U.S. patent application number 12/936616 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-10 for sports shoe, in particular tennis shoe.
Invention is credited to Torsten Schmidt.
Application Number | 20110030240 12/936616 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41037714 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110030240 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmidt; Torsten |
February 10, 2011 |
SPORTS SHOE, IN PARTICULAR TENNIS SHOE
Abstract
The present invention relates to a sports shoe, in particular a
tennis shoe, with an outsole shell made of an elastically
deformable material. In accordance with the invention, the outsole
shell is divided into a heel region, a forefoot region and a
connecting region connecting these two regions, wherein an energy
absorption element is integrated in the heel region.
Inventors: |
Schmidt; Torsten; (Kisslegg,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DILWORTH & BARRESE, LLP
1000 WOODBURY ROAD, SUITE 405
WOODBURY
NY
11797
US
|
Family ID: |
41037714 |
Appl. No.: |
12/936616 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
April 7, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP09/02574 |
371 Date: |
October 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/28 ;
36/35R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/10 20130101; A43B
21/26 20130101; A43B 13/182 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/28 ;
36/35.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/18 20060101
A43B013/18; A43B 21/26 20060101 A43B021/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 7, 2008 |
DE |
20 2008 004 735.8 |
Claims
1. A sports shoe, in particular tennis shoe, with an outsole shell
made of an elastically deformable material, wherein the outsole
shell is divided into a heel region, a forefoot region and a
connecting region connecting these two regions, and an energy
absorption element is integrated in the heel region.
2. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the energy
absorption element is integrated in the middle heel region.
3. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the energy
absorption element consists of a hat-shaped elastic element whose
everted region is reinforced by molded lamellae distributed around
the periphery.
4. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the connecting
region consists of a three-dimensional molded part made of plastic
material with a greater rigidity as compared to the remaining
outsole shell material.
5. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the heel region
and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one
or different outsole profiles.
6. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the middle region
of the forefoot region is rounded on its inwardly facing lateral
edge.
7. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein at the outer
lateral edge of the forefoot region an edge region of a
comparatively harder plastic material is inserted.
8. The sports shoe according to claim 1, wherein the heel region is
connected with the forefoot region via the connecting region such
that the energy taken up via the energy absorption element can be
transmitted to the forefoot region.
9. The sports shoe according to claim 2, wherein the energy
absorption element consists of a hat-shaped elastic element whose
everted region is reinforced by molded lamellae distributed around
the periphery.
10. The sports shoe according to claim 9, wherein the connecting
region consists of a three-dimensional molded part made of plastic
material with a greater rigidity as compared to the remaining
outsole shell material.
11. The sports shoe according to claim 3, wherein the connecting
region consists of a three-dimensional molded part made of plastic
material with a greater rigidity as compared to the remaining
outsole shell material.
12. The sports shoe according to claim 2, wherein the connecting
region consists of a three-dimensional molded part made of plastic
material with a greater rigidity as compared to the remaining
outsole shell material.
13. The sports shoe according to claim 12, wherein the heel region
and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one
or different outsole profiles.
14. The sports shoe according to claim 11, wherein the heel region
and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one
or different outsole profiles.
15. The sports shoe according to claim 10, wherein the heel region
and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one
or different outsole profiles.
16. The sports shoe according to claim 9, wherein the heel region
and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one
or different outsole profiles.
17. The sports shoe according to claim 4, wherein the heel region
and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one
or different outsole profiles.
18. The sports shoe according to claim 3, wherein the heel region
and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one
or different outsole profiles.
19. The sports shoe according to claim 2, wherein the heel region
and the forefoot region include one or more surface areas with one
or different outsole profiles.
20. The sports shoe according to claim 15, wherein the middle
region of the forefoot region is rounded on its inwardly facing
lateral edge.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to a sports shoe, in particular
tennis shoe, with an outsole shell made of an elastically
deformable material.
[0002] Such sports shoes usually consist of a shoe upper which is
connected with the outsole. The outsole is molded as an elastic
outsole shell. Especially in use of a sports shoe as tennis shoe,
the same is exposed to high loads which are due to the friction
between shoe and tennis court surface.
[0003] In this respect, it has become known for example from AT
395516 B to provide tennis shoes with especially provided toe
protection caps which have an asymmetrically arranged protrusion
extending substantially parallel to the outsole. This protrusion is
dimensioned such that even under extreme loads of the cap the same
does not directly drag along the ground, but merely the protective
strip is exposed to abrasion. The fact that the protective strip is
sloping to the outside of the shoe results in improved braking
properties.
[0004] EP 0 552 994 B1 deals with the fact that a generic sports
shoe should serve to absorb shocks. For this purpose, the shoe
includes an upper and a lower plate in the heel region, which
plates are movable relative to each other, with the movement
against each other being damped by torsion springs. However,
integrating the necessary plates movable against each other in the
outsole region is not unproblematic. It leads to a deterioration of
the bending elasticity of the outsole shell.
[0005] It is the object of the present invention to develop a
sports shoe, in particular tennis shoe, such that it easily
withstands extreme loads during its use and beside damping
vibrations during use it improves the running properties.
[0006] In accordance with the invention, this object is solved by a
generic sports shoe, in particular tennis shoe with an outsole
shell made of an elastically deformable material, in that the
outsole shell is divided into a heel region, a forefoot region and
a connecting region connecting these two regions, wherein an energy
absorption element is integrated in the heel region.
[0007] During use of the sports shoe, the energy absorption element
in the heel region takes up the energy received via the heel,
absorbs the same and distributes the energy over the entire foot
region by transmitting the energy via the connecting region to the
forefoot region.
[0008] Preferred aspects of the invention can be taken from the
sub-claims following the main claim.
[0009] Accordingly, the energy absorption element can be integrated
in the middle heel region. In this way, the kinetic energy acting
on the heel advantageously can be taken up centrally.
[0010] Preferably, the energy absorption element is formed of a
hat-shaped elastic element, whose everted region is reinforced by
molded lamellae distributed around the periphery. This shape
provides for taking up and transmitting the kinetic energy from all
directions in space, without having a constructive preference for
one direction in space.
[0011] The connecting region between the heel region and the
forefoot region advantageously consists of a three-dimensional
molded part made of plastics with a greater rigidity as compared to
the remaining outsole shell material. This three-dimensionality can
be achieved in that the molded part is formed of rib-like
three-dimensional protrusions which extend from a central middle
part. In so far, this three-dimensional molded part resembles the
construction of the human chest. It is capable of transmitting the
energy taken up when damping vibrations in the heel region to the
forefoot region.
[0012] Advantageously, the heel region and the forefoot region have
one or more surface areas with one or different outsole profiles.
These outsole profiles can be selected depending on the surfacing.
Thus, it can be a typical outsole profile for a clay court or for a
hard floor.
[0013] Advantageously, the middle region of the forefoot region is
rounded on its inwardly facing lateral edge. In this way, slipping
sideways during the game is positively influenced.
[0014] Particularly advantageously, edge regions of a comparatively
harder plastic material or rubber are formed, i.e. inserted as
separate part, at the outer lateral edge of the forefoot region.
This lateral insert leads to a substantially improved lateral
stability and thereby provides for fast changes in direction of the
player being transmitted by a direct transmission of the force from
the shoe to the underground.
[0015] Particularly advantageously, the heel region is connected
with the forefoot region via the connecting region such that the
energy taken up via the energy absorption element can be
transmitted to the forefoot region, so that this energy can be
converted into a forward movement.
[0016] Further features, details and advantages of the invention
can be taken from an embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in
which:
[0017] FIG. 1: shows various views of an outsole shell according to
one embodiment of the sports shoe of the invention,
[0018] FIG. 2: shows a detailed representation of the energy
absorption element as it is used in the heel region of the sports
shoe as shown in FIG. 1,
[0019] FIG. 3: shows two representations of a detail in the
forefoot region of the outsole shell as shown in FIG. 1, and
[0020] FIG. 4: shows a representation of the connecting region in
the outsole shell as shown in FIG. 1.
[0021] In FIG. 1, an outsole shell for a sports shoe, in particular
a tennis shoe, which generally is designated with the reference
numeral 10, is shown in three views. While the bottom view is shown
in the middle, the side views each are shown at the top and at the
bottom. As can be taken from FIG. 1, the outsole shell 10 is formed
in a three-dimensional shell-shaped manner, wherein it in
particular also covers the front toe region. In accordance with the
present invention, the outsole shell 10 is divided into three
regions: the heel region 12, the forefoot region 16 and the
connecting region 14 connecting these two regions.
[0022] In general, the outsole shell is made of an elastically
deformable material.
[0023] In the heel region, an energy absorption element 18 is
integrated, whose structure is illustrated in the representation of
FIG. 2. As can be taken from FIG. 2, the same consists of a
hat-shaped elastic element 20 with a kind of brim 22, wherein on
the outside above the brim 22 lamellae 24 are molded on the everted
region of the hat-shaped element 20 equally distributed around the
periphery.
[0024] In the event of a corresponding shock on the heel region 12
while running with the sports shoe 10, the hat-shaped element is
compressed, wherein it uniformly releases the deformation energy
absorbed into the heel region, from where it is transmitted via the
connecting region 14 to the forefoot region.
[0025] As illustrated particularly clearly in FIG. 1, the
connecting region consists of a three-dimensional molded part made
of plastics, which as compared to the usual outsole shell material
has a greater rigidity. This three-dimensional molded part has the
shape of ribs which extend from a middle central part. As can be
taken from FIG. 1, this three-dimensional molded part extends from
the sole into the lateral regions, where the individual ribs are
joined again by means of a connecting web. The connecting region 4
takes up the damped kinetic energy from the heel region 12 and
distributes the same to the remaining shoe region, in particular to
the forefoot region 16, so that this connecting region can also be
referred to as force bridge. The connecting region 14 includes a
number of apertures 26 which have an additional ventilation
function and can separate the inner shoe region from the
surroundings only via an air-permeable mesh (cf. also FIG. 4).
[0026] The shape of the forefoot region can be taken from FIGS. 1
and 3. Here, the outsole shell is pulled up in the region of the
toes, so that here a corresponding protection is provided for the
toes.
[0027] In the middle region of the forefoot region 16, the inwardly
facing lateral edge 28 is rounded, to provide for easier slipping
on the underground while playing. On the opposed outer surface, on
the other hand, an edge reinforcement is provided by a
corresponding inserted part for improvement of the lateral
stability, as can clearly be taken in particular from FIG. 3. This
reinforcing part 30 is made of a plastic material or rubber with
comparatively greater hardness, which in particular also provides
for fast changes in direction, as it transmits the lateral forces
produced by the player pushing up from the ground to the
underground in a better and more direct way.
[0028] As shown in the Figures, both the heel region 12 and the
forefoot region 16 have profile surfaces in the outsole shell which
are adapted to the court surface. In the present embodiment, the
same are shown only by way of example and can be formed differently
depending on the underground.
[0029] To illustrate the functionality of the energy absorption
element 18, an inspection window 32 of transparent plastic material
is formed laterally in the heel region 12 in the outsole shell 10
(cf. FIG. 1).
* * * * *