Patent Application
20230284750
This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) to German patent application number DE 10 2022 202 302.1, filed Mar. 8, 2022, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to an outsole for a shoe, in particular for a soccer shoe, to a shoe with such an outsole as well as a method for the manufacture of such items.
Outsoles of shoes for ball sports or lawn sports, like soccer shoes, American football shoes, or rugby shoes, commonly include a number of cleats or studs that serve as anchor points to improve traction on the ground (e.g., on grass or some other natural or synthetic surface) during running and, in particular, when kicking a ball with one foot while the other foot is planted on the ground.
However, when kicking a ball in extreme positions, e.g., during a curve kick when the foot that is planted on the ground is strongly tilted onto one of its side-edges, it is common that the standard traction elements known from the art are not in complete contact with the ground. The same might apply during sudden or sharp changes of direction, which are often part of the above-mentioned sports.
To address this situation, peripheral studs that have the purpose of providing additional traction to the player when he or she is in such extreme kicking positions or during changes of direction have been considered. The peripheral studs can be placed on the peripheral surface of the medial or lateral side of a shoe.
Document US 2021/0259367 A1 discloses an outsole for an article of footwear that includes a plantar surface and a peripheral surface surrounding the plantar surface. The outsole includes an annular cleat set including a first plurality of traction elements arranged in series about a central axis on the plantar surface, and the outsole further includes one or more radial cleat sets each including a second plurality of the traction elements aligned along a respective radial axis intersecting the central axis. At least one of the second plurality of the traction elements includes a peripheral cleat formed on the peripheral surface of the outsole.
Document EP 2 862 465 A1 discloses an article of footwear that comprises a sole structure having a forefoot region and a heel region. The sole structure has a medial side and a lateral side. The outermost surface of the medial side forms an outer medial peripheral edge, and the outermost surface of the lateral side forms an outer lateral peripheral edge. At least one first wedge-shaped stud extends beyond the outer medial peripheral edge of the forefoot region of the sole structure and has a height and a length extending from the medial side of the forefoot region, and at least one second wedge-shaped stud extends beyond the outer lateral peripheral edge of the forefoot region of the sole structure and has a height and a length extending from the lateral side of the forefoot region.
U.S. Design Patent U.S. D840,654 S shows an ornamental design for a cleat for an article of footwear.
A disadvantage of the known constructions is, however, that they require complex manufacturing processes and also leave further room for improvement regarding the performance properties of the sole, e.g., in the above-mentioned scenarios of extreme kicking positions and/or sudden and abrupt changes of direction.
An object of the present invention is therefore the provision of an outsole and a shoe with improved performance which allow for a simplified manufacture.
The above-outlined problems are addressed and are at least partly solved by the aspects of the present invention.
Already at this point it is emphasized that reference will in the following be made predominantly to an outsole for a shoe, but that the present invention may also be employed in a more general sole that does not necessarily comprise a dedicated outsole (unless this is declared as a mandatory feature of any given embodiment). Such a sole could, for example, be of a one-piece-construction and the discussed main- and peripheral stud(s) with their respective bridge portion(s), etc., could also be part of such a sole.
Also, the discussion will mainly focus on outsoles for soccer shoes, but this is again not limiting, and the disclosed aspects, options, features and embodiments may also be employed in different kinds of sports-, work- or leisure shoes, for example.
According to a first aspect of the invention, an outsole for a shoe, in particular for a soccer shoe, is provided. The outsole comprises a first main stud disposed on a bottom surface of the outsole, and a first peripheral stud disposed on a peripheral surface of the outsole. A tip of the first main stud and a tip of the first peripheral stud are linked by a first bridge portion.
When talking about the “tip” of a given stud in this document, this can generally relate to that part of the stud that (predominantly) engages with the ground during use and play. In other words, the “tip” of a stud need not be confined to the outmost ground-facing surface of the stud but can also extend a certain distance towards the shoe and outsole base and hence have extensions into all three dimensions. This will become even clearer when having regard to the detailed description that follows below. For example, a given stud tip could form the top half, or the top third, or the top two thirds of a given stud.
The bottom surface of the outsole can be understood, for example, as that part of the outsole that lies generally beneath the wearer's foot when he or she is treading on a flat piece of ground. This can therefore be the region of the outsole where conventionally studs have been arranged.
The peripheral surface can be arranged on or around the rim of the bottom surface and extend outwards towards the front-, back-, medial- and/or lateral side of the sole. It can also curve upwards and thus support the foot of a wearer on one or several sides (e.g., on the front-, back-, medial- and/or later side of the foot), e.g., to avoid or reduce slipping and shifting of the foot within the shoe.
The bottom surface and/or the peripheral surface can each be one connected region, but one or both of them can also comprise several (i.e., two or more) subregions that are disconnected from one another, for example, if the outsole is provided with two or more separate outsole parts, as discussed farther below.
On the bottom surface, (at least) a first main stud is disposed, which provides an anchor point to improve traction during “normal” playing- or walking conditions. Often, several (i.e., two or more) main studs will be arranged on the bottom surface of the outsole, but the case of only one main stud is also covered. If several main studs are pre-sent, they can be arranged more or less randomly across the bottom surface, or they can be arranged according to a specific pattern or scheme which can, e.g., be tailored to the intended field of use of the outsole and shoe (more details on this option will follow below).
On the peripheral surface, (at least) one additional stud is arranged, called the first peripheral stud for definiteness. Again, several (i.e., two or more) peripheral studs are also possible, as will be discussed below. This peripheral stud adds to the “conventional” stud or studs arranged on the bottom surface of the outsole, to provide improved traction, for example, also in the above-described scenarios of extreme kicking positions and/or sudden and sharp changes of direction. In these cases, the foot will typically be strongly tilted onto one of its sides and hence no longer rest exclusively on the bottom surface of the outsole but also at least partly on the peripheral surface of the outsole. The first peripheral stud can then engage and/or penetrate the ground and thus provide the desired improved traction also under these conditions.
Generally, therefore, when a shoe with an inventive outsole is used on a flat piece of ground under normal walking conditions, the tips of the peripheral stud(s) will not engage and/or penetrate the ground while the tips of at least some of the main stud or studs will do and support the outsole and thus the wearer above them. Only when the shoe is rolled or tilted upon one of its edges will the tips of the peripheral stud(s), if present on this side of the outsole, get in contact with the ground, and engage and/or penetrate the ground surface. This “experiment” is also one possibility to determine which part or parts of the outsole qualify as the bottom surface containing the main stud(s), and which part or parts qualify as the peripheral surface with the peripheral stud(s).
The tip of the first main stud and the tip of the first peripheral stud are linked by a bridge portion. The tips of the first main stud and the first peripheral stud are thus not completely isolated from one another but have a connection, which may be provided, e.g., in the form of a “mountain crest” or “mountain ridge” between the two stud tips and which bridges that gap that would otherwise be present between the two stud tips. A bridge portion connecting the two stud tips in the form of a rod or bar or an actual bridge, i.e., without contact to the outsole portion above it, is also conceivable, however.
The two stud tips can, for example, be formed as an integral part together with their bridge portion and all be made from the same material.
The two stud tips and the bridge portion may be made from a different material than the underlying stud bases and/or the rest of the outsole (e.g., an outsole base plate).
The two stud tips and the bridge portion may, for example, be made from a harder and/or more durable material than the underlying stud bases and/or the rest of the outsole (e.g., an outsole base plate), because they need to be more abrasion-resistant during ground contact, while an outsole base plate on which the studs are arranged may need to be sufficiently flexible to allow for the desired performance of the sole during use.
However, it is also possible for the outsole base plate to be made from a harder and/or stiffer material as the material used for the stud tip(s), and therefore provide more rigidity and responsiveness.
Moreover, the linked stud tips can be placed in a mold before injection-molding the rest of the outsole during an injection-molding manufacturing process and, due to their integral construction as a single unit, provide for the advantage of better positioning of the first peripheral stud in relation to the first main stud, which leads to an easier manufacturing process and to a better performance of the outsole compared to existing constructions.
To summarize, as mentioned in the beginning, for example when kicking a football in extreme positions, it is often the case that conventional studs are not in complete or sufficient contact with the ground. The present invention therefore provides at least one additional anchor point in the form of the first peripheral stud to improve traction when in such extreme positions, whilst not detracting from open play and “normal” movements. At the same time, the invention also allows for a simplified method of manufacture compared to existing injection-molding processes, by virtue of the fact that the stud tips of the first main- and peripheral stud are linked by a bridge portion.
The first peripheral stud can lie adjacent to the first main stud.
In principle, there could also be one or more “interjacent” studs in the region between the first main- and the first peripheral stud. The bridge portion connecting the first main- and the first peripheral stud tips could then also form a rib or bulge across part of the bottom surface of the outsole and act as an additional traction element and/or as a reinforcing element for the outsole, e.g., to increase the bending stiffness or torsional stiffness of the outsole. In a preferred case, however, the pair of two connected stud tips are “direct neighbors” of one another, which promotes the above-discussed advantages of the present invention, particularly with regard to ease of manufacture.
Moreover, although reference will from now on be made to “pairs” of main- and peripheral stud tips linked by a respective bridge portion—for simplicity of exposition—it is emphasized that a stud tip for a peripheral stud may also be linked to more than one stud tip for corresponding main studs by a bridge portion or bridge portions, and that, vice versa, a stud tip for a main stud may also be linked to more than one stud tip for corresponding peripheral studs by a bridge portion or bridge portions. For example, one peripheral stud tip may be linked to two main stud tips by two bridge portions in a “triangular” arrangement, and/or one main stud tip may be linked to two peripheral stud tips by two bridge portions in a “triangular” arrangement.
The outsole can further comprise a second main stud disposed on the bottom surface of the outsole and a second peripheral stud disposed on the peripheral surface of the outsole, wherein a tip of the second peripheral stud and a tip of the second main stud are linked by a second bridge portion. The second peripheral stud can, in particular, lie adjacent to the second main stud.
The outsole can also include a third main stud disposed on the bottom surface of the outsole and a third peripheral stud disposed on the peripheral surface of the outsole, wherein a tip of the third peripheral stud and a tip of the third main stud are linked by a third bridge portion. And so on for a fourth pair of bridged stud tips, a fifth pair of bridged stud tips, and further pairs of bridged stud tips.
Alternatively, or in addition, the outsole can also include a further main stud or studs disposed on the bottom surface of the outsole but without a corresponding peripheral stud (for example, one or more main studs arranged in a central region or regions of the bottom surface of the outsole), and/or the outsole can also include a further peripheral stud or studs disposed on the peripheral surface of the outsole which are not connected by a bridge portion to any of the main stud or studs of the outsole (see, for example, the discussion about the optional heel stud that follows below).
Further still, bridged connections among the tips of some of the main studs are also possible, as are bridged connections among the tips of some of the peripheral studs.
A base of the first main stud and a base of the first peripheral stud can be at least partly merged. A base of the second main stud and a base of the second peripheral stud can also be at least partly merged. Moreover, the same can be true for the bases of any further pair or pairs of main- and peripheral studs, in particular those having bridged stud tips, that may be present on the outsole.
Such a merging of the stud bases can, for example, complement and support the bridge portion between the tips of the respective pair of main- and peripheral studs, to further promote the advantageous effects of the bridge portion that have already been discussed above. The merged bases might even create the bridge portion in some embodiments, although generally the stud bases and corresponding stud tips may be made from different materials and in different manufacturing steps, and the presence of a dedicated bridge portion between the pair of tips, in particular a bridge portion provided as a one-piece construction with the pair of stud tips and made of the same material as the stud tips, may be preferred.
The first peripheral stud and/or the second peripheral stud can be arranged on a lateral side of the outsole. The same can be true for any or all of the further peripheral studs, if present.
Peripheral lateral studs (i.e., on the lateral side of the foot), are useful because additional studs on the medial side tend to interfere with regular play, thus impeding the wearer during some running- or kicking movements. Particularly for the game of football/soccer, kicking is often done with the medial instep surface of the shoe, whereby additional cleats in this region may interfere with striking the ball.
However, a peripheral stud or studs on the medial side are by no means ruled out by the present invention and disclosure. For example, a peripheral stud or studs on the medial side may be provided in the form of “surface texture studs” (i.e., a stud or studs of smaller size that mainly serve to improve ball handling, not traction on the ground) which will be discussed in some more detail below.
The first peripheral stud and/or the second peripheral stud can be arranged in a forefoot region of the outsole. The same can be true for any or all of the further peripheral studs, if present.
A placement of the peripheral stud or studs in a forefoot region of the foot (not too near to the toes, but also not too near to the midfoot), particularly if on the lateral side of the outsole, can be advantageous, as placement in other regions of the foot has turned out to be potentially counterproductive for kicking movements.
A central axis of the first peripheral stud can be tilted in relation to a central axis of the first main stud, and/or a central axis of the second peripheral stud can be tilted in relation to a central axis of the second main stud. The same may be true for any or all of the further pairs of main- and peripheral studs, if present.
As mentioned above, the tips of the peripheral stud(s) will usually only engage and/or penetrate the ground if the shoe is tilted onto its corresponding edge, e.g., during extreme kicking positions or sudden changes of direction. This tilting changes the spatial orientation of the sole with respect to the ground and by tilting the central axis of the peripheral stud or studs accordingly, this can be accounted for such that the peripheral stud still properly engages the ground in the tilted sole position. For example, the tilt of the central axis of the respective peripheral stud can be chosen such that the peripheral stud still pushes into the ground more or less vertically along its central axis (directly downwards into the ground) in the tilted sole position during the mentioned scenarios of extreme kicks or sudden changes of direction. If the central axis of the peripheral stud were parallel to the associated main stud, on the other hand, the grip provided by the peripheral stud could be less ideal compared to a tilted peripheral stud axis.
A suitable tilt between the respective axes can for example be around 5°, or around 10°, or around 20°, or around 30°, or around 40°, or around 50°, or around 60°, and can generally be dependent on the specific position of the peripheral stud on the outsole (e.g., the farther away from its associated main stud, the larger the tilt). As a specific example, a tilt of around 42° has turned out beneficial to achieve the above-discussed advantages.
The outsole can further comprise at least a first, a second, and a third row of studs counted from a front tip of the outsole, wherein the first main stud and the first peripheral stud are included in the second row of studs, and wherein the second main stud and the second peripheral stud are included in the third row of studs.
Other patterns or arrangements (e.g., circular arrangements) of the studs (particularly the main- and/or peripheral studs) across the outsole are also possible, as already mentioned briefly above, and not all of the studs need to follow such an arrangement, but individual studs may also be “outliers” that may be placed in particular positions on the outsole where additional traction is needed or desirable during use.
However, an organization and placement of the studs in the form of rows (wherein a row need not necessarily be a perfectly straight line, and, although possible, a given row need also not necessarily be perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the outsole, as long as a general grouping or organization of the studs into several distinct rows is discernible) that are arranged generally crosswise across the outsole from front to back can be beneficial, as this may accommodate to the fact that quite often the contact region of a sole with the ground (at least during “normal” playing- or walking conditions) can be more or less represented as a strip-like area across the sole that moves from the heel towards the tip of the sole during a gait cycle. By arranging the studs in crosswise rows (e.g., rows containing two or three main studs), the rows engage the ground one after another during this rolling motion of the foot, hence providing good traction and stability at each point in time during the motion. Including the peripheral studs with the second and third of these rows (counted from the front end of the sole), particularly lateral peripheral studs on the second and/or third row, can combine this advantageous general stud arrangement with the above-mentioned beneficial option of having the peripheral studs in a preferred region (see also the discussion of the third aspect of the present invention that follows below) that lies generally in the forefoot region of the outsole, but not too far forward or backward to avoid counterproductive effects during kicking motions.
The tip of the first main stud, the tip of the first peripheral stud and the first bridge portion can be formed as an integral piece from a common material. The tip of the second main stud, the tip of the second peripheral stud and the second bridge portion can also be formed as an integral piece from a common material. The same can be true for any or all further pairs of main- and peripheral studs and corresponding bridge portions, if present.
As already hinted at above, such a one-piece construction from a common material may not only improve the durability and performance properties of the outsole and the shoe, it may also facilitate the manufacture, in particular the correct placement of the main- and peripheral stud tips into the mold during manufacture, e.g., during an injection-molding process. It also allows using a harder and/or more durable material for the stud tips compared to the underlying stud bases and outsole, which can be beneficial because the stud tips are subject to particularly high wear during use of the sole and shoe.
On the other hand, it also allows using a softer material for the stud tips compared to the underlying stud bases and outsole, for example, in case a full-length outsole or outsole base plate which uses a stiffer and more brittle material is used, for example, to provide more rigidity and responsiveness.
Herein, all one-piece units of linked pairs of stud tips plus corresponding bridge portion can comprise or be comprised of the same common material, or the material composition can vary between some or all such units, so that the material composition and resulting properties can be tailored to the location of a given unit on the outsole.
The first peripheral stud and/or the second peripheral stud (and/or any or all further peripheral studs, if present), particularly their stud tips, may have a generally triangular shape, preferably wherein two corners are pointing outwards and one corner is pointing inwards.
“Generally triangular” may be understood, for example, to mean that the shape of the stud or stud tip (e.g., the shape in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to a central axis of the stud) has three pronounced corners, but the shape need not necessarily be a triangle in the mathematical sense with perfectly straight edges (rather, the edges could, e.g., also be convexly and/or concavely curved).
Such a generally triangular shape, wherein two corners are pointing outwards (e.g., away from a center of the outsole or away from a central longitudinal axis of the outsole) and one inwards (e.g., towards a center of the outsole or towards a central longitudinal axis of the outsole), can help to support a smooth rolling-off movement of the foot when tilting onto a side-edge (e.g., when the stance foot is tilting laterally during extreme kicks or sudden changes of direction), with the inward edge of the stud engaging and/or penetrating the ground first and the two outer edges providing the greatest ground contact area in the most extreme angle that may only be reached later during the movement cycle. The orientation of each of the peripheral studs may also be individually selected and adjusted in this regard, to take account of the typical ways and situation in which a respective peripheral stud will contact the ground and of the particular location of that stud on the outsole. The triangular shape also facilitates ground penetration by the stud, since this shape comprises a comparatively small surface contact area (compared, for example, to rectangular stud shapes), leading to a high pressure being applied by the stud tip to the ground surface. In particular, the inward edge of the stud, which engages and/or penetrates the ground first when tilting onto a side-edge, comprises a comparatively small surface contact area.
The outsole can further comprise at least one additional heel stud, which is also arranged on the peripheral surface of the outsole, in the heel region of the outsole.
Such a heel stud can serve as an additional anchor point and provide further traction to help avoid slipping of the foot, e.g., when the wearer is taking a long step forward and contacts the ground in the heel area of the shoe and not actually with the bottom part of the sole.
The additional heel stud can lie adjacent to one of the main studs on the bottom surface of the outsole, and a central axis of the additional heel stud can be tilted in relation to a central axis of this adjacent main stud.
Similar to the corresponding discussion above, such a tilting of the central axis of the heel stud can take account of the fact that the foot will often be in a tilted position (e.g., toes up and heel down if the wearer takes a long step forward) in situations when the heel stud actually engages the ground, and the tilting can be chosen such that in these cases the heel stud still engages more or less vertically with the ground.
The additional heel stud can lie adjacent to one of the main studs on the bottom surface of the outsole, but a tip of the additional heel stud and a tip of the adjacent main stud may not be linked by a bridge portion. If a highly-precise placement of the heel stud in relation to the adjacent main stud and/or other studs of the outsole is not necessary, this may simplify manufacture. It may also allow making the entire heel stud as one piece, e.g., without a dedicated stud tip, which may be sufficient for this particular stud and which may again simplify manufacture.
However, the tip of the additional heel stud and the tip of the adjacent main stud may also be linked by a bridge portion, if deemed beneficial, for example, to ensure a more precise placement of the additional heel stud and/or to improve the overall robustness of the construction.
A ground-facing surface of the tip of the additional heel stud can further be tilted with respect to heel stud's central axis, so that the ground-facing surface is not arranged orthogonal to the central axis but, preferably, tilted towards the ground, so that the surface of the tip of the heel stud is (essentially) parallel to the ground when the out-sole rest flat on the ground, i.e., before the central axis of the heel stud stands vertically during movement of the foot and outsole, for example, during a step forward.
Alternatively, or in addition, the posterior side of the heel stud (the side of the heel stud that faces rearwards/towards the rear end of the outsole) can be (essentially) vertical when the outsole rests flat on the ground. In this manner, the necessity for an undercut for the heel stud in the injection mold could be avoided in the manufacture, which can facilitate demolding of the outsole from the injection mold.
The additional heel stud may, as an example, lie posterior (farther towards the rear end of the outsole) and superior (farther upwards or away from the ground) off-set compared to its associated, adjacent main stud, and the ground-facing surface of the tip of the additional heel stud can be arranged essentially parallel to the ground when the outsole rests flat on the ground.
The outsole can comprise a forefoot part and a heel part which are separate from one another.
On the one hand, such a construction may, for example, provide increased flexibility of the shoe sole in the midfoot- and arch region of the shoe, which may be desirable for certain fields of application and certain kinds of sports. On the other hand, it may also have an advantageous effect on the complexity and cost-efficiency of the manufacturing process. For example, when used in combination with one or several additional heel studs as discussed above, an outsole construction having several (i.e., two or more) separate parts may allow the creation of the part with the heel stud(s) without the need for undercuts in the injection mold (possibly even without the posterior side of the heel stud being vertical), which are typically expensive to create and also increase the complexity of the manufacturing/injection process.
The outsole may also comprise more than two separate parts, for example three parts or four parts or five parts, and so on.
Also, any given outsole part need not necessarily be formed of a continuous sheet of material, but a given outsole part may also have a hole or holes in it, e.g., a ring-shaped outsole or outsole part is possible, to name just one example. Cut-outs, reinforcing ribs or bulges, changes in thickness, stiffness, material composition may be possible in different regions of the outsole or outsole parts, too. There may also be regions on the underside of the shoe or midsole in which no outsole or outsole part is arranged, for example in the region under the arch of the foot, as already mentioned above.
A second aspect of the invention is provided by an outsole for a shoe, in particular for a soccer shoe, which comprises a first main stud disposed on a bottom surface of the outsole, and a first peripheral stud disposed on a peripheral surface of the outsole, wherein the first peripheral stud has a generally triangular shape, preferably wherein two corners are pointing outwards and one corner is pointing inwards.
In the description and disclosure of this second aspect, the same expressions and terminology will be used as for the description and disclosure of the first aspect above, unless explicitly mentioned otherwise.
We also emphasize that all aspects, features, and options discussed and disclosed within the context of the first aspect may be applied to, or combined with, the disclosure about this second aspect, and vice versa, unless physically or technically ruled out, even if not every possible combination or sub-combination of features is explicitly spelled out in the following. The technical advantages of such options and features that have already been discussed above are therefore not repeated again, at least not to the same degree of detail, and reference is instead made to the corresponding explanations above, for conciseness.
The triangular shape of the first peripheral stud, facilitates, in particular, ground penetration by the first peripheral stud, and the arrangement of the corners allows for a smooth rolling motion onto the stud, as already explained above, reference to which is therefore made to avoid unnecessary repetitions.
In the outsole according to the present second aspect, a tip of the first main stud and a tip of the first peripheral stud can be linked by a first bridge portion. The first peripheral stud can lie adjacent to the first main stud. A base of the first main stud and a base of the first peripheral stud can be at least partly merged.
The outsole according to the second aspect may further comprise a second main stud disposed on the bottom surface of the outsole and a second peripheral stud disposed on the peripheral surface of the outsole, and a tip of the second peripheral stud and a tip of the second main stud can be linked by a second bridge portion. The second peripheral stud may lie adjacent to the second main stud. A base of the second main stud and a base of the second peripheral stud can be at least partly merged.
The first peripheral stud and/or the second peripheral stud can be arranged on a lateral side of the outsole. The first peripheral stud and/or the second peripheral stud can be arranged in a forefoot region of the outsole. A central axis of the first peripheral stud can be tilted in relation to a central axis of the first main stud, and/or a central axis of the second peripheral stud can be tilted in relation to a central axis of the second main stud. The outsole can comprise at least a first, a second, and a third row of studs, counted from a front tip of the outsole, and the first main stud and the first peripheral stud can be included in the second row of studs, and the second main stud and the second peripheral stud can be included in the third row of studs.
The tip of the first main stud, the tip of the first peripheral stud and the first bridge portion can be formed as an integral piece from a common material, and/or the tip of the second main stud, the tip of the second peripheral stud and the second bridge portion can also be formed as an integral piece from a common material.
The second peripheral stud may also have a generally triangular shape, preferably wherein two corners are pointing outwards, and one corner is pointing inwards.
The outsole according to the second aspect may further comprise at least one additional heel stud, which can also be arranged on the peripheral surface of the outsole. The additional heel stud can lie posterior and superior off-set compared to an adjacent main stud, and/or a ground-facing surface of a tip of the additional heel stud can be arranged essentially parallel to the ground when the outsole rests flat on the ground.
The outsole can further comprise a forefoot part and a heel part which are separate from one another.
A third aspect of the invention is provided by an outsole for a shoe, in particular for a soccer shoe, which comprises at least one peripheral lateral stud (i.e., one or more such studs) disposed on a lateral peripheral surface of the outsole, wherein the at least one peripheral lateral stud is disposed in a region of the lateral peripheral surface that lies in a forefoot part of the outsole, and wherein the region of the lateral peripheral surface in which the at least one peripheral lateral stud is disposed is spaced apart from a front tip of the outsole such that the region of the lateral peripheral surface in which the at least one peripheral lateral stud is disposed is arranged further rearwards than a first row of studs of the outsole, counted from the front tip of the outsole.
A lateral peripheral surface of the outsole can be understood, for example, as a peripheral surface of the outsole in the sense used throughout the present disclosure, with the additional requirement that it is (predominately) arranged on the lateral side of the outsole.
In the description and disclosure of this third aspect, basically the same expressions and terminology will again be used as for the description and disclosure of the first and second aspects above, unless explicitly mentioned otherwise.
We also once again emphasize that all aspects, features, and options discussed and disclosed above within the context of the first and/or second aspect may be applied to, or combined with, the discussion and disclosure of the present third aspect, and vice versa, unless physically or technically ruled out, even if not every possible combination or sub-combination of features is explicitly spelled out in the following. The technical advantages of such options and features that have already been discussed above are therefore not repeated, at least not to the same degree of detail, and reference is in-stead made to the corresponding explanations above, for conciseness.
The outsole according to the present third aspect may also comprise a further additional peripheral stud or further additional peripheral studs on the lateral peripheral surface in the forefoot part of the outsole which are, however, arranged outside of said region of the lateral peripheral surface and whose height is lower than that of the peripheral lateral stud or studs within said region (e.g., if there are several peripheral studs on the lateral peripheral surface both inside and outside of said region, the tallest one of the stud outside said region can be still smaller than the smallest one of the studs within said region). Alternatively, the lateral peripheral surface in the forefoot part of the outsole may not comprise any (i.e., be free of) peripheral studs outside said region of the lateral peripheral surface.
By having only a peripheral stud or studs of lower height outside said region of the lateral peripheral surface, or by having no peripheral studs there at all, negative effects that larger studs in such positions might have can be avoided, such as hampering the normal walking-, running- or kicking motions by the wearer, or even unintended engagement with the ground which might cause the wearer to stumble or fall.
Within said region of the lateral peripheral surface, there may be arranged at least two peripheral lateral studs, called the first and second lateral peripheral studs in the following, for definiteness. These may be, or comprise, the first peripheral stud and the second peripheral stud mentioned and disclosed within the context of the first and/or second aspect above. This correlation may apply in everything that follows, even if not explicitly pointed out again.
The outsole may further comprise a first main stud disposed on a bottom surface of the outsole, and it may also comprise a second main stud disposed on the bottom surface of the outsole. These may be the first main stud and the second main stud mentioned and disclosed within the context of the first and/or second aspect above, and this correlation may again apply in everything that follows, even if not explicitly pointed out again.
The outsole may, in addition to the first row of studs, comprise at least a second and a third row of studs (see also the corresponding discussion within the context of the first aspect above), counted from the front tip of the outsole, and the first main stud and a first one of said peripheral lateral studs, e.g., the above-mentioned first peripheral lateral stud, can be included in the second row of studs, and the second main stud and a second one of said peripheral lateral studs, e.g., the above-mentioned second peripheral lateral stud, can be included in the third row of studs.
Also in the outsole according to the present third aspect, a tip of the first peripheral lateral stud and a tip of the first main stud can be linked by a first bridge portion. The first peripheral lateral stud may again lie adjacent to the first main stud. A tip of the second peripheral lateral stud and a tip of the second main stud can also be linked by a second bridge portion. The second peripheral lateral stud can lie adjacent to the second main stud. A base of the first main stud and a base of the first peripheral lateral stud can be at least partly merged, and/or a base of the second main stud and a base of the second peripheral lateral stud can be at least partly merged.
A central axis of the first peripheral lateral stud can be tilted in relation to a central axis of the first main stud, and/or a central axis of the second peripheral lateral stud can be tilted in relation to a central axis of the second main stud.
The tip of the first main stud, the tip of the first peripheral lateral stud and the first bridge portion can be formed as an integral piece from a common material. The tip of the second main stud, the tip of the second peripheral lateral stud and the second bridge portion can also be formed as an integral piece from a common material.
The first peripheral lateral stud and/or the second peripheral lateral stud can have a generally triangular shape, preferably wherein two corners are pointing outwards and one corner is pointing inwards.
The outsole according to the present third aspect can further comprise at least one additional heel stud, which can be arranged on a heel peripheral surface of the outsole. The additional heel stud can lie posterior and superior off-set compared to an adjacent main stud, and/or a ground-facing surface of a tip of the additional heel stud can be arranged essentially parallel to the ground when the outsole rests flat on the ground.
The outsole may further comprise a forefoot part and a heel part which are separate from one another.
In all of the outsole options discussed above, i.e., within an outsole according to the first, second and/or third aspect, a contact surface of the first peripheral (lateral) stud can be smaller than a contact surface of the (associated) first main stud. The same might apply to the second peripheral (lateral) stud in comparison to the (associated) second main stud. It might even hold for the contact surface of any one of the peripheral studs when compared to any one of the main studs.
Alternatively, or in addition, in all of the outsole options discussed above, i.e., within an outsole according to the first, second and/or third aspect, one or several studs of comparatively smaller size (compared, for example, to the size or average size of the main stud or studs of the outsole), could be arranged on the medial peripheral surface of the outsole, for example adjacent to the base of a corresponding main stud or studs. Such studs will be called “surface texture studs” in the following. These surface texture studs may primarily serve to create a surface texture that provides additional grip for ball control when playing the ball with the medial side, and not for improving traction on the ground. The surface texture studs could be integrated into and/or made from the same material and in the same injection-molding step as the outsole base plate, for example, and therefore not comprise a dedicated stud tip, for ease of manufacture.
A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a shoe, in particular a soccer shoe, comprising an outsole according to the first, second, and/or third aspect.
In the outsole of such a shoe, any or all of the described embodiments, options and features of the first, second and/or third aspect can be combined to obtain the desired playing- and performance characteristics for the shoe, even if not all such possible combinations have been explicitly mentioned and discussed above. Individual features or sub-features can also be omitted, if deemed dispensable to obtain the desired result.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is provided by a method for the manufacture of an outsole according to the first aspect. The method may also be used for the manufacture of an outsole according to the second and/or third aspect discussed above, and/or within the manufacture of a shoe according to the fourth aspect, as far as applicable.
The method may comprise the following steps: (A) providing pre-fabricated stud tips for a first main stud and a first peripheral stud which are linked by a first bridge portion, (B) placing the pre-fabricated stud tips into a mold, and (C) after the pre-fabricated stud tips are placed into the mold, injection-molding at least part of the outsole.
Herein, the pre-fabricated stud tips for the first main stud and the first peripheral stud as well as the first bridge portion may be provided as an integral piece made from a common material.
As already discussed, an advantage of providing the stud tips in this manner, i.e., pre-fabricated, linked by a bridge portion, and, preferably, of a one-piece-construction made from a common material, is that it simplifies the correct placement of the stud tips within the mold, which may be more difficult otherwise, in particular, if the central axes of the main- and peripheral stud are tilted with respect to each other. Put differently, the bridge portion not only helps to improve the overall stability and performance of the finished outsole, but also “keeps the tips in place” during manufacture. Since the stud tips are often made from a different material than the rest of the outsole, this approach therefore simplifies the manufacture while still leading to a high-quality and durable end product. As mentioned, the stud tips may, for example, be made from a harder and/or more durable material than the underlying outsole structure, as may be the bridge portions.
Also, if no pre-fabricated stud tips were used, a dual-mold injection process would have to be used to obtain, for example, stable studs with durable stud tips form-wise and material-wise, particularly if the tips were to be made from a different material than the rest of the outsole. Such a dual-mold injection process could significantly increase manufacturing complexity and expenses.
The method may further comprise the step of providing pre-fabricated stud tips for a second main stud and for a second peripheral stud that are linked by a second bridge portion and placing them into the mold prior to the injection-molding in step (C), wherein the pre-fabricated stud tips for the second main stud and the second peripheral stud as well as the second bridge portion may again be provided as an integral piece made from a common material. The same may be true for a third pair of bridged main- and peripheral stud tips, a fourth pair, a fifth pair, and so on.
The method may also comprise providing a further pre-fabricated stud tip or tips (e.g., a stud tip or tips not linked to any other stud tip or tips by a bridge portion), in particular for a further main stud or studs, and/or for an additional heel stud or studs, and placing these pre-fabricated stud tip or tips into the mold prior to the injection-molding in step (C).
Also for a further peripheral stud or studs, such individual pre-fabricated stud tip or tips may be provided and placed into the mold before step (C), i.e., the injection-molding.
Still further, alternatively, or in addition, the method may comprise injection-molding a stud or studs which do not comprise any pre-fabricated stud tip or tips during step (C), for example a stud or studs on or towards the medial side of the outsole, which may not need to be as hard and durable as the studs towards the lateral side of the outsole, because on the medial side they experience less load and wear during play.
For example, one or several studs of comparatively smaller size (“surface texture studs”) compared, e.g., to the (average) size of the main stud or studs of the outsole, could be added in step (C) to the medial peripheral surface of the outsole, for example, adjacent to the base of a corresponding main stud or studs, which primarily serve to create a surface texture that provides additional grip for ball control when playing the ball with the medial side, and not for improving traction on the ground.
In the method, the pre-fabricated pair of stud tips for the first main- and peripheral studs and/or for the second main- and peripheral studs (and/or for any or all further pairs of main- and peripheral studs) can be held in place by a slider element or slider elements of the mold during at least part of the injection-molding process.
By virtue of the respective pair of main- and peripheral stud tips being connected by the bridge portion, keeping them in place is facilitated and a simple slider element may therefore suffice for this purpose, e.g., a slider element placed over the bridge portion which secures the bridge portion, and hence the corresponding pair of stud tips, in place. If the main- and peripheral tips were completely separate parts, each needed to be individually positioned and secured within the mold, leading to increased manufacturing complexity and effort.
The injection-molding in step (C) can comprise an injection-molding of a material comprising one or more of: a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, a polyamide (PA) material, a polyurethane (PU) material, for example, polyetherblockamide (PEBA), polyamide 11 (PA11), polyamide 12 (PA12), and/or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Other materials or material mixtures are also possible. These materials may, in particular, be used to form the outsole base plate, the stud bases and/or the surface texture studs.
For example, PA12 combines good performance properties with regard to the finished outsole with a good processing window and may hence be a preferred choice for the outsole base plate, stud bases and/or surface texture studs.
For the pre-fabricated stud tips and/or the bridge portions, the following materials may, for example, have been used alone or in combination: a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, a polyamide (PA) material, a polyurethane (PU) material, for example, polyetherblockamide (PEBA), polyamide 11 (PA11), polyamide 12 (PA12), or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), for example TPU with a 95A Shore Hardness.
We point out that the material choices and options mentioned in the three preceding paragraphs also apply to an outsole according to the first, second and/or third aspect discussed and disclosed above, as well as to a shoe with such an outsole according to the fourth aspect discussed and disclosed above.
The pre-fabricated stud tips and bridge portions may, for example, have been manufactured by injection molding in a separate manufacturing run, using a dedicated mold for the stud tips and bridge portions.
Possible embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the following figures:
Possible embodiments of the different aspects of the present invention and disclosure are described below, predominately with respect to soccer shoes. It is, however, once again emphasized that the different aspects may also be practiced in different kinds of soles and shoes and are not limited to the specific embodiments set forth below.
Reference is further made to the fact that in the following only individual embodiments can be described in more detail. The skilled person will understand that the features and possible modifications described with reference to these specific embodiments may also be further modified and/or combined with one another in a different manner or in different sub-combinations, without departing from the scope of the present invention and disclosure. Individual features or sub-features may also be omitted if they are dispensable to obtain the desired result. In order to avoid redundancies, reference is therefore made to the explanations in the preceding sections, which also apply to the following detailed description.
As can be seen, for example, in
As can also be seen, for example, in
On the bottom surface of the forefoot- and heel parts 101, 102, main studs (or cleats) 110a-110l are arranged. In addition, on a lateral peripheral surface of the forefoot part 101, which is schematically indicated in
The main studs 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d, 110i and 110j as well as the peripheral studs 120a, 120b and the heel stud 140 comprise dedicated stud tips 111a, 111b, 111c, 111d, 111i, 111j as well as 121a, 121b and 141, which comprise a different material than the corresponding stud bases that are made of the same injection-molded material as the outsole base parts 101, 102. In the present embodiment, the dedicated stud tips 111a, 111b, 111c, 111d, 111i, 111j as well as 121a, 121b and 141 are all made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with a 95A Shore Hardness. However, more generally, one or more of the following materials could be used: a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, a polyamide (PA) material, a polyurethane (PU) material, for example, polyetherblockamide (PEBA), polyamide 11 (PA11), polyamide 12 (PA12), or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), for example TPU with a 95A Shore Hardness.
On the other hand, the main studs 110e, 110f, 110g, 110h and 110l, 110k on the medial side of the outsole 100 (s., e.g.,
In a possible variation of the shoe 10 and outsole 100, as shown in
The stud tip 111a of the main stud 110a, which is located on the bottom surface of the forefoot part 101 of the outsole 100, and the stud tip 121a of the peripheral stud 120a, which is located on the lateral peripheral surface 1 of the forefoot part 101 of the outsole 100 and lies adjacent to the main stud 110a, are linked by a bridge portion 131a. The stud tips 111a and 121a together with their bridge portion 131a have been integrally provided as a single piece and have been made from a common material, in the embodiment shown here from TPU. However, as already mentioned, more generally one or more of the following materials may be used: a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, a polyamide (PA) material, a polyurethane (PU) material, for example, polyetherblockamide (PEBA), polyamide 11 (PA11), polyamide 12 (PA12), or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), for example TPU with a 95A Shore Hardness. This may, e.g., be accomplished in an injection-molding process prior to them being inserted into an injection mold in which the remainder of the outsole 100 is made (more details on manufacturing methods and options will follow below). The stud tips 111a and 121a together with their bridge portion 131a hence form a constructional unit, which, among other things, simplifies the manufacture of the outsole 100.
In a similar manner, the stud tip 111b of the main stud 110b, which is located on the bottom surface of the forefoot part 101 of the outsole 100, and the stud tip 121b of the peripheral stud 120b, which is located on the lateral peripheral surface 1 of the forefoot part 101 of the outsole 100 and lies adjacent to the main stud 110b, are also linked by a bridge portion 131b. The stud tips 111b and 121b together with the bridge portion 131b have again been integrally provided as a single piece and have been made from the same common material, for example TPU (or one or several of the above-mentioned materials), for example in an injection-molding process prior to them being inserted into the injection mold in which the remainder of the outsole 100 is made. The stud tips 111b and 121b together with their bridge portion 131b hence also form a constructional unit.
The bridge portions 131a and 131b form a “mountain crest” or “saddle” between the “peaks” provided by the stud tips 111a, 121a and 111b, 121b, respectively, in the present embodiment (s. also
To complement and support the bridge portion 131a, the base of the first main stud 110a and the base of the first peripheral stud 120a are at least partly merged, as can, e.g., be seen in
In a similar manner, to complement and support the bridge portion 131b, the base of the second main stud 110b and the base of the second peripheral stud 120b are also at least partly merged, as can, e.g., be seen in
Contrary to the situation with the lateral forefoot peripheral studs 120a and 120b and their adjacent main studs 110a and 110b, however, the heel stud 140 and the adjacent main stud 110j do not have stud tips that are connected by a bridge portion. Rather, as can, e.g., be seen in
However, both the first- and second peripheral studs 120a and 120b as well as the heel stud 140 have tilted central axes compared to their adjacent main studs 110a, 110b and 110j, respectively, see, e.g.,
For example, if the shoe 10 is worn on the stance foot of a soccer player executing a curve kick with their other foot, the shoe 10 will be tilted onto the lateral side edge such that the lateral peripheral forefoot surface 1 will become a main part of the ground contacting surface of the outsole 100. In this situation, due to the tilt in the shoe 10 and the outsole 100, the peripheral studs 120a and 120b will become oriented more or less vertically with respect to the ground, and hence provide improved traction of the shoe 10 in this extreme kicking position. Similarly, the heel stud 140 can provide improved traction if a player lands on the heel peripheral surface 2 when taking a big step forward, for example. To this end, the heel stud may be off-set from its adjacent main stud in posterior and superior direction (farther towards the back of the sole and farther away from the ground), as can be seen, e.g., in
As can best be seen in
The first peripheral stud 120a and the corresponding main stud 110a are hence included in the second row (counted from the tip), and the second peripheral stud 120b and the corresponding main stud 110b are included in the third row (counted from the tip). This ensures that both peripheral studs 120a and 120b are located in a preferred region of the forefoot region, which is indicated in
The outsole 100 therefore represents an outsole comprising at least one peripheral lateral stud 120a, 120b disposed on a lateral peripheral surface 1 of the outsole 100, wherein the at least one peripheral lateral stud 120a, 120b is disposed in a region 1p of the lateral peripheral surface 1 that lies in a forefoot part 101 of the outsole 100, and wherein the region 1p of the lateral peripheral surface 1 in which the at least one peripheral lateral stud 120a, 120b is disposed is spaced apart from a front tip of the outsole 100 such that the region 1p of the lateral peripheral surface 1 in which the at least one peripheral lateral stud 120a, 120b is disposed is arranged further rearwards than a first row of studs 110g, 110h, 110c of the outsole 100, counted from the front tip of the outsole 100.
Moreover, on the lateral peripheral surface 1 of the outsole 100 but outside of the preferred region 1p, the outsole 100 does not comprise any peripheral studs.
Regarding the shape of the studs and stud tips of the outsole 100 (e.g., understood as a cross-sectional shape taken across a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis of a given stud), most studs/stud tips have a triangular shape, meaning they have three pronounced corners or cusps, but they do not have perfectly straight edges but are generally concavely curved (i.e., inwardly towards the center of the stud). This is, in particular, true for the first- and second peripheral studs 120a and 120b as well as the heel stud 140.
Moreover, for the peripheral studs 120a and 120b, one of the corners or cusps is pointing inwards towards a center or central longitudinal axis of the outsole 100, while the two other edges or cusps point outward and away from the center or central axis of the outsole 100, as can best be seen in
The outsole 100 therefore also represents an outsole with a first main stud 110a disposed on a bottom surface of the outsole, and a first peripheral stud 120a disposed on a peripheral surface 1 of the outsole, wherein the first peripheral stud has a generally triangular shape, preferably wherein two corners are pointing outwards and one corner is pointing inwards.
However, there are also studs on the outsole 100 that have a different shape, namely the central stud 110d having a cross-shape or x-shape, and the stud 110h at the tip of the outsole 100 which only has two corners. This stud 110h is also considerable smaller than all other studs on the outsole 110, to not infer with the natural use and play or even cause the wearer to stumble, but to still provide improved traction in the tip region of the outsole 100.
Regarding the heel stud 140,
A further notable feature is that the rearward-facing or posterior side 14r of the stud 140v is vertical or almost vertical (if anything, slightly tilted away from vertical towards the posterior side, which in
Also, in the situation shown in
Both stud tips are furthermore connected by a bridge portion 231, and the stud tips 211, 221 and the bridge portion 231 are provided as one integral piece, i.e., as a constructional unit. This facilitates, for example, correct placement of the stud tips 211, 221 within a mold for connecting the stud tips to their stud bases, e.g., by the above-mentioned injection-molding process. The bridge portion 231 can also serve the purpose of securing the stud tips 211 and 221 within the mold during such a process, e.g., by a suitable slider element of the mold.
What can be seen in
What can also be seen in
At step 310, pre-fabricated stud tips for a first main stud and a first peripheral stud which are linked by a first bridge portion are provided (e.g., stud tips 111a and 121a linked by bridge portion 131a, or stud tips 211 and 221 linked by bridge portion 231).
At step 315, the pre-fabricated stud tips are placed into a mold which is used to manufacture the outsole.
At step 340, after the pre-fabricated stud tips are placed into the mold, at least part of the outsole is injection-molded.
Preferably, as indicated at numeral 318, the pre-fabricated stud tips for the first main stud and the first peripheral stud as well as the first bridge portion are provided as an integral piece made from a common material, e.g., from one or more of the following materials: a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, a polyamide (PA) material, a polyurethane (PU) material, for example, polyetherblockamide (PEBA), polyamide 11 (PA11), polyamide 12 (PA12), or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), for example TPU with a 95A Shore Hardness. The manufacture of these stud tips and bridge portion may have been accomplished, for example, in a separate injection-molding process that is not shown in
Optionally, at step 320, pre-fabricated stud tips for a second main stud and a second peripheral stud that are linked by a second bridge portion are provided (e.g., stud tips 111b and 121b linked by bridge portion 131b, or stud tips 211 and 221 linked by bridge portion 231), and at step 325 they are also placed into the mold prior to the injection-molding in step 340.
As indicated at numeral 328, the pre-fabricated stud tips for the second main stud and the second peripheral stud as well as the second bridge portion can also be provided as an integral piece made from a common material (e.g., the same material that was used for the first tips and bridge portion). Again, the manufacture of these stud tips and bridge portion may have been accomplished, for example, in a separate injection-molding process that is not shown in
Further yet, as indicated at step 330, a further pre-fabricated stud tip or tips, in particular for a further main stud or studs and/or for an additional heel stud or studs (e.g., stud tip 141 for heel stud 140), may be provided and, at step 335, be placed into the mold before the injection-molding in step 340. Also a further stud tip or tips for additional peripheral studs may here be provided.
During the method 300, in particular during at least part of the injection-molding process in step 340, the pre-fabricated pair of stud tips for the first main- and peripheral studs and/or for the second main- and peripheral can be held in place by a slider element or slider elements of the mold, as indicated at numeral 345. This can also apply to any other stud tip or tips, particularly to pairs of stud tips linked by a respective bridge portion, although this is not explicitly shown in
Finally, the injection-molding in step 340 may comprises an injection-molding of a material comprising, for example, one or more of the following materials: a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material, a polyamide (PA) material, a polyurethane (PU) material, for example, polyetherblockamide (PEBA), polyamide 11 (PA11), polyamide 12 (PA12), and/or thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), as indicated at numeral 348.
The injection-molding in step 340 may, in particular, lead to the formation of (at least some of) the stud bases and create a connection of (at least some of) the pre-fabricated stud tips to these stud bases, and it may also lead to the formation of studs that do not comprise dedicated stud tips but are fully formed in the injection-molding process in step 340 (e.g., one or more surface texture studs 150 as discussed above).
To conclude, it is noted that while the different steps of the method 300 are presented in a particular order in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2022 202 302.1 | Mar 2022 | DE | national |
