U.S. patent application number 11/761997 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-10 for cushioning system for footwear.
This patent application is currently assigned to AMERICAN SPORTING GOODS CORPORATION. Invention is credited to ALAN S. HARDY, MARK McMillan.
Application Number | 20080005929 11/761997 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38832798 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080005929 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HARDY; ALAN S. ; et
al. |
January 10, 2008 |
CUSHIONING SYSTEM FOR FOOTWEAR
Abstract
A shoe having a shock absorbing bottom comprising one or more
compartments filled with gas, for example air or nitrogen and which
functions as a spring and one or more dampers which function to
control rebound and vibrations. The damper can be viscoelastomeric
material.
Inventors: |
HARDY; ALAN S.; (BORING,
OR) ; McMillan; MARK; (Banks, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COZEN O'CONNOR, P.C.
1900 MARKET STREET
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103-3508
US
|
Assignee: |
AMERICAN SPORTING GOODS
CORPORATION
ALISO VIEJO
CA
|
Family ID: |
38832798 |
Appl. No.: |
11/761997 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60804525 |
Jun 12, 2006 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/188 20130101;
A43B 13/20 20130101; A43B 13/189 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/029 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/20 20060101
A43B013/20 |
Claims
1. A shoe having a shock absorbing bottom comprising a compartment
filled with gas and an integrated damper.
2. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the compartment is sealed or
unsealed and formed by a sheet or web of material.
3. The shoe of claim 1 comprising an array of compartments, the
array resembling a "bubble-pack."
4. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the integrated damper comprises a
viscoelastic material.
5. The shoe of claim 1 wherein comprising an array of integrated
dampers and a viscoelastic material disposed over the integrated
dampers.
6. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the shock absorbing bottom has a top
facing surface and a ground facing surface, and the compartments
and integrated damper are interposed between the top and ground
facing surfaces.
7. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the entire structure is made of a
material comprising a thermoplastic.
8. The shoe of claim 1 comprising gas chamber and/or damper
projections from a top or bottom surface completely through to an
opposite surface.
9. The shoe of claim 1 comprising gas chamber and/or damper
projections from a top or bottom surface completely through to an
opposite surface wherein one or more of the projections is empty,
filled with gas, or filled with damper material.
10. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the gas chamber and damper are
tuned to provide selected strength, support, cushioning and/or
performance properties.
11. The shoe of claim 1 having an array of compartments that
contain gas and/or damper material.
12. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the integrated damper comprises a
visco-elastomer.
13. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the compartment filled with gas
functions as a spring and the damper functions to control rebound,
oscillations, and or vibration.
14. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the compartment and damper are
contained by film.
15. The shoe of claim 1 having an array of compartments and
dampers, the array captured or contained by film.
16. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the damper comprises a gel of
viscoelastomeric material, sponge, injection molded material, or
liquid.
17. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the shock absorbing bottom
functions as a cushioning element.
18. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the bottom is either a heel
section, sole section, or a combination heel and sole.
19. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the compartments are filled with a
gas selected from air and nitrogen.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional
application 60/804,525, filed Jun. 12, 2006.
BACKGROUND
[0002] As used herein, "footwear" refers to any item for supporting
the foot and engaging the ground and encompasses shoes, sandals,
boots, slippers, over shoes, athletic shoes, and other footwear
articles. "Cushioning elements" refers to basic shock absorbing,
energy return, and/or protective underfoot materials or structures
that are intended to react to the forces of foot strike by
providing force attenuation, dissipation, dampening, or energy
return (spring), which are typically included on sports and
athletic shoes.
[0003] Traditionally, a cushioning element comprised a consistent
and uniform layer of shock absorbing and protective material, such
as such as EVA or polyurethane, placed in a shoe between the foot
and the ground. However, in relatively recent years there has been
trend towards customized placements of varying cushioning materials
and structures under a foot. Nowadays, common cushioning elements
may be based on EVA or polyurethane foam, visco-elastomers of foam
or gels, fluid filled bladders, mechanical springs or resiliently
collapsible mechanical structures, fluid (e.g., air) springs, or
any combination of the foregoing.
[0004] For example polymer spring units have been placed in
portions in the sole unit receiver, particularly the heel portion,
and in some cases the forefoot portion. Mechanical polymer springs
may formed from an injected thermoplastic, such as Hytrel polymer,
PEBAX, and TPU, as well as other resilient polymers, thermo-set
plastics, and metallic materials known in the art, alone or in
combination. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,461,800, which is
hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The U.S. Pat. No.
5,461,800 patent discloses a foamless midsole unit, comprising
upper and lower plates sandwiching transverse cylindrical units
formed of resilient polymer See also, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,910,884, 6,625,905, and 5,337,492. Other forms of mechanical
springs, such as leaf-spring structures, are also contemplated.
[0005] As used herein a "sole unit" generally may comprise a
midsole or cushioning element for energy absorption and/or return;
or an outsole material for surface contact and abrasion resistance
and/or traction; or a single unit providing such midsole or outsole
functions. While a sole unit would generally extend the length of
the shoe, a sole unit could also comprise a unit that extends for a
lesser area, such as, just the forefoot or rearfoot portion, or
some other area of lesser length or width.
[0006] A sole unit may include cushioning elements in accordance
with any of the foregoing cushioning elements. Contemplated
fabrication methods for the sole unit components include molding,
injection molding, blow molding, direct-injection molding, one-time
molding, composite molding, insert molding, co-molding separate
materials, or other techniques known in the art, alone or in
combination. Contemplated fabrication or assembly methods include
adhesives, bonding agents, welding, mechanical bonding, or
interlocking shapes, alone or in combination.
[0007] Dampening elements, which are a form of cushioning element
(as defined herein), may also be incorporated into the sole units
and/or sole unit receivers disclosed herein. "Dampening" generally
refers to the ability of certain materials to reduce the amplitude
of oscillations, vibrations, or waves. In footwear, shock from
impact may generate compression waves or other vibrations within
the sole system. Contemplated dampening materials include
visco-elastomers. In some instances, plain elastomer materials may
be used as dampers; however, they may not provide as desirable
dampening qualities on the spring unit as a visco-elastomer.
Example materials for a visco-elastic damper include any number of
polymers, including polyurethanes and polyethylenes in foam or gel
form, fabricated by conventional molding practices or by film.
Other suitable visco-elastomers are known to persons skilled in the
art. Contemplated fabrication methods for visco-elastomers include
molding, injection molding, blow molding, direct-injection molding,
one-time molding, composite molding, insert molding, co-molding
separate materials, or other techniques known in the art, alone or
in combination. Contemplated fabrication or assembly methods
include adhesives, bonding agents, welding, mechanical bonding, or
other mechanical or chemical fastening means know to persons in the
art, alone or in combination.
[0008] The outsole or traction surface for a sole assembly may
include rubber, leather, cleats, spikes, felts, EVA, foam, and
other cushioning technologies, and combinations of the
foregoing.
SUMMARY
[0009] These objects and needs in the art, and others which will
become apparent from the following disclosure and drawings, are
provided by the present invention which comprises in one aspect a
shoe having a shock absorbing bottom comprising one or more
compartments filled with gas, for example air or nitrogen, which
functions as a spring, and one or more integrated dampers which
functions to control rebound and vibrations. The damper can be
viscoelastomeric material, sponge, injection molded material,
liquid, or any other material which can function as a damper.
[0010] The one or more compartments can be sealed or unsealed and
formed by a sheet or web of material. The compartments can be
partially sealed so as to let gas out under pressure and restore
gas when pressure is released, somewhat akin to a "whoopee
cushion."
[0011] The compartments can be an array resembling a "bubble-pack."
The damper elements will be integrated with the spring element,
either externally, or completely enclosed by the gas chamber
[0012] The integrated dampers can also be an array and they can be
covered by a viscoelastic material disposed over the array of
dampers.
[0013] In some embodiments the shock absorbing bottom has a top
facing surface and a ground facing surface, and the compartments
and integrated damper are interposed between the top and ground
facing surfaces.
[0014] The entire structure can be made of a material comprising a
thermoplastic.
[0015] In some embodiments gas chamber and/or damper is in the form
of projections and the projections can extend from a top or bottom
surface, or a combination of top and bottom surfaces, and the
projections can extend completely through to the opposite surface,
i.e., the top or bottom. The projections can be empty, filled with
gas, or filled with damper material.
[0016] In some embodiments the one or more gas compartments and the
one or more dampers are tuned to provide selected strength,
support, cushioning and/or performance properties. The one or more
dampers can be an array and/or the one or more gas compartments can
be an array, i.e., a plurality. The there is no limit to the number
of integrated dampers or compartments in each array. In some
embodiments there are 2 to about 50.
[0017] The one or more compartments filled with gas generally
functions as a spring and the damper generally functions to control
rebound, oscillations, and or vibration, somewhat akin to an
automotive shock absorber system which comprises a spring and a
shock absorber damper.
[0018] In some embodiments the one or more compartments and dampers
are captured or contained by film.
[0019] Overall, the shock absorbing bottom of the shoe, which can
be the sole, heel, both, or a portion of one or the other or both,
functions as a cushioning element for that portion of the shoe
bottom containing it.
[0020] These and other embodiments are described in more detail in
the following detailed descriptions and the figures.
[0021] The foregoing is not intended to be an exhaustive list of
embodiments and features of the present inventive concept. Persons
skilled in the art are capable of appreciating other embodiments
and features from the following detailed description in conjunction
with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1A is a bottom view of a heel of a shoe comprising the
shock absorbing system of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 1B is a cross-section through 1B-1B of FIG. 1A.
[0024] FIG. 1C is a cross-section through 1C-1C of FIG. 1A.
[0025] FIG. 2A is a plan view of the foot facing surface of a shock
absorbing system in a heel of a shoe.
[0026] FIG. 2B is a cross section through 2B-2B of FIG. 2A.
[0027] FIG. 3A is a plan view of a foot facing surface of a shock
absorbing system in a heel of a shoe.
[0028] FIG. 3B is a cross section through 3B-3B of FIG. 3A.
[0029] FIG. 4A is a photograph of a cross section of a shoe
according to the invention wherein the foreground section of the
heel of the shoe is cut away.
[0030] FIG. 4B is a photograph of a cross section wherein the
foreground section of the heel of a shoe according to the invention
is cut away.
[0031] FIG. A1 is a cross section of a shock absorbing system of
the invention having a film/molded component or containment vessel
surrounding an integrated damper element and spring element.
[0032] FIG. A1 is a cross section of a shock absorbing system of
the invention having a spring element containing inert gas or
ambient, a damper element having visco-elastomer, foam, fluid,
fibers, engineered 3d grid, or mechanical structure, the entire
array contained in a film/molded component or containment
vessel.
[0033] FIG. A2 shows one embodiment where multiple films, creating
multiple gas chambers are used, in unison, and where one contains
another, and where the damper element can be integrated in an
enclosed, internal or external form, but integral with the spring
element formed by the films. The damper elements can be either
enclosed inside or integrated with the outside of the film elements
containing gas or ambient space"
[0034] FIG. A3 is a cross section of another embodiment of the
shock absorbing system having a film/molded component or
containment vessel, damper elements, and spring elements. In this
embodiment the damper elements are completely enclosed inside the
gas containment vessel.
[0035] FIG. A4 is a cross section of another embodiment of the
shock absorbing system of the invention having a film/molded
component or containment vessel, damper elements, and spring
elements containing inert gas or ambient.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] Representative embodiments of the present inventive concept
are shown in the accompanying drawings wherein similar features
share common reference numerals.
[0037] Referring first to FIG. 1A, an embodiment of a sole unit 1
according to the inventive is illustrated with shock absorbing
system 10 illustrated in cross sectional view FIG. 1B illustrating
gas filled spring compartments 12 and dampers 16 composed of
gel-viscoelastomeric material are enclosed by a flat film web,
arranged so as to provide excellent shock absorbing function for
the sole 1.
[0038] FIG. 1C is a cross-section through 1C-1C of FIG. 1A showing
gas filled spring compartments 12, cushioning element 10, damper
16, and film 14.
[0039] FIG. 2A is a plan view of the foot facing surface of a shock
absorbing system 110 in a heel of a shoe, the heel having a top or
foot facing surface 111. Open ends of cones 115 containing damping
material are shown.
[0040] FIG. 2B is a cross section through 2B-2B of FIG. 2A showing
areas 115 of damping material having generally flat tips 117, the
bottom or ground facing surface 113 and top facing surface 111 at
opposing sides of the heel cushioning element 110.
[0041] FIG. 3A is a plan view of another embodiment of a foot
facing surface of a shock absorbing system in a heel of a shoe
wherein top or foot facing surface 111 and dampers 115 are
shown.
[0042] FIG. 3B is a cross section through 3B-3B of FIG. 3A
illustrating dampers 115, end gas filled compartments 12 and medial
gas filled compartments 112.
[0043] FIG. 4A is a photograph of a cross section of a shoe
according to the invention wherein the foreground section of the
heel of the shoe is cut away, illustrating dampers 112 filled with
viscoelastomeric material, gas filled compartments 12.
[0044] FIG. 4B is a photograph of a cross section wherein the
foreground section of the heel of a shoe according to the invention
is cut away.
[0045] FIG. A1 is a cross section of a shock absorbing system of
the invention having a film/molded component or containment vessel
surrounding an integrated damper element and spring element.
[0046] FIG. A1 is a cross section of a shock absorbing system of
the invention having a spring element containing inert gas or
ambient, a damper element having visco-elastomer, foam, fluid,
fibers, engineered 3d grid, or mechanical structure, the entire
array contained in a film/molded component or containment
vessel.
[0047] FIG. A3 is a cross section of another embodiment of the
shock absorbing system having a film/molded component or
containment vessel, damper elements, and spring elements.
[0048] FIG. A4 is a cross section of another embodiment of the
shock absorbing system of the invention having a film/molded
component or containment vessel, damper elements, and spring
elements containing inert gas or ambient.
[0049] In some of the embodiments the sole unit includes a
cushioning unit that relates to a combination of fluid filled
compartments wherein one or more compartments are associated with a
solid or gel material that provides energy return (spring) and/or
dampening. In certain embodiments, the compartments are sealed and
include within a fluid such as air, another gas, or a liquid. In
certain embodiments the material associated with the compartments
provides dampening properties. Suitable dampers include
visco-elastic dampers, particularly gel elastomers.
[0050] Gel elastomers are highly viscoelastic polymer gels that
have excellent shock absorption and damping characteristics. They
are available in a variety of material types and grades. Examples
include thermoplastics, thermoset plastics, resins, binders, base
polymers, monomers, composite materials, and silicone compounds.
Example materials that have been used in footwear include
polyurethanes and polyethylenes in foam or gel form, fabricated by
conventional molding practices or by film.
[0051] The sole unit has a set or array of fluid filled
compartments 12 that are generally arranged in a plane under a foot
and function as a spring. In this embodiment, the cushioning
element 10 is intended for a rearfoot portion of an item of
footwear, but analogous cushioning elements could be made for any
other portion of a foot. In this embodiment, the fluid filled
compartments are shaped as spheres--like bubble pack--connected at
their equators by a flat film web 14.
[0052] Element 16 is a gel visco-elastomeric material that
functions as a damper. The damper is generally arranged in a plane
above the fluid filled compartments. A set of recesses are formed
in the damper and they are sized and spaced so that they closely
couple with corresponding tops of the compartments 12.
[0053] Another embodiment of a hybrid cushioning system is shown in
FIGS. 2A-2B. This embodiment is intended for a heel of a shoe. In
this embodiment, a heel cushioning element 110 that has a top or
foot facing surface 111 and a bottom or ground facing surface 113.
An array of resilient structural elements 112 are interposed
between the surfaces. In the embodiment shown the elements in the
array are conical projections that may be referred to as "pins"
that extend from a top or bottom surface of the cushioning element
completely through to an opposite surface. The cushioning element
may have side walls connecting the top and bottom surfaces so as to
seal the structural elements within the cushioning element.
Alternatively, the sidewalls can be omitted. The top and bottom
surfaces and optional sidewalls may be made from
thermoplastics.
[0054] The cones may have open ends 115 at their base and abut the
opposite surface at generally flat tips 117. The pins alternate in
terms of which of the opposing surfaces the open base is formed.
Together the opposing top surfaces and interposed and connected
provide a functional cushioning unit for use in a shoe sole. The
bag may include a fluid, such as air, that in combination with the
structural support of the pins provides controlled cushioning and
spring. The pins may also have buttresses 119 at their bases that
strengthen the system. The buttresses are formed when the polymer
material that is stretched over the cammed male mold pins in the
mold wrinkles based on the anisotropic stretching of the material
over the male form of the pin in the mold. (This is analogous to
the stretching a nylon stocking over a traffic cone.) Controlling
the timing of the camming of the mold pins in a parison molding
process can determine the degree of buttressing and/or the
effectiveness of the abutments.
[0055] The structural elements in an array may be hollow or solid.
They may have one or both ends left open or closed at the point
where an end of the structural element joins a top or bottom
surface. In the case of hollow elements, they may be partially or
completely filled with another material or structure. For example,
one or more elements in an array may be filled with a
visco-elastomer, a damper, or an energy return (spring) material or
structure.
[0056] Some structural elements in the array may be sized and
shaped differently from other structural elements in the array to
create areas of desired properties, such as strength and
compressibility, and performance (e.g., anti-pronation or
supination). Similarly, hollow structural elements can contain
different materials or structures and be arranged in different
patterns. For example, FIGS. 4A-4B show a cushioning element where
a set of hollow structural elements disposed along a perimeter of a
rear foot are filled with a resilient solid material, such as a
polyurethane based material. that help strengthen the cushioning
unit. In this case the pattern is a generally horse-shoe shaped
pattern. An adjacent set of filled structural elements 212 could
provide even further strength, for example. The sole units include
highly tunable cushioning elements to address, support, cushioning
and performance needs. Although the cushioning elements are shown
as generally planar structures, they can have three dimensional
shapes that extend up the sides of a foot.
[0057] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an embodiment, similar to that of FIGS.
2A and 2B, for a forefoot 210 shoe. FIGS. 4A and 4B show a
cross-section of a cushioning system assembled in a sole unit. The
outer elements are filled with a material.
[0058] U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,020,988, 4,999,931, 6,098,313, 6,029,962,
5,976,451, 5,092,060, 5,369,896, 5,918,383, 6,763,612, 6,589,614,
and PCT/US01/25693 are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entireties for all they disclose.
[0059] Persons skilled in the art will recognize that many
modifications and variations are possible in the details,
materials, and arrangements of the parts and actions which have
been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of
this inventive concept and that such modifications and variations
do not depart from the spirit and scope of the teachings and claims
contained therein.
* * * * *