U.S. patent application number 10/268799 was filed with the patent office on 2003-04-17 for sports boot.
This patent application is currently assigned to SALOMON S.A.. Invention is credited to Masseron, Benoit.
Application Number | 20030070322 10/268799 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8868458 |
Filed Date | 2003-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030070322 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Masseron, Benoit |
April 17, 2003 |
Sports boot
Abstract
A sports boot having an upper, a wear sole and an intermediate
sole that has a heel zone with a lateral side, a medial side and a
rear side surrounding a central padding. The boot also has a heel
bracket with a lateral belt applied against the lateral side, a
medial belt applied against the medial side, a rear belt applied
against the rear side, a lateral anchoring, a medial anchoring, and
retaining arrangement connecting the lateral and medial anchoring
at a substantially constant distance one from the other.
Furthermore, with the plane of the wear sole as a plane of
reference, the elevation of the rear belt is substantially the same
as the elevation of the lateral belt and of the medial belt. The
retaining arrangement connecting the lateral and medial anchoring
can be a strap made from the same material as the heel bracket and
integrally formed therewith, or even horizontal tongues that are
sandwiched between the intermediate sole and the wear sole at the
moment of assembly.
Inventors: |
Masseron, Benoit; (Thones,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
SALOMON S.A.
Metz-Tessy
FR
|
Family ID: |
8868458 |
Appl. No.: |
10/268799 |
Filed: |
October 11, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/69 ; 36/114;
36/25R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 21/22 20130101;
A43B 21/26 20130101; A43B 13/181 20130101; A43B 23/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/69 ; 36/114;
36/25.00R |
International
Class: |
A43B 013/00; A43B
023/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 12, 2001 |
FR |
01 13472 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sports boot comprising: an upper; a wear sole; an intermediate
sole that has a heel zone with a lateral side, a medial side and a
rear side surrounding a central padding; a heel bracket with a
lateral belt applied against said lateral side, a medial belt
applied against said medial side, a rear belt applied against said
rear side, a lateral anchoring, a medial anchoring, and retaining
arrangement connecting the lateral and medial anchoring at a
substantially constant distance one from the other.
2. A sports boot according to claim 1, wherein when using the plane
of the wear sole as a plane of reference, the elevation of the rear
belt is substantially the same as the elevation of the lateral belt
and of the medial belt.
3. A sports boot according to claim 1, wherein the retaining
arrangement connecting the lateral and medial anchoring have a
strap made of the same material as the heel bracket and integrally
formed therewith.
4. A sports boot according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate
sole has a first shock-absorbing material on which a second
shock-absorbing material is affixed that is more flexible than said
first material.
5. A sports boot according to claim 4, wherein in the heel zone of
the sole, the first shock-absorbing material defines a cavity, the
second material having a complementary shape thereto.
6. A sports boot according to claim 1, wherein in its front
portion, the intermediate sole has shock-absorbing arrangement
constituted by a plurality of upper protuberances and a plurality
of lower protuberances.
7. A sports boot according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate
sole has a lower half-sole and an upper half-sole made from a
material that is more flexible than the material of the lower
half-sole.
8. A sports boot according to claim 5, wherein the lower
protuberances as well as the cavity are provided on the lower
half-sole.
9. A sports boot according to claim 1, wherein the retaining
arrangement connecting the lateral and medial anchoring are
constituted by horizontal tongues sandwiched between the
intermediate sole and the wear sole when the sole is assembled.
10. A sports boot according to claim 1, wherein the heel bracket
has a lower portion connected to the medial and lateral belts by
means of a medial and lateral leg, respectively.
11. A sports boot according to claim 7, wherein the lateral and the
medial legs are located facing the heel center, respectively.
12. A sports boot according to claim 1, wherein the material of the
heel bracket is less extensible than the material of the
intermediate sole.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon French Patent Application No.
01.13472, filed Oct. 12, 2001, the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority
of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to sports boots and more particularly
to boots adapted for skateboarding.
[0004] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
[0005] In the field of sports boots manufacturing, it is known to
provide shock-absorbing means for the heel in order to limit the
harmful effects of the shocks felt by the foot and indirectly by
all the joints of the user. It is also known that increasing the
shock-absorbing capacities of a boot generally occurs at the
detriment of boot stability.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,681 discloses the construction of an
intermediate sole or cup that ensures stability during running
while maintaining shock-absorbing capabilities for the boot. To
this end, a relatively rigid blade is embedded in the rear portion
of the intermediate sole. While this construction is satisfactory
for absorbing small shocks, for example, shocks generated by the
contact of the heel with the ground when running, it is largely
ill-adapted for more violent shocks. Indeed, when subjected to a
very strong shock or when landing a jump of several meters, the
shock-absorbing capacities of the soft and elastic material of the
intermediate sole, as well as those of the undulated blade, are
exceeded, and the athlete no longer has access to any shock
absorption. It is said then that the boot "bottoms." Bottoming can
be dangerous for the athlete because the energy from the shock must
be absorbed by the user's joints.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] An object of the invention is to provide a sports boot with
heightened shock absorption capacities, but which nonetheless
maintains excellent stability.
[0008] This object of the invention is achieved by the presence of
a heel bracket placed along the periphery of the intermediate sole
in the heel zone. The heel bracket enables any changes in the flow
of the material(s) constituting the intermediate sole to be
controlled.
[0009] More specifically, this object of the invention is achieved
by providing a sports boot having:
[0010] an upper;
[0011] a wear sole;
[0012] an intermediate sole, which has a heel zone with a lateral
side, a medial side and a rear side enclosing a central
padding.
[0013] The boot according to the invention has a heel bracket with
a lateral belt applied against the lateral side, a medial belt
applied against the medial side, a rear belt applied against the
rear side, a lateral anchoring, a medial anchoring, and a retaining
arrangement connecting the lateral and the medial anchoring at a
substantially constant distance one from the other.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the bracket has a lateral belt, a
medial belt, and a rear belt that are applied against the lateral,
medial, and rear sides, respectively, of the intermediate sole.
[0015] Preferably, the bracket also has a lateral anchoring, a
medial anchoring, and means for retaining the lateral and medial
anchorings at a substantially constant distance one from the
other.
[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, this retaining
arrangement is a strap made from the same material as the bracket
and connects the lateral and medial anchorings together.
[0017] In another embodiment of the invention, this retaining
arrangement is provided simply in that the lateral and medial
anchorings are horizontal tabs that, after assembly, are glued
between the wear sole and the intermediate sole.
[0018] In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the
medial, lateral, and rear belts are equidistant from the wear sole.
In other words, when using the plane of the wear sole as the plane
of reference, the elevation of the rear belt is substantially the
same as the elevation of the lateral belt and of the medial
belt.
[0019] In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the
elevation of the rear belt is substantially the same as the highest
elevation of the lateral belt and of the medial belt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] The invention also has the features that are described
herebelow in the description of the attached drawings, and in
which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a boot according to a first
embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heel bracket;
[0023] FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c are transverse cross-sections of the
sole of FIG. 1 subject to pressure at various amplitudes;
[0024] FIG. 4 is a lateral view of a boot according to a second
embodiment of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the boot shown in
FIG. 4;
[0026] FIG. 6 shows an oblique cross-section along the plane VI-VI
of FIG. 7a of a boot according to the second embodiment of the
invention;
[0027] FIGS. 7a and 7b show the behavior of the heel bracket of a
boot according to the second embodiment of the invention; and
[0028] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative intermediate
sole of the boot according to the second embodiment of the
invention as shown in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a view of a boot according to a first
embodiment of the invention. The boot 1 has an upper 2 glued to the
intermediate sole 3. The sole can be mounted in any known way,
through assembly on a form, strobel mounting, etc. The intermediate
sole is made from one or several materials selected for their
shock-absorbing properties.
[0030] A wear sole 4 is glued under the intermediate sole. A heel
bracket 5 contains the heel zone of the intermediate sole.
[0031] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the heel bracket 5
isolated from the rest of the boot. It has a medial belt 8 applied
against the medial side 10 of the intermediate sole. A lateral belt
7 is applied on the lateral side 11 of the intermediate sole. The
lateral 7 and medial 8 belts are connected by means of a rear belt
6 which is applied against the rear side 12 of the intermediate
sole. If the plane of the wear sole is used as the plane of
reference, one can see that the elevation of the lateral, medial
and rear belts is substantially the same. At their extremities
opposite the rear belt, the medial and lateral belts are extended
by a medial leg 16 and a lateral leg 17, respectively, that are
substantially vertical and end in a medial anchoring and a lateral
anchoring, respectively. These anchorings are connected together by
a strap 15 such that they are kept at a substantially constant
distance one from the other.
[0032] FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c show three partial cross-sectional
views of the boot described in FIG. 1. These three views show only
the boot sole, the latter furthermore having an insert 9 made from
a material that is more flexible than the intermediate sole. These
three cross-sections are taken along the plane III of FIG. 1 which
is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sole and cuts the
latter at the center of the heel. In the heel zone, this insert has
a truncated shape, the axis of which passes through the center of
the heel.
[0033] In FIG. 3a, the single arrow represents the weight of a user
at rest. When subjected to a pressure of this order, the sole is
only slightly deformed and the heel bracket barely has to
function.
[0034] FIG. 3b shows the state of the sole when walking, the double
arrow corresponding to the pressure felt by the sole at each impact
of the heel. In these circumstances, the energy is mainly absorbed
by the insert, as well as by the substantial deformation of the
intermediate sole. Given that the insert rests in a funnel-shaped
cavity with a through hole, or opening, at the bottom, the more
flexible material of the insert can flow freely towards the bottom.
Once all possible flow of the material has ended the sides of the
intermediate sole begin to get deformed.
[0035] Finally, FIG. 3c shows the hooping effect of the heel
bracket on the sides of the intermediate sole which occurs when
landing a jump of very high amplitude. As seen, the intermediate
sole becomes deformed, but is contained by the tensioned heel.
Thus, the lateral stability of the sole is guaranteed since the
risk of the sole shifting from one side to another is greatly
reduced.
[0036] Since the shock-absorbing material of the intermediate sole
is contained by the heel bracket, or retainer, it pushes back the
"bottoming" limit thereof. Thus, if one compares the behavior of
the sole according to the invention with that of a traditional sole
that is constituted of the same shock-absorbing materials and that
consequently offers substantially similar comfort, one can perceive
a distinct difference while landing jumps. For example, when
skateboarding, the jumps sometimes have amplitudes of several
meters and the landing is absorbed neither by the board, nor by the
surface on which this activity occurs, which very often is concrete
or asphalt. FIG. 3c shows the behavior of the sole according to the
invention when landing a high amplitude jump while
skateboarding.
[0037] The retention of the intermediate sole by the heel bracket
also has a stabilizing effect when landing a jump on a sloping
surface. This is particularly the case for "half-pipe"
skateboarding.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a lateral view of a boot according to a second
embodiment of the invention. In a similar manner, the boot has an
upper 2, an intermediate sole 3 and a wear sole 4. The heel bracket
5 has an upper belt 18 and a lower portion 19. The upper belt is
constituted of lateral and medial belts connected together by a
rear belt. The lower portion 19 is applied against the base of the
intermediate sole and is connected to the upper belt on the lateral
and medial sides, respectively, by a lateral 17, and a medial 16
leg, respectively.
[0039] FIG. 5 represents an exploded perspective view of the boot
shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the intermediate sole has two
half-soles, the lower half-sole 20 having, in the heel zone, a
cavity 21 that has substantially the shape of an inverted cone, at
the bottom of which an opening 22 extending through the cavity is
provided, and the upper half-sole having a dome that is extended by
a stud, the assembly having a shape complementary to that of the
cavity.
[0040] The lower half-sole 20 (or cup) has a lower surface that
comes into contact with the wear sole 4 and a higher surface that
comes into contact with the upper intermediate half-sole 23. The
periphery of the cup 20 is constituted of substantially vertical
edges. In its front portion, the lower surface of the cup 20 has a
plurality of lower protuberances. These lower protuberances have a
cylindrical shape and project downwardly from the cup 20. They are
arranged evenly over the entire front portion of the lower surface
of the cup 20. The arrangement of the lower protuberances is set
along a pattern, the first direction of which is substantially
oriented along the longitudinal axis of the boot. The second
direction of the pattern makes an angle of 60.degree. to 80.degree.
with the first direction. The lower protuberances have a
cylindrical shape with a diameter of between 4 and 6 millimeters
(mm) and project at a distance of between 1.5 and 3 mm. The
distance between two neighboring lower protuberances is between 1
mm and 5 mm. This distance is preferably equal to approximately 2
mm.
[0041] The higher surface of the cup 20 is bordered along its
periphery by the edge. It has a depression in the entire front
zone, this depression corresponding to the front zone of the lower
surface of the cup 20 where the lower protuberances are arranged.
Thus, in the area of this depression, the cup 20 has its smallets
thickness, except for the height of the protuberances.
[0042] In the area of the heel, the higher surface has a cavity
that has substantially the shape of an inverted cone at the bottom
of which a through hole is provided that traverses the cup 20, the
cup 20 having in its heel portion a thickness that is substantially
greater than in its front portion, and the higher surface thereof
also having an inclined portion that connects the depression to the
cavity 21.
[0043] The upper intermediate half-sole 23 has a lower surface and
an upper surface. The lower surface is complementary to the higher
surface of the cup 20. Thus, in the front portion, a projecting
block is arranged that takes on the shape of the depression.
[0044] The heel portion has a dome oriented downwardly that is
extended at its end by a stud. In its front portion, the upper
surface has a recessed zone whose peripheral contour corresponds to
the projecting block present on the lower surface.
[0045] A plurality of upper protuberances project upwardly from the
bottom of this recessed zone. These upper protuberances are
arranged in a pattern, one direction of which corresponds
substantially to the longitudinal axis of the boot, whereas the
other direction makes an angle of between 60.degree. and 80.degree.
with the first direction. The upper protuberances have a
cylindrical shape whose diameter is between 4 mm and 6 mm. Their
height is not uniform along the entire area of the upper surface.
In the central zone, i.e., in a zone that is in the proximity of
the longitudinal axis, the protuberances have a height of between 2
and 4 mm. However, in the peripheral zones, the height of the
protuberances is between 4 and 6 mm.
[0046] Once the two half-soles are assembled together, each upper
protuberance is substantially vertically aligned with a lower
protuberance. One thus obtains a structure that unites shock
absorption with the transmission of sensations, the shock
absorption being obtained by the compression of discrete elements
constituted by stacking an upper protuberance on a lower
protuberance, whereas the transmission of sensations is
particularly encouraged by the fact that these discrete elements
are relatively independent of one another. Indeed, the overall
structure of the intermediate sole behaves, at least in its front
portion, as though it were a juxtaposition of discrete elements
connected to each other by a thin central core.
[0047] In order to optimize the shock-absorbing properties,
different materials will be selected for the two intermediate
half-soles. Preferably, the material of the lower half-sole is not
as soft as that of the upper half-sole.
[0048] One can also envision obtaining the entire front portion of
the intermediate sole from a single block. This alternative of the
second embodiment of the invention is specifically shown in FIG.
8.
[0049] The latter shows an intermediate sole 3 whose upper
intermediate half-sole 23 is reduced to the rear portion, whereas
the upper protuberances are provided directly on the lower
half-sole. Such an arrangement makes it difficult to use different
materials for the upper and lower protuberances. However, the cost
of production is reduced when the same material is used.
[0050] The heel bracket 5 has a medial belt 8, a rear belt 6 and a
lateral belt 7 having a substantially horizontal orientation. The
bracket 5 further has a lower portion 12 that is also horizontal.
The lateral and medial belts are connected to the lower portion by
lateral 17 and medial 16 legs, respectively. The lateral leg and
the medial leg, respectively, are located facing the center of the
heel. Lastly, the heel bracket has a lateral anchoring 14 and a
medial anchoring 13. When the intermediate sole, the bracket and
the wear sole are assembled, retaining arrangement are provided so
as to maintain the lateral anchoring and the medial anchoring at a
substantially constant distance one from the other.
[0051] The lateral anchoring 14 is constituted of a horizontal
tongue. In a symmetrical manner, the medial anchoring 13 is
constituted by a horizontal tongue.
[0052] After the sole is assembled, these tongues are sandwiched
between the lower half-sole 20 and the wear sole 4, thus ensuring
that they are kept at a constant distance one from the other. The
lateral 17 and medial 16 legs are located facing the opening 22 of
the lower half-sole 20. The opening 22 is in the zone where the
impacts are the most substantial, i.e., under the center of the
heel. The lower portion 19 of the bracket becomes pressed against
the side of the intermediate sole, near the wear sole 4, whereas
the lateral, medial and rear belts are pressed against the top of
the side, and against the base of the upper. To further improve the
attachment of the heel bracket to the rest of the boot, the lower
portion 10 can be partially covered by the edge of the wear sole,
this covering being accompanied by gluing. Given that the heel
bracket is constituted of a lower portion surrounding the base of
the intermediate sole and a higher portion constituted of lateral,
medial and rear belts, these two portions meet in the area of the
lateral and medial anchorings, the heel bracket is deformed like a
clamp when subject to a vertical force, i.e., the rear belt is
brought closer to the lower portion, more so than the medial and
lateral belts. This clamp-type behavior is represented in FIGS. 7a
and 7b. In FIG. 7a, a new weak force does not cause the bracket to
deform. But as soon as the pressure is more substantial, the latter
becomes deformed, mainly along a specific path, namely, the rear
portion of the belt is brought closer to the lower portion.
[0053] As this occurs, the heel bracket guides and directs the
deformation of the sole. This effect is particularly noteworthy
while walking, at the moment of the heel impact in that, regardless
of the lateral shifting of the angle of impact, the heel bracket
will impose a symmetrical lateral/medial deformation of the sole.
The clamp-type behavior is particularly improved in that the
material of the heel bracket 5 is more rigid than that of the
intermediate sole 3.
[0054] When landing high-amplitude jumps, the more flexible
material of the upper half-sole is mainly funneled downwardly, and
not towards the lateral and medial sides of the sole. This type of
funneling is made possible by the shape of the cone and the opening
of the cavity provided in the lower half-sole, and by the presence
of vertical legs that prevent the lower half-sole from being
crushed. If the surface on which the athlete lands his jump is not
horizontal, the heel bracket prevents the sole from deforming
through shearing on the sides, due to the lateral 7 and medial 8
belts, as well as on the rear, due to the rear belt 6.
[0055] As seen in FIG. 4, the bracket 5 is not only applied to the
sides of the intermediate sole but also to the base of the upper.
Thus, in addition to its role of retaining the intermediate sole,
the heel bracket also ensures that the base of the upper is
laterally maintained. Also, when landing a jump on sloping
surfaces, this arrangement prevents the shearing of the upper with
respect to the intermediate sole.
[0056] The cross-section of FIG. 6 is achieved when the sole is
subjected to a very high pressure, such as, for example, when
landing a high-amplitude jump. When the pressure reaches a certain
amplitude, the lateral and medial legs are deformed by buckling in
towards the sole, thus accentuating the retention phenomenon due to
the presence of the bracket itself. The materials necessary for
obtaining the sole of the invention are all of the materials
currently used in the field of sports boots, particularly EVA for
the intermediate sole. As for the heel bracket, numerous materials
can be selected on the condition that they are less extensible than
the materials of the intermediate sole. As a matter of fact, the
hooping phenomenon of the intermediate sole by the heel bracket
requires the materials to behave differently during extension.
However, it is not always necessary to use a rigid material.
[0057] The invention is not limited to the two embodiments
described herein by way of example, and it also relates to other
equivalent embodiments in which a heel bracket contains the
shock-absorbing material of the intermediate sole.
LIST OF REFERENCES
[0058] 1 Boot
[0059] 2 Upper
[0060] 3 Intermediate sole
[0061] 4 Wear sole
[0062] 5 Heel bracket
[0063] 6 Rear belt
[0064] 7 Lateral belt
[0065] 8 Medial belt
[0066] 9 Insert
[0067] 10 Lateral side
[0068] 11 Medial side
[0069] 12 Rear side
[0070] 13 Medial anchoring
[0071] 14 Lateral anchoring
[0072] 15 Strap
[0073] 16 Medial leg
[0074] 17 Lateral leg
[0075] 18 Upper belt
[0076] 19 Lower portion
[0077] 20 Lower half-sole
[0078] 21 Cavity
[0079] 22 Opening through the cavity
[0080] 23 Upper half-sole
[0081] 24 Dome
[0082] 25 Stud
[0083] 26 Upper protuberance
[0084] 27 Lower protuberance
* * * * *