U.S. patent application number 10/029092 was filed with the patent office on 2003-06-26 for climbing shoe with multiple hardness rubber sole.
Invention is credited to Chu, Young.
Application Number | 20030115776 10/029092 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21847165 |
Filed Date | 2003-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030115776 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chu, Young |
June 26, 2003 |
Climbing shoe with multiple hardness rubber sole
Abstract
A climbing shoe includes an upper portion and an outer sole
attached to the upper portion. The outer sole of the toe part has
an edge area, a mid-area, and an interior area. The edge area will
be made of rubber polymer with a hardness greater than the
mid-area, and the mid-area will be made of rubber polymer with a
hardness greater than the interior area. The edge area and mid-area
will be substantially U-shaped along the toe part of the outer sole
of the climbing shoes.
Inventors: |
Chu, Young; (Fullerton,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG CHU
744 Rancho Circle
Fullerton
CA
92835
US
|
Family ID: |
21847165 |
Appl. No.: |
10/029092 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/113 ; 36/32R;
36/59R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/188 20130101;
A43B 5/003 20130101; A43B 13/04 20130101; A43B 13/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/113 ;
36/59.00R; 36/32.00R |
International
Class: |
A43B 013/04 |
Claims
What is claimed:
1. A climbing shoe comprising: a) an upper portion; and b) an outer
sole attached to the upper portion, the outer sole having an edge
area, a mid-area and an interior area, wherein the outer sole
having a thickness substantially uniform, and wherein the edge area
has a harder rubber polymer than the mid-area and the mid-area has
a harder rubber polymer than the interior area.
2. The climbing shoe of claim 1, wherein the edge area of the toe
of the outer sole has a width `w`, wherein the width `w` is about
one-fourth of an inch.
3. The climbing shoe of claim 2, wherein the thickness `t` of the
outer sole is about one-sixth of an inch.
4. The climbing shoe in claim 3, wherein the edge area of the toe
part of the sole is substantially U-shaped.
5. The climbing shoe in claim 4, wherein the edge area has a
rockwell hardness of between 70 through 85.
6. The climbing shoe in claim 5, wherein the mid-area has a
rockwell hardness between 60 through 75.
7. The climbing shoe in claim 6, wherein the interior area has a
rockwell hardness between 55 through 70.
8. The climbing shoe in claim 7, wherein the outer sole has
multiple hardness rubber using different rubber polymers.
9. The climbing shoe of claim 8, wherein the top surface of the
outer sole is substantially flat or semi-flat.
10. A climbing shoe comprising: a) an upper portion; and b) an
outer sole attached to the upper portion, the outer sole having
multiple hardness rubber, wherein the front portions, which are the
edge area and mid-area, of the outer sole uses a harder rubber
compound than the other portions of the outer sole, whereby the
front portions can be used to provide stability to climbers on
small footholds and the other portion can be used to provide
stability on large footholds.
11. The climbing shoe in claim 10, wherein the edge area of front
portion of the outer sole is hard and inflexible, wherein the rest
of the outer sole is soft and flexible.
12. The climbing shoe in claim 11, wherein the edge area of the toe
of the outer sole has a rockwell hardness between 70 through
85.
13. The climbing shoe in claim 12, wherein the mid-area has
substantially the harder rubber hardness than the interior area and
the softer rubber hardness than the edge area.
14. The climbing shoe in claim 13, wherein the other interior
portion of the outer sole has a hardness less than the edge area
and mid-area.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The invention relates to climbing shoes, specifically
climbing shoe with a multiple hardness rubber sole that assists the
climber in maintaining a firm foothold on the rocks.
[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0005] Rock climbing shoes have two main functions, edging and
smearing. Edging is to stand on a small foothold during the rock
climbing. Smearing is to stand on a big foothold using the whole
part of the toe during the rock climbing. With a flat surface, the
edges of the toe are placed on small footholds in the rocks. For
edging purposes, a climbing shoe should have a hard rubber sole to
provide the stability in a small foothold. In addition, a climbing
shoe should have a hard rubber toe part for edging purposes. For
smearing purposes, a climbing shoe should have a soft rubber sole
to provide maximum surface contact on a large foothold.
[0006] Traditional climbing shoes have generally a single hardness
rubber sole on the toe part of the climbing shoe. Traditional
climbing shoes with a single hardness rubber sole on toe part have
disadvantages depending on the type of foothold a climber needs to
use. Climbing shoes that have soft rubber soles may deform and a
rock climber can slip during edging as a result. Furthermore, a toe
part with soft rubber may fail to support the climber when edging.
Climbing shoes that have hard rubber soles may not conform enough
to provide maximum surface contact and a rock climber can slip
during smearing as a result.
[0007] The prior art includes climbing shoes with a single hardness
rubber sole. The traditional shoe design allows the sole to flex to
grip the climbing surface with the toe part of the sole. This shoe
design is disadvantageous for climbers if the rubber sole is too
soft or too hard in relation to the type of foothold available to
the climber. Just a small area of the bottom outer sole may be
supporting the climber's entire weight in a small foothold and a
hard rubber sole is required to give the necessary stability and
support. The traditional shoe design is disadvantageous for
climbers if the rubber sole is too hard. A larger area of the toe
may be supporting the climber's weight in a large foothold that
requires a soft rubber sole that will flex to provide a large
contact area to prevent slipping.
[0008] There is a need for a climbing shoe with multiple hardness
rubber sole where the stability of a climber can be maintained for
both small and large footholds. The climber can lose his grip if
the hardness of the rubber sole prevents full surface contact with
a large foothold or the softness of the rubber sole prevents a
strong rigid contact with a small foothold. A multiple hardness
rubber sole will provide a rock climber stability and support for
both small and large footholds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] A climbing shoe with a multiple hardness rubber sole
fulfills the objective of a climbing shoe that will provide
stability and support in both small and large footholds. A climbing
shoe with multiple hardness rubber will provide a hard rubber part
for stability on small footholds and a soft rubber part for
stability on large footholds. Furthermore, a climbing shoe with
multiple hardness rubber sole will provide better stability with a
hard rubber toe part for edging. The climbing shoe with a multiple
hardness rubber sole provides greater stability and grip than
traditional climbing shoes, which provides greater safety and
confidence for the climber.
[0010] The climbing shoe includes an upper portion and an outer
sole attached to the upper portion. The upper portion has a height
`h`. The outer sole has an edge area, a mid-area and an interior
area. The outer sole has a thickness "t" that is substantially
uniform.
[0011] The edge area of the toe part of the sole, is made of rubber
with a hardness "r1". The edge runs along the front edge of the
sole. The front edge is substantially U-shaped.
[0012] The mid-area of the sole is made of rubber with a hardness
"r2.". The mid-area runs along the inner edge of the sole between
edge area and interior area of the sole. The mid-area is
substantially U-shaped.
[0013] The interior area of the sole is made of rubber with a
hardness "r3". The interior area extends to substantially cover the
back section and the entire outer sole, excluding the edge area and
the mid-area of the sole.
[0014] The climbing shoe with multiple hardness rubber is further
described with detail in the appended figures, description and
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view of the climbing shoe.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the climbing shoe showing the
multiple hardness rubber sole.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view of the climbing shoe along the
5-5 line as shown in FIG. 2.
[0018] FIG. 4. is a cutaway side view of the climbing shoe along
the 6-6 line as shown in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 4, a climbing shoe 10
includes an upper portion 11 and an outer sole 12 attached to the
upper portion 11. The outer sole 12 has an edge area 15, a mid-area
14, and an interior area 13. The multiple hardness rubber sole is
created by the differences in hardness between the edge part 15,
the mid-area 14, and the interior area 13. The interior area 13 has
a thickness `t`. The edge area 15 and the mid-area have a thickness
`t`.
[0020] Referring to the cutaway side view of FIG. 1, the upper
portion 11 can include any material commonly used for shoes, such
as leather, nylon and cotton fabrics. The upper portion 11 has a
height `h`.
[0021] Referring to the bottom view of FIG. 2, the outer sole 12
can be made primarily from a rubber polymer. The size and
dimensions of the outer sole 12 can vary smaller or larger based on
the climber's foot size. The edge area 15 and mid-area 14 are
substantially U-shaped. The edge area 15 has a width `w`. In one
embodiment, `w` of the edge area 15 is one-fourth of an inch. The
mid-area 14 has a width `w`. In one embodiment, `w` of the mid-area
14 is about one-fourth of an inch.
[0022] Referring to the cutaway side view of FIG. 3, along the 5-5
line as shown in FIG. 2, the edge area 15, the mid-area 14 and the
interior area 13 can be made primarily from a rubber polymer.
[0023] The edge area 15 will have a rubber hardness `r1` greater
than the mid-area 14 and interior area 13. In one embodiment, `r1`
of the edge area 15 is a rockwell hardness greater than or equal to
70, but less than or equal to 85. The hardness of the rubber `r1`
in the edge area 15 will provide added stability for small
footholds and will support the climber.
[0024] The mid-area 14 will have a rubber hardness `r2` greater
than the interior area 13. In one embodiment, `r2` of the mid-area
14 is a rockwell hardness greater than or equal to 60, but less
than or equal to 75. The hardness of the rubber `r2` in the
mid-area 14 will provide added stability for small footholds and
will support the climber.
[0025] The interior area 13 will have rubber hardness `r3` softer
than the mid-area 14 and the edge area 15. The hardness of the
rubber `r3` in the interior area 13 will allow flexibility to
provides added stability for large footholds and will support the
climber. In one embodiment, `r3` of the interior area 13 is a
rockwell hardness greater than or equal to 55, but less than or
equal to 70.
[0026] The edge area 15 will be on the outer edges of the front
portion of the outer sole 12. The mid-area 14 will be between the
edge area 15 and the interior area 13. The interior area 13 will
cover the remaining portion to the outer sole 12.
[0027] Although the present invention has been described in
considerable detail with regard to the preferred version thereof,
other versions are possible. Therefore, the appended claims should
not be limited to the descriptions of the preferred versions
contained herein.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS
[0028] 10 climbing shoe
[0029] 11 upper portion
[0030] 12 outer sole
[0031] 13 interior area
[0032] 14 mid-area
[0033] 15 edge area
* * * * *