angles with respect to weft T ⁇ and warp 0' fibres of the second portion (51) .
• T are placed at 45° angles with respect to the sole's longitudinal axis X
• fibres T' are placed at 90° angles with respect to said axis X.
• the overlapping of portion 50 with portion 51 in the arch-support zone yields an assembly having high torsional rigidity.
• the arch- support part is moreover rigid also under flexing.
• Portion 52 has instead the fibres that form it (weft T" and warp 0") arranged in a single direction meaning by this that the weft and warp fibres in this portion are arranged in parallel with respect to a predetermined space orientation, i.e. all have predetermined angles with respect to axis X (though they themselves remain at 90° angles) .
• the T" and 0" fibres in portion 52 are parallel to the T and 0 fibers in portion 50 that are present in the latter' s part cooperating with portion 52.
• portion 52 and the corresponding part of portion 50 permit metatarsal zone M of the sole to be flexible (in the direction indicated by arrow F) , also in the case where portion 52 is associated with portion 50 so as to allow normal bending in this zone around an axis W which is at right angles in respect of the shoe's longitudinal axis X and is positioned between the tip of shoe 53 and portion 51.
• sole 2 (fixed to insole 40) can be subdivided into two portions, 57 and 58, for the purpose of covering the insole at the metatarsal M zone and at the heel K zone respectively.
• insole 40 has two clearly separate physical parts, a rigid one corresponding to the shoe's arch support zone (P) and a flexible one positioned between the shoe's front tip 53 and the aforementioned zone P.
• the sole produced according to the invention will result sufficiently rigid to adequately support the wearer's foot during its movement; however, since the metatarsal zone is sufficiently flexible, the sole has an adequate "pliability" that does not negatively influence the bone or muscle structure of the wearer's foot, thus preventing micro-fractures that could be quite dangerous, above all when the wearer is an athlete.
• the flexibility in zone M, covered by portion 52 that extends from the shoe's tip 53 to portion 51 functions as an element for returning the maximum possible energy that the wearer exerts on the ground during movement, generating a significant thrust (very advantageous in the field of competitions, such as athletics or basketball) .
• insole 40 and wedge 3 there should be a layer of pliable material (expanded material or rubber, for example) 60 that effectively closes cavity 10 and acts as a dampening element for the force of the impact generated by the wearer on the ground during movement .
• pliable material expanded material or rubber, for example
• the embodiment of the invention represented in figure 5 permits obtaining a shoe that is anatomically adaptable to the foot of an athlete but without this feature preventing insole 40 from returning the aforementioned energy to the foot after impact with the ground and lifting from it.
• an overhang 59 protrudes from portion 51, spaced out from it so as to be coplanar with it.
• This overhang (or tongue) 59 preferably made of a composite material woven with its weft and warp fibres oriented the same way as those of portion 50 and parallel to them (that is, mono-directional) , penetrates into a corresponding housing 65 of portion 58 of sole 2.
• This construction form causes the stability of shoe 1, and thus the correctness of support for the wearer's foot on the ground, to be increased.
• insole 6 itself could be made in a pliable manner (incorporating granular material inside it, for example) .

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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)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11375291

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (13)

Families Citing this family (14)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 1996
  • 1996-11-27 IT IT96MI002479A patent/IT1286411B1/it active IP Right Grant
• 1997
  • 1997-11-25 SK SK1133-98A patent/SK113398A3/sk unknown
  • 1997-11-25 CA CA002244246A patent/CA2244246A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-11-25 IL IL12534597A patent/IL125345A0/xx unknown
  • 1997-11-25 WO PCT/EP1997/006565 patent/WO1998023178A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-11-25 KR KR1019980705781A patent/KR19990087039A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-11-25 BR BR9707314A patent/BR9707314A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1997-11-25 CZ CZ982608A patent/CZ260898A3/cs unknown
  • 1997-11-25 CN CN97191894A patent/CN1211901A/zh active Pending
  • 1997-11-25 AU AU57511/98A patent/AU5751198A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-11-25 JP JP10524270A patent/JP2000501329A/ja active Pending
  • 1997-11-25 EP EP97953696A patent/EP0883352A1/en not_active Withdrawn
• 1998
  • 1998-07-24 NO NO983436A patent/NO983436L/no unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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