Dynamic canting and cushioning system for footwear
A sole unit for footwear having, comprising: a medial side, a lateral side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; the sole unit having at least one collapsible profile on a portion of its bottom surface, the collapsible profile being capable of selectively, resiliently canting a side of a user's foot upwardly on the side opposite an applied lateral force during use, the collapsible profile having a canting means for facilitating the selective canting of the user's foot. The invention is also directed to methods of constructing footwear in accordance with the foregoing.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to a sole unit in the field of footwear and in particular it pertains to athletic footwear.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional footwear, sole units (i.e. the midsole, outsole, or both) tend to maintain the bottom surface of the foot in a parallel plane to the ground during lateral cutting or stepping movements. While this effect may provide some stability against undue ankle roll, it interferes with the natural biomechanics of the foot. When a lateral movement is made by an unshod foot, the fatty tissue and musculo-skeletal structures of the foot react to the lateral force in a way that results in it deforming so as to more closely maintain the alignment of the shin and foot, in a biomechanically efficient and stable position. In conventional shoes this alignment is lost because the sole unit tends to maintain the foot in a plane parallel to the ground. As a result, conventional shoes may subject an ankle of a wearer to undue lateral rotation and consequently the potential for acute injuries. Accordingly, there is a need for a sole unit that more closely reacts to lateral force at least as well as the unshod foot. There is also a need for improved sole units that not only mimic natural biomechanics but also provide enhanced stability, performance, cushioning, and comfort under lateral and vertical forces.
SUMMARYThe present invention overcomes the disadvantages in the prior art by providing a dynamic canting system that under lateral force cants the sole unit of a shoe towards the direction of force, in effect mimicking a banked turn. This provides increased stability, performance, and comfort, while augmenting the potential for cutting sharper lateral movements or turns under greater force.
While the sole unit of the present invention is suited for use in any kind of footwear, it is especially for footwear intended for use under circumstances where there are significant lateral movements and forces during use. Athletics and sports, particularly court sports, often require such movements and generate such forces. Accordingly, the present invention is particularly suited for footwear intended for use in court sports, including basketball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, handball, racquetball, squash. Further, the present invention may be implemented in specific ways according to the demands of a particular sport. The present invention enables the construction of a lightweight, well-cushioned, low profile, adjustable shoe meant to out-perform all conventional court shoes.
In addition to improving a shoes' lateral stability and performance, embodiments of the present invention may be used to improve the shoe's response to vertical forces acting on the shoe alone or in combination with lateral forces.
In summary, this invention may offer one or more of the following advantages over conventional court-type shoes:
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- Prolonged lateral deceleration, which creates less stress on the lower leg and ankle, while increasing outsole grip.
- Automatic inward canting of the heel, allowing for quicker and more agile lateral moves.
- Increased proportional shock absorption for a given midsole thickness, since, unlike with standard technology, the heel no longer needs to provide a stable platform through the use of stiff elastomers.
- Decreased weight due to use of lower-density elastomers.
- Better axial alignment of the ball of the foot.
- Decreased fatigue
- Greater comfort/reduced risk of injuries
- Better mimicking of the biomechanics of the unshod foot.
- Substantial possibilities for cross-category integration and future iterations.
- Substantial marketability—the dynamic is kinetic and readily apparent visually and through wear testing.
In the following illustrations, the features illustrated are not necessarily to scale, the illustrations intending only to be representative of the features for purpose of this discussion, it being within the skill of a person in the art to determine relative sizing and positioning of the features used in the novel combinations illustrated herein, except for the novel arrangement described herein.
When used in the context of forces, the term “lateral” means a force 12 applied substantially perpendicular to the lateral or medial side of a foot. When used in the context of the anatomy of the foot, “lateral” refers to the outside of a foot. “medial” refers to the inside of a foot that faces the opposing medial side of the opposite foot.
As used herein, the vertical compression refers to the vertical compressive force 13 that a shoe may be subject to based on the static weight of a user, as may be induced from foot strike activities such as walking, running, and jumping.
An object may react to a force isotropically or anisotropically. As used herein, isotropic means that an object deforms the same way regardless of the direction of an applied force. Anisotropic means that the object deforms differently depending on the direction of the force applied to the object.
Although this invention pertains largely to footwear it may also include designs relating to skates and selective canting of the blade or wheels in relation to the uppers.
In a basic form, the present invention includes one or more collapsing profiles which may compress in a largely vertical manner when vertical forces are applied. However, when lateral forces are applied, one side collapses resiliently more, producing a dynamic canting of the sole unit.
The sole unit 4 generally may comprise (i) a midsole for energy absorption and/or return; (ii) an outsole material for surface contact and abrasion resistance and/or traction; or (iii) a single unit providing such midsole or outsole functions. The sole unit also includes a plurality of collapsible profiles 11.1-11.6. (If a collapsible profile is being referenced in a context where the indicated positioning is not critical, the reference number “11” will be used.) The collapsible profiles 11 may individually or collectively, and in whole or in part, provide the aforementioned midsole and/or outsole for the sole unit.
The sole unit 4 may be divided generally into a forefoot portion 17 and a rearfoot or heel portion 18. In
The sole unit may include resilient elements that provide cushioning against shock. They may also be of a nature that provides energy return (in essence, spring) upon impact. For convenience, unless otherwise expressly or contextually indicated, “resilient element” refers to an element with either energy absorption and/or return functionality. One or more resilient elements 5 may be included in the sole unit 4 at locations where cushioning may be needed. For example, the rearfoot portion 18 of the sole unit would typically require cushioning, and resilient element 5 may be located there, as indicated in
Collapsible profiles 11 are disposed on the bottom surface of the sole unit 4 along opposite sides of a midline 22, generally dividing the shoe in medial and lateral halves. Preferably they are disposed adjacent the bottom side edges of the sole unit. Collapsible profiles 11.1 and 11.2 are disposed on a lateral side 7 and a medial side 8 of the rear portion 18 of the shoe. Collapsible profiles 11.3 and 11.5 are disposed along lateral edges of forefoot portion 17, and opposing them are collapsible profiles 11.4 and 11.6 disposed along the medial edges of the forefoot portion 17.
The sole unit on which the collapsible profiles 11 are disposed may comprise a standard midsole material, such as EVA or polyurethane foam and/or an abrasion resistant rubber or rubber-like material. It may also comprise a structural mid-sole component such as Hytrel or Nylon, such as disclosed in Luthi et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,886, the teaching of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. The collapsible profiles may themselves be composed of such materials or structures
Referring to
In
As noted,
In the example of
As indicated in
In the embodiment of
By incorporating the collapsible profiles 11 in the sole unit 4, the dynamic canting of the shoe 10 stabilizes the foot during lateral cutting movements or otherwise under lateral force. Multiple or deeper slits could be provided in the collapsible profile to promote the deformability. In a running shoe there is less need for the lateral deformability a collapsible profile can provide. Accordingly, the canting means would be less responsive to lateral force 12. In the embodiment of
Other orientations of slits 14 or other canting means to achieve tuned deformation are, of course, possible. For instance, more vertically oriented slits could respond to vertical forces and help cushion against them. As an example,
It is also noted that slits or other canting means need not initiate in a surface of a collapsible profile, but could be encapsulated within the profile.
Deformability in a collapsible profile 11 can also be controlled by tuning the shape of a profile. Note, for example, that the collapsible profiles 11 of
In-addition to slits, the canting means 14 may also comprise indentations or grooves or other means that allow the collapsible profile to splay toward the direction of the force. For example, instead of or in addition to the slits, the selective deformation administered by the canting means could be implemented, as one or more cells, such as a honeycomb or accordian-like cellular structure, that are wholly or partly collapsed under vertical load and which expand under a lateral load, much the same way as a slit 14 opens. This would approximate the dynamic illustrated in
The present invention contemplates other embodiments of collapsible profiles that provide the same functionality and dynamic of the embodiments of
It should be appreciated at this point that the elastic zones 114 in the collapsible profiles of
In
Example materials for the collapsible profiles of
Additional permutations to embodiments of
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- Various combinations of elastomers/air cells or bladders forming the collapsible profiles. (In this connection, the deformation pads disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,897 may be adapted in accordance with the present invention. The teachings of the '897 patent are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.)
- Collapsible profiles that are removably attachable to a sole unit, by providing attachment means such as receptacles, pockets, threading, slots, zipper means or other known means to removably engage the collapsible profile to the sole unit.
- Resilient elements that are removably attachable with a predetermined portion of the sole unit. For example, the removable resilient elements may be disposed on or in a central portion of a sole unit, by providing attachment means such as pockets, threading, or other known means to removably engage the collapsible profile to the sole unit.
- A slit or crease towards the top of the profiles which enables them to fold one way but not the other.
- The inclusion of compressible pads of selected durometers and shear-ability on any side of a collapsible profile.
- Variable density portions or layers of the collapsing profiles to provide tuned deformation and/or cushioning.
- Various sizes, profiles, and heights of collapsible profiles arranged at various points throughout the sole unit. These may be curvilinear relative to the midline 22 of the sole unit 4. They may also range in size from a pencil-tip to profiles several inches in length.
- Outsole materials co-molded or affixed to the lower portion of collapsible profiles
- Variation in the angle at which a profile collapses depends on the bottom of a sole unit. For example, the collapsible profiles instead of projecting substantially vertically from the bottom of the sole unit may be angled outwardly/inwardly or fore/aft relative to a sole unit's midline, and be non-orthogonally placed relative to the midline.
- Inclusion of air bladders as cushioning means.
- More rigid plastic or plastic-like profiles may be incorporated in or around a given collapsible profile.
The torsion element generally 216,316 is an elongate substantially rigid element such as a bar. Generally, the torsion element should be oriented in the direction of a lateral force applied that may act on the sole unit. In one suitable embodiment, the torsion element may be made of, for example, metals or structural polymers. The torsion element is oriented generally perpendicular to a midline section of the sole unit. But it may be oriented at other angles, depending on the direction of the forces to which it is intended to respond.
The canting means 217 provides a pivot point or bearing surface for the torsion element 216, 316, orienting the torsion element generally perpendicularly to the midline of the sole unit to which it is attached (in the example shown), and allowing rotational movement. As one example, the canting means is a sleeve, ring, ball or socket (with a complementary surface or item being disposed on the torsion element) for receiving the torsion element. It may also be a “living hinge”, wherein the canting means is coupled to the torsion element, but provides rotational movement.
The force transfer 218, 318 means on opposite sides of the canting means 217 are connected to or embedded in a portion of compressibly resilient sole unit material. Preferably, the force transfer means are disposed on or towards the ends of the torsion element 216, 316. Generally, the force transfer means comprise a generally broad area of material attached to or formed on or in the torsion element. Preferably, the broad area comprises rigid or substantially rigid, generally planar pads disposed on the ends of a torsion element. The force transfer means provide an area where a force may act, with the canting means allowing rotational movement of the torsion element. In the case of the Embodiment of
As shown in
In general it will be desirable to dispose the canting means 214,314 at about the midline 22 of the sole unit 4 and force transfer means 218, 318 for a torsion element 216, 316 are located on opposite sides of the midline, preferably toward the sides of the sole unit. This is particularly desirable where the collapsible profiles are intended to provide canting. However, individual collapsible profiles may be disposed on opposite sides of the midline, as described for the collapsible profiles of
The canting means 217 may be disposed on or within a portion of the sole unit 4. In a possible embodiment, the canting means are disposed on or in an area of sole unit having a durometer different from that of one or both portions of the unit at which or in which a force transfer means is disposed. Preferably, the canting means is disposed on or within an area of sole unit having a higher durometer. Such an arrangement promotes the canting effect because on either side of the canting means the material is relatively more prone to collapse under force from a lateral cutting movement or vertical compressive force.
Additional permutations to embodiments of
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- Differing lengths and angles of the parallels, which creates differential induction of torsion
- Inclusion of elastomers or air under or around the torsion elements which exert force upon them.
- Torsion elements may be configured to provide/optimize cushioning.
- Inclusion of a center “high spot” or “low spot” towards the longitudinal midline of shoe outsole
- A mechanism for adjusting tension and angle of torsion elements, e.g., replaceable elastomer pads or adjustable air bladders.
- Incorporation of the torsion elements into midsole material of a sole unit.
- Force transfer means comprising an abrasion resistant material or having abrasion resistant material disposed thereon.
- Various widths and lengths for the torsion element and force transfer means to control selectably the amount of force applied across the canting means and the area of the sole unit canted and or cushioned by such embodiment of a collapsing profile.
- Inclusion of various other combinations of collapsing profiles as in
FIGS. 1-8 , and 17-19. - Inclusion of air bladders as cushioning means.
A further embodiment of collapsible profiles in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
The collapsible profiles of this embodiment comprise opposing vertical displacement elements 106 preferably with horizontal displacement elements 108 disposed between the vertical elements at or near top and/or bottom positions along the opposing vertical displacement elements At the intersection of the vertical and horizontal elements are connected canting means 317. The canting means allow an upper sole unit portion 102 and lower sole unit portion 104 to be laterally displaceable relative to one other in response to a lateral force 12, as shown in
The collapsible profiles may optionally include a horizontal displacement element 108 for anchoring the collapsible profile to the upper and/or lower plan as portion. Preferably the upper sole unit portions associated with a collapsible profile is also displaceable in at least a forward direction relative to the lower planar portions in response to a vertical force 13. Canting means 317 may facilitate fore and/or aft displacement of upper portion 102 relative to lower portion 104. In one possible embodiment, this means is a flexure axis at the intersection of the vertical and horizontal displacement elements. (A flexure axis for such displacement is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,943, which has earlier been incorporated by reference.) The axis may be oriented in one or more directions. This allows for cushioning concurrent with the lateral canting.
For a given collapsible profile 414, a canting effect may be achieved by arranging the displacements 106 and canting means so that a pair of canting means 317 on each of the upper portion and the lower portion are on opposite sides of the midline 22 for the sole unit with the separation of the bottom pair being greater than the top pair. As noted, in a preferred embodiment, such arrangement is found in a rhomboidal to trapezoidal structure, as seen in
Notice that the displacement elements 106 and horizontal displacement elements 104 between the lower canting means 317 form acute angles 118a and 119 under non-lateral force, as shown in
As is the case for all other embodiments described herein, the collapsing profile structure of this embodiment is provided with resilience (either inherent In its own structure, or from the adjoining midsole elastomers on either or both sides of the collapsible profile) so that after an acting force 12 or 13 is removed, the collapsing profile returns to its static position. The structure may also deform selectively in response to a force with a vertical component to provide both canting and cushioning. It moves appreciably fore-aft and laterally, depending on the composite or singular forces involved.
The displacement elements 106, 108 of the present invention may have thin or wide profiles. For example, the displacement elements may be thin rod-like elements. The collapsible profiles of such an arrangement may be located at points on a sole unit where lateral displacement, canting and/or cushioning is desired. In one possible embodiment, the collapsing elements 414 comprise sole unit portions 102, 104and displacement elements 106 are thin or rod-like elements that are spaced along a rearfoot portion and a forefoot portion of the sole unit, as shown in
In another possible embodiment, the displacements 106 and upper and lower sole portions 102, 104 have wide profiles. For example, they may take the form of tubelike units having a transverse cross-section in accordance with the foregoing description of the relative arrangements of pairs of canting means in the top and bottom portions (e.g., a rhomboidal cross section). The upper and lower portions of such a tube-like collapsible profile could extend any desired length of a sole unit. One or more such units could be attached at locations where lateral displacement, canting, and/or cushioning is desired. For example, the upper portion could extend the length of a foot and serve directly or indirectly as the surface for attaching a shoe upper. The lower portion in such embodiment could also extend the length of the foot and could serve directly or indirectly as the outsole surface of the shoe, or as a direct or indirect surface for attaching outsole material. As indicated above relative to segmentation, it may be non-contiguous on its bottom surface to allow for differential flexing of the units.
Note that the displacements 106, 108 may be connected or otherwise integrated into the surface of the top or bottom portions in a variety of ways. For example the displacements could be formed into a unitary structure (e.g., incorporating a living hinge) with the upper and lower portions 102, 104. The upper and lower portions could comprise some or all of the sole unit 4.
In one possible embodiment the displacement elements 106, 108 comprise rigid polymers such as Hytrel™ and PEBAX™, such as may be disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,886, which was earlier incorporated by reference. The collapsing profile 414, or components thereof, may be made from materials that are extruded, molded, milled, or fabricated in any other manner which allows for hinging motion of the canting means between the displacements and the associated top or bottom portions of the sole units. Other suitable materials include other plastics (generally of the softer variety, such as UHMW, polypropylene, or Hytrel™ RTM™.) metals, and other materials that provide low compression set, good kinetic memory, pliability, resistance to temperature, and appropriate rigidity relative to the absorptive material.
The canting means 317 may be flexure axes at the points where the displacements integrate with the top and bottom portions, for example slits or notches where the displacements join the surface of a top or bottom surface. Hinging may also be constructed of ball and socket hinges, linear hinges, or other such known mechanical devices. Living hinges may also be employed. A damping means is preferably disposed between the outsole and the upper between top and bottom surfaces of the collapsing profile or such material may be disposed between units of collapsible profile. This damping means may be an elastomer, gas, or an gas/elastomer blend. This could be tunable, with replaceable elastomer cartridges or adjustable air bladders.
In embodiments with a canting means that affords fore and/or aft displacement, when vertical pressure is applied, the lower portion moves rearward in relation to the upper portion, providing cushioning. When lateral pressure is applied, the lateral hinges flex or shift, allowing for the novel canting dynamic of the present invention. The degree to which this happens may be modulated by the damping means incorporated in the midsole.
The embodiment of
Notably, from the foregoing it should be apparent that the present invention overcomes the disadvantages of traditional, materials and configurations for sole units. For example, such materials are often amorphous or uniform foams or rubbers that do not provide the selective deformability of the present invention. Further the prior art does not teach how to use such materials for effective selective deformability. In contrast the present invention provides the option of using such materials and others in the novel structures for the selectively deformable collapsible profiles disclosed herein.
Additional variations and permutations to embodiments of
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- Adjustment means for modulating the amount of cushioning in the damping means, e.g., replaceable elastomer cartridges or adjustable air bladders.
- Unitary or separate and upper and lower sole unit portions and displacement elements disposed therebetween.
- Independent or separate foresole and rearsole portions that allow for differential flexing and/or orientation.
- Net movement of the shoe outsole upon vertical compression may be either fore or aft relative to the uppers.
- Inclusion of various other combinations of collapsing profiles as in
FIGS. 1-13 . - The designs in
FIGS. 14-16 may exclude horizontal displacement elements members on the top or bottom. Outsole may or may not bridge between the side members.
Other variations that may be applicable to the one or more of the embodiments of
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- Collapsible profiles may include a combination of slits and elastomers, or the slits may be indentations and/or fold lines.
- The overall contour of the profiles (as viewed from the either end) may be slightly arcuate—domed, concave, or v-shaped.
- Variable pressure air channels may communicate between various profiles and serve as stability as well as cushioning by differentially pressurizing key areas.
- Profiles may include an outsole, or have none whatsoever. Any combination of the designs outlined in the application may be used in various combinations.
- During manufacture, the outsole may be applied in one piece, with cut-outs for the voids between profiles. The cut-out may then be popped out and recycled. This serves to stabilize the outsole and profiles during gluing.
- A variety of matrix-type materials such as honeycombs (such as Hexalite™) and parallelogram channels can be used to differentially flex and provide the same anisotropic dynamic as the profiles and slit/variable elastomer combinations.
- Skeletal pieces of higher-durometer plastic or stiffer material (than the adjoining profile material) may reside within a plurality of profiles, effectively giving more of a framework for the profiles to flex around, thus enhancing hinging and stability by serving as defined zones of flexure and relative rigidity.
The foregoing embodiments and features are for illustrative purposes. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will recognize the foregoing description and embodiments are not limitations, but examples. Such persons will recognize, in particular, that many modifications and variations are possible in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts and steps which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention, and that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit and scope of the teachings and claims contained herein.
Claims
1. A sole unit for footwear having, comprising: a medial side, a lateral side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; the sole unit extending along a midline and having at least one collapsible profile on a portion of its bottom surface, the collapsible profile being substantially parallel to the midline; the collapsible profile being capable of selectively, resiliently canting a side of a user's foot upwardly on the side opposite an applied lateral force during use, the collapsible profile having a canting means for facilitating the selective canting of the user's foot.
2. The sole unit of claim 1 having collapsible profiles opposing each other such that when a lateral force is applied to the sole unit, the collapsible profile at the side to which the force is applied selectively collapses at the canting means and the canting means in the opposing collapsible profile resists collapsing in the same direction.
3. The sole unit of claim 1 wherein at least one collapsible profile is disposed along at least each of a forefoot or heel portion of a medial side of the sole unit.
4. The sole unit of claim 3 wherein collapsible profiles are disposed along a forefoot or heel portion of medial and lateral sides of the sole unit.
5. The sole unit of claim 1 wherein the collapsible profile includes a canting means comprising a flexure axis oriented generally parallel to the midline of the sole unit.
6. The sole unit of claim 5 having collapsible profiles opposing each other such that when a lateral force is applied to the sole unit, the collapsible profile at the side to which the force is applied selectively collapses at the canting means and the opposing collapsible profile resists collapsing in the same direction.
7. The sole unit of claim 6 wherein the collapsible profile has an outside edge at an outside medial edge of the sole unit and a canting means that allows the collapsible profile to splay away from the outside edge under a lateral force to the medial side of the shoe.
8. The sole unit of claim 1 wherein the collapsible profile includes an outsole for ground contact.
9. The sole unit of claim 8 wherein the collapsible profile also comprises a resilient element.
10. The sole unit of claim 9 wherein the collapsible profile includes an outsole for ground contact.
11. The sole unit of claim 4 wherein midsole and/or outsole structure, not comprising a collapsible profile, is disposed closely adjacent at least abeut 10% the perimeter of one or more collapsible portions.
12. The sole unit of claim 11 wherein the midsole and/or outsole is closely disposed adjacent at lcast about 25% of the perimeter of one or more collapsible profiles.
13. The sole unit of claim 1 wherein the collapsible profile substantially comprises a non-amorphous material.
14. The sole unit of claim 1 wherein the collapsible profile is removably disposed on the sole unit.
15. The sole unit of claim 3 wherein the collapsible profile comprises an element having a generally vertical side wall facing outwardly and an angled sidewall facing inwardly, the collapsible profile facilitating selective collapse of the collapsible profile due to the angled differences of the walls to can the shoe.
16. The sole unit of claim 3 wherein the collapsible profile extends downwardly from the bottom surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the bottom surface.
17. The sole unit of claim 1 wherein a plurality of collapsible profiles comprising a resiliently compressible material are disposed in a plurality of parallel arrays, at least two arrays on opposite sides of a midline extending at least a portion of the length of the sole unit.
18. The sole unit of claim 1 wherein a plurality of collapsible profiles comprising a resiliently compressible material are disposed in a plurality of parallel segments, at least two segments on opposite sides of a midline extending at least a portion of the length of the sole unit.
19. The sole unit of claim 16 wherein the collapsible profile has a curvilinear shape that generally corresponds to an adjacent side contour of the sole unit.
20. The sole unit of claim 1 wherein the top surface is fore-aft translatable relative to the bottom surface under a force applied generally perpendicular to the surface of the top or bottom surface.
21. The sole unit of claim 15 wherein, under a lateral force the bottom surface of the collapsible profile at the initial side of the lateral force may maintain substantial contact with the ground, and the top surface may laterally displace in the direction of the applied force, with the side of the sole unit canting towards the side at which the force is initially applied.
22. The sole unit of claim 21 wherein the ground contacting collapsible profile is disposed on a heel portion of a sole unit and spans the heel portion from a medial side, across a midline, to the lateral side of the heel portion.
23. The sole unit of claim 21 wherein the ground contacting collapsible profile is disposed on a forefoot portion of a sole unit and spans the forefoot portion from a medial side, across a midline, to the lateral side-of the forefoot portion.
24. The sole unit of claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of the canting means on the sole unit, each allowing resilient fore-aft displacement of the top surface relative to the bottom surface.
25. The sole unit of claim 1 wherein the collapsible profile comprises a torsion element coupled to a canting means disposed on the bottom surface of the sole unit, the torsion element having opposing force transfer means at each end.
26. The sole unit of claim 25 wherein the canting means comprises a sleeve for receiving the torsion element and the torsion element comprises a rigid bar that may rotationally move in the sleeve.
27. The sole unit of claim 25 wherein the force transfer means comprise substantially rigid pads.
28. The sole unit of claim 25 wherein the canting means comprises a sleeve for receiving the torsion element and the force transfer means comprise substantially rigid pads.
29. The sole unit of claim 25 wherein the canting means is disposed at about a midline of the sole unit and force transfer means for a torsion element are located on opposite sides of the midline.
30. The sole unit of claim 29 wherein the torision element is nonlinear and adapted to dispose one force transfer means forward of the canting means and the other rearward.
31. The sole unit of claim 30 wherein there are a plurality collapsible profiles comprising a torsion element, canting means and force transfer means on the sole unit.
32. The sole unit of claim 25 wherein the collapsible profile also comprises a resilient element.
33. A sole unit for footwear having, comprising: a medial side, a lateral side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; the sole unit having at least one collapsible profile on a portion of its bottom surface, the collapsible profile comprises a torsion element coupled to a canting means disposed on the bottom surface of the sole unit, the torsion element having opposing force transfer means at each end wherein the canting means is disposed at about a midline of the sole unit and force transfer means for a torsion element are located on opposite sides of the midline.
34. The sole unit of claim 33 wherein the collapsible profile comprises a resilient element.
35. The sole unit of claim 34 wherein the torsion element is nonlinear and adapted to dispose one force transfer means forward of the canting means and the other rearward.
36. A sole unit for footwear having, comprising: a medial side, a lateral side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; the sole unit extending along a midline, the bottom surface has a profile that is substantially parallel to the midline; the sole unit having at least one canting means on a portion of the bottom surface for laterally displacing the top surface from the bottom surface and canting the top surface relative to the bottom surface, according to the direction of an applied lateral force, the sole unit is adapted to be canted in the direction of the applied lateral force.
37. A sole unit, comprising: a medial side, a lateral side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; the sole unit having at least one collapsible profile on a portion of its bottom surface, the collapsible profile being capable of selectively, resiliently canting a side of a user's foot upwardly on the side opposite an applied lateral force during use, the collapsible profile comprising opposing vertical displacement elements with an upper or lower horizontal displacement element disposed therebetween and, the vertical elements having upward and downward ends that interface with the upper and/or lower horizontal displacement elements via canting means, the canting means facilitating the deformation of the collapsible profile to provide selective canting of the user's foot.
38. The sole unit of claim 37 wherein the vertical displacement elements form an acute angle with the lower portion under static use conditions.
39. The sole unit of claim 37 wherein the collapsible profile has one displacement element on one side of a midline of the sole unit and the other displacement element on the opposing side, the upper and lower portions and vertical displacements disposed therebetween generally having a rhomboid-like shape.
40. The sole unit of 39 wherein there are a plurality of the rhomboid-like collapsible profiles disposed along a length of the sole unit.
41. The sole unit of claim 37 wherein the upper and/or lower horizontal displacement elements comprise elements integrated or attached to the sole unit.
42. A shoe having a sole unit comprising a medial side, a lateral side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; the sole unit having a least one collapsible profile on a portion of its bottom surface, the collapsible profile being capable of selectively, resiliently canting a side of a user's foot upwardly on the side opposite an applied lateral force during use, the collapsible profile having a canting means for facilitating the selective canting of the user's foot.
43. A shoe having a sole unit comprising: a medial side, a lateral side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; the sole unit having at least one collapsible profile on a portion of its bottom surface, the collapsible profile comprises a torsion element coupled to a canting means disposed on the bottom surface of the sole unit, the torsion element having opposing force transfer means at each end wherein the canting means is disposed at about a midline of the sole unit and force transfer means for a torsion element are located on opposite sides of the midline.
44. A shoe having a sole unit comprising: a medial side, a lateral side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; the sole unit having at least one collapsible profile on a portion of its bottom surface, the collapsible profile being capable of selectively, resiliently canting a side of a user's foot upwardly on the side opposite an applied lateral force during use, the collapsible profile comprising an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion being connected together by vertically disposed displacement elements therebetween, the vertical elements having upward and downward ends that interface with the upper and lower portion via canting means, the canting means facilitating the deformation of the collapsible profile to provide selective canting of the user's foot.
45. A method of constructing a shoe comprising, providing a sole unit comprising: a medial side, a lateral side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; the sole unit extending along a midline and having at least one collapsible profile on a portion of its bottom surface, the collapsible profile being substantially parallel to the midline; the collapsible profile being capable of selectively, resiliently canting a side of a user's foot upwardly on the side opposite an applied lateral force during use, the collapsible profile having a canting means for facilitating the selective canting of the user's foot, and attaching the sole unit to an upper for retaining the foot of a user.
46. A method of constructing a shoe comprising, providing a sole unit comprising: a medial side, a lateral side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; the sole unit extending along a midline and having at least one collapsible profile on a portion of its bottom surface, the collapsible profile being substantially parallel to the midline; the collapsible profile comprises a torsion element coupled to a canting means disposed on the bottom surface of the sole unit, the torsion element having opposing force transfer means at each end wherein the canting means is disposed at about a midline of the sole unit and force transfer means for a torsion element are located on opposite sides of the midline, foot, and attaching the sole unit to an upper for retaining the foot of a user.
47. A method of constructing a shoe comprising, providing a sole unit comprising: a medial side, a lateral side, a top surface, and a bottom surface; the sole unit extending along a midline and having at least one collapsible profile on a portion of its bottom surface, the collapsible profile being substantially parallel to the midline; the collapsible profile being capable of selectively, resiliently canting a side of a user's foot upwardly on the side opposite an applied lateral force during use, the collapsible profile comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being connected together by vertically disposed displacement elements therebetween, the vertical elements having upward and downward ends that interface with the upper and lower portions via canting means, the canting means facilitating the deformation of the collapsible profile to provide selective canting of the user's foot, and attaching the sole unit to an upper for retaining the foot of a user.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 23, 2004
Publication Date: Mar 10, 2005
Inventor: Kaj Gyr (Portland, OR)
Application Number: 10/949,079