GB2438580A

GB2438580A - A shoe structure having springs in the base portion.

Info

Publication number: GB2438580A
Application number: GB0610651A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ming-Jeng Chen
Original assignee: EU Top Corp
Current assignee: EU Top Corp
Priority date: 2006-05-30
Filing date: 2006-05-30
Publication date: 2007-12-05
Also published as: GB0610651D0

Abstract

A shoe structure comprises a base portion 2, having at least one space 25, a load-bearing surface 26 located within the base portion, a cover portion 1 connected to the base portion, said cover portion 1 and base portion 2 partially covering the load bearing surface 26, and wherein at least one flexible device 3 is located within the space of the base portion. The flexible device is ideally a helical spring 3, and may be made of carbon-steel materials, or carbon fibre. The space 25 within the base portion preferably comprises recesses 23 on the top part 21 and on the bottom part 22, each pair of corresponding recesses 23 having a spring 3 located therein. Air holes 24 may be provided on the on the top part 21 of the base portion, and may be circular or elongate in shape.

Description

M&C Folio: GBP95078 Document: 1174215

A SHOE STRUCTURE

Background of the Invention

Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to a structure of a shoe. Particularly, the present invention relates to a shoe structure that comprises of a flexible device to improve the efficiency and the comfort ability of the shoes in sport related activities.

Description of the related Art

Shoes have become a necessary requirement of our daily life. For most people, shoes are worn for the purposes of preventing feet from getting dirty from the ground, getting injured by sharp objects on the ground and from the comfort that they offer in daily life and sports. For sport shoe users, the shoe structure and its design can be a advantageous tool to the user to improve the efficiency, such as runners, high-jumpers or basketball players, the shoes that they wear can help them to increase their speed, the height, the distance they jump and their comfort levels.

The conventional shoe structure is designed with a soft shoe pad located between the sole of the foot and the base part of the shoe in order to provide comfort to the user. Air pockets are also utilized in the conventional shoe structures to absorb the impact of force produced from the ground in order to minimize the chance of injury to the feet of users while increasing the comfort. Those conventional shoes are made of EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Accetate Copolymer), PU (hard Polyurethane Elastomer), TPR (Thermoplastic Rubber) or TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethance) materials. Those materials utilized in the shoe fabrication can replace the functions of the air pockets.

Those prior shoes are usually designed with line patterns on the base part of the shoe structure in order to increase its roughness so that the friction between the ground and the shoes can be increased to increase grip. A well-designed pair of sport shoes can improve the users performance such as their running speed.

However, those EVA, PU, TPR or TPU materials used in the shoes can increase the comfort ability of the shoe when worn but its absorbing ability during impact force is limited. Further, although the line pattern design can increase the roughness of the shoes in order to increase the friction between the shoes and the ground, the functions of the shoes in respect to the sport activities are restricted. Therefore, for certain sport users, a pair of shoes with good functions is needed.

Summary of Invention

The present invention provides an improved shoe structure, wherein the shoe structure comprises of a base portion and a cover portion. The base portion comprises of at least one space, wherein a load-bearing surface is located inside the base portion and is in contacted with a sole of foot of a user when the shoes structure is being worn. The cover portion is adhered to the base portion, wherein the cover portion and the base portion cover the load-bearing surface partially, and the cover portion of the shoe structure covers the foot of the user when it is being worn. At least one flexible device, such as a spring is located within the space of the base portion. The load-bearing limit of the shoe structure of the present invention is within a weight range of the user so that the foot of the user can be protected in order to minimize the impact force from the ground to the foot of the user when the user steps or jumps on the ground.

Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.

The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a 3-D assembly view of a shoe structure in accordance with a preferred example of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic 3-D view of an assembled shoe structure in accordance with the preferred example of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of an assembled shoe structure in accordance with the preferred example of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a 3-D assembly view of a shoe structure in accordance with another preferred example of the present invention; Fig. 5 is schematic side view of the shoe structure impacted on the ground; Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of the shoe structure lifting up from the ground.

Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of the shoe structure utilizing on men foot wear in accordance with another preferred example of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a schematic side view of the show structure utilizing on women foot wear in accordance with another preferred example of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figs. 1-4 show 3-D assembly views of an improved shoe structure according to a preferred example of the present invention. The improved shoe structure of the present invention provides a cover portion 1, a base portion 2 and multiple flexible devices 3, such as springs 3. The base portion 2 comprises of a space 25 inside the base portion 2.

A load-bearing surface 26 of the base portion 2 is in contact with the sole of the foot of a user when the shoe structure of the present invention is worn. A shoe pad can be installed in between the loadbearing surface 26 of the base portion 2 and the sole of the foot. The cover portion I and the base portion 2 are connected together and partially cover the load-bearing surface 26. The cover portion 1 of the shoe structure covers the foot of the user appropriately such that the shoe structure fits the foot of the user comfortably. The space 25 of the base portion 2 further comprises a top part 21 and a bottom part 22 located on top and bottom sides of the space 25 respectively. The top part 21 is located on a back side of the load-bearing surface 26.

Multiple slots 23 are formed on the top part 21 and the bottom part 22 respectively.

Every slot 23 of the top part 21 is located correspondingly to every position of the slots 23 of the bottom part 22. The springs 3 are made of metal materials, such as carbon-steel (wherein non-metal material can be utilized to form the springs, for example carbon fiber.). The springs 3 are located within the space 25 of the base portion 2, wherein two ends of the springs 3 are locked within the slots 23 located on the top part 21 and the bottom part 22 in order to prevent the springs 3 from deviating away their positions.

Those springs 3 are flexible devices that can be deformed its shape when they are compressed in order to absorb impact force. The springs 3 located inside the shoe structure are to provide support for the foot, and to reduce the reaction force impacted on the foot when the user steps on the ground so that injury to the foot can be minimized to minimum and comfort increased. The foot of the user can then be protected from the impact. The springs 3 can relieve the pressure and retrieve back to their respective shapes. Further, the springs 3 can produce rebounding force to assist the user increasing their running speed and the jumping height in order to improve the efficiency and utility. The rebounding force can also provide massage to the foot of the user such that the comfort ability of the shoe structure is increased.

The springs 3 are designed according to a wire diameter, a pitch, a spring diameter and a spring free length, wherein any changes of those values, the properties of the springs will be affected. The springs of the present invention are designed with a wire diameter between 1.0 millimeter (mm) to 3.5mm, a wire pitch between 1.0mm to 30mm, a spring diameter between 10.0mm to 50.0mm and a spring free length between 10.0mm to 50mm. The wire diameter of the springs 3 of the present invention is preferably 2.5mm, the wire pitch is preferably 20.0mm, the spring diameter of the springs 3 is preferably 30.0mm and the spring free length is preferably 30.0mm. Tests are performed on runners wearing the improved shoe structures of the present invention and the conventional shoe structures, and are recorded in respect with the running speeds and the jumping heights of the runners.

Table I contains six runners' records, A, B, C, D, E and F with their heights and bodyweights, 184cm, 63kg; 185cm, 69kg; 174cm, 68kg; 181cm, 68kg; 166cm, 63kg and 173cm, 65kg respectively. Table 1 shows lOOm records respectively of the six runners wearing the shoe structures of the present invention and wearing the conventional shoe structures. The records illustrate that when the runners, A-F, wear the shoe structures of the present invention, their running speeds would improve drastically, with improvements of 0.55 seconds, 0.71 seconds, 0.78 seconds, 0.74 seconds, 0.65 seconds, and 0.62 seconds respectively. The average body weight of the six runners is about 66kg, the improvement of those runners is approximately 0.675 seconds based on the test results.

Table 2 shows three jumpers, B, C and D, with height and body weights, 185cm, 69kg; 174cm, 68kg and 181cm, 68kg respectively. Table 2 contains several high-jump records respectively of the three runners wearing the shoe structures of the present invention and wearing the conventional shoe structures. When the jumpers, B-D, wear the shoe structures of the present invention, the jumping heights would improve 6.5cm, 5.0cm and 4.25cm respectively. The average body weight of the three jumpers is about 68.33kg, the improvement of those jumpers is approximately 5.25cm. Therefore, the present invention provides an improved shoe structure with springs that can improve the sport efficiency of the user. The current lOOm World Record is maintained by a Jamaican, Powell with a record of 9.77 seconds. If a contestant would wear the improved shoe structure of the present invention, the 1 OOm World Record could be overwritten as the time can be reduced within 9 seconds.

Table I lOOm (seconds) ____ ____ Runner A B C D E F Conventional First 14'08 14'17 14'46 14'28 14'35 14'40 shoes Second 14'18 14'03 14'32 14'35 14'42 14'56 Average 14'13 14'lO 14'39 14'32 14'39 14'48 The First 13'60 13'40 13'71 13'60 13'72 13'78 improved Second 13'55 13'38 13'50 13'56 13'76 13'93 shoe structures of the present invention _______ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ _____ Average 13'58 13'39 13'61 13'58 13'74 13'86 Amount of time 0.55 0.71 0.78 0.74 0.65 0.62 reduced ____ ____ _____ ____ ____ ____ Table 2 high jump ( cm) ________ Jumper B C D First 296 282 283 Conventional Second 299 276 282 shoes Third 300 279 280 ____________ Fourth 297 280 279 Average 298 279.25 281 First 304 285 286 The Second 306 284 285 improved Third 303 283 286 shoe Fourth 304 285 284 structure of the present invention _________ ________ _________ _________ Average 304. 5 284.25 285.25 Increase in heights 6.5 5.0 4.25 The springs 3 of the present invention, have load-bearing properties of 25kg/per every spring, for an example, a shoe with 12 units of the springs 3, the shoe can bear a load up to 300kg. In other words, a pair of shoes with 24 units of the springs 3 can bear a total load of 600kg. Thus, the load-bearing limit is within a weight range of the user so that the foot of the user can be protected in order to minimize the impact force from the ground to the foot of the user when the user steps or jumps on the ground.

The springs 3 of the base portion 2 can protect the foot. Multiple circular air gaps 24 (could be long-shaped) are formed on the top part 21 of the base portion 2 of the shoe structure in order to circulate the air inside the shoe structure so that the foot would not produce odor as a result of sweat. Thus, the feet of the user can be active in a clear environment. Figs. 5 and 6 show schematic side views of the shoe structure pressing on the ground and lifting up from the ground. When the user steps onto the ground, the shoe structure is compressed by the weights of the user resulting the springs 3 being compressed. The space 25 of the base portion 2 would be reduced, some air inside the space 25 would be pressured out from the circular air gaps 24 such that the air is circulated inside the shoe structure. The bad air can be released out from the shoe structure. When the use lift up the foot away from the ground, the springs 3 would decompress back to their shapes resulting in space 25 to expand, and external fresh air would flow into the space 25 of the shoe structure via the circular air gaps 24 such that air can be circulated inside the shoe structure. Therefore, the feet of the user can be active in a clear and circulated environment to enhance the comfort of the user.

The diameter of the circular air gaps 24 of the present invention is between 1.0mm to 5.0mm, and a distance between the circular air gaps 24 is between 5.0mm to 50.0mm.

The preferable diameter of the circular air gaps 24 is 3.0mm, and the preferable distance between the circular air gaps 24 is 20.0mm. One of the preferred examples of the present invention, the springs 3 of the shoe structure are designed with preferable wire diameter 2.5mm, preferable wire pitch 20.0mm, preferable spring diameter 30.0mm and preferable spring free length 30.0mm; the circular air gaps 24 with preferable diameter 3.0mm and preferable distance 20.0mm; the space 25 of the base portion 2 is designed with a cross-sectional area 200cm2 and volume of 600cm3 against a weight of 70kg.

When an air-flow test is performed on a user with shoe size 10.5, the springs 3 is compressed or expanded 1cm, the air flow volume is 200cm2 x 1cm 200cm3.

The utilization of the shoe structure of the present invention shall not be limited to the above-mentioned examples. Other preferred examples of utilizing the shoe structure of the present invention are shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Figs.7 and 8 demonstrate that the shoe structure of the present invention can be utilized both in the man and woman shoes. The shoe structure shown in Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate that the springs 3 are provided within a space 45 of a heel portion 4, and circular air gaps 46 are formed on the top part of the heel portion of the shoe structure.

The heel portion 4 of the shoe structure is made from soft and comfortable materials in order to provide a pleasant and more enjoyable foot wear to the user, and allow the user to maximize their state of physical comfort ability.

The forgoing is considered illustrative of the principles of the invention. As variations and related embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art, it is to be appreciated the invention, and all suitable modifications and equivalents, are only to be limited by the scope of the claims following hereinafter.

Claims

What is claimed is 1. A shoe structure, comprising: a base portion,

having at least one space, wherein a load-bearing surface is located inside the base portion and is in contacted with a sole of a foot of a user when the shoe structure is being worn; a cover portion, connecting to the base portion, wherein the cover portion and the base portion cover the load-bearing surface partially, and the cover portion of the shoe structure covers the foot of the user when it is being worn; and at least one flexible device, locating within the space of the base portion.

2. A shoe structure according to claim 1, wherein the space of the base portion comprises a top part and a bottom part located on top and bottom sides of the space respectively, the top part is located on aback side of the load-bearing surface, at least one slot is formed on the top part and the bottom part, and both ends of the flexible device are locked into the slot of the top part and the bottom part of the base portion.

3. A shoe structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible device can be a spring.

4. A shoe structure according to claim 3, wherein the spring can be made of carbon-steel materials or carbon fiber.

5. A shoe structure according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the spring has a wire diameter between 1.0mm to 3.5mm, a wire pitch between 1.0mm to 3 0mm, a spring diameter between 10.0mm to 50.0mm and a spring free length between 10.0mm to 50mm.

6. A shoe structure according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the spring has a preferable wire diameter of
2.5mm, a preferable wire pitch of 20.0mm, a preferable spring diameter of 30.0mm and a preferable spring free length of 30.0mm.

7. A shoe structure according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein at least one air gap is formed on the top part of the base portion to circulate air inside the shoe structure.

8. A shoe structure according to claim 7, wherein the air gap of the top part can be formed into a long shape or a circular shape.

9. A shoe structure according to claim 8, wherein the air gap of the top part comprises a diameter between I.0mm to 5.0mm and a distance between 5.0mm to 50.0mm.

10. A shoe structure according to claim 8, wherein the air gap of the top part has a preferable diameter of
3.0mm and a preferable distance of 20.0mm.

11. A shoe structure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.