FR3030200A1 - SPORTS SHOE - Google Patents

Abstract

This sports shoe (1), including tennis, includes inter alia an outsole (3) adapted to be in contact with the ground, an insole provided to be located under a foot (P) of an athlete, and a midsole interposed between the outer sole (3) and the inner sole. The outer sole (3) is divided, along a longitudinal axis (X-X ') of the shoe (1), into at least three transverse zones comprising a front zone (3A) provided to be located at least partially under the toes (21-25) of the foot (P), a median transverse zone (3B) intended to be at least partly situated under a region of the foot (P) extending between the birth of the toes and a front end ( P1) of the arch of the foot (P), and a rear zone (3C) intended to be located at least partly under a foot region (P) extending rearwardly from the front end ( P1) of the arch of the foot (P). The three transverse zones (3A, 3B, 3C) are separated by transverse bending lines (30, 32) whose flexibility is greater than the flexibility of the three transverse zones (3A, 3B, 3C).

Description

The invention relates to a sports shoe, especially tennis. Sports requiring changes of support, steering and abrupt braking after races involve significant efforts on the feet of athletes, hence the need for adapted sports shoes, on the one hand, the prevention of injuries in improving the comfort and cushioning of the foot and, on the other hand, the adaptation of the shoe to the characteristics of the movements associated with the sport envisaged to optimize the dynamics of the athlete's movements.

In the case of tennis, the forward and lateral movements are performed at a very high frequency, causing many changes of direction and are a major technical issue for the performance of players. The currently existing shoes do not allow an optimal adaptation to the physiological and sporting characteristics of the movements of a tennis player.

It is these drawbacks that the invention intends to remedy more particularly by proposing a new sports shoe, in particular tennis, whose structure makes it possible to optimize the movements made by an athlete during his practice and to improve his performance. To this end, the invention relates to a sports shoe, including tennis, comprising among others: an outer sole adapted to be in contact with the ground, an insole provided to be located under a foot of a sportsman, a sole intermediate shoe interposed between the outsole and the insole, This shoe is characterized in that the outer sole is divided, along a longitudinal axis of the shoe, into at least three transverse zones comprising: a front zone intended to be located at least partly under the toes of the foot, a median transverse zone intended to be at least partly situated under a region of the foot extending between the toes and a front end of the arch of the foot, a rear zone provided for to be located at least partially under a region of the foot extending rearwardly from the front end of the arch of the foot, and that the three transverse zones are s trimmed by transverse bending lines which has flexibility greater than the flexibility of the three transverse zones.

Thanks to the invention, the athlete benefits from a sole whose flexibility allows a better control according to the characteristics of play, and an optimal adaptation of the flexibility to the different phases of games which can occur in the practice of the sport, which improves game performance

According to advantageous but non-compulsory aspects of the invention, such a sports shoe may incorporate one or more of the following features, taken in any technically permissible combination: the outsole is divided along a transverse axis of the boot; in three longitudinal zones comprising: an inner zone provided to be at least partly under the big toe, a central longitudinal zone provided to be at least partly under the second and third toes, an outer zone provided to be at least less partly under the fourth and fifth toes, while the three longitudinal zones are separated by longitudinal lines whose flexibility is greater than the flexibility of the three longitudinal zones. - The midsole comprises, superimposed on the front zone and the median transverse zone, three cushions comprising: - an inner cushion superimposed at least in part on the inner zone, - a central cushion superimposed at least in part on the central longitudinal zone - An outer cushion superimposed at least in part to the outer zone, while the inner and outer cushions are made of materials with an energy recovery capacity greater than the material of which the central cushion is constituted. - The transverse bending lines and / or the longitudinal bending lines have at least partly a curved shape. - The transverse bending lines and / or the longitudinal bending lines have at least partly a broken rectilinear shape. - Bending lines are formed by at least one groove running along an outer surface of the outsole. - Bending lines are formed by two grooves running side-by-side on the outer surface of the outer sole and separated by a rib. - The grooves have a depth of between 1 and 5 millimeters. - The transverse flexion lines have a concave shape whose concavity is oriented towards the back of the shoe. - The longitudinal flexure lines have a concave shape whose concavity is oriented towards the inside of the shoe. - The outsole includes a fourth zone extending behind the rear zone and provided to be under the heel of the foot.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows, of a sports shoe according to its principle, made by way of non-limiting example with reference to attached drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a bottom view of a portion of a shoe according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a longitudinal section along the plane II-Il in Figure 1, part of shoe of Figure 1; FIG. 3 is a cross-section along the plane in FIG. 1 of the shoe of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a view from above of a midsole belonging to the shoe of FIGS. 1 to 3; Figure 5 is a bottom view similar to Figure 1, a portion of a shoe according to a variant of the invention. A sports shoe 1 is shown partially in Figures 1 to 5. This shoe 1 is particularly suitable for playing tennis. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the shoe 1 comprises an outer sole 3, adapted to be in contact with the ground, an unrepresented insole provided to be located under a foot P of a sportsman, and a midsole 5 interposed between the outer sole 3 and the inner sole in a vertical direction. The boot 1 also comprises a rod, a tongue and clamping means not shown. The shoe 1 defines a longitudinal axis XX 'extending generally between a front end 10 and a rear end 12 of the shoe 1. In the rest of the description, the adjectives "before" and "rear" are used with reference to the XX 'and at the front ends 10 and rear 12. Similarly, the shoe 1 defines a transverse direction YY' perpendicular to the axis X-X ', and which extends between an inner side I of the foot P, which is on the right side of Figure 1 and on the left side of Figure 4, and an outer side E located on the left side of Figure 1 and the right side of Figure 4. The inner side of the foot P is the one which is oriented towards the vertical central axis of the human body. In the remainder of the description, the adjectives "inside" and "outside" are used with reference to the transverse direction Y-Y '. The foot P comprises five toes comprising the big toe 21 located on the inner side of the foot P, and a second, third, fourth and fifth toe respectively numbered 22, 23, 24 and 25 from the inside of the foot towards outside. As shown in Figure 1, the outer sole 3 is divided along the longitudinal axis X-X 'into three transverse areas. A first zone 3A, called the front zone, extends between the front end 10 and a region of the shoe 1 corresponding to the birth of the toes of the athlete's foot P. The front zone 3A therefore corresponds generally to the zone of the outer sole 3 provided to be located at least partly under the athlete's toes. The distance between the front end 10 and the rear end 12 is defined as being the total length of the outer sole 3. The front zone 3A extends over a distance of between 10 and 30% of the total length of the sole 3A from the front end 10. A second zone 3B called median transverse zone, is provided to extend at least partially under a region of the foot P between the birth of the toes and a front end P1 of the arch of the foot, that is to say the vaulted area of the foot P also called "arch plantar". This region, which has the thickest part of the P foot, and highly sought after in sports, especially in tennis. When the player takes his supports to move before striking a blow, a large part of the weight of the body rests on that part of the foot P. The median zone 3B extends over a distance of between 15 and 25% of the total length of the outsole 3 from the front zone 3A. The outer sole 3 comprises a third zone 3C referred to as the rear zone, which is intended to be situated under a region of the foot P extending rearward from the front end P1 of the arch of the foot. The rear area 3C is intended to extend under the arch.

The rear zone 3C extends over a distance of between 20 and 40% of the total length of the outer sole 3 from the median zone 3B. Optionally, the outer sole 3 also includes a fourth transverse zone 31 provided to be under the heel. The zone 31 extends behind the rear zone 3C to the rear end 12. This zone 31 extends over a distance of between 20 and 40% of the total length of the outer sole 3 from the rear zone 30. The zone 3A is separated from the zone 3B by a first transverse bending line 30, and the zone 3B is separated from the zone 30 by a second transverse bending line 32. The transverse bending line 30 is designed to to be found globally under the birth of the toes. The transverse flexion line 32 is provided to lie generally beneath the front end P1 of the arch of the foot P. The flexion lines 30 and 32 constitute strips of the outer sole 3 whose flexibility is greater than the flexibility of the zones 3A, 3B and 30. For flexibility means the deformation capacity of the material under the effect of a bending force. In other words, the deformation capacity of the outer sole 3 in the flexion lines 30 and 32 is greater than the deformation capacity of the outer sole 3 in the zones 3A, 3B and 30. The flexion lines 30 and 32 thus allow the articulation of the zones 3A, 3B and 30 relative to each other.

Thus, during sports, and more particularly tennis, the outer sole 3 is particularly suitable for the supports during which most of the weight of the body is worn on the fleshy region extending between the birth of the toes and the end. before P1 of the arch of the foot, especially when the tennis player is in the waiting position in support before the outbreak of a blow by the opponent. The median transverse zone 3B is particularly stressed in this configuration. The front zone 3A allows the ground support of the player when it springs forward and thus transmits the ground a strong impetus through his toes. The flexibility of the front zone 3A with respect to the median transverse zone 3B thus allows a better transmission of energy to the ground and thus increases the efficiency of the player's movement forward. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the outer sole 3 is also divided, along the transverse axis YY ', into three longitudinal zones. A first longitudinal zone 3D, called inner zone, extends from an inner edge 34 of the outer sole 3 and is intended to lie at least partly under the big toe 21. The inner zone 3D extends into the front zone 3A, in the median zone 3B and partly in the rear zone 30. The distance between the inner edge 34 and the outer edge 36 is defined as the total width of the outer sole 3. The inner zone 3D extends over a distance between 20 and 40% of the total width of the outer sole 3 from the inner edge 34.

A second longitudinal zone 3E, called central longitudinal zone, is provided to be located at least partially under the second and third toes 22 and 23. The zone 3E extends in the front zone 3A and the central zone 3B until the rear zone 30 in which it extends in part.

The central zone 3E extends over a distance of between 20 and 40% of the total width of the outer sole 3 from the inner zone 3D. A third zone 3F, called outer zone, extends from an outer edge 36 of the outer sole 3, and is intended to be located at least partially under the fourth and fifth toes 24 and 25. The zone 3F s extends in the front zone 3A and in the central zone to the rear zone 30, in which it extends in part. The outer zone 3F extends over a distance of between 20 and 40% of the total width of the outer sole 3 from the outer edge 36. The longitudinal zone 3D is separated from the longitudinal zone 3E by a longitudinal bending line 38 intended to pass approximately between the big toe 21 and the second toe 22, and the longitudinal zone 3E is separated from the longitudinal zone 3F a longitudinal bending line 40 provided to pass approximately between the third toe 23 and the fourth toe 24. The flexibility bending lines 38 and 40 are greater than the flexibility of the longitudinal areas 3D, 3E and 3F. In the same way as for the transverse zones, this flexibility allows an articulation of the longitudinal zones with respect to each other and a better transmission of effort to the ground during the sporting practice. When playing tennis, lateral movements are a preponderant aspect requiring speed and explosiveness. As such, the transmission of effort between the foot of the tennis player and the ground ensures the efficiency and speed of changes of direction, which cause braking, stops and reboots in a different direction. This aspect is also important for the braking phases of the player after a race, in which the outer zone 3F is solicited. As can be seen in FIG. 1, because of the different morphologies of the feet, the positioning of the zones 3A, 3B, 30, 3D, 31, 3E and 3F may not correspond exactly to the location of the different parts of the foot. In particular, some toes may straddle two longitudinal zones, and the longitudinal flexure lines 38 and 40 may not pass exactly between the big toe 21 and the second toe 22 and between the third toe 23 and the fourth toe 24.

The midsole 5 comprises cushions superimposed on the front zone 3A and the median transverse zone 3B. These cushions include an inner cushion 50, generally superimposed on the inner area 3D. The inner cushion 50 allows a distribution of pressures and a return of stored energy for better dynamism when the supports made on the inner side of the foot, for example during an explosive start or at a jump reception after a T service involving a large force transmitted by the big toe 21, for a lateral displacement. The midsole 5 also comprises a central cushion 52 generally superimposed on the central longitudinal zone 3E. This cushion is solicited during the phases of transfer of the weight of the body or anchoring to the ground before a strike, during which stability of the supports is necessary. The midsole 5 also includes a third outer cushion 54, generally superimposed on the outer zone 3F. This cushion 54 makes it possible to distribute the pressures exerted on the outside of the foot and to initiate the restart for example during a braking after a lateral race, where during a given pulse with the fourth and fifth toes 24 and 25 during moving or changing direction. The central cushion 52 is formed by an expanse of material in which the cushions 50 and 54 are incorporated, and which extends to the rear of the midsole 5. The cushions 50 and 54 are cushions reported in cavities alternatively, the central cushion 52 may be an attached cushion of the same type as the cushions 50 and 52, and form an element independent of the rest of the midsole 5. The central cushion 52 may also be constituted by a rigid element, such as a strip of plastic material, carbon or any other material, disposed in a housing extending between the cushions 50 and 54. In order to allow a more dynamic movement of the player, the inner and outer cushions 50 54 are made of a material with a higher energy recovery capacity than the material of which the central cushion 52 is constituted. More specifically, the material of the cushions 50 and 54 has a resilience, that is to say an ability to return to a form close to its initial shape quickly after a deformation, greater than that of the cushion material 52. during lateral movements involving support by the big toe 21 or the fourth and fifth toes 24 and 25, or in case of sudden braking for example with the fourth and fifth toes, the foot is damped, then the energy is restored to increase the speed of execution of the change of direction and thus the overall performance of the player's footwork. The coincidence of the cushions 50, 52 and 54 with the longitudinal cutting of the outer sole 3 by the areas 3D, 3E and 3F allows increased efficiency of the transmission of effort between the player and the ground during lateral movements. For example, the inner cushion 50 and the outer cushion 54 may be made of a cushioning and resilient material, such as synthetic foam or rubber. The central cushion 52 may be made of a rigid or semi-rigid synthetic foam. Optionally, the midsole 5 also comprises a rear cushion 56 superimposed on the zone 31 and provided to be under the heel to provide shock absorption on the heel. In the example, the rear cushion 56 is encompassed in the central cushion 52. The flex lines 30, 32, 38 and 40 are formed by grooves 42 running side by side on an outer surface S3 of the outsole 3. Between the grooves 42 extends a rib 44. At the location of the grooves 42, the thickness of the outer sole 3 is reduced, which increases its flexibility. In a variant not shown, the bending lines may be formed by a single groove 42. The grooves 42 preferably have a depth, taken with respect to the outer surface S3, of between 0.5 and 5 mm for an average thickness of the sole 3 between 3 and 5 mm. Thus, the grooves have a depth representing 10 to 100% of the average thickness of the sole 3. According to a not shown embodiment of the invention, the grooves 42 can pass through the entire thickness of the outer sole 3, making visible the midsole 5 in bottom view of the shoe 1.

The flexure lines 30, 32, 38 and 40 preferably have a width of between 1 and 10 mm. As shown in FIG. 1, the bending lines 30, 32, 38 and 40 have a broken rectilinear shape. In general, the flexure lines 30, 32, 38 and 40 have an at least partly rectilinear shape. Alternatively shown in Figure 5, the flexure lines 30, 32, 38 and 40 may also have a shape at least partially curved. The transverse flexion lines 30 and 32 have a concave shape whose concavity is oriented towards the rear, to follow the natural curvature of the birth of the toes and the front end P1 of the arch of the foot.

The longitudinal flexure lines 38 and 40 have a concave shape whose concavity is oriented towards the inside of the foot to follow the natural curvature of the inner and outer edges of the foot. Bending lines 30, 32, 38 and 40 are intersecting and form nine sub-areas.

The flexion lines 30 and 32 extend to the outer edge 36 of the outer sole 3 and stop before the inner edge 34. Alternatively not shown, the flexure lines 30 and 32 may extend to internal edge 34. The flexion lines 38 and 40 extend between a central portion 46 of the outer sole 3 which is intended to be raised above the ground, to the vicinity of the front end 10. In the example shown, the bending line 38 extends to the front end 10, while the bending line 40 terminates before the front end 10. Alternatively not shown, the bending line 40 can extend up to at the end 10. The locations of the longitudinal zones 3A, 3B and 30 and transverse 3D, 3E and 3F, as well as bending lines 30, 32, 38 and 40 may be different depending on the importance given preferentially to certain areas of the outer sole 3 rather than others . For example, a tennis player whose footwork will be quick and explosive will achieve more extreme support, forward by soliciting zones 3A and 3B, or laterally with 3D and 3F zones. In such a case, this player will solicit all areas of the outer sole 3 and the areas 3A, 3B 3D and 3F will therefore have a larger area than on a shoe for a player to play less explosive leg. This second type of player, with the footwork more fluid, slower and more anchored to the ground will require more zones 3B, to a lesser extent 3A, during strikes in support or forward and, in changes of direction and blockages, this second type of player will solicit more areas 3E and 3D. Zones 3E and 3D will therefore have an upper surface on the shoes intended for players with leg play more anchored to the ground and fluid, and less explosive.

Claims (11)

REVENDICATIONSI. Sports shoe (1), especially tennis, comprising inter alia: an outer sole (3) adapted to be in contact with the ground, - an insole provided to be located under a foot (P) of an athlete, - an intermediate sole (5) interposed between the outer sole (3) and the inner sole, characterized in that the outer sole (3) is divided along a longitudinal axis (X-X ') of the shoe (1 ), in at least three transverse zones comprising: a front zone (3A) provided to be located at least partially under the toes (21-25) of the foot (P), a median transverse zone (3B) intended to be at least partly situated under a foot region (P) extending between the toes' birth and a front end (P1) of the arch of the foot (P), - a rear area (3C) intended to be located at least part under a foot region (P) extending rearwardly from the front end (P1) of the arch of the foot (P), and that the three transverse zones (3A, 3B, 3C) are separated by transverse bending lines (30, 32) whose flexibility is greater than the flexibility of the three transverse zones (3A, 3B, 3C). Sports shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer sole (3) is divided, along a transverse axis (Y-Y ') of the shoe (1), into three longitudinal zones comprising: a interior zone (3D) provided to be at least partly under the big toe (21), - a central longitudinal zone (3E) provided to be at least partly under the second and third toes (22, 23), - an outer zone (3F) provided to be at least partially under the fourth and fifth toes (24, 25), and in that the three longitudinal zones (3D, 3E, 3F) are separated by bending lines (38); , 40) whose flexibility is greater than the flexibility of the three longitudinal zones (3D, 3E, 3F). 3. Sports shoe according to claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate sole (5) comprises, superimposed on the front zone (3A) and the median transverse zone (3B), three cushions comprising: - an inner cushion (50 ) superimposed at least in part on the inner zone (3D), - a central cushion (52) superimposed at least in part on the central longitudinal zone (3E), - an outer cushion (54) superimposed at least in part on the zone outer (3F), and in that the inner (50) and outer (54) cushions are made of materials with an energy recovery capacity greater than the material of which the central cushion (52) is made. 4. Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the transverse bending lines (30, 32) and / or the longitudinal bending lines (38, 40) have at least partly a curved shape . Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the transverse bending lines (30, 32) and / or the longitudinal bending lines (38, 40) have at least partly a rectilinear shape. . 6. Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the flexure lines (30, 32, 38, 40) are formed by at least one groove (42) running along an outer surface (S3) of the outsole (3). Sports shoe according to claim 6, characterized in that the bending lines (30, 32, 38, 40) are formed by two grooves (42) running side-by-side on the outer surface (S3) of the outer sole (3) and separated by a rib (44). 8. Sports shoe according to one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the grooves (42) have a depth of between 0.5 and 5 millimeters. 9. Sports shoe according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the longitudinal flexure lines (38, 40) have a concave shape whose concavity is oriented towards the inside of the shoe (1). 10. Sports shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transverse bending lines (30, 32) have a concave shape whose concavity is oriented towards the rear of the shoe (1). 11. Sports shoe according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer sole (3) includes a fourth zone (3T) extending behind the rear zone (3C) and adapted to be under the heel. foot (P).