FI117541B - The sole structure of the sports shoe - Google Patents

Description

t 117541

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sole for sports shoes comprising an outer sole and a midsole which is elastic and supports the foot during running.

The purpose of the running shoe is on the one hand to help run the runner 10 as economically as possible and on the other hand to protect the feet from running stress.

To accomplish these functions, a variety of sports shoes have been developed with a sole designed to reduce foot strain and improve running efficiency.

15 As you run, the muscles will alternately stretch and contract. The jogging step consists of the flight and support phase. During the flight phase, the muscles pre-activate and prepare for the foot to collide with the substrate, resulting in high reaction forces on the substrate. In the collision phase, pre-activated muscles stretch (eccentric phase) and store in their structures elastic energy that can be utilized in the concentric phase, * * 20 which immediately follows the stretch. During the contact phase, the runner produces the active »· · • ·; through his muscular work, the force (kinetic energy) that determines the momentum and acceleration of his body in the flight phase. All the forces generated by the runner • · · are transmitted to the base through the support surface formed by the running foot. According to Newton's Third Law, the substrate exerts a similar, but opposite, reaction force on the runner. At the beginning of the collision, this • · ·. ···. power is transmitted through the bones and tendons to the muscle-tendon complex, where it causes an increase in power.

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Running footwear plays a key role in the transmission of power between the treadmill and φ *** * 30 runners. The geometry of the footwear and its stiffness and elastic properties

M1 1 can influence the functioning of the regulatory system 117541 2, which is important for natural and economic movement. In addition, the geometry of the footwear can directly influence the size of the lever arms and thereby the power requirements.

U.S. Patent No. 4,757,620 discloses a sports shoe sole structure comprising a suspension and support structure disposed between the tread sole and the midsole. This suspension and support structure comprises an elastic toe extending substantially from the tip of the foot to the sole of the foot and a wedge-like elastic portion extending from the rear edge of the foot toward the toe of the foot and extending from the rear edge to the foot above said run piece which is substantially stiffer and harder than said heel and tip portion. Such a base structure effectively absorbs the impact of the impact on the runner's heel during the entry phase of the foot. During the foot roll phase, the foot structure supports the foot arch, which results in less strain on the foot. Avoid unnecessary gliding of the footwear during the strenuous phase of the foot.

One of the tasks of a running shoe is to protect the foot from erroneous positions, such as overpron- »· · j. 1 tio (excessive ankle twisting) or supination (opposite to pronation • · t ··. 20 position). Known running shoes often use over-protection, * · · • »*. I support the leg during running. Excessive support, however, can cause strain * 1 1! 'V injuries because the support prevents the natural movement of the foot.

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The object of the invention is to provide an improved sole structure of the running shoe, which promotes natural and economic movement and prevents the occurrence of strain injuries.

In order to achieve these and further objects, the base structure according to the invention is characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 1.

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The midsole of the new sole consists of at least three parts, which are an elastic sole element extending over the entire length of the footwear, an elastic heel cushion element extending into the heel region, and a support element extending therebetween which extends from the heel region to the crotch region. The support element is made of 5 less flexible materials than the frame and heel cushioning elements that limit it above and below. In addition, the design of the support element takes into account the bone structure of the foot and the natural path of motion during the various stages of the stride.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support element comprises a substantially plate-like base member and a shaped front part, which are separated by a substantially transverse support member projecting from the bottom surface of the support element. Preferably, your support shoe comprises two humps, the first one near the inside of the footwear being higher than the second one close to the outside of the footwear, and between the first and second humps there is an area where the footprint is lower. Studies have found that such a structure of the support element effectively supports the foot at different stages of the step without unduly restricting the natural movement of the foot.

• · · '• * · *. * In one embodiment of the invention, the upper surface of the support element is provided with a recess which is fitted with a carbon fiber sheet which serves to insert the support element. I rotation. This is accomplished by a carbon fiber board made with ♦ * ·! **. 'Such that its transverse stiffness is greater than its longitudinal direction • »·”! / stiffness. Preferably, the carbon fiber sheet extends on the outer side of the footwear, further beneath the cushion than on the inner side of the footwear. The back of the carbon fiber board can: 25 be provided with a star-shaped opening that adds support to the carbon fiber board. • · # • · · #. ·· *. flexural flexibility during a base collision.

The base structure according to the invention may be further provided with a hourglass shaped cushioning element which is fitted in a recess * * 30a in the body element. The padding element is a more flexible material «· # * ··» * than the frame element. A common way is to track the damping only in the middle of the 117541 4 lumbar region, which is actually the most questionable point given the leg anatomy. If the damping element is only in the center of the area, the long bones of the toes are pinched at the edges of the footwear, which is one of the major causes of foot problems in repetitive motion. The greatest load-5 tensioning pressures are known to occur precisely at the distal ends of the metatarsal bones. When the damping element is in the form of an hourglass, the projectile pressure is distributed more evenly throughout the parcel area, allowing for an effective and forward-facing head effort.

The present invention relates to a new design of the sole structure of a footwear, the structures of which conform to and support the foot while maintaining the conditions for natural and economic movement. Anatomical and biomechanical factors have been taken as a starting point for the development of the new substructure. Product development has focused particularly on the geometry of the footwear, as structural solutions have shown the essential role of the OIE-15 as a mediator of power generation between the treadmill and the runner.

The Laboratory of Biomechanics at the University of Jyväskylä has carried out a measurement task to analyze the function of the new footwear structure using biomechanical research methods. A comparison of the two running footwear * * t. 20 running on the market showed that the footwear has no effect on running * * * 1 I modeling or muscle activity modeling. Based on this, it can be assumed that the reaction forces and changes in the pressure values between the various footwear are dependent on the geometry and shock absorption and elastic properties of the footwear.

• · • * ·:. ·. 25 Examining the pressure loads on the foot area, it was found that • · · • · · ♦. · * ·. With the new running shoe, the load values for heel cushioning in both slow and fast running were 34% lower than when moving with fleece footwear. When looking at the pressure loads in the lumbar region, a more evenly distributed pressure value was found in the lumbar damping region of the runner than in the control.

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* * 30 in footwear. The differences were statistically significant throughout. With the new footwear, the · · * ··· * cushioning area is aligned with the anatomical structures (distal ends of metatarsal 5 117541). In the sunburst step (pushing phase), the newest footwear showed the lowest average and maximum forces, indicating that the direction of movement remains very horizontal. This was also evident in the magnitude of the vertical impulse which was the smallest and statistically significant for the new footwear.

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The transition from the heel stroke to the push step is called '' scrolling ''.

The scrolling should be fast and balanced. The footwear should support and follow the natural movements of the foot. The study found that the new running shoe provides the fastest taxiing to the pushing phase and that the taxiing is balanced with 10 average pressure points in the foot area, a natural course.

There was no strong pressure transfer to the outer or inner edges of the foot (excessive supination and pronation, respectively). Smooth and fast winding creates the conditions for efficient power generation and economic stride.

15 An interesting and significant additional finding was made in the Running Economics study, where the new running shoe was able to run at an average load of four beats at a lower heart rate and an average of 4% oxygen consumption compared to the control footwear. This phenomenon can be • φ *! · * Explains the results of power plate analyzes, which show that the forward force of 20 · oh * with a new running shoe significantly * * * · j · * compared to a control shoe. The results clearly show that running * * *; · * / la can improve the running economy and, consequently, reduce running energy. Changes observed in research can have a decisive impact on the endurance runners' achievement, for example. . 25 marathons.

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In the following, the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which details, however, are not intended to be limited.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sports shoe having a sole structure according to the invention and having the sole parts separated.

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Figure 2 shows a top view of a body element.

Figure 3 shows a top view of a carbon fiber board.

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Figure 4 is a side view of a carbon fiber board.

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Figure 5 is a top view of a support element.

Figure 6 shows the support element viewed from below

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the support element viewed from below.

Appendices 1 and 2 contain photographs of the support element.

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Figure 1 shows a sports shoe having a sole structure according to the invention. The sole structure comprises an outer sole 11 and a midsole 10 consisting of a plurality of parts 12, 13, 14, 16, 21, 23, which is shaped and constructed so as to provide flexibility and support for the foot during running. The outsole 11 consists of e ·: '* 20 heel members and a cuff end.

The midsole 10 comprises an elastic sole element 12 extending over the entire length of the footwear, an elastic heel cushion element 13 extending into the heel region, and a support element 14 disposed therebetween which extends from the heel region. . 25 foot arches over the crib area. The support element 14 is made of a stiffer material than the V / body and heel cushioning elements 12,13 and is designed to support and coincide with the natural movement of the foot during running. In addition to these three main parts, the intermediate base 10 also includes a cushioning element 16, a carbon fiber plate 21 and a foot support 23.

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The body element 12, shown in more detail in Figure 2, is made of a polymeric material which gives the footwear good elasticity. On the upper surface of the body element 12, there is a cavity 15 at the foot, which is fitted with an hourglass-shaped foot cushioning element 16. The foot cushioning element 16 is made of a resilient non-resilient material which returns to its normal shape immediately after loading. The hourglass shape of the cushion suppression element 16 closely follows the anatomical structure of the caudal region (distal ends of the metatarsal bones), thereby providing the best possible cushioning. At the same time, it helps to direct the kinetic energy forward. It can further be seen from Figure 2 that the width-10 ys of the damping element 16 is greater on the inner side IE of the foot (i.e., the big toe side) than on the OE side of the outer foot of the foot

The base suction element 13 is a plate-shaped body with an arched side edge shaped to accommodate a particular shape of the support element 14. In the center of the underside of the hinge-15 conventional damping element 13 is, as is known in the art, a recess (not shown) that improves the elasticity of the footwear during heel collision and assists in distributing the impact over a larger area. At the beginning of the contact phase of the running step, a clear impact peak occurs, which results in a high * * * I. * 'momentary load on the body, which is associated with the occurrence of stress injuries. The new intermediate • · • * · t. . The bottom structure 10 allows the pressure generated by the collision to be distributed over a ···, wider area. Studies have shown that the heel impact loads of the · · · *. 'V footwear according to the invention were 34% lower than those of the control * · · [!! /' footwear.

«· ···; . ·. 25 The base damping element 13 can be made of the same or similar material • · *. ···. A suitable polymeric material is, for example, ethyl vinyl acetate having a hardness in the range of 50 to 55 Shore C.

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Between the frame element 12 and the base cushioning element 13 there is a support element 14, * '30 made of a rigid material than the frame cushioning elements «« * * ··· * and the base cushioning elements 12,13. A suitable material for the support element 14 is, for example, ethyl vinyl acetate having a hardness of 60 ± 3 Shore C. The support element 14 extends from the heel area to the cushion area and is shaped to support and mimic the natural movements of the foot. Thanks to its design, it significantly speeds up the rolling effect.

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The design of the lower surface of the support element 14 is more clearly illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, which show the support element 14 from below. The support element 14 comprises a plate-like base 17 and a shaped front 18 which partially extends into the region of the pad. The base portion 17 and the front portion 18 are separated from the underside of the support element 14 by a transverse support socket 19 extending outwardly from the underside of the support element 14, the design of which takes into account the skeleton and the movement of the foot Your support shoe 19 comprises two humps 19a and 19b with a lower area 19c between them. The first shoe 19a is near the inner side IE of the footwear and the second lower shank 19b is near the outer side OE of the shoe. As an approximation of the height of the abutment 15, it can be said that if the thickness of the abutment element 14 in the plate region of the base 17 is H, the corresponding heights at the various positions of the abutment 19 are as follows: for hump 19b, 1.7-1.9 times H; and at the lower end of the scattering area 19c, 1.2-1.5 times H.

* «· * · • · • · I.. Figure 5 shows a shallow recess 20 formed on the upper surface of the support element 14.

• · «• · I! It is intended to receive a carbon fiber plate 21 whose function is to increase the rotational stiffness of the support element 14. The carbon fiber plate 21 itself is shown in Figure 3 from above and in Figure 4 seen from the side. The fibers 21 are oriented so that the transverse stiffness of the plate 21 is greater than its longitudinal stiffness. The carbon fiber plate 21 allows for the internal rotation (pronation) of the foot during the step support. • prevents excessive internal rotation (overpronation) and also maintains its flexibility in longitudinal pressure variation, whereby the pressure center of the step travels a natural • · · · * ... path.

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The carbon fiber plate 21 is provided with a star-shaped opening 22 located below the heel, which effectively dampens the base collision occurring at the beginning of the contact step, thereby increasing the flexibility of the support element 14 provided with the carbon fiber plate 21 during heel collision. Figure 4 shows that the carbon fiber board 21 is shaped like a pan 5 so that, viewed from the side, it forms a very gently sloping S-beam. This shape corresponds substantially to the shape of the upper surface of the support element 14.

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It should be noted that the carbon fiber reinforcing sheet 21 for increasing the rotation of the sole structure is an optional accessory that is not required when the footwear does not require an overprotection of sodium. Thus, the running shoe according to the invention can also be made without a carbon fiber board 21.

Furthermore, the sole structure of the footwear is provided with a foot arch support 23, which serves to improve the direction of the step in its natural motion path. The foot arch support 15 23 is preferably made of PVC and is shaped to direct movement to the outside of the foot.

The outsole 11 has a rubber material which has excellent wear resistance and thus contributes to the longer life of the footwear. Headband rubber • ·; The material is resilient, allowing an efficient pushing step. Kan- • ♦ ·; ; * as a rule, the rubber material has a hardness of 60 ± 3 Shore A. Underneath the pad is an area where • * · j · *. ' the hardness of the rubber is about 65 Shore A.

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Many modifications of the invention are possible in the following patent applications. . 25 within the scope of the inventive idea defined by the claims.

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Claims (13)

A sole shoe for a sports shoe, the sole structure comprising an outer sole (11) and a multi-part resilient midsole (10) which springs and supports the foot 5 during running, characterized in that the middle sole (10) comprises an elastic body element (12). extending over the entire length of the shoe, an elastic heel cushion element (13) extending over the area of the heel, and a support member (14) arranged therefrom extending from the area of the heel to the area of the foot pad and which is of a less elastic material than the body member 10 (12) or the heel damping member (13). 2. A sole structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the support element (14) comprises a substantially disc-shaped heel portion (17) and a shaped front portion (18) which are separated from each other by a projection substantially transverse to the lower surface of the support element (14). support cam (19). 3. A sole structure as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the support cam (19) comprises two elevations (19a, 19b), the first of which is the higher elevation (19a) located near the inner side ·· · V the second (OE) of the shoe (19b), and between said first and · · *: V second elevations (19a, 19b), there is an area (19c) where support cam (19) • · • · ·: are lower than these. A sole structure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a carbon fiber disc (21), which is a carbon fiber disc (21). fitted into a bore (21) in the upper surface of the support member (14), the transverse stiffness of the carbon fiber disc (21) being greater than the longitudinal stiffness thereof. . 5. A sole construction according to claim 4, characterized in that the carbon fiber board (30) extends further under the tread pad on the outer side (OE) of the shoe. than on the inner side (shoe) of the shoe. 117541 13 6. A sole structure according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the rear portion of the carbon fiber disc (21) has a rigid opening (22) which increases the elasticity of the support element (14) provided with the carbon fiber (17) below the heel impact. A sole structure according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a tramp pad cushion element (16) which is arranged in a depression (15) in the body member (12) and extends over a substantial part of the shoe width at the tramp cushion. . 8. A sole structure according to claim 7, characterized in that the step damping damping element (16) is hourglass-shaped. 9. A sole construction as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the width of the tramping cushioning element (16) is greater on the inner side (IE) of the shoe than on the outer side (OE) thereof. IN 10. A sole structure according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a foot arch support (23) which is arranged under the support element (14). 11. · A sole structure according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base and heel damping element (12,13) is of a polymeric material, the hardness of which is 50-55 Shore C, and the supporting element (14). ) is of a polymeric material, whose hardness is 60 ± 3 Shore C. 25 12. A sole structure according to claim 11, characterized in that said polymer material is ethyl vinyl acetate or the like. • · '«· · • · · * * 13, Sole construction according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer sole (11) is of a rubber material whose hardness is 60 ± 3 Shore C, · · · • · • · ··· '' Included in this is a section located under the cushion, the hardness of which is approximately 65 Shore C. 5 • ft · • · * 1 «· • · * ·· ··· •» · · · 1 • · • · · «« · Lit 1 • 1 • · 1 • · · ****,. ' • · · • 1 · • 1 1 • · • · 1 • 1 1 • · · · · · · · 1 · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 1 · · * 1 «• «« • · ft • · • · · «•« • · ft ft ft