CA2107381A1 - Sole construction for a sport shoe - Google Patents
Sole construction for a sport shoeInfo
- Publication number
- CA2107381A1 CA2107381A1 CA 2107381 CA2107381A CA2107381A1 CA 2107381 A1 CA2107381 A1 CA 2107381A1 CA 2107381 CA2107381 CA 2107381 CA 2107381 A CA2107381 A CA 2107381A CA 2107381 A1 CA2107381 A1 CA 2107381A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- area
- resilient layer
- perforations
- sole construction
- sole
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/18—Resilient soles
- A43B13/181—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
- A43B13/186—Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot
Landscapes
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A sole construction for a sports shoe including a wear sole and a resilient layer arranged between the upper of the shoe and the wear sole. The resilient layer is made of a substantially homogeneous material having a substantially constant hardness.
Perforations are formed in the resilient layer in the areas of the heel portion and the foot arch portion. The perforations extend through the resilient layer from the upper to the wear sole so as to produce the desired properties of resilience and attenuation and the desired support effect in the sole construction. The perforated area in relation to the area of the resilient layer, is at a maximum in the area of the rear part of the heel portion so as to make the elasticity and the attenuation of the sole construction maximal in this area. When moving from the area of the rear part of the heel portion forwards toward the area of the foot arch portion, the perforated area becomes smaller and the non-perforated area becomes accordingly larger so as to increase the support effect of the sole construction.
A sole construction for a sports shoe including a wear sole and a resilient layer arranged between the upper of the shoe and the wear sole. The resilient layer is made of a substantially homogeneous material having a substantially constant hardness.
Perforations are formed in the resilient layer in the areas of the heel portion and the foot arch portion. The perforations extend through the resilient layer from the upper to the wear sole so as to produce the desired properties of resilience and attenuation and the desired support effect in the sole construction. The perforated area in relation to the area of the resilient layer, is at a maximum in the area of the rear part of the heel portion so as to make the elasticity and the attenuation of the sole construction maximal in this area. When moving from the area of the rear part of the heel portion forwards toward the area of the foot arch portion, the perforated area becomes smaller and the non-perforated area becomes accordingly larger so as to increase the support effect of the sole construction.
Description
2 1 ~ l 3 ~ 1 80LE CONSTRUCTION FOR A ~PORT8 SHOE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the construction of a shoe sole for a sports shoe, comprising a wear sole and a resilient layer placed between the upper and the wear sole.
In a prolonged sports performance, such as long-distance running, attempts have been made to reduce the strain applied to the feet and legs through the shoes. In this respect, it is important that the shoe must be constructed in such a manner so as to prevent extreme lateral movements of the ankle joint. For this purpose, a number of different analytical methods have been developed. These methods are directed to ascertaining the person's personal and even foot-specific tendency of bending-in, i.e., pronation, and bending-out, i.e., supination, of the ankle joint, especially during the initial shoe selection process. After the type of the foot and the tendencies of bending of the ankle joint have been established, it is possible to choose shoes that support the foot in the correct way and specifically for the person concerned.
The prior art methods intended for the shoe selection process described above include, for example, recording a sample run that takes place on a running mat on a video tape. From a slowed-down video picture, it is possible to measure the angles of bending of the ankle and, on this basis, to choose the sole construction that guides the movement of the foot during a running step appropriately and most accurately from among different shoes.
:, .
..
2~ 0738~
U.s. Patent No. 4,917,105 (the specification of which is incorporated by reference herein) describes a second method, i.e., the so-called knee-bend method. In this method, the construction of the foot arch is examined on a mirror table, and the direction and extent of the lateral movement of an ankle joint that is loaded in a knee-bend position are measured. On the basis of these measurements, the conclusions can be reached concerning the conduct of the ankle in a running situation, and a combination of a shoe and an orthopaedic insole that supports the foot in a suitable way can be selected.
A third method is described in Finnish Patent Application No.
911830. This reference describes a method and device for measuring how the load applied by a foot to the base is distributed. Other methods and devices that should be mentioned in this connection include those described in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,062,355, 3,358,373 and 2,175,116. These prior art references describe various methods and devices for determining the posture and loading of a foot and, on this basis, selecting a shoe and/or an insole of the correct type.
The object of all of the methods mentioned above in the prior art references is to establish the manner in which a foot loads the shoe in a running situation and the manner in which the shoe should support this load to prevent extreme lateral movements of the ankle joint, which are detrimental in view of the strain applied to the feet and legs. It is a common solution used in these prior art methods and devices that the foot is inclined in relation to the shoe by means of a particular orthopaedic insole. A large number of solutions of orthopaedic insoles are known in the prior art from different connections and references, and one of these solutions is described, e.g., in Finnish Patent Application No. 912588, corresponding to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 07/890,911, the specification of which is incorporated by reference herein.
2 1(~7381 Shock absorption is also required in a sports shoe, which is accomplished mainly by means of the compression of a resilient material layer placed underneath the heel. A shoe constructed in this manner is not capable of resisting the twisting produced by the lateral movement of the ankle in all cases. Therefore, it has proved necessary to develop shoe constructions in which the vertical resilience of the sole is different in different areas in the sole. Such a shoe guides the movement of the ankle dynamically and thereby compensates for excessive pronation or supination during a running step. In the prior art, a number of shoes of this type are known, concerning which the following should be briefly stated.
One of the earliest sole constructions of a running shoe which attempted to guide the path of movement of the foot is described in Finnish Patent No. 57,529 corresponding to U.S. Patent No.
4,102,061. This publication describes a shoe having a so-called air-cushion construction in which a closed cavity space is formed in the resilient part of the sole construction in an area of the heel portion and possibly also in an area of the foot arch portion.
The cavity receives and attenuates the dynamic shocks applied to the foot during a running step, while the sole construction of the shoe, nevertheless, supports the foot at the same time in the lateral direction.
A shoe sole construction of a second type is described in Finnish Patent No. 71,866 corresponding to U.S. Patent No.
4,757,620, the specification of which is incorporated by reference herein. In this reference, the sole construction of the shoe comprises a spring and support construction which includes a resilient tip part extending from the tip portion of the shoe substantially to the area of the ball portion of the foot, a resilient heel part and a more rigid body piece. The resilient heel part becomes narrower in wedge shape from the rear edge of the 21~7381 shoe towards the tip and extends across the area of the heel portion. The rigid body piece extends from the rear edge of the shoe to the area of the ball portion and is placed against the heel and against the arch of the foot. This type of sole construction receives the shock impact applied to the heel at the stage of lowering of the foot onto the ground quite efficiently and adequately supports the arch of the foot at the so-called rolling stage of the foot. By means of suitable shaping of the resilient parts and the body piece, the sole construction can be made suitable for feet of different types.
Further, in EP Patent No. 0,160,415, a sole construction for a sports shoe is described in which the desired resilience and support have been achieved by fitting parts of different shapes and/or hardnesses in the area of the heel portion into the sole construction. A large number of solutions of this type are known in the prior art from different shoe manufacturers.
In all of the prior art shoes described above, the operation of the sole construction is based on the use of different hardness or different modulus of compression in different parts of the sole.
However, this causes a problem in the manufacturing process of the shoe because controlling the different hardnesses of materials in the manufacturing process and connecting these materials having different hardnesses to each other are often quite difficult.
OBJECTS AND SUNMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved shoe sole construction by whose means the drawbacks of the prior art are substantially eliminated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved sole construction in particular for a sports shoe that is well-suited for feet of different types.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new "' , ' ' ,.
and improved method for providing a sports shoe with a sole construction having a desired support effect.
In view of achieving the objects stated above and others, the present invention includes a resilient layer which is made entirely of a substantially homogeneous material having a substantially constant hardness. Perforations are formed in the resilient layer in the areas of the heel portion and the foot arch portion. The perforations extend through the resilient layer from the upper of the shoe to the wear sole so as to prod~lce the desired properties of resilience and attenuation and the desired effect of support in the sole construction.
By means of the present invention, when compared to the prior art devices, several advantages are obtained. In the resilient layer in the sole construction of the shoe in accordance with the present invention, only one material of the same constant hardness throughout the whole layer is used. As a result, the drawbacks related to the shoe sole manufacturing process have been substantially eliminated. The desired dynamic properties of resilience of the shoe and the desired support effect of the sole have been achieved by forming perforations in the material of constant hardness in the resilient layer. The shoe can then be made suitable for feet of different types by appropriately varying the location and shape of the perforations.
More generally stated, the present invention includes means to provide a support effect for a foot placed in the shoe. The means function to reduce the modulus of compression in specific predetermined areas of the resilient layer and specifically, to provide a smaller modulus of compression in an area of the hee~
portion of the foot and the arch portion of the foot and a larger modulus of compression in an area of the ball portion and toes portion of the foot. In a preferred embodiment, the means constitute perforations formed in the resilient layer.
The present invention also relates to a method for providing a sports shoe with a desired support effect, comlprising the steps of arranging a resilient layer between an upper of the shoe and a lower wear sole and forming a plurality of perforations in the resilient layer. The perforations extend through the resilient layer from the upper to the wear sole and are arranged such that the perforated area of the resilient layer is at a maximum in an area of a rear part of the heel portion and decreases toward an area of the foot arch portion. In this manner, the desired support effect of the sole construction is accomplished. The arrangement of perforations can be used to regulate the modulus of compression of the resilient layer, and the different portions therein.
Other advantages and characteristic features of the invention will come out later in the following detailed description of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
The following drawings are illustrative of embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.
Figure 1 is a general illustration of a shoe that includes a sole construction in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the resilient layer in a sole construction in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 3 shows a bottom view of a resilient layer in a sole construction of the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 4 is a schematic top view of the resilient layer in a sole construction of a shoe for a deficiently pronating foot.
Figure 5 is a schematic top view of the resilient layer in a sole construction of a shoe for an excessively pronating foot.
,. - - ~
21073~1 DETAIL~D DESCRIPTION OF TNE INVENTION
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a shoe in accordance with the present invention which is denoted generally with reference numeral 10. In a conventional manner, the shoe 10 comprises an upper 11 and a sole construction 12. The upper 11 and the sole construction 12 are attached to each other in a suitable and conventional way, for example by gluing. The sole construction 12 includes a resilient layer 13 and an outer sole 14, also referred to as a lower wear sole, which constitutes the wear layer.
The outer sole 14 and the resilient layer 13 are joined together preferably by gluing. The resilient layer 13 is illustrated in more detail in Figs. 3 to 5.
Figs. 2 and 3 show the resilient layer 13 in a shoe sole construction in accordance with the present invention which is intended mainly for a so-called "neutral" foot, i.e., a foot which does not have any substantial defects of posture. As stated above, Fig. 2 shows the resilient layer 13 as viewed from above, i.e., a top view, whereas Fig. 3 shows a corresponding resilient layer 13 as viewed from underneath, i.e., from the direction of the outer sole 14 or a bottom view.
The resilient layer 13 is made of one and the same material having a substantially constant hardness throughout. This material is, in a normal manner, thicker in areas of the heel portion and the arch portion of the foot (as shown in Fig. 1) and becomes thinner in a suitable way towards an area of the ball portion and the toes portion. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the areas of the heel portion and the arch portion of the foot, the resilient layer 13 is provided with perforations 16 passing through the resilient layer 13 from the upper face 15 to the bottom face thereof. The perforations 16 reduce the cross-sectional area of the resilient layer 13 and thereby reduce, in the area of the perforations 16, the modulus of compression of the resilient layer 13. The modulus of compression is proportional to the cross-sectional area of the resilient layer. Thus, the perforations 16 are formed in the area in the resilient layer 13 in which the elasticity of the sole is to be increased.
As shown in Figs. 2-5, the sole construction contains a plurality of individual perforations which are not connected to one another. Instead, the perforations 16 are formed in the heel portion, e.g., by removing individual and discrete portions of the resilient layer, in the desired pattern to support the foot in accordance with its pronation, supination or neutral stance. In one embodiment, the perforations are circular and have a uniform diameter.
The effect of the perforations on the modulus of compression of the shoe can be calculated from the formula:
f = ------, wherein Ml M1 = modulus of compression in a certain area before perforations are formed therein, M2 = modulus of compression in the same area after perforations have been formed therein.
The modulus of compression of a homogeneous material of a known hardness is directly proportional to the compression area and can be ascertained from the following formulas:
Ml = a A1 ; M2 = a A2, wherein a = material constant;
A, = area of the face to be examined;
A2 = the area from which the area of holes has been reduced in the same area.
21073~1 In such a case, and assuming circular holes each having the same diameter, the following equation is obtained:
7r . d2 A2 = Al - n -------- , wherein n = number of holes in the area examined;
d = diameter of the holes.
By substituting the above equations into the formula, the effect of the perforations on the modulus of compression is:
7r . d2 f = 1 - n 4 Al The modulus of compression is affected by the number of holes (n) and the diameter of the holes (d). The regulation of the amount of holes and the size thereof provides a regulation of the modulus of compression of the sole. Although in the example provided, the holes have the same diameter, it is clearly obvious that the form, size and position of the holes can vary within the entire resilient layer.
If the modulus of compression is examined, e.g., in the area ~T. D2 A~ ------ as shown in Fig. 2), in which the number of holes is 7, the effect of the perforations becomes:
d2 f 1 7 ________ In view of the foregoing analysis, by means of the perforations 16 it is possible to change the dynamic properties of resilience of the resilient layer 13 of constant hardness in the sole construction 12. For this reason, the perforated area is at .... . . . .
. ..
21~7381 the largest in the rear part of the heel portion of the sole. The largest amount of perforations are formed at the rear part of the heel portion because the highest elasticity and a maximum capability of attenuation of shock are needed in this area in the sole. During a running step, when the foot moves from the "landing" stage, i.e., from the collision stage in which a high capacity of elasticity and attenuation is required from the shoe, to the so-called rolling stage, the downward movement of the center of gravity of the runner stops and the foot prepares for a take-off upwards and forwards for the next step. At this time, a high pressure is applied to the area of the arch portion of the foot and, by its effect, the sole construction of the shoe must not be flattened excessively in order to prevent the runner's energy from being lost due to deformations of the sole construction. Thus, the support effect of the sole must be increased in a transition from the area of the heel portion to the area of the arch portion of the foot.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figs.
2 and 3, the increase in the support effect is achieved by forming the perforations such that the proportion of the perforations 16 in the area of the resilient layer 13 is reduced (and the non-perforated area is increased accordingly) in a direction from the area of the heel portion toward the arch portion of the foot. This provides a variably perforated resilient layer. In order that the support effect of the sole on the foot should be increased in the correct way, the perforations 16 have been formed preferably, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, as a "drop-shaped" area, which narrows toward an area of the toes portion of the foot.
In a so-called "neutral case" shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the perforated area is arranged so that a non-perforated area 17,18 at both sides of the sole becomes larger to thereby increase the support effect of the sole at both sides. In this manner, there is - .
a decrease in the amount of perforations from the center region of the sole to the edge or side portions and also from the heel portion of the shoe to the toes portion.
The resilient layer 13a in the sole construction of a shoe as shown in Fig. 4 is meant for a deficiently pronating foot, which means that the support effect of the shoe must be higher at an outside edge of the foot than at an inside edge. For this reason, perforations 16a have been formed in the resilient layer 13a so that the perforations 16a proceed from the heel along the inside edge of the shoe while allowing a larger non-perforated area 17a to remain at the outside edge of the shoe.
In a corresponding manner, the resilient layer 13b in the sole construction of a shoe as shown in Fig. 5 is intended for an excessively pronating foot, in which case the support effect of the shoe must be higher at the inside edge of the foot than at the outside edge. Thus, in this embodiment, perforations 16b are formed to proceed from the heel portion along the outer edge of the shoe to an area of the arch portion while a larger non-perforated area 18b remains at the inner edge of the shoe.
In the embodiments of the present invention shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the complete shape of the perforated area 16,16a,16b can be the same (e.g., for the same size and width shoe) while only the position of the perforations that depends on the particular case and posture of the wearer. In this manner, it is possible to lower the cost of tools, because, in all cases, it would be possible to prepare the perforations by means of the same tool, which is just placed in different positions.
Figs. 2 to 5 also illustrate grooves arranged in the resilient layer placed both in its upper face and in its lower face and primarily in the area of the ball portion of the foot. The grooves improve the resilience of bending of the sole construction.
The examples provided above are not meant to be exclusive.
21~7381 Many other variations of the present invention would be obvious to those skilled in the art, and are contemplated to be within the scope of the appended claims.
; , , , . , : . , ~ .
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the construction of a shoe sole for a sports shoe, comprising a wear sole and a resilient layer placed between the upper and the wear sole.
In a prolonged sports performance, such as long-distance running, attempts have been made to reduce the strain applied to the feet and legs through the shoes. In this respect, it is important that the shoe must be constructed in such a manner so as to prevent extreme lateral movements of the ankle joint. For this purpose, a number of different analytical methods have been developed. These methods are directed to ascertaining the person's personal and even foot-specific tendency of bending-in, i.e., pronation, and bending-out, i.e., supination, of the ankle joint, especially during the initial shoe selection process. After the type of the foot and the tendencies of bending of the ankle joint have been established, it is possible to choose shoes that support the foot in the correct way and specifically for the person concerned.
The prior art methods intended for the shoe selection process described above include, for example, recording a sample run that takes place on a running mat on a video tape. From a slowed-down video picture, it is possible to measure the angles of bending of the ankle and, on this basis, to choose the sole construction that guides the movement of the foot during a running step appropriately and most accurately from among different shoes.
:, .
..
2~ 0738~
U.s. Patent No. 4,917,105 (the specification of which is incorporated by reference herein) describes a second method, i.e., the so-called knee-bend method. In this method, the construction of the foot arch is examined on a mirror table, and the direction and extent of the lateral movement of an ankle joint that is loaded in a knee-bend position are measured. On the basis of these measurements, the conclusions can be reached concerning the conduct of the ankle in a running situation, and a combination of a shoe and an orthopaedic insole that supports the foot in a suitable way can be selected.
A third method is described in Finnish Patent Application No.
911830. This reference describes a method and device for measuring how the load applied by a foot to the base is distributed. Other methods and devices that should be mentioned in this connection include those described in U.S. Patents Nos. 4,062,355, 3,358,373 and 2,175,116. These prior art references describe various methods and devices for determining the posture and loading of a foot and, on this basis, selecting a shoe and/or an insole of the correct type.
The object of all of the methods mentioned above in the prior art references is to establish the manner in which a foot loads the shoe in a running situation and the manner in which the shoe should support this load to prevent extreme lateral movements of the ankle joint, which are detrimental in view of the strain applied to the feet and legs. It is a common solution used in these prior art methods and devices that the foot is inclined in relation to the shoe by means of a particular orthopaedic insole. A large number of solutions of orthopaedic insoles are known in the prior art from different connections and references, and one of these solutions is described, e.g., in Finnish Patent Application No. 912588, corresponding to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 07/890,911, the specification of which is incorporated by reference herein.
2 1(~7381 Shock absorption is also required in a sports shoe, which is accomplished mainly by means of the compression of a resilient material layer placed underneath the heel. A shoe constructed in this manner is not capable of resisting the twisting produced by the lateral movement of the ankle in all cases. Therefore, it has proved necessary to develop shoe constructions in which the vertical resilience of the sole is different in different areas in the sole. Such a shoe guides the movement of the ankle dynamically and thereby compensates for excessive pronation or supination during a running step. In the prior art, a number of shoes of this type are known, concerning which the following should be briefly stated.
One of the earliest sole constructions of a running shoe which attempted to guide the path of movement of the foot is described in Finnish Patent No. 57,529 corresponding to U.S. Patent No.
4,102,061. This publication describes a shoe having a so-called air-cushion construction in which a closed cavity space is formed in the resilient part of the sole construction in an area of the heel portion and possibly also in an area of the foot arch portion.
The cavity receives and attenuates the dynamic shocks applied to the foot during a running step, while the sole construction of the shoe, nevertheless, supports the foot at the same time in the lateral direction.
A shoe sole construction of a second type is described in Finnish Patent No. 71,866 corresponding to U.S. Patent No.
4,757,620, the specification of which is incorporated by reference herein. In this reference, the sole construction of the shoe comprises a spring and support construction which includes a resilient tip part extending from the tip portion of the shoe substantially to the area of the ball portion of the foot, a resilient heel part and a more rigid body piece. The resilient heel part becomes narrower in wedge shape from the rear edge of the 21~7381 shoe towards the tip and extends across the area of the heel portion. The rigid body piece extends from the rear edge of the shoe to the area of the ball portion and is placed against the heel and against the arch of the foot. This type of sole construction receives the shock impact applied to the heel at the stage of lowering of the foot onto the ground quite efficiently and adequately supports the arch of the foot at the so-called rolling stage of the foot. By means of suitable shaping of the resilient parts and the body piece, the sole construction can be made suitable for feet of different types.
Further, in EP Patent No. 0,160,415, a sole construction for a sports shoe is described in which the desired resilience and support have been achieved by fitting parts of different shapes and/or hardnesses in the area of the heel portion into the sole construction. A large number of solutions of this type are known in the prior art from different shoe manufacturers.
In all of the prior art shoes described above, the operation of the sole construction is based on the use of different hardness or different modulus of compression in different parts of the sole.
However, this causes a problem in the manufacturing process of the shoe because controlling the different hardnesses of materials in the manufacturing process and connecting these materials having different hardnesses to each other are often quite difficult.
OBJECTS AND SUNMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved shoe sole construction by whose means the drawbacks of the prior art are substantially eliminated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved sole construction in particular for a sports shoe that is well-suited for feet of different types.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new "' , ' ' ,.
and improved method for providing a sports shoe with a sole construction having a desired support effect.
In view of achieving the objects stated above and others, the present invention includes a resilient layer which is made entirely of a substantially homogeneous material having a substantially constant hardness. Perforations are formed in the resilient layer in the areas of the heel portion and the foot arch portion. The perforations extend through the resilient layer from the upper of the shoe to the wear sole so as to prod~lce the desired properties of resilience and attenuation and the desired effect of support in the sole construction.
By means of the present invention, when compared to the prior art devices, several advantages are obtained. In the resilient layer in the sole construction of the shoe in accordance with the present invention, only one material of the same constant hardness throughout the whole layer is used. As a result, the drawbacks related to the shoe sole manufacturing process have been substantially eliminated. The desired dynamic properties of resilience of the shoe and the desired support effect of the sole have been achieved by forming perforations in the material of constant hardness in the resilient layer. The shoe can then be made suitable for feet of different types by appropriately varying the location and shape of the perforations.
More generally stated, the present invention includes means to provide a support effect for a foot placed in the shoe. The means function to reduce the modulus of compression in specific predetermined areas of the resilient layer and specifically, to provide a smaller modulus of compression in an area of the hee~
portion of the foot and the arch portion of the foot and a larger modulus of compression in an area of the ball portion and toes portion of the foot. In a preferred embodiment, the means constitute perforations formed in the resilient layer.
The present invention also relates to a method for providing a sports shoe with a desired support effect, comlprising the steps of arranging a resilient layer between an upper of the shoe and a lower wear sole and forming a plurality of perforations in the resilient layer. The perforations extend through the resilient layer from the upper to the wear sole and are arranged such that the perforated area of the resilient layer is at a maximum in an area of a rear part of the heel portion and decreases toward an area of the foot arch portion. In this manner, the desired support effect of the sole construction is accomplished. The arrangement of perforations can be used to regulate the modulus of compression of the resilient layer, and the different portions therein.
Other advantages and characteristic features of the invention will come out later in the following detailed description of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T~E DRAWINGS
The following drawings are illustrative of embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the scope of the invention as encompassed by the claims.
Figure 1 is a general illustration of a shoe that includes a sole construction in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic top view of the resilient layer in a sole construction in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 3 shows a bottom view of a resilient layer in a sole construction of the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 4 is a schematic top view of the resilient layer in a sole construction of a shoe for a deficiently pronating foot.
Figure 5 is a schematic top view of the resilient layer in a sole construction of a shoe for an excessively pronating foot.
,. - - ~
21073~1 DETAIL~D DESCRIPTION OF TNE INVENTION
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a shoe in accordance with the present invention which is denoted generally with reference numeral 10. In a conventional manner, the shoe 10 comprises an upper 11 and a sole construction 12. The upper 11 and the sole construction 12 are attached to each other in a suitable and conventional way, for example by gluing. The sole construction 12 includes a resilient layer 13 and an outer sole 14, also referred to as a lower wear sole, which constitutes the wear layer.
The outer sole 14 and the resilient layer 13 are joined together preferably by gluing. The resilient layer 13 is illustrated in more detail in Figs. 3 to 5.
Figs. 2 and 3 show the resilient layer 13 in a shoe sole construction in accordance with the present invention which is intended mainly for a so-called "neutral" foot, i.e., a foot which does not have any substantial defects of posture. As stated above, Fig. 2 shows the resilient layer 13 as viewed from above, i.e., a top view, whereas Fig. 3 shows a corresponding resilient layer 13 as viewed from underneath, i.e., from the direction of the outer sole 14 or a bottom view.
The resilient layer 13 is made of one and the same material having a substantially constant hardness throughout. This material is, in a normal manner, thicker in areas of the heel portion and the arch portion of the foot (as shown in Fig. 1) and becomes thinner in a suitable way towards an area of the ball portion and the toes portion. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in the areas of the heel portion and the arch portion of the foot, the resilient layer 13 is provided with perforations 16 passing through the resilient layer 13 from the upper face 15 to the bottom face thereof. The perforations 16 reduce the cross-sectional area of the resilient layer 13 and thereby reduce, in the area of the perforations 16, the modulus of compression of the resilient layer 13. The modulus of compression is proportional to the cross-sectional area of the resilient layer. Thus, the perforations 16 are formed in the area in the resilient layer 13 in which the elasticity of the sole is to be increased.
As shown in Figs. 2-5, the sole construction contains a plurality of individual perforations which are not connected to one another. Instead, the perforations 16 are formed in the heel portion, e.g., by removing individual and discrete portions of the resilient layer, in the desired pattern to support the foot in accordance with its pronation, supination or neutral stance. In one embodiment, the perforations are circular and have a uniform diameter.
The effect of the perforations on the modulus of compression of the shoe can be calculated from the formula:
f = ------, wherein Ml M1 = modulus of compression in a certain area before perforations are formed therein, M2 = modulus of compression in the same area after perforations have been formed therein.
The modulus of compression of a homogeneous material of a known hardness is directly proportional to the compression area and can be ascertained from the following formulas:
Ml = a A1 ; M2 = a A2, wherein a = material constant;
A, = area of the face to be examined;
A2 = the area from which the area of holes has been reduced in the same area.
21073~1 In such a case, and assuming circular holes each having the same diameter, the following equation is obtained:
7r . d2 A2 = Al - n -------- , wherein n = number of holes in the area examined;
d = diameter of the holes.
By substituting the above equations into the formula, the effect of the perforations on the modulus of compression is:
7r . d2 f = 1 - n 4 Al The modulus of compression is affected by the number of holes (n) and the diameter of the holes (d). The regulation of the amount of holes and the size thereof provides a regulation of the modulus of compression of the sole. Although in the example provided, the holes have the same diameter, it is clearly obvious that the form, size and position of the holes can vary within the entire resilient layer.
If the modulus of compression is examined, e.g., in the area ~T. D2 A~ ------ as shown in Fig. 2), in which the number of holes is 7, the effect of the perforations becomes:
d2 f 1 7 ________ In view of the foregoing analysis, by means of the perforations 16 it is possible to change the dynamic properties of resilience of the resilient layer 13 of constant hardness in the sole construction 12. For this reason, the perforated area is at .... . . . .
. ..
21~7381 the largest in the rear part of the heel portion of the sole. The largest amount of perforations are formed at the rear part of the heel portion because the highest elasticity and a maximum capability of attenuation of shock are needed in this area in the sole. During a running step, when the foot moves from the "landing" stage, i.e., from the collision stage in which a high capacity of elasticity and attenuation is required from the shoe, to the so-called rolling stage, the downward movement of the center of gravity of the runner stops and the foot prepares for a take-off upwards and forwards for the next step. At this time, a high pressure is applied to the area of the arch portion of the foot and, by its effect, the sole construction of the shoe must not be flattened excessively in order to prevent the runner's energy from being lost due to deformations of the sole construction. Thus, the support effect of the sole must be increased in a transition from the area of the heel portion to the area of the arch portion of the foot.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figs.
2 and 3, the increase in the support effect is achieved by forming the perforations such that the proportion of the perforations 16 in the area of the resilient layer 13 is reduced (and the non-perforated area is increased accordingly) in a direction from the area of the heel portion toward the arch portion of the foot. This provides a variably perforated resilient layer. In order that the support effect of the sole on the foot should be increased in the correct way, the perforations 16 have been formed preferably, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, as a "drop-shaped" area, which narrows toward an area of the toes portion of the foot.
In a so-called "neutral case" shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the perforated area is arranged so that a non-perforated area 17,18 at both sides of the sole becomes larger to thereby increase the support effect of the sole at both sides. In this manner, there is - .
a decrease in the amount of perforations from the center region of the sole to the edge or side portions and also from the heel portion of the shoe to the toes portion.
The resilient layer 13a in the sole construction of a shoe as shown in Fig. 4 is meant for a deficiently pronating foot, which means that the support effect of the shoe must be higher at an outside edge of the foot than at an inside edge. For this reason, perforations 16a have been formed in the resilient layer 13a so that the perforations 16a proceed from the heel along the inside edge of the shoe while allowing a larger non-perforated area 17a to remain at the outside edge of the shoe.
In a corresponding manner, the resilient layer 13b in the sole construction of a shoe as shown in Fig. 5 is intended for an excessively pronating foot, in which case the support effect of the shoe must be higher at the inside edge of the foot than at the outside edge. Thus, in this embodiment, perforations 16b are formed to proceed from the heel portion along the outer edge of the shoe to an area of the arch portion while a larger non-perforated area 18b remains at the inner edge of the shoe.
In the embodiments of the present invention shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the complete shape of the perforated area 16,16a,16b can be the same (e.g., for the same size and width shoe) while only the position of the perforations that depends on the particular case and posture of the wearer. In this manner, it is possible to lower the cost of tools, because, in all cases, it would be possible to prepare the perforations by means of the same tool, which is just placed in different positions.
Figs. 2 to 5 also illustrate grooves arranged in the resilient layer placed both in its upper face and in its lower face and primarily in the area of the ball portion of the foot. The grooves improve the resilience of bending of the sole construction.
The examples provided above are not meant to be exclusive.
21~7381 Many other variations of the present invention would be obvious to those skilled in the art, and are contemplated to be within the scope of the appended claims.
; , , , . , : . , ~ .
Claims (17)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED, ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Sole construction for a sports shoe having an upper and a lower wear sole, comprising a resilient layer arranged between the upper and the wear sole, said resilient layer comprising a substantially homogeneous material of substantially constant hardness including a heel portion, an arch portion, a ball portion and a toe portion, wherein perforations extend through said resilient layer from the upper to the wear sole, said perforations increasing the elasticity and attenuation of the sole construction, said perforations being arranged in said resilient layer such that a perforated area of said resilient layer is at a maximum in an area of a rear part of said heel portion and decreases toward an area of said arch portion.
2. The sole construction of claim 1, wherein said perforations are arranged in said resilient layer to provide a sole construction for a neutral foot, a larger portion of said perforations being aligned in a center region of said resilient layer from the area of said heel portion toward an area of said arch portion than at an outer edge and an inner edge of said resilient layer, whereby the non-perforated area increases at both the outer edge and the inner edge of the sole construction in a direction from the area of said heel portion to the area of said arch portion.
3. The sole construction of claim 1, wherein said perforations are arranged in said resilient layer to provide a sole construction for a pronating foot, a larger portion of said perforations being aligned along an inner edge of said resilient layer from the area of said heel portion toward an area of said arch portion than at an outer edge of said resilient layer, whereby the non-perforated area increases at the outer edge of the sole construction in a direction from the area of said heel portion to the area of said arch portion.
4. The sole construction of claim 1, wherein said perforations are arranged in said resilient layer to provide a sole construction for a supinating foot, a larger portion of said perforations being aligned along an outer edge of said resilient layer in the area of said heel portion than at an inner edge of said resilient layer, whereby the non-perforated area increases at the inner edge of the sole construction in a direction from the area of said heel portion to the area of said arch portion.
5. The sole construction of claim 1, wherein said perforations are circular and have a uniform diameter.
6. The sole construction of claim 1, wherein said resilient layer has a decreasing thickness from the area of said heel portion and said arch portion toward the area of said ball portion and said toe portion.
7. The sole construction of claim 1, wherein said resilient layer consists of a single material.
8. Sole construction for a sports shoe having an upper and a lower wear sole, comprising a resilient layer arranged between the upper and the wear sole, said resilient layer comprising a substantially homogeneous material having a substantially constant hardness and including a heel portion, an arch portion, a ball portion and a toe portion, and means to provide a support effect for a foot being placed in the shoe by reducing the modulus of compression in specific predetermined areas of said resilient layer, said means being arranged to provide a smaller modulus of compression in an area of said heel portion and an area of said arch portion and a larger modulus of compression in an area of said ball portion and said toe portion.
9. The sole construction of claim 8, wherein said means comprise perforations extending through said resilient layer from the upper to the wear sole, said perforations increasing the elasticity and attenuation of the sole construction, said perforations being arranged in said resilient layer such that a perforated area of said resilient layer is at a maximum in the area of a rear part of said heel portion and decreases toward the area of said arch portion.
10. The sole construction of claim 9, wherein said perforations are arranged in said resilient layer to provide a sole construction for a neutral foot, a larger portion of said perforations being aligned in a center region of said resilient layer from the area of said heel portion toward an area of said arch portion than at an outer edge and an inner edge of said resilient layer, whereby the non-perforated area increases at both the outer edge and the inner edge of the sole construction in a direction from the area of said heel portion to the area of said arch portion.
11. The sole construction of claim 9, wherein said perforations are arranged in said resilient layer to provide a sole construction for a pronating foot, a larger portion of said perforations being aligned along an inner edge of said resilient layer from the area of said heel portion toward an area of said arch portion than at an outer edge of said resilient layer, whereby the non-perforated area increases at the outer edge of the sole construction in a direction from the area of said heel portion to the area of said arch portion.
12. The sole construction of claim 9, wherein said perforations are arranged in said resilient layer to provide a sole construction for a supinating foot, a larger portion of said perforations being aligned along an outer edge of said resilient layer in the area of said heel portion than at an inner edge of said resilient layer, whereby the non-perforated area increases at the inner edge of the sole construction in a direction from the area of said heel portion to the area of said arch portion.
13. A method for providing a sports shoe with a desired support effect, comprising arranging a resilient layer between an upper of the shoe and a lower wear sole, said resilient layer comprising a substantially homogeneous material having a substantially constant hardness and including a heel portion, an arch portion, a ball portion and a toe portion, and forming perforations in said resilient layer to extend through said resilient layer from the upper to the wear sole such that a perforated area of said resilient layer is at a maximum in an area of a rear part of the heel portion and decreases toward an area of the arch portion.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said perforations are arranged in said resilient layer to provide a sole construction for a neutral foot, the method further comprising arranging a larger portion of said perforations in a center region of said resilient layer from an area of the heel portion toward the area of the arch portion than at an outer edge and an inner edge of said resilient layer, whereby the non-perforated area increases at both the outer edge and the inner edge of the sole construction in a direction from the area of the heel portion to the area of the arch portion.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein said perforations are arranged in said resilient layer to provide a sole construction for a pronating foot, the method further comprising arranging a larger portion of said perforations along an inner edge of said resilient layer from the area of the heel portion toward the area of the arch portion than at an outer edge of said resilient layer, whereby the non-perforated area increases at the outer edge of the sole construction in a direction from the area of the heel portion to the area of the arch portion.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein said perforations are arranged in said resilient layer to provide a sole construction for a supinating foot, the method further comprising arranging a larger portion of said perforations along an outer edge of said resilient layer in the area of the heel portion than at an inner edge of said resilient layer, whereby the non-perforated area increases at the inner edge of the sole construction in a direction from the area of the heel portion to the area of the arch portion.
17. The method of claim 13, further comprising arranging the perforations in predetermined areas of said resilient layer to thereby regulate the modulus of compression of said resilient layer.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FI924432 | 1992-10-01 | ||
| FI924432A FI924432A0 (en) | 1992-10-01 | 1992-10-01 | SULKONSTRUKTION FOER SPORTSKO. |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2107381A1 true CA2107381A1 (en) | 1994-04-02 |
Family
ID=8535956
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2107381 Abandoned CA2107381A1 (en) | 1992-10-01 | 1993-09-30 | Sole construction for a sport shoe |
| CA 2107507 Abandoned CA2107507A1 (en) | 1992-10-01 | 1993-10-01 | Sole construction for a sport shoe |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2107507 Abandoned CA2107507A1 (en) | 1992-10-01 | 1993-10-01 | Sole construction for a sport shoe |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (2) | CA2107381A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE4333597A1 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI924432A0 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN115104811A (en) * | 2015-05-27 | 2022-09-27 | 耐克创新有限合伙公司 | Article of footwear including a sole member having an area pattern |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU2003203502B2 (en) | 2002-04-10 | 2005-05-19 | Wolverine World Wide, Inc. | Footwear Sole |
| EP1795083B1 (en) * | 2002-04-10 | 2009-01-14 | Wolverine World Wide, Inc. | Footwear sole |
| US7536808B2 (en) | 2005-01-31 | 2009-05-26 | Nike, Inc. | Breathable sole structures and products containing such sole structures |
| US9861159B2 (en) * | 2015-05-27 | 2018-01-09 | Nike, Inc. | Article of footwear comprising a sole member with apertures |
| US10582740B2 (en) * | 2016-02-26 | 2020-03-10 | Nike, Inc. | Method of customizing stability in articles of footwear |
| US10117478B2 (en) | 2016-02-26 | 2018-11-06 | Nike, Inc. | Method of customizing heel cushioning in articles of footwear |
| US9867425B2 (en) * | 2016-02-26 | 2018-01-16 | Nike, Inc. | Method of customizing forefoot cushioning in articles of footwear |
-
1992
- 1992-10-01 FI FI924432A patent/FI924432A0/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1993
- 1993-09-30 CA CA 2107381 patent/CA2107381A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-10-01 DE DE19934333597 patent/DE4333597A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1993-10-01 CA CA 2107507 patent/CA2107507A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN115104811A (en) * | 2015-05-27 | 2022-09-27 | 耐克创新有限合伙公司 | Article of footwear including a sole member having an area pattern |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2107507A1 (en) | 1994-04-02 |
| DE4333597A1 (en) | 1994-04-07 |
| FI924432A0 (en) | 1992-10-01 |
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