INSERT OR MIDSOLE FOR A FOOTWEAR

Abstract

A Footwear comprising a sole (12) and a midsole (10), which is placed in contact with the foot (15) of a user and which has a structure (14) made of elastomer. The midsole (10) has a series of zones or regions (11A, 11B, 11C) in correspondence with which a lower profile of the midsole (10) placed in contact with said sole (12) is emptied in correspondence with a series of spaces (13) of predetermined height made between said structure (14) and said sole (12).

Description

The present invention generally relates to an insert or midsole shaped in a particular manner to be coupled preferably to a sole for footwear; the midsole may be inserted into any footwear or into similar articles which are themselves inserted into a footwear, such as an inner shoe of a ski boot.

The structural composition of the insert according to the invention allows for a cushioning function of the user's body weight and/or of shocks or impacts resulting in comfort of the foot whether standing for a long time or during walking or running.

The insert is made, in particular, of one or more thermoplastic elastomers having certain structures in the various parts of the foot.

The technical and geometric characteristics of the thermoplastic elastomer used make it possible to obtain the cushioning function and consequent comfort for the user, as the negative effect of the impact of the rounded parts of the bottom of the foot in contact with the ground and flat surfaces is significantly reduced, thus guaranteeing a high level of comfort for the foot both statically, when standing for many hours, and dynamically, when walking or running.

Various cushioning systems or systems for recycling air internally and pumping air externally are currently on the market.

With reference to the above-mentioned systems, all of them are made with specific details to realise a specific function, such as a sole designed for the purpose, the use of water-repellent membranes and/or various pumping elements, such as air chambers and/or plastic trays, in order to realise the cushioning and temperature regulation functions inside the footwear, through the recycling of internal air.

All these solutions impose expensive components, due to the need for dedicated equipment and/or complex and costly production processes.

Other shock-absorbing, elastic and anti-vibration materials that can be used for the construction of sports skates and/or footwear are also known.

The aim of the present invention is therefore to overcome the technical disadvantages complained of above and, in particular, to create an insert or midsole for footwear, which is able to significantly reduce the negative effect of the impact of the rounded parts of the bottom of the foot in contact with the ground and with flat surfaces, thus ensuring a high comfort of the user's foot both statically, standing for many hours, and dynamically, when walking or running.

Advantageously, in practice, the midsole is hollowed out or incised in predefined anatomically shaped areas in order to achieve a high level of comfort of the user's foot both in static conditions (user standing still for a certain period of time) and in dynamic conditions (user during walking or running).

The particular anatomical shape of the aforementioned incised areas copying the bottom of the user's foot, with their rounded protruding parts, determines the well-being and comfort of the foot in various situations.

In fact, an interface is created between the sole of the footwear and the protruding rounded parts, which partially collapse with the weight and movement of the user, cushioning his shocks.

Further features and advantages of the insert or midsole for footwear, according to the present invention, will be more apparent from the following description of an exemplifying and preferred, but not limiting, embodiment of the insert object of the invention, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an insert or midsole made according to the present invention;

FIGS. 2 to 9 show respective sectional views of the insert, according to the invention, made along lines A-A′, B-B′ C-C′, D-D′, E-E′, F-F′, G-G′ and H-H′, with the insert inserted in a shoe worn by a user;

FIGS. 10 to 12 show respective sectional views of the insert, according to the invention, made along the lines M-M′, N-N′, O-O′.

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, the insert or midsole according to the present invention is generically indicated by reference 10 and is interposed between a sole 12 and the foot 15 of the user, within a shoe.

The midsole 10, which has a structure 14 preferably made of elastomer and, in particular, of EVA, provides a series of zones or regions 11A, 11B, 11C wherein the lower profile of the midsole 10, placed in contact with the sole 12, is emptied so as to create a series of empty spaces 13 of predetermined height between the elastomer structure 14 of the midsole 10 and the sole 12.

In particular, the zones 11A, 11B, 11C where the emptying of the midsole 10 is performed correspond to the anterior and median plantar fascia and to the region of the heel (FIG. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8), while a plantar fascia located between the zones 11A and 11B (FIG. 3), a fascia substantially corresponding to the cambril 21 of the footwear (FIG. 6) and a posterior fascia to the region of the heel (FIG. 9) are substantially free.

Even more particularly, the emptying is carried out according to transversal directions to the midsole 10 obtaining empty spaces 13 with substantially rectangular geometry and increasing and decreasing heights between the longitudinal axis of the midsole 10 and the lateral ends of the zones 11A, 11B, 11C.

Advantageously, in correspondence with a first front zone 11A of the midsole 10, two portions 16, 17 are provided in which an emptying of the elastomer structure 14 facing the sole 12 is carried out by obtaining empty spaces 13, the height of which presents a curvilinear and asymmetrical trend on either side with respect to a longitudinal axis of the midsole 10 (FIG. 2).

Similarly, in correspondence with a second median zone 11B of the midsole 10, two other portions 18, 19 are provided in which an emptying of the elastomer structure 14 facing the sole 12 is carried out, obtaining empty spaces 13, the height of which presents a curvilinear and asymmetrical course on either side with respect to a longitudinal axis of the midsole (FIG. 4, 5).

Finally, in correspondence with the heel of the foot 15 of the user, a portion 20 is provided in which an emptying of the elastomer structure 14 facing the sole 12 is carried out, obtaining empty spaces 13 whose height presents a curvilinear and symmetrical trend on either side with respect to the longitudinal axis of the midsole 10 (FIG. 7, 8).

Furthermore, again advantageously, the height of the empty spaces 13 is greater at the portions 18, 19 and 20 than at the portions 16 and 17 (FIG. 10-12).

A midsole structure 10 thus realised enables advantageous cushioning of the rounded parts of the bottom of the foot 15 of the user in contact with the ground and with flat surfaces, generating a beneficial effect on the comfort of the user both statically, when standing for many hours, and dynamically, when walking or running.

The invention thus conceived and illustrated herein is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all within the scope of the inventive concept.

Furthermore, all details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

Finally, the components used, provided they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and state of the art.

Where the features and techniques mentioned in any claim are followed by reference marks, those reference marks have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and, accordingly, those reference marks have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by those reference marks.

Claims

1. Footwear comprising a sole and a midsole, which is placed in contact with the foot of a user and which has a structure made of elastomer, wherein said midsole has a series of zones or regions in correspondence with which a lower profile of the midsole placed in contact with said sole is emptied in correspondence with a series of spaces of predetermined height made between said structure and said sole.

2. Footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said zones or regions correspond to an anterior and median plantar region and to the heel region of the foot of the user.

3. Footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spaces have a substantially rectangular geometry and increasing and decreasing heights between a longitudinal axis of the midsole and the lateral ends of said zones or regions.

4. Footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein in correspondence with a first of said zones or regions, there are two first portions in correspondence with which said spaces are provided in said structure.

5. Footwear as claimed in claim 4, wherein said spaces have a height with a curvilinear and asymmetrical course on one side and on the other with respect to a longitudinal axis of the midsole.

6. Footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein in correspondence with a second of said zones or regions, there are two second portions in correspondence with which said spaces are provided in said structure.

7. Footwear as claimed in claim 6, wherein said spaces have a height with a curvilinear and asymmetrical trend on one side and on the other with respect to a longitudinal axis of the midsole.

8. Footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein in correspondence with a third of said zones or regions, there is a third portion in correspondence with which said spaces are provided in said structure, the height of said third portion having a curvilinear and symmetrical course on both sides with respect to said longitudinal axis of the midsole.

9. Footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spaces have a height in correspondence with said second and third portions which is greater with respect to said first portions.