EP1447020A1

EP1447020A1 - Shoe sole structure

Info

Publication number: EP1447020A1
Application number: EP03009417A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Swei Mu Wang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-12
Filing date: 2003-04-25
Publication date: 2004-08-18
Also published as: NZ525565A; US20060236562A1; CA2426696A1; US20040154189A1; AU2003203968A1

Abstract

A shoe sole structure that not only provides a shock absorbing effect but also can protect the elastic portion of .the shoe sole structure from aging and wear. The shoe sole structure contains a first protective container (11), a first elastic pad (1), a second protective container (21) and a second protective container (21). The first protective container (11) has a first side (14) having a first containing space (110) and a second side (15) having plural first gutters (12) thereon. The first elastic pad (1) is united with the first side (14) within the first containing space (110). The second protective container (21) has a third side (25) having a second containing space (210) and a fourth side (26) having plural second gutters (22) thereon. The second elastic pad (2) is united with the third side (25) within the second containing space (210). The second side (15) is united with the fourth side (26). Accordingly the first and second elastic pads (1,2) are protected from exposing to sunlight and air directly and the first gutters (12) combined with the second gutters (22) form plural channels (16) that greatly increase the elasticity of the shoe sole structure.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a shoe sole structure that not only provides a shock absorbing effect but also can protect the elastic portion of .the shoe sole structure from aging and wear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Resilience of the sole can be obtained in many different ways. For example, a traditional shoe sole structure is composed of a foaming material for providing elasticity and a rubber layer combined with the foaming material for protecting the foaming material. However the rubber layer can only protect the bottom portion of the foaming material. The surroundings of the foaming are not protected. Therefore the foaming material exposes to sunlight and moisture directly. That causes the foaming material aged and worn quickly. Besides, for the purpose of running or other sports with heavy duties, the elasticity provided by the foaming material of the traditional shoe sole structure is not enough.
Another design of traditional shoe sole structure is an air cushion structure. However, the cost of air cushion shoe sole is high and the procedure of manufacturing is complex. In addition, sometimes unnecessary deformations take place in the shoe sole of air cushion structure. Accordingly a shoe sole structure with sufficient and proper elasticity as well as long life and comparatively low cost of manufacture is needed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be more clearly understood after refer to the following detailed description read in conjunction with the drawings wherein:
Fig.1 is a perspective view of an application of a first embodiment;
Fig.2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment;
Fig. 3 is an perspective view of the assembled embodiment
Fig.4 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment;
Fig.5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the embodiment;
Fig.6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment;
Fig.7 an exploded view of a third embodiment;
Fig.8 is a cross sectional view of a forth embodiment;
Fig.9 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a fifth embodiment;
Fig. 10 is an exploded view of a sixth embodiment;
Fig.11 is a cross sectional view of a seventh embodiment;
Fig.12 is an exploded view showing plural plugs 3 plugged into the open ends of the gutters of the first embodiment;
Fig.13 is a cross sectional view of a eighth embodiment; and
Fig.14 is a cross sectional view of a ninth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Fig. 1 to Fig.5, The shoe sole structure mainly contains a first protective container 11, a first elastic pad 1, a second protective container 21and a second elastic pad 2. The first protective container 11 has a first side 14 having a first containing space 110 and a second side 15 having plural first gutters 12 thereon. A pattern layer 112 is united with the first side 14 of the first protective container 11. The first and second elastic pads 1,2 are made of a foaming material. The first and second protective containers 11, 21 are made of a transparent, waterproof and wear resisting material. The first elastic pad 1 is united with the pattern layer 112 within the first containing space 110. Accordingly, one side and the surroundings of the first elastic pad 1 are wrapped by the first protective container 11. As the application shown in Fig.1, another side of the elastic pad 1 is united with an insole of the shoe. Therefore the elastic pad 1 is protected from exposing to sunlight and air directly.
The second protective container 21 contains a third side 25 having a second containing space 210 and a fourth side 26 having plural second gutters 22 thereon. A pattern layer 212 is united with the third side 25 of the second protective container 21. The second elastic pad 2 is united with the pattern layer 212 within the second containing space 210. Accordingly, one side and the surroundings of the second elastic pad 2 are wrapped by the second protective container 21. Similarly, as the application shown in Fig.1, another side of the elastic pad 2 is united with an outsole 23 of the shoe. Therefore the elastic pad 2 is protected from exposing to sunlight and air directly.
The pattern layers 112, 212 have patterns thereon. The pattern layer 112, 212 can be any color. There can also be protective layers 113,114interlaid between said pattern layers 112, 212 and said elastic pads 1,2. The protective layers 113, 114 can protect the pattern layer. The protective layers can be a plastic film. The protective layers can be extrude coated on the pattern layers 112, 212. The second side 15 is united with the fourth side 26. The plural first gutters 12 and the plural second gutters 22 are united correspondingly. The shapes of the plural first gutters 12 and the plural second gutters 22 are semicylindrical. Therefore the plural first gutters 12 and the plural second gutters 22 form plural circular channels 16. The formation of the channels can greatly increase the elasticity of the shoe sole structure.
With reference to Fig. 6, in the embodiment, the shapes of the channels 16a made by combination of the first gutter 12a and second gutter 22a are square. The shapes of the channels can be designed to any shape desired.
With reference to Fig. 7, in the embodiment, the gutters 12b, 22b are close ended. One advantage of the embodiment is that stone or sand will not enter into the channels.
With reference to Fig. 8, the embodiment contains a protective container 11c, an elastic pad 1c and an outsole 24. The protective container 11c has a first side 14c having a containing space 110c and a second side 15c having plural gutters 12c thereon. A pattern layer 112c contacts the first side 14c and a protective layer 113c is bonded with the pattern layer 112c. The elastic pad 1c is united with the protective layer 113c. The outsole 24 is united with the second side 15c of the protective container 11c.
With reference to Fig. 9, the embodiment contains all the elements of the first embodiment described above except there is no pattern layer The first protective container 11d and the second protective container 21d directly united with the first elastic pad and the second elastic pad respectively.
With reference to Fig. 10, the embodiment contains all the elements of the first embodiment described above except there is no pattern layer. The first protective container 11e and the second protective container 21e directly united with the first elastic pad and the second elastic pad respectively. In addition, the second side 41, 42 of the protective containers have patterns thereon.
Fig. 11 shows an embodiment that the first gutters 12f and the second gutters 22f are interlaced.
With reference to Fig.12, the embodiment shows plural plugs 3 are plugged into the channels formed by the combination of the first gutters 12 and the second gutters 22 for preventing sands or rocks fall into the channels. Each of the plural plugs 3 has a connecting portion 31.
With reference to Fig. 13, the channels formed by the combination of the first gutters 12g and second gutters 22g in this embodiment are placed only at the front portion of the shoe sole structure.
With reference to Fig. 13, the channels formed by the combination of the first gutters 12h and second gutters 22h in this embodiment are placed only at the rear portion of the shoe sole structure.
One of the method of making the shoe sole structure contains: placing protective containers and pattern layers in a mold; heating them to the degree of deformable; vacuating one side of the protective container to form containing space at the opposite side and plural gutters at the same side of vacuating; placing foaming material in the containing space; heating and press the foaming material inside the containing space to fixed shape; and finally combing two sets of the products made as described above by high frequency wave.

Claims

A shoe sole structure comprising:

a first protective container (11) having:

a first side (14) having a first containing space (110); and

a second side (15) having plural first gutters (12) thereon;

a first elastic pad (1) united with said first side (14) within said first containing space (110);

a second protective container (21)having:

a third side (25) having a second containing space(210); and

a fourth side (26) having plural second gutters (22) thereon; and

a second elastic pad (2) united with said third side (25) within said second containing space (210);

wherein said second side (15) of said first protective container (11) is united with said fourth side (26) of said second protective container (21).
The shoe sole structure of claim 1, further comprising: a first pattern layer (112) interlaid between said first side (14) of said first protective container and said first elastic pad (1), and a second pattern layer (212) interlaid between said third side (25) of said second protective container (21) and said second elastic pad (2).
The shoe sole structure of claim 1, wherein said first protective container (11) and said second protective container (21) are transparent and waterproof.
The shoe sole structure of claim 1, wherein said plural first gutters (12) combined with said plural second gutters (22) correspondingly form plural channels (16).
The shoe sole structure of claim 1, wherein said plural first gutters (12) interlace with said plural second gutters (22).
The shoe sole structure of claim 1, wherein said plural first gutters (12) and said plural second gutters (22) are open ended, said shoe sole structure further comprising: plural plugs (3) for being plugged into said open ends..
The shoe sole structure of claim 1, wherein said plural first gutters (12) and said plural second gutters (22) are close ended.
The shoe structure of claim1, wherein said first elastic pad (1) and said second elastic pad (2) are made of a foaming material.
The shoe sole structure of claim 2, further comprising a first protective layer (113) interlaid between said first pattern layer (112) and said first elastic pad (1) and a second protective layer (114) interlaid between said second pattern layer (212) and said second elastic pad (2).
The shoe sole structure of claim 4, wherein the shapes of said plural first gutters (12) and said plural second gutters (22) are semicylindrical.
A shoe sole structure comprising:

a protective container (11c) having:

a first side (14c) having a containing space (110c); and

a second side (15c) having plural gutters (12c) thereon;

an elastic pad (1c) united with said first side (14c) within said containing space(110c); and

an outsole (24) united with said second side (15c) of said protective container (11c).
The shoe sole structure of claim 11, further comprising a pattern layer (112 c) interlaid with said first side (14c) of said protective container (11c) and a protective layer (113c) interlaid between said pattern layer (112c) and said elastic pad (1c).
The shoe sole structure of claim 11, wherein said protective container (11c) is transparent and waterproof and the shapes of said plural gutters (12c) are semicylindrical.
The shoe sole structure of claim 11, wherein said plural gutters (12c) are open ended, said shoe sole structure further comprising: plural plugs for being plugged into said open ends.
The shoe sole structure of claim 11, wherein said plural gutters (12c) are close ended.