JP3040169B2 - Footwear cushion members - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to footwear, and more particularly to footwear having a cushioning member that is placed in the footwear and imparts significant cushioning properties to the footwear. .

2. Description of Related Technology An issue that has always been a problem with shoes is how to balance support and cushioning. Even on a normal day, a person's foot (lower part from the ankle) and legs (higher part from the ankle) are subjected to considerable impact during the day. In addition to running, jumping, and walking, standing alone exerts various forces on a person's feet and legs that can lead to pain, fatigue, and injury.

The human foot is a sophisticated and sophisticated machine that can withstand and dissipate many impacts. The flexible arch and fat-wrapped heel and toe serve as cushions for the foot. Athlete stride is caused by energy stored in the soft tissue of the foot. For example, in a typical walking or running stride, the Achilles tendon and the arch expand and contract, storing energy in the tendons and ligaments. When the regulatory pressure on these parts is released, the stored energy is also released, reducing the load that the muscle must bear.

Although the human foot has the natural cushioning and resilience properties, the foot alone cannot effectively overcome the various forces received during exercise. If you do not wear shoes that have adequate cushioning and supportive functions, the pain and fatigue associated with exercise are severe, and these symptoms appear quickly. The result is discomfort to the person wearing the shoes, which discourages further exercise. Just as important,
Footwear with poor cushioning properties can be blistered, muscle,
It damages tendons and ligaments, leading to injuries such as stress rupture of bone. Improper footwear may cause symptoms such as back pain.

Suitable footwear is a shock absorbing sole (usually including an outsole, midsole and insole).
The installation of the foot must also assist the natural function of the foot. However, the sole should also be resilient so that it does not "soft" or "collapse" and dissipate too much of the energy of the person wearing it.

For the above reasons, attempts have been made for many years to incorporate means for improving the cushioning and elasticity of shoes into shoes. For example, attempts have been made to increase the natural elasticity and energy extraction of the foot by attaching a sole to the shoe that stores energy during contraction and extracts energy during expansion. These attempts include the use of ethylene vinyl acetate (EV
Molding materials such as A) or polyurethane (PU) were used. Foams such as EVA tend to break down and lose elasticity over time.

Another idea that has been taken in the footwear industry to improve cushioning and energy extraction has been to equip the shoe with a fluid-filled device. The basic idea is known to improve the cushioning and energy extraction by moving the pressurized fluid between the heel and the toe region of the shoe. United Kingdom Patent No. 338,266 granted to Layan, United States Patent No. 547,645 granted to Lacroix, United States Patent No. 1,069,001 granted to Guy, United States Patent No. 2,080,266 granted to Nathanson, granted to Cole U.S. Pat. Nos. Re. 34,102 both disclose the basic concept of placing a cushion containing pressurized fluid between the heel and toe region of a shoe. Each of these technologies has its own complexity. However, a common problem with these technologies is that
The disclosed cushion means is inflated by a pressurized fluid. In all of the above patents, cushion means are disclosed for forcing the pressurized gas through a valve, usually accessible from outside the shoe.

There are several difficult problems associated with using pressurized fluid in the cushion means. Notably, having to adjust the pressure throughout and pump fluid into the cushioning device is an inconvenient and tedious task. In addition, it is difficult to deliver consistent pressure to the device to provide the shoe with consistent performance. In addition, cushion devices that can maintain pressurized gas require relatively high manufacturing costs. Furthermore, pressurized gas tends to leak out of such cushioning devices, requiring additional gas. Finally, a valve visible from the outside of the shoe impairs the aesthetics of the shoe, and the older the shoe, the more likely the valve will be damaged.

A cushion device in which the enclosed air is at ambient pressure when no force is applied has several advantages over a similar device containing pressurized fluid. U.S. Pat. No. 2,100,492 to Schindler and U.K. Pat. No. 2,032,717 to Karoo Titan both disclose the use of a cushion device with ambient air. However, none of these patents transfer air between the heel and toe area of the shoe.

German Patent No. 820,869 to Weinhardt et al. And U.S. Patent No. 4,577,417 to Kohl appear to disclose a cushion device having a heel and toe cavity enclosing ambient air. . Weinhardt et al. Appear to disclose a pneumatic shoe warmer with two air chambers joined by a tube. Cole's patent discloses a sole-heel structure having two molded inflatable parts connected by a passage, wherein air at atmospheric pressure is enclosed in the sole-heel structure.

The techniques shown in these patents define only one air flow or type of air flow between the cavities. These two patents each show a cushion device having only a straight "tube" passage between the cavities. Because of the straight "tube" structure, there is only one air flow or type of flow, even if multiple passages are formed between the cavities. Neither Kohl nor Weinhardt et al. Disclose a cushion device that can be tailored to fit different exercises and weights.

A similar disadvantage is found in US Pat. No. 4,458,430 to Peterson. Peterson's patent is:
A cushioning device is described having a plurality of cushions located under the heel of the foot and a forward transverse arch. Each cushion is incompletely or completely filled with fluid. Fluids may have different viscosities. As with the devices described above, a major drawback of Peterson's patent is that the channels connecting each cushion are only straight "tube" channels of constant diameter over their entire length. As mentioned earlier, this structure
It has the disadvantage of providing only a single amount or degree of cushion, and cannot be tailor-made or modified to accommodate different movements and physiques.

Various attempts have been made to develop valve means for controlling or varying the flow of fluid, but this has resulted in extremely cumbersome, complex and expensive structures. U.S. Patent No. 4,446,6 to Johnson et al.
Disclosed is footwear having a spherical bladder, wherein two tubes connect a plurality of bladders, and a valve is disposed on the tube. By rotating a knob attached to the valve, the flow rate between the air bladders can be adjusted. In addition to the intractability of pressurized fluids, there are several disadvantages to Johnson et al. The most noticeable drawback is that the cushioning device is expensive to manufacture and prone to malfunction due to the large number of components and their complex interrelationships.

PCT application No. PCT / GB91 / 00740 to Seimea (International Publication No. WO 91/16831) discloses a valve means made of two ribbed members molded from rigid plastic disposed above and below a capillary. ing. Since the ribbed member of the device of Samea is made of a material different from the material of the cushion device main body, the manufacturing cost of the device increases. In addition, the ribbed portion is designed so that the capillary is completely closed during use "nipping" the capillary. This can prevent an appropriate amount of fluid from reaching the toe cavity before the toe lands. In addition, since the capillary of Seimea's device consists only of a straight tube,
It has the same disadvantages as other devices with the same features described above.

Therefore, prior to the invention being developed, the cushion member was provided with a built-in cushion member including a communication channel having impedance means disposed to prevent air flow between the separate chambers. No enclosed shoes were present. Furthermore, prior to the development of the present invention,
By providing impedance means with different sizes and shapes,
No shoes have been proposed to modify the structure of the impedance means to change the type of air flow between the chambers and change the degree of cushion. Further, in the case of shoes that attempt to employ a fluid-filled device with built-in valve means to cushion the wearer's foot, this would make the shoe heavier, making the cushion inappropriate and uneven, There is a drawback that manufacturing is extremely complicated and costly.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide footwear with improved cushioning and energy extraction properties.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a footwear having a cushion member containing ambient air or slightly pressurized air.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a footwear having a cushion member with impedance means for restricting air flow between the chambers.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide footwear having a cushion member that can provide different amounts or different degrees of cushion.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide footwear having a cushion member that can maintain cushioning properties throughout the life of the shoe.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe having a cushion member surrounded by a cushioning portion surrounded by a stabilizing edge of a midsole for improving cushion characteristics of the cushion member.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a footwear having a cushion member that can be easily attached to a left or right shoe without modification of itself.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a footwear having a cushion member that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To accomplish one and the other objects above,
And in accordance with the intent of the present invention, shown and described herein by way of example, the present footwear is provided by a resilient cushion member containing ambient pressure air enclosed within a sole. It is configured. The cushion member is
It includes a first chamber, a second chamber, and a communication chamber connecting the first chamber and the second chamber. An average cross-sectional area of the communication chamber is smaller than an average cross-sectional area of the first and second chambers. Impedance means for restricting airflow between the first and second chambers is disposed within the communication chamber, the average cross-sectional area of which is smaller than the average cross-sectional area of the remainder of the communication chamber.

The sole has a midsole having a cavity, and the cushion member is disposed in the cavity. Or,
The sole may have an outsole with a cavity. In this case, the cushion member is disposed in the cavity.
The sole may have an insole with a cavity. In this case, the cushion member is provided in the cavity. The footwear may further include a sock liner having a cavity provided in the upper. In this case, the cushion member is provided in the hollow portion of the sock liner.

The cushion member may be formed of a blow molded elastomeric material. The shoe may include a cushioning member disposed on the cushion member to spread the impact force on the cushion member and to support the foot of the wearer. The shock absorbing member is Shore A hardness 75-95
Alternatively, it may be formed of a material having a Shore C hardness of 55 to 75. The cushioning member may be formed integrally with the sole of the shoe.

The sole of the present invention may further have a heel portion and a toe portion. The first and second chambers of the cushion member may be disposed adjacent to the heel and toe of the sole, respectively. The flexure groove is the second of the cushion member.
May be provided above the chamber. A partition wall may be provided in one of the first and second chambers to change the direction of the air flow in the cushion member.

The impedance means of the present invention has a substantially hourglass shape, a substantially “Z” shape, a substantially “W” shape, or a substantially “S” shape.
It may be formed into a shape.

The cushion member may further comprise a lower portion of the upper portion, which is a mirror image of one another, such that the cushion member can be easily attached to either the left shoe or the right shoe.

Alternatively, the shoe of the present invention may have a sole having a heel portion, an arch portion (arch), and a toe portion, and a hollow portion formed in the sole extending substantially from the heel portion to the toe portion. Good. An opaque, resilient first chamber containing ambient air is disposed within the cavity adjacent the heel. An impermeable, resilient second chamber enclosing ambient air is disposed in the cavity adjacent the toe. The impermeable communication chamber enclosing the surrounding air
The first and second chambers are disposed in a cavity adjacent to the arch and connect the first and second chambers. The impedance means is disposed within the communication chamber, the average cross-sectional area of which is smaller than the average cross-sectional area of the remainder of the communication chamber. The impedance means limits the flow of air between the first and second chambers and provides a high cushion to the footwear by controlling the rate at which air moves between the first and second chambers.

The shoe may be formed from a blow molded elastomeric material. The impedance means may increase the velocity and turbulence of the air as the air moves between the first and second chambers. Depending on the weight of the person wearing it,
The communication chamber may be sized and shaped to send turbulent air between the first and second chambers when a downward pressure is applied to the first chamber. The size and shape of the communicating chamber such that when a downward pressure is applied to the first chamber due to the weight of the wearer, a layered or temporary air flow is created between the first and second chambers. May be determined.

A bump may be provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the communication chamber. Second
The vertical distance between the upper and lower surfaces of the first chamber may be smaller than the vertical distance between the upper and lower surfaces of the first chamber.

The cushioning member may be disposed on the cavity to spread the impact force applied to the cushion member and to support a wearer's foot. The sole of the present invention may further include an upper surface and a lower surface. The cavity is formed in the lower surface of the sole, and the cushioning member forms the upper surface of the sole.

Alternatively, the footwear may have a sole and a pressurized, air-filled, resilient cushion member positioned within the sole. The cushion member is first,
A communication chamber connecting the second chamber and the first and second chambers is included. The average cross-sectional area of the communication chamber is smaller than the average cross-sectional area of each of the first and second chambers. Impedance means for restricting air flow between the first and second chambers is disposed within the communication chamber, the average cross-sectional area of which is smaller than the remainder of the communication chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings, which are included in and form a part of this specification, illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. ing. The drawings are as follows.

1 is a top view of a cushion member according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is an intermediate side view of the cushion member of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4A-4A of FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a cushion, cushion member, and FIG. 5A is an exploded view showing possible interrelationships of the cradle; FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5A-5A of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is a top view of the impedance means according to the present invention; 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 6; FIG. 9 is a top view of another embodiment of the impedance means according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9; FIG. FIG. 12 is a top view of another embodiment of the impedance means; FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11; FIG. 13 is a top view of another embodiment of the impedance means according to the present invention. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13; FIG. 15 is a top view of another embodiment of a midsole according to the present invention; FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the midsole of FIG. FIG. 17 is a top view of the integrated shock absorber and midsole according to the present invention; FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the integrated shock absorber and midsole of FIG. 17; 20 is a top view of another embodiment of a cushion member according to the present invention; FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cushion member according to the present invention. Yes; FIG. 22 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the cushion member according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings will be described in detail. Similar or identical features are indicated by the same reference numerals.

In an embodiment, the cushion member according to the present invention includes:
The whole is indicated by reference numeral 10 in FIG. The cushion member continually modifies the cushion of the footwear such that the wearer's stride moves the air in the cushion member in a manner that supplements the stride.

FIG. 1 is a top view of a cushion member according to the present invention. However, FIG. 1 may actually be a top view or a bottom view. This is because the top view and the bottom view of the cushion member 10 are substantially mirror images of each other. Due to such a symmetrical structure, the cushion member 10 according to the present invention can be easily attached to the left shoe and the right shoe. Since the cushion member 10 is configured symmetrically, it is clear that the production of the cushion member 10 is facilitated and the cost is reduced.

The cushion member 10 is a three-dimensional structure including a first portion 12 and a second portion 14. First part 12 and second part 14
Form upper and lower surfaces of the cushion member 10. First portion 12 and second portion 14 cooperate to form first side wall 20 and second side wall 22. The cushion member is the first
From the side wall 20 to the second side wall 22.
The heel extends from the rear end 18 to the front end 16 in the forward direction. The first portion 12 and the second portion 14 are joined along an outer peripheral edge 24, the joining being performed in the desired forming step (described below) used to form the cushion member 10. The outer peripheral edge 24 serves to hermetically seal the cushion member 10. Depending on whether the cushion member 10 is attached to the left or right shoe,
The first portion 12 has an upper or lower surface.

The cushion member 10 is formed of a material having appropriate elasticity so that the cushion member 10 can expand and contract while resisting breakage. The cushion member 10 is desirably formed of many thermoplastic elastomers. Materials suitable for forming the cushion member 10 may include the following ranges of physical properties.

The above physical properties can be obtained by using various materials of the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) class. Thermoplastic elastomer vulcanates (SARLINK from PSM, SANTAPRENE from Monsanto, KRATON from Shell, etc.) are materials that can be used in terms of physical properties, processing and price. But now, Dow's PELLETHANE and Goodrich's ESTA
Thermoplastic urethanes (TPUs) such as NE, BASF's ELASTOLLAN (shown a few examples) have the best overall physical properties,
Therefore, it is desirable to select these.

A preferred method of manufacturing the cushion member is extrusion blow molding. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that blow molding is relatively simple and inexpensive. Further, each element of the cushion member of the present invention is made in the same molding process. Therefore, an integral cushion member is formed. In this case, all of the various elements described herein are made using the same mold.

The cushion member 10 is a hollow structure that is filled with ambient air if possible. To prevent the surrounding air from leaking when force is applied to the cushion member,
It is important that the cushion member 10 does not allow air to permeate, that is, is hermetically sealed. Of course, some movement of air into and out of the cushion member will occur. The pressure when the force inside the cushion member 10 is not applied is
Desirably the same as the surrounding air. Thus, the cushion member 10 maintains cushioning throughout the life of the footwear to which it is attached.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the cushion member 10 includes three separate components, namely, a first or heel chamber 26, a second or toe chamber 42,
Desirably, a third, or separate, member comprising the communication chamber 58. The heel chamber 26 has a shape substantially corresponding to the outer shape of the bottom surface of the heel of the wearer, and is placed under the heel of the wearer when the cushion member 10 is attached to the shoe. The heel chamber 26 is connected to the first side wall 20.
To the second side wall 22 and the heel end
It extends from 18 to the rear arch end 32. An angled junction wall 31 is provided adjacent the rear arch end 32 of the heel chamber 26. The directional divider 34 can be disposed within the heel chamber 26, in which case the heel chamber 26 is substantially divided into two areas, namely an inner heel area 36.
And the outer heel region 38. A sealed molding port 40 is provided adjacent the rear end 18. This indicates that the forming nozzle was here in the desired manufacturing process described above. This port can be easily removed by cutting or shaving during the manufacturing process.

Opposite the heel chamber 26 is a second or toe chamber 42. The toe chamber 42 is generally shaped to conform to the toe or midfoot region of the foot and, when installed in the shoe, is located under a portion of the toe of the wearer. Toe chamber 42
Extends laterally from the first side wall 20 to the second side wall 22 and extends rearward from the front end 16 to the front arch end 48. The amount of air in the toe chamber 42 is substantially the same as the amount of air in the heel chamber 26.

A small indentation 52 extends inward from the front end 16. Like the heel chamber 26, the toe chamber 42 may include a directional divider 34. The partition 34 serves to substantially divide the toe chamber 42 into two regions, an inner metatarsal region 54 and an outer metatarsal region 56. A series of flex grooves 50 extend across the toe chamber 42. The flexure groove 50 comprises a depression or valley formed into the first surface 12 and the second surface 14 of the toe chamber 42 and provides a toe when a person walks, particularly during the "toe off" phase of the walking cycle. It serves to facilitate bending and bending of the chamber 42.

A communication chamber 58 is provided between the heel chamber 26 and the toe chamber 42. Communication chamber 58
Is a long, substantially straight chamber that connects the heel chamber 26 to the toe chamber 42. The communication chamber 58 is the first
Region extending laterally from the side wall 20 of the heel chamber 26 to the second side wall 22 and adjacent to the rear arch end 32 of the heel chamber 26 to the front region adjacent the front arch end 48 of the toe chamber 42.
It has been stretched to 66.

A plurality of ridges 68 may be provided adjacent to the front 64 and rear 66 regions of the communication chamber 58. The ridge 68 facilitates the use of the cushion member 10 in a left or right shoe.
That is, the cushion member 10 is bent so as to conform to the shape of the bottom surface of the left and right shoes so far, and is easily bent. In addition, the ridges 68 serve to prevent the communication chamber 58 from extending and increase the turbulence of air in the cushion member 10. This will be described later. A locator flange 72 can be provided adjacent the front region 64 and the rear region 66 of the communication chamber 58. A locator flange 72 may be provided to assist in positioning the cushion member 10 in the shoe. This will also be described later.

The core of the present invention is the impedance means 74 provided in the communication chamber 58. Impedance means
74 includes a constraining or rotating portion for airflow through the communication chamber 58 therein. Basically, the impedance means 74 has a communication chamber 80 formed by and adjoining the suppression wall 78. 1 and 5
And in FIG. 6, the impedance means 74 is depicted in a substantially "hourglass" form. But the impedance means
74 may have various shapes and structures. For example, FIG.
14 to 14 show other shapes that the impedance means 74 can take. 9 and 10 show impedance means 74 having a substantially "W" shape, and FIGS. 11 and 12 show impedance means 74 having a substantially "Z" shape.
Are impedance means 74 having a substantially "S" shape.

The impedance means 74 increases the turbulence in the airflow and thus increases the resistance to the airflow. The shape and structure of the impedance means 74 determine the amount of air or the type of air flow that can pass through the communication chamber 58 at a given time. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, FIGS.
The "hourglass" shaped impedance means of FIG. 6 has the least resistance to airflow, and the "S" type impedance means of FIGS. 13-14 has the greatest resistance to airflow. Differently shaped impedance means create different types of airflow, and therefore have different cushioning degrees. That is, the degree of the cushion generated by the heel chamber 26 and the toe chamber 42 of the cushion member 10 is greatly affected by the structure of the impedance means 74. Therefore, by using different impedance means, it is possible to cope with various weights and various exercises. For example, it is possible to correspond to a walking pattern by using impedance means of a certain structure, and to correspond to a running pattern by using impedance means of another structure. Up to now, only a straight tube has been provided, which is a significant advance compared to known cushion devices which only obtain one kind or one size cushion.

The various structures of the impedance means of the present invention can be manufactured in the desired blow molding process described above. Therefore, it is not necessary to attach complicated and expensive valve means to the cushion member 10, and it is important that the shape of the impedance means 74 can be formed by the same mold that forms the rest of the cushion member 10.

As described above, depending on the shape of the impedance means 74, the flow rate of air in the cushion member 10 and its properties are:
In particular, the flow rate between the heel chamber 26 and the toe chamber 42 of the cushion member is affected. fundamentally,
There are three approved airflows: "laminar", "transitional", and "turbulent". (But often, ignoring transitional flows, only laminar and turbulent flows are taken up.) Laminar air flows smoothly with no noticeable variation in velocity. When the air flow becomes irregular, the air flow is basically laminar, but transitions to a transitional flow stage where an irregular burst of fast flow occurs. In turbulent flow, the nearly regular movement of the laminar air flow is disturbed, the air flow enters a transition state, becomes "dense", and turbulent movement occurs in the air flow.
That is, it becomes turbulent. In a turbulent phase of air flow called turbulence, disturbances such as shear force, impact force, and viscous force occur.

Embodiments of the present invention assume different flow characteristics. These characteristics affect the performance of the cushion member 10. For example, if the "hourglass" embodiment of the impedance means as shown in FIG.
If mm x 4.76 mm, the Reynolds number from the heel chamber to the toe chamber is about 1451. This means laminar flow. If the cross-sectional area of the same embodiment of the impedance means is 1.5 mm x 3.00 mm, the Reynolds number is about 2651 and the flow will be called a transition flow. According to the intent of the above calculations, the Reynolds number is Re = VρD / μ,
Where V is the fluid velocity, ρ is the fluid density, D is the equivalent diameter of the flow region, and μ is the kinetic viscosity of air. The equivalent diameter is
It is the diameter of a circular tube having the same area as the rectangular tube of the embodiment of the present invention. The above calculation (assuming no shear force,
Assume that the heel hits a perfectly horizontal surface. ) The numbers displayed are expressions of what has happened in this system and should not be considered to be exact numerical solutions.

The description will be made with reference to the drawings. As previously indicated, the cushion member 10 is formed of a material having a suitable elasticity so that the heel chamber 26 and the toe chamber 42 can expand and contract. The communication chamber 58 is desirably formed of the same material as the chambers located on opposite sides of the two opposing ends thereof, and the communication chamber 58 does not expand or contract itself or substantially restricts it. Such a configuration is desirable. Such an arrangement is preferably achieved by creating a communication chamber 58 and, in particular, an impedance means 74 having a smaller cross-sectional area than the heel chamber 26 and the toe chamber 42.

The differences in the cross-sectional areas of these elements will become apparent by reference to the drawings. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the width d6 of the communication chamber 58 is smaller than the widths d1 and d2 of the heel chamber 26 and the toe chamber 42. Further, the width of the impedance means 74 is smaller than the width d6 of the remaining portion of the communication chamber 58. As can be seen from FIG.
The longitudinal height d5 is shorter than the longitudinal heights d3, d4 of the heel chamber 26 and the toe chamber 42. In FIG. 2, the communication chamber 58 has a longitudinal height that is substantially uniform over its entire length, but the longitudinal height of the impedance means 74 is shorter than the longitudinal height of the remaining portion of the communication chamber 58. Good.

The difference in the cross-sectional area of each element described above can be confirmed by looking at FIGS. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6, showing the average cross-sectional area of the communication chamber 58 separated from the impedance means 74. 8, 10, 10
11, FIG. 14 clearly shows that, regardless of what embodiment of the impedance means 74 is used, the average cross section of the impedance means 74 is smaller than the average cross section of the rest of the communication chamber 58. Have been.

By reducing the cross-sectional area structure, the communication chamber 58
The rigidity of the impedance means 74 increases, and the elasticity of these elements decreases. Further, the rigidity of the communication chamber 58 is ensured by making the wall of the communication chamber 58 thicker than the wall of the rest of the cushion member 10. For example, one possible configuration is a heel chamber 26
The wall of the toe chamber 42 is set to approximately 1.5 mm, and the wall of the communication chamber 58 is set to 2.5 mm.

FIG. 5 shows one possible way of mounting the cushion member 10 in a shoe. FIG.
7 is an exploded view of the cushion member 10 placed between the cushion member 88 and the edge of the midsole, in other words, between the cradle 104. FIG. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the cushioning member 88 is a sock liner.
Part of 89, cradle 10 forms a midsole.

The sock liner 89 includes a toe region 97, an arch support region 94, and a heel region 96. The outer peripheral wall 98 extends upward from a part of the foot support surface 90 and forms an outer peripheral portion thereof. The lower surface of the sock liner 89 forms a buffer surface of the buffer unit 88. The buffer 88 is a hard “plate” placed between the cushion member 10 and the foot of the wearer.
Has a role. The buffer portion 88 is desirably formed of a material having a hardness of Shore A75-95 or Shore C55-75. EVA, PU, polypropylene, polyethylene, PVC, PFT, fiberboard, and other thermoplastic materials having the above hardness range can be used as the constituent material of the buffer section 88. The relatively hard material serves as a buffer against the kicking of the foot against impact, preventing the foot from hitting the center of the cushion member 10 with a strong impact, dispersing the impact force evenly on the cushion member 10, and reducing the local pressure. Decrease.
Although the cushion 88 is shown in FIG. 5 as forming part of a sock liner, it performs the cushion function described above, including some of the midsole, outsole, insole, or a combination of these elements. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that either structure can alternatively be used to make the buffer. Indeed, it is desirable that the buffer 88 use a “plate” that is integrated with the cradle 104 of the present invention.
This is described below.

The cushion member according to the present invention is used below the buffer 88 of FIG. The cushion member of FIG. 5 is somewhat different from that of FIG. For example, the cushion member 10 of FIG.
It does not directly contribute to its cushioning effect, and does not use a locator flange that must be completely voluntarily employed. Further, the structure of the partition 34 having the direction of FIG. 5 is different from that of FIG. In the embodiment of FIG.
The directional divider 34 is made up of long independent walls formed by grooves in the first surface 12 and the second surface 12 of the heel chamber 26 and toe chamber 42. (See, for example, FIGS. 4 and 4A.) Conversely, in FIG. 5, only the toe chamber 42 is provided with a partition 34 having two independent directions. The partition 34 having each direction comprises a short wall formed by small indentations provided in the first surface 12 and the second surface 14 of the toe chamber 42. (For example, figure
5A) As shown in FIG. 5, below the cushion member 10,
There is a cradle 104 that forms a midsole. To most effectively supplement the footing function, the cushion member 10 is stiffer than the cushion member 10 and responsive to a midsole or similar structure that acts to "carry" the cushion member 10. It is known that it is desirable to form a central part of the cushioning action. The midsole 104 has an upper surface 106 that includes a toe portion 118, a toe portion 120, an arch or central portion 122, and a rear portion 124. A locator flange receiving means 100 may be provided on the upper surface of the midsole 104. (See FIG. 15) The outer sidewall 126 extends around an inner portion 128 (not shown) and an outer portion 130 of the midsole 104. Pattern 132
Is provided on the outer side wall 126 similarly to the outsole engagement notch 134. The outer side wall 126 may be structured so that the cushion member 10 can be seen from outside the shoe.

The cavity 138 is provided in the midsole 104 and formed to extend from the upper surface to the lower surface. Cavity 138
Extends from the rear portion 124 of the midsole 104 to the toe portion 120 and has an inner side wall 142 in the midsole 104 that is substantially identical to the outer shape of the outer peripheral edge 24 of the cushion member 10.
Is formed.

The stabilizing outer edge 144 protrudes from a portion of the upper surface 106 of the midsole 104 and covers the outer periphery thereof. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the cushion member 10 enters the cavity of the midsole 104 with the outer peripheral edge 24 of the cushion member 10 contacting substantially the entire outer periphery of the inner side wall 142 formed by the cavity 138. When the cushion member 10 is inserted into the cavity 138, the upper surface 106 of the midsole 104 forms substantially the same plane as the cushion member. However, in order to improve the cushioning effect of the cushion member 10, it is desirable that the heel chamber 26 and the toe chamber 42 project slightly above the upper surface of the midsole 104. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the cushion member is disposed on the midsole. However, the cushion member may be disposed in the cavity of the outsole or the insole, or may be provided in the upper (upper). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that they may be located in the upper side of the shoe, as in

To fully understand the cushioning effect of the present invention, the operation of the present invention will be described in detail. As already mentioned, the cushion member 10 is used in footwear (not shown). At rest, the wearer's foot is properly cushioned by the cushion member 10. As the wearer goes one step further, the heel area of the footwear
First contact the ground or other support surface. At this time, the heel chamber 26 of the cushion member 10 depends on the weight of the wearer.
, A downward pressure is applied to the first portion 12 of the heel chamber 26 and pressed downward toward the second portion 14. When the heel chamber 26 is compressed, the air inside is pushed forward and the toe chamber passes through the communication chamber 58.
Sent to 42. The speed of the air moving between the chambers is affected by the structure of the communication chamber 58, especially the structure of the impedance means 74.

As the air passes through the communication chambers 58, the ridges 68 serve to increase turbulence in the airflow. As the air passes through the impedance means 74, it further increases the turbulence in the airflow. As described above, the state and the degree to which the turbulence increases are factors of the shape of the impedance means 74. In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 8, basically air flows straight through the reduced cross-sectional area of the impedance means 74. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a portion of the air is formed by the resistive wall and is directed straight through the narrow communication channel adjoining it, while the other portion of the air is It is formed by 78 and is guided to the branch channel adjoining it. It will be appreciated that this configuration increases turbulence in the airflow, as in the "hourglass" configuration described earlier.

In the embodiment of the impedance means disclosed in FIGS. 11 to 14, the air flow is substantially reversed in direction while passing through the communication channel. In the embodiment of FIGS. 11-12, turbulence in the air stream is further increased by passing through an air circular rotary. In the embodiment of FIGS. 13-14, the air flow hits a resistive wall 78 that includes several right angles, and the turbulence in the air flow to pass through the substantially rectangular opening is further increased. It will be appreciated that of the illustrated embodiments, the embodiment of FIGS. 13-14 provides the greatest resistance to airflow.

The flow of air flowing into the toe chamber 42 causes the toe or midfoot region of the foot to be somewhat elevated to inflate the toe chamber 42. As the toe chamber 42 expands, its first portion 12 and second portion 14 assume a somewhat convex shape. When the wearer's toe reaches the ground, the inflated toe chamber 42 helps mitigate the corresponding impact force. When the weight of the wearer is on the toes, the downward pressure created by the impact force causes the toe chamber 42 to contract,
Air in the toe chamber 42 is sent through the communication chamber 58 to the rear heel chamber 26. Again,
The speed at which air flows from the toe chamber 42 to the heel chamber 26 is determined by the structure of the impedance means 74. As the toes move off the ground, no downward pressure is applied to the footwear, and the air in the cushion member 10 returns to its normal shape. The next time the heel hits the ground, the process described above is repeated.

From the above description, that the cushion member of the present invention performs a variable, non-static cushioning operation, that is, that the air flow in the cushion member 10 supplements the natural biomechanics in carrying each person. Will be understood.

Normally, the "kick heel" phase of the stride produces a greater impact force than in the "toe off-ground" phase, so that the flow from the heel chamber 26 to the heel chamber 26 rather than from the toe chamber 42 to the heel chamber 26. It is expected that air will flow faster when flowing to 42. Similarly, higher impact forces are usually generated when running than when walking.
Therefore, it is expected that the airflow between the chambers will be faster and the turbulence will be greater during running than during walking.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The description is not exhaustive and is not intended to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obviously, various modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, cushion members,
In particular, the heel chamber, toe chamber, and communication chamber need not be shaped as shown. Other shaped chambers will work equally well. One variation would be to configure the side walls of the heel and toe chambers to have bellows to further improve the lower deflection of the chamber. Furthermore, there is no need for a specific toe chamber, heel chamber, or communication chamber. For example, all three chambers could be mounted in the toe area. Also, the impedance means could control the airflow between chambers located on opposite sides.

It will also be understood from FIGS. 1 and 5 that the cushion member 10 is an insert that can be located in different areas of the footwear. Therefore, the cushion member 10 is
In the midsole is inserted, but the cushion member
It will be appreciated that the 10 can be easily placed in a cavity in the outsole or insole, or in a sock liner in the upper. Also, when provided in the outsole, the cushion member will be visible from outside the shoe. It is further understood that the cushion member 10 is in-sorted, so that the shoe in which the cushion member 10 is used can be easily removed by the cushion member 10 and another cushion member can be easily used instead. Different cushioning members can be accommodated depending on the physical characteristics of the user and / or the type of activity in which the shoe is used.

Further, FIG. 5 shows that the buffer 88 is formed as a part of a sock liner, but the buffer 88 is a relatively hard “plate” disposed on the cushion member 10. May be formed. Actually, the buffer 88 and the cradle 104
Are desirably integrated with each other, in other words, in a single body. Figures 17-19 each show a possible structure of this embodiment. 17-19 show that the cushion 88 is integral with or has an upper surface 106 on the cradle, ie, the upper surface 106 of the midsole 104. FIG. Therefore, in this case, instead of forming a complete cavity inside the midsole 104, the buffer 88
It serves to form a partial cavity or reservoir-like space 139 in the bottom surface 140 of 104. The cushion 88 further includes a midsole 10 adjacent the toe and heel areas.
4 serves to create a slightly raised area within the upper surface 106. Partial cavity, i.e., reservoir-like space 139
Is the first, ie, the heel chamber receiving area 146, the second
, And a third or communicating chamber receiving region 150. The reservoir-like space 139 accommodates the cushion member 10 of the present invention. As with the complete cavity 138, a partial cavity or reservoir-like space 139 forms an interior sidewall 142 within the midsole 104. In the present embodiment, the upper surface of the outsole of the shoe preferably includes a small recess that houses the communication chamber 58, in other words, a cavity. It will be appreciated that the integrated cushioning and cradle structure is relatively easy to manufacture and that the simplicity of the invention is increased by eliminating the need for additional cushioning means such as a sockliner.

As already mentioned, a partition 34 having a direction can be provided on the cushion member 10. However, it is not necessary to provide. If provided, a divider with direction 34
Can work to correct the problem of pronation in the foot, the natural tendency of the foot to turn in due to impact on the heel. In a typical running cycle, the main distribution of force on the foot begins near the outside of the heel in the "heel kick" phase of footing, moves toward the central axis of the foot in the arch area, and Move to the inside of the toe area in the "toe away" phase. A directional divider 34 can be provided on the cushion member 10 so that the air flow within the cushion member 10 can supplement such a running cycle. 1, 4A and 5A, the partition 34 having an orientation within the toe chamber 42 essentially divides the chamber into two regions, an inner metatarsal region 54 and an outer metatarsal region 56. That said. Partition with direction when air is pushed into toe chamber 42
34 directs most of the air to the inner metatarsal area 54, the area where most of the impact occurs. Similarly, when air is forced into the heel chamber 26, the heel chamber
A partition 34 having an orientation within 26 serves to first allow air to enter outer heel region 38. This is because this area is the area that receives the greatest impact when kicking the heel.

It is easily understood that, besides the above-mentioned changes, the number of chambers of the cushion member 10 can also be changed.
For example, as shown in FIG.
4, the second heel chamber 156, the second communication chamber 158
Can be provided. As a result, the cushion member 10
Has two cushion systems, which work independently of each other. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 21, a number of mutually continuous cushion chambers can be provided. In the embodiment of FIG. 21, the cushion member 10 is
A "multi-stage" cushion is provided. In this case, the different chambers sequentially compress during the run cycle.

Another embodiment has valve means adjacent to the communication chamber 58 so that the flow rate can be adjusted. Figure
In another embodiment shown in FIG. 21, the cushion member 10 is provided with at least two communication chambers, each having one check valve 160. The check valves 160 each have only clamping means formed in the communication chamber. In such a configuration, each communication chamber is a one-way chamber, and air flows only in one direction. FIG.
In such an embodiment, fluid is passed from the heel chamber 26 to the toe chamber 42 through the first communication chamber 58.
And from the toe chamber 42 to the heel chamber 26 through the second communication chamber 158. The airflow of this embodiment can be flowed in the same manner as the exemplary running cycle described above. Further, one of the communicating chambers includes impedance means for causing a laminar flow of air, and the other chamber includes impedance means for causing turbulent air flow.

Although three types of impedance means are shown in the figure, other shapes could support the cushion member of the present invention and provide a cushion function. The shape of the impedance means 74 affects the flow velocity of the air moving in the cushion member 10, and thus also affects the Reynolds number of the air flow in the cushion member 10. As already mentioned, the Reynolds number based on the Reynolds transport theorem is a means for determining which aspects or types of airflow are present in a particular system. The Reynolds number is a unitless number by which the "value" of the airflow is compared to a predetermined number to determine what aspect of the airflow is in a system. In a flowing tube,
Air flows with Reynolds numbers below 2100 constitute laminar flow. Here, the Reynolds number is determined by Re = VρD / μ. Air flows with Reynolds numbers between 2100 and 4000 are generally considered to be transitional, and above 4000 are considered turbulent.

The mass flow of air in the cushion member of the present invention depends on the speed at which the heel kicks (when air flows from the heel chamber to the toe chamber). further,
The size and structure of the impedance means of the present invention directly affects the impact force generated by air moving through the chamber of the cushion member. At a given flow rate, the size and configuration of the impedance means has a significant effect on the velocity of the air as it passes through the impedance means. In particular, the smaller the cross-sectional area of the impedance means, the greater the impact force felt in the toe and heel chambers, but at the same time, the higher the velocity of the air flow.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the surrounding air is filled in the cushion member 10. However, in another embodiment of the present invention, pressurized air is
Is filled. For example, a slight pressure (1-4 psi) can be introduced into the cushion member 10 when sealing the cushion member 10 to keep the toe chamber 42 and the heel chamber 26 slightly convex. Further, a fluid medium such as another liquid and a gas of other molecules is added to the cushion member 10.
It will be appreciated that the desired support and cushion can be obtained. If a flow medium other than ambient air is used, the structure of the impedance means can be modified to effectively exhibit the desired fluid flow properties.

Embodiments of the cushion member of the present invention are expected to have the greatest application when used in athletic shoes (ie, walking, hiking, running, aerobics, baseball, and other sports shoes). However, this cushion member is also suitable for use in shoes such as shoes for formal wear to give better cushioning properties.

The examples were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application. This is because we hope that others skilled in the art will best utilize the present invention in various embodiments, as well as by suitable special application variations that have been carefully considered.
The scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims.

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Smith, Stephen, F. United States, Mass. 02780 Townton, Maple Street 36 (72) Inventor Montross, Matthew. United States, Mass. 02158 Newton, Ida Terrace 11 (56) Reference Literature Japanese Utility Model Application Hei 4-27802 (JP, U) US Patent 4,446,634 (US, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A43B 13/00-13/42

Claims (28)

(57) [Claims] A sole member; a first member, a second member, a first member, and a second member. And a cushion member having an average cross-sectional area smaller than an average cross-sectional area of the first chamber and the second chamber; Impedance means for restricting the flow of air between the first and second chambers disposed by a predetermined shape and having a smaller average cross-sectional area than the rest of the communication chamber And; 2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said sole further comprises a midsole having a cavity, and wherein said cushion member is disposed in said cavity of said midsole. 3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said sole further comprises an outsole having a cavity, and wherein said cushion member is disposed in said cavity of said outsole. 4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said sole further comprises an insole having a cavity, and wherein said cushion member is disposed in said cavity of said insole. 5. The shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a sock liner having a cavity in the upper, wherein said cushion member is disposed in the cavity of said sock liner. 6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said cushion member is formed of a blow molded elastomeric material. 7. A cushioning member disposed on the cushion member for diffusing an impact force applied to the cushion member and supporting a wearer's foot.
Footwear. 8. The shoe of claim 7 wherein said cushioning member comprises a material having a hardness of Shore A75-95 or Shore C55-75. 9. The shoe according to claim 7, wherein said cushioning member and said sole are formed integrally with each other. 10. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises a heel and a toe, and wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are adjacent to the heel and the toe, respectively. 11. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a flexure groove provided on said second chamber. 12. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a partition provided in one of the first and second chambers for changing a direction of air flow within the cushion member. 13. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said impedance means is substantially hourglass shaped. 14. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said impedance means is substantially "Z" shaped. 15. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said impedance means is substantially "W" shaped. 16. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said impedance means is substantially "S" shaped. 17. The cushion member has an upper part and a lower part, and the upper part and the lower part are separated from each other so that the cushion member can be easily installed on a left shoe or a right shoe. 2. The footwear of claim 1 in a mirror image relationship. 18. A sole having a heel portion, an arch portion, and a toe portion; a hollow portion formed in the sole approximately from the heel portion to the toe portion; and a periphery in the hollow portion adjacent to the heel portion. An air-filled, impervious, resilient first chamber having an upper surface, a lower surface, an outer surface, and an inner surface; and in the cavity adjacent the toe. An opaque, resilient second chamber filled with ambient air, the second chamber having an upper surface, a lower surface, an outer surface, and an inner surface; and the cavity adjacent the arch portion. An impervious communication chamber filled with ambient air in the section, connecting the first chamber and the second chamber, the communication chamber having an upper surface, a lower surface, an outer surface, and an inner surface; Impedance means provided in the communication chamber and having an average cross-sectional area smaller than the average cross-sectional area of the remaining portion of the communication chamber, wherein the impedance means comprises an air flowing between the first and second chambers. A shoe that restricts flow according to a predetermined shape and provides the cushion with improved cushion by controlling the speed of air moving between the first and second chambers. 19. The shoe according to claim 18, wherein said cushion member is formed of a blow-molded elastomeric material. 20. The footwear of claim 18, wherein said impedance means increases the velocity and turbulence of air moving between said first and second chambers. 21. The communicator having a size and shape such that when downward pressure is applied to the first chamber due to the weight of a wearer, turbulence of air is generated between the first and second chambers. 19. The footwear of claim 18, wherein the chamber is formed. 22. The communication having a size and shape such that when a downward pressure is applied to the first chamber due to the weight of a wearer, a laminar flow of air is generated between the first and second chambers. 19. The footwear of claim 18, wherein the chamber is formed. 23. The communication having a size and shape such that when a downward pressure is applied to the first chamber due to a weight of a wearer, a transitional flow of air is generated between the first and second chambers. 19. The footwear of claim 18, wherein the chamber is formed. 24. The shoe of claim 18, further comprising ridges provided on said upper surface and said lower surface of said communication chamber. 25. The shoe of claim 18, wherein a vertical distance between said upper and lower surfaces of said second chamber is shorter than a vertical distance between said upper and lower surfaces of said first chamber. 26. A cushioning member provided on the cavity for diffusing an impact force applied to the cushion member and supporting a foot of a wearer.
Footwear. 27. The sole further comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the cavity is formed in a lower surface of the sole,
27. The shoe of claim 26, wherein said cushioning member forms an upper surface of said sole. 28. A sole, an elastic cushion member filled with pressurized air in the sole, comprising: a first chamber, a second chamber, the first chamber, and the second chamber. And a communication chamber for connecting
A cushion member having an average cross-sectional area smaller than an average cross-sectional area of the first chamber and the second chamber; and between the first chamber and the second chamber disposed in a communication chamber. Impedance means having a mean cross-sectional area smaller than the remainder of said communication chamber, wherein said impedance means restricts the air flow of said communication chamber by a predetermined shape.