WO2002098256A1 - Shoes - Google Patents

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Publication number
WO2002098256A1
WO2002098256A1 PCT/GB2002/002570 GB0202570W WO02098256A1 WO 2002098256 A1 WO2002098256 A1 WO 2002098256A1 GB 0202570 W GB0202570 W GB 0202570W WO 02098256 A1 WO02098256 A1 WO 02098256A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
shoe
liquid
conduit means
reservoir
sole
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2002/002570
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jonathan Christopher Mott
Original Assignee
Jonathan Christopher Mott
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jonathan Christopher Mott filed Critical Jonathan Christopher Mott
Publication of WO2002098256A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002098256A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/34—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements
    • A43B3/44—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position
    • 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
    • A43B13/18—Resilient soles
    • A43B13/20—Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas
    • A43B13/206—Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B1/00—Footwear characterised by the material
    • A43B1/0027—Footwear characterised by the material made at least partially from a material having special colours
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B1/00—Footwear characterised by the material
    • A43B1/0027—Footwear characterised by the material made at least partially from a material having special colours
    • A43B1/0036—Footwear characterised by the material made at least partially from a material having special colours with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B1/00—Footwear characterised by the material
    • A43B1/0072—Footwear characterised by the material made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
    • 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
    • A43B13/18—Resilient soles
    • A43B13/189—Resilient soles filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B23/00—Uppers; Boot legs; Stiffeners; Other single parts of footwear
    • A43B23/24—Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/0036—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use characterised by a special shape or design
    • A43B3/0078—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use characterised by a special shape or design provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/34—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/34—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements
    • A43B3/36—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements with light sources

Definitions

  • This invention relates to shoes, and is more particularly but not exclusively concerned with sports-type shoes of the kind commonly referred to as trainers.
  • a shoe having a sole incorporating reservoir means containing a liquid, and conduit means communicating with said reservoir and into which said liquid is forced as the sole of the shoe impacts the ground, said reservoir means and said conduit means forming a closed circuit and together with said liquid serving to at least partially absorb the shock of said impacts, said conduit means being at least partially visible externally of the shoe, and at least part of the visible part of the conduit means being translucent, whereby the movement of the liquid through the conduit means provides a visual indication of the impacts of the shoe on the ground.
  • a shoe having a sole incorporating reservoir means containing a liquid, and conduit means communicating with said reservoir and into which said liquid is forced as the sole of the shoe impacts the ground, said reservoir means and said conduit means forming a closed circuit and together with said liquid serving to at least partially absorb the shock of said impacts, said conduit means communicating with inflatable means which is at least partially visible externally of the shoe, whereby the movement of the liquid through the conduit means inflates the inflatable means and thereby provides a visual indication of the impacts of the shoe on the ground.
  • sole is to be understood as meaning the whole of the underpart of the shoe which, in use, contacts the ground, ie including the heel part as well as the forward part.
  • liquid is intended to embrace a flowable gel.
  • the inflatable means may be translucent.
  • the reservoir means may comprise at least one chamber formed in the sole of the shoe. More especially, it may comprise a chamber provided in or moulded into the aforementioned forward part of the sole of the shoe. Alternatively and preferably, the reservoir means may comprise a sinuous duct provided in or moulded into the aforementioned forward part of the the sole of the shoe.
  • the conduit means preferably comprises at least one tube disposed on the outer surface of the shoe, and may advantageously comprise two tubes connected to the reservoir means in such a manner that the liquid flow in the tubes is oppositely directed.
  • the conduit means may also include at least one portion disposed internally of the shoe, the or each internally disposed portion being adapted to at least partially inflate on each impact of the shoe on the ground to tighten the fit of the shoe on the wearer's foot.
  • the tube or tubes may be made from polyethylene, PVC or, advantageously, surgical rubber.
  • the shoe includes an externally visible manufacturer's logo, eg at the upright part of the heel or at the outwardly facing ankle part, at least one of the tubes is preferably arranged to be incorporated in or to otherwise co-operate with the logo to enhance its visibility.
  • the liquid is preferably coloured, advantageously by means of a fluorescent colouring material.
  • the liquid may be loaded with pieces of reflective or sparkling material.
  • the shoe of the present invention may also incorporate the piezoelectric sensor operated light emitting diode features of the shoe of my US Patent No. 5,500,635, and may further include one or more optical fibres for directing at least some of the light emitted by the or each light emitting diode into the conduit means to enhance the visibility of the moving liquid therein.
  • Figure 1 is perspective view from the front of a trainer-type sports shoe in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention
  • Figures 2 to 5 are front, rear, left side and right side views of the shoe of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 6 is a somewhat schematic representation of the interior of the sole of a trainer-type sports shoe in accordance with the present invention.
  • Figure 7 is a left side view of an alternative embodiment of a trainer- type sports shoe in accordance with the present invention.
  • the trainer-type sports shoe illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 is indicated generally at 10, and is in fact a left shoe, ie a shoe intended to be worn on a wearer's left foot.
  • the shoe 10 has a sole 12, comprising a forward part 14 and a heel part 16, and an upper part ( or "upper") 18 which is bonded or stitched to the sole 12.
  • the upper 18 has an opening 20 above the heel part 16 of the sole12 for receiving the foot of the wearer, this opening having a forwardly extending part containing as is conventional a fairly large tongue 22.
  • lace holes 24 are provided along both sides of the forwardly extending part of the opening 20 for receiving laces, which are not shown for sake of simplicity.
  • the upper 18 of the shoe 10 has a plurality of transparent plastic conduits or tubes 26, typically made from polyethylene, PVC or surgical rubber, bonded or otherwise secured to its external surface.
  • the tubes 26 form a sinuous pattern covering a substantial proportion of the external surface of the upper 18 of the shoe 10, and all communicate directly or indirectly with the interior of the sole 12, as will hereinafter become apparent, via respective inlets/outlets 28 in the rearwardly facing, vertically extending, external surface 30 of the heel part 16 of the sole.
  • Individual ones of the tubes are indicated at 26a, 26b, 26c in Figures 1 to 5, where it can be seen that the tube 26c branches from the tube 26b at a T- piece 32.
  • the particular pattern of the tubes 26 illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 is merely one example of a variety of possible patterns, containing more or less than three individual tubes.
  • the inlets/outlets 28 in the surface 30 heel 16 communicate internally of the sole 12 with two reservoirs 34 and 36 (the positions and total number of the inlets/outlets shown in Figure 7 have been changed somewhat for ease of illustration).
  • These reservoirs 34 and 36 are moulded into the sole 12, and form with the tubes 26 respective closed circuits.
  • the reservoirs 34 and 36 and the tubes 26 contain a coloured liquid or flowable gel, which is preferably fluorescent and/or loaded with small pieces of sparkling material such as aluminium foil. This liquid or gel does not completely fill the closed circuits formed by the reservoirs 34,36 and the tubes 26, so that the tubes 26 tend to contain "slugs" of coloured liquid or gel interspersed by bubbles of air.
  • the liquid or gel in the reservoirs 34, 36 tends to partially absorb the shock of the impacts of the shoe 10 on the ground as the wearer walks or runs, thus providing a cushioning effect that increases the comfort of the shoe and reducing the jarring of the leg joints of the wearer which are caused by typical usage, eg jogging on hard surfaces such as pavements.
  • the impacts tend to pump the slugs of liquid or gel along the tubes 26, which, because of the transparency of the tubes, creates a striking visual effect, rendered more pronounced by the fluorescence of the liquid or gel and/or the sparkling material loaded into the liquid or gel.
  • This has considerable safety advantages, particularly in low light conditions such as are encountered at dusk, as well as providing a novelty effect which appeals to children.
  • the fact that the slugs of liquid or gel move in opposite directions in adjacent portions of the tubes 26 also enhances the visual effect, the direction of movement being controllable by including simple non-return valves in the tubes 26 if necessary or desired.
  • reservoirs 34, 36 are shown in Figure 6 as separate chambers, they can instead be constituted by sinuous tubes. And in the limit, one reservoir, rather than two, will suffice. And although the tubes 26 are transparent, some of the benefits of the invention are still obtained if the tubes are merely translucent.
  • Figure 7 shows a modified version of the shoe 10, in which the tube 26a has been omitted, and the tube 26b has been formed into the shape of the logo 40 of the manufacturer of the shoe, represented for illustrative purposes only by the word "BRAND".
  • the logo 40 is positioned in the ankle region on the left side of a left shoe, ie the outwardly facing side of the shoe: and a similarly formed logo is provided in the corresponding position on the right side of the right shoe.
  • manufacturer's logo 40 on the outside of the ankle of the shoe is to form it instead on the rearwardly facing or heel part of the upper 18 of the shoe, above the surface 30 of the heel part 16 of the sole 12.
  • the tubes 26 can co-operate with an inflatable device in the form of, say, a flower, disposed on the external surface of the shoe 10, so that the liquid pumped into the tubes inflates the inflatable device each time the shoe impacts the ground.
  • the tubes 26 need not be visible, since the desired visible effect is created by the inflation of the inflatable device.
  • the shoe 10 can be provide with internal tubes or flow- through pads in addition to or in series with the external tubes 26, these internal tubes or pads partially inflating on each impact of the shoe on the ground to tighten the fit of the shoe on the wearer's foot.
  • the pumped liquid resulting from each impact of the shoe 10 on the ground can be arranged to operate a pedometer.
  • the shoe 10 may also incorporate a piezoelectric sensor arranged to operate one or more light emitting diodes as described in more detail in my US Patent No. 5,500,635, and may further include one or more optical fibres for directing at least some of the light emitted by the or each light emitting diode into the tubes 26 to enhance the visibility of the moving slugs of fluorescent or glitter-loaded coloured liquid or gel therein.
  • a piezoelectric sensor arranged to operate one or more light emitting diodes as described in more detail in my US Patent No. 5,500,635, and may further include one or more optical fibres for directing at least some of the light emitted by the or each light emitting diode into the tubes 26 to enhance the visibility of the moving slugs of fluorescent or glitter-loaded coloured liquid or gel therein.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

A sports shoe (10) of the trainer type is provided with a reservoir (34, 36) in its sole (12), the reservoir containing a coloured liquid or gel and communicating with transparent tubes (26) disposed to be visible externally of the shoe. Each impact of the shoe on the ground causes the coloured liquid or gel to course through the tubes, providing a visual indication of the impacts as well as partially absorbing the shock of the impacts. The tubes can also extend internally of the shoe, so that the impacts tend to tighten the fit of the shoe on the wearer's foot.

Description

SHOES
This invention relates to shoes, and is more particularly but not exclusively concerned with sports-type shoes of the kind commonly referred to as trainers.
In my United States Patent No. 5,500,635, the teachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference, there is disclosed a sports shoe having a sole incorporating a piezoelectric sensor which is responsive to each impact of the shoe on the ground to produce an electrical output signal, the shoe also incorporating a circuit responsive to the signals produced by the sensor to energize one or more externally visible light-emitting diodes, typically positioned in the heel of the shoe. As a result, the shoe produces a rearwardly visible flashing light as the wearer walks or runs along, which is a very significant safety feature when the shoe is being used in low light conditions. This has made the shoe very popular with joggers and with parents for their children, as well as with children themselves.
It is also known to provide a sports shoe having a sealed fluid reservoir in its sole, to cushion or partially absorb the shock of each impact of the shoe on the ground.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe, in particular a sports shoe or trainer, which has or enhances at least some of the visibility advantages of my prior light-emitting shoe and combines them with some of the shock absorbing characteristics of the known fluid reservoir containing shoe. According to one aspect of the present invention, therefore, there is provided a shoe having a sole incorporating reservoir means containing a liquid, and conduit means communicating with said reservoir and into which said liquid is forced as the sole of the shoe impacts the ground, said reservoir means and said conduit means forming a closed circuit and together with said liquid serving to at least partially absorb the shock of said impacts, said conduit means being at least partially visible externally of the shoe, and at least part of the visible part of the conduit means being translucent, whereby the movement of the liquid through the conduit means provides a visual indication of the impacts of the shoe on the ground.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shoe having a sole incorporating reservoir means containing a liquid, and conduit means communicating with said reservoir and into which said liquid is forced as the sole of the shoe impacts the ground, said reservoir means and said conduit means forming a closed circuit and together with said liquid serving to at least partially absorb the shock of said impacts, said conduit means communicating with inflatable means which is at least partially visible externally of the shoe, whereby the movement of the liquid through the conduit means inflates the inflatable means and thereby provides a visual indication of the impacts of the shoe on the ground.
In this application, the term "sole" is to be understood as meaning the whole of the underpart of the shoe which, in use, contacts the ground, ie including the heel part as well as the forward part. Additionally, the term "liquid" is intended to embrace a flowable gel.
In the second aspect of the invention, the inflatable means may be translucent. The reservoir means may comprise at least one chamber formed in the sole of the shoe. More especially, it may comprise a chamber provided in or moulded into the aforementioned forward part of the sole of the shoe. Alternatively and preferably, the reservoir means may comprise a sinuous duct provided in or moulded into the aforementioned forward part of the the sole of the shoe.
The conduit means preferably comprises at least one tube disposed on the outer surface of the shoe, and may advantageously comprise two tubes connected to the reservoir means in such a manner that the liquid flow in the tubes is oppositely directed. The conduit means may also include at least one portion disposed internally of the shoe, the or each internally disposed portion being adapted to at least partially inflate on each impact of the shoe on the ground to tighten the fit of the shoe on the wearer's foot.
The tube or tubes may be made from polyethylene, PVC or, advantageously, surgical rubber.
Where the shoe includes an externally visible manufacturer's logo, eg at the upright part of the heel or at the outwardly facing ankle part, at least one of the tubes is preferably arranged to be incorporated in or to otherwise co-operate with the logo to enhance its visibility.
The liquid is preferably coloured, advantageously by means of a fluorescent colouring material. Alternatively or additionally, the liquid may be loaded with pieces of reflective or sparkling material.
The shoe of the present invention may also incorporate the piezoelectric sensor operated light emitting diode features of the shoe of my US Patent No. 5,500,635, and may further include one or more optical fibres for directing at least some of the light emitted by the or each light emitting diode into the conduit means to enhance the visibility of the moving liquid therein.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Figure 1 is perspective view from the front of a trainer-type sports shoe in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figures 2 to 5 are front, rear, left side and right side views of the shoe of Figure 1 ;
Figure 6 is a somewhat schematic representation of the interior of the sole of a trainer-type sports shoe in accordance with the present invention; and
Figure 7 is a left side view of an alternative embodiment of a trainer- type sports shoe in accordance with the present invention.
The trainer-type sports shoe illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 is indicated generally at 10, and is in fact a left shoe, ie a shoe intended to be worn on a wearer's left foot. The shoe 10 has a sole 12, comprising a forward part 14 and a heel part 16, and an upper part ( or "upper") 18 which is bonded or stitched to the sole 12. The upper 18 has an opening 20 above the heel part 16 of the sole12 for receiving the foot of the wearer, this opening having a forwardly extending part containing as is conventional a fairly large tongue 22. As is also conventional, lace holes 24 are provided along both sides of the forwardly extending part of the opening 20 for receiving laces, which are not shown for sake of simplicity.
In accordance with the present invention, the upper 18 of the shoe 10 has a plurality of transparent plastic conduits or tubes 26, typically made from polyethylene, PVC or surgical rubber, bonded or otherwise secured to its external surface. The tubes 26 form a sinuous pattern covering a substantial proportion of the external surface of the upper 18 of the shoe 10, and all communicate directly or indirectly with the interior of the sole 12, as will hereinafter become apparent, via respective inlets/outlets 28 in the rearwardly facing, vertically extending, external surface 30 of the heel part 16 of the sole. Individual ones of the tubes are indicated at 26a, 26b, 26c in Figures 1 to 5, where it can be seen that the tube 26c branches from the tube 26b at a T- piece 32. However, it will be appreciated that the particular pattern of the tubes 26 illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 is merely one example of a variety of possible patterns, containing more or less than three individual tubes.
As is rather diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 6, the inlets/outlets 28 in the surface 30 heel 16 communicate internally of the sole 12 with two reservoirs 34 and 36 (the positions and total number of the inlets/outlets shown in Figure 7 have been changed somewhat for ease of illustration). These reservoirs 34 and 36 are moulded into the sole 12, and form with the tubes 26 respective closed circuits. The reservoirs 34 and 36 and the tubes 26 contain a coloured liquid or flowable gel, which is preferably fluorescent and/or loaded with small pieces of sparkling material such as aluminium foil. This liquid or gel does not completely fill the closed circuits formed by the reservoirs 34,36 and the tubes 26, so that the tubes 26 tend to contain "slugs" of coloured liquid or gel interspersed by bubbles of air. In use, the liquid or gel in the reservoirs 34, 36 tends to partially absorb the shock of the impacts of the shoe 10 on the ground as the wearer walks or runs, thus providing a cushioning effect that increases the comfort of the shoe and reducing the jarring of the leg joints of the wearer which are caused by typical usage, eg jogging on hard surfaces such as pavements. At the same time, the impacts tend to pump the slugs of liquid or gel along the tubes 26, which, because of the transparency of the tubes, creates a striking visual effect, rendered more pronounced by the fluorescence of the liquid or gel and/or the sparkling material loaded into the liquid or gel. This has considerable safety advantages, particularly in low light conditions such as are encountered at dusk, as well as providing a novelty effect which appeals to children. The fact that the slugs of liquid or gel move in opposite directions in adjacent portions of the tubes 26 also enhances the visual effect, the direction of movement being controllable by including simple non-return valves in the tubes 26 if necessary or desired.
Although the reservoirs 34, 36 are shown in Figure 6 as separate chambers, they can instead be constituted by sinuous tubes. And in the limit, one reservoir, rather than two, will suffice. And although the tubes 26 are transparent, some of the benefits of the invention are still obtained if the tubes are merely translucent.
Figure 7 shows a modified version of the shoe 10, in which the tube 26a has been omitted, and the tube 26b has been formed into the shape of the logo 40 of the manufacturer of the shoe, represented for illustrative purposes only by the word "BRAND". The logo 40 is positioned in the ankle region on the left side of a left shoe, ie the outwardly facing side of the shoe: and a similarly formed logo is provided in the corresponding position on the right side of the right shoe. It will therefore be appreciated that this embodiment of the invention has the added advantage from the manufacturer's point of view that, in use, the moving slugs of fluorescent or glitter-loaded coloured liquid or gel draw attention not only to the shoe and its wearer, but also to the manufacturer's logo as they pass through it.
As an alternative to forming the manufacturer's logo 40 on the outside of the ankle of the shoe is to form it instead on the rearwardly facing or heel part of the upper 18 of the shoe, above the surface 30 of the heel part 16 of the sole 12.
Many modifications can be made to the described embodiments of the shoe 10.
For example, the tubes 26 can co-operate with an inflatable device in the form of, say, a flower, disposed on the external surface of the shoe 10, so that the liquid pumped into the tubes inflates the inflatable device each time the shoe impacts the ground. In this case, the tubes 26 need not be visible, since the desired visible effect is created by the inflation of the inflatable device.
Furthermore, the shoe 10 can be provide with internal tubes or flow- through pads in addition to or in series with the external tubes 26, these internal tubes or pads partially inflating on each impact of the shoe on the ground to tighten the fit of the shoe on the wearer's foot.
If desired, the pumped liquid resulting from each impact of the shoe 10 on the ground can be arranged to operate a pedometer.
In another modification, the shoe 10 may also incorporate a piezoelectric sensor arranged to operate one or more light emitting diodes as described in more detail in my US Patent No. 5,500,635, and may further include one or more optical fibres for directing at least some of the light emitted by the or each light emitting diode into the tubes 26 to enhance the visibility of the moving slugs of fluorescent or glitter-loaded coloured liquid or gel therein.

Claims

1. A shoe having a sole incorporating reservoir means containing a liquid, and conduit means communicating with said reservoir and into which said liquid is forced as the sole of the shoe impacts the ground, said reservoir means and said conduit means forming a closed circuit and together with said liquid serving to at least partially absorb the shock of said impacts, said conduit means being at least partially visible externally of the shoe, and at least part of the visible part of the conduit means being transparent, whereby the movement of the liquid through the conduit means provides a visual indication of the impacts of the shoe on the ground.
2. A shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein reservoir means comprises at least one chamber formed in the sole of the shoe.
3. A shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reservoir means comprises a chamber provided in or moulded into the forward part of the sole of the shoe.
4. A shoe as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reservoir means comprises a sinuous duct provided in or moulded into the forward part of the sole of the shoe.
5. A shoe as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conduit means comprises at least one tube disposed on the outer surface of the shoe.
6. A shoe as claimed in claim 5, wherein the conduit means comprises two tubes connected to the reservoir means in such a manner that the liquid flow in the tubes is oppositely directed.
7. A shoe as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the or each tube is made from polyethylene, PVC or surgical rubber.
8. A shoe as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the shoe includes an externally visible manufacturer's logo, and at least one of the tubes is arranged to be incorporated in or to otherwise co-operate with the logo to enhance its visibility.
9. A shoe as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the liquid is coloured.
10. A shoe as claimed in claim 9, wherein the liquid is coloured by means of a fluorescent colouring material.
11. A shoe as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the liquid is loaded with pieces of reflective or sparkling material.
12. A shoe as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a piezoelectric sensor, and at least one light emitting diode arranged to be operated by the piezoelectric sensor.
13. A shoe as claimed in claim 12, further comprising one or more optical fibres for directing at least some of the light emitted by the or each light emitting diode into the conduit means to enhance the visibility of the moving liquid therein.
14. A shoe as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the conduit means includes at least one portion disposed internally of the shoe, and wherein the or each internally disposed portion is adapted to at least partially inflate on each impact of the shoe on the ground to tighten the fit of the shoe on the wearer's foot.
15. A shoe having a sole incorporating reservoir means containing a liquid, and conduit means communicating with said reservoir and into which said liquid is forced as the sole of the shoe impacts the ground, said reservoir means and said conduit means forming a closed circuit and together with said liquid serving to at least partially absorb the shock of said impacts, said conduit means communicating with inflatable means which is at least partially visible externally of the shoe, whereby the movement of the liquid through the conduit means inflates the inflatable means and thereby provides a visual indication of the impacts of the shoe on the ground.
16. A shoe as claimed in claim 15, wherein the inflatable means is translucent.
17. A shoe as claimed in claim 15 or claim 16 and incorporating the features of any one of claims 2 to 14.
18. A shoe substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
PCT/GB2002/002570 2001-06-07 2002-06-06 Shoes WO2002098256A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0113875.9 2001-06-07
GBGB0113875.9A GB0113875D0 (en) 2001-06-07 2001-06-07 Shoes

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Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2737814A1 (en) 2012-11-28 2014-06-04 Grupo Flexi de Leon, S.A.P.I. de C.V. Clear shoe sole associated with internal gel with common shock absorbers ovals to cushion the impact when walking
US9737114B2 (en) 2014-08-06 2017-08-22 Nike, Inc. Articles of footwear with upper incorporating chamber element
CN111109753A (en) * 2019-12-31 2020-05-08 信泰(福建)科技有限公司 Inflatable shoe with multiple air bags and electronic light-emitting elements
US10798988B2 (en) 2011-09-02 2020-10-13 Paul Anthony Brown Footwear construction
US10993503B2 (en) * 2011-02-11 2021-05-04 Code Footwear, Llc Reconfigurable apparel manufacture and business process
CN113163903A (en) * 2018-11-30 2021-07-23 耐克创新有限合伙公司 Automatic lacing footwear motor with force directing support
US11206896B2 (en) 2017-02-27 2021-12-28 Nike, Inc. Adjustable foot support systems including fluid-filled bladder chambers

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0060353A1 (en) * 1981-03-11 1982-09-22 FLUMATIC s.r.l. Orthopedic device for use in the prevention and treatment of foot disorders
WO1991010376A1 (en) * 1990-01-09 1991-07-25 Sax-Tech Limited Shoes
US5379533A (en) * 1991-12-06 1995-01-10 Converse Inc. Fluid filled amusement or attention attracting article for attachment to footwear
US5500635A (en) 1990-02-20 1996-03-19 Mott; Jonathan C. Products incorporating piezoelectric material
US5813148A (en) * 1996-04-08 1998-09-29 Guerra; Rafael J. Footwear with optical fiber illuminating display areas and control module

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0060353A1 (en) * 1981-03-11 1982-09-22 FLUMATIC s.r.l. Orthopedic device for use in the prevention and treatment of foot disorders
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