JPS6014805A - Shoe sole of athletic shoes having pre-molded structure - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A variety of designs and materials have been used in the manufacture of athletic shoes with elastic soles. The sole and overall design of such athletic shoes is determined to a large extent by the particular athletic activity the user is to engage in while wearing the shoe. Activities that require a large amount of stopping and starting require a shoe that is very different from one designed for long sustained runs, and sports that require a large amount of turning require a different shoe design than either of these two. request shoes.

One factor that is beneficially varied in different shoe designs is the firmness or cushioning provided by the sole at various points under the user's foot. The amount of pressure applied to the sole varies even under a stationary foot, but it varies even more dramatically during the course of the user's stride. In order to provide maximum athletic effectiveness of the shoe and correct posture of the wearer, different parts of the foot must be able to provide different support forces. For example, runners generally tend to strike the ground with the valgus side of their heels first, imparting a sudden jolt to the runner's heels. For this reason, it may be desirable to locate a softer cushioning area in that part of the heel of the sole. However, when a runner completes their stride, many tend to roll inward on their heels, so it is preferable to have a stiffer support section along the valgus portion of the sole. .

In some shoes, in order to achieve beneficial variations in the stiffness of the sole of the UnriJJ shoe, different materials with varying hardness were dispersed throughout the sole, these are the material inserts into the sole. or including various additional layers of material located at various points. Such sole constructions require additional manufacturing steps and equipment, thus increasing manufacturing costs. It would be desirable to produce such a change in sole stiffness without requiring a series of complicated or lengthy procedures.

The present invention relates to an athletic shoe and sole comprising a preformed structure having a plurality of dividing walls defining a forming chamber, the chamber being filled with a spongy elastic material having a hardness that varies throughout the sole unit. Provide units.

The stiffness of the elastic material in the vicinity of the preformed structure dividing wall is greater than the stiffness of the material in zones far from the structure dividing wall.The athletic shoe further includes a shoe sole bonded to the sole unit. .

The method of the present invention includes providing a mold for a molded sole unit and positioning within the mold a preformed structure having a plurality of dividing walls defining a molding chamber. An inflatable elastic material is introduced into the chamber and thereby into the chamber and into contact with the structure dividing wall, so that the shoe has a greater stiffness in the vicinity of the dividing wall than in zones further away from the dividing wall. form the bottom unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG.
The sports shoe 1 includes a shoe insert 2 joined to an inner sole 4, an intermediate sole 6 and an outer sole 8.

If desired, the shoe 1 can also include a wedge 10 arranged between the midsole 6 and the outsole 8 or between the inner sole 4 and the midsole 6.

The midsole 6 includes a preformed structure shown in FIG. The preformed structure is composed of a number of dividing walls η, which can be joined into a single unit if desired. dividing wall n
defines a plurality of chambers M, which chambers can have a variety of configurations determined by the orientation and position of the dividing wall 22, thereby providing a predetermined stiffness pattern to accommodate a particular physiological stability. can be achieved. As shown in FIG. 1, the preformed structure has an upright peripheral wall forming an outer edge 2.
It has 6. A large number of tigts material dividing walls n join the outer R2G to form a lattice of Sae Komuro.

Preferably, the chamber is not a closed chamber with a dividing wall 22 completely surrounding the chamber, but the chamber has at least one open side to facilitate the passage of material into the chamber.

A foamed or spongy elastic material 40 is molded around the structure nodule, thereby filling the chamber and contacting the dividing wall n. The chamber is open and the spongy material is 40°C.
is injected into the mold and allowed to flow through the structure dividing walls. However, in some cases it may be preferable for the structure to have dividing walls ρ that define closed compartments.

The closed chamber structure has an air chamber completely surrounded by a dividing wall, so that when such a closed chamber structure is injection molded, the closed chamber is not filled, but with air distributed over the intermediate bottom 6. A pocket is left behind. In still other cases, it is preferred to fill only some of the chambers with material 40, either by reducing the amount of material 40 injected into the mold or by pond production means.

Although the elastic material 40 is essentially a material of uniform composition and density before being molded around the structure, the material 40
Minor differences exist due to manufacturing and processing.

However, after molding around the preformed structure m,
The elastic material 40 develops a variable hardness or density throughout the midsole 6. Specifically, the elastic material in the zone 42 closest to the structure dividing wall develops a greater stiffness or hardness than that in the zone material farther from the dividing wall.

Although there is no complete scientific explanation for this,
The result is that the non-proximal zone 44 is softer and provides greater cushioning against impact. This creates an intermediate sole 6 with a controllably varying stiffness or cushioning effect throughout, determined by the pattern (including position and orientation) of the dividing walls.

Preferably, the preformed structure has a concentration of dividing walls n in certain zones, so that the elastic material 40 has a higher durometer hardness in those zones and was previously in that position. Provides more support for some users' feet.

This concentration of dividing walls can be induced by an increase in the number of dividing walls in the zone or by the shape of the dividing wall provided in zone four. Various embodiments of preformed structure 20
4-8, which show variations in the form and number of dividing walls 22 provided in the intermediate sole 6. Figure 3 shows a concentration zone adjacent to a zone of lower concentration. Concentrated zone attack is generated by increasing the number of dividing walls and cruciform grid configuration. As you can see from the drawing, dividing wall n
are oriented in a vertical upright direction in Figure 1.4;
6. In figure 8 they are arranged diagonally and in figure 7 they are crossed,
or any combination of the above. dividing wall n
It is not necessary that the structure extend over a wide range from one side of the structure to the other or from top to bottom. The dividing wall n extends partially between the sides or between the top and bottom of the structure. The dividing wall 22 may also have an interrupted surface, such as a sieve-like surface, a par or interlacing strip or filament.

The preformed structure can be manufactured from a variety of materials formed into a self-supporting configuration. For example, graphite, boron or E, I, du Fontde Nem
Other composite fibers, such as those commercially available from ours ξ0 under the trademark -Kevlar, are bonded into sheets and laminated into molded structures by known techniques.

Structure m may also be made from polymer or other plastic or rubber materials that are injection molded or otherwise formed into molded structures by known techniques.

An important characteristic of the material of construction is the variable hardness characteristic described in footwear combinations.

The elastic material 40 is preferably an injection molded material such as polyurethane, polyethyl vinyl alcohol or other similar stretchable elastic material to form a spongy or foamed porous product that provides a cushioning layer. It is a polymer material. Although it is not possible to fully explain scientifically what happens during the injection of the expandable material into the preformed structure, the elastic material 40 solidifies rapidly when it comes into contact with the dividing wall n. It is believed to create a skin in that area, thereby locally reducing the expansion and increasing the density and hardness of the material there. It is believed that the molding material also conducts heat away from the material in contact with it, causing the more elastic material to harden faster in the zone closer to the structure m, increasing its hardness. This explanation does not exclude the possibility of certain chemical reactions and/or other physical effects.

In the above-described method of making a shoe sole or a shoe sole including the same, Kll! A preformed structure is provided.

The preformed structure is placed in a mold cavity, such as is commonly used in injection molding, as shown in FIG. The preformed structure m should be oriented to allow flow of elastic material around it and into the cell row.

The upper radius 52 defines a cavity 56 of the desired configuration.
and has a lower radius opening. After placing the structure part between the cavities, the elastic material 40 is inserted through the injection bow 58 m, 5
Q, the material 40 enters the chamber, contacts the dividing wall n and flows into other parts of the chamber. The foam material 40 is cured to produce an intermediate sole 6 having a hardness that is controllably varied throughout. If the entire sole is molded as an integral member by the method described above, it is only necessary to bond it to the sole 2.

If the entire sole is not molded as a single piece, but as a separate midsole with structural additions, the midsole 6 is then joined to the inner sole 4, outsole 8, as shown in FIG. and is joined with the wedge 10.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the stiffness of the sole can be increased in specific zones by varying the form of the preformed structure in order to design the sole of the present invention with properties adapted to a particular application. Will. By increasing the concentration of surfaces in these zones or by providing surfaces only in these zones, one skilled in the art can create the desired sole. Production is fast and efficient because the preformed structure can be made into the desired shape from a single material. Elastic material 40 is a homogeneous material that is easily injected throughout the sole. This method avoids multiple cutting and inserting steps to place materials of different hardness in the sole and provides a fast and efficient manufacturing method. If desired, an outer edge can provide the outer surface of the midsole 6 for covering and retaining the foam material so that the outer pattern can be placed on the sole during the initial structure forming process. .

The invention allows a very gradual change in the stiffness of the sole. In contrast, prior art techniques for manufacturing shoes that vary the hardness of the sole by the inclusion of different materials with varying hardnesses produce a smooth transition from softer areas to areas with higher inurometer hardness. requires a large number of inserts of slightly varying durometer hardness. In fact, even with multiple inserts with small changes in stiffness, soles that utilize such inserts to produce a change in stiffness will experience a step-like increase in stiffness.

The stiffness of the sole can also be varied by a combination of the molding methods and preformed structure materials described above.

Material stiffness, orientation and material thickness affect its compressive strength. For example, if the structure is made from a relatively hard or rigid material, stiffness may be imparted to the sole by the combination of the stiffening material and the dividing wall. If it is desired that the dividing wall n serve the dual function of imparting stiffness to the sole and producing stiffness to the elastic material 40, the orientation of the dividing wall n may be varied to achieve the desired result. sell. For example, the diagonal wall shown in FIG. 8 prevents compression in a direction parallel to it while allowing compression in a direction perpendicular to it. (Thus, the present invention takes into account the inclusion of compression-resistant fibers and does not require multiple insertions of separate elements. If desired, most or all of the increased stiffness of the sole can be provided by structural additions. It is given by 5.

As can be seen from the foregoing description, the present invention contemplates at least three control variables that can be used and/or in combination or triples to obtain the desired functional aspects of the shoe. or can be changed. These three variables are the material of the dividing wall, the design of the dividing wall, and the elastic material 4o.
type and/or composition and properties, such as durometer hardness.

Accordingly, with this invention a relatively sophisticated and specialized sports shoe support can be achieved in manufacture. These can meet the physiological requirements determined by analysis and accomplished by proper placement and orientation of the dividing walls prior to injection molding.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is of a preferred embodiment and that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the 4M spirit or concept of the invention as disclosed.

The invention is defined by the claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preformed structure embodying the invention before being filled with an elastic material. FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a sole unit of an athletic shoe embodying the present invention, showing the shoes in virtual form. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a mold embodying the present invention in which a preformed structure is placed before the introduction of elastic material. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a sole unit implementing the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of another sole unit embodying the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of another sole unit embodying the present invention. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of another sole unit embodying the present invention. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of another sole unit embodying the present invention. l・-Athletic shoes 2...Chinese shoes 4...Inner sole 6...Intermediate sole 8...Outsole 10...Wedge addition...Preformed structure n...Dividing wall... - Komuro A...Outer edge feather...Concentrated zone 40--Foamed elastic material 42--Hard zone -Soft zone■...Mold

Claims (1)

Claims: l A preformed structure having a plurality of dividing walls defining a forming chamber, said chamber having a first zone remote from said dividing walls and a first zone further away from said first zone. a second zone closer to the dividing wall; the chamber has a greater hardness in the first zone closer to the dividing wall than in the second zone farther from the dividing wall; 2. A sole for an athletic shoe comprising: i a cotton-like elastic material therein. 2. The sole of claim 1, wherein said preformed structure has a plurality of said first and second zones. Sole. 3. Said greater stiffness is caused in part by said dividing wall and caused in part by said greater stiffness of said elastic material in said second closer zone. 4. The sole of claim M1, wherein the preformed structure has a zone of upright dividing walls and a zone of diagonal dividing walls. 5. 6. A sole according to claim 1, having a gradual hardness transition from the zone to the second zone; The zone is a selectively shaped chamber portion defined by a dividing wall and has a stiffer area adjacent to the dividing wall and less at a distance from the dividing wall. Sole for athletic shoes, characterized by having inside it a spongy elastic polymeric material characterized by hardness.7 Soles for athletic shoes having defined zones of different hardness to suit physiological requirements. A method of manufacturing a shoe sole comprising: arranging a plurality of partition walls defining a plurality of forming cells in a Ptr-defined pattern; introducing a flowable elastic polymeric material into the cells; holding a first portion in contact with the dividing wall and another portion spaced apart from the dividing wall, and curing the polymeric material to a point where the first hardened portion is greater than the other hardened portion. 8. Providing a mold for a molded shoe sole; Preforming a preformed structure having a plurality of walls defining a molding chamber; placing an expandable elastic material in the mold; introducing an expandable elastic material into the chamber 3 and the opening to bring the elastic material into contact with the dividing wall; curing the elastic material; A method for manufacturing a sole for athletic shoes, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: producing a sole having greater hardness in a zone closer to the dividing wall than in a zone farther away from the dividing wall; 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the produced sole is an intermediate sole and includes the step of joining the intermediate sole to an outsole and a shoe insert. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of introducing includes introducing an elastic material having a substantially uniform density throughout the mold. 11. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of providing includes providing a preformed structure having zones of varying concentration of said dividing walls. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of providing includes providing a preformed structure having zones of upright dividing walls and diagonal dividing walls.