Patent Application
20240251911
The present invention relates to an article of footwear, and more particularly to footwear designed for use as orthotic or for the purpose of muscle recovery post workout.
Workouts and physical training subject the human body to controlled and systematic muscle fatigue and breakdown. To complement the training process, a requisite rest period is required to enable muscle recovery and healthy muscle growth. Such a rest period is also known as the recovery period. In particular, the legs and feet go through extensive muscle stress. Thus, it is even more vital to effect proper muscle recovery for the legs and feet.
Many aids currently exist to facilitate muscle recovery, such as saunas, infrared recovery lamps, and foam rollers. However, one of the key tools to aid muscle recovery is footwear. While it is important to have proper fitting footwear with adequate cushioning and support during workout and training sessions, it is also important to have sufficient cushioning and support post-workout, to enable quick and effective muscle and skeletal recovery after the training sessions.
A number of muscle recovery footwear options are available in the market. One type of recovery footwear is a muscle recovery footbed that can be inserted into already available footwear. However, because such recovery footbeds are designed to be inserted into existing footwear, they are usually quite thin (usually less than 8-10 mm, or a quarter of an inch). As such, they do not provide adequate cushioning and support, even though they are better than the traditional foam insoles which provide little to no effect in muscle recovery.
In order to address this shortcoming, some recovery footbeds have gel inserts or gel patches to provide additional cushioning and support, while still keeping the thickness as small as possible. While well designed gel recovery footbeds may have better support than foam footbeds, they still are inadequate for proper muscle recovery. Further, gel patches or full-length gel inserts may provide a discontinuous feel to the wearer. However, such recovery insoles, like other insertable insoles suffer from the shortcomings of limited thickness, thus providing only limited cushioning and impact deflection for the foot, limiting the muscle recovery potential.
To address the shortcomings of insertable recovery footbeds, specialized recovery footwear was designed. Examples of such recovery footwear known in the art include, mainly, but not limited to, recovery sandals. Recovery sandals are characterized by a thick sole (for example, more than 15-25 mm), constructed as a bonded outsole and insole, with the sandal straps partially sandwiched in-between. While such recovery sandals may provide adequate cushioning and support conducive to muscle recovery, they cannot be worn in places that require more formal footwear. Recovery shoes are also becoming more commonplace, which are similar to recovery sandals, but with a traditional shoe upper with a closed toe. However, known recovery shoes have an aesthetic appearance similar to sports shoes such as cross trainers or running shoes; characterized by a very thick midsole or outsole visible from the exterior. Such shoes may still be inappropriate for pairing with formal attire, or inappropriate for wear at places or occasions that require formal footwear—such as in a workplace, or in a wedding, and so forth.
It is the object of the present invention to overcome these and other shortcomings associated with footwear known in the art.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed towards an article of footwear (hereinafter, a recovery shoe) designed for post-workout muscle recovery, while having the aesthetic appearance of a formal or business casual shoe.
According to one embodiment, a recovery shoe comprises a recovery footbed, a cup sole, an upper, and a last attached to the upper. The upper is attached to the cup sole using and adhesive, or cold cement, or sidewall stitch, or a combination thereof. The recovery footbed further comprises a forefoot portion having a substantially uniform forefoot thickness, a heel section having a heel thickness greater than the forefoot thickness, and a midfoot section having a midfoot slope. The cup sole comprises a last receiving portion and a peripheral sidewall, wherein a rearfoot height of the peripheral sidewall is smaller than the heel thickness of the recovery footbed and a forefoot height of the peripheral sidewall is larger than the forefoot thickness of the recovery footbed.
According to another embodiment, a recovery shoe comprises a recovery footbed, a cup sole, an upper, and a last attached to the upper. The upper is attached to the cup sole using an adhesive, or cold cement, or sidewall stitch, or a combination thereof. The recovery footbed comprises a forefoot portion having a forefoot thickness of 10-12 mm, a heel section having a heel thickness of 28-35 mm, and a midfoot section having a midfoot slope. The cup sole comprises a last receiving portion having a cup sole thickness of 5-10 mm, and a peripheral sidewall having a rearfoot height of 22-32 mm, and a forefoot height of 12-23 mm.
Various features of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The accompanying figures are further described in detail in the following Detailed Description.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, in association with the accompanying figures. Some terms used herein may have other synonymous terms in the art, and may not be construed as limiting, rather only enabling the accompanying claims.
The present invention aims to provide an article of post-workout recovery footwear, with substantial foot support and cushioning similar to that provided by sports or recovery footwear, while maintaining the aesthetic appearance of close-toed formal or semi-formal footwear.
In general, formal footwear, as described herein, includes, without limitation any footwear that may be suitable for wearing with formal outfits, such as, a suit, a tuxedo, formal trousers, and so forth. Alternatively, formal footwear, as described herein, may include any footwear that may be suitable to be worn at a formal venue, such as a black-tie event, an office, a courtroom, a wedding, and so forth.
Formal footwear is characterized by a natural leather upper, or a synthetic leather upper, such as a thermoplastic urethane (TPU) leather upper. The upper may be constructed from one or more panels of the same material, with substantially the same color, or with closely varying shades of the same color. The color may be black, brown and darker shades thereof, or burgundy. Usually formal shoes have no decoration or embellishments on the upper. The only aesthetic variations include serrations or perforations (known in the art as broguing) on one or more panels of the upper. Further, formal footwear is characterized by a thin, sleek outsole, typically no more than 5-8 mm thick at the forefoot and midfoot, and 15-25 mm thick at the heel, usually but not exclusively, as a heel stack.
Examples of such formal footwear with a lace closure include Oxford shoes, Brogues, Derby shoes, and Dress boots.
In general, semi-formal footwear, as described herein, includes, without limitation, any footwear suitable for wearing with semi-formal or casual attire, for example, khaki style pants, chino style pants, or jeans. Alternatively, semi-formal footwear may include footwear suitable to be worn in less formal settings such as outdoor weddings or events, business casual dressing at the office, and so forth.
Semi formal footwear comprises of similar aesthetic principles as those of formal footwear, but with stylistic variations. Such stylistic variations include, without limitation, brighter or lighter colors (for example, beige, blue, red, etc.), visible (for example, contrasting) stitches, alternative closures such as buckles and belts, or the complete absence of a closure arrangement, such as slip-on style shoes, and alternative materials such as suede.
Examples of semi-formal footwear with a buckle and/or strap closure formal shoes include, for example, Monk shoes, and Chelsea boots. Examples of semi-formal or business casual footwear with a slip-on style upper include Loafers, Moccasin, and pumps (also known as Court Shoes).
On the other hand, sports footwear comprises uppers typically made from synthetic or natural fabrics and/or synthetic foams and rubbers. The upper of sports footwear may further have various design patterns and may have more vibrant colors. More pertinently, sports footwear is characterized by a thick, bulky outsole or midsole, or a combination thereof, visible from the exterior of the shoe. The large thickness of the midsole/outsole of recovery footwear provides adequate support and cushioning to the foot. Recovery footwear known in the art follows the aesthetic design principles of sports footwear. Therefore, recovery footwear known in the art is not appropriate for formal or semi-formal events or venues.
In light of the foregoing, it is desirable to have an article of footwear which maintains the formal aesthetic appearance of the footwear, while still providing substantial cushioning and support for the foot, similar to that provided by sports footwear or recovery footwear known in the art. Such an article of footwear allows for post-workout recovery while still being appropriate attire for offices. This enables the wearer to use the footwear through the workday at the office and enjoy the benefits of substantial foot support and cushioning.
Embodiments of the present invention address these contrasting requirements, using a novel combination of a recovery footbed, and a cup sole. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail, in association with the accompanying figures.
The recovery footbed 102 may be a one piece molded foam footbed of large thickness designed to attenuate ground reaction forces (in other words, provide cushioning), during walking and other ambulatory activities. The recovery footbed 102 is described in further detail below, in association with
The cup sole 110 is designed to provide structural rigidity to the recovery shoe. The cup sole 110 may also provide additional stability to the recovery footbed 102, by restricting lateral deformation. This may provide further stability for the foot against lateral rolling. The cup sole 110 is designed to accommodate the large thickness of the recovery footbed, while still maintaining a thin silhouette on the outside, similar to a formal or business casual shoe. The cup sole 110 may further include a last receiving portion 112, and peripheral sidewalls 114. The cup sole 110 is described in further detail below in association with
The upper 120 may have a formal or semi-formal or business casual aesthetic appearance. In various embodiments, the upper 120 may be a closed toe upper, with one of a lace closure, a belt and/or buckle closure, or a closure-less slip-on style upper. The upper 120 is described in further detail below in association with
The upper 120 together with the last 122 may be attached to the cup sole 110 using an adhesive bonding, or a stitch, or both. More particularly, the upper 120 may be attached to the peripheral sidewall 114 of the cup sole 110 using a cup sole stitch 116. The last 122 may be attached to the last receiving portion 112 of the cup sole 110, using an adhesive bonding, such as a cold cement bonding. The cup sole 110 provides sufficient depth to accommodate the thick recovery footbed 102, while still maintaining the aesthetic silhouette of a sleek, thin outsole, akin to a formal or semi-formal shoe. In some embodiments, the last 122 and upper 120 together is attached to the cupsole 110 using a vulcanized construction. A vulcanized construction includes a lasted upper that is on the last via strobel or board lasting, or string lasting, or a combination thereof. The assembly is then put on the cup sole 110 in a large chamber that is pressure sealed and heated to essentially melt the cup sole 110 onto the upper 120 for the bonding.
Finally, the recovery footbed 102 may be fitted into the interior of the upper 110. The recovery footbed 102 may either be simply inserted into the upper 120, or adhesively bonded to the upper surface of the last 122. The insertion or adhesive bonding technique secure the recovery footbed 102 within the shoe, while still allowing some movement relative to the upper 110, and the cupsole 110, thus enhancing flexibility of the recovery shoe 100. In particular, the insertion or adhesive bonding technique allow the recovery footbed 102 to compress under load without being vertically restricted by the cupsole 110, thus enhancing wearer comfort and foot feel.
In various embodiments, the recovery footbed 200 may be constructed from a polyurethane (PU) foam. The recovery footbed 200 may be constructed by injection molding, or open pour molding. The molded density of the recovery footbed 200 may be in the range of about 160 g/cm3 to about 190 g/cm3. The hardness of the footbed 200 may be in the range of about 23-27, measured on the Shore A scale.
The outline 210 of the bottom surface (illustrated as a dotted outline) of the recovery footbed 200 may be smaller than the outline 200 of the top surface, according to various embodiments. The recovery footbed 200 has a sidewall tapered in the rearfoot and midfoot portions, and a vertical sidewall in the forefoot portion. The tapered sidewalls allow a snugger fit of the recovery footbed 200 into the cup sole, with little to no lateral movement or lateral deformation under load. The taper of the sidewalls is more evident in the section views of the recovery footbed 200, illustrated in
In various embodiments, the recovery footbed 200 may have a forefoot region of uniform thickness tff. The forefoot thickness tff may be in the range of about 10 mm to 15 mm. The recovery footbed 200 may have a larger thickness in the rear foot region, and a still larger thickness in the mid foot region. Further, in some embodiments, the thickness of the recovery footbed 200 is larger along the medial (or inner) and lateral (or outer) edges of the recovery footbed 200, in the midfoot and rearfoot regions. Still further, in some embodiments, the thickness of the recovery footbed 200 may be larger along the medial (or inner) edge than the thickness at the lateral (or outer) edge. Such a contour is designed to closely match the recovery footbed 200 to the shape of the foot, and therefore provide effective cradling and support.
The cup sole 300 includes a last receiving portion 302, and a peripheral sidewall 304. The last receiving portion 302 is configured to receive the last of a shoe upper. The last receiving portion 302 may be of substantially uniform thickness. In another embodiment, the last receiving portion 302 may have varying thickness for the forefoot and the heel portions. In various embodiments, the last receiving portion 302 may be between 5 mm and 10 mm thick. The last receiving portion 302 may further include a raised lattice pattern. The raised lattice pattern may provide additional structural stiffness, and/or strength to the cup sole 300, or provide a better surface for adhesion with a last, or both. The raised lattice pattern may include, for example, a waffle pattern, a crosshatch pattern, or a honeycomb pattern. Other designs of the raised lattice patterns are also envisioned.
The peripheral sidewall 304 may serve multiple purposes. The peripheral sidewall 304 may provide a surface to secure the upper. For example, the upper may be secured to the peripheral sidewall 304 by a stitch, or an adhesive bonding, or both. The peripheral sidewall 304 may also provide lateral support to the recovery footbed preventing the lateral movement of the recovery footbed or preventing lateral deformation of the recovery footbed under load, or both.
Pertinently, aesthetically, the peripheral sidewall 304 is designed to conceal at least part of the thickness of the recovery footbed. In exemplary embodiments, the height of the peripheral sidewall 304 at the rearfoot portion (hereinafter, the rearfoot height) may be smaller than or equal to the rearfoot thickness of the recovery footbed. In exemplary embodiments, the height of the peripheral sidewall 304 at the forefoot portion (hereinafter, the forefoot height) may be greater than or equal to the forefoot thickness of the recovery footbed. In various embodiments, the height of the sidewall is largest at the rearfoot portion of the cup sole 300, and smallest at the forefoot portion of the cup sole 300. Such a contour of the peripheral sidewall 300 provides a sleek aesthetic for the recovery shoe, thus avoiding the bulky look associated with sports shoes. In exemplary embodiments, the height of the peripheral sidewall at the rearfoot portion may be between 22 mm and 32 mm. The height of the peripheral sidewall at the forefoot portion may be between 12 mm and 23 mm.
The cup sole 300 further includes a ground engaging surface 306. The ground engaging surface 306 provides grip to the recovery shoe. The ground engaging portion may have surface patterns such as grooves, ridges, and bumps of various shapes and sizes to improve the grip of the recovery shoe.
The upper 404 includes a lace closure. The upper 404 may be constructed as an open lacing closure, or a closed lacing closure. The upper 404 may include perforations 406 (or broguing) in one or more portions of the upper 404, to allow for ventilation.
In an example embodiment of formal recovery shoes, the upper 404 is constructed of leather, or synthetic leather, such as thermoplastic urethane (TPU) leather. In other example embodiments of semi-formal recovery shoes, the upper 404 may be constructed of suede, synthetic fabrics such as nylon, natural fabrics such as cotton canvas, synthetic foams, synthetic rubbers, or any combination thereof.
The upper 504 may be a slip-on style upper, devoid of a closure arrangement. The upper 504 may include perforations 506 (or broguing) in one or more portions of the upper 504, to allow for ventilation.
In various example embodiments of semi-formal recovery shoes, the upper 404 is constructed of leather, or synthetic leather, such as thermoplastic urethane (TPU) leather, suede, synthetic fabrics such as nylon, natural fabrics such as cotton canvas, synthetic foams, synthetic rubbers, or any combination thereof.
