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
  • A43B13/18—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
  • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
  • A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
  • A43B13/12—Soles with several layers of different materials
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B17/00—Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
  • A43B17/02—Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined wedge-like or resilient
  • A43B17/026—Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined wedge-like or resilient filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
  • A43B7/141—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form having an anatomical or curved form
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/24—Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side , preventing supination or pronation
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/28—Adapting the inner sole or the side of the upper of the shoe to the sole of the foot

Definitions

• One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate to footwear. More particularly, certain embodiments of the invention relates to a system for absorbing impact energy and stabilizing joint biomechanics in footwear.
• Over pronation occurs when the arch of the foot flattens too much upon the impact of each step, which typically causes the ankle to roll inward. Over pronation may result in the misalignment of the entire joints system and inferior biomechanical function, which may lead to joint soreness, susceptibility to injuries, and early arthritis due to uneven friction and/or bearing of weight on the joint cartilage surface.
• the heel of the foot is typically cup shaped and often absorbs most of the shock of impact directly at the bottom of the heel, which may put strain on surrounded ligaments and soft tissue. During extreme or heavy repetitive impact, these ligaments and soft tissue may be injured.
• Most conventional footwear is constructed with substantially flat midsoles and/or outsoles to accommodate feet of different shapes. Flat footwear may not properly support the heel or arch of the foot.
• the foot is not flat and injury due to impact related sports as well as injuries due to overuse and stress may become problematic for both athletes and non-athletes.
• athletes may often suffer from heel bruises or ligament tearing caused by the curved heel of the foot striking down too hard on flat surfaces such as the flat midsole in their footwear.
• Figures 1A through 1C illustrate an exemplary outsole for a system for absorbing impact energy and stabilizing joint biomechanics in footwear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 1 A is a diagrammatic top view.
• Figure 1B is a diagrammatic bottom view, and
• Figure 1C is a perspective front view; and
• Figures 2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary system for absorbing impact energy and stabilizing joint biomechanics in footwear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 2A is a cross sectional side view of the stabilizing system
• Figure 2B is a cross sectional side view of the stabilizing system in use.
• a reference to “a step” or“a means” is a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible.
• the word“or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical“or” rather than that of a logical“exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise.
• Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
• references to a“device,” an“apparatus,” a“system,” etc., in the preamble of a claim should be construed broadly to mean“any structure meeting the claim terms” exempt for any specific structure(s)/type(s) that has/(have) been explicitly disavowed or excluded or
• references to“one embodiment,”“an embodiment,”“example embodiment,”“various embodiments,”“some embodiments,”“embodiments of the invention,” etc. may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every possible embodiment of the invention necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase“in one embodiment,” or“in an exemplary embodiment,”“an embodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although they may.
• references to“user”, or any similar term, as used herein may mean a human or non human user thereof.
• “user”, or any similar term, as used herein unless expressly stipulated otherwise, is contemplated to mean users at any stage of the usage process, to include, without limitation, direct user(s), intermediate user(s), indirect user(s), and end user(s).
• the meaning of“user”, or any similar term, as used herein, should not be otherwise inferred or induced by any pattem(s) of description, embodiments, examples, or referenced prior-art that may (or may not) be provided in the present patent.
• references to“end user”, or any similar term, as used herein, are generally intended to mean late stage user(s) as opposed to early stage user(s). Hence, it is contemplated that there may be a multiplicity of different types of“end user” near the end stage of the usage process.
• examples of an“end user” may include, without limitation, a
• some embodiments of the present invention may provide beneficial usage to more than one stage or type of usage in the foregoing usage process.
• references to“end user”, or any similar term, as used therein are generally intended to not include the user that is the furthest removed, in the foregoing usage process, from the final user therein of an embodiment of the present invention.
• intermediate user(s) may include, without limitation, any individual person or non-human thing benefiting in any way, directly or indirectly, from use of, or interaction with, some aspect of the present invention with respect to selling, vending, Original Equipment Manufacturing, marketing, merchandising, distributing, service providing, and the like thereof.
• the mechanisms/unit/circuit/component can be said to be configured to (or be operable) for perform(ing) the task even when the specified mechanisms/unit/circuit/component is not currently operational (e.g., is not on).
• the mechanisms/units/circuits/components used with the“configured to” or“operable for” language include hardware— for example, mechanisms, structures, electronics, circuits, memory storing program instructions executable to implement the operation, etc. Reciting that a mechanism/unit/circuit/component is“configured to” or“operable for” perform(ing) one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35 U.S.C. sctn.112, sixth paragraph, for that mechanism/unit/circuit/component.“Configured to” may also include adapting a manufacturing process to fabricate devices or components that are adapted to implement or perform one or more tasks.
• this term is used to describe one or more factors that affect a determination. This term does not foreclose additional factors that may affect a
• a determination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least in part, on those factors.
• a determination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least in part, on those factors.
• phase“consisting of’ excludes any element, step, or ingredient not specified in the claim.
• phrase“consists of’ or variations thereof
• the phrase“consists of’ or variations thereof
• the phrase“consists of’ or variations thereof
• any instance of“comprising” may be replaced by“consisting of’ or, alternatively, by “consisting essentially of', and thus, for the purposes of claim support and construction for“consisting of’ format claims, such replacements operate to create yet other alternative embodiments“consisting essentially of’ only the elements recited in the original “comprising” embodiment to the exclusion of all other elements.
• Devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise.
• devices or system modules that are in at least general communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.
• a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.
• a commercial implementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may configured according to the needs of the particular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s), result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skills and known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation that addresses the needs of the particular application.
• An embodiment of the present invention may provide a system for absorbing impact energy and stabilizing joint biomechanics in footwear.
• Some embodiments may use non-Newtonian fluid or rate sensitive material in conjunction with a biomechanically correct orthotic molded footwear outsole to help prevent over pronation, stabilize arch and joint function, and provide biomechanically correct heel support.
• Some embodiments may comprise a single piece of heat- or injection-molded shear thickening material or a fluid filled bag built into a midsole or outsole. Such material or bag may react to each step and custom shape of the foot upon impact, providing support at the time of impact.
• the footwear may be shoes, in some embodiments footwear may be boots, clogs, sandals, and leisure footwear such as flip flops.
• Footwear may be specific to an activity or sport and may comprise ski boots, ice skates, roller skates, inline skates, ballet footwear, baseball, football, and soccer shoes with our without cleats, and rubber soled shoes including sneakers, walking shoes, basketball shoes, running shoes, and tennis shoes.
• Figures 1A through 1C illustrate an exemplary outsole 100 for a system for absorbing impact energy and stabilizing joint biomechanics in footwear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 1 A is a diagrammatic top view.
• FigurelB is a diagrammatic bottom view
• Figure 1C is a perspective front view.
• the inner side of outsole 100 which faces the foot, may be formed into a biomechanically correct shape to match the common curvature of a heel and arch.
• the biomechanically correct shape comprises an arch support 105 that may be lower than typical arch pronation as to typically not interfere with the foot's natural pronation function.
• Arch support 105 may act as a guide to help prevent extreme over pronation and may also guide an insert that may be placed within outsole 100, similar to the insert illustrated by way of example in Figure 2.
• Outsole 100 also comprises a hollow heel cup 110, which may help guide proper biomechanical function and may enable the heel of the foot to rest and take impact in its natural cupped shape
• the cup 110 provides full stabilization of the heel along with absorbtion of impact across the entire heel surface rather than just the bottom while Such stabilization and impact absorption occurs while the cup 110 cradles the heel in a manner that supports the ligaments, joints and muscles.
• the bottom of outsole 100 may have a flat surface. It is contemplated that outsoles 100 in some alternate embodiments may have differently shaped bottom surfaces.
• Such bottom surfaces may comprise contoured surfaces, lugged surfaces for grip, surfaces with embedded spikes or cleats or receptacles for detachable spikes or cleats, surfaces that may clip into bicycle pedals, and surfaces with stacked or high heels.
• the contour of the inner side or surface of the outsole 100 may vary in some alternate embodiments.
• the inner surface may be shaped in a male or female fashion or may be shaped to accomodate different of foot conditions such as, but not limited to, flat feet, high arches, bunions, and hammertoes.
• outsole 100 may be made of a multiplicity of suitable materials including, but not limited to, rubber, various plastics, foam, and wood.
• Figures 2A and 2B illustrate an exemplary system for absorbing impact energy and stabilizing joint biomechanics in footwear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 2A is a cross sectional side view of the stabilizing system
• Figure 2B is a cross sectional side view of the stabilizing system in use.
• the system comprises an outsole 205 and an insert 210.
• the inner side of outsole 205 may be formed into a biomechanically correct shape to match the common curvature of the heel and arch of a foot 215, similarly to the outsole 100 illustrated by way of example in the foregoing.
• the hollowed out area of outsole 205 may be filled with insert 210 made of a non-Newtonian liquid or material such as, but not limited to rate sensitive, viscoelastic or dilatant foams with shear thickening properties formulated into polymers, silicones or any other suitable state some bearing commercial names such as D30, Poron XRD, Artilage, or numerous other liquids with said properties used in various other industrial applications.
• insert 210 made of a non-Newtonian liquid or material such as, but not limited to rate sensitive, viscoelastic or dilatant foams with shear thickening properties formulated into polymers, silicones or any other suitable state some bearing commercial names such as D30, Poron XRD, Artilage, or numerous other liquids with said properties used in various other industrial applications.
• a thin insole 220 is depicted atop of insert 210.
• the insole 220 may provide cushioning as used in many type of footwear.
• the insole 220 may be optional and not included in some embodiments
• footwear uppers may be constructed around outsole 205 and insert 210 including, without limitation, athletic shoes, work shoes, boots, and sandals. While not depicted in Figures 1 A, 1B, 1C, 2A, or 2B, footwear and their components depicted in these figures is assumed to include uppers and components parts of uppers.
• the non-Newtonian, rate sensitive fluid or material that may be used for insert 210 is typically fluid and dynamic in its resting or slow moving state. When impacted, the fluid or material momentarily becomes firm, taking on the unique shape of foot 215 and further providing firm, stabilizing support. Such support may enable correct biomechanical function and may absorb shock energy.
• This embodiment involving non-Newtonian, rate sensitive fluid or material may provide an optimal material because in liquid, foam or silicone formulations the fluid or material is
• the non-Newtonian, rate sensitive fluid or material may be engineered to specific densities or hardness which optimizes bearing of the body's weight without fully flattening.
• the shock energy and movement from the foot impact the material, the material forms into the shape of the foot but also tightens up creating a momentary custom orthotic property firm enough to prevent the collapse of the arch or heel.
• the shock energy is converted into heat instead of transferring through to the body in the manner of some other materials. This structure eliminates most shock energy while providing constant customizing support.
• insert 210 may be implemented as a molded or otherwise formed piece.
• a combination of materials may be used to form the insert 210 or multiple inserts 210 may be used to provide different types of support in different areas of the foot.
• a non-Newtonian material may be used for the portion of the insert 210 located in the heel cup of the outsole 205 to absorb the shock of the heel strike while normal foam may be used for the rest of the insert 210 to provide support throughout the rest of the stride.
• insert 210 may react and become firm to act as a buffer to typically reduce the stress and shock of the impact. Additionally, insert 210 may custom form into the shape of foot 215 upon each unique foot impact. At the time of impact outsole 205, with its heel cup and arch support, may guide insert 210 to create a stabilization effect for the heel and arch of foot 215 to guide foot 215 into a proper stride. This system may be cost effective since using the outsole 205 as the stabilization structure may add little to no cost in manufacturing.
• this system may help prevent over pronation and may help alleviate many other types of foot problems and injuries such as, but not limited to, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, joint pain, and soft tissue damage.
• one embodiment may comprise an additional piece on top of the outsole 205 to act as the stabilization unit instead of building the stabilization means into the outsole 205.
• This embodiment could possibly be made in a single dual material injection molding process.
• Another embodiment may be implemented in the form of a high heel shoe or other item of footwear.
• the outsole 205 may be configured in an angled shape to create height and may have a heel attached to the rear outer surface.
• Yet another alternate embodiment may comprise an insert that is only located under a portion of the foot rather than under the entire foot, for example, without limitation, only under the heel.
• the outsole 205 may be formed with a recessed portion into which the insert 210 may be placed to provide a smooth surface on which the foot may rest.
• the insert 210 may be placed to provide a smooth surface on which the foot may rest.
• suitable additional or alternate features such as, but not limited to, a texture on the surface that contacts the foot to create a massaging effect, odor and bacteria reducing properties, and ventilation means.
• polyurethane materials are temperature-sensitive and although may present formulations exist which do not change must in usual temperatures, others such as silicone based are not effected by temperature use of any type of non-Newtonian material optimized or not should apply to the invention
• the stabilizing systems described in the foregoing were principally directed to footwear implementations; however, similar techniques may instead be applied to other types of impact absorbing and stabilizing devices such as, but not limited to, gloves, elbow pads and knee pads, knee braces, or head and neck restraints, which implementations of the present invention are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention.
• the invention is thus to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to be further understood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in the foregoing specification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of the objects, advantages, or improvements described in the foregoing specification.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)

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Citations (4)

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• 2016
  • 2016-11-21 US US15/357,374 patent/US20180140044A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2017
  • 2017-12-08 WO PCT/US2017/065476 patent/WO2019151969A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2017-12-08 EP EP17936977.2A patent/EP3745898A4/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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