HUT63545A - Footwear with developed foot-support - Google Patents

Abstract

A midsole, partial midsole, or the like (10), for inclusion in an article of footwear having a flexible, air-permeable top sole, characterized by at least one plug (11) in the heel region having a thickness (height) sufficient to permit significant compression deformationm along its thickness dimension accompanied by simultaneous significant bulging deformation in its circumscribing surface perpendicular to the thickness dimension; the deformations occuring solely due to normal walking activity by any wearer of the footwear; and the deformations thereby providing simultaneously for shock-absorption and ventilation during said normal walking activity.

Description

There is a wide variety of athletic shoes, such as running shoes, in the literature and many of them on the market, with various insoles designed to improve the performance of athletic shoes. A variety of shaped soles, which are in fact the only part that comes into contact with the ground, have already been suggested in order to exhibit vibration damping properties.

There are several prior applications in the same field, such as U.S. Patent No. 4,782,603. U.S. Patent No. 8,118,1988, which discloses a separate molded insole that includes a plurality of parallel, spaced apart tubes, generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoe. The parallel tubes are under pressure when the wearer steps in, and the patent states that they must be sufficiently flexible and strong to prevent them from sinking along their walls.

No. 4,316,332. U.S. Pat. No. 2, February 23, 1986, describes a shoe sole having hollow parts suitable for receiving a vibration absorbing material surrounded by a relatively hard sole portion of the sole.

No. 4,608,768. U.S. Pat. No. 2, September 9, 1986, discloses the use of plugs which are inserted into a pierced holder which thus forms a stopper. The plugs are made of a harder material than the insert material.

No. 4,831,749. U.S. Patent No. 5, May 23, 1989, discloses footwear with a ventilation and massage liner having a plurality of upwardly projecting pearls, such that they contact the wearer's foot and a number of downwardly protruding

beads are arranged to rest on the soles of the footwear so that, under the pressure of the wearer's foot, a stream of air begins to flow through the holes in each of the lower and lower legs. are formed between the upper beads in order to ventilate the wearer's feet and massage the air at the same time.

No. 4,685,224. US patent (11.08.1987) discloses a labyrinth of ventilation channels between the upper part of the sole of the shoe and the foot. Its purpose is to create a movement of air through the pumping effect and ventilate the wearer's feet.

No. 3,418,731. U.S. Patent (31.12.1968) discloses the use of a pad having a lower and upper resilient material surface, the upper surface of which is provided with a plurality of blind grooves, and the lower surface is provided with adequate projections such that ventilation occurs during walking.

The closest solution is found in No. 4,845,863. U.S. Pat. No. 11, 1989, which describes the use of an insole or an insole for active-wear shoes. The present invention relates to a waterproof pad / intermediate pad structure with downwardly projecting elastic members that are sized and positioned such that they fit into the recesses of the sole for cushioning of the wearer's foot. The patent describes the shortcomings of known solutions as follows:

Conventional insoles offer nothing in terms of independent suspension or deformation of their various areas, and are only suitable for a specific weight class of the wearer and for some padding.

The need for a plurality of padding members, which are independently suspended and deformed, was generally satisfied by U.S. Patent No. 4,733,483. U.S. Pat. It has also been found that the flat insert described herein tends to produce a springboard effect, causing the heel to bounce and vibrate. If the insert does not fit perfectly into the cavity formed in the shoe, it tends to slip in the shoe. Thus, there is a need for an insert which has a plurality of individually suspended padding elements and does not slip or vibrate.

Related No. 4,843,741 A similar solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4, 1989, but downwardly plugs are generally provided with a cylindrical cavity to reduce the weight of the insert.

The state of the art also includes Alison Turnball Race for a Better Running Shoe. (New Scientist, 15.07.1989, pages 42-44) and Alexander and Bennett How elastic a running shoe (pages 45-46). The authors are discussing a trend today in the manufacture of athletic shoes that seeks to recover some of the energy exerted at each step of the runner. Numerous references in the literature refer to ways in which some energy can be recovered. Alexander and Bennett summarize their test results as follows:

For a shoe heel, the property to look for is probably high leniency (peak deformation), which is the force of the bumps.

. Approaching the same on the other hand, the heel should be able to absorb the kinetic energy of the foot without exerting a great deal of force, so high values of peak deformation and deformation work are likely to be favorable.

High energy recovery in the first part of the sole is probably important (Table 1. 3). But the percentages of energy recovery tests still do not show how much energy a shoe returns. This requires knowing how much energy is stored in the first place. The greater the leniency (or peak deformation) and the deformation work, the more energy the sole stores during compression. The higher the energy recovery, the more of this energy can be recovered during the flexible rebound.

The purpose of the present invention is not to recover or maximize energy for the wearer, but to attenuate the relatively mild vibrations of the walk during normal walking and also to ventilate the inside of the shoe worn.

To accomplish this, we have found that the plugs or posts have to use extremely soft material and that the plugs or plugs must either point upwards under a permeable and flexible upper sole (sometimes called an inner or lining) or downwards. to show from such an upper sole, and just as importantly, these columns become significantly slack when squeezed in one step of the normal walk. The gaping movement moves the air between the pillars, thereby ventilating the footwear and foot through the upper sole. The autumn- * · · ··· · * «· 4 ·· · · ·« 4 · a • ·· «· ···············.

- The softness of the material of the 6 steals provides high peak deformation value with little deformation work.

We have found that such footwear has a good effect on the joints and spinal column of a walking person and, of course, on the foot.

The invention thus provides a footwear having a plurality of vertical plugs or posts in the sole of the foot, which are easily compressed and split at each step of the walker. They form a special anti-vibration element, providing a comfortable base for the foot, quite comfortable up to the contour of the sole, and cushioning every step of the wearer. The compressibility of the thermoplastic material is such that the plugs are compressed and significantly deformed with each step of the wearer and padded, the deformation is accompanied by substantial rupture of the plugs, and the pressure, rupture, and subsequent reshaping create a substantial airflow over the sole.

An embodiment of the present invention is an insole or insole piece that can be placed on a footwear for padding the wearer's foot and ventilating the foot. The pad or pad comprises a web portion extending over at least a portion of the sole of the footwear and having a padding member having a plurality of plugs perpendicular to the plane of the web. All plugs are made of flexible but easily compressible thermoplastic rubber or similar material.

The plugs are distributed throughout the web to provide a comfortable base for the wearer's foot and to cushion every step. The size, number and distribution of the plugs, as well as the compressibility of their material, are such that the plugs are easily deformed and significantly compressed to cushion the wearer's footsteps, and the compression is accompanied by substantial rupture of the plugs. Compression, rupture, and regression of the plugs moves the surrounding air to ventilate the footwear.

In another embodiment, the footwear of the present invention has an outer sole and an upper sole, with a plurality of upward-facing plugs made of an elastic, easily compressible material. The plugs are distributed on the outer sole to provide a comfortable base for the wearer's feet and to cushion every step. The size, number and distribution of the plugs, as well as the compressibility of their material, are such that the plugs are easily deformed and significantly compressed to cushion the wearer's footsteps, and the compression is accompanied by substantial rupture of the plugs. Compression, rupture and regression of the plugs creates a significant airflow along the outer sole to ventilate the footwear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings, which are exemplary of the insole according to the invention. their embodiment.

Figure 1 is a view of an insole made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a piece of the web of Figure 1.

- 8 »·· t« * · »· ·· ·

Figures 3, 4, 5 are side views of the web piece of Figure 2 illustrating three embodiments of upwardly facing plugs of the present invention.

Figure 6 is another embodiment of a web having a top liner.

Figure 7 shows a complete shoe with a broken part.

Fig. 8 shows a further embodiment using compressible plugs.

Figure 9 shows an outer sole with cavities or recesses into which insole pieces of the type of Figure 2 can be inserted.

Figures 10 and 11 show pieces of web of Figure 2 with variations in the shape of the plugs.

Figure 12 illustrates the sole portion of the web shown in Figure 9, in which the pasture plugs are gradually shorter for a special placement.

Figure 13 shows a further embodiment of the invention.

Figure 14 is a part of a sole embodiment of the invention in the heel of a shoe.

Figure 15 is an embodiment of the invention embedded in the heel of a female shoe or sandal.

Figure 1 shows a view of an insole generally formed by a web 10 having a plurality of upwardly engaging plugs 11. In this embodiment, these plugs are disposed along the entire insert, which extends from the toe portion 12 through the sole portion 13 to the heel portion 14. Each of the 11 plugs is up and attached to the end of the web • ·· ···:

It is sealed and each plug has a central opening 16.

The entire insert is preferably made by injection molding, whereby the web 10 and the plugs 11 of the insert are made of the same material. In this case, the web 10 is very flexible but not breathable. Such an insert can be inserted into a footwear in which the web 10 contacts the top of the outsole and the plugs 11 are facing upwards.

The most suitable material for such an insert is the Supersoft thermoplastic resin sold by GLS PLASTICS Woodstock, IL 60098, USA (# # # 3294). The material is made from a thermoplastic compound supplied by Shell Chemical Co. as Kraton. Preferred Kraton compounds (because they are the softest, have Shore A hardness (D-2240) 27 and 34) are Kraton D-2104 and Kraton D-3226.

The Supersoft thermoplastics obtained in this way provide an insole having a Durometer value of less than 30, preferably close to 20. Despite the softness of the resulting insert, it is extremely flexible and has a long service life. Of course, there are other materials besides Kraton, such as Estane, PVC or rubber. The material has the necessary property of making plugs 11 which are easily compressible and highly deformable (typically with Durometer values below 30), but have a long and elastic life to return to their original shape as the compression force ceases. The plugs 11 are not critical in shape and, whether solid or hollow, do not affect their deformability. In the version shown in Figure 1, they are hollow inside, * · ···! ·············································································· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · to save a thermoplastic resin.

With reference to Figures 2 and 3, they are a perspective view of a piece of the insert shown in Figure 1. side view images. The embodiment shown in Figure 3 has lower projections 23 which provide a slight ventilation underneath the insert.

In Fig. 4, the plugs are designated 20 and 21. 4, the plugs 20, 21 are of variable height. Of course this height is optional, but values below 10 mm seem reasonable.

Figure 5 shows that the plugs 22 are held in place by a web 10 centered on the plugs 22. This, of course, contributes to damping the vibrations.

3, 4, 5, the central opening 16 in the plugs 11, 20, 21, 22 is shown in dashed lines.

The embodiment of Fig. 6, which is a part of the insert of Fig. 3, has an upper web 25, preferably made of porous or perforated material, thereby providing some air movement. In this figure, the plugs 11 are shown in a compressed, deformed, ruptured state.

Figure 7 shows a shoe with a broken portion in which the insert of Figure 1 is located on the top of the sole 31 of the shoe. A flexible, breathable upper sole 30 is located above the insert.

Figure 8 shows a variant in which the base 31 of the embodiment of Figure 7 is replaced by the base 32, which has a plurality of pockets 33 which accommodate the plugs 11 discussed above. · ······ ····· · · .. * · .. · · .. · gadget and hold, eliminating the need for 10 webs. The plugs 11 may be held permanently in the pockets 33 by gluing or other suitable means.

The sole 42 of the embodiment of FIG. 9 is provided with cutouts 43 and 44 during manufacture such that the shapes 2, 3 and so on are of the correct shape and size. The web portions 40 and 41 shown in FIGS. 4 to 5 fit directly therein, thereby reducing the vertical space inside the shoe. The web portions 40 and 41 forming the insert are now effectively secured in place against lateral slippage. Of course, it is possible to insert only one of the web portions 40 and 41.

In the embodiment of Fig. 10, the web 10 of Fig. 2 has plugs 50 which are solid, as opposed to the hollow plugs 11 of Fig. 2. It may be necessary to use an even softer material for the plugs 50 in order to maintain the desired high degree of compressibility which provides a suitable degree of compression under the wearer's footsteps, allowing the plug to rupture and regain shape.

Fig. 11 shows again another embodiment in which the web 10 similar to that of Fig. 2 is provided with upwardly engaging plugs 51 which are hollow but have a substantially rectangular cross-section.

Various design parameters can be changed for maximum performance. Elasticity of plastic, shape and height of plugs, distribution and number of units, variations in height of different plugs, ·· · · · -. ., * ♦ ·· · ·· · or rows, hollow and solid plugs, hollow plugs wall thickness can all be varied to achieve the object of the invention. Satisfactory results have been achieved in approx. With 0.5 cm ² hollow plugs with a wall thickness of 1-3 mm.

Figure 12 shows a further variation in which the plugs are not all of the same length when the plugs 11 in the web portion 41 of the shoe or sandal, as shown in Figure 9, are gradually shortened through the plugs 52 and 53, as with the toes. approach. The lengths of the plugs 52 and 53 may vary in any suitable manner to accommodate the geometry of the inside of the footwear.

Fig. 13 is a view of a further embodiment of a web according to the invention in which the plugs in the lower and upper webs face each other for enhanced padding. Again, the upper web should be flexible and preferably breathable.

Figure 14 shows the inner portion of a heel portion 60 of a sole having a rectangular cutout 61. In the cut-out 61 there is a single large-diameter cylindrical plug 62, which is fully compressed, in a deformed state, for explanation. As can be seen, the pressure causes the plug 62 to burst, but of course it only partially fills the space between its circumference and the corners of the cut-out 61, thereby pumping air upwards each time the plug 62 becomes open.

Figure 15 shows a heel portion 70 of a women's sandal or shoe showing cylindrical cutouts 71 and angled cutouts 72 for explanation. Of course, any other straight13 line cutout can be used. The plugs 73 and 74 protrude as desired when inserted into the recesses because they are shallower than the height of the plugs 73, 74.

Claims (19)

Footwear, characterized in that it has at least one solid cylindrical stopper made of a material which is highly and easily compressible and which is supported by a suitable linear incision, the incision consisting of straight, interconnected wall portions forming the heel in the corner, the circumference of the cylindrical plug, when the plug is deformed, touches the straight wall portions of the rectangular incision, the plug protruding upward from the rectangular incision to cushion the wearer's footsteps, such that between the corners of the notch, thereby evacuating the air upwards from this space to ventilate the wearer's foot. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said footwear is m e z v e, that at least one plug is a flexible, air- it is located underneath the upper sole of the footwear. 3. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said footwear is m e z v e, that the rectangular cut is rectangular. 4. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said footwear is m e z v e, that the rectangular cut is polygonal. Footwear according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the footwear has a plurality of smaller plugs which are individually inserted into corresponding straight incisions and are substantially uniformly distributed in the heel area. I • · · 6. Separate insole for footwear, separate from the footwear wall, characterized in that: - with fabric; - having a plurality of hollow plugs made up of at least one side of the web that are integral with the web; - the hollow plugs are made of a flexible, very soft, deformable thermoplastic material with Shore A [D-2240] hardness! value less than approx. 35; - hollow plugs height approx. 3 mm to 10 mm, and - the number and configuration of the plugs are sufficient to allow significant deformation of the thermoplastic material along the height of the hollow plugs and significant compression of the air entrained in the plugs, accompanied by significant concavity in the surrounding surface perpendicular to the height of the plugs; the insertion pad is used in the footwear to provide simultaneous shock absorption and ventilation. 7. The insert of claim 1, wherein m e z v e, that the tops are breathable over the plugs away. 8. The insert of claim 1, wherein m e z v e, that said thermoplastic material is Shore A [D-2240] Hardness! its value is around 20. The insert according to claim 6, characterized in that the hollow plugs are cylindrical. I -4έ- Pad according to claim 6, characterized in that the web is shaped like a sole. The insert according to claim 10, characterized in that the height of the hollow plugs is variable such that the hollow plugs in the toe of the footwear are lower than the other hollow plugs. The liner according to claim 6, characterized in that the web is generally located in the heel portion of the footwear. The insert according to claim 6, wherein the thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of Kraton D-2104, Kraton D-3226, Estane, PVC and rubber. The insert according to claim 6, characterized in that the height of the hollow plugs is variable. 15. Footwear having an outer sole, a middle sole and an upper sole, characterized in that the middle sole - s z is the slit1; - having a plurality of hollow plugs made up of at least one side of the web that are integral with the web; - the hollow plugs are made of a flexible, very soft, deformable thermoplastic material with Shore A (D-2240) hardness! value less than approx. 35; - height of hollow plugs approx. 3 mm to 10 mm, and - the number and configuration of the plugs are sufficient to allow significant deformation of the thermoplastic material along the height of the hollow plugs and significant compression of the air entrained in the plugs, accompanied by significant concavity in the surrounding surface perpendicular to the height of the plugs; the footwear is in use for shock absorption and ventilation. Footwear according to claim 15, characterized in that the upper sole is made of breathable material and is positioned above the hollow plugs. 17. Footwear according to claim 15, characterized in that the height of the hollow plugs is variable. 18th 6. The insert of claim 1, with signal Yi e - m e z V θ, that the hollow plugs are essentially cross-sectional rectangular. 19th 6. The insert of claim 1, with signal Yi e - m e z V e, that the web is usually footwear first part of- in there is placed. 20th 6. The insert of claim 1, with signal Yi e - The thermoplastic material is based on Kraton. 21. Separate insert for footwear, separate from the wall of the footwear, characterized in that: - with fabric; - a plurality of hollow plugs which are integral with the web and protrude substantially vertically from the web, each plunger having a wall portion having outer and inner surfaces spaced apart, each having a first and a second end; and said outer and inner surfaces defining a working surface between themselves at least one of the first and second ends of each hollow plug; - the hollow plugs are made of a flexible, soft, deformable thermoplastic material; the hollow plugs have a predetermined height; - the number and configuration of the hollow plugs is sufficient to allow significant deformation of the thermoplastic material along the height of the hollow plugs and significant compression of the air entrained in the hollow plugs, which is accompanied by a significant expansion of the wall portion perpendicular to the height of the hollow plugs; used in footwear to provide simultaneous vibration damping and ventilation. The insert according to claim 21, wherein the hollow plugs have a rectangular cross-section. Insert according to claim 21, characterized in that the hollow plugs have a cylindrical cross-section. The liner according to claim 21, wherein the web is generally disposed within the heel portion of the footwear. The liner according to claim 21, wherein the web is generally disposed within the front portion of the footwear. 4Τ -II -Χ'- 26. The insert according to claim 21, wherein the thermoplastic material is Kraton based.