EP1222868B1 - Midsole and shoe provided with such a sole - Google Patents

Abstract

The shoe comprises an upper and a sole which comprises a wear sole (4) and an intermediate sole (5). The intermediate sole comprises an upper surface and a base surface, a rear heel support zone and a front foot support zone. The intermediate sole comprises an upper intermediate half sole (7) comprising an upper surface (19) and a lower surface (18) on which there are upper protuberances. A lower intermediate half sole (6) comprises a bottom surface (10) and a top surface (11) under which are lower protuberances (9).

Description

The present invention relates to sports shoes which have shock absorbing soles.

In many sports, the human body and in particular the lower limbs are subjected to significant efforts. A typical example of significant efforts to which the lower limbs intervenes when receiving jumps. As the athlete resumes contact with the ground, his feet are subjected to a reaction of the soil all the more important as the jump was high. The human foot has under the heel, a fleshy area whose role is to absorb the shocks suffered by the heel. This natural depreciation is largely insufficient and it is known to equip shoes, especially shoes sports equipment with shock absorbers.

In some sports like skateboarding, jumps have sometimes amplitudes of several meters and receptions are usually do on hard, flat ground. In addition, it does not there can be no question of providing for significant depreciation at level of the board and trucks, because it is thanks to the rigidity of these as certain figures are possible. Through Therefore, the problem of cushioning insoles for skateboard shoes takes on a different dimension from the one posed for more traditional sports shoes. Yet in a sport like skateboarding, some of the figures are similar to acrobatics and it is necessary that the sportsman always remains in contact with his environment. In particular, his feet, which are mostly placed on his board, must accurately inform him about his position in relation to the board and in space. It is why the sole of a sports shoe such as the skateboard must not only absorb shock, but also transmit to the athlete a certain amount of information such as that its position in space, for example, its position on its board.

The invention relates in particular to skateboard shoes and it aims among other things to allow amortization progressive and channeled during reception of adults and small jumps. On the other hand the invention also has for objective to bring more sensation in flexion zone metatarsophalangeal while retaining the functions amortization of a classic product.

The object of the invention is achieved in that the sole intermediary is destructured and includes means that are only partially related to each other others in such a way that a relative movement in direction vertical of these damping means, compared to the midsole on the one hand and one in relation to others on the other hand, be possible.

In one of the embodiments of the invention, the means are cylindrical studs which are likely to have vertical movement relative to each other to others.

In one embodiment of the invention, the means damping are cylindrical studs whose axis is vertical. These studs are not completely independent from each other others but partially connected, at part only from their lateral surface, to the midsole. These studs then consist of an upper protuberance, a lower protuberance and a central part which connects the upper and lower protrusions on the one hand between them and on the other hand the studs with each other. The portion of the midsole that connects the studs between them by their central part is called soul and has a thin to facilitate the movement of the studs relative to each other.

In another embodiment of the invention, the midsole is destructured and includes two half-soles : the lower half-sole at which give the current name of the bowl and the half-sole upper intermediate, also called insert. In this embodiment, the cushioning means of the sole intermediate include studs of cylindrical shape, each of these being constituted by a protuberance upper connected by its base to the upper surface of the insert and by a lower protuberance connected by its base at the bottom surface of the bowl. Such studs are arranged throughout the front area and more particularly in the area of metatarsophalangeal flexion, these pads have a certain freedom of movement with respect to each other and by compared to the rest of the midsole. The half sole upper, or bowl therefore includes in the meta zone a upper half-soul, from which protuberances upper protrude while the lower half sole includes a lower half-core from which lower protrusions protrude downward. When the two half-soles are assembled, each protuberance upper is aligned with a lower protrusion thus defining the juxtaposed studs and having the ones by compared to others a certain vertical freedom of movement and rotational. So the sensations more precise and more many are transmitted to athletes from the surface on which it evolves. In addition, the material of the half-sole upper intermediate is less dense than the material of the lower half-sole so that the cushioning is progressive and that on the one hand comfort is ensured during the walking and occasionally jumping and on the other hand the multi-meter jump reception.

The object of the invention is also achieved in that the midsole has two parts each made of of a different material. Preferably, one of the materials is less dense than the other. The half midsole upper also comprises a conical shape whose apex is directed down. This shape fits into the half sole lower intermediate, which includes a concave shape complementary. On the other hand, this concave shape extends by a vertical well. Thus under the effect of a shock, the softer material of the mid-sole upper will be channeled through the walls of the concave shape until it can flow out of this shape through the vertical well connected to the bottom of it.

Preferably, the difference in density between the material of the upper midsole and that of the lower half midsole is such that when reception of a large jump, compression of the half-sole lower middle begins to happen before that the upper half-sole has reaches its limit. The density of the half-midsole upper is chosen so that the shoe is comfortable during normal use and cushioning is ensured when walking and small jumps, this material is relatively flexible. The material of the lower half midsole is stiffer so to provide damping even when receiving jump several meters.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the description below and attached drawings attached to it attached and in which,

Figure 1 shows a sports shoe according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows in perspective a partial view and exploded view of the shoe of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows in longitudinal section the sole of the shoe described in figure 1.

Figure 3a is a partial magnification of Figure 3.

Figure 4 shows in cross section the sole of the shoe described in figure 1.

Figures 5 and 6 show the behavior of two shock absorbing soles according to the prior art.

Figure 7 shows schematically the behavior of the sole according to the first embodiment of the invention.

Figures 8a, 8b, 8c show the behavior of a shock absorbing sole according to the prior art, at rest and when it is subjected to more or less strong shocks.

Figures 9a, 9b, 9c show, respectively in the same conditions as the previous figures the behavior of a sole according to the first embodiment of the invention.

Figures 10a, 10b, 10c schematically represent the behavior of the front part of the sole according to the first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 represents a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 represents a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 represents a fourth embodiment of the invention.

Figure 13a is a partial magnification of Figure 13.

Figure 1 shows, in side view, a sports shoe 1 particularly suitable for skateboarding. She includes a rod 3 under which is fixed a sole 2. the sole 2 includes a midsole 5 whose function is to ensure the comfort of the foot and a outsole 4 which is made of a material with good adhesion properties and very good abrasion resistance. The rod is sewn on a flexible sole called first strobel, the whole consisting of rod 3 and this first strobel is glued to the sole 2, thus constituting the shoe 1.

Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the sole 2. The midsole 5 comprises a half-sole lower midsole 6 and a half midsole upper 7.

The lower half-sole or cup 6 comprises a low surface 10 which will come into contact with the outsole and a high surface 11 which will come into contact with the half-sole upper intermediate 7. The periphery of the bowl 6 consists of substantially vertical flanges 8. In his front part, the bottom surface 10 of the bowl 6 has a plurality of lower protrusions 9. The protrusions lower 9 are cylindrical in shape and project towards the bottom from bowl 6. They are regularly placed on the entire front part of the bottom surface 10 of the bowl 6. The arrangement of the lower protrusions 9 is done according to a frame whose first direction is substantially oriented along the longitudinal axis of the shoe. The second direction of the frame made with the first angle between 60 ° and 80 °. The lower protrusions 9 have a cylindrical shape between 4 and 6 mm in diameter and protrude distance between 1.5 and 3 mm. The distance between they two adjacent lower protuberances 9 is included between 1 mm and 5 mm. Preferably, this distance is approximately equal to 2 mm.

Aside from a peripheral strip, the protuberances lower 9 are present on all the front part of the bottom surface 10 of the bowl 6.

The upper surface 11 of the bowl 6 is bordered on its periphery by the rim 8. It includes a depression 12 throughout the front zone, this depression 12 corresponds to the front area of the bottom surface 10 of the bowl 6 where are arranged the lower protrusions 9. Thus at the level of this depression 12 the bowl 6 a, except for the height of the protrusions, its smallest thickness.

At the heel, the high surface 11 includes a cavity 13 having substantially the shape of an inverted cone at the bottom of which is formed a well 14 passing through the bowl 6. the bowl 6 having in its heel part a thickness substantially larger than in the front part, the high surface of this also includes an inclined part 15 joining the depression 12 to cavity 13.

The rim 8 comprises a lower belt 16 surmounted an upper belt 17. The lower belt 16 will fit the upper half midsole 7, while the upper belt 17 will, when the assembly of the shoe, glued to the upper.

The upper mid-sole includes a lower surface 18 and an upper surface 19. The surface lower 18 is complementary to the upper surface of the bowl. Thus in the front part, a projecting block 20 is arranged which resumes the shape of the depression 12.

The heel part comprises a dome 21 oriented downwards, which is extended at its end by a nipple 23. The surface upper 19 includes in its front part a recessed area whose peripheral contour corresponds to the salient block 20 present on the lower surface 18.

From the bottom of this recessed area, a plurality of upper protrusions 22 protrude upward. The arrangement of these upper protrusions 22 is done according to a frame whose direction corresponds substantially to the axis longitudinal of the shoe while the other does with this last an angle between 60 ° and 80 °. The protuberances upper 22 have a cylindrical shape whose diameter is between 4 mm and 6 mm. Their height is not uniform over the entire surface of the upper surface 19. In the area central, i.e. in an area close to the longitudinal axis, the protrusions have a height included between 2 and 4 mm. On the other hand, in the peripheral areas, the height of the protrusions is between 4 and 6 mm.

It is now necessary to see how the different elements constituting the sole assemble with others and how they interact. In a known way the three elements, outsole 4, cup 6 and half sole upper intermediate are adjusted and then glued. The complementarity of the shapes of the upper surface 11 and of the lower surface 18 facilitates adjustment and ensures better bonding efficiency.

Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of the sole assembly and Figure 3a is a partial magnification of the Figure 3. Each lower protrusion 9 is located in vertical alignment with an upper protrusion 22. Thus by this superposition, a plurality of studs 36 are defined formed by an upper protuberance 22, a protuberance lower 9. These are only connected to each other by their central part 37, which of course includes a portion from the upper half-sole and another from the lower half sole. The overall amortization of the part front of the sole is ensured by the juxtaposition of these pads 36 of cylindrical shape. When receiving a jump, the pressure exerted by the foot on the sole is substantially uniformly distributed and all these cylindrical studs have a similar behavior, that is, they will all undergo a compression proportional to pressure.

On the other hand, if the sole is subjected to a force which is not evenly distributed over its entire surface, the behavior will not be similar in all places. The response of the sole to the stress will be precisely limited to places where force is exerted.

Figures 5, 6, 7 show in comparison the behavior of the sole according to the invention with respect to the behavior of two soles according to the prior art.

Figure 5 shows schematically the behavior of a sports shoe sole placed on a board skateboard 30 having a fixing screw 32, trucks 31 including the head protrudes from the board. The midsole 5, which is made of a very soft material to ensure good cushioned, compresses at the head of the screw without as far as the upper surface thereof does not deform. With such a sole, no information is transmitted to the sportsman from the surface with which he is in contact.

Figure 6 similarly shows the schematic behavior a sole according to the prior art in the same situation. The midsole material is stiffer and the protrusion made by the head of the screw generates a buckling of the whole sole. In this case, the information transmitted from the board to the sportsman is very imprecise, and the user can't know what its exact position is on the board using his sensations alone. This kind of sole operates in sort of a smoothing of information.

Figure 7 shows the behavior of the sole according to the invention. Due to the relative independence of the studs relative to each other, the sole deforms only the location on the screw head. So the sportsman is able to know precisely how it is positioned compared to the screw in question. Similarly, when he has the foot placed on the edge of the board, the athlete can feel precisely the contour line of it.

Figures 8a, 8b and 8c show the behavior of a midsole, the heel part of which includes an insert 33 foam or gel with a higher absorption coefficient important than the rest of the sole.

Figure 8a shows the situation at rest. Foot 34 is slightly inserted into insert 33.

Figure 8b shows the situation of the sole during the reception of small jumps. Insert 33 fills its role perfectly and the shock is absorbed.

In the case of larger jumps, Figure 8c, under the violence of the shock the material of the insert flows laterally and there is an abrupt variation in the damping shock. Depreciation is initially provided by insert 33. In a second step, this is carried out by the midsole. Finally, the phenomenon called tailgating, during which the heel no longer benefits from any amortized.

Figures 9a, 9b, 9c show under the same conditions the behavior of a sole according to the invention. Resting (Figure 9a), as well as during a small shock (Figure 9b), the sole behavior is almost similar to that of a insert sole according to the prior art. However, when very violent shocks (figure 9c), creep does not take place only laterally but partly through well 14. So even at the peak of depreciation, the part lower heel benefits from cushioning in the half sole higher. In this regard, the well 14 plays a major role. If it was not there, the material of the upper half-sole would compress as much as possible and we would reach a lot faster the tailgating phenomenon. The tailgating takes place when under the effect of a very strong shock, the sole intermediate has reached its maximum degree of compression and that, for the heel, everything happens as if there were no longer amortization.

Figures 10a, 10b, 10c show the operation of the progressive damping of the front part of the sole.

In FIG. 10a, the sole is at rest, the protuberances upper and lower are little or not compressed. then receiving small jumps (Figure 10b), only the upper protrusions which are made of a flexible material compress. If the jump is large (Figure 10c), the lower protrusions made of stiffer material also compress.

Figure 11 shows a second embodiment of the invention in which the midsole 5 is piece. In the front part of it, especially under the metatarsophalangeal flexion zone two hollow zones are face each other, one above, the other below. The recessed area above is equipped with upper protrusions 22 while the one below has protuberances lower 9. Since each of the protrusions lower is vertically aligned with a protrusion upper, studs are thus formed, which participating in the cushioning function of the sole intermediary while having a certain freedom of movement, especially vertical, relative to each other.

Figure 12 schematically shows a sole of shoe according to a third embodiment of the invention. The midsole 5 includes holes 35 in which pads 36 are inserted. As in the two modes previously described, the studs are arranged over a major part of the front area of the sole, in particular that corresponding to the metatarsophalangeal flexion zone.

FIG. 13 represents a fourth embodiment of the invention, the front part of which is similar to the mode of realization described in figure 11. Thus all the front part of the midsole is monobloc, while the half-sole upper intermediate is reduced to an insert 7 supporting the heel. In accordance with the invention and visible from the Figure 13a, the pads 36 consist of a protuberance upper 22, lower protrusion 9 and a portion central.37 which ensures the connection of the studs with each other. The rear part of the half midsole lower comprises a cavity 13 having a conical shape complementary to that of insert 7. As before evoked this conical shape associated with the presence of a well 14 allows the material of the insert 7 to flow into the cavity 13 and well 14.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the few embodiments described by way of example and many others embodiments are possible without leaving of the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. We can thus foresee that the holes 35 described in Figure 12 are blind and do not cross the sole on both sides. At the same time, the amortized compromise / sensitivity can similarly be obtained from a classic midsole, i.e. one-piece and without protuberance in which non-through cuts are made.

NOMENCLATURE

1-

shoe

2-

sole

3-

stem

4-

outsole

5-

midsole

6

lower half midsole or low cup

7-

upper mid-sole or insert

8-

flange

9-

lower protuberance

10-

low surface

11-

high surface

12-

depression

13-

cavity

14-

well

15-

inclined part

16-

lower belt

17-

upper belt

18-

lower surface

19-

upper surface

20-

protruding paving stone

21-

dome

22-

upper protuberances

23-

nipple

30-

skateboard

31-

truck

32-

screw

33-

insert

34-

heel

35-

hole

36-

stud

37-

central part

Claims (7)

1. Shoe comprising an upper and a sole (2), said sole (2) including a wear sole and an intermediary sole. The intermediary sole includes:

   an upper surface and a bottom surface,

   a rear zone provided to support the user's heel zone,

   a front zone provided to support the user's forefoot zone,

   the upper surface including, in the front zone, a plurality of top protuberances and the bottom surface including a plurality of bottom protuberances, each top protuberance of at least one portion of said plurality of top protuberances being vertically aligned with a bottom protuberance so as to constitute shock absorbing cylindrical studs that are linked to one another only by their central portion.
2. Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediary sole includes a top intermediary half-sole (7) including said upper surface (19) and a lower surface (18), and on which said top protuberances (22) are arranged, and a bottom intermediary half-sole (6) including said bottom surface (10) and a top surface (11), and beneath which said bottom protuberances (9) are arranged, and in that said lower surface and said top surface are in contact.
3. Shoe (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the top intermediary half-sole (7) is more flexible than the bottom intermediary half-sole (6).
4. Shoe (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the vertical extension of the top protuberances (22) is more substantial than the vertical extension of the bottom protuberances (9).
5. Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediary sole includes a top half-sole limited to an insert (7) positioned in the rear portion of said intermediary sole, the front portion of said intermediary sole being in one piece.
6. Shoe according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the bottom half-sole includes, in its rear portion, a cavity (13) that is extended by a well (14), and in that the top intermediary half-sole includes a dome (21) with a shape complementary to that of the cavity (13).
7. Shoe according to claim 6, characterized in that the shapes of the cavity (13) and of the dome (21), which are complementary, are of the truncated type.

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