JP2007307378A - Footwear construction - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a novel footwear that has superior flexibility and comfort as well as a high degree of support. <P>SOLUTION: A forefoot frame base 52 and a heel frame base 54 can be separated from one another by a frame void 80. The forefoot frame base 52 includes at least one forefoot frame base voids 82, 84 extending across the width of the footwear to improve flexibility of the footwear. The construction also includes a midsole 30 including a lower surface housed at least partially within and/or joined with the midsole frame 50, with the forefoot frame base 52 and the heel frame base 54 separated from one another below the lower surface 37 of the midsole 30 by the frame void 80, and connected above the lower surface 37 by the intermediate frame section 60. Where the construction includes an outsole, that outsole 90 defines an outsole voids 92, 94, which can be aligned with the forefoot frame base voids 82, 84. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to footwear, and more particularly to the structure of footwear and a method of manufacturing the structure of footwear.

[Background of the invention]
In the footwear industry, there is an ongoing effort to produce footwear that provides a high level of stability and support while maintaining excellent comfort. Such efforts have increased in the design of high performance footwear such as water sports footwear, hiking footwear, mountaineering footwear, multi-sport footwear, and uneven outdoor walking footwear. In order to minimize the impact of moving across a surface that is jagged, uneven, or uneven, high-performance footwear often has torsional stability (eg, torsional resistance). ) And longitudinal stability (eg, linear resistance) is provided.

  Traditionally, stability and comfort have been contradictory characteristics. Efforts to increase stability and support usually reduce the flexibility and thus comfort of a shoe. A common technique for improving the stability of water sports footwear, such as high-performance sandals, is a single continuous midsole that extends from the toes of the footwear to the heel and also from the toes of the footwear. And providing a sole assembly having a single continuous high grip outsole extending into the section. The midsole is sufficiently rigid to provide the torsional and longitudinal stability described above. A leather upper or synthetic upper is joined to the midsole by stitching. The upper extends upward from the midsole over the top of the wearer's forefoot. Here, the opposing sides of the upper are joined to a lace system that secures the footwear to the wearer's foot.

  Although this structure, particularly its sole assembly, increases stability, it generally reduces the comfort and durability of the footwear. For example, a rigid midsole typically has a very limited cushioning and therefore less comfort. Further, the rigid midsole generally cannot bend along the longitudinal axis of the footwear that extends from the toes to the heel generally along the center of the footwear. Thus, for each step, the wearer must apply sufficient force to bend the midsole. This can increase muscle fatigue in the wearer's foot. Thus, a need for footwear construction that provides the desired level of stability and support, as well as comfort and flexibility has long been desired, but remains unrealized.

[Summary of Invention]
The above problem is solved by a footwear structure including a midsole frame having a forefoot base, a heel base, and an intermediate frame portion connecting the forefoot base and the heel base. In one embodiment, the forefoot base and the heel base are also separated from each other by a frame gap.

  In another embodiment, the forefoot base can have at least one forefoot base gap extending across the width of the footwear to increase the flexibility of the footwear.

  In a further embodiment, the structure can comprise a midsole that includes an upper surface and a lower surface. The midsole is at least partially housed within the midsole frame and / or joined to the midsole frame, and the forefoot base and the heel base of the midsole frame are mutually below the lower surface of the midsole by the frame gap. And are connected to each other above the lower surface by the intermediate frame portion.

  In yet another embodiment, the structure can include an outsole secured to the midsole frame. The forefoot portion of the outsole can define at least one outsole forefoot space that can be aligned with the forefoot base space. Optionally, the outsole can be separated by an outsole gap into an outsole forefoot and an outsole heel that are separated from each other.

  In still other embodiments, the footwear structure can comprise an upper and a closure, and the closure can be secured to a portion of the midsole frame to further secure the footwear to the wearer's foot, It can be arbitrarily fixed to the intermediate frame part.

  The structure described herein provides a new footwear with a high degree of support as well as improved flexibility and comfort. The midsole frame and its components add structural stability and rigidity to the footwear. These properties are particularly advantageous in other high performance footwear. If one or more voids are included in the midsole frame and / or outsole, an added level of flexibility can be provided without compromising the structural stability of the footwear.

  These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the drawings.

Detailed Description of the Invention
I. Overview Footwear constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1-6 and generally indicated at 10. The footwear 10 has an upper 20 joined to a midsole 30, the midsole 30 is further joined to a midsole frame 50, and the midsole frame 50 is joined to an outsole 90. Closure 40 can be joined to midsole frame 50 and / or upper 20 to further secure footwear 10 to the wearer's foot. The midsole frame 50 can have a forefoot frame base 52 and a heel frame base 54, which are joined by an intermediate frame portion 60. Optionally, a plate 70 can be included between the midsole 30 and the midsole frame 50 of the footwear 10. The midsole frame 50 and outsole 90 can each include voids 80, 82, 84 and 91, 92, 94, which are each substantially aligned with one another. If these voids are included, these voids can further bend the footwear 10 along the longitudinal axis A of the footwear 10 to reduce wearer's foot fatigue.

  For purposes of disclosure, the present invention will be described with reference to a water sports sandal. As will be appreciated, the present invention is well suited for use with any other type of sole footwear, including other multi-sport footwear, outdoor footwear, walking footwear, competition footwear, and work shoes. ing.

II. Structure Next, the constituent members of the sandal 10 will be described in more detail. Upper 20 is generally conventional and includes waistband 22 and claw leather 24, which may be separate or may be an integral component. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper 20 can be configured to wrap around from one side of the wearer's foot through the top of the forefoot and below the other side of the foot. The peripheral edge 26 can be secured to the upstanding flanges 34 and 36 extending from the midsole 30 by any conventional means such as adhesive, stitching, staples, fusing and the like. Optionally, the upper 20 also has a heel 28 extending from the waistband 22 to wrap around the back of the wearer's heel or Achilles tendon to provide further fixation of the footwear 10 to the wearer's foot. can do. Further optionally, the upper 20 can provide footwear (not shown) that extends to cover the toes of the wearer and covers the toes. Finally, the upper 20 can be completely eliminated from the footwear as desired. Upper 20 can be composed of any suitable material, such as neoprene, EVA, plastic, mesh fabric, canvas fabric, leather, or any other suitable material.

  The midsole 30 to which the upper 20 is fixed is generally formed in the shape of the wearer's foot. The midsole 30 can have a front upright flange 34 and a rear upright flange 36, each serving to provide an attachment point for the upper to the midsole. These flanges can be eliminated from this structure if desired, with the upper secured directly to the plate recess 38 of the midsole 30 by any conventional fastening structure. Opposite to the upper surface 35 of the midsole 30, there is a lower surface 37, the lower surface 37 from one side of the footwear 10 corresponding to the outside of the wearer's foot to another of the footwear 10 corresponding to the inside of the wearer's foot. On the side, it extends over the width of the bottom of the midsole 30. The midsole 30 can also extend from the foremost portion of the footwear 10 to the rearmost portion of the footwear 10.

  The midsole 30 and other components of the footwear 10 can be constructed from an elastic and semi-rigid synthetic material such as polyurethane. Polyurethane is generally well known in the footwear industry and will not be described in detail here. The stiffness and flexibility of polyurethane can be varied from application to application as desired using various well-known techniques by adjusting the type, proportion and amount of reactants that make up the material. . Furthermore, the stiffness and flexibility of the polyurethane can be varied by adjusting the volume of polyurethane used. Polyurethane is the preferred midsole material, but the density of the midsole material and the exact chemicals that make up the midsole material can vary, including the size of the midsole and the desired cushioning and flexibility characteristics of the footwear. It will vary depending on the factors.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the lower surface 37 of the midsole 30 can optionally include a plate recess 38. The plate recess 38 can be configured to receive the plate 70. The plate recess 38 can be configured to have a depth sufficient to position the plate 70 at a desired location, ie, the same depth as the plate itself.

  The optional plate 70 can be configured to extend from the forefoot portion 100 of the footwear 10 to the arch portion 110 and, if desired, to the heel portion 120. However, as shown, the plate 70 extends from the forefoot 100 to the heel 120 but terminates within the heel 120. Accordingly, as shown, the plate 70 extends only a portion of the distance from the toe portion of the footwear 10 to the heel portion 120. In addition, the plate 70 can have one or more protruding regions 72 that protrude from the generally flat structure of the plate 70. These protruding regions 72 can be configured to align with the air gap defined by the midsole frame 50 and / or the outsole 90 as described below. The plate 70 can be composed of any material that is semi-rigid and / or rigid but flexible. Optionally, such material can be plastic, high density EVA, polyurethane, hard rubber, and the like.

  The optional plate can also be configured to be formed around an optional heel button recess 39 that is also defined in the lower surface 37 of the midsole 30. The heel button 76 can be positioned in the heel button recess 39. The heel button 76 may be of any size or shape, such as circular, square, oval, triangular, etc., and may be composed of any suitable heel buffer material, such as low density EVA.

  The midsole frame 50 can have a forefoot frame base 52 and a heel frame base 54, which are joined by an intermediate frame portion 60. The forefoot frame base 52 and the heel frame base 54 are optionally joined substantially only by the intermediate frame portion 60. Indeed, the forefoot frame base 52 and the heel frame base 54 can be separated by a frame gap 80 when they are in a common plane or in different planes. The forefoot frame base 52 has a forefoot wall 53 extending upward from the upper surface 57. The forefoot frame base 52 also defines a frame gap. These forefoot frame voids 82 and 84 may be defined by the bottom 51 of the forefoot frame base 52 and the forefoot wall 53. In the forefoot wall 53, the gaps 82 and 84 can be widened as desired.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the heel frame base 54 may have a heel wall 55 extending upward from the upper surface 59 of the heel frame base 54. As shown, the heel wall 55 can extend upward from a plurality of selected areas of the heel frame base 54. Accordingly, some portions of the side wall 33 of the midsole 30 are exposed to a person who sees footwear between the heel frame base 54 and the intermediate frame portion 60. If desired, the heel wall 55 can extend upward from the heel frame base 54 and around the entire circumference of the heel frame base 54, and optionally the side wall 33 can be hidden.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the intermediate frame portion 60 connects the forefoot frame base 52 and the heel frame base 54. The intermediate frame portion 60 can be joined to any part of the forefoot frame base 52 and the heel frame base 54, such as the forefoot wall 53 and the heel wall 55, as desired. FIG. 2 shows that the intermediate frame part 60 is connected to the rear part of the heel wall 55 and the rear part of the forefoot wall 53. Further, FIG. 2 shows that the heel frame base 54 can be connected to the forefoot frame base 52 by substantially only the intermediate frame portion 60 (on both sides of the footwear), and that all of these components can be made as desired. It can be formed from one single piece.

  The intermediate frame portion 60 is shown as an arcuate component, but may be any other geometric shape, such as a quadrilateral or a portion of a triangle, as desired. As shown, a portion of the intermediate frame portion 60 extends a distance that is above both the forefoot frame base 52 and the heel frame base 54. The intermediate frame portion 60 also extends a selected distance above the plate 70 and the upper surface 35 of the midsole 30. In one embodiment, the intermediate frame portion 60 is adjacent to the upper leather 22 of the upper 20.

  The intermediate frame portion 60 shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 can further include holes 67 for receiving portions of the closure 40, which portions of the string system as shown. It is a strap that is a part. The holes 67 can vary in size and shape as illustrated depending on the desired attributes of the closure 40. In addition, the intermediate frame portion 60 can define one or more heel strap holes 69 through which the heel strap 75 can be positioned to further secure the footwear to the wearer's heel.

  Optionally, the lower surfaces of the forefoot frame base 52 and the heel frame base 54 may have alignment ridges 59. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the alignment ridge 59 is immediately adjacent to the voids 82 and 84. The alignment ridge 59 can be used to align the outsole 90 with the midsole frame 50, and in particular, the outsole cavities 92 and 94 can be aligned with the midsole frame cavities 82 and 84.

  The intermediate frame portion 60 can be constructed from polyurethane, EVA, plastic, synthetic material, rubber, combinations of the above, or any other material as desired. Furthermore, the intermediate frame portion 60 can be configured using injection molding techniques or any other technique as desired.

  Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the outsole 90 is constructed from a relatively hard but gripping rubber or other sufficiently durable wear resistant material. The outsole 90 has a bottom 99 that can be configured to form the wear surface of the outsole 90 and to define a desired tread pattern. Further, the bottom 99 may be structured to enhance the attractive aesthetic appearance of the shoe. The outsole 90 is generally flat but may have one or more peripheral walls 93, 95 that extend upwardly along the inside and / or outside of the shoe and / or along the heel or forefoot. As illustrated, the peripheral walls 93, 95 extend upward along the side walls of the midsole frame 50 in the forefoot region and the heel region of the footwear. Specifically, the peripheral wall 93 extends upward along the forefoot wall 53 in the forefoot frame base 52, and the peripheral wall 95 extends upward along the heel wall 55 in the heel frame base 54.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the outsole 90 can optionally be divided into two separate parts, a heel 96 and a forefoot 97. The heel portion 96 and the forefoot portion 97 can be separated by the outsole gap 91. The forefoot portion 97 and the heel portion 96 can have additional voids. For example, as shown, forefoot 97 defines forefoot gaps 92 and 94. The forefoot gaps 92 and 94 are defined by the bottom surface 99 of the forefoot portion 97 and the peripheral wall 93 of the outsole 90. In the peripheral wall 93 of the outsole 90, the forefoot gaps 92 and 94 can be widened as desired.

  With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the forefoot gaps 92 and 94 of the outsole 90 are aligned with the forefoot frame gaps 82 and 84 of the midsole frame 50. Further, when included, the protruding region 72 can slightly protrude into at least one of the voids defined by the midsole frame 50 and the outsole 90. Optionally, the outsole 90 can be an integral component of the midsole frame 50, in which case the gap extends from the midsole frame to its lowest position and also constitutes the landing surface of the footwear 10.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, footwear 10 may optionally have a closure 40. As shown, the closure 40 is a string system having a string 42 and a string strap 44, and the string 42 and the string strap 44 are fixed to the intermediate frame portion 60 through a hole 67. The closure 40 can optionally have a pressure pad 49 to distribute the pressure on the wearer's forefoot when the closure 40 is tightened. In addition, a lace lock 46 is included in the lace system to ensure that the lace system remains clamped as desired. Although the closure 40 is illustrated as a lace system, it may be replaced in whole or in part with a hook and loop closure system, a ratchet closure system, a strap, a strap system, and a snap closure system.

III. Production Next, production of the footwear 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. In general, each of the components, i.e., midsole 30, midsole frame 50, plate 70, and outsole 90, can be formed using conventional techniques such as injection molding. The component is cured, then trimmed and cleaned using known cleaning agents. Furthermore, the upper 20 is formed using conventional cutting and stitching techniques. When the component members are produced in this manner, these component members are assembled.

  Specifically, upper 20 is secured to upstanding flanges 34 and 36 of midsole 30 using any conventional fastener, such as cement, adhesive, and / or stitching. The flexible plate 70 and heel button 76 can be further secured to the midsole 30 using cement and other adhesives as desired.

  Further, portions of outsole 90, i.e., heel 96 and forefoot 97, can be secured to heel frame base 54 and forefoot frame base 52 using cement and / or adhesive or other molding techniques, respectively. The midsole 30 to which the upper 20 is assembled can be fixed to the midsole frame 50 to which the outsole 90 is attached. In one embodiment, the midsole 30 is fixed so that the intermediate frame portion 60 protrudes upward and is adjacent to the upper 20. Excess cement and / or adhesive used to join the components can be cleaned and removed from the footwear 10.

  Once the components are assembled, the closure 40 and heel strap 75 can be secured to the midsole frame 50 to complete the footwear. The footwear product is then ready for further processing, packaging, and shipping.

  The above description is that of the preferred embodiment of the invention. Various alternatives and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the present invention as defined in the appended claims, and these alternatives and modifications are subject to patent law, including doctrine of equivalents. Should be interpreted according to principles. Any reference to claim an element in the singular, for example using the article “a”, “an”, “the”, or “said” It should not be construed as limiting the element to the singular.

It is a perspective view of footwear of a 1st embodiment. It is a disassembled perspective view of the bottom part of footwear. It is a perspective view of the bottom part of footwear. It is a side view of footwear. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG.

Claims (20)

Footwear structure,
Upper,
A midsole joined to the upper;
A midsole frame joined to the midsole, wherein the forefoot frame base, the heel frame base, the forefoot frame base and the heel frame base are integrated with the forefoot frame base and the heel frame base. A forefoot frame base defining at least one forefoot frame base gap, wherein the forefoot frame base and the heel frame base are separated from each other by a frame gap; A midsole frame extending upwardly from the frame base and the forefoot frame base and positioned at least partially above the midsole;
A closure secured to the midsole frame, the closure disposed over a portion of the upper and adapted to secure the footwear to a wearer's foot;
An outsole fixed to the midsole frame, comprising an outsole forefoot and an outsole heel, wherein the outsole forefoot and the outsole heel are separated from each other by an outsole gap. The outsole gap is aligned with the frame gap, the outsole forefoot is fixed to the forefoot frame base, the outsole heel is fixed to the heel frame base, and the outsole forefoot is the A structure for footwear comprising an outsole defining an outsole forefoot gap aligned with a forefoot frame base gap. The midsole has an upper surface and a lower surface;
The footwear structure according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate frame portion extends at least partially above the lower surface. The midsole has an upper surface and a lower surface;
The footwear structure according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface defines at least one of a plate recess and a heel button recess.   The footwear structure according to claim 3, comprising at least one of a plate located in the plate recess and a heel button located in the heel button recess. The midsole frame defines at least one lace hole;
The footwear structure of claim 1, wherein the closure includes a lace that is at least partially secured to the at least one lace hole. The forefoot frame base defines a second forefoot frame base gap;
The footwear structure of claim 1, wherein the outsole forefoot defines a second outsole forefoot gap aligned with the second forefoot frame base gap. Footwear structure,
A midsole including an upper surface and a lower surface;
A midsole frame including a forefoot base and a heel base separated from each other below the lower surface by a frame gap and connected to each other above the lower surface by an intermediate frame portion;
A closure secured to the midsole frame and adapted to further secure the footwear to a wearer's foot;
A structure of footwear comprising the midsole frame and an outsole connected to at least one of the midsole.   The footwear structure according to claim 7, wherein the outsole is at least one of integrated with the midsole frame and not integrated with the midsole frame. The outsole includes an outsole forefoot and separate outsole buttocks,
The outsole heel is fixed to the heel base,
The outsole forefoot is fixed to the forefoot base;
The footwear structure according to claim 7, wherein the outsole forefoot is separated from the outsole heel by an outsole gap. The outsole forefoot defines a first outsole forefoot gap;
The forefoot base defines a first forefoot base gap;
The footwear structure of claim 9, wherein the first outsole forefoot gap and the first forefoot base gap are aligned with each other.   The structure of footwear according to claim 7, comprising a plate joined to the lower surface of the midsole. The outsole defines a first outsole forefoot gap;
The forefoot base defines a first forefoot base gap;
The first outsole forefoot gap and the first forefoot base gap are aligned with each other;
The footwear structure of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the plate is exposed through the aligned first outsole forefoot gap and the first forefoot base gap. An upper fixed to the midsole,
The footwear structure according to claim 7, wherein the intermediate frame portion protrudes upward and is adjacent to at least a part of the upper. Footwear structure,
Upper,
A midsole frame having a forefoot base and a heel base separated from each other below the upper by a frame gap, wherein the forefoot base and the heel base are connected to each other by an intermediate frame portion, A midsole frame extending above the forefoot base and the heel base and adjacent to at least a portion of the upper, wherein the forefoot base defines a forefoot base gap;
A footwear structure comprising an outsole joined to the midsole frame, the outsole defining an outsole forefoot gap aligned with the forefoot base gap.   15. The structure of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the outsole is at least one of integrated with the midsole frame or not integrated with the midsole frame.   The footwear structure according to claim 14, wherein the outsole includes an outsole forefoot portion and an outsole heel portion.   15. The structure of footwear according to claim 14, comprising a flexible plate positioned adjacent to the midsole.   The footwear structure of claim 17, wherein the flexible plate is located between the midsole frame and the outsole.   15. The structure of footwear according to claim 14, comprising a midsole secured to the upper. With a closure,
The footwear structure of claim 14, wherein the closure is secured to the midsole above the closure above at least a portion of the upper.

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