U.S. patent application number 11/141764 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for resilient shoe lift.
Invention is credited to Austin, Tyrone L..
Application Number | 20050268489 11/141764 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35446100 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050268489 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Austin, Tyrone L. |
December 8, 2005 |
Resilient shoe lift
Abstract
Resilient shoe lift incorporating a series of lever rods
stabilized by bars and integrally molded into the structure of a
shoe sole, such that when the sole is fabricated into assembled
shoe, and the shoe is worn, the lever rods add lift to the shoe
which enhances the ability of the athlete to run, jump, or even
when employed within a walking situation.
Inventors: |
Austin, Tyrone L.; (St.
Louis, MO) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Paul M. Denk
Suite 170
763 S. New Ballas Road
St. Louis
MO
63141
US
|
Family ID: |
35446100 |
Appl. No.: |
11/141764 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60577147 |
Jun 4, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/27 ;
36/25R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/183
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/027 ;
036/025.00R |
International
Class: |
A43B 013/18 |
Claims
1. A footwear incorporating a resilient shoe lift, said footwear
providing a sole with a shoe upper, a resilient shoe lift embedded
within the sole, and extending generally forwardly within the sole,
said shoe lift comprising a plurality of resilient lever rods, at
least one rear a mount provided embedded within the sole, and
securing the approximate back end of each lever rod fixably in
place, such that when the shoe is worn, and the foot phonates, the
lever rods resiliency add to the lift by the shoe of the
wearer.
2. The resilient shoe lift of claim 1, and including a second mount
located slightly forwardly of the rear mount, and also securing the
plurality of lever rods therethrough, to provide for a rear fixing
of the lever rods to enhance their generation of resiliency in
their forward portions, and to add to the lift of the shoe when
worn,
3. The resilient shoe lift of claim 2 wherein said footwear is an
athletic shoe.
4. The resilient shoe lift of claim 2 wherein the footwear is a
walking shoe.
5. The resilient shoe lift of claim 2 wherein the footwear is a
casual shoe.
6. The resilient shoe lift of claim 2 and including a integral heel
provided at the back end of the footwear, and said plurality of
lever rods extending rearwardly of the said mounts and being
embedded within the heel segment of the footwear during
application, and therein adding to the resiliency of the heel
portion of the shoe during foot phonation.
7. The resilient shoe lift of claim 6 wherein the front of the
resilient rods extend within proximity of the front edge of the
shoe sole.
8. The resilient shoe lift of claim 7 and wherein the rearwardly
extending resilient rods extend into proximity of the rear edge of
the heel for the footwear.
9. The resilient shoe lift of claim 2 and wherein select of the
forwardly extending rods are of differing vertical positioning
within the sole.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This nonprovisional patent application claims priority to
the provisional application having Ser. No. 60/577,147, which was
filed on Jun. 4, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to footwear, and more
specifically relates to the addition of resilient structure into
the sole portion of a shoe, in order to add to the resiliency and
perhaps dexterity to the wearer of the shoes particularly when
participating in strenuous exercise or athletic events.
[0003] A myriad of footwear has been developed and which
incorporated various types of means, within the shoes, in order to
add to their liftabilities, but in many instances, usually relates
to enhancing the cushioning of the footwear, when worn. For
example, these types of structures can be seen in the U.S. Pat. No.
4,656,760 and 24,894,933.
[0004] All of the prior art as reviewed herein may have had some
attributes towards either cushioning or adding springiness to the
sole of the footwear, in order to enhance the motion of the wearer,
but none of them have incorporated the concept of the lever or
spring approach, into the structure of the sole or even the heel of
the shoe, so as to act as a lifting mechanism to aid in the jump of
the athlete, or even add to the acceleration in their running, when
such shoes are worn.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention relates to a lift mechanism, generally in the
formation of a resilient lever, or spring rod that enhances the
lift of the foot, and that may add to the jump of the athlete, or
running of the sportsmen, participating in an athletic event.
[0006] This invention contemplates the addition of further
structure to the sole of the shoe, and generally, in the preferred
embodiment, such will be arranged more permanently at the arch and
forward portion of the foot, and then extend forwardly, to add to
the lift of the runner, when participating in an athletic event, or
even when just walking. On the other hand, it is just as likely
that the lever lift mechanism of this invention could also extend
rearwardly, or solely extend rearwardly, in order to add to the
lift at that location of the wearer, when the shoes are worn during
athletic events.
[0007] Nevertheless, when the structure of this particular
invention is incorporated into footwear, it can even be added to
walking shoes, or casual shoes, and provide for some degree of
enhancement, in the movement of the wearer, as during foot
pronation, when either walking, running, or simply wearing such
shoes for routine purposes.
[0008] The structure of this invention incorporates stabilizer
member, such as a stabilizer bar, that has a series of apertures
provided therein, and which will function either individually, or
when incorporated into pairs, useful for holding a variety of
preferably forwardly extending, but perhaps even rearwardly
extending, resilient bars or spring rods that have inherent
flexibility, so as to add to the lift of the wearer of the shoes,
as when such structure is incorporated into and integrated within
the fabricated shoe, during its manufacture. The various stabilizer
bars as utilized, and whether it be one or more that are employed
in the structure of this lifting mechanism, may be made of any
material that will provide for fixing the back end of the spring
rods in place, and may be fabricated as steel, polymer, or any
other type of material that can function as a stabilizer, and to
hold the lift bars in place, when embedded within the sole of a
shoe. The rods of this particular invention, as employed for
lifting purposes, may be formed of any type of flexible material,
whether it be metal, polymer, or even fiberglass, and which are
inherently resilient so that when a lever rod is bent, due to the
continuing changing curvature of the sole of the shoe, as during
walking or running, the rods will have a tendency to resiliently
seek its steady state linear condition, and thereby add to the lift
of the shoe of the wearer, during participation in any type of an
event that provides for such footwear to bend or curve, during
application. These spring rods may be affixed within their
stabilizer bars, by any type of adhesive, or other means, that
function to hold these components in place, as when the sole is
being molded, in preparation for their integration into the
structure of footwear.
[0009] It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to
provide a spring lift mechanism that may be incorporated into the
sole of a shoe, and add to the ability of the wearer to jump, or
enhance their running or walking, during application.
[0010] Still another object of this invention is to provide a
spring and lever like lift mechanism that is used in conjunction
with a stabilizer bar, and all of which may be integrally molded
into the sole of a footwear or athletic shoe, and be essentially
unnoticeable to the wearer or others.
[0011] Yet another object of this invention to provide lever rods
that add flexibility and resiliency to the sole of a shoe, and can
add to the comfort and more efficient walking or running for the
wearer when such structure is embedded into the manufacture of
footwear.
[0012] Yet another object of this invention is to provide a series
of linear alined, or staggered, lever bars that add inherent
flexibility to the sole of a shoe, to enhance the physical
achievement of any runner or athlete, while participating in
strenuous sports.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a series of
resilient shoe lifts that cause their bending when incorporated
into the structure of any shoe soles, and have enhanced ability to
lift the foot, overlying the bent portion of the flexible
structure, as the shoe is being worn.
[0014] Yet another object of this invention is to provide a series
of lever rods, that may be staggered, even vertically nonaligned,
in their location as integrated within the structure of a shoe
sole, in order to enhance the lifting characteristics through
flexing of any footwear as worn.
[0015] Yet another object of this invention is to provide for
enhancements to anyone impaired with the physiological
characteristics of being flat-footed, to add to their lift during
wearing of shoes incorporating the inherent shoe lift structure of
this invention.
[0016] These and other objects may become more apparent to those
skilled in the art upon review of the summary of the invention as
provided herein, and upon undertaking a study of the description of
its preferred embodiment, in view of the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] In referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a plan view of the
lever rods incorporated into the structure of a pair of shoes;
[0018] FIG. 1A is an isometric view of a stabilizer bar for holding
the lever rods in place;
[0019] FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the front of a back
stabilizer bar;
[0020] FIG. 1C is a front view of the front stabilizer bar;
[0021] FIG. 1D is a schematic view of the emplacement of the lever
rods within the shoe sole relative to the toes of the foot of the
wearer;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the lever rods as embedded
within the shoe sole;
[0023] FIG. 2A provides a schematic view of the lever rods relative
to the toes of the foot of the wearer;
[0024] FIG. 2B is a schematic view of the lever rods relative to
the location of the toes of the foot of the wearer;
[0025] FIG. 2C shows the arrangement of the lever rods,
schematically, and it bending, during foot pronation of the
wearer;
[0026] FIG. 2D provides a schematic view of the lever rods being
bent during foot pronation;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the lever rods relative to their
securement within the stabilizer bars of this invention;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lever rods located
within their stabilizer bars in preparation for their embedment
within the sole of a shoe; and
[0029] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the lever rods that also extend
rearwardly, as embedded within the shown shoe sole.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT
[0030] In referring to the drawings, and in particular FIG. 1, the
resilient shoe lift of this invention is readily disclosed. It
includes a series of lever rods 1, which are destined to be
embedded within the sole 2, usually for both the right and left
shoe soles, as noted. The lever rods are a series of such rods, as
can be noted, and generally radiate from a mid point of the sole
where there is located a front stabilizer bar 3 and a rear
stabilizer bar 4, as can be seen. The stabilizer bars, as noted, in
their perspective views, as in FIG. 1A, are generally similar in
construction, with the rear bar for mounting the approximate back
ends of the lever rods 1, as can be seen at 5. The lever rods, as
noted at 1, then extend through the front stabilizer bar 3, in a
manner as shown at 6, and as can be seen in FIG. 1C, and these
lever bars may be of a solid configuration as shown at 7, or they
may be of a hollow structure, as noted at 6, in order to add to
their flexibility, and resiliency, in providing lift to any shoe,
as the shoe is worn by the user. See also FIG. 1B.
[0031] In any event, all of the structure as just previously
reviewed are generally embedded within the sole 2, is molded from a
polymer, rubber, or the like, as normally known in the trade.
Furthermore, as can be noted in the upper segments of this FIG. 1D,
the lever bars have a tendency to undertake the shape of the
pressure of the foot, as noted at F, and become rather staggered in
their configuration, as shown at 8. They can even be vertically
staggered. Nevertheless, when the shoe is worn, and has a tendency
to bend along the frontal portion of the sole, this bend also
flexes the lever bars, which builds up inherent force within them,
such that when the shoe is raised, it has a tendency to snap the
foot upwardly, through its tendency to linear align within the
sole, and straighten the sole, as the shoe is worn during walking,
or even while performing a strenuous exercise as while
participating in an athletic event.
[0032] As can be seen in FIGS. 2 through 2D, flexing of the soles
can be readily seen as noted. The lever rods 1 can flex, while the
shoe undertakes a walking motion, at its approximate midpoint, as
noted at 9, and as the foot is lowered onto the ground, and the
vicinity under the toe portion of the foot F reaches the ground,
this point of pressure causes a bending of the lever rods 1, and
the sole, in the vicinity as shown at 10, all of which is building
up inherent resiliency, that tends to force the foot upwardly,
since the rods have a tendency to want to enter into linear
alignment, to maintain and sustain their nature state. Thus, this
causes a lift within the structure of the shoe at the region of the
bend or curving of the lever rods, and has a tendency to push the
sole and the shoe upwardly, in addition to the foot, thereby
inherently transferring its lift to the wearer of the shoes, when
used.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the rods 1, located through
their front stabilizer bar 3, and then fixed by the rear stabilizer
bar 4, as noted. There are approximately 16 of the lever rods
employed within this particular design, although more or less rods
may be employed. Nevertheless, when this structure is assembled,
for providing a resilient shoe lift, it is embedded within the
structure of the sole of the shoe, when manufactured, that adds
lift to the tennis or athletic shoes, or even walking shoes, when
the sole is integrated into the structure of such footwear, when
manufactured. As can be understood, the faster the runner runs, the
more flexing of the lever rods takes place, which enhances the
force generated within the shoe sole, to add to the efficiency of
performance of the athlete, during usage. As previously reviewed,
there is a tendency for the lever rods to flex along their entire
length, depending upon that stage of walking or running in which
the wearer participates, to add to the lift motion, inherently,
because of the force generated by the series of rods intending to
achieve their steady state condition, which is to be linear
aligned, within the sole, thereby forcing the frontal portion of
the shoe sole upwardly, during usage.
[0034] As previously summarized, it is likely that the back end of
the rods 1 may extend further back into the region of the heel of
the sole, to add to further lift to the sole and the shoe including
its wearer when the shoes are used for walking, since the heel is
the first portion of the shoe that contacts the ground, during foot
pronation and such movement.
[0035] FIG. 4 shows the structure of the lever rods 1, mounted to
their front and rear stabilizer bars 3 and 4, as previously
reviewed, to add to the resiliency of the shoe in which this
lifting structure is embedded. As can also be noted, so that the
structure of this device can conveniently be molded directly into
the shoe sole, it can be seen at the front tips, as at 11, may have
differing lengths, so that the lever rods may enter into proximity
of the front of the sole structure for the shoe, depending upon the
contoured shape of the front of the sole, during its manufacture.
The rods may even have different vertical alignment
[0036] Also, as can be seen in FIG. 5, the lever rods 1, as
embedded within the shoe sole 2 may also extend rearwardly, as
noted at 12, after they are secured within the front and back
stabilizer bars 3 and 4, as can be seen. This provides further
resiliency in the rearward segment of the shoe, as proximate its
heel, so as to add further lift to the footwear and the wearer,
particularly during foot pronation, which can occur either while
walking, running, or participating in any athletic event.
[0037] Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this
invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the
disclosure as provided herein. Such variations, if within the
spirit of this development, are intended to be encompassed within
the scope of the invention as shown and described. The description
of the preferred embodiment and the disclosure of the resilient
shoe lift in the drawings are set forth for illustrative purposes
only.
* * * * *