Outsole
An outsole (1, 3), in particular, for athletic shoes (2) can be realized with a significant elastic deformability in the tangential direction so as to also achieve a superior shock-absorption when the foot contacts the ground obliquely and with a slight propulsive force. According to the invention, the sole (1) essentially is only rigid to a tangential deformation beyond at least one critical point of deformation in the region that is deformed to this critical point. This results in a correspondingly increased stability for the runner in the respective point of contact or load application. The runner is also able to push off from the point of load application without any loss in distance. A floating effect on the sole is prevented. The sole can be affixed, as a whole or in a plurality of parts, also detachably to an intermediate sole (4) of the shoe (2).
The present invention pertains to an outsole, in particular, for athletic shoes which can also be elastically deformed in the tangential direction.
In this context, the term deformation in the tangential direction refers to a deformation in the direction tangential or parallel to the plane of the outsole or its outer surface which, for example, is caused by shearing. Such a deformation differs from a deformation in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the outsole or its outer surface which, for example, is caused by compression. On a horizontal surface, the tangential direction approximately coincides with the horizontal direction, and the perpendicular direction approximately coincides with the vertical direction.
STATE OF THE ARTOutsoles with elastically resilient outsoles are known in numerous variations, wherein different elastic materials of various hardnesses are used. There also exist outsoles with embedded air or gel cushions. These cushions are intended to elastically absorb the shocks that occur while running and to thusly protect, in particular, the joints of the runner while simultaneously providing a comfortable running experience.
Most athletic shoes currently available on the market have spring characteristics that primary provide a spring effect in the vertical direction or in the direction perpendicular to the running surface, namely in the form of a compression of the sole. However, these outsoles are relatively rigid in the horizontal or tangential direction and do not yield sufficiently if the runner's foot contacts the ground obliquely and with a slight propulsive force. This rigidity in the horizontal or tangential direction is required because a more significant deformability of the sole in the horizontal direction would inevitably result in a floating effect. This would negatively influence the stability of the runner. In addition, the runner would lose at least a certain distance with each step because the sole would initially have to slightly deform in the respectively opposite direction when the runner pushes off in the running direction. Naturally, this floating effect can already be observed in known athletic shoes to a certain degree.
EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is based on the objective of disclosing an outsole with a simple design which makes it possible to eliminate the above-described floating effect and can also be realized sufficiently soft and resilient in the tangential direction.
This objective is attained with an outsole that can also be deformed in the tangential direction and is characterized by the fact that it essentially is only rigid to a tangential deformation beyond at least one critical point of deformation in the region that is deformed to this critical point.
If the at least one critical point of deformation and the load exerted upon the outsole required to reach this critical point of deformation are suitably chosen by adjusting the hardness or resilience of the outsole accordingly, the sole according to the invention can be realized such that it is also soft and resilient tangentially over a broad range of deformation, and that the critical point of deformation is only reached to a locally limited degree while running, namely in the zone of the sole that is subjected to the maximum load, and only around the time at which this maximum load occurs.
This not only results in a sufficient shock absorption if the runner's foot contacts the ground obliquely and/or with a slight propulsive force, but also in a superior stability at the respective point of impact or load application, from which the runner is able to directly push off again without any loss in distance. The previously described floating effect is prevented in this fashion.
It goes without saying that the critical point of deformation, at which the tangential deformability of the sole according to the invention is terminated, depends on the type of deformation. The deformation does not necessarily have to occur exclusively in the tangential direction. A critical deformation can also be reached during a purely perpendicular or vertical deformation.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the critical point of deformation is only reached after a tangential and/or perpendicular deformation path that is greater than 20% of the deformable thickness of the sole, if applicable, even greater than 50% of this thickness. The absolute deformation value may easily reach a few cm.
With respect to constructive considerations and the materials used, the outsole according to the invention may, in principle, be realized in different ways. Various embodiments are described below with reference to the figures. The following description only pertains to those embodiments in which, for example, two layers of the sole are separated, in particular, by an elastically deformable element, and in which the deformable element has a sufficient deformability and makes it possible to achieve a frictional, non-positive and/or positive engagement between the two layers, namely while essentially preventing the two layers from being displaced parallel to one another.
In a further development of the invention, the sole can be provided with means for detachable fixing to an intermediate sole of a shoe. If the sole is executed as multi-part in this case, the individual parts can be attached independently of one another and/or, e.g. in the event of wear, can be individually exchanged. In this situation, differently constructed parts could also be made available and/or individual designs could be produced which are especially adapted to the respective needs and the running style of the individual runner.
BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURESThe invention is described in greater detail below with reference to embodiments that are illustrated in the figures. The figures show:
One embodiment of the invention is initially described below with reference to
For example, if the running shoe 2 is subjected to a transversely forward load when it contacts the ground as illustrated by the arrow P1 in
In addition, the runner is able to push off from the position shown in
The previously described embodiment is characterized by extremely long deformation paths. Between the state shown in
The outsole 6 shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the outsole 8 shown in
If an incompressible gel is used as the medium for filling the volume 8.4, the entire volume or parts thereof need to be elastically expandable in order to achieve the desired effect. If the volume 8.4 is filled with a gas, it would be possible to provide an additional valve 8.5, e.g., in the heel region. The elastic properties and the resilience of the outsole could then be changed by varying the gas pressure in order to adapt the outsole to, for example, the weight or the running characteristics of a specific runner.
Instead of producing a frictional engagement as in the previously described embodiments, it would be possible to alternatively or additionally produce a positive engagement as shown in the partially illustrated outsole 9 according to
According to a further development of the invention, the sole can be provided with means which allow it to be detachably affixed to an intermediate sole of the shoe. The sole can in this case be detachably affixed as a whole, in parts or also merely with reference to individual parts.
The detachable fixing has the advantage that if necessary, the sole according to the invention can only be attached to the intermediate sole as required, e.g. directly before and for a training run and the shoe can otherwise also be used without this sole. This particularly makes sense when the sole according to the invention is provided to achieve long spring deflections, e.g. with relatively voluminous hollow elements. In order to protect the intermediate sole and the loop layer of the hook and loop fastener preferably attached thereto, in this case an alternatively attachable protective layer could also be provided per hook and loop fastener, which however is not shown here.
The detachable fixing on the other hand has the advantage that a worn sole can be replaced with a new one. In the case of a multi-part construction of the sole as in the example from
Finally,
With respect to the previously described embodiments, it should be noted that individual elements or characteristics thereof may, if applicable, also be utilized in combination with other embodiments. This applies, for example, to the division of the outsole into a ball section and a heel section, as well as to the arrangement of a profile. Frictional engagement means and positive engagement means may be utilized individually or in combination. The embodiments shown in
- 1 Outsole
- 2 Running shoe
- 3,3′,3″ Hollow elements
- 3.1 Tubular parts of the hollow elements 3
- 3.2 Webs of the hollow elements 3
- 3.1.1 Upper shell of the tubular parts 3.1
- 3.1.2 Lower shell of the tubular parts 3.1
- 3.1.3, 4.1.4 Flanks of the tubular parts 3.1
- 4 Intermediate sole
- 5 Ground
- 6 Outsole
- 6.1 Tubular hollow elements of the outsole 6
- 6.2 Upper layer of the outsole 6
- 6.3 Lower layer of the outsole 6
- 7 Outsole
- 7.1 Ball section of the outsole 7
- 7.2 Heel section of the outsole 7
- 7.1.1, 7.2.1 Upper layer of the outsole sections 7.1 and
- 7.2
- 7.2.1, 7.2.2 Lower layer of the outsole sections 7.1 and
- 7.2
- 7.1.3, 7.2.3 Deformable webs
- 8 Outsole
- 8.1 Upper layer of the outsole 8
- 8.2 Lower layer of the outsole 8
- 8.3 Peripheral side parts of the outsole 8
- 8.4 Volume of the outsole 8
- 8.5 Valve on the outsole 8
- 9 Outsole
- 9.1 Upper layer of the outsole 9
- 9.2 Lower layer of the outsole 9
- 10 Hook and loop fastener
- 10.1 Hook-shaped layer of the hook and loop fastener 10
- 10.2 Loop-shaped layer of the hook and loop fastener 10
- 11 Sole element with vertical tube
- P1 Arrow indicating the load when contacting the ground
- P2 Arrow indicating the load when pushing off
Claims
1. An outsole, in particular, for athletic shoes which can also be elastically deformed in the tangential direction, characterized by the fact that it essentially is only rigid to a tangential deformation beyond at least one critical point of deformation in the region that is deformed to this critical point.
2. The outsole according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the critical point of deformation is only reached after a tangential and/or vertical deformation that is greater than 20% of its deformable thickness, in particular, greater than 50% of this thickness.
3. The outsole according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it comprises two layers that are separated by at least one, in particular, elastically deformable element, wherein said element makes it possible for the two layers to produce a frictional, non-positive and/or positive engagement with one another once a sufficient deformation is reached.
4. The outsole according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it is provided with at least one elastically deformable hollow element that contains one or more hollow spaces.
5. The outsole according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the hollow element comprises a deformable tubular section.
6. The outsole according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that several hollow elements are arranged behind one another in the longitudinal direction of the outsole.
7. The outsole according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the hollow element contains two outer layers that are connected to one another by deformable webs such that several hollow spaces are formed.
8. The outsole according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the hollow element contains at least one chamber that is filled with a fluid.
9. The outsole according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the hollow element contains at least one air-filled chamber that can be elastically deformed by compressing the air contained therein.
10. The outsole according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the air filled into the chamber is subjected to a higher pressure than the atmospheric pressure.
11. The outsole according to claim 1, characterized in that this is provided with means for detachable fixing to an intermediate sole of a shoe, as a whole or, when constructed as multi-part, with reference to at least one of its parts.
12. The outsole according to claim 11, characterized in that this is constructed as multi-part and that the individual parts can be detachably attached as desired at different points and/or in different designs to the intermediate sole.
13. The outsole according to claim 11, characterized in that it is constructed as multi-part and that at least two of its parts have a different shaping and/or elasticity.
14. The outsole according to claim 11, characterized in that the means for detachable fixing comprise a part of a hook and loop fastener and that the intermediate sole is provided with the complementary part of this hook and loop fastener.
15. The outsole according to claim 14, characterized in that the means comprise a part of the hook and loop fastener provided with hooks.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 5, 2003
Publication Date: Nov 17, 2005
Inventor: H G Braunschweiler (Ruschlikon)
Application Number: 10/516,620