RU2294680C2 - Sole - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: sole for sportive shoes, in particular.

SUBSTANCE: sole is tangentially deformed for at least 20% of its deformable thickness and becomes substantially hard with respect to tangential deformation only after at least one critical deformation in zone deformed to such extent. Critical deformation is reached only after passage of tangential and/or perpendicular deformation path which exceeds 20% of its deformable thickness. This path may exceed even more than 50% of this thickness. Sole is sufficiently soft and pliable in tangential direction too. This feature allows runner to reach stability in any point of stepping by foot or loading it. Runner may spring again from loading point without path loss. Sole may be detachably attached as integral part or as a plurality of parts to intermediate shoe sole.

EFFECT: simplified construction, elimination of floating effect, and improved deformability properties of shoes using such sole.

14 cl, 20 dwg

Description

The present invention relates to soles, in particular for athletic shoes, with the ability to elastic deformation in the tangential direction.

Here, deformability in the tangential direction should be understood to mean, for example, a deformability caused by a shift in the direction tangential or parallel to the planar extent of the sole or its running surface. Compared with this, it is necessary to distinguish, for example, deformations caused by compression in a direction perpendicular to the planar extent of the sole or its running surface. On a horizontal base, the tangential direction approximately coincides with the horizontal, and the perpendicular direction approximately coincides with the vertical.

Sports shoes with resilient soles are known in large numbers and in a wide variety of embodiments, using a wide variety of elastic materials with varying stiffness values. Soles with embedded air and gel cushioning pads are also known. They should dampen the loads arising during the run and thereby protect the runner’s motor apparatus, especially his joints, and create a pleasant feeling of running.

Most commercially available sports sneakers for sale have elastic characteristics that provide damping mainly in the vertical direction or in the direction perpendicular to the running surface, while compressing the soles, which in the horizontal or tangential direction, however, are relatively stiff and in this regard, if you advance with a bevel or with some shift, they are not flexible enough. The latter could have its cause, among other things, in that a large degree of deformability of the sole in the horizontal direction would inevitably cause an effect such as “swimming”, which would negatively affect the stability and stability of the runner. At the very least, the runner would lose a certain stretch of the path with each step, since the sole would deformed in the opposite direction when pushing away from the point of attack in the desired direction of movement. To a certain extent, this “swimming” effect naturally already manifests itself in well-known sneakers.

An object of the present invention is to provide a sole which, under the conditions of eliminating the above-described “swimming” effect with a simple structure, can be made quite soft and pliable and in a tangential direction.

This problem in the sole, in particular for sports shoes, with elastic deformability also in the tangential direction, is solved according to the invention in that it is tangentially deformable by at least 20% of its deformable thickness and becomes essentially rigid with respect to to tangential deformation only after at least one critical deformation in the region deformed to such an extent, and critical deformation is achieved only after passing the tangential and / or perpendicular Uchi deformation which exceeds 20% of its deformable thickness, in particular even more than 50% of this thickness.

The sole contains two layers, separated, in particular, by an elastically deformable element, and the said element with a sufficiently large deformation provides the possibility of mutual contact with the frictional, force or geometric closure of both layers.

The sole is provided with at least one elastically deformable hollow element with one or more cavities.

The hollow member includes a tubular shaped deformable member.

In the longitudinal direction of the sole, a plurality of hollow elements are arranged one after another.

The hollow element contains two outer layers, which, when many cavities are formed, are connected to each other by deformable bridges.

The hollow element contains at least one cavity filled with fluid.

The hollow element contains at least one cavity filled with a fluid that is elastically deformed when the fluid contained in it is compressed.

A fluid-filled cavity may be filled at a pressure in excess of ambient pressure.

The sole as a whole or, in the case of separation into many parts, at least in one of its parts (3, 3 ') is equipped with means for detachable fixation on the intermediate sole of the shoe.

The sole is made up of many parts, and that the individual parts can be removably attached optionally at different places and / or with the formation of various patterns on the midsole.

The sole is made of many parts, and that at least two of its parts have a different shape and / or different elasticity.

Detachable locking means include a part of the velcro fastener, and the midsole is provided with a mating part of this velcro fastener.

The means include a hooked portion of the velcro.

With the appropriate choice of at least one critical deformation, as well as the sole load necessary for this, with appropriate stiffness or compliance, it can be achieved that the sole according to the invention, above a wide deformation range, is soft and pliable in the tangential direction, and critical deformation when running, it is locally limited only in the corresponding maximally loaded zone of the sole, and is also temporarily achieved only around the maximum load.

Thus, on the one hand, sufficient springing is achieved even when approaching with a bevel or with some shift, and on the other hand, also a stable position at the corresponding point of attack or loading, from which the runner can directly push off again without losing a path. The described effect of "swimming" is thereby overcome.

It is clear that, depending on the design features, the critical deformation at which the tangential deformability of the sole according to the invention becomes “frozen”, so to speak, may depend on the type of deformation. The deformation also does not have to be only tangential. Critical deformation can also be achieved with a purely perpendicular or vertical deformation.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, critical deformation is achieved only after passing a tangential and / or perpendicular deformation path that exceeds 20% of the deformable sole thickness, and if necessary exceeds 50% of this thickness. In absolute value, this can be several cm.

In a structural or material-technical aspect, the solution according to the invention can in principle be implemented in a wide variety of ways. Various examples of this are described below with reference to the drawings. As preferred embodiments, it should be noted only those in which, for example, two layers of the sole are separated by a particularly resiliently deformable element, and the deformable element with a sufficiently large deformation provides the possibility of mutual contact with the frictional, force or geometric closure of both layers and to a large extent suppressing the possibility of a parallel shift of both layers.

In a further development of the invention, the sole may be provided with means for removably attaching to the shoe substrate. If the sole is made up of several parts, its individual parts can be attached independently from each other and / or, for example, when worn, can be replaced individually. At the same time, variously made parts can be made available and / or individual samples can be made that are specially adapted to the respective needs and running style of a particular runner.

The invention is explained below in more detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated by the drawings, in which the following is shown.

Figure 1 is a side view of a shoe with a sole made according to the first embodiment of the invention, namely, in the following conditions: a) without load, b) under load with a bevel forward, c) when repelled.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the sneakers of figure 1, namely: a) in an unloaded state; b) under load with a side bevel.

Figure 3 - hollow sole elements of figure 1 in the corresponding representation, namely: a) in an unloaded condition; b) under load with a bevel forward and c) under vertical load.

Figure 4 is a side view of another embodiment of the sole according to the invention with tubular hollow elements between two layers, namely: a) in an unloaded condition and b) under load with a bevel forward.

5 is a side view of another embodiment of the sole according to the invention, divided into a cushion and a heel, each of two layers connected by deformable jumpers, namely: a) in an unloaded condition and b) under load with a bevel forward.

6 is a sole according to the invention with a closed volume filled with medium.

7 is a side view, partially in section, of another sole according to the invention, which is provided with teeth.

Fig. 8 shows the shoe of Fig. 1, in which, according to a further development of the invention, parts of the sole are removably fixed or can be fixed on the intermediate sole.

Fig.9 is a rear view of the sneakers of Fig.8, namely: a) and b) with a different number of parts of the sole placed in a removable manner next to each other.

Figure 10 - hollow element, modified relative to the hollow element of figure 3, for the sole according to the invention.

11 is another embodiment of a separate sole element for use in the sole according to the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, an embodiment is first described, which, although not necessarily preferable, however, with the example of which the essence of the invention is clearly illustrated.

1 shows a shoe 2 provided with a sole 1 according to the invention. The sole 1 is formed by a plurality of profiled hollow elements 3, which contain tubes 3.1 and are fixed by molded jumpers 3.2 on the underside of the substrate 4 of the sneakers 1, for example, by gluing. The hollow elements 3 are made of a material similar to rubber, which, with the stresses arising during running, can at least partially elastically deform. The material also preferably has a high adhesion friction with respect to other materials, but especially with respect to itself. Many hollow elements 3 are placed one after another in the longitudinal direction of the shoe 2, and a gap is left in the region between the cushion and the heel. Hollow elements 3 can be placed along the entire corresponding width of the shoe 2. However, also, as shown in FIG. 2, two or more such hollow elements 3 can be placed on each side side by side.

If the shoe 2, as shown in Fig. 1b) and is shown by the loading arrow P1, for example, is loaded with a bevel forward when approaching, then after the initial elastic springing of the load with vertical and horizontal deformation of the tubular parts 3.1, with the corresponding dimensions of these parts, they are completely squeezing and, thus, frictional closure between their upper half-holes 3.1.1 and their lower half-holes 3.1.2 (see figure 3). Friction closure has such a high resistance to further horizontal deformation of the tubes 3.1 that it is practically possible only within the framework of the residual elasticity of the material and, therefore, in a very small volume. Therefore, the runner in this position and in this state of the sole 1 has a horizontally virtually non-movable connection with the surface 5, and thereby it is provided with a stable and reliable position.

In addition, the runner, as shown in Fig. 1c), from the position according to Fig. 2 for the next step may first push off, and he does not need to take into account the path loss, since due to the described frictional closure, the tubular parts 3.1 are not can be deformed horizontally to a noticeable extent in the direction that occurs when repulsing a new load indicated by arrow P2. The prerequisite for this, of course, is that between the onset and repulsion, the load on the deformed area of the sole remains, which, however, takes place during normal running.

In Fig.2 shows a rear view of the sneakers 2 of Fig.1, and in Fig.2a) in an unloaded state, and in Fig.2b) under load with a side bevel. And this can lead to squeezing of the tubular parts 3.1 of the hollow elements 3 with the creation of a frictional closure between their upper 3.1.1 and lower 3.1.2 half-hours, as a result of which the runner wearing the shoe 2 and in the transverse direction provides a stable and almost unstable connection to the surface 5 .

The above described embodiment is characterized by extremely large displacements during deformation, which may well be between more than 20% and even more than 50% between the unloaded state according to figa) and the state with frictional closure according to fig.1b). In the shoes according to Figs. 1 and 2, the runner is “like on the clouds”, but at the same time he has a reliable sense of position and constantly feels direct, firm and reliable contact with the surface in any area of attack.

Fig. 3 in detail illustrates once again the hollow elements 3 in Fig. 1, in particular, Fig. 3a) illustrates an unloaded state, and Fig. 3b) a state under a tangential load. Fig. 3c) illustrates the deformation directed vertically downward, from which it is clearly seen that the above advantages with respect to stability and repulsion without loss of path are also achieved with a purely vertical load.

In the sole 6 of FIG. 4, tubular hollow elements 6.1 are again provided, for example of rubber material, which, however, are placed here between the upper 6.2 and lower 6.3 layers and are rigidly connected to these layers respectively. Both layers 6.2 and 6.3 extend over the entire surface of the sole. The upper layer 6.2 could, in principle, be formed by the already existing layer or intermediate sole of the shoe. The bottom layer 6.3 could also be provided with a profile. Functionally, the sole 6 of FIG. 4, which is shown in FIG. 4 a) in an unloaded state, in principle behaves in the same way as the sole 1 described in FIG. 2 above. In particular, in this case, as shown in fig.4b), when squeezing the tubular hollow elements 6.1 there is a frictional closure between their upper and their lower half. Due to the shear action provided by the lower layer 6.3, the deformation of the hollow elements 6.1 under load is distributed over a large area under known conditions.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5, first of all, two separate parts 7.1 and 7.2 are provided for the cushion and the heel area of the sole 7. In principle, this separate implementation could be applied to the other examples considered. In addition, here between the corresponding upper layers 7.1.1 or 7.2.1 and the lower layers 7.1.2 or 7.2.2 there are still simple elastically deformable jumpers 7.1.3 or 7.2.3. Under load, they are, for example, flat between the two outer layers, as shown, for example, in FIG. 5b). If a material with a high coefficient of friction is again applied to the outer layers and jumpers, in the situation shown in FIG. 5b), a frictional closure again appears, as described above. The upper and lower layers thus take over partly the functions of the above-described upper and lower half-tubular elements of FIG. 1, while the jumpers can functionally be identified with the sides of the tubular elements, of which in Fig. 3 two opposite ones are designated as 3.1. 3 and 3.1.4.

In the sole 8 of FIG. 6, no physical elastic elements are provided between the corresponding upper 8.1 and lower 8.2 layers. On the contrary, the upper and lower layers are connected by means of the surrounding side parts 8.3 into a closed volume 8.4, which is filled with a certain medium. In the case of the medium, we can talk about gas, in particular about air, but also about gel. It is important that the sole, as again shown in Fig. 8b), under stresses arising during running can be deformed so that the upper and lower layers 8.1 and 8.2 can mutually touch in the corresponding load area. If a material with a high coefficient of friction is selected for both layers, then friction closure with the above-described favorable properties reappears.

When using an incompressible gel as a filling mass for a cavity 8.4, under certain conditions, the latter must be fully or partially elastic-elastic so that the desired effect can manifest itself. In the case of filling the cavity 8.4 with gas, an additional valve 8.5 could be provided, for example, in the calcaneal region. By changing the gas pressure, then it would be possible to change the elastic properties and suppleness of the sole and thereby ensure coordination, for example, with the weight or manner of running of the runner.

Instead of friction closure or in addition to it, in the above examples, a geometric closure could be used, as shown in only a partial representation of the sole 9 in Fig. 7, in which gearing is provided, for example, between the upper and lower layers 9.1 and 9.2.

According to a further development of the invention, the sole may be provided with means which enable removable attachment to the intermediate sole of the shoe. In this case, the sole can be fixed as a whole, in parts, or only relative to a separate part detachable. On Fig shows a shoe 2, in which the entire sole 1, however, in separate parts is removably mounted on the intermediate sole 4 of the sneakers 2. The sole 1 is formed here, as in the example of figure 1, a lot of profiled hollow elements 3, which contain tubes 3.1 and detachably fixed with molded jumpers 3.2 on the lower side of the midsole 4, or, as for the hollow elements placed in the cushion area, are still provided for removable fastening on the lower side of the midsole 4. How can to see on enlarged fragment A in Fig. 8, a repeatedly created and newly opened connection, the so-called Velcro fastener 10 (a connector of hooks and loops), is used as a fastening means, and the bridges 3.2 of the hollow elements 3 are provided with a layer 10.1 with hook and loop fasteners . Accordingly, the midsole 4 is preferably provided on the entire surface with a counter, that is, a loop-shaped Velcro fastener layer 10.2. Both layers of Velcro fasteners can be respectively firmly glued to the hollow elements on one side and to the midsole on the other side.

The detachable fastening has, first of all, the advantage that the sole according to the invention is, in a known case, only if necessary, for example, immediately before the training run and for it is attached to the intermediate sole, and otherwise the sneakers can also be used without this sole. This primarily makes sense when the sole according to the invention is selected to achieve a more significant spring course, for example with relatively bulky hollow elements. In order to protect the midsole and preferably the Velcro loop layer applied to it, in this case, an alternatively Velcro-fastened protective layer, which is not shown here, could also be provided.

The removable mount has, on the other hand, the advantage that the worn out sole can be replaced with a new one. If the sole was made of many parts, as in the example of Fig. 8, individual parts could also be replaced, due to which, for example, the unequal wear of the sole due to the individual running style of each runner could be taken into account. In this case, each runner could also, for example, by means of special placement of individual parts, compose his own sole with optimal damping properties for him. As an example, FIG. 9 shows the shoe shown in FIG. 8 in two rear views, with FIG. 9 a) two rows, and FIG. 9 b) three rows of hollow elements 3 placed next to each other in the heel region. For the individual formation of the soles according to the invention, the soles made by the manufacturer in various ways with different properties could also be made available. As an example, Fig. 8 shows a hollow element 3 'located in the region of the main loading of the sole, which is made with an increased wall thickness and, for example, is more rigid with respect to deformation than the other hollow elements.

Figure 10 shows a hollow element 3 ", also modified in comparison with the hollow elements in figure 3, for the sole according to the invention, and this hollow element 3" is provided with a flat supporting surface. In addition, the wall thickness of the element is not always the same everywhere. It turned out that when using the shown form, an even more improved sense of stability is achieved, as well as improved repulsion from the point of attack.

And finally, FIG. 11 shows yet another embodiment of a separate sole element 11 for use in the sole of the invention, which comprises vertically oriented tubules instead of horizontally oriented ones.

The above described embodiments should be understood in such a way that their individual elements or features, if necessary, can also be used in combination with other of the embodiments. This is true, for example, for dividing the sole into the cushion and heel, as well as to give a profile. Also, frictional closure and geometric closure can be used alternatively or in combination with each other. The embodiment of FIGS. 4 or 5 could be combined with the embodiment of FIG. 6, and in the embodiments of FIG. 4 or 5, an elastic and / or damping or fluid medium is naturally introduced into the cavities provided therein. Conversely, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, springing or damping elements could additionally be provided. In a further development of the invention, in which the soles made according to the invention can be fixed to the midsole in a removable manner as a whole, or at least as part thereof, instead of Velcro fasteners with a layer of hooks and a layer of loops or a felt-like layer, also Velcro fastening may be provided with two layers of hooks matched to each other, and such a fastener has a higher adhesion. The releasable connection could alternatively or in addition also be made using special, also releasable, adhesive material.

Reference numerals

one sole 2 sneaker 3.3 ', 3' ' hollow elements 3.1 hollow tube 3 3.2 jumpers of hollow elements 3 3.1.1 upper half-tube 3.1 3.1.2 lower half tube 3.1 3.1.3, 3.1.4 sides of tubes 3.1 four midsole 5 base 6.2 outsole 6 6.3 outsole 6 7 sole 7.1 cushion part of the sole 7 7.2 heel of the sole 7 7.1.1, 7.2.1 upper layer of parts 7.1 or 7.2 of the sole 7.2.1, 7.2.2 bottom layer of parts 7.1 or 7.2 of the sole 7.1.3, 7.2.3 deformable jumpers 8 sole 8.1 outsole 8 8.2 outsole 8 8.3 surrounding outsole 8 8.4 sole volume 8 8.5 sole valve 8 9 sole 9.1 outsole 9 9.2 outsole 9 10 Velcro 10.1 10 hook and loop fastener hooks 10.2 layer of Velcro loops 10 eleven sole element with vertical tubes P1 load on arrow P2 repulsive arrow load

Claims (16)

1. The sole, in particular for athletic shoes, with elastic deformability also in the tangential direction, characterized in that it is tangentially deformable by at least 20% of its deformable thickness and becomes essentially rigid with respect to tangential deformation only after at least one critical deformation in the region deformed to such an extent, and critical deformation is achieved only after passing the tangential and / or perpendicular deformation path, which exceeds creases 20% of its deformable thickness, in particular even more than 50% of this thickness. 2. The sole according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains two layers separated, in particular, by an elastically deformable element, and said element with a sufficiently large deformation provides the possibility of mutual contact with the frictional, force or geometric closure of both layers. 3. The sole according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with at least one elastically deformable hollow element with one or more cavities. 4. The sole according to claim 3, characterized in that the hollow element includes a deformable element of a tubular shape. 5. The sole according to claim 3, characterized in that in its longitudinal direction one after the other there are many hollow elements. 6. The sole according to claim 3, characterized in that the hollow element contains two outer layers, which, when many cavities are formed, are connected to each other by deformable jumpers. 7. The sole according to claim 3, characterized in that the hollow element contains at least one cavity filled with fluid. 8. The sole according to claim 7, characterized in that the hollow element contains at least one cavity filled with a fluid that is elastically deformed when the fluid contained in it is compressed. 9. The sole according to claim 8, characterized in that the cavity filled with a fluid medium can be filled at a pressure exceeding the ambient pressure. 10. The sole according to claim 1, characterized in that it as a whole or in the case of separation into many parts, at least for one of its parts (3, 3 ') is equipped with means (10.1) for detachable fixing on the intermediate sole ( 4) shoes (2). 11. The sole according to claim 10, characterized in that it is made of many parts and that the individual parts (3, 3 ') can be removably attached at various places and / or with the formation of various patterns on the midsole (4) . 12. The sole according to claim 10, characterized in that it is made of many parts and that at least two of its parts (3, 3 ') have a different shape and / or different elasticity. 13. The sole according to claim 10, characterized in that the means for detachable fixation include part (10.1) of the velcro fasteners (10) and that the intermediate sole (4) is provided with a mating part (10.2) of this velcro fastener (10). 14. The sole according to claim 13, characterized in that the means include a hooked portion (10.1) of Velcro fasteners (10). Priority on points: 06/06/2002 according to claims 1-10; 03/10/2003 according to claims 11-14.

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