EP1795083B1 - Semelle de chaussure - Google Patents

Semelle de chaussure Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1795083B1
EP1795083B1 EP07004711A EP07004711A EP1795083B1 EP 1795083 B1 EP1795083 B1 EP 1795083B1 EP 07004711 A EP07004711 A EP 07004711A EP 07004711 A EP07004711 A EP 07004711A EP 1795083 B1 EP1795083 B1 EP 1795083B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
midsole
lateral
forefoot
area
alignment portion
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
EP07004711A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1795083A1 (fr
Inventor
Mary L. Schoenborn
Raymond M. Fredericksen
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.)
Wolverine World Wide Inc
Original Assignee
Wolverine World Wide Inc
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 Wolverine World Wide Inc filed Critical Wolverine World Wide Inc
Priority claimed from EP03252287A external-priority patent/EP1352579B1/fr
Publication of EP1795083A1 publication Critical patent/EP1795083A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1795083B1 publication Critical patent/EP1795083B1/fr
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
    • A43B13/141—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
    • 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
    • A43B13/125—Soles with several layers of different materials characterised by the midsole or middle layer
    • 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
    • A43B13/16—Pieced 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
    • A43B13/181—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
    • A43B13/186—Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot
    • 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
    • A43B13/188—Differential cushioning regions
    • 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
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
    • A43B7/142—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
    • 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
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
    • A43B7/143—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the lateral arch, i.e. the cuboid bone
    • 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
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
    • A43B7/1435—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the joint between the fifth phalange and the fifth metatarsal bone
    • 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
    • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
    • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
    • A43B7/144—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to footwear, and more particularly to a sole construction for an article of footwear.
  • WO 02/11573 Discloses a midsole having a particularly elastic portion having at least two finger like extensions pointing towards the toe region of the midsole, The particularly elastic portion provides flexibility during the wearer's walking motion.
  • the aforementioned problems are overcome by the present invention which provides a sole designed specifically to accommodate a woman's gait pattern.
  • the midsole defines a foot platform that includes a neutral portion forming a majority of the foot platform and a lateral alignment portion disposed on the lateral side of the sole in the forefoot region.
  • the lateral alignment portion is formed from a firmer material than the neutral portion.
  • the lateral alignment portion is configured to extend generally from the proximal head of the fifth metatarsal to the distal head of the fifth metatarsal and from the distal head of the fifth metatarsal region to the distal head of the second metatarsal.
  • the midsole may further include a forefoot fixing portion disposed beneath the head of the fifth metatarsal within the boundaries of the lateral alignment portion.
  • the forefoot fixing portion is manufactured from a softer material than the surrounding lateral alignment portion, and possibly also softer than the neutral portion, to aid in aligning the foot on the sole and provide cushioning to the fifth metatarsal head, which has been determined to be a peak pressure zone for women.
  • the midsole further includes a medial alignment portion that extends from a point near the back of the heel through the arch region.
  • the medial alignment portion is manufactured from a firmer material than the neutral region, and possibly of the same firmness as the lateral alignment portion.
  • the present invention provides a unique footwear sole that is specially configured to correspond with a woman's gait pattern. Unlike conventional footwear, the present invention is configured to address the biomechanical differences between men and women. Among other things, the footwear sole affects the motion, and more specifically, the angular motion of the foot to facilitate alignment of the leg and reduce the rate of migration of the woman's center of mass during each stride.
  • the footwear sole helps to provide a woman with a more fluid and balanced stride. In doing so, the sole provides improved comfort and stability for a woman, and may reduce or eliminate the discomfort that can result when wearing conventional footwear that is not configured to match with the unique gait pattern of women. As a result of these benefits, the present invention may also extend the wear-life of the shoe by reinforcing those regions where sole break-down or deterioration is most likely to occur.
  • a footwear sole manufactured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1a-b , and generally designated 10.
  • the footwear sole 10 of the present invention is designed to meet needs specific to a woman's gait pattern and is intended specifically for use in women's footwear.
  • the footwear sole 10 includes portions of varying resistance to compression, wherein the size, shape, location and other characteristics of these portions are selected to address biomechanical issues unique to the way in which a woman moves through her stride.
  • the footwear sole 10 includes an outsole 12 for engaging the ground and a midsole 14 having different portions that provide different cushioning properties.
  • the midsole 14 of the illustrated embodiment includes a neutral portion 20 that forms the majority of the foot platform.
  • the midsole 14 also includes a lateral alignment region 16 disposed on the lateral side of the forefoot portion of the sole 10.
  • the lateral alignment portion 16 is manufactured from a material that is firmer than the neutral portion 14.
  • Pressure profiles describe the topographical pattern of forces under the foot during human movement.
  • the profiles describe the orientation of impact forces and how they are attenuated through the natural biomechanism of the human body. They also describe and locate peak concentrations of pressure that may contribute to over load injuries to the connective tissue of the human body, such as muscles, ligaments, tendons and bone.
  • Pressure profiles provide a detailed "foot mapping" that is related to how the center of gravity is balanced and how efficiently it is aligned over the foot during human motion.
  • Fig. 2 shows a typical pressure profile for a man.
  • Fig. 3 shows a typical pressure profile for a woman.
  • both men and women exhibit a peak pressure zone P1 under the heel bone, or calcaneus, at foot strike. Women and men differ, however, in the way they compensate for the impact forces as they propel themselves into the next step. Women will typically exhibit another peak pressure zone P2 under the fifth metatarsal bone of the foot and along the lateral border of the foot. Men will typically exhibit a medial peak pressure zone P3 underneath the first metatarsal and big toe, or hallux.
  • These pressure profiles also show traces T1 and T2 of the movement of the individuals' center of mass during the stride.
  • these traces differ significantly between the male and female profiles.
  • the difference between the pressure profiles is due to the anatomical structural differences between men and women.
  • the Q-angle of a woman is greater than that of a man.
  • a greater Q-angle results in greater stress at the medial knee joint.
  • women will typically shift their center of gravity laterally. By shifting their weight to the outside, women naturally bring the leg into straighter alignment. This movement creates a peak pressure zone under the fifth metatarsal head and along the lateral border of the foot.
  • This pressure pattern is a normal trend observed in a woman's gait pattern, but is not addressed in conventional shoe designs.
  • Rotal impulse is also an important concept to be considered in understanding the natural movement of a woman through her stride.
  • “Rotational impulse” is defined as the directional torque generated by the ground reaction forces that are experienced during foot strike. It is a biomechanical measure of how the body adjusts to changes in the center of gravity to maintain balanced alignment over the foot during movement. Because of the lateral shift in their center of gravity, women will typically exhibit a lateral rotational impulse. Arrows R1 and R2 representing typical rotational impulse in a woman's stride are shown in Fig. 7a . A significant number of women will exhibit a lateral rotational impulse trend. One recent study found that 70% of women exhibit a lateral rotational impulse that is significant enough to cause their shoes to prematurely breakdown to the outside and to predispose them to compensatory musculo-skeletal injuries.
  • Biomechanical analysis of foot pressure profiles and rotational impulse patterns of women have made it possible to establish a "functional alignment zone" that can be used to improve the functional design of women's footwear.
  • the present invention has been developed to incorporate this functional alignment zone into a midsole intended specifically for use in women's footwear.
  • the present invention is designed for incorporation into an article of footwear.
  • the present invention is described in connection with a conventional footwear sole having an outsole 12 for engaging the ground and a midsole 14 for providing the desired cushion and support.
  • the present invention is, however, well-suited for use in essentially any type of sole.
  • the footwear sole 10 may include an insole (not shown), sock liner (not shown) or other intermediate sole member disposed above the midsole 14.
  • the footwear sole 10 is intended to be secured to an upper (not shown) using essentially any attachment construction, including cement, welt and direct attach constructions.
  • the footwear sole 10 may also include a shank or other conventional sole insert, as desired.
  • the foot such as the heel, arch and forefoot areas, as well as to specific elements of the foot architecture, such as the hallux, metatarsal bones and calcaneus.
  • locations on the midsole these terms should be interpreted to include those areas of the midsole that are disposed generally (and not necessarily directly) beneath and provide support for the corresponding elements of the foot.
  • the heel area is generally defined as that area behind (toward the rear of the heel of the sole 10) phantom line A1 (See Fig.
  • the arch area is generally defined as that area between phantom lines A1 and A2 and the forefoot region is generally defined as that area ahead of (toward the tiptoe of the sole 10) phantom line A2. It should be understood, however, that the boundaries between the heel, arch and forefoot areas are not precise and that these terms should be interpreted loosely and with a great deal of flexibility.
  • the midsole 14 is designed to provide a foot platform that affects the movement pattern of the entire body as a woman moves through her stride. As it is designed to support the foot and to be incorporated into conventional footwear, the midsole 14 is generally foot-shaped. The midsole 14 may, however, take on other shapes, as desired, to accommodate various alternative sole designs. In the illustrated embodiment, the midsole 14 includes a plurality of separate portions that are joined together in a compression molding process to define a continuous support platform. Alternatively, the midsole 14 may include separate and discrete elements that cooperatively support the foot. The midsole 14 includes a generally smooth upper surface 16 designed to support the wearer's foot. The upper surface 16 may include contours, if desired.
  • the upper surface 16 of the midsole 14 may be contoured to match the natural contours of the wearer's foot, for example, by providing the upper surface 16 with a concave heel area, a raised arch area or essentially any other desired shape.
  • the midsole 14 of the illustrated embodiment includes a peripheral lip 18 that extends upwardly around the peripheral edge of the midsole 14.
  • the midsole 14 may directly engage the undersurface of the wearer's foot.
  • an intermediate or upper sole member (not shown) will be incorporated into the sole 10.
  • an insole (not shown), sock liner (not shown), footbed (not shown) or other sole element may be incorporated into the sole 10 above the midsole 14.
  • the midsole 14 generally includes a neutral portion 20 that forms the majority of the foot platform.
  • the neutral portion 20 is manufactured from a compression molded EVA with a compressibility of approximately 55 durometer on the Asker C-scale.
  • the neutral portion 20 may, however, be manufactured from other cushioning materials and using other manufacturing techniques.
  • the neutral portion 20 may be injection molded from polyurethane.
  • the neutral portion 20 extends generally through the lateral region of the heel area, the central region of the arch area, the medial region of the forefoot area and throughout essentially the entire toe region.
  • the neutral portion 20 preferably extends through the flex zone 60 defined forward of the distal heads of the metatarsals and underlying the proximal phalanges.
  • the flex zone 60 is roughly defined as the region between lines F1 and F2 of Fig. 4 .
  • the midsole 14 also includes a lateral alignment portion 22 that is positioned to address alignment as a woman moves through her stride. More specifically, the lateral alignment portion 22 is generally disposed on the lateral side of the midsole 14. As a woman moves through her stride, there is a natural tendency for her center of mass to migrate in a lateral direction. The lateral alignment portion 22 helps to control this lateral migration by affecting improved alignment from the foot through to the hip. The precise shape of the lateral alignment portion 22 will vary from application to application.
  • the lateral alignment portion 22 is configured to extend from the proximal head of the fifth metatarsal to the distal head of the fifth metatarsal and from the distal head of the fifth metatarsal region to the distal head of the second metatarsal.
  • the lateral alignment portion 22 of this embodiment is somewhat triangular in shape having a greater lateral width in the region of the distal heads of the metatarsals.
  • the lateral alignment portion 22 preferably, but not necessarily, terminates behind the flex zone 60 so that it does not impair the ability of the sole to flex in that region.
  • the flex zone 60 is that portion of the sole ahead of the distal heads of the metatarsals where a majority of the foot flex takes place.
  • the flex zone 60 is roughly defined as the region between line F1 and F2 of Fig. 4 .
  • Examples of alternatively shaped lateral alignment portions are shown in Figs. 7a-d .
  • alternatively shaped lateral alignment portions are represented by cross-hatched regions 300, 302, 304 and 306.
  • the illustrations also show the outline of the sole S and the general bone structure of the foot F to provide an understanding of the interrelationship between the foot and the alternative lateral alignment portions 300, 302, 304 and 306.
  • any one of these alternative lateral alignment portions 300, 302, 304 and 306 can be provided with a forefoot fixing portion (as described in more detail below).
  • the lateral alignment portion 22 is manufactured from a compression molded EVA with a compressibility of approximately 65 durometer on the Asker C-scale. Like the neutral portion 20, the lateral alignment portion 22 may, however, be manufactured from other cushioning materials and using other manufacturing techniques.
  • the midsole 14 may also include a forefoot fixing portion 24 disposed within the lateral alignment portion 22.
  • the forefoot fixing portion 24 is configured to extend beneath the distal head of the fifth metatarsal, which is a peak pressure zone for women.
  • the forefoot fixing portion 24 provides less resistance to compression than the lateral alignment portion 22. By positioning it under a peak pressure zone, the forefoot fixing portion 24 not only helps to provide cushioning in a key region, but also to obtain and maintain proper position of the foot on the sole 10. As perhaps best shown in Fig.
  • the forefoot fixing portion 24 of this particular embodiment is somewhat elliptical or "tear-drop" in shape extending not only beneath the distal head of the fifth metatarsal but also beneath a portion of the fifth metatarsal bone, thereby providing a line of increased compressibility under the metatarsal bone and further assisting proper alignment of the foot on the sole 10.
  • the forefoot fixing portion 24 is manufactured from a compression molded EVA with a compressibility of approximately 40 durometer on the Asker C-scale.
  • the forefoot fixing 24 may be manufactured from other cushioning materials and using other manufacturing techniques.
  • the midsole 14 of the illustrated embodiment also includes a medial alignment portion 26.
  • the medial alignment portion 26 is intended to facilitate proper alignment during the initial stages of a woman's stride, for example, the period beginning at heel strike and extending until the woman's center of mass has migrated to the lateral side of the sole 10.
  • the medial alignment portion 26 extends along the medial side of the sole 10 from the heel area through the arch area.
  • the medial alignment portion 26 of this embodiment does not extend to the distal heads of the metatarsals.
  • the medial alignment portion 26 is manufactured from a compression molded EVA with a compressibility of approximately 65 durometer on the Asker C-scale.
  • the medial alignment portion 26 may, however, be manufactured from other cushioning materials and using other manufacturing techniques.
  • the midsole 14 also includes a heel fixing portion 28.
  • the heel fixing portion 28 cushions the peak pressure point in the heel and helps to center the foot on the sole 10 during the initial stages of each stride, including during heel strike.
  • the heel fixing portion 28 includes a disc-shaped insert 50 that is fitted into a corresponding recess 52 in the heel area.
  • the insert 50 is manufactured from a relatively soft cushioning material, such as a closed cell foam.
  • the size, shape and configuration of the heel fixing portion 28 may vary from application to application.
  • the disc-shaped insert 50 and recess 52 combination may be replaced by one or more perforations that reduce the resistance of the corresponding region to compression.
  • the insert 50 may define a cutout (not shown), for example, a "star-shaped" cutout.
  • the above description identifies certain approximate durometer values for the various portions of the midsole 14 of the illustrated embodiment.
  • the recited values are merely exemplary and the present invention is not limited to midsole constructions of the specific recited durometer values.
  • the present invention should be broadly interpreted to extend to midsole components having different compressibility values.
  • the relative differences in the compressibility of the various portions of the midsole may also vary from application to application.
  • the present invention extends to midsoles in which the difference between the compressibility of the neutral portion and the lateral alignment portion varies from the 10 points difference in the above described embodiment.
  • a sole 110 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown 5a-b and 6.
  • the sole 110 includes an outsole 112 and a midsole 116 (See Fig. 5a ).
  • the alternative sole 110 is generally identical to the sole 10 described above, except as specifically described in the following sentences.
  • the midsole 114 generally includes a neutral portion 120, a lateral alignment portion 122, a forefoot fixing portion 124, a medial alignment portion 126 and a heel fixing portion 128.
  • the forefoot fixing portion 124, medial alignment portion 126 and heel fixing portion 128 are optional.
  • the forefoot fixing portion 124 includes an insert 140 that is fitted into a corresponding void 142 in the lateral alignment portion 122, rather than extending entirely through the midsole 114 as in the above described embodiment.
  • the insert 140 is manufactured from a material having a substantially lower durometer than the surrounding lateral alignment portion 122.
  • the insert 140 may be secured in the void 142 using conventional adhesive, compression molding or other conventional techniques.
  • the heel fixing portion 128 is defined by a somewhat "star-shaped" cutout 144 formed in the center of the heel area.
  • the cutout 144 may extend entirely or partially through the midsole material depending primarily on the desired compressibility. The size, shape and configuration of the cutout 144 may vary from application to application as desired.
  • the midsole 114 may also include a substantially rigid shank 146 to provide support to the arch area of the sole 110.
  • An exemplary shank 146 is shown in broken lines in Fig. 6 . The precise size, shape and configuration of the shank 146 may vary from application to application as desired.
  • the present invention extends to essentially any midsole construction in which the resistance to compression is varied in accordance with the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims, regardless of the way in which varied compression is achieved.
  • the compressibility of various regions of the sole is controlled by forming perforations in the midsole 214.
  • the midsole 214 is manufactured from a single continuous mass, for example, by injection molding the midsole 214 from a single polyurethane material or by compression molding the midsole 214 from a single EVA material.
  • the midsole 214 includes a neutral portion 220 that defines a plurality of perforations 250 in the upper surface of the midsole
  • the perforations 250 extend to a depth of approximately one-half the thickness of the midsole 214 at that location.
  • the depth of the perforations 250 may vary from application to application.
  • the perforations 250 may extend entirely through the midsole 214.
  • the perforations 250 may have essentially any cross-sectional shape, but in the illustrated embodiment are generally circular in cross-section.
  • the perforations 250 are arranged in a regular pattern throughout a region that is essentially coextensive with the neutral portion 20 of the embodiment described above.
  • the perforations 250 may, however, be arranged in an irregular pattern, with more or less perforations 250 in any given portion of the neutral portion 220.
  • the perforations 250 in the neutral portion 220 are of about the same size (e.g. diameter), but the size may vary from perforation to perforation, if desired.
  • the midsole 214 also includes a lateral alignment portion 222.
  • the lateral alignment portion 222 of this embodiment does not include any perforations 250.
  • the lateral alignment portion 222 could alternatively include perforations that are configured to give the lateral alignment portion 222 greater resistance to compression than the neutral portion 220.
  • the lateral alignment portion 222 may include less perforations, perforations of small size or perforations of lesser depth than the neutral portion 220.
  • the midsole 214 may also include a forefoot fixing portion 224 disposed within the lateral alignment portion 222.
  • the forefoot fixing portion 224 of the illustrated embodiment is defined by a plurality of perforations 252 disposed within approximately the same location as the forefoot fixing portion 24 of the embodiment described above. That is to say that the forefoot fixing portion 224 is located under the distal head of the fifth metatarsal.
  • the perforations 252 have a greater diameter than the perforations in the neutral portion 220 to provide less resistance to compression than either the lateral alignment portion 222 or the neutral portion 220.
  • the perforations 252 may be placed closer together, have a greater depth or a different cross sectional shape so that the forefoot fixing portion 224 provides the desired resistance to compression.
  • the precise size, shape and configuration of the perforations 252 may vary from application to application.
  • the alternative midsole 214 may further include a medial alignment portion 226.
  • the medial alignment portion 226 does not include any perforations 250 so that it provides greater resistance to compression than the neutral portion 220.
  • the medial alignment portion 226 could alternatively include perforations that are configured to give the medial alignment portion 226 greater resistance to compression than the neutral portion 220.
  • the medial alignment portion 226 may include less perforations, perforations of small size or perforations of lesser depth than the neutral portion 220.
  • the alternative midsole 214 may also include a heel fixing portion 228.
  • the heel fixing portion 228 cushions the peak pressure point in the heel and helps to center the foot on the sole 210 during the initial stages of each stride.
  • the heel fixing portion 228 includes a disc-shaped insert 260 that is fitted into a corresponding recess 262 in the heel area.
  • the disc-shaped insert 260 may define a somewhat star-shaped cutout 264.
  • the size, shape and configuration of the heel fixing portion 228 may vary from application to application.
  • the disc-shaped insert 260 may be replaced by one or more perforations that reduce the resistance of the central heel region.
  • One specific alternative is to eliminate the disc-shaped insert 260 and to replace it with a somewhat "star-shaped" cutout (See, for example, Fig. 6 ) directly in the midsole material.
  • the sole 210 is intended to function with a shank that is disposed above the midsole 114.
  • the shank is not shown, the general outline of a shank 270 is shown in Fig. 8 in broken lines. As can be seen, the shank 270 extends through the arch area of the sole 210. Because of the rigidity of the shank 270, the portion of the midsole 214 underlying the shank 270 is not perforated in this embodiment. Although it is permissible to perforate the midsole 214 in the region of the shank 270, the shank's stiffness dramatically reduces the impact of any such perforations. The shank is not necessary and, if included, may be incorporated into the midsole 114 in different ways.
  • the shank (not shown) may be secured to the undersurface of the midsole 214 or embedded within the midsole 214.
  • perforations may or may not be formed in the shank region depending on the desired characteristics of the midsole 114.
  • the midsole 214 may further define one or more flex grooves 280 intended to improve the flexibility of the sole 210. As shown in Fig. 8 , the midsole 214 may define three laterally extending flex grooves 280. In this embodiment, the grooves 280 have a depth of approximately 3.5 millimeters and extend in a line across a majority of the sole width. The size, shape, number and position of the flex grooves may vary from application to application as desired. Flex grooves may be incorporated into any of the embodiments described herein.
  • the alternative midsole 214 is intended to be incorporated into an otherwise conventional sole 210.
  • the sole 210 preferably includes an outsole (not shown) disposed below the midsole 214.
  • a footbed (not shown) disposed above the midsole 214.
  • the outsole and footbed may be secured to the midsole 214 by adhesive or other conventional methods.
  • the upper (not shown) can be secured to the sole 210 using essentially any conventional techniques and apparatus.

Claims (12)

  1. Semelle intercalaire (14) pour un article chaussant comprenant :
    une région d'avant-pied possédant une région latérale et une région médiane ;
    une partie neutre (20) s'étendant à travers au moins ladite région médiane de ladite région d'avant-pied ; et une partie d'alignement latérale (22) disposée dans au moins ladite région latérale de ladite région d'avant-pied ;
    ladite partie d'alignement latérale s'étendant à partir d'une zone en dessous d'une tête proximale d'un cinquième métatarsien du pied d'une personne qui porte l'article chaussant jusqu'à une zone en dessous d'une tête distale d'un cinquième métatarsien du pied d'une personne qui porte l'article chaussant jusqu'à une zone en dessous d'une tête distale d'un deuxième métatarsien du pied d'une personne qui porte l'article chaussant, ladite partie d'alignement latérale possédant un bord médian, tout ledit bord médian étant borné par ladite partie neutre,
    ladite partie d'alignement latérale possédant une résistance plus importante à la compression que ladite partie neutre.
  2. Semelle intercalaire selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre une zone de voûte possédant une région centrale et une zone de talon possédant une région médiane et une région latérale, ladite partie neutre (20) s'étendant au moins à travers ladite région centrale, à travers ladite zone de voûte et ladite région latérale de ladite zone de talon.
  3. Semelle intercalaire (14) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre une partie de fixation d'avant-pied (24), durant l'utilisation, en dessous d'une tête distale d'un cinquième métatarsien du pied d'une personne qui porte l'article chaussant, ladite partie de fixation d'avant-pied disposée avec ladite partie d'alignement latérale (22) et ne s'étendant pas jusqu'à un bord latéral de ladite région d'avant-pied, ladite partie de fixation d'avant-pied (24) fournissant une résistance à la compression moins importante que ladite partie d'alignement latérale (22).
  4. Semelle intercalaire (14) selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle ladite partie de fixation d'avant-pied (24) fournit une résistance à la compression moins importante que ladite partie neutre (20), et/ou comprenant en outre une partie d'alignement médiane (26) s'étendant à partir de ladite région médiane de ladite zone de talon à travers ladite région médiane de ladite zone de voûte, ladite partie d'alignement médiane (26) fournissant une résistance à la compression plus importante que ladite partie neutre (20), et de préférence dans laquelle ladite partie d'alignement médiane (26) et ladite partie d'alignement latérale (22) fournissent une résistance à la compression sensiblement égale.
  5. Semelle intercalaire (14) selon la revendication 2, comprenant en outre une ligne de flexion s'étendant latéralement à travers la semelle intercalaire et définie par une ligne de flexion naturelle du pied d'une personne qui porte l'article chaussant ; et dans laquelle ladite partie d'alignement latérale (22) ne s'étend pas dans ladite ligne de flexion ; et de préférence comprenant en outre une partie de fixation de talon (28) disposée au centre de ladite zone de talon, ladite partie de fixation de talon (28) fournissant moins de résistance à la compression que ladite partie neutre (20).
  6. Semelle intercalaire (14) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans laquelle ladite partie neutre (20) est fabriquée à partir d'un premier matériau et ladite partie d'alignement latérale (22) est fabriquée à partir d'un deuxième matériau, ledit premier matériau possédant une dureté d'après duromètre qui est inférieure à une dureté d'après duromètre dudit deuxième matériau, et de préférence dans laquelle ladite partie d'alignement médiane (26) est fabriquée à partir d'un troisième matériau, ledit troisième matériau possédant une dureté d'après duromètre qui est supérieure à ladite dureté d'après duromètre dudit premier matériau ou ledit premier matériau possédant une dureté d'après duromètre qui est inférieure à une dureté d'après duromètre dudit troisième matériau, et/ou dans laquelle ladite partie de fixation d'avant-pied (24) est fabriquée à partir d'un quatrième matériau, ledit quatrième matériau possédant une dureté d'après duromètre qui est inférieure à une dureté d'après duromètre dudit premier ou deuxième matériau.
  7. Semelle intercalaire (14) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans laquelle ladite partie neutre (20) possède une valeur de dureté d'après duromètre d'approximativement 55 sur l'échelle Asker C, ladite partie d'alignement latérale (22) possède une valeur de dureté d'après duromètre d'approximativement 65 sur l'échelle Asker C, ladite partie d'alignement médiane (26) possède une valeur de dureté d'après duromètre d'approximativement 65 sur l'échelle Asker C, et ladite partie de fixation d'avant-pied (24) possède une valeur de dureté d'après duromètre d'approximativement 40 sur l'échelle Asker C.
  8. Semelle intercalaire (14) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans laquelle ladite partie neutre (20) définit une pluralité de perforations fournissant à ladite partie neutre (20) une résistance à la compression moins importante que ladite partie d'alignement latérale (22), et de préférence dans laquelle ladite partie de fixation d'avant-pied (24) définit une ou plusieurs perforations fournissant à ladite partie de fixation d'avant-pied (24) une résistance à la compression moins importante que ladite partie d'alignement latérale (22) et ladite partie neutre (20).
  9. Semelle intercalaire (14) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre une zone de talon et une zone de voûte dans laquelle ladite partie d'alignement latérale (22) s'étend au moins à travers une partie latérale de la région d'avant-pied.
  10. Semelle intercalaire (14) selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle la semelle intercalaire (14) comprend une zone de flexion (60) s'étendant à travers une partie de ladite région d'avant-pied vers l'avant, durant l'utilisation, des têtes distales des métatarsiens, ladite partie d'alignement latérale (22) ne s'étendant pas dans ladite zone de flexion (60), ou dans laquelle ladite partie neutre (20) s'étend au moins à travers sensiblement toute ladite zone de flexion (60).
  11. Semelle intercalaire (14) selon la revendication 9, dans laquelle chacune de ladite partie neutre (20), ladite partie d'alignement latérale (22) et ladite partie de fixation d'avant-pied (24) est moulée par compression à partir de matériaux de valeurs d'après duromètre différentes.
  12. Article chaussant comprenant une semelle intercalaire (14) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes.
EP07004711A 2002-04-10 2003-04-10 Semelle de chaussure Expired - Lifetime EP1795083B1 (fr)

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CN107529851A (zh) * 2015-05-27 2018-01-02 耐克创新有限合伙公司 包括具有区域图案的鞋底构件的鞋类物品

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US9861159B2 (en) * 2015-05-27 2018-01-09 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear comprising a sole member with apertures
US10206456B2 (en) * 2015-05-27 2019-02-19 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear comprising a sole member with geometric patterns
CN107095387B (zh) * 2017-06-13 2023-07-28 福州大学 一种登山防滑鞋托装置及其使用方法
KR200491702Y1 (ko) * 2018-11-01 2020-05-22 주식회사 다원헬스케어 기능성 실내화
CN112292054B (zh) * 2018-12-11 2022-10-28 株式会社爱世克私 鞋
FR3125686A1 (fr) * 2021-07-29 2023-02-03 Decathlon Article chaussant

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DE2709546A1 (de) * 1977-03-04 1978-09-07 Hans Caesar Knellwolf Fussunterlage fuer schuhwerk, wie sohle, einlagesohle, schuheinbauteil oder schuheinlage
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DE3629212A1 (de) * 1986-08-28 1988-03-03 Dassler Puma Sportschuh Zwischensohle fuer sportschuhe
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CN107529851A (zh) * 2015-05-27 2018-01-02 耐克创新有限合伙公司 包括具有区域图案的鞋底构件的鞋类物品
CN107529851B (zh) * 2015-05-27 2021-05-04 耐克创新有限合伙公司 包括具有区域图案的鞋底构件的鞋类物品

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