EP2399475A2 - Schuhwerk mit Kippsohle - Google Patents

Schuhwerk mit Kippsohle Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2399475A2
EP2399475A2 EP10190241A EP10190241A EP2399475A2 EP 2399475 A2 EP2399475 A2 EP 2399475A2 EP 10190241 A EP10190241 A EP 10190241A EP 10190241 A EP10190241 A EP 10190241A EP 2399475 A2 EP2399475 A2 EP 2399475A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
footwear
section
rocker
insole
article
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP10190241A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2399475A3 (de
Inventor
Richard Byrne
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.)
C&J Clark International Ltd
Original Assignee
C&J Clark International Ltd
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 C&J Clark International Ltd filed Critical C&J Clark International Ltd
Publication of EP2399475A2 publication Critical patent/EP2399475A2/de
Publication of EP2399475A3 publication Critical patent/EP2399475A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • A43B7/16—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with elevated heel parts inside
    • 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
    • A43B13/143—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form provided with wedged, concave or convex end portions, e.g. for improving roll-off of the foot
    • A43B13/145—Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B23/00—Uppers; Boot legs; Stiffeners; Other single parts of footwear
    • A43B23/22—Supports for the shank or arch of the uppers
    • 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
    • A43B7/141—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 having an anatomical or curved form
    • 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
    • A43B7/1445—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 midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
    • 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
    • A43B7/1475—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 type of support
    • A43B7/149—Pads, e.g. protruding on the foot-facing surface

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of footwear; and, more particularly, to footwear sole and insole combinations known as rocker soles.
  • the normal operation of the foot provides a smooth rolling motion throughout a step when walking.
  • a normal walking gait the load on a person's foot moves from heel to toe and at an angle from the outside of the foot (supination) to the inside of the foot (pronation).
  • a normal step begins with the heel strike as the heel is set down on the walking surface and ends with the toe off as the large toe pushes the foot off the walking surface.
  • the toe at the end of the step and the heel at the beginning of the step are on the same horizontal plane.
  • Traditional shoe constructions provide a sole with a heel that raises the bottom horizontal plane of the heel above the bottom horizontal plane of the ball of the foot and toes. With these traditional shoe soles, the heel is set down on the walking surface and the ball of the foot drops, rather than rolls, onto the walking surface.
  • Conventional shoe soles have a flat upper surface.
  • a formed insole is the placed on top of the shoe midsole and outsole. This insole is typically made of a soft, cushioning material, but due to the outsole construction, often cannot provide an even, continuous support along the bottom of the foot when walking.
  • rocker sole construction typically has a continuously curved bottom surface.
  • the shoe sole has a bottom surface that contacts the walking surface and an upper surface that contacts the foot of the wearer.
  • the continuous curve curves downward from the heel section through a mid-section that presents the lowest point of the continuous curve, and then upward to the toe section.
  • the apex of the rocker is located directly under the first metatarsophalangeal joint (ball) of the foot.
  • Rocker soles with a rocker apex located under the center of the arch of the foot have been proposed for use in orthopedic footwear worn by persons in foot casts and in post-surgical footwear constructions.
  • unstable rocker sole shoe constructions are undesirable where the wearer is elderly or disabled, as the wearer is at greater risk of losing their balance and falling.
  • An article of footwear in accordance with an embodiment of the invention comprises an outsole having a rearward heel section, a raised arch section, and a forward rocker section.
  • the footwear has a metatarsophalangeal joint area
  • the forward rocker section has a rocker sole element which has a rear apex located 20 to 45 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area.
  • the rear apex is located 35 to 40 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area.
  • the rocker sole element has a generally curved surface extending forwardly and upwardly from the apex to a toe area of the footwear.
  • a stiff shank extends from the heel section to the rocker section.
  • an insole is provided in the footwear.
  • the insole has a rearward heel section and a forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section, and upper surfaces of the insole rearward heel section and the insole forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section have about the same elevation.
  • the upper surface of the insole rearward heel section has a greater elevation than an upper surface of the insole forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section.
  • a wedge-shaped heel lift is preferably located between the insole and the outsole in the heel sections thereof.
  • the metatarsophalangeal joint area of the insole has an increased thickness to provide a metatarsal support pad.
  • the rocker sole element comprises a rubber rocker insert
  • the forward rocker section of the outsole comprises a thickness which is about 80% rubber rocker insert and about 20% EVA outsole.
  • the present invention provides an article of footwear which provides increased energy return to the wearer as the wearer's stride causes the forward rocker section of the outsole to roll forwardly and propel the walker with each step.
  • the stiffness of the outsole provides support for the wearer and encourages the rolling gait associated with a rocker sole construction.
  • the increased thickness of the rubber rocker insert that provides the desired stiffness is more durable and longer lasting than conventional sole designs and provides reduced problems of compression set associated with conventional EVA sole constructions.
  • FIG. 1 is a front, top and left side perspective view of an embodiment of an article of footwear in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a bottom and left side perspective view thereof
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded front, top and left side perspective view of an embodiment of a sole thereof;
  • FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view in cross-section of one embodiment of a sole thereof showing an upper in phantom outline;
  • FIG. 5 is a left side elevation view in cross-section of one embodiment of a sole thereof showing a wearer's foot therein and showing an upper in phantom outline.
  • an article of footwear 100 comprises outsole 110, a midsole 140, an insole 160, and an upper 180.
  • Footwear 100 has a metatarsophalangeal joint area 102 which is shown on each of the outsole 110, midsole 140, and insole 160 in FIG. 3 , and in the footwear 100 in FIG. 4 .
  • the metatarsophalangeal joint area 102 is the area where a wearer's metatarsophalangeal joints (ball of the foot) will be located when the footwear 100 is worn by a wearer.
  • Footwear 100 has a heel area 104 which is shown on each of the outsole 110, midsole 140, and insole 160 in FIG. 3 , and in the footwear 100 in FIG. 4 .
  • the heel area 104 is the area where a wearer's heel will be located when the footwear 100 is worn by a wearer.
  • Outsole 110 has a rearward heel section 112, a raised arch section 114, and a forward rocker section 116.
  • the forward rocker section 116 has a rocker sole element 118 which has a rear apex 120.
  • the rocker sole element 118 has a generally curved surface 122 extending forwardly and upwardly from the rear apex 120 to a toe area 124 of the footwear 100.
  • the generally curved surface may be smooth or be provided with tread elements as are customary on footwear.
  • the rear apex 120 is the lowest point of the rocker sole element 118 and serves as the fulcrum point of the shoe when a wearer is walking.
  • Rear apex 120 is located 20 to 45 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area 102.
  • the rear apex is located 35 to 40 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area 102.
  • the outsole 110 is comprised of an ethylene-vinyl acetate (“EVA”) body 111 with a rubber rocker insert 126 in the forepart of the footwear 100 and a rubber heel insert 132 in the heel part of the footwear 100.
  • EVA ethylene-vinyl acetate
  • Rubber rocker insert 126 is best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4-5 .
  • Rubber rocker insert 126 may be a solid piece, but preferably has hollow cavities 128 provided in its upper portions as seen in FIG. 4 .
  • Rubber rocker insert 126 preferably is shaped so that it provides an outsole surface from the rear apex 120 forwardly, but is shaped at its forward end 130 so that the rubber rocker insert 126 surface is extends forwardly below the wearer's big toe area but not below the littlest toe.
  • the forward part of the outsole surface is divided approximately in half from left to right with the rubber rocker insert 126 located below the half that receives the wearer's big toe, and the body 111 being exposed in the other half of the outsole surface.
  • EVA materials such as used in body 111 are used for footwear because of their shock absorption qualities. However, they are not suitable for the contact surface of the outsole because the materials do not have the durability to withstand vigorous abrasion on pavement. Thin rubber layers such as the rubber heel insert 132 are conventionally used as the lower surface of footwear because they are durable, resist abrasion, and have good traction qualities.
  • Outsole stiffness is provided by a stiff shank 134 which extends from the heel section 112 through the raised arch section 114 to the rocker section 116.
  • Shank 134 is a rectangular strip formed of a stiff plastic material and is seated in a rectangular cavity 136 in the top surface 138 of outsole 110 and retained by an appropriate adhesive.
  • Additional stiffness may be provided by sizing the thickness of the rubber rocker insert 126 to provide stiffness to the outsole 110 in the area of the forward rocker section 116.
  • the rubber rocker insert 126 has a thickness which ranges between 50% of the thickness of the outsole 110 at the forward end of the rubber rocker insert 126, to about 80% of the thickness of the outsole 110 at the rearward end of the rubber rocker insert 126. In each case, the remaining thickness of the outsole will be the EVA body 111.
  • a secondary advantage of this construction is that it extends the useful life of the footwear.
  • EVA materials have a tendency over time to develop a compression set and to lose some of their resiliency.
  • the forward rocker section 116 will be subject to a repeated compressive load during the walking cycle.
  • the use of a thicker rubber layer increases the usable life of the footwear, without compromising comfort.
  • a thin channel 127 may be provided in the lower surface of the rubber rocker insert 126 if a bending location is desired.
  • Midsole 140 is provided as a cushioning layer between the outsole and the insole, and may constitute one or more foam layers, optionally sandwiched between fabric covers.
  • Insole 160 provides an additional cushioning layer above the midsole, and typically will have an upper fabric layer known as the sock liner.
  • the metatarsophalangeal joint area 102 of the insole 160 has an increased thickness to provide a metatarsal support pad 161.
  • the insole 160 has a rearward heel section 162 and a forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section 166, and upper surfaces 164, 168 of the insole rearward heel section 162 and the insole forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section 166 have about the same elevation. In other words, when the footwear is placed on a level surface, the upper surfaces 164, 168 of the insole rearward heel section 162 and the insole forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section 166 are about level with each other.
  • the upper surface 164 of the insole rearward heel section 162 has a greater elevation than an upper surface 168 of the insole forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section 166.
  • upper surface 164 of the insole rearward heel section 162 is higher than an upper surface 168 of the insole forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section 166.
  • a wedge-shaped heel lift 170 may optionally be provided between the insole 160 and the outsole 110 in the heel areas 104 thereof.
  • the heel lift 170 may be needed because the positioning of the rear apex 120 of forward rocker section 116 rearwardly of the ball of the foot will tend to raise the ball of the foot about 5 millimeters above where it would normally be located.
  • the footwear construction include elements that will lift the heel by 5 or more millimeters.
  • the heel lift 170 will typically have a 5 millimeter thickness to raise the heel 5 millimeters so that the upper surfaces 164, 168 of the insole rearward heel section 162 and the insole forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section 166 are about level with each other.
  • Footwear 100 may reduce plantar pressure and loads on the ankles, toes and metatarsals. Footwear 100 will conserve some of the energy of locomotion and return energy to the wearer by smoothing out the gait cycle. Furthermore, the profile of forward rocker section 116 reduces or eliminates the need to flex footwear 100 during the course of walking. It reduces the need to flex the metatarsophalangeal joints of the user during walking. Thus footwear 100 may be helpful to individuals with stiffness, pain, or a limited range of motion in the metatarsophalangeal joints, the ankle, or elsewhere in the foot or leg. However, it is also advantageous for normal users because it improves the smoothness and ease of walking.
  • the angle of the rocker profile can be varied to vary the effect the ease with which a footwear 100 rocks forward.
  • a profile with multiple angles or multiple radii may be employed to rock footwear 100 at different rates during different parts of the gait cycle.
  • Forward rocker section 116 has a rocker axis, around which footwear 100 rocks forward. The orientation of the rocker axis determines which direction footwear 100 rocks forward and can be at varying angles with respect to outsole 110 and the wearer's foot.
  • the rocker axis is parallel to a line drawn through the centers of the first and second metatarsal heads of the foot, and is approximately perpendicular to the long axis of the footwear 100.
  • the rocker axis is aligned for efficient high-speed walking.
  • the rocker axis follows a line passing through the third through fifth metatarsal heads of the foot, aligning it for efficient low-speed walking.
  • the present invention provides an article of footwear which provides a smoother gait and increased energy return to the wearer as the wearer's stride causes the forward rocker section of the outsole to roll forwardly and propel the walker with each step.
  • the stiffness of the outsole provides support for the wearer and encourages the rolling gait associated with a rocker sole construction.
  • the increased thickness of the rubber rocker insert that provides the desired stiffness is more durable and longer lasting than conventional sole designs and provides reduced problems of compression set associated with conventional EVA sole constructions.
EP10190241A 2010-06-24 2010-11-05 Schuhwerk mit Kippsohle Withdrawn EP2399475A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/822,596 US20110314699A1 (en) 2010-06-24 2010-06-24 Footwear With Rocker Sole

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2399475A2 true EP2399475A2 (de) 2011-12-28
EP2399475A3 EP2399475A3 (de) 2013-01-02

Family

ID=44187476

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10190241A Withdrawn EP2399475A3 (de) 2010-06-24 2010-11-05 Schuhwerk mit Kippsohle

Country Status (2)

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US (1) US20110314699A1 (de)
EP (1) EP2399475A3 (de)

Cited By (1)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2555084A (en) * 2016-10-07 2018-04-25 Fitflop Ltd An item of footwear

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TW201108957A (en) * 2009-09-15 2011-03-16 Homeway Technology Co Ltd Waterproof and wear-resistant light and casual shoes
USD734927S1 (en) * 2013-03-28 2015-07-28 Asics Corporation Footwear sole
US10112104B2 (en) 2016-03-15 2018-10-30 Cresent Moon Snowshoes, Inc. Snowshoe with multi-density foam deck
USD877837S1 (en) 2016-03-15 2020-03-10 Dunn-Rite Products, Inc. Snowshoe
US20240024148A1 (en) * 2020-02-03 2024-01-25 Roberto Corona Plantar orthosis

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US2611978A (en) * 1950-12-02 1952-09-30 Joyce Inc Shoe with tapered rocker type midsole
US4439936A (en) * 1982-06-03 1984-04-03 Nike, Inc. Shock attenuating outer sole
US4439937A (en) * 1982-07-26 1984-04-03 Daswick Alexander C Integrally cast shoe sole containing stiffener member
US4783910A (en) * 1986-06-30 1988-11-15 Boys Ii Jack A Casual shoe
US5461800A (en) * 1994-07-25 1995-10-31 Adidas Ag Midsole for shoe
JP3238132B2 (ja) * 1998-10-02 2001-12-10 美津濃株式会社 スポーツ用シューズのミッドソール構造
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GB2456320B (en) * 2008-01-11 2011-08-10 Langer A sole for footwear
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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2555084A (en) * 2016-10-07 2018-04-25 Fitflop Ltd An item of footwear
GB2555084B (en) * 2016-10-07 2019-12-04 Fitflop Ltd An item of footwear

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20110314699A1 (en) 2011-12-29
EP2399475A3 (de) 2013-01-02

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