EP2922436B1 - Shoe sole - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a sole, in particular an intermediate sole, for footwear, in particular for walking shoes worn on a daily basis, said soleplate being able to be produced by molding a synthetic material, for example based on an elastomer or polychloride. of vinyl (PVC).

To ensure the rigidity of such a sole, in torsion and / or flexion, document is known FR-2 800 581 a one-piece sole having a base surface on which are formed cells delimited by radial walls interconnected so as to form a stiffening network of said sole.

However, such a stiffening network also provides a compression stiffness that does not provide sufficient cushioning foot impacts on the ground to ensure the walking comfort of the wearer.

To resolve this depreciation problem, the document FR-2 800 581 plans to have on the stiffening network a sockliner for absorbing shocks during ground support. It is also known to equip a sole with inserts to improve the damping characteristics.

In particular, the document CN-2 291 809 proposes a damping insert such as an absorbent gel or an air cushion which is arranged in a housing formed in a stiffening network of a sole to combine rigidity and cushioning. Insole damping inserts are also known which are formed from an elastomeric material, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and / or polyurethane inserts.

However, these solutions reported in the soleplate are not entirely satisfactory in that the addition of a damping insert increases the costs and the manufacturing time of the sole, particularly because of the difficulties of assembling said insert to the sole.

In addition, the material used for making such inserts does not always meet the criteria of comfort of the sole, especially with respect to the weight of said sole and / or the durability of the cushioning. In particular, the EVA is a very light and absorbent material, but not very durable and expensive, while the polyurethane has a greater resistance to use but a significant weight.

The invention aims to improve the prior art by providing in particular a shoe sole having an optimal and durable compromise between rigidity and cushioning to improve the walking comfort of the wearer, said sole being furthermore easy to manufacture.

For this purpose, the invention provides a shoe sole having a base surface on which are formed cells which are delimited by radial walls coming from said surface, said walls being connected together to form a stiffening network of said soleplate. , said stiffening network having a zone in which said walls are separated to make pads each formed by a wall portion which is delimited by recesses, said pads being arranged to be deformable to create a damping sub-network ground impacts.

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'une semelle de chaussure selon un mode de réalisation ;
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des représentations de détail, respectivement en perspective de dessus et en coupe longitudinale, d'une partie de talon de la semelle de la figure 1, montrant plus particulièrement la formation du sous-réseau d'amortissement dans le réseau de rigidification de ladite semelle.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description which follows, made with reference to the appended figures, in which:

• the figure 1 is a top view of a shoe sole according to one embodiment;
• the Figures 2 and 3 are representations of detail, respectively in perspective from above and in longitudinal section, of a heel portion of the sole of the figure 1 , showing in particular the formation of the damping sub-network in the stiffening network of said sole.

In connection with these figures, there is described below a shoe sole, especially for walking shoes that can be worn daily. In particular, the soleplate may be made by molding a synthetic material that is resistant to wear and abrasion, for example based on an elastomer, such as rubber, or based on PVC.

The sole has a lower surface 1 intended for ground support and which may have a structure facilitating adhesion, for example being notched by means of different sets of transverse and longitudinal grooves of variable depth, in particular according to the use of the shoe. Alternatively, the lower surface 1 may be covered with a layer of adhesion-improving and / or wear-limiting material of the sole, such as a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) layer.

At the opposite of the lower surface, the sole has a base surface 2 comprising a stiffening network of said sole which is also arranged to limit the weight of said sole. For this purpose, the stiffening network comprises radial walls 3 issuing from the base surface 2 which extend upwards opposite the bottom surface 1, said walls being connected together to delimit cells 4. In particular, the walls 3 are made of the same material as that of the base surface 2, in particular being derived from the molding of the sole.

The stiffening network extends over all or part of the base surface 2, the upper edges of the cells 4 forming a bearing surface of the foot on which may be disposed an internal insole for reinforcing one or more particular properties of said sole, such as the absorption of moisture or the reduction of friction.

The stiffening network is formed at least on a heel portion of the base surface 2 which is the most stressed during the impacts of the foot on the ground, in particular to stabilize the back of the wearer, the thickness of the walls 3 may depend on the degree of stiffening desired which is in particular a function of the use of the shoe.

According to figure 1 , the stiffening network extends from the heel portion to an arch portion of the base surface 2 so as to provide both torsional and flexural rigidity of the soleplate without compromising the forward mobility. foot which is necessary for the propulsion of the foot during the cycle of walking.

In addition, the radial walls 3 may have different heights so as to form a relief corresponding to the morphology of the sole of the foot in order to give the support surface of the sole anatomical geometry optimizing walking comfort.

A peripheral edge 5 extends around the periphery of the base surface 2 so as to surround the stiffening network, said network comprising peripheral cells 4 which are associated with said edge via lateral radial walls 3a. The peripheral edge 5 may comprise an upper extension 6 projecting from said network and which is rounded outwardly in particular to facilitate the mounting of the shoe upper.

According to the embodiment shown, each cell 4 is delimited by six walls 3 arranged in a hexagonal geometry, said walls being connected by a vertex 7 of said cell. The stiffening network extends over the base surface 2 in a honeycomb configuration allowing an optimal ratio between lightness and strength of the sole, said network limiting the weight of the sole while ensuring its rigidity in several directions of the base surface 2 for better stability.

According to other embodiments, the stiffening network may have a set of cells 4 of different geometries, for example by including a different number of walls 3 and / or being connected in a different configuration.

In addition, each side wall 3a connects a peripheral cell 4 to the peripheral edge 5 extending between a vertex 7 of said cell and said edge so as to have a different direction from those of the walls 3 of said cell which are connected by said Mountain peak. In particular, each radial wall 3 extends from an apex 7 at an angle of 120 ° with the adjacent walls 3.

In order to promote the movement of the foot during the support on the ground, the base surface 2 has a forefoot part comprising a set of corrugated ribs 8 extending transversely between the peripheral edge and parallel to each other. to provide flexibility to said forefoot portion. The stiffening network and the set of ribs 8 are thus arranged on the base surface 2 so as to promote the wrapping and unwinding of the foot during the ground support, said set of ribs facilitating the flexion of the joint metatarsophalangeal foot.

For an optimal compromise between rigidity and cushioning of the soleplate at the level of the stiffening network, the radial walls 3 are separated in one or more areas of the said network where increased cushioning is necessary, said disconnection allowing the realization of pads 9 each formed by a portion of wall 3 and arranged to be deformed under the weight of the carrier to create a sub-network damping impacts of the foot on the ground. Thus, the damping sub-network is made in one piece with the sole, not requiring any particular assembly, in order to guarantee damping properties of said sole more homogeneous and more durable.

As a variant, the stiffening network may comprise a housing formed in one or more zones to be softened and in which the sub-network damping is reported, said subarray can be made from a material having a hardness different from the material of the sole.

Each wall portion 3 forming a stud 9 is delimited by recesses 10 which can be made during or after the molding of the sole, said recesses allowing a bending of the pads 9 independently of each other. Advantageously, the recesses 10 are formed at a junction between at least two radial walls 3 to promote the deformation of the damping sub-network.

The damping sub-network may be formed in the zones undergoing the maximum foot pressures, in particular the ground footing zones where optimal shock absorption is required, said sub-network being able to be located in the part of the foot. heel and / or in the forefoot part.

Advantageously, the damping subarray is formed in an inner zone of the stiffening network, said sub-network being connected to the peripheral edge 5 via the side walls 3a. Thus, this arrangement allows to maintain around the zone of walls 3 uncoupled stiffness of the sole necessary to maintain the dynamism of the supports.

According to the embodiment shown, the damping subarray is formed in the center of the heel portion by the separation of at least one wall 3 of six hexagonal cells 4 of the stiffening network. In particular, the recesses 10 are formed at a vertex 7 common to at least two cells 4 in particular to ensure the continuity of the damping subarray in the stiffening network.

The cells 4 disengaged from the damping subarray comprise at least two recesses 10 formed on a vertex 7, respectively. To improve the deformability of the damping subarray, the two recesses 10 are formed on two respective vertices 7 adjacent to one another. that a stud 9 is formed in a wall 3 of a cell 4. In In particular, the disconnected cells 4 may comprise a number of pads 9 different according to their arrangement in the damping sub-network.

According to the figures, the damping sub-network comprises a central cell 4a and five peripheral cells 4b-4f, said peripheral cells being connected to the peripheral edge 5 by respectively at least two side walls 3a. The central cell 4a is surrounded by respectively two peripheral cells before 4b, 4c and rear 4d, 4e, the fifth peripheral cell 4f being adjacent to the two rear cells 4d, 4e, the opposite of said central cell.

In particular, the separation of the walls 3 is such that the softening of the stiffening network gradually increases towards the inside of said network. For this purpose, a recess 10 is formed in each of the vertices 7 of the central recess 4a so that said central recess forms six studs 9, the peripheral cells before 4b, 4c and rear 4d, 4e having three studs 9 which are each delimited in particular by a recess 10 formed in a vertex 7 common with said central cavity. In addition, the rear peripheral cells 4d, 4e each comprise a fourth pad 9 which is common with the fifth peripheral cell 4f.

Thus, the damping sub-network comprises pads 9 oriented in at least two different directions so that the deflection of said pads can be made according to the direction of the support force to adjust the cushioning of the sole. In relation to the figures, the pads 9 are arranged at 120 ° from each other, said pads then having three different orientations.

The size of the damping sub-network and / or the number of pads 9 may vary depending on the physiological characteristics of the user, such as his sex or weight. In addition, the pads 9 may be formed so as to have an inclination with respect to the base surface 2 in one or more directions, in particular according to their arrangement within the damping sub-network, said pads being able to be inclined towards the front or towards the rear of the sole to promote their deformation during the support of the foot.
In relation to the figure 3 , the recesses 10 extend over the entire height of the walls 3 to obtain maximum deflection of the pads 9 in the direction of the base surface 2. Alternatively, the recesses 10 may extend over only a portion of the height of the walls 3 to form a connecting bridge at the base of the pads 9 to limit their sagging and get a more gradual cushioning. In particular, the connecting bridges at the base of the pads 9 may be derived from the molding of the sole. The partial recesses may also be made by means of a material cast in the soleplate which may be identical to the material of said sole or be different, such as EVA or polyurethane.

Furthermore, the recesses 10 may be made so as to form studs 9 having an upward tapered geometry, said studs being in particular trapezoidal or triangular so as to increase the softening of the stiffening network, the geometry of said studs being able to be arranged according to the use of the shoe, in particular according to the sport practice for which the cushioning of the sole must be adapted to the nature of the terrain of evolution and mode of travel.

In addition, the pads 9 may comprise a greater or lesser upper bearing surface, which is also adapted to the use of the boot and / or to the user, said pads having an identical or different section between them which can be especially triangular, oval or hexagonal.

According to the desired damping, the stiffening network may comprise cells 4 of different sizes, the cells 4 of the damping sub-network may have a larger dimension than the other cells 4. In addition, the size of the cells 4 may gradually decrease towards the peripheral edge 5, so that the damping sub-network comprises smaller peripheral cells 4 than the other cells 4 of said sub-network so as to increase the inward damping of said sub-network while maintaining the peripheral stiffness.

Claims (13)

1. Shoe sole having a base surface (2) on which alveoli (4) are formed, which are delimited by radial walls (3) issuing from said surface, said walls being connected together in order to form a network stiffening said sole, said sole being characterised in that the stiffening network has an area in which the walls (3) are interrupted in order to produce segments (9) each formed by a wall portion (3) that is delimited by recesses (10), said segments being arranged so as to be able to deform in order to create a sub-network damping the impacts on the ground.
2. Shoe sole according to claim 1, characterised in that the recesses (10) are formed at a junction between at least two walls (3) of the stiffening network.
3. Shoe sole according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the damping sub-network is produced in an internal area of the stiffening network.
4. Show sole according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the stiffening network comprises lateral walls (3a) that are associated with the peripheral edge (5) of the sole.
5. Shoe sole according to claims 3 and 4, characterised in that the damping sub-network is connected to the peripheral edge (5) by means of the lateral walls (3a).
6. Shoe sole according to any one of claim 1 to 5, characterised in that each alveolus (4) is delimited by six walls (3) disposed in a hexagonal geometry, the stiffening network extending over the base surface (2) in a honeycomb configuration.
7. Shoe sole according to claim 6 when it is dependent on claim 2, characterised in that the recesses (10) are formed at a top (7) common to at least two alveoli (4).
8. Shoe sole according to claim 7, characterised in that at least two recesses (10) are formed on respectively a top (7) of an alveolus (4).
9. Shoe sole according to claim 8, characterised in that two recesses (10) are formed on respectively two adjacent tops (7) in order to form a segment (9) in a wall (3).
10. Shoe sole according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the segments (9) are oriented in at least two different directions.
11. Shoe sole according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that recesses (10) extend over the entire height of the walls (3).
12. Shoe sole according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that recesses (10) extend over part of the height of the walls (3) in order to form a junction bridge at the base of the segments (9).
13. Shoe sole according to any one of claim 1 to 12, characterised in that the stiffening network is formed on at least a heel part of the base surface (2).

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