RAIL CUSHION TRACTS

Abstract

The present invention is referred to as a Lego-style system for football or other athletic sports footwear. The Lego style system may join, snap, combine, and connect to form limitless options based on individual footing profiles. The tracking system may snap to the railing tracts molded underneath the athletic shoe that they utilize.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 62/930,578, filed May 11, 2019, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to sporting equipment. More particularly, the present invention is related to shoes with specially designed shoes for improving the stability, performance, and durability of the shoes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A problem existing with conventional athletic shoes is that their design fails to take into account that different shock loads are applied to different areas of the sole of the foot of a participant during various forms of athletic endeavours, as for example during running, playing basketball, tennis, etc. It is known that in most athletic endeavours the heel and forefoot areas of the foot receive more intense shock loads than other areas of the foot including the arch and toe areas. For example, in running shoes, it is known that the runner's foot usually contacts the ground by engaging the heel first, then with the side of the foot and then with the forefoot such that the greater shock loads are absorbed first by the heel area of the sole portion of the shoe and last by the forefoot area.

In other athletic shoe constructions, for example, in basketball shoes, even more, intense shock loads are applied at the heel area as a result of landing on the foot after jumping. Athletic shoe constructions to date, however, have not included any separate shock-absorbing elements in those areas of the sole portions of the shoes subject to greater shock loads where the shock-absorbing properties of the elements at those areas differ from any shock-absorbing properties of the remaining areas of the sole portions.

Athletic shoes are specifically designed to be worn for participating in various sports. Since friction between the foot and the ground is an important force in most sports, modern athletic shoes are designed to maximize this force, and materials, such as rubber, are used. Although, for some activities such as dancing or bowling, sliding is desirable, so shoes designed for these activities often have lower coefficients of friction. The earliest athletic shoes date back to the mid-19^th century was track spikes—leather shoes with metal cleats on the soles to provide increased friction during running. Spikes were eventually added to shoes for baseball and American football in the 20th century. Golfers also use shoes with small metal spikes on their soles to prevent slipping during their swing.

By 1964, manufacturers introduced many new improvements common in modern running shoes, such as rubber waffle soles, breathable nylon uppers, and cushioning in the mid-sole and heel. During the 1970s, the expertise of podiatrists also became important in athletic shoe design, to implement new design features based on how feet reacted to specific actions, such as running, jumping, or side-to-side movement.

While several improvements are being made by shoe manufacturers, most of them are made for the masses with the idea of “one design fits for all” to push mass production thereby reducing manufacturing costs. There is a need for improving user comfort and durability while designing shoes as the requirements of each person varies. For example, the pressure points on the foot may be different for different individuals and hence a common design might not work for everyone.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus a general object of the present invention to provide running shoes which overcome or at least substantially reduce the disadvantages inherent in the prior art running shoes

The present invention describes techniques for increasing stability, comfort, and durability of sports shoes. The techniques use different types of design and material variations for manufacturing the bottom soles of the shoes. More particularly, the technique described rail cushion tracts that are made of moulded rubber tracts from acrylonitrile styrene acrylate also called acrylic styrene acrylonitrile. The rail cushion tract may also be referred to as a Lego-style system for the football and other athletic sports footwear. The Lego style system may join, snap, combine, and connect to form limitless options based on individual footing profiles.

The tracking system may snap to the railing tracts moulded underneath the athletic shoe that they utilize.

The present disclosure describes two types of tracts, a Lego type tract that may be utilized in any type of design, pattern, and arrangement based on an individual's comfort zone.

Additionally, a square type tract is proposed which shall have similar functions as that of Lego type tracts, except for the design modification wherein square-shaped tracts are provided underneath the footwear.

It is another object of this invention to create a new and improved design associated with the fabrication and construction of an athletic shoe sole wherein there is prevented the creating of additional stress and strain upon the lower extremities of the wearer of same due to adverse resistance caused by adverse compression or expansion characteristics of said sole at the metatarsophalangeal joint area.

The objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in part herein and in part will be obvious here from, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a square type track shoe sole that is left empty.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a square type track shoe sole that is filled with cushioning material.

FIG. 3 is an artistic illustration of the shoe described in FIG. 1 (empty tracts).

FIG. 4 describes the second type of sole, the figure described both unfilled and filled version of this sole.

FIG. 5 describes an exemplary illustration of the dimensions of a shoe sole with a lego type tract.

FIG. 6 described an exemplary illustration of the dimensions of a shoe with a square type tract.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description of the embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practised. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense.

In the present disclosure, Rail Cushion Tracts are moulded rubber tracts from acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) also called acrylic styrene-acrylonitrile, which is a thermoplastic developed as an alternative to acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The advantage of ASA in comparison to ABS is that ASA is much more weather resistant. Herein, the acrylate rubber differs from the butadiene based rubber due to the absence of double bonds. This allows ASA based material to provide around ten times the weathering resistance and resistance to ultraviolet radiation in comparison to ABS. Further, it may possess higher long-term heat resistance and better chemical resistance as well. ASA is significantly more resistant to environmental stress cracking in comparison to ABS. ASA has high outdoor weather ability, thereby retaining gloss and colour even if used under tough conditions. The mechanical properties of the product stay effective even with outdoor exposure. ASA further has good chemical and heat resistance, high gloss, good antistatic properties, and is tough and rigid.

The Rail Cushion Tracts may also be referred to as a Lego-style system for football or other athletic sports footwear. The Lego style system may join, snap, combine, and connect to form limitless options based on individual footing profiles. The tracking system may snap to the railing tracts moulded underneath the athletic shoe that they utilize.

The rail cushion tracts may be provided with a plastic gel cushion bubble that may be inserted into each tract. The cushion will help absorb shock and provide better weight distribution on pressure points of the athlete's foot.

The present disclosure describes two types of tracts, a Lego type tract that may be utilized in any type of design, pattern, and arrangement based on an individual's comfort zone. Additionally, a square type tract is proposed which shall have similar functions as that of Lego type tracts, except for the design modification wherein square-shaped tracts are provided underneath the footwear. While Lego type tracts may be arranged in different combination according to the user's foot profile, the square type tracts may be filled with plastic gel cushion bubbles to aid user comfort. The square type tracts may also be designed to accommodate different patterns to aid the user in managing weight distribution and shock absorption on pressure points. The tract size may vary, ranging from 1-3 inches in length. The depth of the rail cushions tracts maybe around 0.5-1.5 inches. Depending on the user's requirements, these measurements may be varied. For example, running backs would have over linch depth with Inches long tracts placed in front and sides for performing explosive cuts and pivots on the turf.

In one example, for an athlete with an average weight of about 300 plus pounds, the rail tracts maybe 2 inches long around the shoe (similar to a horseshoe type fit). At the same time, the middle base may have 0.5-1.24 inches long tracts to support the massive amount of force driving through their feet into the turf. The cushion bubble would absorb the shock and support the movement for traction, quick cuts, and pivots. This way, athletes/players will get cushion based shock absorption and even weight distribution for their feet. Such a design will provide the stability and decrease the possibility of turf toe injury of the individual who utilizes this footwear.

Referring to figures, FIG. 1 is an illustration of a square type track shoe sole that is left empty. Herein, air cushion bubbles are not inserted into the tracts. FIG. 2 is an illustration of a square type track shoe sole that is filled with cushioning material. The cushioning material may be inserted depending on the requirement. They shall act as shock absorbers and further aid in even weight distribution. FIG. 3 is an artistic illustration of the shoe described in FIG. 1 (empty tracts).

As described earlier, Lego type tracts may be snapped and combined to provide different combinations depending on the user's requirements. They are heavily customizable is an artistic illustration of a shoe that incorporates a sole with Lego type tract.

FIG. 4 describes the second type of sole, the figure described both unfilled and filled version of this sole. The cushioning provided here may be incorporated into the tracts and provide for shock absorption and even weight distribution.

FIG. 5 describes an exemplary illustration of the dimensions of a shoe sole with Lego type tract. FIG. 6 described an exemplary illustration of the dimensions of a shoe with a square type tract. The dimensions described herein are merely exemplary in nature and does not limit the scope of the present invention. Depending on the shoe size, these dimensions shall vary. The example herein is merely for the purpose of illustration.

Furthermore, geometric shapes may be incorporated onto the tracts (in square type tracts) to further increase stability and safety. Square shape, rectangle shape, oval shape, circle shape, X-shape, and/or T-shaped support may be incorporated into the tracts to further improve stability based on the user's foot profile. Reference may be made to FIGS. 5 and 6 to identify such shoes. A customized sole and tract may be designed based on height, weight, foot profile, and other requirements to improve safety and performance while using such shoes.

A person ordinarily skilled in the art may be able to understand various use cases of the pillow and apply them accordingly in real-life conditions. The illustration, examples and use cases described herein does not affect the scope of the invention.

It may be noted that the above-described examples of the present solution are for the purpose of illustration only. Although the solution has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, numerous modifications may be possible without materially departing from the teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. Other substitutions, modifications, and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the present solution. All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

The terms “include,” “have,” and variations thereof, as used herein, have the same meaning as the term “comprise” or an appropriate variation thereof. Furthermore, the term “based on”, as used herein, means “based at least in part on.” Thus, a feature that is described as based on some stimulus can be based on the stimulus or a combination of stimuli including the stimulus.

The present description has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing examples. It is understood, however, that other forms, details, and examples can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter.

The specification may refer to “an”, “one” or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations. This does not necessarily imply that each such reference is to the same embodiment(s), or that the feature only applies to a single embodiment. A single feature of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including” and/or “comprising” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations and arrangements of one or more of the associated listed items.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Claims

1. A shoe sole structure comprising using Rail Cushion Tracts

1. An improved design for an athletic shoe sole as described in claim 1, less possibility of the shoes to sink into the turf thereby avoiding injury to the users.

2. An improved design for an athletic shoe sole as described in claim 1, air cushion bubbles absorbs shock and provides even weight distribution.

3. An improved design for an athletic shoe sole as described in claim 1, increased balance, stability, and traction to body movement.

4. An improved design for an athletic shoe sole as described in claim 1, decreased chances of impairment due to ebb and flow, cuts, pivots, etc. from the turf.

5. An improved design for an athletic shoe sole as described in claim 1, stabilize extreme pressure points of feet which would enhance flexibility, durability, function of the athlete as well as the shoe.

6. An improved design for an athletic shoe sole as described in claim 1, overall increase in athlete safety.