RESILIENT STABILIZER AND CONNECTING MEMBER FOR A CUSHIONING DEVICE IN AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR
A stabilizer and connecting member is provided for a cushioning device in an article of footwear, comprising a top platform with a diameter larger than a central portion, a corresponding bottom platform and a resilient central portion.
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The present invention generally relates to footwear, and more specifically, to a means of stabilizing and retaining a spring or series of springs within a footwear-cushioning device.
BACKGROUND INFORMATIONThere are a number of footwear products on the market, or disclosed in prior art, that show a spring based cushioning device either within the heel or forefoot of the footwear. In many applications, the spring based cushioning device is encapsulated within the midsole of the shoe. In this configuration the springs are free floating, and are retained within the shoe in a spatial horizontal relationship by the outer walls of the midsole. Other means of retaining the springs within the cushioning device exist, but while these configurations may retain the springs within the cushioning device, the drawback on these designs is that the outer wall of the midsole, or other connecting means, serves to dampen the effect of the springs. This reduces the springs inherent ability to provide high levels of cushioning or resiliency, since the midsole limits the springs overall functionality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAs an improvement to encapsulated spring based footwear cushioning devices, or other means of retaining a spring or series of springs within a cushioning device, the current invention allows the springs to be effectively stabilized and secured within the cushioning device while still allowing the spring to operate fully unencumbered without the need of external encapsulation, thus improving the effectiveness and functionality of the spring.
Another advantage of the current invention is that it will be made of a high tensile strength material that prevents the top and bottom portions of the cushioning device from separating, thus keeping the springs secure even in extreme use, while still being resilient and strong enough to compress into itself so that the spring functionality is unencumbered by the presence of the current invention when a force is applied.
Yet another advantage of the current invention is that it incorporates top and bottom platforms that they are resiliently deformable, allowing the current invention to be easily inserted within a spring, whereas the top and bottom platforms will both form a lip around the corresponding top and bottom outer edges of the spring after being inserted. This capability makes assembly of the current invention into a footwear-cushioning device extremely simple and inexpensive.
The top and bottom platforms further serve to separate the top and bottom edges of the spring from contact with the inside edges of the internal portions of the cushioning device, which can be either a direct attachment to the interior portions of the footwear's midsole and outsole, or to the interior portions of a stabilizing plate, or plates, that may be incorporated to add structural integrity to the cushioning device. This design prevents unwanted friction noise, as well as wear from the spring rubbing against the midsole/outsole material, which may otherwise occur without the presence of the platform lip.
A final benefit of the top and bottom platforms is to provide a more substantial means of fixedly attaching the invention to the inner portions of the cushioning device so that the springs will not be dislocated from their positions during extreme use. Any commercial adhesive could be used to make the attachment.
Another advantage of the design is that since the springs no longer need to be encapsulated within a midsole or other means of encapsulation, it adds a novel and unique look to the footwear.
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views,
The resilient stabilizer and connecting member (1) itself can also be made of any number of materials including rubber, polyurethane, Polyethylene or any other similar material that can be molded into the required shape and which exhibits high levels of durability and resiliency.
A unique feature of the resilient stabilizer and connecting member (1) is that the top platform (2) and the bottom platform (4) are both resiliently deformable as to allow the spring (8) to slide over the top platform (2) around the central portion (6) and rest on the bottom platform (4), whereas both platforms than form a lip around the top and bottom of the spring (8) for the purposes as was disclosed earlier.
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Claims
1. A stabilizer and connecting member for a cushioning device in an article of footwear, comprising
- a. a top platform with a diameter larger than a central portion
- b. a corresponding bottom platform and
- c. a resilient central portion
2. The invention of claim 1 whereas the central portion has an hourglass profile.
3. The invention of claim 1 whereas the central portion has a cylindrical profile.
4. The invention of claim 1 whereas the central portion has a cylindrical profile with a series of varying diameters throughout is length.
5. The invention of claim 1 whereas the central portion has a hollow interior at its vertical axis.
6. The invention of claim 2 whereas the central portion further includes a center support ring at its horizontal axis.
7. The invention of claim 1 whereas the top and bottom platforms are resiliently deformable to allow insertion into a spring.
8. The invention of claim 1 whereas the central portion is resiliently deformable to allow it to compress upon itself, thereby reducing its operating height by at least 50%.
9. The invention of claim 1 whereas the central portion has a very high tensile strength, thereby preventing it from being extended beyond its preset operating height during operation.
10. The invention of claim 1 whereas the resilient central portion is comprised of an upper portion and a lower portion which are fixedly attached at abutting ends to form a unitary portion.
11. The invention of claim 10 whereas the means of attachment for the upper and lower portions further comprises a male connector on one portion with a female receptacle on the opposing portion.
12. invention of claim 11 whereas the fixedly attached central portions create an hourglass profile.
13. A stabilizer and connecting member for a cushioning device in an article of footwear, comprising
- a. a top lip with a diameter larger than a central portion
- b. a bottom lip corresponding in size and placement to the top lip,
- c. a resilient central portion consisting of a hollow core to accept a spring within its interior.
14. The invention of claim 13 stabilizing and connecting member is transparent.
15. A stabilizer and connecting member for a cushioning device in an article of footwear, comprising
- a. a top portion
- b. a resilient central portion consisting of a hollow core, and
- c. a bottom lip with a diameter larger than the central portion and the top portion.
16. The invention of claim 15 whereas the stabilizing and connecting member is transparent.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2014
Publication Date: Nov 6, 2014
Applicant: Aura Technologies LLC (Howard Beach, NY)
Inventor: Thomas Lombardino (Howard Beach, NY)
Application Number: 14/210,633
International Classification: A43B 13/18 (20060101); A43B 7/32 (20060101);