US20230292880A1

US20230292880A1 - Shoe sole with shock absorbing layer structure

Info

Publication number: US20230292880A1
Application number: US18/187,007
Authority: US
Inventors: Mi Sook Kim
Original assignee: Exbody Co Ltd
Current assignee: Exbody Co Ltd
Priority date: 2022-03-21
Filing date: 2023-03-21
Publication date: 2023-09-21
Also published as: KR102487994B1; EP4248785A1; JP2023138921A; CN116784564A

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure, the shoe sole including a midsole constituting an upper portion of the shoe sole and having an arch support formed on a portion that corresponds to an arch of a foot and an outsole constituting a lower portion of the shoe sole and having a cushioning portion formed to guide a center-of-pressure path while a user walks, wherein a shock absorbing layer configured to absorb shock applied to a midfoot portion of the foot is formed between the midsole and the outsole.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2022-0034492, filed on Mar. 21, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure, and more particularly, to a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure in which a bending structure forming an arch support is formed on a midsole to absorb shock against a midfoot portion and evenly distribute stress thereon so that the shock absorbing layer is formed between the midsole and an outsole, and a cushioning portion configured to correctly guide a center-of-pressure path of a foot sole during walking is formed on a bottom surface of the outsole to prevent and correct deformity of the foot.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Since the feet, knees, pelvis, and spine are connected to each other by the kinetic chain in the human body, foot diseases and deformities may cause pain and deformity in the knees, waist, or shoulders which are various musculoskeletal diseases. Accordingly, walking correctly so as not to cause foot deformities is important, and shoes that distribute a user's foot pressure to guide the user to walk correctly are required.
Meanwhile, existing shoe pads are mass-produced and thus cannot satisfy all foot shapes of users with different foot structures. When one wears shoes with pads that are not suitable for the foot shape for a long time or walks with poor posture, stress may be concentrated to incorrect areas and cause foot diseases such as plantar fasciitis.
[Document 1] below relates to a slipper with an arch portion and discloses a slipper formed by inserting an end portion of an upper between a sole and a midsole forming an arch portion and then stitching the sole and the midsole, excluding the arch portion, using stitching threads.
In [Document 1] described above, the arch portion is formed on an upper portion of the midsole and comes in close contact with the sole of the foot, thus providing wearing comfort and stability. However, the arch portion of [Document 1] only comes in close contact with an inner arch of the sole of the foot and does not distribute stress on a midfoot portion or absorb shock, and there is a problem that a varus due to a metatarsal bone or an outer arch cannot be prevented.
Also, [Document 2] below relates to an outsole with an inclined groove according to a foot joint position and bone and muscle movement of the foot and discloses an outsole in which an inclined groove is formed to correspond to a foot joint position from a rear end with respect to the entire length of the outsole and which is naturally bendable like the bending of the foot. However, [Document 2] relates to the outsole which is configured to be bendable like the foot by the inclined groove corresponding to the foot joint position and the bone and muscle movement of the foot and does not disclose a structure for distributing stress on a midfoot portion or absorbing shock. Thus, it is not possible to effectively guide foot pressure movement according to walking, and there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce pressure applied to the middle bone and metatarsal head which are protruding parts of the foot where fatigue is accumulated the most during the stance phase of walking.

[Document 1] Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0441101 (Date of Registration: Jul. 15, 2008)
[Document 2] Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1833886 (Date of Registration: Feb. 23, 2018)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to providing a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure in which, in a sole made of a midsole and an outsole, an arch support configured to support a foot arch is provided on a midfoot portion of the midsole, and a bending structure is formed on the midfoot portion of the midsole to form a shock absorbing layer between the midsole and the outsole, thereby distributing foot pressure during walking.
The present disclosure is also directed to providing a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure in which a cushioning portion configured to guide a correct center-of-pressure path during walking is formed on a bottom surface of the outsole to correct the foot and prevent excessive internal rotation that may occur in the stance phase in which the foot comes in contact with the ground.
The present disclosure provides a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure, the shoe sole including a midsole constituting an upper portion of the shoe sole and having an arch support formed on a portion that corresponds to an arch of a foot and an outsole constituting a lower portion of the shoe sole and having a cushioning portion formed to guide a center-of-pressure path while a user walks, wherein a shock absorbing layer configured to absorb shock applied to a midfoot portion of the foot is formed between the midsole and the outsole.
Also, a portion of the midsole that corresponds to the midfoot portion of the foot is formed as a bending structure that is bent upward to form a hollow layer between the midsole and the outsole while the midsole is combined with the outsole.
Also, in the bending structure, a portion near an inner portion of the foot may be bent more than a portion near an outer portion of the foot.
Also, the arch support of the midsole may include an inner arch support configured to protrude in a dome shape from a portion corresponding to an inner arch of the foot and an outer arch support configured to protrude in a dome shape from a portion corresponding to an outer arch of the foot.
Also, the inner arch support may protrude more than the outer arch support.
Also, a hindfoot portion of the midsole may be formed in a cup shape in which an edge portion of the midsole surrounds a heel of the foot.
Also, the outsole may be combined with the midsole and have a first curved structure where a forefoot portion is lifted upward and a second curved structure where the hindfoot portion is partially cut.
Also, the cushioning portion may have a first cushioning groove, a second cushioning groove, and a third cushioning groove formed to correspond to positions of the first metatarsal head, the fifth metatarsal head, and the heel bone of the foot.
In addition, the cushioning portion may include a fourth cushioning groove in which a streamlined groove is formed along an outer line of the outsole from the second cushioning groove to the third cushioning groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views for describing the human foot structure;

FIGS. 3A-3B shows stress distribution of a normal foot and stress distribution of a flat foot, wherein FIG. 3A shows the stress distribution of a normal foot and FIG. 3B shows the stress distribution of a flat foot;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5A-5B shows lateral views of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure, wherein FIG. 5A is an internal lateral view and FIG. 5B is an external lateral view;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a view for describing a center-of-pressure path on a bottom surface of an outsole of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the outsole of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure.

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are views for describing the human foot structure, and FIGS. 3A-3B shows stress distribution of a normal foot and stress distribution of a flat foot. A shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure may be manufactured to fit each of the right foot and left foot, and since the two shoe soles have structures symmetrical to each other, the shoe sole will be described based on the right foot.
Also, in the present disclosure, when both feet are placed side by side, “inner” refers to a medial side of the foot and “outer” refers to a lateral side of the foot.
Referring to FIG. 1 , the human foot has first to fifth metatarsal bones that support the top of the foot from behind the toes, and parts where each of the metatarsal bones and toe bones touch are referred to as metatarsal heads. In the present disclosure, description will be given by referring to the metatarsal head connected to a great toe bone as a first metatarsal head 10 and referring to the metatarsal head connected to a little toe bone as a fifth metatarsal head 20. Generally, the first metatarsal head 10, the fifth metatarsal head 20, and a heel bone 30 which protrude from a sole of the foot come in contact with the ground first.
A triangular part having the first metatarsal head 10, the fifth metatarsal head 20, and the heel bone 30 as vertices forms a curved foot arch. A foot arch that connects the first metatarsal head 10 or the fifth metatarsal head 20 to the heel bone 30 is referred to as a longitudinal arch. A part which is an inner side of the foot and connects the first metatarsal head 10 and the heel bone 30 forms an inner longitudinal arch, and a part which is an outer side of the foot and connects the fifth metatarsal head 20 and the heel bone 30 forms an outer longitudinal arch. Generally, the inner longitudinal arch is formed larger than the outer longitudinal arch.
Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 3A-3B, since the foot structure is different for each person, differences occur in distribution of stress applied to the sole of the foot according to the foot structure. FIGS. 3A-3B shows stress distribution of a normal foot, and it can be seen that, in the case of a normal foot, stress is evenly distributed throughout the metatarsal bones and the heel bone. On the other hand, in the case of a flat foot shown in FIG. 3B, stress tends to be concentrated toward the heel bone, that is, the heel of the foot. The conventional readymade shoes have a problem that it is difficult to satisfy all of the different foot shapes of people.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure, FIGS. 5A-5B shows lateral views of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure, FIG. 6 is a front view of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure, and FIG. 7 is a rear view of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure.
A shoe sole 100 with a shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure includes a midsole 110 constituting an upper portion of the shoe sole 100 and having an arch support formed on a portion that corresponds to an arch of the foot and an outsole 120 constituting a lower portion of the shoe sole 100 and having a cushioning portion formed to guide a center-of-pressure path while a user walks, wherein a shock absorbing layer 130 configured to absorb shock applied to a midfoot portion of the foot is formed between the midsole 110 and the outsole 120.
The shoe sole 100 is a base of a slipper or a shoe and is manufactured in various sizes to fit various foot sizes. The upper portion of the shoe sole 100 is made of the midsole 110, and the lower portion of the shoe sole 100 is made of the outsole 120. For example, the midsole 110 and the outsole 120 may be made of elastic urethane or rubber.
The midsole 110 is a shoe sole member configured to directly support a foot sole of a user, and a portion of the midsole 110 that corresponds to the midfoot portion of the foot forms a bending structure that is bent toward an upper side, that is, a longitudinal arch portion and a metatarsal bone, which is the center of the foot sole, of the user. Also, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , in order to support each of the inner longitudinal arch and the outer longitudinal arch of the user, an inner arch support 111 and an outer arch support 112, each having a dome shape, protrude from inner and outer midfoot portions of the midsole 110.
Also, the bending structure of the midsole 110 is bent so that an inner portion of the foot is formed larger than an outer portion of the foot. This is because, generally, the inner longitudinal arch is formed deeper than the outer longitudinal arch. Also, as the bending structure is formed so that the inner portion is larger, the inner arch support 111 protrudes more than the outer arch support 112.
Also, a curved structure that is lifted upward so that a slope is formed toward the user's foot is formed on a forefoot portion of the midsole 110. The slope of the forefoot portion allows dorsiflexion of the forefoot portion that heads toward the center of the foot from the first metatarsal head 10 and the fifth metatarsal head 20, thus facilitating foot stamping during walking, allowing natural dorsiflexion of the toes, and inducing an arch lifting effect.
Also, a cup-shaped heel cup 140 in which an edge portion of the midsole surrounds the heel of the foot is formed on a hindfoot portion of the midsole 110 to gather a fat layer of the heel of the foot, absorb shock applied to the heel of the foot during walking, and stabilize the posture.
The outsole 120 is a shoe sole member configured to be combined with the midsole 110 from below the midsole 110 and absorb shock transmitted from the ground and may have an outer edge protruding upward to serve as a catching member and press-fit the midsole 110 into the outsole 120. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and for example, the midsole 110 and the outsole 120 may be combined by adhesion.
Also, a midfoot portion of the outsole 120 has a flat shape unlike the bending structure of the midfoot portion of the midsole 110, and when the outsole 120 is combined with the midsole 110, the shock absorbing layer 130 is formed on the midfoot portion of the outsole 120. Accordingly, the shock absorbing layer 130 provides a cushioning space that cushions shock applied to the midfoot portion while the user walks, and thus it is possible to evenly distribute stress applied to the midfoot portion.
Also, a curved structure that is lifted upward so that a slope is formed toward the user's foot is formed on a forefoot portion of the outsole 120 as on the forefoot portion of the midsole 110. Accordingly, by allowing dorsiflexion of the forefoot portion of the user during walking, foot stamping may be facilitated, and an arch lifting effect may be induced.
Also, a curved structure that is partially cut to have a predetermined slope is formed on a hindfoot portion of the outsole 120, and thus, while the user is walking or standing, the heel of the foot can stably come in contact with the ground, and in a case in which the heel of the foot is inclined toward the rear, shock applied to the heel of the foot may be absorbed. For example, the curved structure of the hindfoot portion of the outsole 120 may be formed so that heights of an inner side and an outer side are different. For example, the curved structure may be cut more toward the inner side.
FIG. 8 is a view for describing a center-of-pressure path on a bottom surface of an outsole of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure, and FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the outsole of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure.
Meanwhile, in typical walking, a walking cycle may be divided into the stance phase and the swing phase. The stance phase refers to a phase of the walking cycle during which the shoe sole 100 is in contact with the ground, and the swing phase refers to a phase of the walking cycle during which the shoe sole 100 is off the ground.
In the case in which the shoe sole 100 is in contact with the ground during the stance phase, pressure applied to the sole of the foot is concentrated to the first metatarsal head 10, the fifth metatarsal head 20, and the heel bone 30, and a considerable amount of fatigue may be felt in such protruding parts of the sole of the foot when walking is continued.
The shoe sole 100 according to the present disclosure has a cushioning portion formed on a bottom surface of the outsole 120 to guide a center-of-pressure path during walking. More specifically, the cushioning portion is a groove formed in the bottom surface of the outsole 120 and may provide a cushioning space during walking.
The cushioning portion includes a first cushioning groove 121, a second cushioning groove 122, and a third cushioning groove 123 formed to correspond to positions of the first metatarsal head 10, the fifth metatarsal head 20, and the heel bone 30 on the bottom surface of the outsole 120. Each of the cushioning grooves may be formed in an elliptical shape or a streamlined shape to effectively cushion a wide range of the metatarsal heads, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
Anatomically, the inner arch is formed larger than the outer arch in a typical human foot, and pressure is concentrated more on the outer longitudinal arch than the inner longitudinal arch during walking. That is, in the stance phase, the center of pressure on the sole of the foot moves from the heel bone 30 to the fifth metatarsal head 20 and the first metatarsal head 10 along the outer longitudinal arch. Such a center-of-pressure movement path is referred to as a center-of-pressure (COP) path, and the COP path is formed from the heel bone 30 to the fifth metatarsal head 20 along the outer line of the foot.
The cushioning portion includes a fourth cushioning groove 124 in which a streamlined groove is formed along the COP path from the third cushioning groove 123 to the second cushioning groove 122 of the bottom surface of the outsole 120. Accordingly, while the user walks, pressure on the sole of the foot may be guided to move along the correct COP path due to the first to fourth cushioning grooves, and thus a support force for the shoe sole 100 may be improved, and excessive internal rotation that may occur during walking may be prevented.
As described above, in the shoe sole 100 with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure, since the arch supports 111 and 112 configured to support a foot arch are formed on the midsole 110, metatarsal varus may be prevented, the sole of the foot may come in close contact with the shoe sole 100 such that the impulse of the foot is improved, and correct alignment of the body may be maintained. Since the shock absorbing layer 130 is formed between the midsole 110 and the outsole 120 due to the bending structure of the midfoot portion of the midsole 110, stress may be distributed on the foot during walking.
Also, since the cushioning grooves that can guide the COP path of the foot during walking are formed in the bottom surface of the outsole 120, excessive internal rotation of the foot that may occur during walking may be prevented, and an area in which the foot comes in contact with the ground may be increased to distribute foot pressure.
According to the present disclosure, since an arch support configured to support a foot arch is formed on a midsole, metatarsal varus can be prevented, and the impulse of the foot can be improved to increase walking efficiency and maintain correct alignment of the body.
Also, according to the present disclosure, since a midfoot portion of the midsole is formed as a bending structure, a shock absorbing layer can be formed between the midsole and an outsole and distribute foot pressure during walking.
In addition, according to the present disclosure, since a cushioning groove that can guide a center-of-pressure path of the foot during walking is formed in a bottom surface of the outsole, excessive internal rotation of the foot that may occur during walking can be prevented to prevent and correct a flat foot, and a contact area of the foot can be increased to distribute foot pressure.
The above description of the present disclosure is merely illustrative, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains should understand that the present disclosure may be easily modified to other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure, the shoe sole comprising:

a midsole constituting an upper portion of the shoe sole and having an arch support formed on a portion that corresponds to an arch of a foot; and

an outsole constituting a lower portion of the shoe sole and having a cushioning portion formed to guide a center-of-pressure path while a user walks,

wherein a shock absorbing layer configured to absorb shock applied to a midfoot portion of the foot is formed between the midsole and the outsole, and

the cushioning portion includes, as grooves formed on a bottom surface of the outsole, a first cushioning groove, a second cushioning groove, and a third cushioning groove formed at portions that corresponds to the first metatarsal head, the fifth metatarsal head, and the heel bone of the foot.

2. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein a portion of the midsole that corresponds to the midfoot portion of the foot is formed as a bending structure that is bent upward to form a hollow layer between the midsole and the outsole while the midsole is combined with the outsole.

3. The shoe sole of claim 2, wherein, in the bending structure, a portion near an inner portion of the foot is bent more than a portion near an outer portion of the foot.

4. The shoe sole of claim 3, wherein the arch support of the midsole includes:

an inner arch support configured to protrude in a dome shape from a portion corresponding to an inner arch of the foot; and

an outer arch support configured to protrude in a dome shape from a portion corresponding to an outer arch of the foot.

5. The shoe sole of claim 4, wherein the inner arch support protrudes more than the outer arch support.

6. The shoe sole of claim 3, wherein a hindfoot portion of the midsole is formed in a cup shape in which an edge portion of the midsole surrounds a heel of the foot.

7. The shoe sole of claim 3, wherein the outsole is combined with the midsole and has a first curved structure where a forefoot portion is lifted upward and a second curved structure where the hindfoot portion is partially cut.

8. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein the cushioning portion includes a fourth cushioning groove in which a streamlined groove is formed along an outer line of the outsole from the second cushioning groove to the third cushioning groove.