WO1991005491A1 - Structures de semelle de chaussures avec relief produisant une deformation naturelle parallele au pied - Google Patents

Structures de semelle de chaussures avec relief produisant une deformation naturelle parallele au pied Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1991005491A1
WO1991005491A1 PCT/US1990/006028 US9006028W WO9105491A1 WO 1991005491 A1 WO1991005491 A1 WO 1991005491A1 US 9006028 W US9006028 W US 9006028W WO 9105491 A1 WO9105491 A1 WO 9105491A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
shoe sole
sole
shoe
foot
channels
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Application number
PCT/US1990/006028
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Frampton E. Ellis, Iii
Original Assignee
Ellis Frampton E Iii
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ellis Frampton E Iii filed Critical Ellis Frampton E Iii
Publication of WO1991005491A1 publication Critical patent/WO1991005491A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/141—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/143—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form provided with wedged, concave or convex end portions, e.g. for improving roll-off of the foot
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/143—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form provided with wedged, concave or convex end portions, e.g. for improving roll-off of the foot
    • A43B13/148—Wedged end portions
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/16—Pieced soles

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to the struc ⁇ ture of shoes. More specifically, this invention relates to the structure of athletic shoes. Still more particu ⁇ larly, this invention relates to shoe soles that conform to the natural shape of the foot sole, including the bot- torn and the sides, when the foot sole deforms naturally during locomotion. Still more particularly, this inven ⁇ tion relates to the use of deformation sipes such as slits or channels in the shoe sole to provide it with sufficient flexibility to parallel the frontal plane deformation of the foot sole, which creates a stable base that is wide and flat even when tilted sideways in natu ⁇ ral pronation and supination motion.
  • the traction sipes in the form of slits or channels run perpendicular to the long axis of the shoe, since slipping is most typical along that long axis coin ⁇ cident to locomotion forwards or backwards.
  • the parallel traction slits typically penetrate to a depth of about a third or slightly more of the boat shoe.
  • the applicant's invention is to use similar sipes such as slits or channels that, however, penetrate through most or even all of the shoe sole, to provide as much flexibility as possible to deform naturally, rather than to increase traction.
  • the slits or channels of the appli ⁇ cant's invention are located on the opposite axis from those in conventional boat shoe soles.
  • This new invention is a modification of the inventions disclosed and claimed in the earlier applica ⁇ tion and develops the application of the concept of the theoretically ideal stability plane to other shoe struc ⁇ tures.
  • Fig. 1 shows, in frontal plane cross section at the heel portion of a shoe, the applicant's prior inven- tion of a shoe sole with naturally contoured sides based on a theoretically ideal stability plane.
  • Fig. 2 shows, again in frontal plane cross section, the most general case of the applicant's prior invention, a fully contoured shoe sole that, follows the natural contour of the bottom of the foot as well as its sides, also based on the theoretically ideal stability plane.
  • Fig. 3 shows the applicant's prior invention for conventional shoes, a quadrant-sided shoe sole, based on a theoretically ideal stability plane.
  • Fig. 4 shows, in frontal plane cross section at the heel portion of a shoe, a conventional modern running shoe with rigid heel counter and reinforcing motion con ⁇ trol device and a conventional shoe sole.
  • Fig. 5 shows, again in frontal plane cross section, the same shoe as Fig. 1 when tilted 20 degrees outward, at the normal limit of ankle inversion.
  • Fig. 6 shows, in frontal plane cross section at the heel, the human foot when tilted 20 degrees outward, at the normal limit of ankle inversion.
  • Fig. 7A shows, in frontal plane cross section at the heel portion, the applicant's new invention of a conventional shoe sole with deformation slits aligned in the vertical plane along the long axis of the shoe sole; and Figs. 7B-7E show close-up sections of the shoe sole to show various forms of slits and channels.
  • Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but with the shoe tilted 20 degrees outward, at the normal limit of ankle inversion, showing that the modified conven- tional shoe sole can deform in a manner paralleling the wearer's foot, providing a wide and stable base of sup ⁇ port in the frontal plane.
  • Figs. 9A-9D are a series of views showing por ⁇ tions of cross sections similar preceding figures, wherein Fig. 9A shows the deformation slits applied to the applicant's prior quadrant sided invention. Fig. 9B show them applied to his prior naturally contoured sides invention, with additional slits on roughly the horizon ⁇ tal plane to aid natural deformation of the contoured side, and Figs. 9C and 9D show the slits applied to the applicant's invention of essential support elements.
  • Fig. 10 shows in frontal plane cross section at the heel a design in its undeformed state that deforms to the equivalent of the applicant's fully contoured prior invention, which conforms to the contour of the bottom of the foot, as well as the sides.
  • Fig. 11 shows a similar view of the Fig. 10 design on the wearer's unloaded foot, deforming easily to conform to its contours.
  • Fig. 12A is a view almost identical to Fig. 11 except that the deformation slits penetrate the shoe sole completely to maximize flexibility, and Fig. 12B show the same design when running, in 10 degrees of supination.
  • Fig. 13 shows several bottom views of the applicant's design in Figs. 13A to 13D for shoe soles showing sample patterns of deformation slits.
  • Fig. 14 shows several additional patterns in Figs. 14A to 14D of deformation slits to provide multi- planar flexibility.
  • Fig. 15 shows the principles of the preceding figures applied to the bottom sole layer only.
  • Figs. 1, 2, and 3 show frontal plane cross sectional views of a shoe sole according to the appli- cant's prior inventions based on the theoretically ideal stability plane, taken at about the ankle joint to show the heel section of the shoe.
  • a foot 27 is positioned in a naturally contoured shoe having an upper 21 and a sole 28.
  • the shoe sole normally contacts the ground 43 at about the lower central heel portion thereof, as shown in Fig. 4.
  • the concept of theore ⁇ tically ideal stability plane as developed in the prior applications as noted, defines the plane 51 in terms of a locus of points determined by the thickness(es) of the sole.
  • the reference numerals are like those used in the prior pending applications of the applicant mentioned above and which are incorporated by reference for the sake of completeness of disclosure, if necessary.
  • Fig. 1 shows, in a rear cross sectional view, the application of the prior invention showing the inner surface of the shoe sole conforming to the natural con ⁇ tour of the foot and the thickness of the shoe sole remaining constant in the frontal plane, so that the outer surface coincides with the theoretically ideal stability plane.
  • Fig. 2 shows a fully contoured shoe sole design of the applicant's prior invention that follows the natu- ral contour of all of the foot, the bottom as well as the sides, while retaining a constant shoe sole thickness in the frontal plane.
  • the fully contoured shoe sole assumes that the resulting slightly rounded bottom when unloaded will deform under load and flatten just as the human foot bot ⁇ tom is slightly rounded unloaded but flattens under load; therefore, shoe sole material must be of such composition as to allow the natural deformation following that of the foot.
  • the design applies particularly to the heel, but to the rest of the shoe sole as well.
  • the fully contoured design allows the foot to function as naturally as possible.
  • Fig. 2 would deform by flatten ⁇ ing to look essentially like Fig. 1.
  • the naturally contoured side design in Fig. 1 is a more conventional, conservative design that is a special case of the more general fully contoured design in Fig. 2, which is the closest to the natural form of the foot, but the least conventional.
  • the amount of deformation flat- tening used in the Fig. 1 design which obviously varies under different loads, is not an essential element of the applicant's invention.
  • Figs. 1 and 2 both show in frontal plane cross sections the essential concept underlying this invention, the theoretically ideal stability plane, which is also theoretically ideal for efficient natural motion of all kinds, including running, jogging or walking.
  • Fig. 2 shows the most general case of the invention, the fully contoured design, which conforms to the natural shape of the unloaded foot.
  • the theore ⁇ tically ideal stability plane 51 is determined, first, by the desired shoe sole thickness(es) in a frontal plane cross section, and, second, by the natural shape of the individual's foot surface 29.
  • the theo ⁇ retically ideal stability plane for any particular indi- vidual is determined, first, by the given frontal plane cross section shoe sole thickness(es) ; second, by the natural shape of the indi ⁇ vidual's foot; and, third, by the frontal plane cross section width of the individual's load-bearing footprint 30b, which is defined as the upper surface of the shoe sole that is in physical contact with and supports the human foot sole.
  • the theoretically ideal stability plane for the special case is composed conceptually of two parts. Shown in Fig. 1, the first part is a line segment 31b of equal length and parallel to line 30b at a constant dis ⁇ tance(s) equal to shoe sole thickness. This corresponds to a conventional shoe sole directly underneath the human foot, and also corresponds to the flattened portion of the bottom of the load-bearing foot sole 28b.
  • the second part is the naturally contoured stability side outer edge 31a located at each side of the first part, line segment 31b. Each point on the contoured side outer edge 31a is located at a distance which is exactly shoe sole thick- ness(es) from the closest point on the contoured side inner edge 30a.
  • the theoretically ideal stability plane is the essence of this invention because it is used to determine a geometrically precise bottom contour of the shoe sole based on a top contour that conforms to the contour of the foot.
  • This invention specifically claims the exactly determined geometric relationship just described.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates in frontal plane cross sec ⁇ tion another variation of the applicant's prior invention that uses stabilizing quadrants 26 at the outer edge of a conventional shoe sole 28b illustrated generally at the reference numeral 28.
  • the stabilizing quadrants would be abbreviated in actual embodiments as shown in Figs. 3B and 3D.
  • Fig. 4 shows a conventional athletic shoe in cross section at the heel, with a conventional shoe sole 22 having essentially flat upper and lower surfaces and having both a strong heel counter 141 and an additional reinforcement in the form of motion control device 142.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates the same conventional run ⁇ ning shoe shown in Fig.
  • Fig. 5 demonstrates that the conventional shoe sole 22 functions as an essentially rigid structure in the frontal plane, maintaining its essentially flat, rectangular shape when tilted and supported only by its outside, lower corner edge 23, about which it moves in rotation on the ground 43 when tilted.
  • Both heel counter 141 and motion control device 142 significantly enhance and increase the rigidity of the shoe sole 22 when tilted. All three structures serve to restrict and resist deformation of the shoe sole 22 under normal loads, including standing, walking and running. Indeed, the structural rigidity of most conventional street shoe materials alone, especially in the critical heel area, is usually enough to effectively prevent deformation.
  • Fig. 6 shows a similar heel cross section of a barefoot tilted outward laterally at the normal 20 degree inversion maximum.
  • Fig. 6 demonstrates that such normal tilting motion in the bare ⁇ foot is accompanied by a very substantial amount of flat ⁇ tening deformation of the human foot sole, which has a pronounced rounded contour when unloaded, as will be seen in foot sole surface 29 later in Fig. 11.
  • Fig. 6 shows that in the critical heel area the barefoot maintains almost as great a flattened area of contact with the ground when tilted at its 20 degree maximum as when upright, as seen later in Fig. 7.
  • Figs. 4 and 5 indicate clearly that the conventional shoe sole changes in an instant from an area of contact with the ground 43 substantially greater than that of the barefoot, as much as 100 percent more when measuring in roughly the frontal plane, to a very narrow edge only in contact with the ground, an area of contact many times less than the barefoot.
  • Fig. 7A shows, in frontal plane cross section at the heel, the applicant's new invention, the most clearcut benefit of which is to provide inherent stabil ⁇ ity similar to the barefoot in the ankle sprain si ula- tion test mentioned above.
  • Fig. 7A indicates a conventional shoe sole into which have been introduced deformation slits 151, also .called sipes, which are located optimally in the vertical plane and on the long axis of the shoe sole, or roughly in the sagittal plane, assuming the shoe is oriented straight ahead.
  • the deformation slits 151 can vary in number beginning with one, since even a single deformation slit offers improvement over an unmodified shoe sole, though obviously the more slits are used, the more closely can the surface of the shoe sole coincide naturally with the surface of the sole of the foot and deform in parallel with it.
  • the space between slits can vary, regularly or irregularly or randomly.
  • the deformation slits 151 can be evenly spaced, as shown, or at uneven intervals or at unsymmetrical intervals.
  • the optimal orientation of the deformation slits 151 is coinciding with the vertical plane, but they can also be located at an angle to that plane.
  • the depth of the deformation slits 151 can vary. The greater the depth, the more flexibility is provided. ' Optimally, the slit depth should be deep enough to penetrate most but not all of the shoe sole, starting from the bottom surface 31, as shown in Fig. 7A and in Fig. 7B, a section of the shoe sole. Fig. 7B shows the simplest technique of cutting slits into existing conventional shoe sole designs.
  • Fig. 7C Near the bottom surface they can be beveled, as shown in Fig. 7C, also a section of the shoe sole.
  • the size and angle of the beveled surface can vary, though 45 degrees is probably optimal.
  • the deformation slits can be enlarged to chan ⁇ nels 151, also known as sipes, or separate removed sec ⁇ tions from the bottom of the shoe sole, as shown in Fig. 7D, again a section of the shoe sole.
  • Such channels 151 would typically be used optimally with the injection molding of shoe soles, since they could be cast at the same time as the shoe sole itself in one step.
  • the size of the channels 151 can vary, from only slight enlarge ⁇ ments of slits to much larger. They can be patterned in any way, including regular or irregular or random and can be defined by straight, curved, or irregular lines.
  • the deformation slits 151 can penetrate com ⁇ pletely through the shoe sole, as shown in Fig. 7E, the final shoe sole section shown, as long as they are firmly attached to a flexible layer 123 of cloth, of woven or compressed fibers that possess good strength, flexibility and durability characteristics, like nylon or kevlar or leather.
  • a flexible layer 123 of cloth, of woven or compressed fibers that possess good strength, flexibility and durability characteristics, like nylon or kevlar or leather.
  • the layer 123 can be pre-attached to the shoe sole before assembly with the shoe upper, or the shoe upper can provide suitable cloth in the case of a slip-lasted shoe.
  • the conventional paper fiber board would not be very satisfactory either in terms of flexibility or dura ⁇ bility under repeated flexion and would preferably be upgraded to a flexible and durable board made of woven or compressed fiber, as described above, impregnated with a flexible binding material if necessary.
  • deformation slits shown in Fig. 7E provides the maximum amount of deformation flexi ⁇ bility.
  • the deformation slit modifications shown in Figs. 7C and 7D can also be applied to the Fig. 7E approach.
  • a key element in the applicant's invention is the absence of either a conventional rigid heel counter or conventional rigid motion control devices, both of which significantly reduce flexibility in the frontal plane, as noted earlier in Fig. 5.
  • Fig. 8 shows the clearcut advantage of using the deformation slits 151.
  • the shoe sole can duplicate virtually identically the natural deformation of the human foot, even when tilted to the limit of its normal range, as shown before in Fig. 6.
  • the natural deformation capability of the shoe sole pro- vided by the applicant's invention shown in Fig. 8 is in complete contrast to the conventional rigid shoe sole shown in Fig. 5, which cannot deform naturally and has virtually no flexibility in the frontal plane.
  • the applicant's design allows the deformation of a modified conventional shoe sole to para ⁇ llel closely the natural deformation of the barefoot, it maintains the natural stability and natural, uninter ⁇ rupted motion of the barefoot throughout its normal range of sideways pronation and supination motion.
  • a key feature of the applicant's inven ⁇ tion is that it provides a means to modify existing shoe soles to allow them to deform so easily, with so little physical resistance, that the natural motion of the foot is not disrupted as it deforms naturally.
  • This surpris ⁇ ing result is possible even though the flat, roughly rec ⁇ tangular shape of the conventional shoe sole is retained and continues to exist except when it. is deformed, how ⁇ ever easily.
  • Fig. 9 shows, in portions of frontal plane cross sections at the heel, several forms for sides that can be attached to the sides of the conventional flat plane shoe sole, in accordance with the applicant's pend ⁇ ing U.S. applications. Fig.
  • FIG. 9A illustrates the applicant's new inven ⁇ tion incorporated with his previously referenced quadrant sided invention pending in U.S. application No. 07/219,387.
  • the applicant's new design for deformation slits is applied to the sole portion 27 in Figs. 3 and 4 of the earlier application, to which are added a portion of quadrant stability side 26, the outer surface of which lies along a theoretically ideal stability plane 51.
  • Fig. 9B shows the new deformation slit inven ⁇ tion applied to the applicant's naturally contoured side invention, pending in U.S. application No. 07/239,667.
  • the applicant's deformation slit design is applied to the sole portion 28b in Fig. 4B, 4C, and 4D of the earlier application, to which are added a portion of a naturally contoured side 28a, the outer surface of which lies along a theoretically ideal stability plane 51.
  • Fig. 9B also illustrates the use of deformation slits 152 aligned, roughly speaking, in the horizontal plane, though these planes are bent up, paralleling the sides of the foot and paralleling the theoretically ideal stability plane 51.
  • the purpose of the deformation slits 152 is to facilitate the flattening of the naturally contoured side portion 28b, so that it can more easily . follow the natural deformation of the wearer's foot in natural pronation and supination, no matter how extreme.
  • the deformation slits 152, as shown in Fig. 9B would, in effect, coincide with the lamination boundaries of an evenly spaced, three layer shoe sole, even though that point is only conceptual and they would preferably be of injection molding shoe sole construction in order to hold the contour better.
  • deformation slits 152 The function of deformation slits 152 is to " allow the layers to slide horizontally relative to each other, to ease deformation, rather than to open up an angular gap as deformation slits or channels 151 do func ⁇ tionally. Consequently, deformation slits 152 would not be glued together, just as deformation slits 152 are not, though, in contrast, deformation slits 152 could be glued loosely together with a very elastic, flexible glue that allows sufficient relative sliding motion, whereas it is not anticipated, though possible, that a glue or other deforming material of satisfactory consistency could be used to join deformation slits 151. • Optimally, deformation slits 152 would parallel the theoretically ideal stability plane 51, but could be at an angle thereto or irregular rather than a curved plane or flat to reduce construction difficulty and therefore cost of cutting when the sides have already been cast.
  • deformation slits 152 approach can be used by themselves or in conjunction with the shoe sole con- struction and natural deformation outlined in Fig. 9 of pending U.S. application No. 07/400,714.
  • the number of deformation slits 152 can vary like deformation slits 151 from one to any practical num- ber and their depth can vary throughout the contoured side portion 28b. It is also possible, though not shown, for the deformation slits 152 to originate from an inner gap between shoe sole sections 28a and 28b, and end some ⁇ what before the outside edge 53a of the contoured side 28b.
  • Fig. 9C and 9D show that the applicant's new invention can also specifically be applied to his earlier invention of stability sides abbreviated to essential support and propulsion elements.
  • a simple portion of a heel essential support element 95 forms a stability side when added to a conventional shoe sole portion modified with deformation slits and with the sharp edge corner 23 slightly contoured.
  • Fig. 9C a simple portion of a heel essential support element 95 forms a stability side when added to a conventional shoe sole portion modified with deformation slits and with the sharp edge corner 23 slightly contoured.
  • the foot sole side is supported by a stability side 95 that conforms to the theoretically ideal stability plane 51, at the base and lateral tuber- osity of the calcaneus, the heads of the first and fifth metatarsals, and the base of the fifth metatarsal, as well as the first distal phalange.
  • Fig. 10 shows, again in a heel cross section, that the applicant's deformation slit invention can be applied to a conventional flat, roughly rectangular shoe sole in such a way as to transform it into a fully con- toured sole like that illustrated in Fig. 2, which is contoured underneath the foot as well as on its sides.
  • the new invention is the same as that outlined in Fig. 7, except that the shoe uppers attach to the very edge of the upper surface of the shoe sole, instead of an inte- rior portion like Fig. 7, and the outside edge of the shoe sole is aligned in parallel to the deformation slits 151.
  • the shoe sole and upper do not match the outer surface of the human " foot 29 as constructed; it matches the foot's shape only when put on the wearer.
  • Fig. 11 shows that, when the shoe shown in Fig, 10 is on the wearer's foot, the extreme flexibility of its sole, created both by the deformation slits and by the outermost edge location of the shoe supper attachment to the shoe sole upper surface, allows the inner surface 30 of the shoe sole to follow very closely the natural contour of the surface 29 of the wearer's foot, including the bottom. It does so as if the shoe sole were custom made for each individual wearer within a standard size grouping; and the outer surface of the shoe sole will coincide with the theoretically ideal stability plane 51.
  • Fig. 12A shows in similar cross section the deformation slit design illustrated in Fig. 7E, where the slit extends from the bottom surface of the shoe sole through to the top surface, which is connected by a fab ⁇ ric layer 123, providing maximum flexibility for the deformation slit invention.
  • Fig. 12B is the same shoe sole construction as Fig. 12 A, but in a 10 degree outward inversion, near the typical normal limit of running motion, illustrating how the design follows the routine supination deformation of the barefoot.
  • Fig. 12B also reasonably approximates the normal limit of barefoot pronation of the opposite foot during running.
  • shoe sole naturally supports only the flattened portion of the load-bearing wearer's foot. If the load on the foot is increased, both the wearer's foot sole and the shoe sole would flatten more, in a direct mutual parallel.
  • Fig. 12B shows a shoe sole construction that, when rolled from side to side in natural pronation or supination, always maintains roughly the same constantly large flat and stable base of contact with the ground as does the wearer's foot.
  • Figs. 13A through 13D show bottom views of typical conventional show soles with preferred vertical plane deformation slit patterns. All such patterns can exist alone or be superimposed over tread or cleat pat ⁇ terns; they can also coincide with tread or cleat pat ⁇ terns, in which case the most effective approach would likely be to mold in channels as the tread or cleats are cast, rather than cut slits.
  • Fig. 13A shows a grouping of deformation slits
  • Fig. 13B show deformation slits like those in Fig. 13A, except that the two outermost deformation slits are joined by a curved slit paralleling the outer edge 153 of the shoe sole 28 at the heel and the frontal plane flexibility slit 113 stops at both aforementioned slits 151 instead of intersecting them.
  • all of the slits would remain interior to the outer edge 153 of the shoe sole and therefore none would be observable when the shoe is one the ground in its normal position, thus improving the conventional appearance of the shoe sole in the heel area, which would be important in a formal and traditional street or dress shoe.
  • a key functional advantage of this approach is that the shoe sole can follow the natural deformation of the wearer's heel at the heel-strike phase of walking and running, and that it can do so in all vertical planes along the outer portion of the shoe sole, including the heel area, not just in the frontal plane.
  • the Fig. 13B approach can be applied in combination with patterns shown in other figures here and in other patterns not shown.
  • Fig. 13C show deformation slits 151 that are, in the heel area only, aligned with the approximately 25 degree axis of the subtalar joint. They are separated from the more conventionally aligned deformation slits of the instep area by flexibility slit 113.
  • Other deforma ⁇ tion slits or channels can be oriented along the joint axes of other essential support elements.
  • Fig. 13D shows that intersecting regular pat ⁇ terns of deformation slits 151, the 90 degree squares shown being among the simplest, can be used to provide easy deformation in more than one plane and in more than just the heel edge area shown in Fig. 13 B.
  • the spacing between slits or channels can vary as before in Fig. 7A.
  • the deformation slits or channels 151 can be straight as shown or in the small parallel wave pattern common in boat shoes, with the waves exactly in phase or exactly out of phase or in between; they can be irregularly curved or irregularly jagged; the key point is that to provide optimal deformation effectiveness, the axes of each group of deformation slits should be parallel.
  • any number and any pattern of defor- mation slits 151 offer at least a degree of improvement over otherwise almost completely rigid conventional shoe soles, even a totally random pattern or only a single slit.
  • Fig. 13D though showing a heel section, may in fact be the most effective way to provide multi-planar flexibility in the forefoot.
  • the earlier approach of doing so discussed in Fig ' . 28 of U.S. application No. 07/239,667 may not be most optimal because of practical difficulties in aligning any particular individual's essential forefoot support structure, that is, each of his metatarsal heads and distal phalanges, with corre ⁇ sponding support structures in the shoe sole.
  • Conse ⁇ quently, simply providing adequate multi-planar flexibil ⁇ ity at every discrete functional point in the forefoot may be the most practical and effective approach, since individual alignment would no longer be a factor. Both approaches can be used together.
  • Fig. 14 shows a sample of intersecting patterns of straight line deformation slits 151.
  • Fig. 14A shows simple 90 degree intersection, resulting in squares and providing optimal flexibility in two vertical planes.
  • the angle of intersection of the straight lines which can be curved or otherwise not straight, can vary, as can the distance between deformation slits, which can be even, or uneven but a periodically repeating sequence, or erratically spaced.
  • the darkened squares indicate that shoe sole portions can be remove to provide tread or cleat-like shoe soles; this can be done regularly, as shown, or irregularly.
  • Fig. 14B shows three groups of parallel straight line deformation slits 151 intersecting at 60 degrees, resulting in an equilateral triangle pattern and providing optimal flexibility in three planes.
  • the Fig. 14B pattern would be particularly use ⁇ ful in the forefoot area to provide superior flexibility while avoiding the potential alignment difficulties men- tioned at the end of Fig. 13D.
  • the darkened triangles represent removed portions to provide tread or cleats.
  • Fig. 14C shows four groups of parallel straight line deformation slits 151 intersecting at 45 degrees, resulting in a right triangle pattern and providing opti ⁇ mal flexibility in four planes.
  • the same unlimited range of variations described in Figs. 14A and 14B also apply to this figure.
  • the depth of one group of deformation slits can be greater than that of another group, where flexi ⁇ bility in one plane, like the frontal plane in the heel area, is considered more critical than in another plane; the variation of the depth of the deformation slits between groups or singly can be in any pattern or can even be random, with varying levels of effectiveness.
  • Fig. 15 shows the same deformation slit 151 concept described heretofore applied to just the struc ⁇ ture of shoe bottom soles. The purpose of doing so is again to allow natural flattening deformation like the sole of the barefoot and unlike the too rigid bottom soles of existing shoes.
  • the bottom soles of existing shoes, especially in the heel area, are relatively hard and thick to provide good wear characteristics, but because of that hardness and thickness, do not deform easily.
  • the new shoe bottom sole design is siped (i.e., provided with slits or channels through most on the bottom sole layer) like conventional boat shoes, b t for the purpose of providing flexibility rather than traction (boat shoes have relatively thin forefoot soles requiring no flexibility enhancement) and along more than just the single axis used conventionally.
  • the sipes can be both, as conventionally, in straight lines or in regular waving parallel lines (oriented around a straight line axis) , as is also seen. Figs.
  • 15A shows a close-up cross section of such a design for bottom sole, indicating that the key to flexibility is that the bottom sole is continuous and unsiped for only a very narrow thickness relative to the overall thickness of the bottom sole.
  • Such a design inherently provides good traction at the sides since there is space between the sections along the bottom surface of the shoe sole where it bends to conform to the contoured sides of the foot. It is also possible to do away with the thin continuous portion of the bottom sole, which serves to position the discontinuous sections below, and either affix the lower sections directly to the midsole or to an intermediary flexible surface of fabric, so long as those lower sections are wide enough relative to their thickness to remain stably fixed to the midsole. Flexibility can also be achieved by embedding hard sections of bottom sole in a softer material between those sections.
  • Fig. 15B shows a square design that allows motion on two axes perpendicular to each other, though the pattern could also be diamond shaped with the axes at any other angle to each other from 0 to 90 degrees (not shown) .
  • Fig. 15C shows an equilateral triangle design that allows motion on three axes, each 60 degrees from the others, though the pattern could also be other isosceles triangles with axes at other angles to each other.
  • Fig. 15D shows an isosceles right triangle design that allows motion on four axes, each 45 degrees from the others, though the pattern could also be right triangles with axes at other angles to each other.
  • Addi- tional axes are theoretically possible, but less practi ⁇ cal. All of these multi-axes siped designs provide flex ⁇ ibility for the maximum possible surface area of bottom sole for maximum wear characteristics. The surface of the design would coincide with the theoretically ideal stability plane and would be superimposed over the tread pattern; that is, large cleat-like areas which are not now flexible, would become so because the sipe pattern would be molded or cut into them.
  • Figs. 15B-15D indicate where sections of the discontinuous bottom sole can be removed to provide more cleat-like traction on irregular ground conditions.
  • Fig. 15E shows a honeycomb pattern with flexi ⁇ bility on three axes.
  • Fig. 15F shows bottom sole cross sections that have grooves cut on the bottom surface of the bottom sole along the siped flexibility axes in order to provide greater traction, though less wear.
  • Fig. 15G shows channels cut in the bottom sole along the siped flexibility axes to provide for even greater flexibility and traction, though less wear.
  • the sipes especially in the form of slits 151, can be superimposed on other tread patterns, especially those with large area sections of tread (most typical and necessary in the heel area) , in order to provide flexibility through the treads, instead of flexibility being interrupted by the treads as occurs conventionally.
  • the tread pattern of the shoe sole determines the flexibility pattern.
  • This new principle is a key to providing both adequate structural support and, at the same time, in the forefoot, where the tread pattern would optimally mirror the complex structure of metatarsal and phalange heads to support them effectively, but that pattern would not provide effective flexibility because the curved structure of the support heads obstruct natu ⁇ ral flex lines; with flexibility slits like those shown in Fig. 15D running through the forefoot treads, adequate flexibility could be provided over any natural flex lines.

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  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

Une construction pour chaussures, en particulier une chaussure d'athlétisme, comprend une semelle (28) qui épouse la forme naturelle de la chaussure, y compris le fond et les côtés lorsque la plante du pied se déforme naturellement par aplatissement sous une charge pendant la marche ou la course. Des fentes de déformation (151) ou des canaux sont ménagés dans la semelle de la chaussure le long de son axe longitudinal, et d'autres axes, pour lui conférer une flexibilité approximativement équivalente à celle du pied. On obtient une semelle de chaussure qui suit précisément la déformation plane frontale de la plante du pied, ce qui crée une base stable qui est large et plate même lorsqu'elle est inclinée latéralement dans des mouvements de pronation ou supination extrême. Par opposition, les semelles de chaussures classiques sont rigides et deviennent très instables lorsqu'elles sont inclinées latéralement car elles ne sont supportées que par un bord inférieur mince.
PCT/US1990/006028 1989-10-20 1990-10-19 Structures de semelle de chaussures avec relief produisant une deformation naturelle parallele au pied WO1991005491A1 (fr)

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Cited By (25)

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WO1994003080A1 (fr) * 1992-08-10 1994-02-17 Ellis Frampton E Iii Structures de semelle de chaussure
US5384973A (en) * 1992-12-11 1995-01-31 Nike, Inc. Sole with articulated forefoot
WO1997001295A1 (fr) 1995-06-26 1997-01-16 Frampton Erroll Ellis, Iii Structures de semelles de chaussures
US5784808A (en) * 1993-03-01 1998-07-28 Hockerson; Stan Independent impact suspension athletic shoe
US6108943A (en) * 1998-01-30 2000-08-29 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having medial and lateral sides with differing characteristics
US6298582B1 (en) 1998-01-30 2001-10-09 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with heel clip
WO2001080678A2 (fr) 2000-04-26 2001-11-01 Anatomic Research, Inc. Structures de semelle intercalaire amovibles et compartiments a pression variable regulee
GB2376408A (en) * 2001-06-12 2002-12-18 Kale Chang Footwear sole with ventilation slits
US6990755B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2006-01-31 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure
US7010869B1 (en) 1999-04-26 2006-03-14 Frampton E. Ellis, III Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments
WO2007030383A3 (fr) * 2005-09-08 2007-06-21 Nike Inc Procede de fabrication d'un article chaussant pourvu d'une structure de semelle articulee
US7290357B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2007-11-06 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with an articulated sole structure
US7334350B2 (en) 1999-03-16 2008-02-26 Anatomic Research, Inc Removable rounded midsole structures and chambers with computer processor-controlled variable pressure
US7555851B2 (en) 2006-01-24 2009-07-07 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a fluid-filled chamber with flexion zones
US7707742B2 (en) 1999-04-26 2010-05-04 Ellis Iii Frampton E Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments
US7752772B2 (en) 2006-01-24 2010-07-13 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a fluid-filled chamber with flexion zones
US8104197B2 (en) * 2009-04-27 2012-01-31 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with vertical grooves
US8873914B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2014-10-28 Frampton E. Ellis Footwear sole sections including bladders with internal flexibility sipes therebetween and an attachment between sipe surfaces
US8919015B2 (en) 2012-03-08 2014-12-30 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a sole structure with a flexible groove
EP2997844A1 (fr) * 2009-01-26 2016-03-23 NIKE Innovate C.V. Système de stabilité et de confort pour un article chaussant
US9510646B2 (en) 2012-07-17 2016-12-06 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a flexible fluid-filled chamber
US9568946B2 (en) 2007-11-21 2017-02-14 Frampton E. Ellis Microchip with faraday cages and internal flexibility sipes
US9609912B2 (en) 2012-03-23 2017-04-04 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a sole structure with a fluid-filled chamber
US10477918B2 (en) 2016-05-24 2019-11-19 Under Armour, Inc. Footwear sole structure with articulating plates
US11523656B2 (en) * 2017-04-21 2022-12-13 Nike, Inc. Sole structure with proprioceptive elements and method of manufacturing a sole structure

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Cited By (54)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994003080A1 (fr) * 1992-08-10 1994-02-17 Ellis Frampton E Iii Structures de semelle de chaussure
US5384973A (en) * 1992-12-11 1995-01-31 Nike, Inc. Sole with articulated forefoot
US5784808A (en) * 1993-03-01 1998-07-28 Hockerson; Stan Independent impact suspension athletic shoe
WO1997001295A1 (fr) 1995-06-26 1997-01-16 Frampton Erroll Ellis, Iii Structures de semelles de chaussures
US6108943A (en) * 1998-01-30 2000-08-29 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having medial and lateral sides with differing characteristics
US6298582B1 (en) 1998-01-30 2001-10-09 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with heel clip
US8656607B2 (en) 1999-03-16 2014-02-25 Anatomic Research, Inc. Soles for shoes or other footwear having compartments with computer processor-controlled variable pressure
US7562468B2 (en) 1999-03-16 2009-07-21 Anatomic Research, Inc Removable rounded midsole structures and chambers with computer processor-controlled variable pressure
US10016015B2 (en) 1999-03-16 2018-07-10 Anatomic Research, Inc. Footwear soles with computer controlled configurable structures
US8291614B2 (en) 1999-03-16 2012-10-23 Anatomic Research, Inc. Removable rounded midsole structures and chambers with computer processor-controlled variable pressure
US7334350B2 (en) 1999-03-16 2008-02-26 Anatomic Research, Inc Removable rounded midsole structures and chambers with computer processor-controlled variable pressure
US9398787B2 (en) 1999-03-16 2016-07-26 Frampton E. Ellis, III Removable rounded midsole structures and chambers with computer processor-controlled variable pressure
US9414641B2 (en) 1999-04-26 2016-08-16 Frampton E. Ellis Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments
US8667709B2 (en) 1999-04-26 2014-03-11 Frampton E. Ellis Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments
US7793429B2 (en) 1999-04-26 2010-09-14 Ellis Iii Frampton E Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments
US7010869B1 (en) 1999-04-26 2006-03-14 Frampton E. Ellis, III Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments
US7707742B2 (en) 1999-04-26 2010-05-04 Ellis Iii Frampton E Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments
US8261468B2 (en) 1999-04-26 2012-09-11 Frampton E. Ellis Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments
WO2001080678A2 (fr) 2000-04-26 2001-11-01 Anatomic Research, Inc. Structures de semelle intercalaire amovibles et compartiments a pression variable regulee
GB2376408A (en) * 2001-06-12 2002-12-18 Kale Chang Footwear sole with ventilation slits
US7290357B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2007-11-06 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with an articulated sole structure
US7392605B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2008-07-01 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure
US8959802B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2015-02-24 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure
US7607241B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2009-10-27 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with an articulated sole structure
US8303885B2 (en) * 2003-10-09 2012-11-06 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure
US7171767B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2007-02-06 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure
US6990755B2 (en) 2003-10-09 2006-01-31 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with a stretchable upper and an articulated sole structure
US11039658B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2021-06-22 Frampton E. Ellis Structural elements or support elements with internal flexibility sipes
US8873914B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2014-10-28 Frampton E. Ellis Footwear sole sections including bladders with internal flexibility sipes therebetween and an attachment between sipe surfaces
US10021938B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2018-07-17 Frampton E. Ellis Furniture with internal flexibility sipes, including chairs and beds
US8925117B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2015-01-06 Frampton E. Ellis Clothing and apparel with internal flexibility sipes and at least one attachment between surfaces defining a sipe
US11503876B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2022-11-22 Frampton E. Ellis Footwear or orthotic sole with microprocessor control of a bladder with magnetorheological fluid
US8959804B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2015-02-24 Frampton E. Ellis Footwear sole sections including bladders with internal flexibility sipes therebetween and an attachment between sipe surfaces
US9107475B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2015-08-18 Frampton E. Ellis Microprocessor control of bladders in footwear soles with internal flexibility sipes
US9271538B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2016-03-01 Frampton E. Ellis Microprocessor control of magnetorheological liquid in footwear with bladders and internal flexibility sipes
US9681696B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2017-06-20 Frampton E. Ellis Helmet and/or a helmet liner including an electronic control system controlling the flow resistance of a magnetorheological liquid in compartments
US9339074B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2016-05-17 Frampton E. Ellis Microprocessor control of bladders in footwear soles with internal flexibility sipes
US9642411B2 (en) 2004-11-22 2017-05-09 Frampton E. Ellis Surgically implantable device enclosed in two bladders configured to slide relative to each other and including a faraday cage
WO2007030383A3 (fr) * 2005-09-08 2007-06-21 Nike Inc Procede de fabrication d'un article chaussant pourvu d'une structure de semelle articulee
US7752772B2 (en) 2006-01-24 2010-07-13 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a fluid-filled chamber with flexion zones
US7555851B2 (en) 2006-01-24 2009-07-07 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a fluid-filled chamber with flexion zones
US9568946B2 (en) 2007-11-21 2017-02-14 Frampton E. Ellis Microchip with faraday cages and internal flexibility sipes
US9565896B2 (en) 2009-01-26 2017-02-14 Nike, Inc. Stability and comfort system for an article of footwear
EP2997844A1 (fr) * 2009-01-26 2016-03-23 NIKE Innovate C.V. Système de stabilité et de confort pour un article chaussant
US8479417B2 (en) 2009-04-27 2013-07-09 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with vertical grooves
US8104197B2 (en) * 2009-04-27 2012-01-31 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear with vertical grooves
US8919015B2 (en) 2012-03-08 2014-12-30 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a sole structure with a flexible groove
US9609912B2 (en) 2012-03-23 2017-04-04 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a sole structure with a fluid-filled chamber
US11297898B2 (en) 2012-03-23 2022-04-12 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a sole structure with a fluid-filled chamber
US10499705B2 (en) 2012-07-17 2019-12-10 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a flexible fluid-filled chamber
US11399595B2 (en) 2012-07-17 2022-08-02 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a flexible fluid-filled chamber
US9510646B2 (en) 2012-07-17 2016-12-06 Nike, Inc. Article of footwear having a flexible fluid-filled chamber
US10477918B2 (en) 2016-05-24 2019-11-19 Under Armour, Inc. Footwear sole structure with articulating plates
US11523656B2 (en) * 2017-04-21 2022-12-13 Nike, Inc. Sole structure with proprioceptive elements and method of manufacturing a sole structure

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