EP2348909B1

EP2348909B1 - Bottom for shoes

Info

Publication number: EP2348909B1
Application number: EP09783635.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Girolamo Badiali
Original assignee: Gommus Cooperativa Per Azioni Soc
Current assignee: Gommus Cooperativa Per Azioni Soc
Priority date: 2008-11-07
Filing date: 2009-10-01
Publication date: 2017-04-12
Anticipated expiration: 2029-10-01
Also published as: EP2348909A1; ITMC20080197A1; PT2348909T; TR200908043A2; IT1391646B1; WO2010052078A1

Description

The present patent application relates to a moulded bottom for shoes with high antishock properties, that is to say capable of absorbing the impact of the front of the foot with the ground during walking.
In order to guarantee a soft elastically deformable support for the foot, the known models of bottoms for shoes are provided with a dense series of flexible ground-facing protuberances on the lower surface, which are obtained from moulding in one piece with the bottom.
Said protuberances are mostly configured as hollow spherical segments or thin cylindrical pegs with rounded tip, designed to subside or bend laterally when the foot rhythmically discharges the weight of the body first on the metatarsal area of the foot and then on the toes.
In case of a dense series of thin cylindrical pegs the upper surface of the bottom is rather continuous, while in case of hollow segments with significant dimensions the upper surface of the bottom is configured as a lattices of ribs that form some pits.
Evidently, in both cases, the innersole adheres to the upper surface of the bottom that, in the presence of protuberances with hollow structure, does not have a continuous surface, since it rests above a flat lattice of ribs that define said series of hollow protuberances (pits).
While said protuberances tend to subside in their central area, when they are subjected to the weight of the foot, their lateral walls maintain a certain rigidity that is perceived by the foot on the borders that surround the series of pits on the upper side of the bottom.
In the long term the innersole tends to suffer a punctiform series of subsidence because of the contrasting effect of absence of support surface in the centre of each pit and high rigidity on the perimeter borders of the pit, which correspond to the walls of the hollow protuberances.
This generates a punctiform subsidence of the innersole, which is often accompanied by the occurrence of folds or bends, favoured by the natural sweating of the foot, especially in the hottest seasons of the year, since humidity tends to soften the material, usually natural or synthetic leather, of the sole.
Moreover, it must be considered that the pits formed in the upper part of the bottom have a large empty surface. For this reason, when he walks, the user perceives a disturbing unpleasant sensation of emptiness under the foot.
US6,209,226 discloses a self cleaning, shock resistant sole for ventilated shoe having a bottom according to the preamble of claim 1.
The main purpose of the present invention is to remedy the inconveniences of the known technique by providing a bottom for shoes that, although it is provided with "antishock" structure characterised by a series of elastically deformable protuberances, is able to provide a sufficiently rigid stable surface to support the innersole.
These and other purposes have been achieved by the bottom for shoe of the invention, whose main characteristics are illustrated in the independent claim 1.
The bottom for shoes of the invention is obtained from moulding a soft deformable material. It comprises:

a lower tread with a plurality of internally hollow protuberances, with a lower horizontal surface and a basically vertical lateral surface;
an upper side with a plurality of pits that coincide with the internal cavity of the said protuberances and represent the meshes of a lattice of flat ribs, while the protuberances are bordered by a lattice of grooves that correspond to the lattice of flat ribs.

At least some of the pits have an internal rib provided with upper surface situated at a lower level than the upper surface of the flat ribs.
The internal rib ensures the partial filling of the pit, avoiding the sensation of emptiness felt by the user.
The structure of the internal rib and of the pits that house said internal rib is studied in such a manner to ensure the elastic deformation of the walls of the protuberances to maximise the shock-absorbing effect of the bottom.
For purposes of clarity, the description of the bottom of the invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are intended for purposes of illustration only and not in a limiting sense, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the bottom for shoes of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the bottom for shoes of the invention;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the bottom of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bottom of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the bottom of Fig. 1;
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along section plane VI-VI of Fig. 5.

With reference to figures 1 and 2, a bottom according to the invention is disclosed and generally indicated with numeral (1). The bottom (1) is moulded in one piece from natural or synthetic rubber or the other thermoformable elastically deformable soft materials that are usually used in the shoe industry.
The bottom (1) is provided with a lower tread (1 a) (Fig 2) and an upper side (1b) (Fig. 1). The upper side (1b) is covered on top with a traditional innersole.
With reference to Fig. 2, the bottom (1) is provided on the lower side with a dense series of internally hollow protuberances (2, 3). In particular, a central protuberance (3) with basically cylindrical shape is provided and surrounded by four lateral protuberances (2) with basically rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular shape according to their position. The most external lateral protuberances (2) have suitably rounded external sides.
With reference to Fig. 3, each lateral protuberance (2) has a horizontal flat lower surface (2a) and a basically vertical lateral surface (2c). The lateral surface (2c) is joined with the lower surface (2a) uninterruptedly.
The central protuberance (3) has a cylindrical lateral surface (3c) that extends vertically and is joined with a peripheral lower surface (3a) with annular shape, which is flat and horizontal. The peripheral lower surface (3a) of the central protuberance (3) is situated at the same level as the lower surface (2a) of the lateral protuberances (2).
The peripheral lower surface (3a) is joined by means of a connection section (30) with a central lower surface (31), which is flat and horizontal, and is situated at a lower level then the lower surface (2a) of the lateral protuberances (2) and the peripheral lower surface (3a) of the central protuberances (see Fig. 6). The connection section (30) is provided with a lower arched surface (30a), which is obtained by reducing the thickness of the connection section (30) to make it elastically deformable.
With reference to Fig. 1, the bottom (1) is provided on top with a dense series of lateral pits (4) and central pits (5), which coincide respectively with the internal cavities of the lateral protuberances (2) and of the central protuberances (3) that protrude on the tread (1 a) of the bottom. Therefore the central pits (5) have a circular shape and the lateral pits have a rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular shape.
The dense series of pits (4, 5) represents the meshes of a lattice with flat ribs (6, 7). In particular, annular ribs (7) are provided around the central pits (5) with rectilinear ribs (6) crossed between them to define the lateral pits (4).
With reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 6, the lower tread (1 a) is provided with a plurality of grooves (14, 15) between the protuberances (2, 3) in correspondence with the flat ribs (5, 6) that extend on the upper side (1 b).
Notches are obtained inside the grooves (14, 15) on the tread (1 a) of the bottom to generate perimeter channels (8, 9) that extend around the bases of the corresponding protuberances (2, 3). Therefore, a circular channel (9) is obtained around the central protuberance (3), while rectangular, trapezoidal or triangular channels (8) are obtained around the lateral protuberances (2).
With reference to Fig. 6, it must be noted that the perimeter channels (8, 9) of the protuberances are obtained in correspondence of the flat ribs (6, 7) faced towards the upper side (1 b) of the bottom, thus reducing the thickness of the ribs (6, 7) in the perimeter channels (8, 9).
The reduced thickness of the ribs (6, 7) of the tread favours the elastic deformation of the lateral surface (2c, 3c) of each protuberance (2, 3) both under compression and flexion.
At the same time, the higher thickness of the central portion of each rib (6) guarantees sufficient rigidity of the bottom (1), so that each lateral protuberance (2) is deformed without affecting or conditioning the deformation of the adjacent protuberance (2).
With reference to Figs. 5 and 6, an internal annular rib (11) is obtained in each central pit (5), which defines a blind hole (12) with basically V-profile in axial section. The lateral walls of the internal rib (11) are tapered with increasing diameter from up down in order to maximise the rigidity of said rib.
The internal rib (11) has an upper flat annular surface (11 b) situated at a lower level than the upper surface of the ribs (7, 6).
It must be noted that the distance between the upper surface of the central rib (7) and the upper surface (11 b) of the internal rib (11) is equal to the distance between the lower annular surface (3a) of the central protuberance (3) and the central circular surface (31) of the central protuberance.
The central rib (7) is provided with an elongation section (70) that protrudes radially towards the inside on the central pit (4). The elongation section (70) is obtained by reducing the thickness of the central rib (7) with an undercut notch (71) on the internal lateral wall. In view of the above, the central pit (5) has a tapered profile with increasing diameter from up down.
In this way the thickness of the lateral wall (3c) of the central protuberance is reduced in order to be elastically deformed.
When he rests his foot on the innersole above the upper side (1 b) of the bottom (1), the user compresses the flat ribs (6, 7) in such a way that the lateral surfaces (2c, 3c) of the protuberances (2, 3) are elastically deformed until the upper surface of the flat ribs (6, 7) is at the same level as the upper surface (11 b) of the internal rib (11). Also the connection section (30) under the annular groove (30a) of the central protuberance (3) is elastically deformed until the lower surface of the central portion (31) of the central protuberance is at the same level as the lower surface (2a, 3a) of the lateral protuberances (2) and the central protuberance (3).
In view of the above the foot rests on the upper surface of the ribs (6, 7, 11) uniformly, thus minimising the sensation of emptiness perceived by the user.
Moreover, the lower surfaces (2a, 3a, 31) of the protuberances (2, 3) of the tread of the bottom rest uniformly on the ground, ensuring perfect stability and grip of the shoe.
The shock-absorbing effect is guaranteed by the elastic deformation:

of the lateral surface (2c) of the lateral protuberances (2),
of the lateral surface (3c) of the central protuberances (3), and
of the connection section (30) of the central protuberances (3).

Numerous variations and modifications can be made to the present embodiment of the invention by an expert of the field, while still falling within the scope of the invention as claimed in the enclosed claims.

Claims

Moulded shoe bottom (1) made of soft deformable material, comprising:
- a lower tread (1a) with a plurality of internally hollow protuberances (2, 3) with basically vertical lateral surface (2c, 3c);

- an upper side (1 b) with a plurality of pits (4, 5) that coincide with the internal cavity of the said protuberances (2, 3) and generate meshes of a lattice of flat ribs (6, 7), the protuberances (2, 3) being bordered by a lattice of grooves (14, 15) that correspond to the lattice of flat ribs (6, 7);
wherein at least some of the pits (5) have an internal rib (11) provided with an upper surface (11 b) situated at a lower level than the upper surface of the flat ribs (6, 7); wherein the pits (5) with internal rib have a circular shape and the internal rib (11) has an annular concentric shape with respect to the pit (5);
and wherein the flat rib (7) that defines the pit (5) with internal rib is provided with an elongation section (70) that extends in radial direction towards the inside on the pit (5),
characterized in that
the internally hollow protuberances (2, 3) of the lower tread (1 a) have a lower horizontal surface (2a, 3a, 31),
the protuberance (3) that generates the pit (5) with internal rib has a peripheral lower surface (3a) with annular flat shape connected by means of an annular connection section (30) to a central lower surface (31) with flat circular shape, in which the central lower surface (31) is situated at a lower level than the level of the peripheral lower surface (3a).
Bottom (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the distance between the upper surface (11 b) of the internal rib (11) and the upper surface of the flat ribs (6, 7) is equal to the distance between the central lower surface (31) of the protuberance and the peripheral lower surface (3a) of the protuberance.
Bottom (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the connection section (30) of the protuberance with internal rib has an arched lower surface (30a) in such a way to reduce its thickness.
Bottom (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the annular internal rib (11) defines an internal blind hole (12) with basically V-shaped profile in axial cross-section and the lateral walls of the annular internal rib (11) are tapered with increasing diameter downwards in such a way to stiffen the internal rib (11).
Bottom (1) as claimed in any of the above claims, characterised in that the tread (1 a) is provided with a series of channels (8, 9), each of them surrounding the base of each protuberance (2, 3), in such a way to reduce the thickness of the bottom in correspondence of the channels (8, 9).
Bottom (1) as claimed in any of the above claims, characterised in that the protuberance (3) with internal rib (11) is surrounded by protuberances (2) without internal rib.
Bottom as claimed in any of the above claims, characterised in that it is made of natural or synthetic rubber.