GB2132469A

GB2132469A - Sole construction in or for footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2132469A
Application number: GB08325031A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph P Famolare
Original assignee: Famolare Inc
Current assignee: Famolare Inc
Priority date: 1982-11-24
Filing date: 1983-09-19
Publication date: 1984-07-11
Also published as: IT8353798V0; NL8303391A; FI833353A; FR2536255A1; LU85032A1; DK428283D0; DE3337681A1; IT8368034A0; JPS59101102A; BR8305814A; SE8305104D0; NO833390L; AU1920083A; BE898085A; DK428283A; SE8305104L; ES283289Y; GB8325031D0; ZA837000B; ES283289U

Abstract

A sole 1 comprising a plate member 2 having projections 5 distributed over a forwardmost toe region 6, an intermediate ball region 7, an intermediate shank region 8 and a rearmost heel region 9 of a first surface 3 and a second surface 4 over which extends a lining 15 which is anchored to define cushioning regions 16,17,18 and 19 overlying the tow, ball, shank and heel regions of the first surface. The sole 1 may be in the form of a removable innersole (Figure 2, shown inverted) or part of a permanent sole construction (Figure 4, not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Sole construction in or for footwear This invention relates to a sole for footwear and, in particular, to a sole adapted to reduce the transfer of shock to the foot of the user.

In present day society, significant emphasis has been placed on keeping physically fit. This has caused many people to engage in strenuous physical activity, much of which places a large degree of stress on a person's feet. Thus, activities such as, for example, tennis, jogging, etc., require the feet to absorb significant amounts of shock, resulting in considerable wear and tear.

In order to alleviate this wear and tear, the makers of footwear have proposed a variety of shoe constructions and sole constructions designed to absorb or dissipate the shock created during activity by the user. These constructions, moreover, must themselves be able to withstand significant shock without degradation, while at the same time not transmitting the shock to the feet of the user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sole which is adapted to inhibit shock from reaching the foot of the user, while at the same time being sufficiently strong to withstand large degrees of shock.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the above and other objectives are realized in a sole construction comprising a plate member having a peripheral contour conforming to the shape of the foot and opposing first and second surfaces. Projections are distributed over a forwardmost toe region, an intermediate ball region, an intermediate shank region and a rearmost heel region of the first surface and a lining extends over the second surface and is anchored to define a cushioning region overlying the toe, ball, shank and heel regions of the first surface.

In the form of the invention disclosed hereinbelow, transverse regions on the first surface interface the respective toe, ball, shank and heel regions and are free of projections. The lining has transverse anchored regions which overlie the projection-free transverse regions of the first surface, so that the lining defines first, second, third and fourth cushioning regions overlying the toe, ball, shank and heel regions, respectively. A periphery region extends about the first surface contour and is-intersected by the transverse projection-free regions and is also projection free. An anchored periphery region of the lining extends over the projection-free periphery region of the first surface.

With this type of sole construction, significant amounts of shock can be absorbed without damaging the structure. The cushioning regions on the second surface, reduce the degree of shock conveyed by the sole to the foot of the user and, furthermore, distribute the shock over the central portion of the primary bone areas of the foot from the center of these areas outward. Additionally, the sole is allowed to flex at the anchored regions which are commensurate with the cartilage areas of the foot connecting the primary bone areas.

In a further aspect of the invention the second surface of the sole is also provided with a lining which is anchored so as to result in floating subregions over the toe, ball, shank and heel surface regions. This lining permits the sole to be reversed so that during normal walking the second surface is against the foot of the user and results in massaging of the foot as is disclosed in copending commonly assigned application Serial No. 400,632, filed July 22, 1982.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other features and aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a bottom view partially in broken section of a sole construction in accordance with the principles of the present invention; FIG. 2 illustrates a view of the sole of Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of the sole of Fig. 1; and FIG. 4 shows the sole of Fig. 1 incorporated into a shoe-as an outersole.

Detailed Description In Fig. 1, the sole 1 is in the form of an innersole which is removably insertable into the shoe of the user. The sole 1 comprises a plate 2 made of resilient material such as, for example, latex rubber, and contoured in the form of the human foot. The plate 2 has opposing first and second surfaces 3 and 4, one of which 4 is substantially smooth and the other of which 3 has resilient projections 5 extending therefrom.

The projections 5 are distributed over the surface 4 in four regions 6, 7, 8 and 9 commensurate with a forwardmost toe region, an intermediate ball region, an intermediate shank region and a rearmost heel region of the human foot. In the case shown, projection-free interface regions 11, 12 and 1 3 connect the four projection regions 6, 7, 8 and 9, respectively, and a further projection-free peripheral region 14 borders the latter four regions and connects the interface regions.

A lining 1 5 typically formed by a layer of leather material is disposed over the surface 4 and is anchored so as to define four cushioning regions 16-19 which extend over and are commensurate with the aforementioned toe, ball, shank and heel regions of the foot and, thus, the projection regions 6-9 of the surface 3. In particular, anchoring in the form of stitching 21 is provided which results in transverse anchored regions 23, 24 and 25 and a peripheral anchored region 26 of the lining 1 5. The anchored regions 23-25 are commensurate with the projection-free regions 11-13 of the surface 3 and, therefore, are situated in the cartilage areas connecting the primary bone areas (toe, ball, shank and heel) of the foot.The anchored region 26, in turn, is commensurate with the projection-free region 14 of the surface 3.

In use the sole 1 is inserted into the user's shoe with the lining 1 5 facing the undersurface of the user's foot and the projections 5 facing the shoe interior. The sole is thus supported in the shoe via the projections 5, while the user's foot is supported at the toe, ball, shank and heel foot regions by the four cushioning regions 16, 17, 18 and 19.

With the sole 1 so constructed, the sole can withstand significant amounts of shock without degradation. Also, the projection-free regions 11, 12 and 13 and commensurate anchored regions 23, 24 and 25 allow for bending of the sole in the foot cartilage areas where flexing is desirable.

Shock to the foot, in turn, is reduced precisely in the primary bone areas (toe, ball, shank and heel) of the foot, by the cushioning regions 16-19.

Furthermore, since these regions are substantially central of the bone areas and do not extend to the shoe periphery, due to the presence of the projection-free region 14 and the anchored region 26, shock is amortized from the center of the bone areas outward and thus advantageously eliminated from the side areas of the foot.

In typical construction, the projections 5 may be about 1/8 inch in height and of cylindrical shape with a rounded top. A typical diameter might be 1/8 inch and a typical spacing 3/1 6 inch.

The projection-free border might typically be about 3/16 to 1/4 inch and the transverse regions of length along the innersole axis of 1/8 to 3/1 6 inch.

In a further aspect of the present invention, the sole 1 can be adapted to provide a massaging action to the foot of the user. More particularly, as disclosed in United States patent application Serial No. 400,632, assigned to the same assignee hereof, a lining 27, which also might comprise a layer of leather material, is provided over the surface 3 and anchored to provide a floating or suspended region (i.e., a region free of connection to the surface 3) interior of the surface periphery. In the present case, the anchoring 21, also provides the anchoring for the lining 27, so that four floating sub-regions 28,29, 31 and 32 are defined. These sub-regions are commensurate with the toe, ball, shank and heel regions of the foot and are separated by anchored regions 33, 34 and 35 which are commensurate with the foot cartilage areas.A peripheral anchored region 36 also is defined and is commensurate with the peripheral regions 14 and 26 of the surface 3 and lining 15, respectively.

When foot massaing is desired, the sole 1 is placed with the projections 5 facing the foot of the user and the lining 1 5 against the shoe. This results in a pleasing and effective massaging of the foot accompanied by a gradual break-in period of the sole, as is discussed in the aforementioned copending patent application.

The sole of the invention can thus be used with the lining 1 5 against the user's foot in situations where strenuous physical activity is to be engaged in. On the other hand, when the user is engaged in normal walking the sole may be reversed to place the lining 27 against the user's foot so that pleasing massaging of the user's foot occurs.

Furthermore, even in this reversed position, the sole will tend to absorb shock although as previously stated, where strenuous activity is to be engaged in it is believed preferable to again situate the lining 1 5 against the user's foot.

Fig. 4 shows a shoe construction in the form of a slipper 41 in which the sole 1 of the invention has been built into the shoe so that the sole serves as the outersole of the slipper. In this case, the lining 27 is situated on the bottom of the sole and is the ground contacting surface.

In all cases, it is understood that the above-described embodiments are merely illustrative of the many possible specific embodiments which represent applications of the present invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can readily be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, for example, the sole can be built directly into a shoe as an innersole with or without the lining 27. Furthermore, other anchor means such as glue can be used in place of or in conjunction with the stitching 21. Additionally, the lining 1 5 can be formed as a single cushioning region overlying the four projection regions 6, 7, 8 and 9, although the form of the lining shown in Figs. 1-3 is believed to be considerably more preferable.

Claims

1. A sole comprising: a plate having a peripheral contour conforming to the shape of the foot and opposing first and second surface, said first surface having projections distributed thereover in a forwardmost toe region, an intermediate ball region, an intermediate shank region and a rearmost heel region; and a lining extending over said second surface and anchored thereto to define a cushioning region overlying said toe, ball, shank and heel regions.

2. A sole in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said cushioning region defines first, second, third and fourth cushioning regions overlying said toe, ball, shank and heel regions, respectively.

3. A sole in accordance with claim 2 wherein: said first surface is devoid of projections in first, second and third transverse interface regions, said first interface region connecting said toe and ball regions, said second interface region connecting said ball and shank regions and said third interface region connecting said shank and heel regions.

4. A sole in accordance with claim 3 wherein: said lining is anchored to said plate in first, second and third transverse anchored regions which overlie said first, second and third transverse regions, respectively, of said first surface.

5. A sole in accordance with claim 4 wherein: said lining is further anchored to said plate in a peripheral anchored region.

6. a sole in accordance with claim 5 wherein: said first surface is devoid of projections in a region adjacent the periphery of said plate and underlying said peripheral anchored region.

7. A sole in accordance with claim 6 wherein: said first, second, third and fourth cushioning regions are commensurate with said toe, ball, shank and heel region.

8. A sole in accordance with claim 7 further comprising: a further lining overlying said second surface and anchored to define first, second, third and fourth further regions commensurate with said toe, ball, shank and heel regions.

9. A sole in accordance with claim 1 6 wherein: said anchoring of said lining and further lining is by the same anchoring means.

10. A sole in accordance with claim 9 wherein: said anchoring means comprises stitching.

11. A sole in accordance with claim 3 further comprising: a further lining overlying said second surface and anchored to define first, second, third and fourth further regions overlying said toe, ball, shank and heel regions, respectively.

12. A sole in accordance with claim 17 wherein: said first, second, third and fourth floating regions are commensurate with said toe, ball, shank and heel regions, respectively.

13. A sole in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said plate and projections comprise a resilient material.

14. A sole in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said second surface is substantially flat.

1 5. A sole in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: a further lining overlying said second surface and anchored to define a further region overlying said toe, ball, shank and heel regions, respectively.

1 6. A sole in accordance with claim 8 wherein: each of said first, second, third and fourth further regions is floating.

1 7. A sole in accordance with claim 11 wherein: each of said first, second, third and fourth further regions is floating.

1 8. A shoe construction including: a sole comprising: a plate having a peripheral contour conforming to the shape of the foot and opposing first and second surfaces, said first surface having projections distributed thereover in a torwardmosttoe region, an intermediate ball region, an intermediate shank region and a rearmost heel region; a lining extending over said second surface and anchored thereto to define a cushioning region overlying said toe, ball, shank and heel regions; and a further lining overlying and anchored to said first surface said further lining forming the ground contacting surface of said shoe construction; and a shoe body extending upwardly from and connected to said sole.

1 9. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 1 8 wherein: said cushioning region defines first, second, third and fourth cushioning regions overlying said toe, ball shank and heel regions, respectively.

20. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 19 wherein: said first surface is devoid of projections in first, second and third transverse interface regions, said first interface region connecting said toe and ball regions, said second interface region connecting said ball and shank regions and said third interface region connecting said shank and heel regions.

21. A show construction in accordance with claim 20 wherein: said lining is anchored to said plate in first, second and third transverse anchored regions which overlie said first, second and third transverse regions, respectively, of said first surface.

22. A show construction in accordance with claim 21 wheren: said lining is further anchored to said plate in a peripheral anchored region.

23. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 22 wherein: said first surface is devoid of projections in a region adjacent the periphery of said plate and underlying said peripheral anchored region.

24. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 23 wherein: said first, second, third and fourth cushioning regions are commensurate with said toe, ball, shank and heel regions.

25. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 24 wherein: said further lining defines first, second, third and fourth further regions commensurate with said toe, ball, shank and heel regions.

26. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 25 wherein: each of said first, second, third and fourth further regions is floating.

27. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 26 wherein: said anchoring of said lining and further lining is by the same anchoring means.

28. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 27 wherein: said anchoring means comprises stitching.

29. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 20 wherein: said further lining defines first, second, third and fourth further regions overlying said toe, ball, shank and heel regions, respectively.

30. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 29 wherein: each of said first, second, third and fourth further regions is floating.

31. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 30 wherein: said first, second, third and fourth further regions are commensurate with said toe, ball, shank and heel regions, respectively.

32. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 1 8 wherein: said plate and projections comprise a resilient material.

33. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 18 wherein: said second surface is substantially flat.

34. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 18 wherein: said further lining defines a further region overlying said toe, ball, shank and heel regions, respectively.

35. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 34 wherein: said further region is floating.

36. A shoe construction in accordance with claim 1 5 wherein: said further region is floating.

37. A sole construction for footwear constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

38. A shoe construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.