Athletic shoe with improved sole
A shoe includes a heel/rear sole support receiving a rotatable and replaceable rear sole to provide longer wear. A flexible region positioned between the heel and the rear sole reduces midsole compression and provides additional spring. The flexible region is preferably curved or convex in shape and may be adapted to different desired performance characteristics depending upon the intended activity and terrain or playing surface.
The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/455,350, filed Jun. 1, 2009; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/882,729, filed Jun. 30, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,540,099; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/447,003, filed May 28, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,114,269; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/007,535, filed Dec. 4, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,300; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/641,148, filed Aug. 17, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,772; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/512,433, filed Feb. 25, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,195,916; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/313,667, filed May 18, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,002; which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/723,857, filed Sep. 30, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,384; which is a CIP of Ser. No. 08/291,945, filed Aug. 17, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,126; all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an improved rear sole for footwear and, more particularly, to a rear sole for an athletic shoe with an extended and more versatile life and better performance in terms of cushioning and spring.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Athletic shoes, such as those designed for running, tennis, basketball, cross-training, hiking, walking, and other forms of exercise, typically include a laminated sole attached to a soft and pliable upper. The laminated sole generally includes a resilient rubber outsole attached to a more resilient midsole usually made of polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), or a rubber compound. When laminated, the sole is attached to the upper as a one-piece structure, with the rear sole being integral with the forward sole.
One of the principal problems associated with athletic shoes is outsole wear. A user rarely has a choice of running surfaces, and asphalt and other abrasive surfaces take a tremendous toll on the outsole. This problem is exacerbated by the fact that most pronounced outsole wear, on running shoes in particular, occurs principally in two places: the outer periphery of the heel and the ball of the foot, with peripheral heel wear being, by far, a more acute problem. In fact, the heel typically wears out much faster than the rest of a running shoe, thus requiring replacement of the entire shoe even though the bulk of the shoe is still in satisfactory condition.
Midsole compression, particularly in the case of athletic shoes, is another acute problem. As previously noted, the midsole is generally made of a resilient material to provide cushioning for the user. However, after repeated use, the midsole becomes compressed due to the large forces exerted on it, thereby causing it to lose its cushioning effect. Midsole compression is the worst in the heel area, including the area directly under the user's heel bone and the area directly above the peripheral outsole wear spot.
Despite technological advancements in recent years in midsole design and construction, the benefits of such advancements can still be largely negated, particularly in the heel area, by two months of regular use. The problems become costly for the user since athletic shoes are becoming more expensive each year, with some top-of-the-line models priced at over $150.00 a pair. By contrast, with dress shoes, whose heels can be replaced at nominal cost over and over again, the heel area (midsole and outsole) of conventional athletic shoes cannot be. To date, there is nothing in the art that successfully addresses the problem of midsole compression in athletic shoes, and this problem remains especially severe in the heel area of such shoes.
Another problem is that purchasers of conventional athletic shoes cannot customize the cushioning or spring in the heel of a shoe to their own body weight, personal preference, or need. They are “stuck” with whatever a manufacturer happens to provide in their shoe size.
Finally, there appear to be relatively few, if any, footwear options available to those persons suffering from foot or leg irregularities, foot or leg injuries, and legs of different lengths, among other things, where there is a need for the left and right rear soles to be of a different height and/or different cushioning or spring properties. Presently, such options appear to include only custom-made shoes that are prohibitively expensive and rendered useless if the person's condition improves or deteriorates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a shoe that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the shoes and shoe systems particularly pointed out in the written description and claims, as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the shoe includes an upper having a heel region, a rear sole secured below the heel region of the upper, and a rear sole support attached to the upper and configured to secure the rear sole below the heel region of the upper. The rear sole support includes a flexible region positioned below the heel region of the upper and above a portion of the rear sole. The flexible region is sufficiently stiff to support a user while still being sufficiently flexible to flex and spring when the user runs or walks vigorously. The flexible region has an interior portion which in its normal, unflexed state is spaced upwardly from the portion of the rear sole immediately below said interior portion, the interior portion being adapted to flex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe as it is used.
The interior portion of the flexible region preferably is elevated relative to its peripheral portion in a direction toward the heel region of the upper. In certain embodiments the flexible region is an integral part of the rear sole support. The rear sole support may include an integral arch extension extending below the upper from a position proximate the heel region of the upper through a substantial portion of the arch region of the upper to support the arch region.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference characters will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
Upper 120 may be composed of a soft, pliable material that covers the top and sides of the user's foot during use. Leather, nylon, and other synthetics are examples of the various types of materials known in the art for shoe uppers. The particular construction of the upper is not critical to the shoe of the present invention. It may even be constructed as a sandal or may be made of molded plastic, integral with the rear sole support, as in the case of ski boots or roller blade uppers.
Forward sole 160 is attached to upper 120 in a conventional manner, typically by injection molding, stitching, or gluing. Forward sole 160 typically includes two layers: an elastomeric midsole laminated to an abrasion-resistant outsole. The particular construction of the forward sole is not critical to the invention and various configurations may be used. For example, the midsole may be composed of material such as polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) and may include air bladders or gel-filled tubes encased therein, and the outsole may be composed of, by means of example only, an abrasion-resistant rubber compound.
Rear sole support 140 is also attached to the heel region of upper 120 in a conventional manner, such as injection molding, stitching, or gluing. Rear sole support 140 is substantially rigid and is configured to stabilize the heel region of upper 120 and secure rear sole 150 below the heel region. As shown in
As shown in
Shoe 100 also includes a rear sole 150 that is detachably secured to and/or rotatably positionable relative to rear sole support 140. Rear sole 150, as shown in
As shown in
In the embodiment shown in
The inside diameter of a circular recess 146, as measured between the inside surfaces of its sidewalls, or the distance between the inside surface of a medial sidewall and the inside surface of an opposite lateral sidewall in the case of a non-circular recess (not shown), may actually be greater than the width of the heel region of the shoe upper as measured from the exterior surface of the medial side of the heel region of the upper to the exterior surface of the lateral side of the heel region of the upper (i.e., the heel region of the upper at its widest point). This is possible because the material used to make the rear sole support 140 and side walls is sufficiently strong and durable to permit the side walls to “flare out” to a greater width than the heel region of the upper without risk of breakage. This in turn permits the use of a larger rear sole 150 with more ground-engaging surface and, hence, more stability. (As stated, the exterior walls of the lower portion of the rear sole generally align vertically with the exterior surface of the side walls forming the recess 146). It also permits the employment of a flexible region or member with a correspondingly larger diameter, width or length because its peripheral edges optimally should align vertically with the load-bearing side walls of the recess. Such a larger flexible region or member, with a diameter, width or length greater than the width of the heel region of the upper at its widest point, creates more cushioning and/or spring for the user's heel during the gait cycle. The observations and provisions contained in this paragraph are equally applicable to the embodiments described in
Rear sole 150 is preferably made from two different materials: an abrasion-resistant rubber compound for ground-engaging outsole 154; and a softer, more elastomeric material such as polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) for midsole 158. However, rear sole 150 could be comprised of a single homogenous material, or two materials (e.g., EVA enveloped by hard rubber), as well as a material comprising air encapsulating tubes, for example, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,300. For each of the discussed rear sole embodiments, the outsole and midsole materials are preferably more resilient than materials used for the rear sole support or arch extension.
Detachability of rear sole 150 allows the user to change rear soles entirely when either the sole is worn to a significant degree or the user desires a different sole for desired performance characteristics for specific athletic endeavors or playing surfaces. The user can rotate the rear sole to relocate a worn section to a less critical area of the sole, and eventually replace the rear sole altogether when the sole is excessively worn. By periodically changing the position of the rear sole, more uniform wear and long life (both outsole and midsole) can be achieved. Additional longevity in wear may also be achieved by interchanging removable rear soles as between the right and left shoes, which typically exhibit opposite wear patterns.
In addition, some users will prefer to change the rear soles not because of adverse wear patterns, but because of a desire for different performance characteristics or playing surfaces. For example, it is contemplated that a person using this invention in a shoe marketed as a “cross-trainer” may desire one type of rear sole for one sport, such as basketball, and another type of rear sole for another, such as running. A basketball player might require a harder and firmer rear sole for stability where quick, lateral movement is essential, whereas a runner or jogger might tend to favor increased shock absorption features achievable from a softer, more cushioned heel. Similarly, a jogger planning a run outside on rough asphalt or cement might prefer a more resilient rear sole than the type that would be suitable to run on an already resilient indoor wooden track. Rear sole performance may also depend on the weight of the user or the amount or type of cushioning desired.
The present invention includes a shoe or shoe kit which includes or can accept a plurality of rear soles 150 having different characteristics and/or surface configurations, thereby providing a cross trainer shoe. As explained in more detail below, the shoe can also be designed to accept and use different flexible members in the rear sole area, to achieve optimal flex and cushioning, through the combination of a flexible member and rear sole selected to provide the most desirable flex, cushion, wear, support, and traction for a given application. In a preferred embodiment, both the rear sole and the flexible member are replaceable and a given rear sole can be locked in a plurality of separate positions relative to the recess in which it is held.
Since rear sole 150 shown in
Rotating the rear sole about an axis normal to the shoe's major axis to a position, for example, 180 degrees beyond its starting point, will locate the worn portion of the rear sole at or near the instep portion of the shoe. The instep portion is an area of less importance for tractioning, stability, cushioning and shock absorbing purposes. As long as the worn portion of the rear sole is rotated beyond the area of the initial heel strike, prolonged use of the rear sole is possible. The user can continue periodically to rotate the rear sole so that an unworn portion of the rear sole is located in the area of the first heel strike.
The shape of rear sole can be circular, polygonal, elliptical, “sand-dollar,” elongated “sand-dollar,” or otherwise. The shape of recess 146 is formed to be compatible with the shape of the rear sole. In all embodiments, the invention includes mechanical means for selectively locking the rear sole relative to the rear sole support and upper of the shoe. Preferably, the rear sole is shaped so that at least the rear edge of the outsole has a substantially identical profile at several, or preferably each rotated position. To allow for a plurality of rotatable positions, the shape of the outsole preferably should be symmetrical about its central axis. As shown in
While the above discussion is directed towards a rear sole that rotates or separates in its entirety, it is specifically contemplated that the same benefits of this invention can be achieved if only a portion of the rear sole is rotatable or removable. For example, a portion of the rear sole, e.g., the center area, may remain stationary while the periphery of the ground-engaging surface or outsole rotates and/or is detachable. As another example, the rear sole may not be removable but only rotatably positionable.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shoe of the present invention includes a flexible region 200 that is positioned above the rear sole and has a central portion that in its normal unflexed state is spaced upwardly from the portion of the shoe (rear sole support, or rear sole) immediately below it. The flexible region 200 is designed to provide a preselected degree of flex, cushioning, and spring, to thereby reduce or eliminate heel-center midsole compression found in conventional materials. Flexible region 200 is made of stiff, but flexible, material. Examples of materials that may be used in the manufacture of flexible member 200 include the following: graphite; fiberglass; graphite (carbon) fibers set in a resin (i.e. acrylic resin) binder; fiberglass fibers set in a resin (i.e. acrylic resin) binder; a combination of graphite (carbon) fibers and fiberglass fibers set in a resin (i.e. acrylic resin) binder; nylon; glass-filled nylon; epoxy; polypropylene; polyethylene; acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); other types of injection-molded thermoplastic engineering resins; spring steel; and stainless spring steel. The flexible region 200 can be incorporated into other elements of the shoe or can be a separate flexible member or plate.
As shown in
The flexible member may also be permanently attached to the top or bottom of the rear sole support or detachably secured to the shoe upper and removable through a pocket formed in the material (not shown) typically located on the bottom surface of the upper, or it can be exposed and removed after removing the sock liner or after lifting the rear portion of the sock liner. Alternatively, it may be totally exposed as in the case of flexible member 200 shown in
Rear sole 150 may have a concave top surface 167, as shown in
A second preferred embodiment is shown in
The embodiment of
Rear sole 250 is attached to rear sole support 240 by unlocking the ends of ring 400 and positioning ring 400 around upper midsole portion 252 of the rear sole such that flange 412 engages groove 254. Ring 400 is then firmly locked onto the rear sole by mating end 416 with end 418. Flexible member 200 is inserted into the rear sole support so that it presses against upper rim 249. Ring 400, with rear sole 250 attached, is then screwed into the rear sole support by engaging threaded surface 410 of the ring with threaded surface 248 of wall 244. The ring is then screwed into the rear sole support until serrated edge 246 of wall 244 engages flange 412 of ring 400. Serrated edge 246 serves to prevent rotation of the ring during use and the top edge of ring 400 firmly supports flexible member 200.
The rear sole support sidewalls need not be continuous around the entire recess. Such sidewalls may be substantially eliminated on the lateral and medial sides of the rear sole support, or even at the rear and/or front of the rear sole support, exposing ring 400 when installed, even allowing it to protrude through the sidewalls where the openings are created. This has no effect whatsoever on the thread alignment on the inside surface of the remaining sidewalls. The advantage of doing this is that a ring with a slightly larger diameter than otherwise possible and, hence, a flexible member with a slightly larger diameter than otherwise possible may be employed.
In the embodiment shown in
The embodiment of
Other rear sole support/rear sole combinations for securing the rear sole to the shoe and for supporting the flexible member at or below the heel region of the upper are contemplated and fall within the spirit of this invention, as described and claimed. By means of example only, some such additional configurations are disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/291,945, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The flexible region of the present invention is not limited to a circular shape and can be adapted to conform to the shape of the rear sole. The flexible region also need not be used only in conjunction with a detachable rear sole, but can be used with permanently attached rear soles as well.
As shown in
Flexible members 510 and 520 shown in
As shown in
The flexible members shown in
Flexible member 570, shown in
Since it is contemplated that the flexible member will be composed of graphite or other stiff, but flexible, material, it is preferable to cushion the impact of the user's heel against the flexible member during use. As shown in
The cushioning member 650 described above can be incorporated into a shoe having any of the various flexible regions disclosed in this application and drawings, as well as other shoes falling within the scope of the claims.
If cushioning member 650 is used, the shoe sock liner, which generally provides cushioning, may be thinner in the heel area or may terminate at the forward edge of cushioning member 650. If cushioning member 650 is not used, the sock liner may extend to the rear of the shoe and may be shaped to conform to the user's heel on its top surface and the flexible member on its bottom surface. Its bottom surface may also compensate for gaps formed by the flexible member. For example, the sock liner may have a concave bottom surface in the heel area to correspond to those flexible members having convex upper surfaces.
In each of the above-described embodiments, the flexible member is illustrated as a separate component of the shoe which can be removed from the shoe and replaced by a similar or different flexible member, as desired. In each of the embodiments the central portion of the flexible member is raised relative to its outer perimeter so that when placed in the shoe, the interior portion in its normal state does not touch the rear sole support and/or rear sole. As a result, the interior of the flexible member will flex in response to the user's stride without first, if ever, contacting the rear sole support and/or rear sole. Such flexible member, therefore, can be used with rear soles that have a flat upper surface, as well as those that have a concave upper surface. The relative shape and positioning of the flexible member and the adjacent rear sole support or rear sole can be designed to provide the optimum flex, stiffness, and spring characteristics. However, each of the above-described flexible members may be made integral with the rear sole support, which not only decreases the number of loose parts and increases the efficiency of the manufacturing process, but also further limits the lateral displacement of the periphery of the flexible member upon deflection, potentially creating more spring in the center and/or permitting the use of thinner and/or lighter weight material.
As shown in
The flexible region may be incorporated into other rear sole support embodiments as well. As an alternative to using arch extension 180, rear sole support 440 shown in
In another embodiment, rear sole support 460, as shown in
As shown in
Securing member 750 is simply substituted for securing member 400 and flexible member 200 shown in
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the system of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A shoe comprising:
- an upper having a heel region;
- a rear sole secured below the heel region of the upper; and
- a rear sole support attached to the upper and configured to secure the rear sole below the heel region of the upper, the rear sole support including a flexible region positioned below the heel region of the upper and above a portion of the rear sole, the flexible region having an interior portion which in its normal, nonflexed state is spaced upwardly from the portion of the rear sole immediately below said interior portion, said flexible region being adapted to flex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe as it is used.
2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper includes an arch region and the rear sole support further comprises an integral arch extension extending below the upper from a position proximate the heel region of the upper through a substantial portion of the arch region of the upper to support the arch region.
3. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a forward sole attached to the upper, the rear sole support further comprising a downwardly extending wall defining a pocket adapted to receive a rear edge of the forward sole.
4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said flexible region includes a peripheral portion and wherein said interior portion of said flexible region is elevated relative to said peripheral portion.
5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the flexible region is convex in shape with its dome facing upward.
6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the flexible region has a thickness that varies between the interior portion and the peripheral portion.
7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the flexible region includes a plurality of spokes radially extending from its center toward the periphery of the flexible region.
8. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a cushioning member positioned above the flexible region of the rear sole support.
9. The shoe of claim 8, wherein said cushioning member is disposed on the top surface of said flexible region.
10. The shoe of claim 9, wherein said cushioning member includes a V-shaped portion formed to cushion the impact of a user's heel.
11. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said flexible region includes at its outer perimeter a cylindrical rim.
12. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said flexible region has a preselected stiffness and spacing relative to said rear sole such that the interior portion of said flexible region will not under normal conditions ever contact the portion of said rear sole immediately below said interior portion.
13. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said flexible region includes a flexible plate secured to said rear sole support.
14. The shoe of claim 13, further comprising means for detachably securing said flexible plate to said rear sole support.
15. The shoe of claim 14, further comprising means for detachably securing said rear sole to said rear sole support.
16. A shoe comprising:
- an upper having a heel region and an arch region;
- a rear sole secured below the heel region of the upper; and
- a rear sole support attached to the upper and configured to secure the rear sole below the heel region of the upper, the rear sole support including an integral flexible region formed as part of said rear sole support and positioned below the heel region of the upper and above a portion of the rear sole, at least the central portion of said flexible region being spaced upwardly from the portion of the rear sole immediately below said central portion when it is in its normal, nonflexed state and being adapted to flex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe as it is used.
17. A shoe comprising:
- an upper having a heel region;
- a rear sole support attached to the heel region of the upper;
- a rear sole; and
- a member interconnecting the rear sole with the rear sole support, the member including a wall having an outer surface adapted to engage the rear sole support and an inner surface adapted to engage the rear sole, the member including a flexible region adapted to be positioned between the heel region of the upper and at least a portion of the rear sole when the member engages the rear sole support, the flexible region having an interior portion which in its normal, nonflexed state is spaced upwardly from the portion of the rear sole immediately below said interior portion, said flexible region being adapted to flex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe as it is used.
18. The shoe of claim 17, wherein the interconnecting member is configured to allow selective rotation of the rear sole relative to the member without disengaging the member from the rear sole support.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 3, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 9, 2010
Inventor: David F. Meschan (Greensboro, NC)
Application Number: 12/798,385
International Classification: A43B 7/22 (20060101); A43B 13/18 (20060101); A43B 21/26 (20060101); A43B 7/16 (20060101);