U.S. patent application number 10/186030 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-14 for shoe system with a resilient shoe insert.
Invention is credited to Larsson, Hans, Lindh, Kjell, Lindh, Leif, Lindqvist, Wilhelm Ove.
Application Number | 20020166184 10/186030 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26985540 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020166184 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lindqvist, Wilhelm Ove ; et
al. |
November 14, 2002 |
Shoe system with a resilient shoe insert
Abstract
The shoe system comprises a shoe that has an upper rim section.
A shoe sole is disposed inside the shoe and has a top layer. A shoe
insert has a stiff first member and a resilient second member
attached to the first member so that the first member is attached
to the top layer of the shoe sole. The second member is movable
between a compressed position immediately adjacent to the first
member and an expanded position remote from the first member. The
first member is disposed a first distance from the upper rim
section when the second member is in the compressed position and
the first member being disposed the same first distance from the
upper rim section when the second member is in the expanded
position.
Inventors: |
Lindqvist, Wilhelm Ove;
(Stockholm, SE) ; Larsson, Hans; (Mjolby, SE)
; Lindh, Leif; (Danderyd, SE) ; Lindh, Kjell;
(Danderyd, SE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Rolf Fasth
FASTH LAW OFFICES
189 Curtis Drive
Longview
WA
98632-5374
US
|
Family ID: |
26985540 |
Appl. No.: |
10/186030 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10186030 |
Jun 27, 2002 |
|
|
|
09882972 |
Jun 15, 2001 |
|
|
|
09882972 |
Jun 15, 2001 |
|
|
|
09326729 |
Jun 7, 1999 |
|
|
|
6247249 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
12/142P ;
36/27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/081 20130101;
A43B 13/206 20130101; A43B 13/148 20130101; A43B 13/188 20130101;
A43B 21/42 20130101; A43B 13/203 20130101; A43B 13/143 20130101;
A43B 13/12 20130101; A43B 21/39 20130101; A43B 21/285 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
12/142.00P ;
36/27 |
International
Class: |
A43B 013/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 11, 1999 |
SE |
97017147 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A method of making a shoe system having a resilient shoe insert,
comprising: providing a shoe having an upper rim section and a shoe
sole disposed inside the shoe, a shoe insert having a stiff first
member and a resilient second member attached to the first member,
a first compressible material being disposed between the first and
second members, the compressible material having a first hardness,
the first member being disposed a distance (X) from the upper rim
and a distance (A) from a bottom side of the shoe sole; putting a
load (L) on the shoe; compressing the second member towards the
first member while maintaining the first member at the distance (X)
from the upper rim and reducing the distance (A) to a distance (B),
the distance (A) being greater than the distance (B), removing the
first compressible material; and inserting a second compressible
material having a second hardness, the second material being harder
and stiffer than the first material.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further
comprises removing the load (L) and expanding the shoe sole so that
the second member is moved relative to the first member from the
distance (B) back to the distance (A).
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method comprises
raising a heel portion of the shoe when the load (L) is removed
from the shoe.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method comprises
lowering a heel portion of the shoe to a height that is the same as
a height of a toe portion of the shoe.
Description
PRIOR APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/882,972; filed Jun. 15, 2001; which is a continuation-in-part
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/326,729; filed
Jun. 7, 1999; now U.S. Pat. No. 6,247,249; issued Jun. 19,
2001.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a resilient shoe spring
system that is integrated with a shoe system.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Users and developers of elastic shoes and shoe soles are
confronted with the problem of back injury and releasing the stored
energy in the shoe sole in a manner which improves walking and
running economy while at the same time achieving adequate
bio-mechanical shoe stability and cushioning. Many shoe
manufacturers have concentrated their effort on chock absorption by
permanently increasing the thickness of the shoe sole. This has
resulted in a slight change of the angle between the ankle and the
foot that may weaken the tendons of the foot. This change of the
angle may also lead to instability and reduced bio-mechanical
effect.
[0004] Many efforts have been made to develop an effective spring
mechanism for shoes or shoe soles. However, the earlier proposed
spring designs for shoe soles have not been entirely satisfactory.
Despite many elaborate shoe sole solutions, back injuries and other
injuries are still common due to poorly designed shoes. Injuries
due to poor shoe designs are particularly common in sports and
heavy duty work activities.
[0005] One important function of a shoe, such as a running shoe, is
to protect the foot from the stresses of running. The forces and
motions that occur in different sports vary greatly. Because of
these differences it is important that active participation in
varied sports require varied shoes. For example, tennis and other
racquet sports require much side-to-side motion and the shoe must
provide lateral stability. If the shoe is unstable and has high
heel elevation when the athlete is moving from one side to another
the likelihood is great the athlete may suffer an ankle sprain. The
majority of conventional shoes are not well designed. Some of
insufficiencies of the current shoe designs may be overcome by the
present invention.
[0006] The shoe system of the present invention comprises a shoe
that has an upper rim section. A shoe sole is disposed inside the
shoe and has a top layer. A shoe insert has a stiff first member
and a resilient second member attached to the first member so that
the first member is attached to the top layer of the shoe sole. The
second member is movable between a compressed position immediately
adjacent to the first member and an expanded position remote from
the first member. The first member is disposed a first distance
from the upper rim section when the second member is in the
compressed position and the first member being disposed the same
first distance from the upper rim section when the second member is
in the expanded position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of a shoe insert of the present
invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of a shoe adapted to receive the shoe
insert of FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the shoe in a vertical position
along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with the shoe insert of FIG. 1 placed
inside the shoe;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the shoe along line 3-3 of FIG. 2
when the ankle is disposed in an inwardly sloping position;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a side view of a person standing straight up on
the shoe of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a side view of a person standing on the shoe and
leaning forward;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the
shoe insert of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a top view of the shoe insert;
[0015] FIG. 9. is a top view of a second embodiment of a shoe
insert for the right shoe;
[0016] FIG. 10 is a top view of the second embodiment of the shoe
insert for the left shoe;
[0017] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of a third embodiment of a shoe
insert;
[0018] FIG. 12 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of a shoe
insert;
[0019] FIG. 13 is a side view of a fifth embodiment of a shoe
insert integrated with a shoe sole;
[0020] FIG. 14 is a side view of the fifth embodiment of the shoe
insert in a compressed position; and
[0021] FIGS. 15A-D are schematic flow diagrams of a pressing
technique for manufacturing the shoe insert.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] With reference to FIGS. 1-8, the present invention is a shoe
system 10 having a resilient shoe insert 11 including a stiff first
support member 12 that may be made of a carbon fiber reinforced
composite material or any other suitable material that is
relatively stiff. The first member 12 has a flexible and bendable
fore end 14 and a stiff aft end 16. The fore end 14 has a cavity
portion 18 that terminates in a slightly upwardly curved end
section 20. It is to be understood that the fore end is preferably
made of a flexible and bendable material that may be cut to size by
a pair of scissors to tailor the shape of the fore end 14 to the
shape of the shoe system and the foot. Another reason for using the
flexible material at the fore end 14 is so that the toes of the
foot may fully cooperate with the fore end 14 when walking and
moving about.
[0023] The stiff aft end 16 has a cavity portion 22 that terminates
in a slightly upwardly curved end section 24. A stiff middle
section 26 of the member 12 is convex shaped relative to the
concave cavity portions 18, 22. A holder mechanism 26 is attached
to an underside 28 of the first member 12. The holder mechanism 26
includes a short end wall 30 that is perpendicular to the member 12
and a long support wall 32 that is perpendicularly attached to the
end wall 30 to that the underside 28, the end wall 30 and the
support wall 32 define a receiving pocket 34 that is facing the aft
end 16. Preferably, the end wall 30 is attached to the underside 28
on the first member 12 at a point 29 that is at a front end portion
of the middle section 26. In the preferred embodiment, the first
member 12 is stiff all the way from the place of attachment at the
point 29 of the end wall 30 to the end section 24 and bendable from
the point 29 to the end section 20.
[0024] A second member 36 has a fore end 38 that is insertable into
the receiving pocket 34. More particularly, the second member has
the fore end 38 and an opposite aft end 40. The fore end 38 has a
slightly downwardly curved end section 42 and the aft end 40 has an
upwardly curved end section 44 so that the second member 36 is
somewhat S-curved. When the second member 36 is inserted into the
receiving pocket 34, the end section 44 is aligned with the end
section 24 of the first member 12 so that a gap 46 is formed
between the first member 12 and the second member 36.
[0025] An important feature of the present invention is that the
second member 36 is springy and resilient while the first member 12
is generally stiff except for a bendable toe portion. As is
explained below, a heavier person may select a stiffer second
member than a lighter person to prevent the second member 36 from
abutting or resting against the first member 12 when the heavier
person is standing on the first member 12 with the second member 36
inserted into the receiving pocket 34. Preferably, the second
member 36 should be sufficiently stiff so that the second member 36
does not bottom out even though the person is actively using the
shoe insert 11 disposed in the shoe. For example, when a person is
standing straight up (as is shown in FIG. 5) so that the shoe
insert 11 is subjected to the greatest weight, the first member 12
form a minimum angle alpha relative to the second member 36 but the
angle should not be zero. The angle alpha increases when the person
bends his/her knees or leans forward, as is shown in FIG. 6, so
that an increasing amount of the body is supported by the front
portion of the foot and less weight is exerted upon the second
member 36. It is also preferred that the stiffness and the shape of
the second member 36 are such that the first member 12 does not
bottom out even though the person is jumping or actively using a
shoe 48.
[0026] Other factors that determine what stiffness to use for the
second member 36 include the type of activity the shoe is going to
be used for and whether the walking/running surface is hard, soft
and uneven. The shape of the second member 36 may also be varied
depending on the needs of the user. For example, a second member
having a more bent fore end creates a bigger gap 46 between the
second member and the first member when the second member is
inserted into the holder 32. A bigger gap 46 may reduce the risk of
bottoming out and also changes the angle between the foot and the
ankle.
[0027] Because the first member 12 is stiff, the shape of the first
member is maintained and the foot is provided a full support
although the second member 36 may move relative to the first member
12. In other words, the first member 12 provides good support to
the foot although the second member 36 may be compressed against
the first member 12 and later permitted to move back to the relaxed
expanded position depending upon how the shoe is used in, for
example, a sport activity.
[0028] As best shown in FIG. 2, the shoe 48 may have a preformed
shoe sole 50 that has an upper surface 52 that is shaped to snugly
receive the shoe insert 11. The shoe 48 has a heel section 51 and a
toe portion 53. The shoe sole 50 is preferably made of a flexible
material such as rubber or plastic. The upper surface 52 has an
upwardly curved front portion 54, a convex middle portion 56 and a
slightly upwardly curved aft portion 58 to support the sections 20,
26 and 24, respectively, of the first member 12.
[0029] An important feature is that the shoe sole defines an
angular curved groove 60 that is dimensioned to receive the second
member 36. The groove 60 extends backwardly and angularly
downwardly towards a heel 62 of the shoe 48. A triangular wedge 64
is disposed between the upper surface 52 and the groove 60. The
wedge 64 is removably attached to the sole 50 so that the wedge 64
easily be removed to make it convenient to insert and remove,
particularly, the second member 36 of the shoe insert 11. The wedge
64 is made of a very flexible material so when the second member 36
is urged towards the first member 12 by the weight of the user, the
wedge 64 is deformed and compressed accordingly.
[0030] The shoe 48 may also be used with the shoe insert 11 placed
on the upper surface 52 but with the wedge 64 removed. An one-way
valve 66 is attached to a back end 68 of the shoe 48. A channel 70
may be defined in the shoe sole 50 so that the valve 66 is in fluid
communication with a space 72 that is formed between the first
member 12 and the second member 36. Of course, the wedge 64 may
extend all the way back to the section 58 of the shoe sole 50 so
that there is no need for a channel.
[0031] When the second member 36 is pressed towards the first
member 12 so that the shoe insert 11 is in a compressed position,
an over pressure is formed in the space 72 that may flow into the
channel 70 and out through the valve 66 to provide good mechanical
ventilation inside the shoe. Any under pressure that may be formed
in the space 72 when the second member 36 is permitted to move from
the compressed position back to its original expanded position away
from the first member 12 may be equalized by sucking in air from an
upper part 74 of the shoe 48 such as the opening 76 or the open
areas adjacent to the shoe laces 78. It should be understood that
the valve 66 may also be a two-way valve so that the valve may be
used to compensate for both overpressure and under-pressure in the
space 72. In this way, the valve 66 may function to circulate and
possibly bring in or suck cool air into the inside of the shoe when
the second member 36 is permitted to expand from the compressed
position. A filter 79 may also be placed in the valve 66 to prevent
dust and other undesirable particle from entering into the inside
of the shoe 48 when the shoe inlet 11 is expanding.
[0032] As best shown in FIG. 3, the first member 12 and the second
member 36 are substantially parallel when a person is standing
straight up without leaning sideways. The first member 12 may have
vertical side walls 81, 83 to prevent the foot from sliding
sideways and put undue pressure on the side wall of the shoe.
However, when the person moves in a sideways direction so that an
ankle 90 is in an inclined position, the weight distribution of the
shoe may be uneven, as shown in FIG. 4, so that the second member
36 is twisted slightly relative to the stiff first member 12 to
create a torsion force about an outside portion 82 of the second
member 36. The second member 36 may have a first thickness d.sub.1
on an inside portion 80 and a second thickness d.sub.2 on the
outside portion 82. The second thickness d.sub.2 is greater than
the first thickness d.sub.1 so that the second member 36 is only
permitted to twist relative to the stiff first member 12 when the
ankle 90 is leaned inwardly, as shown in FIG. 4, if the shoe 48
shown is a shoe for the right foot. In other words, the second
thickness at the outside portion 82 is sufficiently thick to make
the outside portion 82 of the second member 36 rigid enough to
prevent any relative movement between the first member 12 and the
second member 36 at the outside portion 82. Because the inside
portion 80 is twistable, there is less need to bend the ankle
relative to the foot, thus exposing the ankle to less strain, when
the person is standing with the legs wide apart. For example, it is
common to stand with the legs wide apart when waiting to return a
serve in tennis. Another situation that may put extra strain on the
ankle is when running along a surface that is sloping sideways. The
twisting of the inside portion 80 generally results in less risk of
straining the foot because the angle change between the ankle and
the foot as a result of leaning the ankle inwardly is reduced.
[0033] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of the present
invention. The shoe insert 100 includes an extended back support
section 102 that extends above the heel of the foot to partly
protect the Achilles tendon and the heel of the foot. The support
section 102 reduces any excessive rubbing between the heel of the
foot and the rear inside wall of the shoe. Excessive rubbing may
cause blisters as the shoe insert 11 is compressed and expanded.
Similar to the shoe insert 11, the shoe insert 100 has a stiff
first member 104, a resilient second member 106 and a bendable and
flexible fore end 108 that may terminate at a toe portion 109 that
extends over the toes of the foot to protect the toes while the toe
portion 109 may follow the movement of the shoe insert. A resilient
rubber pad may be adhered to a bottom side of the fore end 108 to
provide extra comfort. The first member 104 and the second member
106 form an angle alpha therebetween. This embodiment is
particularly useful for working shoes and other types of heavy duty
boots.
[0034] As best shown in FIG. 8, a transition area 77 between the
first member 12 and the soft and flexible fore end 14 may be a
curved section that is formed according to the support area of the
foot that is disposed behind the toes.
[0035] FIG. 9 is a top view of a second embodiment of the shoe
insert of the present invention. A shoe insert 200 has a transition
area 202 (that is equivalent to the transition area 77 of FIG. 8)
that extends at an angle so that a distance (x) at an inside 204 of
the shoe insert 200 is longer than a distance (y) at an outside
206. In other words, the flexible member is longer at the inside
204 than the outside 206 so that the inside 204 may flex (as shown
in FIG. 4) while the outside 206 is relatively stiff. Similarly,
FIG. 10 shows a top view of a shoe insert 210 for the left shoe
that has a transition area 211 and an inside 212 that has a length
(x) that is longer than a length (y) of an inside 214. FIG. 11 is a
bottom view of a third embodiment of the present invention. A shoe
insert 216 has an angular transition area 218 in addition to a
flexible member 220 that has a softer inside portion 222 and a
stiffer outside portion 224. In the third embodiment, it is not
necessary that the transition area extends at an angle because the
inside portion 222 is already softer than the outside portion 224.
FIG. 12 is a side view of a shoe insert 230 having a plurality of
flexible members 232, 234, 236 attached to an underside 238 of the
shoe insert 230 so that both the resiliency and the resiliency on
the inside and the outside may be adjusted to the specific needs of
the user of the shoe insert 230.
[0036] FIGS. 13 and 14 show a fifth embodiment of the present
invention. A shoe 300 has a shoe sole 302 including an upper layer
303 with a shoe insert 304 integrated with or built into the sole
302. The shoe 300 has a toe portion 330 and a heel portion 332 and
shoe sole 302 has a bottom side 305. The insert 304 has a
relatively stiff upper segment 306 and a bendable lower segment 308
that is attached to a lower side 310 of the segment 306 at a
mid-section 312 of the upper segment 306. The segment 306 is,
preferably, attached to a back piece 301 that is disposed at the
upper segment 303 adjacent to a back side 309 of the shoe 300. The
upper segment 306 and the lower segment 308 has a space 307 defined
therebetween. The space 307 may be filled with air or a very
compressible and expandable material. The space 307 may be
completely or partially filled with a material. For example, the
material may include segments of elastomers to change the spring
characteristics of the insert 304. Stiffer elastomer segments may
be used if the person is heavy and less segments or less stiff
segments may be used if the person is relatively light.
[0037] An important feature is that the segment 306 is stiff and is
attached to the sole so that the segment 306 does not move relative
to the shoe although the lower segment 308 may move relative to the
upper segment 306. This means that a foot inserted into the shoe
300 remains in the same position regardless of the flexural
movements of the lower segment 308. When the lower segment 308 is
in an expanded unloaded position (see FIG. 13) the distance between
the upper segment 306 and a bottom side 305 of the sole 302 is a
distance (A). However, when the shoe 300 is put under a load (L)
(see FIG. 14), the lower segment 308 moves into a compressed
position towards the upper segment 306 to reduce the distance
between the upper segment 306 and the bottom side 310 to a distance
(B) that is smaller than the distance (A). When the lower segment
308 is in the compressed position, the segment 308 urges the upper
segment 306 upwardly into the expanded position.
[0038] An important feature of the present invention is that upper
segment 306 is disposed at a distance (X) from an upper rim 314
both when the lower segment 308 is in the expanded position, as
shown in FIG. 13, and in the compressed position, as shown in FIG.
14. This means that there is little risk of blisters on a foot 316
placed in the shoe 300 between there is no relative movement
between the foot 316 and the shoe 300.
[0039] With reference to FIGS. 15A-D, the shoe insert of the
present invention is preferably made by using a unique pressing
method. The method relies on a tool 400 having a upper component
402 and a lower component 404. The component 402 has a cavity 406
defined therein that has the same shape as the upper segment 306
and the component 404 has a cavity 408 defined therein that has the
same shape as the lower segment 308. As best shown in FIG. 15B, the
components 404, 406 are separated from one another. A
pre-impregnated upper component 410 is placed, as shown by an arrow
A1, inside the cavity 406. The component 410 has an elongate front
end portion 409 and an elongate back end portion 411 and a shape
that is similar to the shape of the cavity 406. A pre-impregnated
lower component 412 is placed in the cavity 408 and has a shape
that is similar to the shape of the cavity 408. Preferably, the
components 410, 412 and 414 are made of polymer composites such as
carbon and/or glass fiber reinforcements that are impregnated with
a suitable resin. The components may be fully or partly
impregnated. Preferably, the toe portion of the components 410, 412
are partially impregnated to obtain an increased bendability. The
resin could be a suitable thermoplastic, such as a thermoplastic
polyester, or a thermoset resin, such as epoxy. Of course, other
suitable polymers can also be used.
[0040] The component 412 has an elongate front end portion 413 and
an elongate back portion 415. A U-shaped third component 414 is
placed between components 410, 412 to improve the physical
properties of a finished insert 424. The component 414 has
continuous fibers extending along the entire component 414 from one
end of the U-shaped component to an opposite end of the component
414. Surprisingly, the component 414 substantially reduces fiber
breakage and other failure characteristics of the insert 424.
Preferably, a sandwich construction is used so that the stiffer
carbon fibers may be placed on each side of the U-shaped component
414 that is, preferably, made of the less stiff glass fibers. Glass
fibers have better springing characteristics compared to carbon
fibers due to the high fatigue resistance properties of glass
fibers. In general, glass fibers are not as brittle as carbon
fibers. Carbon fibers may be used to partially or fully in the
components 410, 412. However, carbon fibers may also be used on the
inside of the component 414 in the form of carbon fiber tapes that
extend from a back portion 411, 415, respectively, of the
components 410, 412 towards a bottom 421 of the component 414. More
particularly, the component 414 has the bottom 421, an upper leg
416 and a lower leg 418. The upper leg 416 is placed along an
inside 420 of the back end portion 411 and the lower leg 418 is
placed along an inside 422 of the back portion 415. In this way,
both the upper leg 416 and the end portion 411 are placed inside an
elongate back end 417 of the cavity 406 and the both the lower leg
418 and the back end portion 415 are placed inside an elongate back
end 419 of the cavity 408. This means that the above described
sandwich construction may be used on the legs 416, 418 of the
components 410, 412 together with the component 414. Preferably,
the sandwich construction is not used for the portions 409, 413. A
resilient filler piece 423 may be placed between the legs 416, 418
prior to compression of the tool. The hardness of the piece 423 may
be adjusted depending upon the weight of the user. For example, a
more rigid piece 423 may be used if the user is heavy and a softer
piece 423 may be used if the user is relatively light weight.
[0041] As best shown in the FIG. 15c, when the components 410, 412
with the third component 414 placed therebetween, are properly
positioned in the tool components 402, 404, the components 402, 404
are moved towards one another, as shown by arrows A2 and A3. A
pressure of between 2-40 bar is applied to the components 402, 404
for several minutes and the temperature is raised to between
100-250.degree. C. to enable the resin of the components 410, 412
to enable a thermoplastic resin to melt or a thermoset resin to
cure. The tool 400 may then be rapidly cooled before the components
are removed from the tool 400.
[0042] When the components 410, 412, 414 are cured into an
integrated shoe insert 424, the tool components 402, 404 are
separated from one another and the insert 424 is removed from the
components 402, 404, as shown by an arrow A4 in FIG. 15D. The
insert 424 is now ready to be integrated with or built into a shoe
sole as the insert 304 is shown in FIGS. 13-14.
[0043] While the present invention has been described in accordance
with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood
that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit and scope of the following
claims.
* * * * *