U.S. patent application number 10/626855 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-28 for sport shoe with impact absorber system.
Invention is credited to Volkart, Lauro Alvicio.
Application Number | 20040211088 10/626855 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31193002 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040211088 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Volkart, Lauro Alvicio |
October 28, 2004 |
Sport shoe with impact absorber system
Abstract
SPORT SHOE WITH IMPACT ABSORBER SYSTEM, such impact absorber (4)
being optionally located in the heel or in two or three regions of
the shoe, providing variable shock absorption to the athlete's
foot, each impact absorber (4) being formed of tubular elements (6,
7, 8), of elliptical, circular or compound cross-section, the set
(4) being closed laterally by walls (5) which provide stability to
the absorber (4), transferring it to the shoe e eventually to the
athlete, the absorbers (4) having options to be installed partially
or over the whole sport shoe's sole.
Inventors: |
Volkart, Lauro Alvicio;
(Taquara, BR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARENT FOX KINTNER PLOTKIN & KAHN
1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 400
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Family ID: |
31193002 |
Appl. No.: |
10/626855 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/28 ; 36/27;
36/29; 36/35R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/188 20130101;
A43B 13/206 20130101; A43B 13/186 20130101; A43B 21/26
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/028 ;
036/029; 036/035.00R; 036/027 |
International
Class: |
A43B 013/28; A43B
013/18; A43B 013/20; A43B 021/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 25, 2003 |
BR |
PI 0301136-4 |
Claims
1 - Sport shoe with impact absorber system, characterized in that
in each sport shoe are included: (a) absorber set (4) of tubular
elements (6, 7, 8) of resilient and/or materials arranged parallel
one another and positioned transversely in relation to the
longitudinal axis of the shoe; (b) walls (5) placed laterally in
the impact absorber (4), closing each absorber (4) in its both side
extremities.
2 - Sport shoe, in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that
each sport shoe can comprise: (a) 1 absorber set (4) located in the
heel region (see FIG. 4); (b) 2 absorber sets (4) located: 1 in the
heel and the other in the front third of the sport shoe (see FIG.
5); (c) 3 absorber sets (4) located throughout the whole sole of
the sport shoe (see FIG. 6); (d) absorber sets (4) which can be
arranged parallel or not one another, and be installed in special
positions depending on peculiar specifications.
3 - Sport shoe, in accordance with any of the claims 1 or 2,
characterized in that it comprises absorber set(s) (4) these having
tubular elements (6, 7, 8) which can be: (a) elliptical, circular,
or compounds as to their transversal cross section; (b) of similar
or different size, wall thickness, flexibility; (c) manufactured of
a number of materials, as plastics, resin, flexible polymers,
fiberglass, graphite, carbon or any other material which is
adequate to the function to be exerted; (d) manufactured of diverse
elements in their interior, as nylon foam, original solid material
or worked for the absorption, air, gas, under pressure and any
other material adequate to each destination; and (e) arranged side
by side or near one another, these distances being regulars or
irregulars.
Description
[0001] The present invention refers to a sport shoe providing an
impact absorber system, these impact being generated by the
athlete's feet. The absorption system comprises resilient or
elastic tubular elements grouped in a parallel mode, and arranged
side by side one another over the sole region of the shoe,
generally on the heel region, although it can be inserted in two or
three sole regions, in this last option occupying almost all shoe
sole.
[0002] It should be pointed out that the absorption system of this
invention contributes to correct athlete's paces, preserving their
efficiency and security, as well as entailing a longer duration to
the shoe itself.
[0003] The resilient tubes (in this text we will use the word
"resilient" although the referred to tube can be manufactured with
elastic or compound material) are arranged in a parallel mode one
another and placed transversally to the shoe longitudinal axis,
arranged adjacent or very close one another.
[0004] Basically these tubes are cylinders of elliptical cross
section although they can be manufactured in a cylinder shape of
circular section, or any other compound cross-section shape.
[0005] The material basically preferred to be used in the
manufacture of the sport shoe impact absorber resilient system of
the invention is the plastics, although other materials can be
used, provided that they are adequate to the usage functions.
[0006] Thus, also are specified in accordance with the destination
the tube wall thickness as well as the respective diameters, and
also the size of each tube, its form, and the distance among
them.
[0007] Each set of three tubes is closed laterally by walls on both
opposed extremities of the set. The aim of these walls is to both
static and dynamically stabilize each set, keeping them
functionally firm during the shoe usage avoiding, or at least
soothe, the distortion--the shoe inclination due to wrong,
inclined, of user step--, during sport activities.
[0008] The interior of each tube contains basically air, but any
other materials that result in special performances, for particular
applications, can be inserted into the interior of these tubes.
[0009] It becomes evident that all features of the absorber set of
this invention have a design proportional to the user's weight, i.
e., the athlete using this sport shoe. Besides, the shoe aims each
different type of the athlete's activity.
[0010] The invention will be better understood and appraised by way
of drawings, represented by figures which are shortly described as
follows, when compared with the description text that is submitted
further on.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective of the sport shoe of the invention,
showing the position of the impact absorber tubular set in relation
to the sport shoe.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective of the absorber tubular set, showing
also the shoe insole.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a front view of the absorber set as limited by two
opposed lateral walls.
[0014] FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are application versions for the impact
absorber tubular sets, respectively in the heel area, in the heel
and front third area, and set applied to the whole user foot
plant.
[0015] FIG. 7 is a comparison of diagrams for the tubular set: in
rest, and the same set under user's foot pressure.
[0016] FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are schematic cross section/views of an
user's foot as applied to tubes in a certain impact absorber set at
three usage different conditions.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross section of an user's foot
before stepping on a impact absorber set, and this same figure
illustrates what happens after the foot makes no more pressure on
the tubular set.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a schematic cross section of a foot making
pressure on the absorber set, showing the deformations which result
from this pressure.
[0019] By FIG. 1 and the following figures one can apprise that the
impact absorber system 4 of this invention, in a preferred
embodiment, is embedded into the sole 1 of a sport shoe, as the
higher weight applied to the shoe by the user's foot concentrates
exactly on the heel region, where the [absorber] set is placed.
[0020] In the case of a sport shoe, the insole 2 occupies the front
two thirds of the shoe, and the shoe body covers all superior part
of the shoe.
[0021] FIG. 2 of the drawings illustrates the shoe impact absorber
set 4, showing tubes 6, 7 and 8 which form the impact absorber
system, and the side walls 5, in each extremity of the set 4. These
side walls act as stabilizers against the resilient deformation of
the tubes 6, 7 and 8, and still serve as a closing for the set
4.
[0022] The tubes can be manufactured in size, thickness and format
different from one another, and have as an option for the
fabrication, the employment of plastics, resin, flexible polymers,
or any other materials that will be invented and show themselves as
adequate to perform the functions they exert in the shoe, as, e.g.,
compound application for elastic and resilient materials.
[0023] It is showed a tubular set of three tubes, but it is clear
that each set can be manufactured with a different of tubes.
[0024] Basically, and within the inventive concept of the present
invention, tube 6 receives the initial impact of the athlete's
foot, performing the transition for the central tube 7, which carry
out the main impact absorption, since the load received in this
[tube] is of highest intensity. Tube 8 responds for the final
absorption, when the athlete's foot does not exert any more
pressure on the sport shoe.
[0025] FIG. 3 emphasizes the position of the side walls 5, which
close the tubular set 4, providing balance and stability to the
same, and transferring this stability to the athlete.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows position A, at the heel, of the absorber 4 with
relation to the athlete's foot.
[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates the positions B and C for the absorber
sets 4 on the heel and front third of the athlete's foot sole.
[0028] FIG. 6 shows the application of three absorbers 4 on the
positions D, E and F of athlete's foot, covering practically all
athlete's foot sole, and receiving, thus, the full impact from the
beginning to the end of the athlete's foot pressure.
[0029] FIG. 7 comprises two schemes: one set of 3 tubes without
pressure, containing material H in the interior of each tube, and
an absorber set of 3 tubes under pressure showing not only the
tubes 6, 7 and 8, deformed by the compression, but also the
material J compressed by the athlete's foot pressure. It is
necessary to emphasize that the substance of the internal material
of the tubes of the sets 4 may vary in accordance with each
specific application for the sport shoe of this invention.
[0030] FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate three conditions of dynamic
impact of the athlete's foot over the tubes 6, 7 and 8 by
generating different pressures and deformations on these tubes.
[0031] FIG. 8 shows the athlete's foot [in the moment of] touching
the absorber 4; FIG. 9 shows athlete's foot compressing the
absorber 4 completely, and FIG. 10 shows athlete's foot decreasing
pressure on the impact absorber 4.
[0032] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate schematically, respectively, the
absorber 4 without pressure on the athlete's foot--before the
impact and after the impact--, and under athlete's pressure, the
sheet K being showed before and during the deformation owing to the
impact.
[0033] It should be advised that small alterations included in this
invention become incorporated to the protection established by the
enclosed claims.
* * * * *