EP0991334A1

EP0991334A1 - Shoe with deformable sole structure

Info

Publication number: EP0991334A1
Application number: EP99915801A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frédéric Cretinon
Original assignee: Salomon SAS
Current assignee: Salomon SAS
Priority date: 1998-04-21
Filing date: 1999-04-16
Publication date: 2000-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-16
Also published as: JP3973053B2; EP0991334B1; ATE240665T1; US6321469B1; JP2002505611A; FR2777429A1; FR2777429B1; DE69908056D1; WO1999053787A1; DE69908056T2

Abstract

A boot that includes a sole made of at least two layered portions, i.e., a wear layer and a reinforcement, or nerve layer. The nerve layer is equipped with a flexible structure located inside a frame, the structure being formed by at least one transverse recess that defines, between its two ends, the contour of at least one strip centered in the nerve layer longitudinal direction. The sole of the invention offers reinforced longitudinal flexibility through the strip, while being capable of being transversely deformed in its central zone by attenuating ground surface roughness.

Description

Sole shoe with deformable structure

The invention relates to a shoe comprising a sole made of at least two superposed layers, namely a wear layer and a nerve layer, and relates to a structure of the nerve layer capable of providing a differentiated flexibility between the circumference of the sole and its central area to promote flexion in the direction of travel while ensuring a good edge grip.

Shoes of this type are known, in particular from Swiss patents No. 246 465, French patents 1 221 716 and American patents No. 5 025 573.

In these patents, it is taught and described solings which include, in interlayer, a nerve layer which is provided, on the one hand, with transverse reliefs intended to facilitate its flexion in the direction of travel, and on the other hand, a relatively rigid frame delimiting its periphery and allowing the edge grips, that is to say the lateral clamping.

More specifically, in the example of Swiss patents No. 246465 and French patent No. 1 221 716, the nerve layer is made longitudinally flexible by means of recesses which define inside its frame transverse rectilinear transverse struts which are parallel to each other and / or, in part, at "X", in particular in the zone corresponding to the forefoot, that is to say at the level of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the user's foot. As is evident from these evidence, these spacers are not intended to have a flexing capacity within the framework of the nerve layer.

Indeed, it is taught in French patent n ° 1 221 716 that the arrangement in "X" of the spacers aims to achieve a part of a very great rigidity and that the parallel arrangement of the other spacers is intended to allow flexibility of the nerve layer, and thus of the sole, essentially in the direction of the unwinding of the foot, that is to say along a transverse axis.

In such a construction, the nerve layer allows a very firm edge grip in slopes, but has the drawback of locating the contact surface in the sole-ground interface only on the external edge of the sole and over a very small area. . Indeed, the transverse rigidity conferred on the nerve layer by its spacers prevents the sole assembly from deforming in its central zone to match the roughness of the ground, and in particular it prevents it from bending down sufficiently significantly to increase the contact surface in the sole / ground interface, and thus provide the secure and stable support necessary for propulsion.

In the case where the nerve layer of the sole assembly comprises rectilinear transverse spacers as described in Swiss patent n ° 246465, the flexibility of these is also not provided quite the contrary. Indeed, in each spacer, the intermediate part located between the two ends which are integral with the frame of the nerve layer there are provided strips of material which are folded down on the directed side 2 towards the wear surface of the sole assembly to increase the wear resistance of the latter.

It results from such a construction that the spacers have, seen in section, an open profile in the shape of an inverted U which makes them almost non-deformable as well as the central area of the sole assembly where they extend.

In any event, even in the absence of these bands of material folded down, it appears that this intermediate zone of each spacer is not likely to flex significantly with respect to the frame of the nerve layer, in the transverse direction to the sole. Indeed, in this construction case mentioned and corresponding in particular to the shoe described in European patent n ° 190,714, the intermediate zone of the spacers can only bend, or more exactly bend, if it has elongation characteristics and this in combination with the flexibility of the frame which must then be able to tighten to allow the movement of approximation of the two ends of each spacer which results from the curvature produced on the latter. Such an operation of the sole assembly turns out to be very random because the different layers composing it are necessarily assembled together and with the upper of the shoe in particular on their periphery, that is to say on the frame of the nerve layer. which makes it very rigid transversely. Anyway, the possible tightening of the frame of the nerve layer would also have the effect of tightening the upper of the shoe on the foot of the user in the transverse direction which would greatly affect comfort.

As shown schematically in Figures 1, 2 and 3 attached to these soles of the known prior art, where the nerve layer 3 has rectilinear spacers 4 parallel to each other and oriented transversely, therefore prove to be ill-suited to provide a secure and stable support 5 in edge grip, in particular on slopes 26, as well as good grip. Indeed, the weak capacity of the nerve layer 3 to deform transversely inside its frame 2 prevents the sole assembly and therefore the wear layer 8 from bending downward in the central zone 1 under the effect of forces which are exerted laterally on the part of its periphery engaged on the ground.

Furthermore, and this in contrast to their lack of capacity to deform transversely, these sole assemblies are characterized by great ease of longitudinal deformation in the direction of unwinding of the foot due to the fact that the recesses 6 determining the spacers 4 leave only small material bridges 6 'at the ends of the latter. Indeed, these small bridges of material 6 ′, which partly form the frame 2 of the nerve layer 3, constitute practically the only resistant means of the nerve layer 3 capable of opposing the longitudinal bending of the latter (FIG. 2 ), because the spacers are too narrow 7 for 3 be stressed in this direction taking into account the size of the radius of curvature "R" undergone by the sole assembly and the zones of weakness formed by the bridges of material 6 '.

This great ease of deformation which is advantageously sought for certain shoes such as leisure, relaxation, running and walking shoes is, on the other hand, troublesome for shoes intended for hiking in terrain with high relief, and, d 'generally, for so-called mountain shoes. Indeed, these shoes which are used for very technical practices must provide a firm and precise frontal attachment which must remain almost invariable during the course of the foot, in particular during the propulsion phase. In addition, these shoes are doomed, even occasionally, to be equipped with ice spikes when advancing in icy terrain and must for this purpose have a sufficiently rigid sole assembly in the longitudinal direction for such use.

The soles of the type of those described in the Swiss patents n ° 246465 and European n ° 190 714 therefore prove to be ill-suited for so-called mountain shoes because they are of too great longitudinal flexibility.

This drawback also appears in the case of soles of which the nerve layer is provided with a central recess in the zone corresponding to the forefoot of the user as, for example, in a method of construction of writing in the American patent n ° 5 025573. Indeed, in this construction method mentioned the central recess made in the nerve layer leaves only two relatively narrow bands of material which extend in the area around the sole and in the longitudinal direction of this last. This results in a very low resistance to longitudinal bending of the sole assembly.

On the other hand, compared to the soleings exposed previously, this sole assembly with a central course in the forefoot area proves to be relatively well adapted to provide, in edge grip, a relatively safe and stable support as well as a good grip, because it is characterized by a great capacity to be able to deform transversely in its central zone, inside the frame of the nerve layer.

However, in the absence of transverse spacers, the roughness of the ground is not filtered or attenuated between the wear surface of the sole assembly and the foot of the user. These soles whose nerve layer is devoid of transverse spacers therefore prove to be ill-suited to be used as such on shoes intended for walking in various terrains having roughness.

To summarize, the known soles exposed above, and the nerve layer of which provides a differentiated flexibility between their periphery and their central zone, always present too great an ease of allied longitudinal deformation, 4 according to their method of construction, to excessive stiffness or to excessive flexibility, in the transverse direction.

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a sole assembly with differentiated flexibility between its periphery and its central zone capable of offering an optimum compromise between, on the one hand, longitudinal flexibility in the direction of travel, and d 'on the other hand, the ability to deform transversely in the central area to make walking easy while ensuring good attenuation of the roughness of the ground.

The invention also aims to provide a secure and stable support necessary for propulsion during the unrolling of the foot by significantly increasing the contact surface in the sole / soil interface, in particular in edge grip in slopes.

To achieve these goals, the sole assembly is carried out in at least two superposed layers, namely a wear layer and a nerve layer, the latter having a frame which delimits its periphery and at least one obviously transverse which leaves at its two ends bridges of material which partly constitute said frame.

It is characterized by the fact that at least one substantially transverse obviously produced in the nerve layer determines between its two ends the contour of at least one tongue, the attachment base of which is obtained from the nerve layer and whose free end extends inside the framework of the latter by being oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction of the nerve layer. According to an additional characteristic, the tongue is produced in correspondence with the sole area which is caused to flex longitudinally following a certain radius of curvature during the course of the user's foot during walking. In addition, the tongue is provided with a certain length defined as a function of this radius of curvature that the sole assembly is led to take so that it can be urged to bend, between its attachment base and its free end, and this concomitantly with the flexion of the nerve layer frame.

More specifically, when it is a shoe whose sole is made to deform by following a small radius of curvature, the tongue can be provided relatively short. Conversely, when it is a shoe where the sole is made to deform by following a large radius of curvature, the tongue must be provided long enough to be able to be urged to flex significantly.

By these provisions the tongue strengthens the resistance that opposes the frame of the nerve layer in the direction of the longitudinal flexions and allows, at the place where it extends, a certain possibility of transverse and vertical deformation of the sole assembly.

Indeed, due to the relative mobility of its free end inside the frame of the nerve layer it allows the central area of the sole to deform without 5 the framework of the nerve layer is not stressed. Thanks to this flexible structure of the nerve layer, the sole assembly can marry, in its central area, certain roughness of the ground while preserving the comfort of the foot because the tongue acts as a shield which filters pressures and shocks by diffusing them over all its surface. The sole assembly can also, in edge grip in particular, bend downward in its central zone under the effect of the forces which are exerted laterally on the part of its periphery which is in engagement with the ground, and thus increase in a manner significant contact surface in the sole / soil interface.

In a preferred embodiment, the nerve layer of the sole assembly is produced with a succession of tongues, more or less nested between them by their free ends. In this way, the tongues constitute blades independent of each other which are essentially retained at the level of the frame of the nerve layer, in the extension of the material bridges which remain at the ends of the transverse recesses.

For example, when each obviously determines a tongue with a contour of broken shape similar to a "V", we then obtain a succession of blades, of a certain length, which constitute a herringbone structure inside the frame of the nerve layer. It is obvious that each tab can have a different contour from the one above, for example a sinuous contour.

The invention will moreover be better understood by referring to the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawings showing, by way of example, some embodiments of the sole assembly.

FIG. 4 shows, in exploded perspective view, a sole assembly of a shoe comprising a nerve layer provided with a flexible structure according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates, seen in partial longitudinal section, a shoe provided with the sole assembly of FIG. 4.

Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 schematically represent the nerve layer of the sole assembly of Figures 4 and 5 and its operation, and more specifically:

in FIG. 7, the behavior of the nerve layer in longitudinal flexion seen along the section line VII- VII of FIG. 6,

in FIG. 8 the transverse deformation of the flexible structure of the nerve layer with the wear layer during an edge grip on a slope surface, seen along the section line VIII-VIII of FIG. 6,

- And in Figure 9 the vertical deformation of the flexible structure of the nerve layer with the wear layer when taking support flat on a surface with roughness, seen along the section line VII- VII of the figure 6.

The sole assembly 10 shown in FIG. 4 consists of a wear layer 11, a layer called the nerve 12, that is to say a layer having characteristics of 6 rigidity adapted to the practice of the sport concerned, and a comfort layer 13, and equips a shoe 14 as illustrated in FIG. 5. This sole assembly 10 has a differentiated flexibility between its pourTOLir 15, delimited by the edge of the layer wear 11 and its central zone 16 thanks to the production of a flexible structure 17 in the nerve layer 12. The latter is notably obtained with a frame 20 inside which several transverse recesses 18 are staggered. According to a construction detail, each obviously transverse 18 extends as far as the frame 20 in order to allow material bridges 19 to remain, highlighted by fine lines in FIG. 4, intended to constitute said frame 20 in part.

According to an essential characteristic, each obviously 18 determines between its two ends 18 ′ the outline of a tongue 21 whose attachment base 22 comes from the nerve layer 12, and whose free end 23 extends to the inside the frame 20, being approximately oriented in the longitudinal direction of the nerve layer 12.

In this first embodiment, also illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 which follow, the tongues 21 have a contour of broken shape similar to that of a "V" which gives the nerve layer 12 a flexible structure in chevrons which extends inside its frame 20. Taking into account the bringing together of the tongues 21 with one another, in fact a succession of blades is obtained which are independent of each other and each comprising two lateral attachment bases 22 essentially from frame 20 of nerve layer 12.

Preferably, the flexible structure 17 of the nerve layer 12 is produced in the areas of the sole assembly 10 which are caused to flex longitudinally such as those 24 and 25 which are, respectively, in correspondence of the forefoot and the heel of the foot. the user. Thus, these zones 24 and 25 are provided with a greater capacity to be able to deform in the direction of the unwinding of the foot, which facilitates walking as much for the cushioning of the heel upon impact with the ground as for the propulsion at the level of the forefoot.

Of course, for the propulsion phase in particular, it is necessary that the sole assembly 10 with its nerve layer 12 can flex according to a more or less marked radius of curvature "R" determined according to the type of shoe concerned, walking or racing for example.

Consequently, each tongue 21 has a certain length "L" defined as a function of this radius of curvature "R" so that it is systematically urged to bend between its attachment base 22 and its free end 23, concomitantly with the frame 20 of the nerve layer 12 to strengthen the resistance to longitudinal flexion of the latter. In fact, for a given type of shoe where the radius of curvature "R" is always large, the tongue 21 must be relatively long to be asked to bend significantly while for a small radius of curvature "R" the tongue 21 may be short. 7

Thanks to these various characteristics, the flexible structure 17 of the nerve layer 12 has a certain possibility of transverse and vertical deformation conferred by the mobility and flexibility of the free end 23 of each tongue 21 relative to its base 22, and thus relative to the frame 20 of the nerve layer 12.

Consequently, the sole assembly 10 consisting of at least the wear layer 11 and the nerve layer 12 with its flexible structure 17 is able to be able to deform in its central zone 16 without the frame 20 of the nerve layer 12 not be really solicited. For example, in the case of an edge grip on a sloping ground 26, as illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 8, the forces which are exerted vertically on the sole assembly 10 and laterally on its periphery 15 which is engaged with the ground can cause the downward curvature of the central zone 16 of the sole assembly 10, as indicated by the arrow 27, without subjecting the frame 20 of the nerve layer 12 to strong transverse stresses. Indeed, the downward curvature of the central zone 16 of the sole assembly 10 is almost obtained by virtue of the sole mobility-flexibility of the free end 23 of each tongue 21 relative to its attachment base 22 on the frame 20. This capacity of the sole assembly 10 to be able to deform downward makes it possible to significantly increase the contact surface 28 in the sole assembly 10 / soil interface 26 and consequently improves the quality of the lateral support 5 in terms of safety and stability.

In addition, on a floor 36 having numerous roughness 30 ', illustrated in FIG. 9, the deformability of the sole assembly 10 in its central zone 16 also makes it possible to increase the contact surface 38 in the sole assembly 10 / soil 36 interface. marrying some of these asperities 30 'and also increases the sensations of the terrain.

Of course, in this case, the sole assembly 10 curves upwards as indicated by the arrow 37, the wear layer 11 repelling the and / or the flexible tabs 21 of the nerve layer 12 which are placed opposite the roughness 30 'where the main support 5 takes place. Thanks to this operation of the flexible structure 17 of the nerve layer 12 in the sole assembly 10, each tongue 21 acts as a shield which attenuates the vertical deformations directed upwards and which filters the shocks by diffusing them over its entire surface, which preserves the comfort of the foot thus protected from excessively localized pressures, while improving sensations.

The embodiment of the sole assembly 10 which has just been described shows a nerve layer 12 comprising a flexible structure 17 inside its frame 20 situated in correspondence with the zones 24 and 25 of the forefoot and the heel of the foot. the user. It is understood that according to other embodiments, not shown, the flexible structure 17 can be provided only in correspondence with one of these zones 24 or 25.

Furthermore, the flexible structure 17 made with a plurality of tabs 21 having a contour of broken shape in "V" can be designed with a single 8 tongue 21, and the ends 18 ′ of the transverse recess 18 delimiting it can advantageously be oriented, substantially transversely to the median longitudinal axis 29 of the nerve layer 12 (illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6), at an angle " A "chosen in relation to that of the flexion axis of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the user's foot (not shown).

Obviously, the and / or the tongues 21 can also be provided offset from the median longitudinal axis 29 and have a sinuous outline.

Again, the and / or the tongues can be produced in the nerve layer 12 so as to have, as desired, their free end 23 in the direction of the anterior end 24 of the sole assembly 10 or in the direction of the posterior end 25 of that -this.

Finally, the and / or the tongues 21 can have contours different from a "V", for example contours in "W", both in transverse and longitudinal direction, and these can follow broken or sinuous shapes.

The important thing is that the or each tongue 21 reinforces the resistance which the frame of the nerve layer opposes in the direction of the longitudinal flexions and allows, at the place where it extends, a certain possibility of transverse and vertical deformation of the sole.

The invention is also not limited to soles of which the nerve layer defines a continuous frame, but also applies to soles of which the nerve layer defines a frame extending over at least part of the periphery of said sole.

Claims

9

1- Shoe comprising a sole assembly (10) produced in at least two superposed layers, namely a wear layer (11) and a nerve layer (12), the latter (12) having a frame (20) which delimits its periphery and at least one substantially transverse recess (18) which leaves at its two ends (18 ') bridges of material (19) which partly constitute said frame (20), characterized in that the substantially transverse recess (18) produced in the nerve layer (12) of its sole assembly (10) determines between its two ends (18 ') the outline of at least one tongue (21) whose attachment base (22) is derived from the nerve layer (12), and whose free end (23) extends inside the frame (20) of the latter being oriented substantially in the longitudinal direction of the nerve layer (12).

2- shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the nerve layer (12) comprises at least one tongue (21) corresponding to the area (24, 25) of the sole assembly (10) which is caused to flex longitudinally according to a certain radius of curvature (R) when the user's foot is unrolled while walking.

3- shoe according to claim 2, characterized in that the tongue (21) has its length (L) defined as a function of the radius of curvature (R) that the sole assembly (10) is caused to take during the course of the foot of the user during walking so that it is requested to flex systematically between its attachment base (22) and its free end (23) and concomitantly with the flexion of the frame (20) of the nerve layer (12).

4- Shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that the tongue (21) has its free end (23) directed towards the front end (24) of the sole assembly (10).

5- shoe according to claim 3, characterized in that the tongue (21) has its free end (23) directed towards the rear end (25) of the sole assembly (10).

6- shoe according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the contour of the tongue (21) has a broken shape between the two ends (18 ') of the transverse recess (18).

7- Shoe according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the contour of the tongue (21) has a sinuous shape between the two ends (18 ') of the transverse recess (18).

8- Shoe according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the two ends (18 ') of the transverse recess (18) are oriented, transverse to the median longitudinal axis (29) of the nerve layer ( 12), at an angle (A) chosen in relation to that of the axis of flexion of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the user's foot.

9- Shoe according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the tongue (21) is offset transversely to the median longitudinal axis (29) of the nerve layer (12). 10

10- Footwear comprising a sole assembly (10) produced in at least two superposed layers, namely a wear layer (11) and a nerve layer (12), the latter having a frame (20) which at least partially delimits its periphery and at least one substantially transverse recess (18) connected to at least one end (18 ') to said frame (20) by a material bridge, characterized in that the substantially transverse recess (18) determines at least one tongue (21) which reinforces the resistance which the frame of the nerve layer opposes in the direction of the longitudinal flexions and allows, at the place where it extends, a certain possibility of transverse and vertical deformation of the sole assembly.