KR0148225B1 - Article of footwear having improved midsole - Google Patents

Abstract

A midsole, partial midsole, or the like (10), for inclusion in an article of footwear having a flexible, air-permeable top sole, characterized by at least one plug (11) in the heel region having a thickness (height) sufficient to permit significant compression deformationm along its thickness dimension accompanied by simultaneous significant bulging deformation in its circumscribing surface perpendicular to the thickness dimension; the deformations occuring solely due to normal walking activity by any wearer of the footwear; and the deformations thereby providing simultaneously for shock-absorption and ventilation during said normal walking activity.

Description

[Name of invention]

Shoes with improved midsole

Detailed description of the invention

[Technical Field]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to improved footwear and, more particularly, to a shoe having an improved step cushion and providing ventilation to a user's foot. Moreover, the present invention relates to the improvement of midsoles of footwear.

[Background]

Many sports shoes, such as running shoes, are disclosed in the prior art, and there are many shoes on the market that represent various forms of midsoles for the purpose of improving the performance of sneakers. Indeed, various types of outsoles, the only part in contact with the ground, have been proposed to have shock absorbing properties.

U.S.P., U.S. Patent. Many prior arts such as 4,782,603 are known. This patent provides a separate molded midsole with a series of parallel, spaced tubes arranged generally in a transverse position relative to the length of the shoe. These parallel tubes are easy to compress with the user's walking, and the patent explains that the tubes should be sufficiently elastic and not damaged along their walls.

U.S. Patent No. 4,316,332, given to Giese et al, Feb. 23, 1982, shows a sole having a hollow portion suitable for supporting a shock absorber, which is surrounded by a relatively rigid rim of the sole.

U.S. Patent No. 4,608,768, issued to September 2, 1986, to Cavanagh, discloses the use of a plug inserted into an openwork support forming a midsole. These plugs are made of a harder material than that of the midsole.

U.S. Patent No. 4,831,749, issued to Tsai on May 23, 1989, discloses a ventilator having a plurality of upper beads protruding upward to reach the user's foot and a plurality of lower beads protruding downward to contact the shoe sole. And a shoe insole, which is good for massage, discloses a shoe in which an air stream is pumped through a hole when a user's foot is pressed on the shoe insole. Here, each hole is formed between each upper bead and each lower bead to massage and massage the user's foot.

U.S. Patent No. 4,605,224, issued to Anger on August 11, 1987, discloses the use of a maze-like ventilation channel between the top-sole of a shoe and the underside of a foot. This provides a pumping effect that moves the surrounding air and blows up the user's feet.

U.S. Patent No. 3,418,731, issued to Anciaux on December 31, 1968, discloses the use of an insole having an upper and a lower surface of an elastic material. The upper surface of the shoe sole has a plurality of blocked recesses, the bottom surface of which has a corresponding protrusion to allow ventilation during walking.

U.S. Patent No. 4,845,863, issued July 11, 1989 to Lin Yung-Mao, is the closest prior art found in a prior art search. This discloses the use of insoles and midsoles in active shoes. This specification deals with an impervious insole / midsole structure having an elastic material projecting downward, and having such an elastic material, is positioned to fit into a container in the outsole to cushion the user's gait and has such a size. This patent describes the following disadvantages of the prior art.

Conventional midsoles provide nothing in terms of deformation of the various areas or the method of independent suspension, and moreover are only suitable for the user's particular weight or desired cushion rating.

The desire for midsoles having a plurality of cushioning members, each of which is independently deformed from the remaining members and exhibits individual suspensions, is generally satisfied by the custom midsole disclosed in US Patent No. 4,733,483 to Lin on March 29, 1988. do. However, it is known that the flat outsole and midsole disclosed therein tend to have a springboard effect that causes the hind paws to spring up and vibrate. The midsole tends to slide in it unless the midsole is completely inserted into the cavity created in the shoe. Accordingly, there is a need for an intermediate window having a plurality of cushioning elements with individual suspensions that do not slide or vibrate.

The related U.S. Patent (No. 4,843,741), issued to Lin Yung-Mao on 4 July 1989, also has a similar structure, but additionally, the downwardly hanging plugs have a cylindrical cavity in each element for the purpose of reducing the weight of the midsole. do.

As an additional prior art, readers have read the article by New Scientist of July 15, 1989, A Race for a Better Running Shoe, pp 42-44, Alison Turnball and How Elastic is a Running Shoes ?, Alexander and Bennett, pp 45 , 46). The authors argue that it is the current trend of sneaker manufacturers to return the energy consumed in each walk to pedestrians. Many prior art disclosures are focused on the means to achieve the return of energy in accordance with this trend. Alexander and Bennett summarize their test results as follows.

The quality sought in the heel of a shoe is probably high flexibility (or peak deformation) that reduces the impact force. Seeing the same in different ways, the heel should be able to absorb the kinetic energy of the foot without causing great force, and the great force at peak strain and strain will probably be good.

The high energy return to the front of the sole is of potential importance (see Table 3). However, for the percentage of energy returned, the numbers from our test do not tell us how much energy the shoe returns. As such, we need to know how much energy is initially stored. The higher the flexibility (or peak strain) and the higher the strain, the more energy the sole will store when compressed. The higher the energy returned, the more energy is restored to elastic recoil.

[Initiation of invention]

The present invention does not have the purpose of maximizing energy return or achieving energy return to pedestrians, and has the purpose of absorbing relatively weak impacts when walking normal pedestrians and at the same time providing ventilation in shoes.

In order to achieve the above object, an extremely soft material should be used in the plug or column of the present invention, and moreover, such plug or column should be directed upward into the permeable and flexible upper window, or when pressed by normal pedestrian walking. As it is important for such columns to pop out sufficiently, they are directed downward from such a top window. The protruding action moves air between columns, thus ventilating shoes and feet through the upper window. The flexibility of this column material is small in strain, but large in peak strain.

Such shoes are known to benefit the pedestrian's feet as well as the pedestrian's joints and spine.

The present invention provides a shoe comprising a plurality of vertical plugs or columns in the sole suitable for easy compression and protruding on each walk of the pedestrian. This provides a shock absorbing enzyme with a special value that gives the foot a comfortable feel and is particularly adapted to the contours of its sole and provides a cushion when walking in pedestrians.

The degree of compression of the thermoplastic material is such that the plugs are compressed and sufficiently deformed to provide a cushion during each walk of the pedestrian. The degree of deformation is such that the plugs are substantially protruding, and the compression, protruding, and sequential recovery of the plug's shape provides sufficient air flow to the sole area to ventilate the shoe.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a midsole or partial midsole suitable for inclusion in footwear, thereby providing cushioning and ventilation for pedestrians. This midsole or partial midsole includes a web portion suitable for stretching along at least a portion of the outsole of the shoe and includes a cushioning element comprising a plurality of plugs projecting perpendicular to the plane of the web. . Each plug is made of a thermoplastic rubber that is elastic but easily compressed. These plugs are distributed on the web, cushioning each pedestrian's walking to provide comfort to the pedestrian's feet. The distribution, size and number of plugs and the degree of compression of the material are such that the plugs are sufficiently compressed and easily deformed to cushion the pedestrian's walking, and this degree of compression is the actual protruding and recovery of the plugs for ventilation Let the surrounding air move.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a shoe comprising an outsole and an upper portion, the outsole having a plurality of upright plugs formed of an elastic and easily compressed material. These plugs are distributed on the outsole to provide comfort to the pedestrian's feet and cushion the pedestrian's walking. The distribution, size and number of plugs and the degree of compression of the plastics is such that the plugs are sufficiently compressed and deformed to cushion the pedestrian's walking, which in turn entails the substantial protruding of the plugs. Compression, protruding, and restoring the shape of this plug provides a significant flow of air along the outsole for ventilation of the shoe.

[Brief Description of Drawings]

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a plan view of a middle window manufactured according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the web shown in FIG.

3, 4 and 5 are side views showing part of the web shown in FIG. 2, showing three embodiments of upright plugs of the present invention.

6 shows another embodiment of a web with a sock-sole.

7 is a cutaway view of the entire shoe embodied the one ocean of the present invention.

8 shows another embodiment of the inventive concept incorporating plugs that can be compressed.

FIG. 9 shows an outsole with a cavity or space for installation of a partial midsole of the type shown in FIG.

10 and 11 show the web portions shown in FIG. 2 showing a deformation of the shape of the plugs.

FIG. 12 shows the toe 41 of the web shown in FIG. 9, in which the foremost plug 53 is gradually shortened in length to suit a particular installation.

13 shows a modification of the present invention.

14 shows the structure of a partial midsole of the heel of a shoe according to the invention.

15 shows a variant of the invention applied to women's shoes or sandals.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a plan view of a mid-window, generally shown as web 10, having a plurality of upright plugs 11. In this embodiment, these plugs are arranged along the entire midsole 10. This midsole 10 extends from the toe 12 through the ball 13 to the heel 14. In this embodiment, each plug 11 is upright relative to the web 10 and is attached to the web at its distal end. In this embodiment, each plug 11 displays a central feature 16.

The entire midsole 10 is preferably made by injection molding, in which case the web 10 of the midsole as well as the plug 11 is removed from the same material, in which case the web 10 is very flexible but air is It does not penetrate. Such midsole is suitable for inclusion in shoes where the web 10 is in contact with the top of the outsole and the plug 11 protrudes upwards.

The most suitable material for such midsoles is known in the United States as Supersoft thermoplastics from GLS PLASTICS of Woodstock, IL 60098 (sold as Item # G3294). This material is made of a thermoplastic composite known as Kraton, supplied by Shall Chemical Company. Preferred Kraton composites are Kraton D-2104 and Kraton D-3226, because they have the highest ductility of Shore A of 27 and 34 [D-2240].

The resulting thermoplastic Supersoft yields a midsole material with a Duroneter scale of 30 or less, preferably near 20. Despite the ductility of the final midsole, it still gives good elasticity and longevity. Of course, in addition to Kraton there are materials such as estane, polyvinyl chloride or rubber. The required properties of these materials are to obtain a plug 11 that is easily compressed and significantly deformed (generally having a Durometer scale of about 30), but once the compressive force has been removed, it has good elasticity and longevity to return to its original shape. Have a lifetime. The shape of the plugs 11 is not critical and whether they are hollow or rigid does not usually affect their deformation. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the plugs are hollowed out to save thermoplastics.

Turning back to FIGS. 2 and 3, they show perspective and side views, respectively, of the portion of the midsole shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, it can be seen that this embodiment has a lower projection 20, which provides a small amount of ventilation under the middle window. In FIG. 4, the plugs are shown at 20 and 21. In this embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the plugs vary in thickness (ie height). Such thickness or height is of course discretionary, but values below 10 mm seem reasonable.

In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the plugs 22 are held to be located in the midsole by a web 10 which is centered relative to the plug 22. Of course, this helps to mitigate the impact.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5, the central attachment 16 is shown in the plugs 11, 20, 21, 22 in dashed lines.

In FIG. 6, a portion of the midsole as shown in FIG. 3 has a top web 25, which web is suitably made of a porous material or a perforated material, thus moving air. In this figure the plug 11 is shown compressively deformed and protruding.

7 shows a cutaway view of a shoe incorporating one aspect of the invention. Here, the middle window shown in FIG. 1 is located at the top of the outer window 31 in the shoe. The flexible, air-permeable upper window 30 is located above the middle window.

FIG. 8 shows a variant in which the outsole 31 is replaced by the outsole 32 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, which receives the plug 11 of the type described above. And a plurality of pockets 33 suitable for support. Thus, there is no need for a web 10 to hold these plugs in place. The plugs 11 may be permanently supported in the hole 33 by gluing means or other suitable means.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the outsole 42 has cutouts 43 and 44 during fabrication, with portions 40 and 41 having the appropriate size and shape of the web as shown in FIG. ) Fits directly into the space, taking up less vertical space inside the shoe. These web portions 40, 41, including the midsole, also effectively hold in place with respect to lateral movement. Of course, only one web portion may be provided among the web portions 40, 41.

FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a web portion 10 as shown in FIG. 2 has a plug 50, which plugs are solid instead of the hollow plugs shown in FIG. Plugs. In order to maintain the desired high degree of compression, it is necessary to use the material of the softer plug 50, to obtain an adequate degree of compression under walking of the pedestrian while allowing the plug to pop out and recover.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the web portion 10 is similar to that shown in FIG. 2 and has an upright plug 51 which is basically rectangular in hollow or cross section. These various design parameters can be varied to obtain maximum performance. The elasticity of the plastic material, the height and shape of the plugs, the distribution and number of plugs per unit area, the variation of the heights of the various plugs, or the row of plugs, the hollow to rigid plugs, and the thickness of the walls of such hollow plugs Variables may be changed for the purpose of achieving the objects of the present invention. In the case of hollow, satisfactory results can be obtained by using a plug having a wall thickness of 1 to 3 mm and having a cross-sectional area of about 0.5 cm 2.

FIG. 12 shows another variant of the invention, in which the plugs do not all have the same length, here in the insert 41 similar to that shown in FIG. For the toes the plug 11 is progressively shorter through them when the plugs 52, 53 approach the toes. The length of these plugs can be varied in any suitable way to accommodate the geometrical shape of the interior of the shoe component.

Figure 13 shows another embodiment of a part of a web according to the invention, with the plugs in the upper and lower webs facing each other to add a cushion. Again, the upper web is flexible and preferably air must penetrate.

In FIG. 14, the interior of the heel 60 of the outsole or midsole has a rectangular recess 61 therein. This recess 61 inserts a cylindrical plug 62 having a single large diameter therein, the plug being shown in a position that is fully compressed and deformed for purposes of explanation. As can be seen, this compression deformation causes the plug 62 to protrude, but of course to partially fill the space between the outer periphery and the center of the recess 61. Therefore, whenever the plug 62 sticks out, the air is pumped upward.

In FIG. 15, the heel 70 of women's shoes or sandals is shown therein for cylindrical purposes 71 and saga recesses 72. Other polygonal recesses may be used. In installation, the plugs 73, 74 in the recess are fixed as desired due to the recess being shallower than the thickness or length of the plugs.

Claims (22)

A separate and individual drop-in insert for shoes, wherein the drop-in insert is separated from the wall of the shoe, such that the drop-in insert comprises one web; And a plurality of hollow plugs integral with the web and extending vertically from one or both sides of the web, the hollow plugs being elastic having a hardness value of less than about 35, namely Shore A (D-2240). Made of an extremely soft and deformable thermoplastic material; Has a height in the range of about 3 mm to 10 mm; When the drop-in insert is used in a shoe to provide shock absorption and ventilation, the drop-in insert entails a deformation which simultaneously protrudes against the hollow plugs in one direction perpendicular to the height direction of the hollow plugs, the height direction of the hollow plugs And a drop-in insert for the shoe, characterized in that it is sufficient to allow compression of the air contained in the hollow plug and effective compression deformation of the thermoplastic material. The shoe drop-in insert of claim 1 wherein said air permeable upper sole rests on said plugs. The drop-in insert of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material has a hardness value of about 20, i.e. Shore A (D-2240). The shoe drop-in insert of claim 1 wherein the hollow plugs are cylindrical. The shoe drop-in insert of claim 1 wherein the web has a sole shape. 6. The insert of claim 5 wherein the hollow plugs vary in height and the hollow plugs in the toe of the shoe are shorter than the other hollow plugs. 2. The drop-in insert of claim 1, wherein the web is typically arranged in the heel of the shoe. The shoe drop-in insert of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic material is selected from Kraton D-2104, Kraton D-3226, estane, polyvinyl chloride, and rubber. The shoe drop-in insert of claim 1 wherein the plugs vary in height. An outer window, a middle window, and a top window, the middle window comprising: one web; And a plurality of hollow plugs integral with the web and extending vertically from one or both sides of the web, the plugs being elastic, having a hardness value of less than about 35, ie Shore A (D-2240). Made of extremely soft and deformable thermoplastics; Has a height in the range of about 3 mm to 10 mm; When the shoe is used to provide shock absorption and ventilation, it entails a deformation which simultaneously protrudes against the hollow plugs in one direction perpendicular to the height direction of the hollow plugs, the hollow along the height direction of the hollow plug. A shoe characterized in that it is designed and sufficient to allow compression of the air contained in the plug and effective compression deformation of the thermoplastic material. 11. The shoe of claim 10, wherein the upper sole is comprised of an air permeable material lying over the hollow plugs. 11. The shoe of claim 10, wherein said hollow plug varies in height. The insert of claim 1 wherein the hollow plugs are substantially rectangular in cross section. The insert of claim 1 wherein the web is adapted to be normally disposed in the front portion of the shoe. The insert of claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic material comprises Kraton as a base material. A separate and individual drop-in insert for shoes, wherein the drop-in insert is separated from the wall of the shoe, such that the drop-in insert comprises one web; And a wall portion integral with the web and extending substantially perpendicular to the web, wherein each of the hollow plugs has a spaced inner surface and an outer surface, wherein each of the hollow plugs has a first end and a second end. Wherein the inner and outer surfaces include a plurality of hollow plugs defining an operating area there between at least one of the first and second ends of each of the hollow plugs, the hollow plugs being elastically soft and deformable Possible thermoplastics; Has a predetermined height; When the drop-in insert is used in a shoe to provide shock absorption and ventilation, the drop-in insert entails a deformation which simultaneously protrudes to an effective extent at the same time as the wall portion perpendicular to the height direction of the hollow plug, and along the height direction of the hollow plug. A drop-in insert for footwear characterized in that it is designed to allow compression of air contained in the hollow plug and effective compression deformation of the thermoplastic material. 18. The insert according to claim 16, wherein the hollow plugs are substantially square in cross section. 18. The insert of claim 16 wherein the hollow plugs are cylindrical in cross section. 18. The insert of claim 16, wherein the web is typically arranged in the heel of the shoe. 18. The insert of claim 16 wherein the web is adapted for normal placement at the front of the shoe. The insert of claim 16 wherein the thermoplastic material comprises Kraton as a base material. A drop-in insert for shoes that can be easily removed, comprising: one web (10); And a plurality of hollow substantially cylindrical plugs 11 integrally formed with the web and extending vertically from at least one side of the web, wherein the web and the hollow plugs are made of the same material and have a substantially uniform hardness value. Wherein the materials are made of an elastic, extremely soft and deformable thermoplastic material having a hardness value of less than about 35, namely Shore A (D-2240), each of the hollow substantially cylindrical plugs having a spaced inner surface and A wall portion having an outer surface and having an opening having a diameter equal to the diameter of the inner surface, an end defining a generally flat operating area is spaced apart from the web, wherein the hollow plugs are about 3 mm to 10 mm Has a height of range; When the drop-in insert is used in a shoe to provide shock absorption and ventilation, the drop-in insert entails a deformation that simultaneously protrudes to an effective extent at a wall portion perpendicular to the height direction of the hollow plugs, the hollow plug along the height direction of the hollow plug. A drop-in insert for footwear characterized in that it is sufficient to allow compression of the air contained therein and effective compression deformation of the thermoplastic material.