Patent Application
20130318817
The present invention relates generally to the construction of a shoe, and, more particularly, to a shoe assembly which provides improved comfort and which promotes a natural motion of the foot by simulating a barefoot experience, and by allowing better flexibility, improved ground contact and less weight.
Shoes, at their most fundamental level, are intended to provide protection and comfort to the human foot during the course of day-to-day activities. Shoe designs have varied greatly over time as well as from culture to culture, with the predominate focus relating to functionality. As people became more sophisticated, shoes became more than just a protective clothing item. In this regard, shoes were designed not only for day-to-day activities, but also for fashion. Shoe designers are thus required to balance function with form, as people desire shoes that are both comfortable and attractive. Because of these market demands, there are currently numerous kinds of shoes with a variety of styles, designs and purposes, varying in their degrees of functionality and fashionability.
Throughout the years, in addition to changes in style, shoes have been made lighter, more durable and more comfortable. In fact, numerous patents have been issued relating to structural alternations of the shoe in furtherance of this goal. Oftentimes, individuals will add a removable cushioning device, such as a foam or gel insert, in the hopes of improving comfort. Numerous types of removable cushioning devices have been developed for use in shoes to provide such relief. Typically, layers of cushioning materials (which may include foam, cellulose, polyurethane, rubber, elastomer, plastic, etc.) are added to the sole construction to give the illusion of comfort. However, these designs usually lose their effectiveness over the course of a day, as they become increasingly compressed. In some cases, prolonged use may result in increasing discomfort as the cushioning becomes less effective. This is because the foot comes into increasingly direct contact with the rigid structural components of the shoe which exist directly beneath the cushioning materials.
Furthermore, in recent years, the “barefoot” running trend in footwear has been gaining popularity, with many examples of footwear coming onto the market with variations of this minimalist theme. Market leaders have created an iconic platform—a thin rubber outsole and elastic textile uppers that are assembled with individual toe segmentation to create “fingers.” Other brands have taken a similar approach without improving on the benefits delivered. However, there are many problems with such “barefoot” running shoes, and their “fingers.” The lack of cushioning and protection underfoot, combined with encouragement to users that they land on their forefoot (rather than their heels) increases the impact force and potential discomfort experienced by the wearer. Further, the radical design is a turn-off to many mainstream consumers, which limits the end use and wearing occasions.
It is therefore desirable to provide an improved shoe construction for various types of footwear which promotes natural foot motion but yet provides improved comfort while still stimulating the barefoot experience. The most important factor to address in all footwear is the ability to provide comfort and support to the wearer as the shoe is worn throughout the day. Specifically, this invention improves upon the “barefoot” running trend without utilizing “fingers,” while still providing comfort benefits delivered in more standard running footwear. Furthermore, this invention introduces a cushioning device which allows for better distribution of foot pressure and which provides long lasting comfort.
Although the present invention will be described in connection with one embodiment of a typical shoe, it is likewise well-suited for use in essentially any type of shoe construction, including shoes having a midsole and/or shoe constructions having a high heel or no heel (flat) configuration. The present shoe assembly is designed to enable unhindered natural foot motion between the foot and the ground. To begin the design process, the shoe is constructed with a cupped heel, a contoured arch, a radiused forepart and neutral heel/forefoot position to create a foot bed that anatomically cradles a wearer's foot. An integrated sockliner/strobel insole is added, the sockliner/strobe insole including a plurality of grooves on its top face and it may optionally include a plurality of ridges and valleys on its bottom face. The integrated sockliner/strobel insole includes perimeter edges for attaching the sockliner/insole to the upper either by strobel stitching or cementing the upper edges under the perimeter of the sockliner/insole edges. The outsole is sculpted to have rounded natural edges and an anatomically correct flex location toward the forefoot of the shoe where softer, more flexible materials are used. The outsole is further designed with harder, protective materials strategically placed in high ground-contact areas to deliver protection and support. An optional midfoot support element (or support shank) may be positioned between the sockliner and outsole to control torsional stiffness. Upper materials are selected to minimize restriction of movement and promote breathability.
The integrated sockliner of the present invention further includes a raised area in the midfoot region and a recessed area located in the hind foot region. The sockliner is preferably comprised of a base foam, including, but not limited to, EVA, polyurethane (PU), blended co-polymers and the like. Sockliner hardness would preferably be in the range of about 25C to 70C on an Asker C scale. The midfoot support element is preferably made from a material including, but not limited to, molded plastic, rigid EVA, Texon/tuck board and the like, with a thickness of between about 1 mm and 3 mm, and with a hardness of between about 50A and 90A on a Shore A scale. Such a construction allows for: (a) increased contact between the foot and shoe interior; (b) a flexibility improvement such that less foot force is required to bend the shoe; (c) an improved gait by enabling natural motion during walking; (c) promoting more midfoot versus heel strike; (d) reduced weight over conventional shoes; and (e) increased foot stimulation through more utilization of bones, tendons and muscles during footstrike. The raised area is positioned to underlie the medial arch of the wearer's foot and the recessed area is positioned to underlie the heel of the wearer's foot. The recessed area is defined by the peripheral edges formed around the hind foot region from the medial side to the lateral side of the heel. The peripheral edge in the hind foot region forms a raised portion where it wraps around the heel of the wearer's foot.
The anatomically shaped and formed integrated sockliner has been designed to reflect the natural contours of the human foot. The sockliner of the present invention extends from the rear of the shoe forward, receiving the wearer's toes. The shaped plantar surface topography maximizes surface contact with the wearer's foot and increases comfort. The recessed area functions as an extended heel seat located in the distal portion of the sockliner, cradling the foot and bearing a majority of the weight while distributing pressure. A reduced heel center thickness is provided to avoid peak heel pressure during heel impact. The shape and outline of the sockliner reflects the natural contours of the human foot. As the foot is “loaded” with body weight during heel strike, the present sockliner compresses and expands within the shoe, supporting the foot and insuring maximum contact.
The surface topography of the present invention includes a top face and a bottom face, each having a generally planar surface, extending along a base plane. On the top face, a plurality of grooves extend across the base plane in a generally undulating pattern for engagement with the sole of the foot. For the purposes of this disclosure, “undulating” describes a smooth, wavelike pattern, as further discussed below. On the bottom face, the integrated socket liner may include a plurality of alternating ridges and/or valleys extending from the inside of the foot to the outside of the foot in a generally undulating and/or sinusoidal pattern.
For the purposes of this disclosure, all directions discussed hereinafter (up, down, etc.) use a frame of reference in which the top face of the sockliner faces “up” while the bottom face of the sockliner faces “down.” Thus, while grooves in the top face extend “downwardly” into the sockliner, the valleys in the bottom face extend “upwardly” into the sockliner and the ridges on the bottom face extend “downwardly” away from the sockliner.
The optional ridge surfaces are positioned parallel and below the base plane, extending downwardly. The upward extension of the ridge surfaces forms the side walls of the ridges which are generally perpendicular to the base plane. The optional valley surfaces are positioned parallel and above the base plane, extending downwardly. The downward extension of the valley surfaces form the side walls of the valleys which are generally perpendicular to the base plane. On the bottom face, the ridge surfaces may come into direct or indirect contact with the upper surface of the outsole. The outsole is preferably constructed from rubber or polyurethane, in either single or dual compound areas. For example, a dual compound outsole may have high-traction compound at high ground-contact locations, and a wear-resistant compound toward the perimeter of the outsole. Preferably, the hardness of either or both of these compounds would be in the range of about 45A to 75A on a Shore A scale. Such configurations effectively lock in the anatomical shape within the shoe while providing cushioning and support to the wearer.
When a foot is inserted into a shoe that houses the present shoe assembly, the recessed area of the integrated sockliner serves to receive and locate the heel in a recessed area which is substantially concaved, and the raised area acts to support the medial arch of the wearer's foot so that the integrated sockliner substantially contacts the entire bottom surface of the wearer's foot. The combination of a raised area under the medial arch, a recessed area immediately under the heel, and the use of a sockliner material that substantially maintains its form, improves the distribution of the pressure and the comfort of shoes made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. It is generally recognized that the integrated sockliner of the present invention is more resistant to “bottoming out,” which for purposes of this disclosure, means that the sockliner will not reach a threshold of force where the material comprising the sockliner will not further compress. As pressure is applied to the sockliner, the ridges compress vertically, causing them to expand horizontally. The valleys provide space for the ridges to expand horizontally, allowing for additional compression and cushioning.
In still another embodiment, the present shoe assembly includes an energy wave sockliner, a strobel insole, and an outsole. In this embodiment, the strobe insole is provided as a separate layer and is positioned between the energy wave sockliner and the outsole. Preferably, the top surface of the outsole is shaped to conform to the bottom surface of the strobel insole and may be constructed of a high resiliency foam such as, but not limited to, neoprene, polyurethane, SEBS, EBA, rubber and the like. The energy wave sockliner, the strobel insole, and the outsole may be secured to one another using any suitable attachment means. An optional midfoot support element may likewise be positioned between the strobel insole and the outsole to again control tortional stiffness toward the midfoot region.
Specific advantages and features of the present assembly will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description of several illustrative embodiments of the present invention.
It should be understood that the present drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments disclosed herein are sometimes illustrated by fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should also be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Like numbers utilized throughout the various figures designate like or similar parts or structure.
Referring now to the drawings, more particularly by reference numbers,
For ease of reference herein, the human foot may be generally considered to have three regions: the forefoot region (area adjacent the toes), the midfoot region (area adjacent the medial arch, between the forefoot and the hind foot regions) and the hind foot region (area adjacent the heel). As shown in
The shoe assembly 10 is constructed to enable unhindered natural foot motion between the foot and the ground. To this end, the soft, flexible strobel stitched insole 18 referenced in Applicant's pending application Ser. No. 13/484,379 is now integrated into sockliner 14, which disclosure is incorporated by reference herein. The integrated sockliner 14 is made of a foam material such as EVA, PU, blown co-polymers and other suitable materials which are molded to fit the anatomical shapes of the upper 12 and the outsole 16 and includes a stitching margin along the perimeter thereof. The perimeter edges of integrated sockliner 14 are structured to enable the sockliner 14 to be strobel stitched to form the bottom of the upper 12. The perimeter edges of the integrated sockliner 14 are modified to enable strobel stitching to the upper 12 thereby ensuring that the sockliner edge thickness and shape are conducive to stitching and having enough strength to avoid tearing. The sockliner 14 is stitched and turned to the bottom of the upper 12 to close the shoe 10. The shape and structure of the integrated sockliner 14 is substantially identical to the structure of the energy wave sockliner disclosed in Applicant's co-pending application Ser. No. 13/491,570, as will be hereinafter explained, which disclosure is likewise incorporated herein by reference and is further disclosed below.
It is also recognized that the integrated sockliner 14 may likewise be attached to the upper 12 by cementing the edges of the upper 12 to the perimeter edges of the integrated sockliner 14.
The outsole 16 is sculpted to have rounded natural edges and an anatomically correct flex location toward the forefoot region 22B of the shoe where softer, more flexible materials are used. The outsole 16 is further designed with harder, protective materials strategically placed in high ground-contact areas to deliver protection and support. An optional midfoot support element 30 may be positioned between the integrated sockliner 14 and outsole 16 to control torsional stiffness toward the midfoot region 24A, 24B. Upper materials are selected to minimize restriction of movement and promote breathability.
As illustrated in
The surface topography of the sockliner 14 includes a top face 32 and a bottom face 34, each having a generally planar surface extending along a base plane 36. On the top face 32, a plurality of grooves 38 (as illustrated in
In one embodiment of the integrated sockliner 14, the bottom face 34 may be generally flat to facilitate attachment of the sockliner 14 to the upper surface of the outsole 16. A flat bottom surface allows for maximum bonding contact with the upper surface of the outsole 16. In this embodiment, the bottom surface of the sockliner 14 does not include the ridges 46 and valleys 48 discussed below and illustrated in
Although the bottom face 34 of the integrated sockliner 14 may be generally flat as explained above, the bottom face 34 may likewise optionally include a plurality of alternating ridges 46 and/or valleys 48 which extend from the inside of the foot to the outside of the foot in a generally undulating or sinusoidal pattern as best illustrated in
A pattern may therefore be formed in the bottom face 34. The pattern beginning, for example, at a ridge surface 50, moving up a side wall 52A, across a base plane 36B, up a side wall 52B, across a valley surface 54, moving down a side wall 52B, across a base plane 36B, moving down a side wall 52A and ending at a ridge surface 50. The sockliner 14 is designed to support the foot and is generally foot-shaped. It is understood that the integrated sockliner 14 may be fashioned into other shapes, as desired, to accommodate various alternative designs of the shoe assembly.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the grooves 38 of the top face 32 and the ridges 46 and the valleys 48 of the bottom face 34 are integrated into the structure of the sockliner 14 by unitary construction (as shown in
It is also recognized that the integrated sockliner 14 may include a plurality of grooves on its top face 32 and/or a plurality of ridges and valleys on its bottom face 34.
The sockliner 14 includes a recessed area 42 located in the hind foot region 26A. The top face 32 of the hind foot region 26A forms a recessed portion positioned at the distal end of the shoe so as to receive the wearer's heel. The recessed area 42 is formed by a peripheral edge 28A which wraps about the heel of the wearer's foot. The depth of the recessed area 42 is typically in the range of approximately 3 mm to 20 mm as measured from the top of the peripheral edge 28A on the medial and lateral sides, extending downward to the lowest portion of the recessed area 42 of the top face 32. This depth may vary across the hind foot region 26A due to the anatomical shape of the foot, shoe size and/or shoe type. The area covered by the recessed area 42 may also be modified to accommodate a variety of shoe sizes, with the size of the recessed area 42 increasing with increasing length and/or width of the shoe. When the wearer's foot is inserted into the shoe, the recessed area 42 serves to locate the heel in this substantially concaved area located at the hind foot region 26A. The hind foot region 26A further includes an extended heel seat design of the sockliner 14 for evenly distributing pressure through the foot's complete contact with the generally sinusoidal geometry 56, maximizing cushioning and comfort for the wearer. The recessed area 42 comprises a generally rounded or ellipsoid shape. Because sockliner 14 is generally made of a cushioning material (as will be hereinafter further explained), the cushioning material specifications for the sockliner 14 are engineered to adequately support body weight in critical areas throughout the complete gait cycle without bottoming out. By not fully compressing, peak plantar pressures are avoided and the cushioning material provides long lasting comfort and support to the wearer.
The sockliner 14 may further include a raised area 44 in the midfoot region 24A. The raised area 44 is positioned to underlie the medial arch of the wearer's foot. The raised area 44 comprises a generally rounded or ellipsoid shape, preferably having a narrower portion located towards the distal end of the shoe and a wider portion located toward the proximate end of the shoe. The raised area 44 is for positioning and supporting the medial arch so that sockliner 14 is in direct contact with the entire bottom face of the wearer's foot.
The dimensions of the present integrated sockliner 14 as well as the specific shape and configuration of the various regions thereof are subject to wide variation and may be sized and/or shaped into a variety of different sizes and/or configurations. Such variations are necessary to make the sockliner 14 compatible with the size and/or shape of the particular footwear into which the sockliner 14 is to be integrated, conforming with any space limitations associated therewith without departing from the teachings and practice of the present invention.
The sockliner 14 may be made from a variety of cushioning materials, such as any type of non-rigid, cellular type foam, which may be open cell or closed cell, such as EVA, PU and/or blown co-polymers, depending on the specific characteristics desired. In another embodiment, the sockliner 14 may be formed from any flexible cushioning material, including but not limited to, molded plastic, natural or synthetic rubber, cellulose, thermoplastic rubber, rubber sponge, polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomer, latex, ethylene vinyl acetate and the like.
When installed, the integrated sockliner 14 is located within the shoe, its hind foot region 26A at the distal end of the shoe so that the recessed area 42 substantially underlies and receives the heel of the wearer and the peripheral edge 28A wraps around a substantial portion of the wearer's foot. The raised area 44 substantially underlies the medial arch of the wearer's foot and tapers toward the proximate end of the shoe. Thus, when the wearer's foot is inserted into the shoe that houses the present integrated sockliner 14, the top face 32 is designed to match the natural contours of the foot for optimal cushioning and support. The sockliner 14 thus engages the entire bottom of the foot with the recessed area 42 receiving the heel, securing it into its substantially concave surface and the raised area 44 positioning and supporting the medial arch. This complete engagement in combination with the use of cushioning material integrating the generally sinusoidal geometry onto the top face 32 and/or the bottom face 34 prevents bottoming out and provides sustainable cushioning and support to the wearer of the shoe.
Such a construction allows for: (a) increased contact between the foot and shoe interior; (b) a flexibility improvement such that less foot force is required to bend the shoe; (c) an improved gait by enabling natural motion during walking; (c) promoting more midfoot versus heel strike; (d) reduced weight over conventional shoes; and (e) increased foot stimulation through more utilization of bones, tendons and muscles during footstrike.
The strobel insole (or strobel sock insole) 20 utilizes encapsulated high resiliency foam and preferably includes a foam interior sandwiched between fabric layers on the top and bottom. More specifically, the strobel insole 20 may be constructed from, but is not limited to, non-woven textiles, fiber boards, polyester knit or wovens, composite textile and fiber packages, an EVA/rubber blended sheet and the like. In one embodiment, these materials would have a hardness of between about 10C and about 60C on an Asker C scale. The insole 20 may be formed and shaped to provide a consistent foundation within the shoe for supporting the anatomically shaped sockliner 14′. The outsole 16 is sculpted to have rounded natural edges and an anatomically correct flex location toward the forefoot 26 of the shoe where softer, more flexible materials are used. The optional midfoot support element 30 may be positioned between the insole 20 and outsole 16 to control torsional stiffness toward the midfoot region.
Further, the overall dimensions of the present shoe assemblies 10 and 18 as well as the specific shape and configuration of the various sections thereof are also subject to wide variations and may be sized and shaped into a wide variety of different sizes and configurations so as to be compatible with the size and shape of the particular footwear onto which the present structures may be mounted, or to conform with any space limitations associated therewith without impairing the teachings and practice of the present invention.
It is also understood that various modifications may be made to all of the various embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a shoe assembly which provides improved comfort and promotes a natural foot motion. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required.” Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.
This non-provisional application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/484,379, titled FOOTWEAR PROMOTING NATURAL MOTION, filed May 31, 2012, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/491,570, titled ENERGY WAVE SOCKLINER, filed Jun. 7, 2012. This application incorporates by reference all of the disclosures therein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13484379 | May 2012 | US |
| Child | 13563706 | US | |
| Parent | 13491570 | Jun 2012 | US |
| Child | 13484379 | US |
