Patent Application
20240415231
The present invention relates to a piece of footwear in particular but not exclusively for use in physical activities.
The widest part of a natural human foot is at the toe end of the foot. Current sports shoes and footwear in general are made to be tight around the foot. This is especially the case towards the front of the current footwear, in particular the toe box. The tight toe box often squeezes and cramps the toes and does not allow the toes to splay and provide a natural stable foundation, called the foot tripod, for the body. This stable foundation is important in movements including running, jumping, squatting and general propulsion of the body. Furthermore, this foundation is important in sports such as football and rugby where the feet are planted into ground when bracing for contact with other players and planting of a standing foot, or the non-kicking foot, into the ground when kicking a ball. Cramped toe boxes also prevent the toes from moving in a biomechanically natural manner which can negatively impact all the mentioned movements. Furthermore, this squeezing of the toes in a tight toe box contributes to problems including bunions (hallux valgus), hammertoes and Morton's Neuroma. Wearing shoes with tight toe boxes can also cause pain, blisters and create a site for infection.
Other common issues with conventional athletic shoes include the use of supports for the foot such as toe springs, rigid sole plates, arch supports, and heel counters. Prolonged use of a shoe with any of these supports can weaken the foot through inactivity as the muscles in the foot are not efficiently utilized. The weakening of the foot reduces the ability of the foot to support itself and move naturally. This can lead to problems such as plantar fasciitis and issues elsewhere in the body such as increased chance of ankle sprains.
Another common feature of athletic shoes is the inclusion of a raised heel. This can contribute to shortened and tightened calves, Achilles' tendonitis and general poor posture that puts excessive pressure on the ankle, knees and hips.
There have been attempts to improve the functionality of football boots and other footwear used in sport that provide traction through studs and spikes. However, these do not make changes to the basic structure and shape of the footwear and have instead focused on changing materials and the individual components. Athletic footwear with a secure fit, or “lockdown” prevents the foot from slipping inside the shoe which is important when moving at speed in sports such as football. Furthermore, securely fitting footwear allows for a closer contact of the foot with a ball in kicking sports.
Footwear of the type depicted in
According to a first aspect there of the present invention, there is provided a piece of footwear for use in physical activities comprising a sole comprising, one or more protrusions for engaging with the ground, an upper attached to the sole, a plurality of pockets each pocket for receiving a toe, wherein said pockets comprise side walls and said side walls comprise a top and a bottom, and wherein there is provided a connecting portion located between two or more of the pockets and wherein said connecting portion is located at the top of said side walls.
Preferably said connecting is located between each of the pockets. The connecting portion prevents the toes from being forced out of their natural range of movement, and protects the natural webbing between the toes of the user. This also prevents the formation of a well which allows the build-up of grass and other debris.
According to a first embodiment said sole comprises a plurality of extensions corresponding to each of the pockets.
Preferably said connecting portion comprises a non-elastic material and wherein said material is slack such that it is configured to allow maximum toe articulation. The slack material allows the toes to articulate within a natural range of motion but prevents further extension, therefore, avoiding injury.
Preferably each of the extensions comprises at least one protrusion.
According to a second embodiment said sole comprises a first extension corresponding to a pocket and a second extension corresponding to a plurality of pockets.
Preferably said connecting portion between a first pocket and a second pocket comprises a non-elastic material and wherein said material is slack such that it is configured to allow maximum toe articulation.
More preferably said connecting portion between said second pocket and the remaining pockets comprises taut material such that it is configured to allow minimal toe articulation.
Preferably said first extension comprises at least one protrusion and wherein second extension comprises at least one protrusion. This allows for larger protrusions to meet sporting standards.
Preferably said connecting portion extends over said plurality of pockets corresponding to said second extension to provide a cover.
According to a third embodiment said connecting portion comprises a taut material such that it is configured to allow minimal toe articulation.
Preferably said connecting portion extends over said plurality of pockets.
Preferably said side walls are cushioned.
Suitably one or more of the protrusions are conical.
Suitably one or more of the protrusions are spiked.
Suitably one or more of the protrusions are bladed.
Suitably one or more of the protrusions are chevron.
Preferably the upper comprises cushioning.
Preferably the upper comprises external grip.
Preferably the sole comprises an insole and an outsole.
More preferably the outsole extends up a portion of the toe section of the foot. This provides protection for the user's toes when the footwear is in use.
Preferably there is provided an additional insole for cushioning of the foot.
Preferably there is provided a material for reinforcing the upper of the toe pocket.
Other aspects are as set out in the claims herein.
For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods, and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventors. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the description.
In this specification the term protrusion means a piece of material protruding out of a surface.
In this specification the term toe pocket means an encasement suitable for housing a toe.
In the specification, the term “footwear” encompasses any item of footwear which can be worn by a human user including but not limited to shoes, boots, sandals, socks, pumps, trainers, sports shoes or the like.
Referring to
The footwear comprises an upper 503, an outsole 504, and a foot attachment means 501. The footwear of
There is also provided an outsole 504 that extends along at least a portion of the medial and lateral sides of the shoe. Preferably, the outsole will rise no more than 2 cm onto the upper surface, but the outsole may rise higher to enclose more of the sides of the foot and the heel. The outsole is preferably flat in the heel area 502, so the heel of the foot can sit flat in the shoe and there is zero heel drop.
In the present embodiment, the upper comprises one or more pieces of material, a plurality of eyelets and a foot opening 506.
The upper 503 is attached the medial side and lateral side of the shoe outsole 504 or footbed. Preferably, the upper is made from a lightweight, flexible, water-resistant material, such as leather, synthetic fabrics, knits and other textiles or any other suitable material. The upper may be attached to the footbed or outsole by means known to the art such as glue, adhesive or stitching, or any other suitable joining means. The upper comprises one or more pieces of material forming a protective enclosure for the feet. In sports which require a ball to be kicked, the contact point is usually through the upper. The upper can therefore include cushioning and grip for use in sports that require a ball to be kicked. If the upper is made from more than one piece of material, either the same material cut into more than one piece or more than one type of material, then the materials are joined together. The materials may be joined together by glue, adhesive or stitching, or any other suitable joining means. Advantages of using one piece of material is that the footwear will have increased water resistance and durability, as there are no joins through which water may leak and there are no joins in the construction that may become unattached. An advantage of using more than one piece of material is that different materials may be incorporated for their different properties, such that a variety of materials with properties suitable for particular areas of the footwear can be used. Additionally, the use of more than one piece of material may reduce the cost of manufacture as simpler templates may be used and joined together.
In the present embodiment, the upper further comprises a plurality of eyelets or holes along two sides of the length of the front of the upper. The eyelets may be sealed to prevent fraying of the material, as such they may be heat sealed or have a rigid ring installed around the circumference of the hole. The rigid ring may be made from metal, rigid plastic, or any other suitable material. In the present embodiment, the attachment means are laces that are threaded through the eyelets of the upper. The laces may be made from cord, or other suitable materials. The attachment means allow the footwear to be securely tightened around the foot. The attachment means may alternatively be elastic no-tie shoelaces, hook and loop straps or other suitable attachment means.
The upper further comprises afoot opening 506 or hole through which the foot can be inserted into the shoe. In the present embodiment, the hole comprises a medial and lateral lowered side region, corresponding to the location of the ankle bone and a raised front and rear section. The foot opening must be wide enough that the foot can fit into the shoe. The raised front section may be a tongue, allowing the opening size to be adjusted so the foot can fit into the shoe.
The outsole 504 is made from a flexible, lightweight, and waterproof material, such as rubber or a polymer material, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or thermoplastic urethane (TPU). In the present embodiment, the outsole comprises protrusions 505 for improving the grip of the shoe on the ground. Three rows of protrusions or studs 505 are situated towards the front of the shoe, in front of the lengthways midpoint of the shoe and two rows of studs are situated towards the rear of the shoe, towards the heel of the shoe. The studs can be made from a metal or plastics material.
Referring to
The toe pockets 605 comprise a tubular cavity, which is longer than it is broad and closed off at one end. The open end of the tubular cavity is provided inside the footwear such that each of the user's toes enters an individual pocket when the footwear is worn. The metatarsals and phalanges in the toes are longer than they are wide, the toe pockets are for housing each toe and are, therefore, similarly shaped to accommodate. Individual toe articulation/toe movement increases blood flow in the toes which will contribute to keeping the toes warm. This is not possible in toe boxes of traditional athletic footwear which squeeze the toe together and restrict movement.
The sizing of the footwear will be based on the distance between the back of the user's heel to the front of the user's longest toe (this can either be the big toe or the 2nd toe). The footwear can either be provided in set sizes, or it can be tailor made for an individual as toe length can vary from user to user. The footwear is designed to be snug but not cramp or restrict movement, the user's toes do not need to completely fill the toe pocket and the longest toe should not feel excessive contact with the front of the toe pocket as this will cause discomfort. Up to a 5 mm gap is considered appropriate, anything more than this and the next size down will be a more appropriate fit.
In use, the pockets provide stability and a more secure fit (sometimes called ‘lockdown’) without forcing the toes together tightly. The user's toes move with the toe pockets which prevents any sliding or other friction. Toe pockets allow the user's toes to splay and help to allow the foot to provide the ‘tripod’ foot foundation of contact points with the ground. This foundation provides greater stability and balance for a wide variety of movements which helps performance. This can also help to prevent the development or poor movement patterns and foot biomechanics mentioned earlier. On top of this the greater stability helps with prevention of falling.
The outsole 504 is split into 5 separate parts in the toe area of the footwear, together with the rest of the sole this provides toe extensions, the toe extensions are the portions of the sole which correspond to the toe pockets. The outsole curves upwards over the front and sides of the toe pockets to provide toe protection 606 from debris and other forms of impact which could damage the toes.
There is provided a connecting portion or webbing 607 in the spaces between the toe pockets. The webbing is preferably attached via stitching or other attachment means at the top of the side walls of the toe pockets to the upper or to the side walls, as can be seen in
The side walls 608 of the toe pockets separate the toes when the foot is placed inside the shoe. Typically, two side walls separate each toe. The side walls prevent the need for a tight toe box which squeezes the toes whilst still allowing a secure fit to prevent the foot from sliding in the shoe. Furthermore, the side walls prevent an individual toe from disengaging laterally from the corresponding toe extension. The side walls in combination with the slack webbing allows for some level individual toe articulation. In effect, when the toes are in the toe pockets, each toe can preferably move independently within a natural range of motion without being restricted by the webbing.
Referring to
The toe pockets can be made in one piece in the same material as the upper. Further protection can be included in the upper of the toe pockets 711, for example, silicone, rubber, Thermoplastic urethane (TPU) or another toe cap material can be incorporated as or attached to the upper of the toe pockets. Alternatively extra materials and/or fibres can be used or interwoven into the existing upper to provide an extra level of protection. These different materials can offer extra protection in the form of impact, abrasion and cut resistance, this is particularly beneficial as the toes can be a vulnerable in sports where there is the potential of contact from another player or an object such as a ball.
Preferably, the toe pockets would be made of neoprene due to its shock absorption properties and, therefore, impact protection. Neoprene has some flexibility for movement and waterproof properties for outdoor environments. It also has the added benefit of providing some insulation/warmth as the toes are a body extremity which tends to get cold quickly in some environments. The neoprene can be provided in different thicknesses to provide varying levels of protection which can be sewn into the toe pockets where needed.
In warmer environments or where there is reduced need for insulation or impact protection, other lightweight, strong, synthetic materials may be preferred which provide abrasion resistance but allow the skin to breathe. An example which meets these criteria are Dyneema (Registered Trade Mark) fibres which can form part of a woven, knitted or composite textile. Other synthetic fibres such as aramid fibres are also lightweight and have abrasion resistant properties and can also be incorporated into the upper.
Other options include latex (e.g. Quartz latex) which can be rolled and stitched around the toe pockets in a similar way to football goalkeeper gloves or the use of high-density foam in a similar way to cricket batsmen gloves. Most high-density foam is derived from PU or Polyethylene (sometimes referred to as Plastazote) based plastics mixed with blowing agents which create bubbles in the material. The size and density of the bubbles determine the properties of the foam. For example, a foam with smaller bubbles which are very close together could offer great shock absorption from high-speed impacts but very limited flexibility. Alternatively, a foam with larger bubbles would offer greater flexibility but would have limited shock absorption.
The insole has a top surface for placement of the sole of the foot and both the insole and the outsole have a shape replicating the natural shape of the foot. The outsole and insole are preferably made of a flexible material and the thickness of the outsole and insole is chosen to balance durability and flexibility of the sole and comfort to the wearer and is dependent on the material used. As the sole replicates the natural shape of the foot, the soles preferably comprise individual toe extensions under each toe pocket. Preferably, the sole comprises five toe extensions which in use project along the line of the metatarsal and phalange bones of the foot of the user. In alternative embodiments, there may be provided one toe extension which may hold more than one toe pocket, although there must be at least two separate toe extensions per item of the footwear.
Referring again to
In the present embodiment, the upper encompasses the heel section, the mid-foot section, the fore-foot section and each toe in the toe section, to form toe pockets. As the footwear, including the sole and upper follow the natural shape of the foot, the fore-foot section and the toe section are wider than conventional sports shoes. This means there is a greater surface area available of the upper with which to strike a ball.
Referring to
In an alternative embodiment, the toe protection may extend further over the toe pockets providing impact protection to the user through the material of the outsole. This embodiment would also offer less flexibility compared to alternative materials used to protect the toes of the user as discussed above and would, therefore, be suitable for us in sports where maximum protection is preferred over toe articulation.
Referring to
Referring to
The upper 503 and the insole 709 are attached by bonding, stitching or any other suitable attachment means. Each side wall 608 of the toe pockets 711 is secured to a side of a toe extension of the insole 709. The upper and insole are attached to the outsole 504 using an adhesive, stitching or any other suitable attachment means.
Referring to
Preferably, there is at least one protrusion between each toe extension of the sole and the ground when in use, hereinafter referred to as individual toe protrusions. Such an arrangement provides enhanced traction between the sole and the ground in the toe and fore-foot sections, 715, 714, as compared to an embodiment in which there are no individual toe protrusions. The enhanced traction promotes correct natural biomechanics when moving and reduces the risk of the shoe slipping or sliding along the ground. The combination of the flexible sole and the individual toe protrusions allows the toes to splay and move independently, aiding the performance of movements including running, turning, and jumping.
The protrusions can take different shapes such as conical 1119, bladed, chevron 1118, spiked, or other suitable shapes, or a combination of such shapes and can be positioned in any suitable arrangement. The protrusions should be suitable for providing enhanced traction on the ground and ideally comply with any relevant rules or guidance provided by the relevant authority regarding the length, width, shape, and other characteristics permittable. The protrusions can be molded as a single piece of the sole 504 and, therefore, made of the same material as the sole; or the protrusions can be attached to the sole. In the case where the protrusions are attached to the sole, the sole comprises attachment points allowing the protrusions to be attached to the sole. In one embodiment of the present invention, the attachment points comprise cavities containing screw anchors and the attachment means comprise a screw mechanism. The protrusions may be made of any suitable material, such as a metal, metal alloy, plastics material, or rubber.
Referring to
The embodiment shown in
Referring to
There is webbing provided between each toe pocket as in the first embodiment, however, the webbing in the present embodiment is taut. The taut webbing provides less toe articulation than the slack webbing but provides more protection from displacement. The taut webbing still provides the function of preventing a buildup of grass or other debris being caught between the toe pockets. The webbing may be provided as one cover extending between and over the toe pockets.
One advantage of this embodiment is that wider protrusions 1221 can be used. This is a particularly advantageous for small shoes, in which the big toe extension 1223 of the embodiment shown in
Referring to
As in the first embodiment, the webbing 1207 is a non-stretch material fitted with sufficient slack to allow complete toe articulation within the natural range of motion of the toe.
Referring to
In the second embodiment, as shown in
In the embodiments above, the protrusions on the underside of the sole may comprise stud type protrusions of various shapes including first conical, mesa, chevron, ovals, spikes, or the like. Typically, the surface area of the underside of each protrusion is no more than 0.5% to 2% of the total surface area of the underside inside of the sole including protrusions when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the underside of the sole.
The combination of features disclosed provide good traction and grip, especially on soft surfaces such as grass, soil, and the like. The combination of features disclosed further provide a comfortable and secure fit that prevents the foot from slipping inside the shoe and prevents squeezing of the toes, allowing the toes to splay within their natural range of motion, creating a stable foundation. The combination of features disclosed, in particular the webbing and the upper, provide protection from any build-up of debris, mud, and the like in the shoe. There is also provided protection from impact, an improved flexibility of the sole without any supports as compared to conventional football boots. The lack of supports promotes foot strength. The present combination of features further allows for toe articulation and an increased surface area of the upper available for striking a ball, as compared to conventional football boots.
Further advantages of the footwear hereinbefore described include that the lack of supports, such as arch support, and the flexible sole allows the foot to strengthen over time, due to increased use of the muscles, as compared to the prior art football boots shown in
Except as otherwise stated herein, any feature of any embodiment disclosed herein can be combined with any other feature of any other embodiment disclosed herein except where such combination would be technically infeasible or mutually exclusive.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2115994.2 | Nov 2021 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/081160 | 11/8/2022 | WO |
