Pair of athletic shoes with asymmetric support between the uppers of the pair
A pair of shoes is provided that includes a left and a right shoe. The left shoe includes an upper having a left forefoot portion, the left forefoot portion having a lateral side with a portion thereof made of a first material and a medial side with a portion thereof made of a second material. The right shoe includes an upper having a right forefoot, the right forefoot having a medial side with a portion thereof made of the first material and a lateral side with a portion thereof made of the second material, wherein one of the first material and the second material provides more support than the other. The more supportive first material can include a polyurethane, such as TPU, a non-stretch synthetic material, or ceraprene. The second, less supportable material can be a light weight breathable mesh.
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This patent application claims priority to the provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/210,283, entitled “Pair of Athletic Shoes with Asymmetric Support Between the Uppers of the Pair,” filed on Mar. 16, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to athletic footwear. In particular, the present invention relates to athletic shoes having an improved upper used in sports that entail asymmetric movement of the feet, for example, track running.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAthletic footwear must provide stable and comfortable support for the foot. Specifically, it is important that the footwear be comfortable while providing adequate support during various foot movements associated with athletic activity. Athletic footwear typically includes an upper and a sole having a midsole and an outsole. Much attention has been paid to the construction of the sole of athletic footwear, which is often segmented and constructed of various materials constructed and positioned to provide suitable cushioning and stabilizing properties to the wearer. The standard upper, however, is typically constructed primarily of one kind of material, for example, one that is breathable and lightweight. Though this material may be comfortable, it often does not provide adequate support for an athlete. In addition, while a pair of shoes of any type typically includes a right shoe that is a mirror image of the left shoe in order to provide the same functionality to corresponding portions of each foot, this is not optimal for sports that require asymmetrical foot movement, such as track running.
Indoor track running facilities have evolved with various configurations and sizes. Often tracks incorporate banked curves in an attempt to compensate for body lean presumably to enhance running performance and/or reduce lower limb injuries. More specifically, it is thought that a banked curve puts less torque on the ankles and that it is easier to reach maximum speed without being injured. Since a banked track is built with an upward slope from the inner edge to the outer edge at a curve, asymmetric bilateral foot support conditions occur during curved running. Shoes do exist in which the soles of a left and right shoe have different characteristics, such as for bowling and curling. There does not exist a pair of shoes, however, with different uppers for use in sports requiring asymmetric foot support, such as running on a track.
Accordingly, a need exists for athletic shoes having shoe uppers adapted for sports involving asymmetric foot movements, such as banked track running. A need also exists for a pair of athletic shoes optimized for a particular sport involving asymmetric foot movements, where each shoe upper of the pair is designed for optimal support for each of the wearer's feet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides an article of footwear adapted for sports involving asymmetric foot movements, such as banked track running. The present invention also provides a pair of athletic shoes optimized for a particular sport involving asymmetric foot movements, where each shoe upper of the pair is designed for optimal support of the wearer's corresponding foot.
To optimize such a pair of athletic shoes, the forces applicable to the different areas, of the shoe are considered. Different designs are provided for the lateral and medial portions of the shoe upper, in order to enhance flexibility, balance control, propulsion, stability and support in the specific areas where needed. This, in turn, provides improved performance and minimizes injuries.
In particular, the present invention provides a pair of shoes including a left shoe and a right shoe. The left shoe includes an upper having a left forefoot, the left forefoot having a lateral side, at least a portion thereof made of a first material, and a medial side, at least a portion thereof made of a second material. The right shoe has an upper having a right forefoot, the right forefoot having a medial side, at least a portion thereof made of the first material and a lateral side, at least a portion thereof made of the second material. One of the first and second materials is more supportive than the other. Support is thus provided asymmetrically to the wearer's feet.
In one aspect, the less supportive material includes a light weight breathable mesh.
In another aspect, the one of the first material and the second material first material that is more supportive can include one or more of polyurethane, a non-stretch synthetic material, and/or ceraprene.
The advantages and various features of the present invention will become apparent through the following description of various embodiments of the invention described in reference to the accompanying drawings, and the claims.
Preferred embodiments of a pair of shoes of the present invention are described below with reference to the figures where like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
Referring to
In particular, referring to
Referring to
The right forefoot lateral portion 124 is formed of a second material which can be supportive non-stretch synthetic material providing increased foot support for the athlete running clockwise on a track, especially a banked track. In one embodiment, the material of the right forefoot lateral portion 124 is the same material as utilized for the left forefoot medial portion 118.
The first material can be formed of lightweight breathable mesh materials, and can be a stretchable material. Any material can be used that is suitable for non-stress areas of the shoe upper. In one embodiment, the same light breathable mesh materials are utilized for the left forefoot lateral side portion 116 and the right forefoot medial side portion 122. These are considered non-stress areas that do not require support when the athlete runs on a banked track such as shown in
The second material can be formed of any supportive material, preferably non-stretch synthetics, that can provide increased foot support in the areas of the foot that experience increased stress when the athlete is running on the track. In the embodiment represented in
Another embodiment of a pair of shoes for running in a clockwise direction on a track is shown in
With further reference to
In one embodiment as shown in
The first material including light breathable mesh materials can extend in the remaining area of the forefoot 314 and midfoot portions 317.
With further reference to
An upper 313 of a right shoe for pairing with the left shoe upper of
With further reference to
In one embodiment as shown in
The first material including light breathable mesh materials can extend in the remaining area of the forefoot 320 and midfoot portions 321.
With further reference to
While various embodiments and individual features of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. As will also be apparent to those skilled in the art, various combinations of the embodiments and features taught in the foregoing description are possible and can result in preferred executions of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A pair of shoes comprising:
- a left shoe including an upper having a left forefoot portion, the left forefoot portion having a portion thereof made of a first material and a medial side having a portion thereof made of a second material; and
- a right shoe including an upper having a right forefoot, the right forefoot having a medial side having a portion thereof made of the first material and a lateral side having a portion thereof made of the second material, wherein one of the first material and the second material provides more support than the other.
2. The pair of shoes of claim 1, wherein the other of the first material and the second material is a light weight breathable mesh.
3. The pair of shoes of claim 1, wherein the one of the first material and the second material first material includes a polyurethane.
4. The pair of shoes of claim 1, wherein the one of the first material and the second material includes a non-stretch synthetic material.
5. The pair of shoes of claim 1, wherein the one of the first material and the second material includes ceraprene.
6. The pair of shoes of claim 1, the left shoe and the right shoe each including a sole coupled to the corresponding upper, each sole having a forefoot portion, wherein a plurality of spikes are coupled to each of the forefoot portions, the plurality of spikes adapted and positioned on each of the left shoe and the right shoe for optimally gripping a particular running surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 15, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 16, 2010
Applicant: NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC. (Boston, MA)
Inventor: Stephen John Brown (Clinton, MA)
Application Number: 12/661,315
International Classification: A43B 5/00 (20060101); A43B 13/18 (20060101); A43B 7/06 (20060101); A43C 15/00 (20060101);