U.S. patent application number 11/814395 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-05 for shoe, in particular a sports shoe.
This patent application is currently assigned to PUMA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT RUDOLF DASSLER SPORT. Invention is credited to Reinhold Sussmann.
Application Number | 20080127514 11/814395 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35886350 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080127514 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sussmann; Reinhold |
June 5, 2008 |
Shoe, in Particular a Sports Shoe
Abstract
The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe,
comprising an upper part (1) and a sole (2). Said sole (2)
comprises a support or inner part (2') which is joined to the upper
part (1), an intermediate sole (2'') which is joined to the support
or upper part (2') and an outer sole (2''') which is joined to the
intermediate sole (2''). According to the invention, the
intermediate sole (2'') is embodied at least over one part of the
base outlet surface as a damping element in order to maintain the
simple production possibilities of the spring and dampening ratio
of the shoe, said damping element comprising a plurality of first
elements (3) which are arranged next to each other and which
extend, essentially, in a load direction (R) over a pre-determined
height (H) in the unloaded state of the damping element, and is
embodied as a hollow body defining a receiving area (4) in which an
associated second element (5) with a smaller cross-section then the
first element (3) can at least partially penetrate. The second
element (5) extends essentially in the load direction (R) over a
pre-determined height (h) in the unloaded state of the damping
element (1), and is arranged in a coaxial manner in relation to the
first element (3).
Inventors: |
Sussmann; Reinhold;
(Scheinfeld, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LUCAS & MERCANTI, LLP
475 PARK AVENUE SOUTH, 15TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10016
US
|
Assignee: |
PUMA AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT RUDOLF
DASSLER SPORT
Herzogenaurach
DE
|
Family ID: |
35886350 |
Appl. No.: |
11/814395 |
Filed: |
January 4, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
January 4, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP06/00021 |
371 Date: |
July 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/88 ; 36/103;
36/113; 36/25R; 36/28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 1/0009 20130101;
A43B 13/20 20130101; A43B 1/0072 20130101; A43B 13/184
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/88 ; 36/28;
36/25.R; 36/113; 36/103 |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/14 20060101
A43B007/14; A43B 13/18 20060101 A43B013/18; A43B 13/00 20060101
A43B013/00; A43B 3/00 20060101 A43B003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 22, 2005 |
DE |
20 2005 001 006.5 |
Claims
1. Shoe comprising a shoe upper part and a sole, where the sole has
a support part or inner part connected to the shoe upper part a
midsole connected to the support or inner part and an outsole
connected to the midsole, wherein the midsole is, at least across a
part of the ground-contact area of the shoe, exclusively a damping
element, which has a number of first elements arranged alongside
one another which in essence extend across a prescribed height (H)
in a direction (R) of loading in the unloaded condition of the
damping element and, being hollow bodies, define a receptacle into
which an associated second element smaller in cross-sectional
dimensions than the first element can penetrate at least to some
extent, wherein the second element in essence extends across a
prescribed height (h) in a direction (R) of loading in the unloaded
condition of the damping element and has been arranged coaxially
with respect to the first element, wherein the outsole is formed
via a number of individual sole parts, wherein each sole part has
been arranged at that end of the second element that faces away
from the first element or that end of the first element that faces
away from the second element, wherein the two elements associated
with one another have connection to one another by way of an
elastic connecting portion, which extends merely between the first
element and the second element, and wherein the second element is
located in the unloaded condition of the damping element, viewed in
the direction (R) of loading, outside the first element.
2. (canceled)
3. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the individual
parts of the outsole corresponds to that of the second element or
to that of the first element in a section perpendicular to the
direction (R) of loading.
4. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the second element is also a
hollow body.
5. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the second element is an
entirely solid or at least substantially solid part.
6. (canceled)
7. Shoe according to claim 1 wherein respectively a first element
and a second element together with the connecting portion form a
gastight chamber.
8. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first element and the
second element have a mutually corresponding shape in a section
perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading.
9. Shoe according to claim 8, wherein the first element and the
second element have a polygonal, in particular hexagonal, shape in
a section perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading.
10. Shoe according to claim 8, wherein the first element and the
second element have a circular shape in a section perpendicular to
direction (R) of loading.
11. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first elements have
connection to one another in their lateral region, or their lateral
boundary walls are respectively formed from a shared portion.
12. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second
elements have at least to some extent, in the unloaded condition of
the damping element, different heights (H, h).
13. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion has a
flat profile in a plane perpendicular to the direction (R) of
loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element.
14. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion has a
curved profile in a plane perpendicular to the direction (R) of
loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element.
15. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first element the
connecting portion and the second element are one-piece items.
16. Shoe according to claim 15, wherein the first element the
connecting portion and the second element have been produced via a
shared injection-moulding process.
17. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein that end of the first
element that faces away from the second element has connection to a
sealing foil.
18. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the elements are composed of
plastic, in particular of thermoplastic material.
19. Shoe according to claim 18, wherein the plastic provided
comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polyamide,
polyurethane or a mixture of at least two of these plastics.
20. Shoe according to claim 18, wherein the plastic is translucent
or transparent.
21. Shoe according claim 1, wherein the outsole is composed of
plastic, preferably of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene,
polyamide, polyurethane, or a mixture of at least two of these
plastics, and the material here is not translucent or is not
transparent.
22. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the material of the first
element of the second element and of the connecting portion and the
geometric dimensions of these parts, have been selected in order to
establish the damping properties of the damping element.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sports
shoe, with a shoe upper part and a sole, where the sole has a
support part or inner part connected to the shoe upper part, a
midsole connected to the support or inner part and an outsole
connected to the midsole.
[0002] Shoes of this generic type are well known in the prior art.
It is also known that damping elements can be integrated in
particular into the midsole with the aim of influencing the
springing and damping performance of the shoe in accordance with
desired criteria, the result being to give the sole certain
properties in this regard.
[0003] WO 03/092423 A1 discloses a damping element, having a
specific structure, for a shoe, in particular for a sports shoe.
The damping element has a large number of individual elements which
have been arranged alongside one another and which respectively
form a springing and damping chamber in the manner of a
piston-and-cylinder system. First and second elements of
corresponding shape have connection to one another by way of a
connecting portion and when the sole is under load here the smaller
element enters into the larger element, which forms a receptacle
for this purpose.
[0004] This type of damping element according to the solution
mentioned is provided primarily for the purpose of integration into
a midsole, and there are further examples of this in the prior art.
In this connection, reference is made to EP 0 387 505 A1, which
discloses a honeycomb-shaped damping element which is used in a
receptacle in the midsole of the shoe.
[0005] Of course, the manufacturing cost for this type of shoe is
considerable. During production of the mid sole, a receptacle first
has to be introduced into this, or this receptacle has to be
manufactured concomitantly during manufacture of the sole. The
damping element then has to be produced and finally this has to be
incorporated into the midsole before this is connected to the
further constituents of the shoe.
[0006] An object underlying the present invention is to provide a
shoe, in particular a sports shoe, which features a simpler method
of production, but without omitting the advantageous property of
the previously known damping element. In particular, it is to be
possible to retain control of the springing and damping performance
of the shoe.
[0007] The achievement of this object via the invention is
characterized in that the midsole is, at least across a part of the
ground-contact area of the shoe, exclusively a damping element,
which has a number of first elements arranged alongside one another
which in essence extend across a prescribed height in a direction
of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element and,
being hollow bodies, define a receptacle into which an associated
second element, smaller in cross-sectional dimensions than the
first element, can penetrate at least to some extent, where the
second element in essence extends across a prescribed height in a
direction of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping
element and has been arranged coaxially with respect to the first
element.
[0008] The starting point of the inventive concept is therefore
that the damping element previously known per se is used in such a
way that the midsole is formed exclusively therefrom--at least
across a part of the area of the midsole.
[0009] It is preferable that the outsole is formed via a number of
individual sole parts, where each sole part has been arranged at
that end of the second element that faces away from the first
element. The outsole is then segmented; each "piston" of the
piston-and-cylinder elements of the midsole becomes associated with
a part of the outsole in the region of contact with the ground.
[0010] The shape of the individual parts of the outsole here
preferably corresponds to that of the second element--in a section
perpendicular to the direction of loading.
[0011] As is previously known, the second element is also a hollow
body according to one embodiment. However, it is also possible that
the second element is an entirely solid or at least substantially
solid part. It is also possible that the two elements associated
with one another have connection to one another by way of an
elastic connecting portion, which extends merely between the first
element and the second element. It is also possible that
respectively a first element and a second element, together with
the connecting portion, form a gastight chamber.
[0012] The first and the second element have a mutually
corresponding shape in a section perpendicular to the direction of
loading. The shape here is especially polygonal, in particular
hexagonal; a circular shape is also possible. This means that the
cross-sectional geometry of the first and of the second element are
mutually congruent, thus providing, in the first element, a
receptacle which fits the second element.
[0013] It is advantageous that, in the unloaded condition of the
midsole, the axial length of the first element is in essence
outside of the axial length of the second element. This means that,
in the unloaded condition of the midsole, the piston-like second
element has been arranged axially outside of the cylinder-like
first element. The "piston" then enters the "cylinder" only on
loading of the damping element in the direction of loading.
[0014] It is possible that the first elements have connection to
one another in their lateral region, or their lateral boundary
walls are respectively formed from a shared portion. However, each
element can also be manufactured as a separate component and then
assembled.
[0015] It is also possible that the first and/or second elements
have at least to some extent, in the unloaded condition of the
damping element, different heights.
[0016] The profile of the connecting portion can be flat or else
curved in a plane perpendicular to the direction of load in the
unloaded condition of the damping element. The latter embodiment
favours entry of the "piston" into the "cylinder" on loading.
[0017] It is preferable that the first element, the connecting
portion and the second element are one-piece items. It is possible
here that the first element, the connecting portion and the second
element have been produced via a shared injection-moulding
process.
[0018] For provision of gastight chambers, that end of the first
element that faces away from the second element can have connection
to a sealing foil. A gastight condition of that end of the second
element that is distal with respect to the first element can be
achieved via the outsole segment placed thereon.
[0019] The preferred material that can be used for the elements is
plastic, in particular thermoplastic.
[0020] Materials that have proven successful are--as is known in
the prior art--polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polyamide,
polyurethane, or a mixture of at least two of these plastics, and
the plastic of the midsole here is particularly preferably
translucent or transparent. A plastic of this type can likewise be
used for the outsole, but it is preferable that the material here
is not translucent or is not transparent.
[0021] The material of the first element, of the second element and
of the connecting portion and the geometric dimensions of these
parts, have been selected in order to establish the damping
properties of the damping element.
[0022] In contrast with previously known solutions, the number of
mutually adjacent or mutually connected damping elements itself
provides the midsole, and it is exclusively these elements that
form the midsole. If appropriate, that end of the second elements
that faces away from the support part or inner part can be
sufficiently wear-resistant and/or stiff and/or thick that this end
region of the second elements functions and acts as an outsole,
i.e. that there is then no separate outsole element attached to the
end of the second element.
[0023] The midsole can absorb energy on loading of the sole in the
direction of loading and in turn dissipate it on removal of load
from the sole. In order that this can take place with achievement
of a resilience effect on removal of pressure from the damping
element, the lower axial end region of the first element and the
upper axial end region of the second element have connection to one
another by way of the connecting portion. The connecting portion
is--as also are the first and second element--a part composed of
elastic plastics material, and therefore when a load force is
applied to the damping element in the direction of loading a
deformation takes place. During this process, the second element
enters, in the manner of a piston, the receptacle of the first
element.
[0024] In order that the starting condition is regained after
removal of pressure from the damping element, the following further
measures can be taken in addition to the elastic design of the
connecting portion:
[0025] That end of the first element that faces away from the
second element can be connected to a sealing foil, in particular
can be welded thereto. In this way, the first element, the second
element, the connecting portion and the sealing foil form a
gastight sealed space, which has ideal springing and damping
properties.
[0026] Individual "piston-and-cylinder elements" have been arranged
here adjacent to one another to form a damping element extending
over a relatively large area. Whereas the first elements
functioning as "cylinder" have connection to one another, the
second elements, the "pistons", are adjacent to one another without
connection.
[0027] The springing and damping characteristic of the damping
element can be adjusted or selected as desired via appropriate
adjustment of the geometry of the sole elements and in particular
of the heights and widths of the first and second elements, via the
selection of the thickness and design of the connecting portions,
and finally via the selection of the material of which these parts
are composed. The springing and damping characteristic of the
damping element--in particular the springing force as a function of
spring displacement--can thus be selected substantially in
accordance with a desired curve.
[0028] The drawing shows an inventive example.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a shoe, seen from the side,
[0030] FIG. 2 enlarges the detail "Z" according to FIG. 1 and
[0031] FIG. 3 shows the section A-B according to FIG. 2.
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a shoe, namely a sports shoe, but only very
diagrammatically. As is known, the shoe has a shoe upper part 1,
which has connection to a sole 2.
[0033] The sole 2 extends over a certain area in the front sole
region 8. It likewise extends over a defined area in the rear sole
region 9.
[0034] FIG. 2 gives more detail of the structure of the sole 2. The
sole 2 is composed of three (sole) parts, namely a support part or
inner part 2', a midsole 2'' and an outsole 2'''. The support part
or inner part 2' can be an insole, a Strobel sole or actual
shoe-upper material, forming the connection between the shoe upper
part 1 and the midsole 2''. One particularly preferred embodiment
provides that the support part or inner part 2' has been
manufactured as a plastics injection moulding (preferably composed
of EVA) and has the shape of a shell.
[0035] The support part or inner part 2' has connection to the shoe
upper part 1. The connection can, by way of example, be produced
via an injection-moulding process, by injecting the plastics
material that forms the support part or inner part 2' onto the
upper part 1 composed, by way of example, of textile material. It
is equally possible to adhesive-bond shoe upper part 1 and support
part and inner part 2'.
[0036] The midsole 2''is composed of a large number of damping
elements, whose structure is like that of a piston-and-cylinder
system. The outsole 2''' has been arranged at that end of the
midsole 2'' distal with respect to the support part or inner part
2', and is composed of a number of sole segments 2''' corresponding
to the number of the damping elements.
[0037] It may be noted that the structure of the entire sole does
not have to be as explained. By way of example, it is possible that
only the front sole region 8 has the design described, whereas the
region of the rear of the foot can be of previously known
design.
[0038] The exact structure of the sole 2 is apparent by viewing
FIGS. 2 and 3 together.
[0039] In the inventive example, the underlying shape of the
individual damping elements which form the midsole 2''--viewed in
the direction R of loading of the sole 2--is hexagonal and
honeycomb-like (see FIG. 2).
[0040] Each damping element has a first element 3, which extends
across a defined height H and forms a receptacle 4. By way of a
fillet-shaped connecting portion 6, that end of the first element 3
that faces away from the support part or inner part 2' has
connection to a second element 5, whose shape corresponds to the
shape of the first element 3--viewed in the direction R--and this
means that the second elements 5 also have a hexagonal shape in the
inventive example. The second element 5 extends across a height h
which does not have to be the same as the height H.
[0041] As can be seen from FIG. 3, the dimensions--width B of the
first element 3 and width b of the second element 5--have been
selected in such a way that the second element 5 can, on loading of
the damping element in the direction R of load, enter the
receptacle 4 defined via the first element 3. The first element 3
and the second element 5 therefore operate in the manner of a
telescopic damper, where the first element 3 functions as a
"cylinder" into which the second element 5 can enter in the manner
of a "piston".
[0042] An outsole segment 2''' has been attached to, e.g.
adhesive-bonded to, or else directly injection-moulded onto, that
end of the second element 5 that faces away from the support part
or inner part 2', and is composed, by way of example, of
abrasion-resistant plastics material. Viewed in direction R, the
shape of the outsole segment 2'''also corresponds to that of the
second element 5, although this does not necessarily have to be the
case.
[0043] If a force is applied in the direction R to the outsole
segment 2''', as occurs when the shoe meets the ground, deformation
occurs especially in the connecting portion 6, and, as explained,
the second element 5 therefore enters the receptacle 4 of the first
element 3 in the manner of a piston.
[0044] The space enclosed by the first element 3, connecting
portion 6 and second element 5 can be gastight, thus exerting a
favourable effect on spring-deflection behaviour.
[0045] If appropriate, a gastight condition with respect to the
support part or inner part 2' can be produced via a foil 7, which,
if required, is adhesive-bonded or welded to that end region of the
first elements 3 that faces toward the support part or inner part
2'.
[0046] Whereas in previously known solutions the outsole is
practically always an element extending over an area and forming at
least a substantial region of the area of contact with the ground,
the outsole provided here is therefore a segmented outsole secured
to the second elements.
KEY
[0047] 1 Shoe upper part [0048] 2 Sole [0049] 2' Support part or
inner part [0050] 2'' Midsole [0051] 2''' Outsole [0052] 3 First
element [0053] 4 Receptacle [0054] 5 Second element [0055] 6
Connecting portion [0056] 7 Sealing foil [0057] 8 Front sole region
[0058] 9 Rear sole region [0059] R Direction of loading [0060] H
Height of first element [0061] h Height of second element [0062] B
Dimension of first element [0063] b Dimension of second element
* * * * *