U.S. patent application number 12/264897 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-07 for sports shoe.
Invention is credited to Tim Dominguez.
Application Number | 20090113760 12/264897 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40586677 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090113760 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dominguez; Tim |
May 7, 2009 |
SPORTS SHOE
Abstract
Arrays of resilient supports provide an energy absorbing shoe
suitable for enhancing an exercise regime involving leg-shoe
interactions.
Inventors: |
Dominguez; Tim; (Thousand
Oaks, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHANCELLOR IP
3463 RED BLUFF CT.
SEMI VALLEY
CA
93063
US
|
Family ID: |
40586677 |
Appl. No.: |
12/264897 |
Filed: |
November 4, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61072215 |
Mar 28, 2008 |
|
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61001924 |
Nov 5, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/102 ; 36/103;
36/27; 36/28; 36/35R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/145 20130101;
A43B 13/182 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/102 ; 36/103;
36/27; 36/28; 36/35.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/18 20060101
A43B013/18; A43B 13/14 20060101 A43B013/14; A43B 13/28 20060101
A43B013/28; A43B 21/26 20060101 A43B021/26 |
Claims
1. A shoe comprising: a shoe upper and a shoe sole; a first
plurality of energy absorbing resilient supports arranged as a
forward array extending from the toe of the shoe rearward; a second
plurality of energy absorbing resilient supports arranged as
rearward array extending from the rear of the shoe forward; the
supports transferring loads between the shoe sole and one or more
surfaces supporting the shoe; a region between said forward and
rearward arrays having no supports; and, the number of supports in
the first and second arrays not exceeding forty.
2. The shoe of claim 1 further comprising: an imaginary line in the
form of a curve extending from the toe to the rear of the shoe and
about dividing the shoe into equal parts; from the first plurality
of supports, a third plurality of supports being arranged to either
side of the shoe curve; and, from the second plurality of supports,
a fourth plurality of supports being arranged to either side of the
shoe curve.
3. The shoe of claim 2 wherein: the first plurality of supports
consists of no more than seven supports; and, the second plurality
of supports consists of no more than six supports.
4. The shoe of claim 3 wherein the first plurality of supports are
in the shape of a hemisphere.
5. The shoe of claim 4 wherein the second plurality of supports are
in the shape of a hemisphere.
6. The shoe of claim 5 wherein the hemispherical supports have a
major diameter of between about 25 and 50 percent of the average
width of the shoe.
7. The shoe of claim 6 further comprising a spring rate adjusted to
match the weight of the user and the particular sport being played,
the adjustment being accomplished by selecting suitable
combinations of support material, support shape and number of
supports.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This utility patent application claims the benefit of U.S.
Prov. Pat. Appl. No. 61/072,215 filed Mar. 28, 2008 and U.S. Prov.
Pat. Appl. No. 61/001,924 filed Nov. 5, 2007.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a device for enhancing an
exercise regime involving leg-shoe interactions such as running,
jumping, hopping, leaping and the like. In particular, the
invention concerns the mechanical arts and the use of resilient
shoe components.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Designing for look and style are dominant forces among
shoemakers. But, such designs frequently compromise utility and
rarely lead to products with novel, useful design features
unrelated to style.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A shoe comprises a shoe upper and a shoe sole where a first
plurality of energy absorbing resilient supports is arranged as a
forward array extending from the toe of the shoe rearward and a
second plurality of energy absorbing resilient supports is arranged
as rearward array extending from the rear of the shoe forward, a
region between said forward and rearward arrays having no supports
and the number of supports in the first and second arrays not
exceeding forty in embodiments based on a sparse array.
[0007] In an embodiment, an imaginary line in the form of a curve
extending from the toe to the rear of the shoe and about dividing
the shoe into equal parts and from the first plurality of supports,
a third plurality of supports being arranged to either side of the
shoe curve and from the second plurality of supports, a fourth
plurality of supports being arranged to either side of the shoe
curve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The present invention is described with reference to the
accompanying figures. These figures, incorporated herein and
forming part of the specification, illustrate the present invention
and, together with the description, further serve to explain the
principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the
relevant art to make and use the invention.
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a side-view of a sports shoe in accordance with
the present invention.
[0010] FIGS. 2A-2C show arrays of supports of the sports shoe of
FIG. 1.
[0011] FIGS. 3A-F show shapes of supports of the sports shoe of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The disclosure provided in the following pages describes
examples of some embodiments of the invention. The designs,
figures, and description are non-limiting examples of certain
embodiments of the invention. For example, other embodiments of the
disclosed device may or may not include the features described
herein. Moreover, disclosed advantages and benefits may apply to
only certain embodiments of the invention and should be not used to
limit the disclosed inventions.
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a shoe made in accordance with
the present invention 100. The shoe has an upper portion 102, a
sole portion 104 and supports 106.
[0014] Projecting downward from the shoe's outsole 105 is an array
of supports 106. The supports are in arranged in a plurality of
groups including a forward group 114 and a rearward group 110. In
various embodiments, the forward and rearward groups are separated
by an unpopulated region 112 having no supports.
[0015] As shown in the figure, there are a plurality of supports
106 in each of the forward 114 and rearward 110 groups. In the
embodiment shown, three supports are visible in the side-view of
the rearward group and three supports are visible in the side-view
of the forward group. In various embodiments, matching adjacent
supports are located on the opposite side of the shoe.
[0016] FIGS. 2A-2C show embodiments of various forward and rearward
arrays of supports. Any of the forward and rearward groups may be
exchanged among the embodiments shown. For example, the forward
array 206 of FIG. 2B may be replaced by the forward array 202 of
FIG. 2A and vice versa.
[0017] FIG. 2A shows a forward array of supports 202 and a rearward
array of supports 204. In an embodiment, the forward array consists
of six supports arranged three to either side of a central shoe
curve z1-z1 and forming three pairs of substantially side-by-side
supports. As used herein, a central shoe curve extends from the toe
to the rear of a shoe and about evenly divides the shoe. In another
embodiment, the forward array includes the six supports and a
seventh support on the shoe curve near the toe of the shoe. The
rearward array of supports 204 consists of four supports arranged
two to either side of the shoe curve z1-z1.
[0018] FIG. 2B shows a forward array of supports 206 and a rearward
array of supports 208. The forward array consists of seven
supports. Near the toe, a central shoe curve z2-z2 separates first
and second substantially adjacent supports. To the rear of these
supports, a third support is located on the shoe curve and further
to the rear four supports are arranged two to either side of the
shoe curve forming two pairs of substantially side-by-side
supports.
[0019] In an embodiment, the rearward array of supports 208
consists of four supports arranged two to either side of the shoe
curve z2-z2 forming two pairs of substantially side-by-side
supports. In another embodiment the rearward array includes the
four supports and an additional two supports arranged one to either
side of the shoe curve and forward of the four supports forming a
third pair of substantially side-by-side supports.
[0020] FIG. 2C shows a forward array of supports 210 and a rearward
array of supports 212. The forward array consists of six supports;
to one side of a central shoe curve z3-z3 three supports are
arranged in staggered relationship with three supports to the other
side of the shoe curve. In some embodiments, the supports nearest
the toe are staggered such that innermost supports are nearest the
shoe toe (as shown). In other embodiments, the supports nearest the
toe are staggered such that the outermost supports are nearest the
shoe toe.
[0021] The rearward array of supports 212 consists of four
supports; to one side of the central shoe curve z3-z3 two supports
are arranged in staggered relationship with two supports to the
other side of the shoe curve. In some embodiments, the supports
nearest the heel are staggered such that the outermost supports are
nearest the shoe rear (as shown). In other embodiments, the
supports nearest the heel are staggered such that the innermost
supports are nearest the shoe rear (as shown).
[0022] Embodiments of the invention thus utilize sparse arrays of
supports arranged on and/or to either side of a shoe-curve
extending from the shoe toe to the shoe rear and about dividing the
shoe into two equal portions. Sparse arrays here refers to arrays
of between one and thirty-nine supports. In some embodiments, the
number of supports in the forward array is in the range of one to
seven supports and the number of supports in the rearward array is
in the range of one to six supports. In yet other embodiments, the
number of supports in forward and rearward arrays of a single shoe
is in a range of 14 to 40 supports.
[0023] As mentioned above, it is anticipated that the present
disclosure will enable persons of ordinary skill in the art to make
yet other support arrays based on the support arrays disclosed
herein. Such other arrays are within the scope of the present
invention.
[0024] FIGS. 3A-3G show embodiments of variously shaped
three-dimensional supports. Generally, the figures are oriented
such that the upward facing portions are the support's interface
with the outsole 105 of a shoe. The downward facing portions of the
figures are therefore the support tips or interfaces that contact
surface(s) supporting the user.
[0025] FIGS. 3A-B show supports having generally rounded tips 302,
304. In particular, FIG. 3A shows a substantially hemispherical
shape and FIG. 3B shows a substantially parabolic or elliptical
shape. Other shapes having rounded tips will also be known to
persons of ordinary skill in the art and are included in the scope
of the invention.
[0026] FIGS. 3C and 3E show frustrums of cones. FIG. 3C shows a
circular cone while FIG. 3E shows a multi-sided, here five-sided,
cone. The tips 306, 310 of these supports are shown to be flat; in
other embodiments, they are rounded.
[0027] FIGS. 3D and 3F show conical shapes. FIG. 3D shows a
circular cone with tip 308 while FIG. 3F shows a multi-sided, here
five-sided, cone with tip 312.
[0028] In various embodiments, supports 106 may have any one or any
combination of these shapes. And, in various embodiments the
supports are sized such that the average width of the shoe will
accommodate two to four supports arranged side-by-side.
[0029] In some embodiments the supports are solid and resilience is
determined mainly by the material properties. In other embodiments,
the supports are hollow and resilience is determined by material
properties. In yet other embodiments, the supports are hollow but
provide a gas tight chamber such that resilience is strongly
influenced by the pressure of the gas therein and the elasticity of
the material.
[0030] In an embodiment, forward and rearward arrays use a single
shape. In another embodiment, forward arrays have a first shape
while rearward arrays have a second shape. In yet other
embodiments, particular arrays have a plurality of different
shapes. Among other things, shapes may be chosen to vary a spring
rate and/or damping rate of a portion of the shoe.
[0031] In some embodiments shoes 100 are manufactured complete with
the supports 106 of the present invention. Here, in various
embodiments, the supports are formed integral with all or a portion
of the sole 104, 105, are formed integral with the entire shoe, are
adhered to a sole of the shoe or are otherwise attached to the shoe
using a suitable method known to persons of ordinary skill in the
art. Where separate supports are attached to a sole of the shoe,
the means of attachment includes mechanical attachment as with
fasteners such as screw fasteners, bonding attachment by melting
material of one or both of the sole and the support and adhesive
attachment by use of an adhesive known in the art.
[0032] And in some embodiments, supports 106 are assembled onto the
shoe 100 after the shoe is manufactured. For example, a support
"kit" is used by a shoe shop or a shoe owner to refit shoes with
the supports of the present invention. Here, separate supports are
attached to a sole 104, 105 of the shoe, the means of attachment
includes mechanical attachment as with fasteners such as screw
fasteners, bonding attachment by melting material of one or both of
the sole and the support and adhesive attachment by use of an
adhesive known in the art.
[0033] The supports 106 may be made from any resilient material
suitable for use with shoes. For example, in various embodiments
natural materials including plant derived materials such as rubber
and cork may be used alone or in combination with natural and
man-made materials. And in various embodiments man-made materials
including polymers such as rubbers, silicone polymers, dense foams,
and man-made rubber-like materials such as industrial polymers
including butyl rubber are used. In yet other embodiments, any one
or more of the above mentioned materials and rubber, styrene, SBS,
HDPE, other ethylenic materials, silicone materials, regrind
rubbers, suitable binding materials, elastomers, LLDPE cellular
rubber, cellular polymers, and other suitable materials known to
persons of ordinary skill in the art may be used to make the
supports.
[0034] In operation shoes having the supports of the present
invention provide a resilient platform for users. Supports that are
compressed between the user's foot and an external support, such as
a floor or another surface, provide a spring-like action, returning
energy stored in the support to the user in a rebounding action as
the supports tend to resume their normal shape after absorbing an
impact.
[0035] In an embodiment, the impact absorbing capability of
suitable resilient supports reduces shock loads otherwise supported
by the human body and in particular by the skeletal joints of the
human body. By cushioning impacts the stress on joints is reduced
during exercise tending to preserve proper joint function and
prevent joint injury.
[0036] In some embodiments, sparse arrays of supports increase
heel-to-toe shock absorption available to users of the present
invention. In addition, the number, placement and shape of the
supports provide ready means for adjusting the load distribution on
the user's feet, the spring rate of the combined supports and the
load capacity of the shoe. For example, a hemispherical support
provides a relatively stiff support as compared to a conical
support having a similar major diameter.
[0037] Choice of materials also plays an important role in
adjusting the resilience of the support system and the longevity of
the support, the harder, tougher man-made materials providing less
energy absorption but providing longer life as compared to softer
rubbers commonly found in shoes.
[0038] In an embodiment, a shoe spring rate is adjusted to match
the weight of the user and the particular sport being played, the
adjustment being accomplished by selecting suitable combinations of
the support material, support shape and number of supports.
[0039] While various embodiments of the present invention have been
described above, it should be understood that they have been
presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the
form and details can be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. As such, the breadth and scope of the
present invention should not be limited by the above-described
exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance
with the following claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *