FR2731597A1 - Footwear shock absorber providing improved comfort - Google Patents

Abstract

The shock absorber consists of an insert (1) of an elastic plastic material which fits into a cavity (20) in the footwear sole (2). The insert has an upper section with an outer edge (11) which extends downwards and is the same depth as the cavity, and a flat upper surface (10) with regularly-spaced holes (12) leading to tubes (13) with closed and hemispherical lower ends (14). The sole and insert are covered with an insole of a rubber material such as latex. The insole partially closes the holes (12) in the insert, limiting and controlling the escape of air from the tubes when a pressure is applied to it and relaxing to allow air in when the pressure is lifted.

Description

 The present invention relates to a shock absorbing device for shoes.

 We know that the repeated micro-shocks caused by walking have repercussions throughout the body and often have the effect, in the long run, of pain, particularly back pain.

 To overcome this drawback, shoes have been proposed, the soles of which incorporate a shock-absorbing device.

 The damping devices known to date are numerous and of different types, the damping function being provided either by the nature of the materials used in the manufacture of the sole, or by the structure of the latter.

 In the first case, the sole or the first is made of an elastic shock-absorbing material.

 In the second case, the sole has a certain thickness and may include at least one hermetic cavity filled with air, possibly inflatable, or a cavity filled with a high viscosity liquid, the shoes thus equipped being more particularly intended for practice. Sport.

 However, these various devices have drawbacks, in particular in terms of manufacturing cost and resistance over time.

 The aim of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a shock-absorbing device for shoes which offers the advantage of a low manufacturing cost and of perfect resistance over time.

 The device according to the invention is essentially characterized in that it comprises an insert of elastic plastic material disposed in a cavity formed in the sole of the shoe, said insert comprising an upper part extended peripherally and downwards by an edge of a height equal to that of said cavity, said upper part having a planar upper face pierced with regularly spaced orifices each extended by a tubular part whose lower end, closed, is hemispherical.

 According to an additional characteristic of the device according to the invention, the sole and the insert are covered with a first of rubbery material of the latex type.

 The advantages and characteristics of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

In the accompanying drawing:
- Figure 1 shows a perspective and exploded view, partially broken away, of a device according to the invention.

 - Figure 2 shows a plan view, top view, of the same device.

 - Figure 3 shows a plan view, seen from below, of the same device.

 FIG. 4 represents a view in median longitudinal section along the axis XX ′ of FIG. 2.

 If we refer to Figure 1 we can see an insert 1 of flexible plastic material intended to be introduced into a cavity 20 formed in the rear part 21, at the heel 22, of the sole 2 of a shoe, not shown .

 If we also refer to Figures 2, 3 and 4 we can see that the insert 1 has a flat upper face 10 and a lower peripheral edge 11 giving the insert 1 sufficient rigidity.

 The planar upper face 10 of the insert 1 is pierced with regularly spaced orifices 12, each extended by a tubular part 13 whose lower end 14 is hemispherical.

 When the user's foot, and more particularly his heel, presses on the insert 1, the ends 14 of the tubular parts 13 are crushed on the bottom 23 of the cavity 20 of the sole 2 and come into contact with each other. the others, thus limiting the insertion of the insert 1, and they resume their shape when the pressure ceases to exert, thus giving the insert an elasticity which results in great walking comfort.

 The crushing of the insert 1 can be limited by covering the latter with a first, not shown, made for example of latex, which partially closes the orifices 12, so as to limit and control the exit of the contained air. in the tubular parts 13, the release of the pressure allowing the air intake.

 It goes without saying that the present invention cannot be limited to the preceding description of one of its embodiments, capable of undergoing a certain number of modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (3)

1) Shock absorbing device for shoes comprising an insert (1) of elastic plastic material disposed in a cavity (20) formed in the sole (2) of the shoe, characterized in that said insert (1) comprises an upper part extended peripherally and downwards by an edge (11) of a height equal to that of said cavity (20), said upper part having a flat upper face (10) pierced with regularly spaced orifices (12) each extended by a tubular piece ( 13) whose closed lower end (14) is hemispherical. 2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the sole (2) and the insert (1) are covered with a first rubbery material. 3) Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the first is made of latex.