U.S. patent application number 12/922613 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-07 for walking device.
This patent application is currently assigned to MASAI MARKETING & TRADING AG. Invention is credited to Markus Bartholet, Claudio Franco.
Application Number | 20110078923 12/922613 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39651023 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110078923 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bartholet; Markus ; et
al. |
April 7, 2011 |
WALKING DEVICE
Abstract
The walking device has a shoe bottom with a midsole. A soft heel
part is arranged in a recess of the midsole and the outsole has a
form that is rounded convexly in the walking direction. The
reinforcing element, forming an insole, is arranged on the upper
surface of the midsole and fastened to it. In the production of the
walking device, the upper is joined to the reinforcing element to
form a structural unit, which is then mounted on the midsole, for
example by adhesive bonding.
Inventors: |
Bartholet; Markus;
(Appenzell, CH) ; Franco; Claudio; (Montebelluna,
IT) |
Assignee: |
MASAI MARKETING & TRADING
AG
Winterthur
CH
|
Family ID: |
39651023 |
Appl. No.: |
12/922613 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
December 22, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2008/011053 |
371 Date: |
December 7, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/187 20130101;
A43B 13/12 20130101; A43B 21/26 20130101; A43B 7/144 20130101; A43B
13/145 20130101; A43B 13/026 20130101; A43B 7/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/92 |
International
Class: |
A43B 3/00 20060101
A43B003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 29, 2008 |
EP |
08006209.4 |
Claims
1. A walking device with a shoe bottom, which has a midsole,
extending over a heel region, a midfoot region and a ball and toe
region, a soft heel part, arranged in a recess of the midsole, and
an outsole, which is kept--in the unloaded state--in a form that is
rounded convexly in the walking direction by the midsole and the
soft heel part, an upper, arranged on the shoe bottom, and a
reinforcing element, which has such stability that the midsole is
at least almost free from bending--with respect to loads during
standing and walking--in its portion located above the soft heel
part, wherein the reinforcing element, forming an insole, is
arranged on an upper surface of the midsole, facing away from the
outsole, and is fastened to said surface.
2. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper is
fastened to the reinforcing element.
3. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper is
fastened directly to the reinforcing element and to the
midsole.
4. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
reinforcing element covers the upper surface of the midsole at
least almost completely.
5. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
reinforcing element has at least one reinforcing rib in the midfoot
region.
6. The walking device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
reinforcing rib protrudes into the heel region.
7. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
reinforcing element is at least almost rigid--with respect to the
loads during standing and walking--in the heel region and midfoot
region.
8. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
reinforcing element is flexibly formed, at least in a portion of
the ball and toe region.
9. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
reinforcing element is produced from at least one hard and one soft
plastic component.
10. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curvature
of the outsole has in the heel region a radius of approximately 150
mm to 200 mm, in the midfoot region a radius of approximately 250
nm to 350 nm and in the ball and toe region a radius of
approximately 350 nm to 480 nm.
11. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soft heel
part--in a rear portion--is made wider on its underside, facing the
outsole, than on its upper side, facing the midsole.
12. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soft heel
part has a greater thickness on the inner side of the walking
device than on the outer side.
13. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
reinforcing element, and consequently the insole, has in the heel
region a bending moment of approximately 4500 to 6000 Nmm.
14. The walking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess is
formed continuously, in a direction transverse to the walking
direction.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a walking device according
to the preamble of patent claim 1.
[0002] Walking devices of this type are known by the name Masai
Barefoot Technology, MBT for short, and also known under the Swiss
Masai label. A characteristic feature of the MBT walking devices is
a form of sole that is rounded convexly in the walking direction,
with a soft heel part, known as the "Masai sensor", inserted in a
recess of a midsole. The midsole has a reinforcing element--known
as a "shank"--integrated in it, which reinforces the midsole in
such a way that it is substantially rigid even in the portion
thereof that is above the soft heel part. On account of the bottom
shoe structure of the MBT walking device, deliberately soft and
made to act in a destabilizing manner for this reason, the foot
loses the hold and support that is characteristic of physiological
locomotion. This bottom structure acts on major parts of the
postural and supporting musculature, because the body must now be
actively kept in balance. On account of these constantly required
minimal compensating movements and tensings of the musculature of
the foot in seeking to maintain a stable standing position, wearing
MBT shoes is like permanently performing sensorimotor training and
works additional parts of the musculature of the skeleton. In
particular, neglected muscles are trained, posture and gait pattern
are improved and the body is toned and shaped. Furthermore, wearing
MBT shoes can alleviate back, hip, leg or foot ailments and joint,
muscle, ligament or tendon injuries to as well as relieve hip and
knee joints. The known bottoms of the MBT shoes have a considerable
thickness.
[0003] Footwear of a similar kind is also known from WO 2006/065047
A1.
[0004] Furthermore, WO 99/05928 discloses a shoe which is suitable
in particular for skateboarding, the upper of which is joined by
means of Strobel seams to a woven or nonwoven insole. The insole,
preferably produced from a stable nonwoven, has forefoot slits and
star-shaped heel cuts, to improve the bending properties of the
insole. In a heel cutout of the midsole, a shock absorbing cassette
is arranged.
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
walking device of the generic type with a shoe bottom of smaller
thickness that still has the known properties of the walking device
of the generic type.
[0006] This object is achieved by a walking device which has the
features of patent claim 1.
[0007] According to the invention, the reinforcing element is no
longer integrated in the midsole but is produced as a separate
component and then fastened to the midsole, for example by adhesive
bonding. In the case of the walking device according to invention,
the reinforcing element consequently forms an insole.
[0008] In the case of the known walking devices of the generic
type, the reinforcing element has in the heel region and in the
midfoot region a thickness of about 6 mm and the reinforcing
element is covered on top and underneath by the material of the
midsole. The upper covering of the midsole, on which a thin top
sole may optionally be arranged, forms the foot bed. By contrast
with this, the walking device according to the invention does not
have any covering in the form of material of the midsole above the
reinforcing element, and preferably the reinforcing element, on
which a thin top sole may optionally be arranged, forms the foot
bed. Moreover, the reinforcing element can be made thinner, in
particular in certain regions. This has the overall effect of
providing a walking device with a shoe bottom of a smaller
height.
[0009] In a preferred way, the upper of the walking device is
fastened to the reinforcing element. This makes it possible to
produce the upper together with the reinforcing element as one
structural unit, which is then joined to the shoe bottom.
[0010] In this joining it is possible just to fasten the
reinforcing element directly to the midsole, but it is advantageous
for the upper also to be directly fastened to the midsole at the
same time.
[0011] Particularly simple production of the walking device
according to the invention is achieved by the reinforcing element
covering the upper surface of the midsole at least almost
completely.
[0012] By forming at least one reinforcing rib on the reinforcing
element, the latter can be formed with very thin walls in the other
regions, without losing its intrinsic stability and rigidity as a
result.
[0013] Further preferred embodiments of the walking device
according to the invention are defined in the further dependent
patent claims.
[0014] The invention is explained in more detail on the basis of an
exemplary embodiment that is represented in the purely schematic
drawing, in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 shows the inner side of a shoe bottom of a walking
device according to the invention, in a view in the direction of
the arrow I of FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 2 shows the shoe bottom from FIG. 1 in a plan view;
[0017] FIG. 3 shows the outer side of the shoe bottom of FIGS. 1
and 2 in a view in the direction of the arrow III of FIG. 2;
[0018] FIG. 4 shows the shoe bottom of FIGS. 1 to 3 in a side view
seen toward the heel;
[0019] FIG. 5 shows the shoe bottom of FIGS. 1 to 4 in a
perspective representation;
[0020] FIG. 6 shows the shoe bottom of FIGS. 1 to 5 in a
longitudinal section extending in the walking direction;
[0021] FIG. 7 shows the shoe bottom in a cross section along the
line of VII-VII of FIG. 6;
[0022] FIG. 8 shows the shoe bottom in cross section along the line
VIII-VIII of FIG. 6;
[0023] FIG. 9 shows the shoe bottom in cross section along the line
IX-IX of FIG. 6;
[0024] FIG. 10 shows a reinforcing element for a walking device
according to the invention in a view from below;
[0025] FIG. 11 shows the reinforcing element of FIG. 10 in
elevation;
[0026] FIG. 12 shows the reinforcing element in cross section along
the line XII-XII of FIG. 11;
[0027] FIG. 13 shows part of a walking device according to the
invention in a perspective representation and in section, with a
shoe bottom according to FIGS. 1 to 9 and a reinforcing element
according to FIGS. 10 to 12.
[0028] The embodiment of a walking device according to the
invention that is represented in the drawing has a shoe bottom 10,
represented in FIGS. 1 to 9, a reinforcing element 12, according to
FIGS. 10 to 12, and a generally known upper 14, as indicated in
FIG. 13. The reinforcing element 14 forms an insole, to which the
upper 14 is attached in a known manner--by means of lasting. Said
upper 14, together with the reinforcing element 12, are fastened to
the shoe bottom 10, for example by adhesive bonding.
[0029] The shoe bottom 10 has a midsole 16, a soft heel part 20,
arranged in a recess 18 of the midsole 16, and an outsole 22. The
outsole 22 has--in the unloaded state--a form that is continuously
rounded convexly in the walking direction L from the rear end 24 of
the shoe bottom 10 to the front end 26 of the shoe bottom 10, in
the walking direction L. It is kept in this form by the midsole 16
and the soft heel part 20. This form is typical of shoe bottoms 10
of MBT shoes (MBT is a registered trademark of Masai Marketing and
Trading AG, Romanshorn) and is also disclosed, for example, in WO
01/15560.
[0030] The outsole 22 is preferably produced from an
abrasion-resistant rubber-elastic material. Its modulus of
elasticity in the region of the heel is, for example, between
approximately 3.4 and 4.1 N/mm.sup.2, preferably approximately 3.75
N/mm.sup.2, and in the region of the ball is, for example, between
approximately 3.8 and 4.5 N/mm.sup.2, preferably between
approximately 4.0 and 4.3 N/mm.sup.2; measured with a punch 20 mm
in diameter and a loading of 500 N. However, the outsole 22 may
also have approximately the same modulus of elasticity over its
entire length. Its Shore A hardness is, for example, approximately
50 to 75, preferably approximately 60 to 70.
[0031] The convex form of the outsole 22 has in a heel region lying
at the rear, seen in the longitudinal direction L of the shoe, a
radius of curvature of approximately 160 mm. In a midfoot region
32, adjoining the heel region 30 in the walking direction L, the
curvature of the outsole 22 is less and has a radius of curvature
of approximately 280 mm. In a ball and toe region 34, arranged at
the front, in the walking direction L, and adjoining the midfoot
region 32, the radius of curvature up to at least almost the front
end 26 of the shoe bottom 10 is somewhat greater than in the
midfoot region 32 and is approximately 390 mm. The data specified
above and thicknesses specified further below concern a walking
device of European size 37. It may change according to the size of
the walking device, although the ratio of the stated radii of
curvature of about 1:1.75:2.44 is preferably approximately
maintained. In a preferred way, the curvature of the outsole has in
the heel region a radius of approximately 150 mm to 200 mm, in the
midfoot region a radius of approximately 250 mm to 350 mm and in
the ball-toe region a radius of approximately 350 mm to 480 mm. The
heel region 30, midfoot region 32 and ball and toe region 34 each
extend approximately over one third of the length of the shoe
bottom 10. The midsole 16 extends uninterruptedly over these
regions.
[0032] The soft heel part 20 has in elevation, as illustrated in
particular by FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6, a substantially
convex-convex-lenticular cross section, which extends from the
inner side 42 to the outer side 40 of the shoe bottom 10 with at
least almost constant cross section in the direction transverse to
the walking direction L. It is preferably produced from an
open-cell polyurethane elastomer foam and of a soft form with
respect to the other parts of the shoe bottom 10. Its density is,
for example, between approximately 0.24 and approximately 0.3,
preferably approximately 0.27 mg/mm.sup.3. The modulus of
elasticity is, for example, between approximately 0.4 and 0.5,
preferably approximately 0.46 N/mm.sup.2, measured with a pressure
punch 20 mm in diameter and a loading of 100 N. The (Shore A)
hardness of the soft heel part 20 is preferably approximately 20.
The soft heel part 20 may also be of a form that is softer or
harder, for example its Shore A hardness is between 15 and 25.
[0033] As FIGS. 4 and 7 illustrate, the soft heel part 20 is made
wider--transversely to the walking direction L--on its underside 36
adjoining the outsole 22 than on its upper side 38, facing the
midsole 16. Both on the outer side 40 and on the inner side 42 of
the shoe bottom 10, the side walls 43 of the soft heel part 20 are
convexly formed. This embodiment of the soft heel part 20 provides
a somewhat better transverse stability than in the case of an
embodiment with an underside 36 and upper side 38 of the soft heel
part 20 that are of the same width, in particular if the outsole 22
is formed in a waisted manner.
[0034] Furthermore, in a preferred way, as illustrated in
particular by FIG. 7, the thickness of the soft heel part 20 on the
outer side 40 is less than on the inner side 42, so that in the
heel region 30 the outsole 22 has a correspondingly diagonal
distortion.
[0035] The soft heel part 20 completely fills the recess 18 between
the midsole 16 and the outsole 22 and extends from approximately
the rear end 24 of the shoe bottom 10, in the walking direction L,
over the heel region 30 to approximately the middle of the shoe
bottom 10. In its mid-region, the soft heel part 10 has a thickness
of approximately 20 mm.
[0036] The midsole 16 is formed as a preferably homogeneous body
without a reinforcing element 12 and is produced, for example, from
a polyurethane elastomer foam or an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).
Its upper surface 44 has a form similar to a foot bed, but is
provided with a depression 46 extending in the walking direction L.
This depression 46 has the greatest depth in the midfoot region 32
and extends, with a progressively smaller, diminishing depth,
approximately 2/3 into the heel region 30 and extends with a
rapidly decreasing depth into the rear end region of the ball and
toe region 34.
[0037] The smallest thickness of the midsole 16, measured between
the soft heel part 20 and the upper surface 44, is very small and
is, for example, about 1 mm. The midsole 16 itself is consequently
formed very flexibly in its portion 47 lying above the recess 18,
with very low intrinsic stability.
[0038] With the end of the recess 18 lying at the front in the
walking direction L, the midsole 16 forms a tilting edge 48,
extending transversely, preferably at least approximately at right
angles, to the walking direction L. In this region, the midsole 16
has the greatest thickness of approximately 29 mm and is
significantly more rigid there than in the mid-region of the recess
18; in this respect, compare FIGS. 7 and 8, which also show a cross
section of the depression 46.
[0039] The midsole 16 is made harder than the soft heel part 20,
which is consequently highly deformed during stepping and standing
and absorbs and dampens shocks. During rolling, the tilting over
the tilting edge 48 that is familiar for walking devices of this
type is then obtained. The (Shore A) hardness of the midsole 16 is
preferably approximately 38-44, but it may also be made somewhat
softer or harder. It preferably has approximately twice the Shore A
hardness of the soft heel part 20. The modulus of elasticity of the
midsole is, for example, between approximately 0.7 and
approximately 1.2 N/mm.sup.2, preferably between approximately 0.85
and 1.05 N/mm.sup.2, measured with a punch of 20 mm in diameter and
a loading of 100 N.
[0040] The ratio of the modulus of elasticity of the soft heel part
20 to that of the midsole 16 is 1:1.4 to 1:3, preferably 1:1.75 to
1:2.4. The modulus of elasticity of the midsole 16 is consequently
approximately twice that of the soft heel part 20.
[0041] For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that
the midsole 16 has a peripheral, upwardly directed collar 50, which
serves for joining to the upper 14.
[0042] As illustrated in particular by FIGS. 7 to 9, the width of
the region of the outsole 22 interacting with the bottom 52, and
consequently also of the underlying part of the midsole 16,
adjoining said region, in the end region of the recess 18 lying at
the front in the walking direction L, and approximately in the
middle of the shoe bottom 10, is much smaller than in approximately
the middle of the heel region (FIG. 7) and the ball and toe region
34 (FIG. 9). The shoe bottom 10 is formed in a waisted manner.
[0043] The reinforcing element 12 shown in FIGS. 10 to 12 is
produced, for example, from a mixture of, plastic polyurethane
elastomer (TPU) and glass fibers and is made rigid in the midfoot
region 32 and in the heel region 30 in such a way that it cannot
bend, or only a little, under loading during standing and walking.
For this purpose, it has in the midfoot region 32 and heel region
30 a reinforcing rib 54, which is formed equally and oppositely to
the depression 46 of the midsole 16, and protrudes in a downward
direction; this can also be seen from FIG. 8, in which the
reinforcing element 12 is indicated by a dashed line.
[0044] The modulus of elasticity of the reinforcing element 12 in
the forefoot region is, for example, approximately 8.0 to
approximately 13.0 and in the heel region is approximately 12 to
13.5 N/mm.sup.2, measured with a punch of 20 mm in diameter and a
loading of 1000 N. However, the modulus of elasticity may also be
at least approximately constant over the entire reinforcing element
12.
[0045] The bending moments of the reinforcing element 12 are in the
toe region approximately 70 to 80 Nmm, preferably approximately 75
Nmm, in the ball region approximately 150 to 250 Nmm, preferably
approximately 200 to 210 Nmm, and in the ankle region (heel region)
approximately 4500 to approximately 6000 Nmm or more, preferably
approximately 5100 to 5600 Nmm or more.
[0046] The reinforcing element 12 may, for example, have a Shore A
hardness between 80 and 120, preferably of approximately 90 to
100.
[0047] In the ball and toe region 34, in particular approximately
in the front half of this region in the walking direction L, the
reinforcing element 12 is preferably more flexibly formed. Here it
does not have a reinforcing rib 54 and can be formed more flexibly,
for example by the use of a softer, more elastic material
component. The two-component or multi-component injection-molding
process is suitable for producing such a reinforcing element 12. As
indicated in FIG. 10 by the line 56, the part of the reinforcing
element 12 with the reinforcing rib 54 is molded from a hard
component 58, and then a soft component 60 is molded on; it is also
conceivable to reverse this sequence. The hard component 58 and the
soft component 60 are affinitive plastics, which bond together
extremely stably in injection-molding. Suitable as the hard
component 58 and the soft component 60 are, in particular, a
mixture of thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU) and glass
fibers and thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU),
respectively. Preferably, a glass fibre reinforced TPU (hard) is
used as the hard component 58 and a TPU (soft) is used as the soft
component 60.
[0048] The reinforcing element 12 extends over the entire upper
surface 44 of the midsole 16 up to the peripheral collar 50, only a
narrow, peripheral gap remaining between said collar 50 and the
reinforcing element 12 for the material of the upper 14, compare
FIG. 13. In a preferred way, the reinforcing element 12 has on its
underside 61 a border recess 62 extending along its border. This
serves for receiving and fastening the material of the outer upper
64 and the lining upper 66.
[0049] In a known manner, the upper 14 is produced and then its
border 68--also known as a lasting allowance--is firmly joined to
the reinforcing element 12 by adhesive bonding in the border recess
62. Subsequently, the structural unit comprising the upper 14 and
the reinforcing element 12 is placed within the collar 50 onto the
upper surface 44 of the midsole 16 and adhesively bonded with the
latter over its full surface area, including the collar 50.
[0050] The reinforcing element 14 preferably forms the foot bed;
however, an insert sole, for example an insole, may also be loosely
laid or fastened on it. It may, for example, have a flexible foam
covering of approximately 5 mm in thickness, the modulus of
elasticity of which is, for example, 0.3 to 0.7, preferably
approximately 0.4 to approximately 0.6 N/mm.sup.2, measured with a
pressure punch of 20 mm in diameter and a loading of 100 N.
Preferably, the insert sole is shaped in such a way that it is
adapted to the form of the foot. The reinforcing element 12 lends
the walking device the stability, in particular in the midfoot
region 32 and heel region 30, in order for the walking device
itself to have the intentionally soft and destabilizing properties
as a result of the soft heel part 20.
[0051] Walking tests with a walking device according to the
invention under with a loading of 70 kg have shown that the shoe
bottom 10 deforms in the heel region 30 by 6 to 7 mm and in the
ball region scarcely at all. The soft heel region 20 is compressed
by this amount and bears this deformation almost in its
entirety.
[0052] The soft heel part 20 may be made of the same material as
the midsole 16 or a material with similar properties, the
soft-elastic properties being achievable by hollow spaces, or
recesses. The soft heel part 20 is highly deformable under loading
caused by standing and walking; shocks are thereby dampened and,
both during walking and during standing, the musculature of the
skeleton in particular is worked and trained as a result of the
instability of the heel region 30.
[0053] Instead of a single reinforcing rib 54, the reinforcing
element 12 may have a number of reinforcing ribs, which extend at
least approximately parallel in the walking direction L; it is also
conceivable that a number of crossing ribs are provided.
[0054] For the sake of completeness, it should be mentioned that it
is conceivable to join the upper 14 only to the reinforcing element
12 and only to fasten the latter directly to the shoe bottom
10.
* * * * *