Patent Application
20120174433
This disclosure relates to outsoles for articles of footwear.
Articles of footwear, such as shoes, are generally worn while exercising to protect and provide stability of a user's feet. In general, shoes include an upper portion and a sole. When the upper portion is secured to the sole, the upper portion and the sole together define a void that is configured to securely and comfortably hold a human foot. Often, the upper portion and/or sole are/is formed from multiple layers that can be stitched or adhesively bonded together. For example, the upper portion can be made of a combination of leather and fabric, or foam and fabric, and the sole can be formed from at least one layer of natural rubber. Often materials are chosen for functional reasons, e.g., water-resistance, durability, abrasion-resistance, and breathability, while shape, texture, and color are used to promote the aesthetic qualities of the shoe. The sole generally provides support for a user's foot and acts as an interface between the user's foot and the ground.
One aspect of the disclosure provides an article of footwear that includes a sole defining a bending feature (e.g., a groove) between a phalanges portion and a metatarsus portion of the sole. The bending feature allows the phalanges sole portion to articulate upward with respect to the metatarsus sole portion. An upper is attached to the sole and defines a foot void for receiving a human foot. The upper has a phalanges portion that defines at least one toe receiver volume. The at least one toe receiver volume defines a raised shape with respect to an adjacent metatarsus portion of the upper. Articulation of the phalanges sole portion and substantially unrestricted toe lift movement into the at least one toe receiver volume allows substantially unrestricted upward toe flexion of a received foot in the foot void.
Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following features. In some implementations, the sole defines a substantially uniform thickness from a toe end to a heel end of the article of footwear. The sole may comprise ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) (e.g., a high abrasion EVA resistant to wear). In some examples, the sole includes a sole body, a first ground contact pad disposed on a heel portion of the sole body, a second ground contact pad disposed on a medial metatarsus portion of the sole body, and a third ground contact pad disposed on a medial phalanges portion of the sole body. Bottom surfaces of the ground contact pads and a bottom surface of the sole body collectively define a ground contact surface of the sole. The bottom surface of the sole body may define traction lugs having a heelward shoulder, which may define a substantially right angle edge having a substantially non-radiused corner. The sole body may define a ground contact pod in a medial portion of the sole body between the first and second ground contact pads. The ground contact pod has a bottom surface common with the ground contact surface of the sole. In some examples, the ground contact pads comprise carbon rubber. Moreover, the ground contact pads may define concentric grooves. At least one groove of each ground contact pad may define a shoulder having a substantially non-radiused edge.
In some implementations, the upper includes an enclosure layer and a reinforcing layer disposed on at least a forefoot portion of enclosure layer, the reinforcing layer having webs extending from a common location in a medial forefoot portion of the upper to spaced locations near a lateral edge of the upper. The common location may be near a foot receiving opening defined by the upper. In some examples, the reinforcing layer extends continuously along a periphery of the forefoot portion of the enclosure layer. Moreover, the webs define an arcuate path. The reinforcing layer may comprise at least one of a thermoplastic polyurethane and a heat pressed rubber. In some examples, the enclosure layer has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner enclosure layer surface can be the inner most surface of the upper and the outer enclosure layer surface can be the outermost surface for a portion of the upper.
In some implementations, the article of footwear includes a first strap and a second strap. The first strap has a first end secured to one of lateral and medial heel portions of the upper near a foot receiving opening defined by the upper and a free second end releasably securable to the other of the lateral and medial heel portions of the upper. The first end of the first strap may connected directly to the enclosure layer. The second strap has a first end secured to a medial portion of the upper near the foot receiving opening opposite of the first strap and a free second end releasably securable to a lateral portion of the upper. In some examples, the second ends of the first and second straps are releasably securable to the upper using hook and loop fasteners.
Another aspect of the disclosure provides an article of footwear that includes a sole attached to an upper. The upper includes an enclosure layer and a reinforcing layer disposed on at least a forefoot portion of enclosure layer. The reinforcing layer has webs extending from a common location in a medial forefoot portion of the upper to spaced locations near a lateral edge of the upper.
In some implementations, the common location is near a foot receiving opening defined by the upper. The webs may define an arcuate path. The reinforcing layer may extend continuously along a periphery of the forefoot portion of the enclosure layer. In some examples, the reinforcing layer comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polyurethane and a heat pressed rubber. In some examples, the enclosure layer has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner enclosure layer surface can be the inner most surface of the upper and the outer enclosure layer surface can be the outermost surface for a portion of the upper.
In some implementations, the article of footwear includes a first strap and a second strap. The first strap has a first end secured to one of lateral and medial heel portions of the upper near a foot receiving opening defined by the upper and a free second end releasably securable to the other of the lateral and medial heel portions of the upper. The first end of the first strap may connected directly to the enclosure layer. The second strap has a first end secured to a medial portion of the upper near the foot receiving opening opposite of the first strap and a free second end releasably securable to a lateral portion of the upper. In some examples, the second ends of the first and second straps are releasably securable to the upper using hook and loop fasteners.
In yet another aspect of the disclosure, a sole assembly for an article of footwear includes a sole body comprising ethylene vinyl acetate, a first ground contact pad disposed on a heel portion of the sole body, a second ground contact pad disposed on a medial metatarsus portion of the sole body, and a third ground contact pad disposed on a medial phalanges portion of the sole body. The ground contact pads comprise rubber. Moreover, bottom surfaces of the ground contact pads and a bottom surface of the sole body collectively define a ground contact surface of the sole assembly.
In some implementations, the bottom surface of the sole body defines traction lugs having a heelward shoulder, which may define a substantially right angle edge having a substantially non-radiused corner. The sole body may define a bending feature (e.g., a groove) between a phalanges portion of the sole body and a metatarsus portion of the sole body for allowing articulation of the phalanges sole body portion with respect to the metatarsus sole body portion. In some examples, the sole body defines a ground contact pod in a medial portion of the sole body between the first and second ground contact pads. The ground contact pod has a bottom surface common with the ground contact surface of the sole assembly. The ground contact pads may comprise carbon rubber. Moreover, the ground contact pads may define concentric grooves (e.g., channels, molded siping, or razor siping). At least one groove of each ground contact pad may define a shoulder having a substantially non-radiused edge. A thickness of a forefoot portion of the sole assembly may be substantially equal to a thickness of a heel portion of the sole assembly.
In another aspect, an article of footwear includes a sole assembly connected to an upper assembly. The sole assembly includes a sole body comprising ethylene vinyl acetate, a first ground contact pad disposed on a heel portion of the sole body, a second ground contact pad disposed on a medial metatarsus portion of the sole body, and a third ground contact pad disposed on a medial phalanges portion of the sole body. Bottom surfaces of the ground contact pads and a bottom surface of the sole body collectively define a ground contact surface of the sole assembly. The upper assembly includes a mesh upper enclosure layer, a first reinforcing layer disposed on the enclosure layer in a forefoot portion of the upper assembly, a second reinforcing layer disposed on the enclosure layer in at least a heel portion of the upper assembly. The first reinforcing layer includes webs extending from a common location in a medial forefoot portion of the upper assembly to spaced locations near a lateral edge of the upper assembly.
In some implementations, the enclosure layer has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner enclosure layer surface can be the inner most surface of the upper assembly and the outer enclosure layer surface can be the outermost surface for a portion of the upper assembly. The common location may be near a foot receiving opening defined by the upper assembly. The first reinforcing layer may extend continuously along a periphery of the forefoot portion of the enclosure layer. Moreover, the webs may define an arcuate path. In some examples, the first reinforcing layer comprises at least one of a thermoplastic polyurethane and a heat pressed rubber. The second reinforcing layer may comprise a synthetic suede.
In some implementations, the article of footwear includes a first strap and a second strap. The first strap has a first end secured to one of lateral and medial heel portions of the upper near a foot receiving opening defined by the upper and a free second end releasably securable to the other of the lateral and medial heel portions of the upper. The first end of the first strap may connected directly to the enclosure layer. The second strap has a first end secured to a medial portion of the upper near the foot receiving opening opposite of the first strap and a free second end releasably securable to a lateral portion of the upper. In some examples, the second ends of the first and second straps are releasably securable to the upper using hook and loop fasteners. Moreover, the first and second straps may extend continuously from the second reinforcing layer as a unitary piece.
The bottom surface of the sole body may define fraction lugs having a heelward shoulder, which may define a substantially right angle edge having a substantially non-radiused corner. In some examples, the sole body defines a bending feature (e.g., a groove or channel) between a phalanges portion of the sole body and a metatarsus portion of the sole body for allowing articulation of the phalanges sole body portion with respect to the metatarsus sole body portion.
In some examples, the sole body defines a ground contact pod in a medial portion of the sole body between the first and second ground contact pads. The ground contact pod has a bottom surface common with the ground contact surface of the sole assembly. The ground contact pads may comprise carbon rubber. The ground contact pads, in some examples, define concentric grooves. At least one groove of each ground contact pad may define a shoulder having a substantially non-radiused edge. A thickness of a forefoot portion of the sole assembly may be substantially equal to a thickness of a heel portion of the sole assembly, thereby providing substantially no heel lift.
In yet another aspect, an article of footwear includes a sole and an upper attached to the sole. The upper includes a mesh enclosure layer extending from a toe end of the upper to a heel end of the upper, a thermo plastic polyurethane reinforcing layer applied to an outer surface of the mesh enclosure layer in a forefoot portion of the upper, and a non-woven reinforcing layer applied to the outer surface of the mesh enclosure layer in a heel portion of the upper. The non-woven reinforcing layer defines a first strap extending from a medial portion of the upper proximate a foot opening defined by the upper to a distal free end releasably securable to a lateral portion of the upper. The non-woven reinforcing layer also defines a second strap extending from one of lateral and medial heel portions of the upper near the foot opening to a distal free end releasably securable to the other of the lateral and medial heel portions.
The details of one or more implementations of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements. By way of example only, all of the drawings are directed to an article of footwear suitable to be worn on a left foot. The invention also includes the mirror images of the drawings, i.e. an article of footwear suitable to be worn on a right foot.
A minimalist running shoe can have a relatively low weight (e.g., less than about 4.5 ounces for a men's size 9) and few materials or components as compared to traditional running shoes, to provide a feeling of little resistance on a user's foot (e.g., such as a feeling of running barefoot), while still protecting a user's foot from surface abrasions or foreign objects on the ground. The shoe can have a minimum amount of material to securely receive and hold a user's foot.
Referring to
In some implementations, the upper assembly 100 includes an enclosure layer 110 and first and second reinforcing layers 120, 130 disposed on (e.g., stitched, adhered, or otherwise attached to) the enclosure layer 110. The enclosure layer 110 is shaped to at least partially defined the foot void 20 for receiving the user's foot. In the examples shown, the enclosure layer 110 is a single layer shaped to receive and substantially surround the user's foot. The enclosure layer 110 can be a base layer for the upper assembly 100 that receives the applied reinforcing layers 120, 130. The enclosure layer 110 may extend continuously from a toe end 12 of the shoe 10 to a heel end 14 of the shoe 10. The enclosure layer 110, in some examples, comprises a mesh material (e.g., a 2-way, 4-way, or three-dimensional stretch mesh material) that can stretch to conform to and/or accommodate receipt and movement of a foot (e.g., including toe flexion, extension, and lift). The enclosure layer 110 can stretch to allow foot expansion during running as well during a ground contact phase of a running stride. The enclosure layer 110 has an inner surface 112 contacting the user's foot as an inner most surface of the upper assembly 100 and an outer surface 114 that is the outermost surface of some portions of the upper assembly 100. The enclosure layer 110 may have a thickness TE of between about 0.2 mm and about 2 mm.
The first reinforcing layer 120 is disposed on the enclosure layer 110 in the forefoot portion 102 of the upper assembly 100. The first reinforcing layer 110 can be configured to convey or transmit fitting and/or wear forces about the foot receiving opening 101 or a closure device thereabout to the sole assembly 100. The first reinforcing layer 120 may comprise a thermoplastic polyurethane or a heat pressed rubber applied, adhered or melted onto the enclosure layer 110 (e.g., onto the outer surface 114). In some examples, the first reinforcing layer 120 is an injected plastic material formed on the enclosure layer 110 as a continuous reinforcing structure securely bonded to the enclosure layer 110. The first reinforcing layer 120 can be configured to allow stretching of the mesh enclosure layer 110 in some regions, while restricting stretch in other regions (e.g., to provide support, shape, and/or a fit of the shoe 10). The stretch restriction can be partial or complete. For example, the first reinforcing layer 120 may be inelastic or elastic (e.g., and having a different level of stretch than the enclosure layer 110). In some examples, the first reinforcing layer 120 extends continuously along a periphery of the forefoot portion of the enclosure layer 110 (e.g., along an outer perimeter of the shoe 10).
In the examples shown, the first reinforcing layer 120 includes one or more reinforcing strips, bands, or webs 122 arranged to form a cage over the forefoot portion 102 of the upper assembly 100. Each reinforcing web 122 may extend from a common region 105 within an intersection of the forefoot and medial portions 102, 106 of the upper assembly 100 (e.g., a medial forefoot portion of the upper assembly 100) to the lateral portion of the upper assembly 100 (or the forefoot and lateral portions 202, 206 of the upper assembly 100) and optionally connecting to the sole assembly 200. The first reinforcing layer 120 may be connected to both the lateral and medial portions 206, 208 of the sole assembly 200 and extend over the enclosure layer therebetween (e.g., along a linear or arcuate path), at least partially surrounding a received foot. Moreover, each reinforcing web may extend radially away from the common region 105 (e.g., in a fan pattern). For example, adjacent reinforcing webs 122 may have an angle of separation θ of between about 5° and about 45°. The reinforcing webs 122 may have a thickness TW of between about 0.1 mm and about 1 mm and a width WW of between about 0.1 mm and about 1 mm.
The second reinforcing layer 130 may be disposed on the enclosure layer 110 in the heel portion 104 of the upper assembly 100. The second reinforcing layer 130 may comprise a non-woven material, such as a synthetic suede, for providing support, comfort, and a soft feel; however, other materials are possible as well (e.g., a woven, knit, or nonwoven material). The second reinforcing layer 130 may form a heel cup to aid heel retention in the shoe 10. For example, the reinforcing layer 130 may support at least a portion of a user's heel and transmit fitting or wear forces to the sole assembly 200. Moreover, the second reinforcing layer 130 may define apertures 132 for ventilation of the upper assembly 100. The apertures 132 may have a diameter of between about 0.5 mm and about 1 cm; however, other shapes and sizes of apertures 132 may be used as well.
In some implementations, the upper assembly 100 includes a third reinforcing layer 140 disposed in a medial heel region 109 of the upper assembly 100 (e.g., as an outermost layer) to provide additional support against foot pronation during walking or running The third reinforcing layer 140 may comprise a thermoplastic polyurethane, a rigid or semi-rigid plastic, or any other suitable material.
In some implementations, the upper assembly 100 includes one or more closure devices 150 configured to secure receipt foot in the shoe 10. The closure device 150 can decrease an inner volume of the foot void 20, thus tightening at least a portion of the upper assembly 100 around the received foot. The closure device 150 may include straps and/or laces. In the examples shown, the shoe 10 includes a top strap 150a and a heel strap 150b. The top strap 150a has a first end 152a attached to one of the lateral portion 106 or the medial portion 108 of the upper assembly 100 near the foot opening 101 and a free second end 154a releasably securable (e.g., via a releasable fastener 156, such as hook and loop fasteners, a buckle, snaps, friction device, etc.) to the other of the lateral medial portions 106, 108 (i.e., an opposite side) of the upper assembly 100. The heel strap 150b has a first end 152b attached to one of the lateral portion 106 or the medial portion 108 of the upper assembly 100 near the foot opening 101 at the heel end 14 of the shoe 10 and a second end 154b releasably securable (e.g., via a releasable fastener 156, such as hook and loop fasteners, a buckle, snaps, friction device, etc.) to the other of the lateral and medial portions 106, 108 (opposite side) of the upper assembly 100 at the heel end 14 of the shoe 10. In some implementations, the second reinforcing layer 130 defines the first strap 150a extending from a medial portion 108 of the upper assembly 100 proximate the foot opening 101 defined by the upper assembly 100 to a distal free end 154a releasably securable to the lateral portion 106 of the upper assembly 100. The second reinforcing layer 130 may also define the second strap 150b extending from one of the lateral and medial portions 106, 108 of the upper assembly 100 in the heel portion 104 near the foot opening 101 to a distal free end 154b releasably securable to the other of the lateral and medial heel portions.
The combination of the top strap 150a and heel strap 150b allows a user to customize a fit of the shoe 10 at least in the heel portion 104 of the upper assembly 100 (e.g., about the foot opening 101). Moreover, the straps 150a, 105b securely hold the user's foot in the shoe void 20 while the remaining portions of the upper assembly 100 may stretch or elastically deformed during wear.
Referring to
As the user runs, he/she may tend to lift reflects his/her toes at least slightly upward just before making contact with the ground, as shown in
The upper assembly 100 may include a heel tab 170 disposed at the foot opening 101 at the heel end of the shoe 10. The user may pull on the heel tab 170 while donning the shoe 10 on his/her foot to assist movement of his/her foot into the foot void 20. Moreover, the upper assembly 100 may include a tongue tab 180 disposed at the foot opening 101 of the shoe 10 opposite of the heel tabs 170, which may be used for assisting insertion of the user's foot into the foot void 20.
Referring again to
Each ground contact pad 220 may define one or more grooves 222 (e.g., channels, molded siping, or razor siping) for traction. Each groove 222 may have at least one shoulder edge 223 with the ground contact surface 205 of the sole assembly 200. The at least one shoulder edge 223 may define a right angle with a substantially non-radiused, non-chamfered corner. In some examples, the shoulder edge is slightly radiused for mold release of molded ground contact pads 220. In the examples shown, the ground contact pads 220 define several substantially concentric grooves 222 (e.g., elliptical patterns along the ground contact surface 205) to provide traction in every direction of mobility. For example, groove edges 223 running substantially along the longitudinal axis 11 of the shoe 10 can provide traction or slip resistance against ground contact forces incurred by the ground contact pad 220 along the transverse axis 13 of the shoe 10 (e.g., as incurred during side-to-side movements of the user). Similarly, groove edges 223 running substantially along the transverse axis 13 of the shoe 10 can provide traction or slip resistance against ground contact forces incurred by the ground contact pad 220 along the longitudinal axis 11 of the shoe 10 (e.g., as incurred during forward/rearward propulsion in a walking direction). In the example shown in
In the examples shown, the sole assembly 200 includes a first ground contact pad 220a disposed in the heel portion 204 of the sole assembly 200 and second and third ground contact pads 220b, 220c disposed in the forefoot portion 202 of the sole assembly 200, optionally on the medial portion 208 thereof. The second ground contact pad 220b may be disposed in a metatarsus region 203 (e.g., in a medial metatarsus region) of the forefoot portion 202 and the third ground contact pad 220c maybe disposed in a phalanges or toe region 201 of the forefoot portion 202 (e.g., in a medial phalanges region) (
In general, gait is the way of locomotion using limbs. Different gaits are characterized by differences in limb movement patterns, overall velocity, forces, kinetic and potential energy cycles, and changes in surface contact with the ground. A foot strike of a walking or running stride is one variable that defines a person's gait and is generally how the foot contacts the ground and/or which part of the foot first contacts the ground. For example, in a forefoot strike, the ball of a foot lands first; in a midfoot strike, the heel and ball of the foot land simultaneously; and in a heel strike, the heel of foot lands first and then pronates to the ball of the foot.
Referring to
Referring again to
Referring to
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
