U.S. patent application number 14/056229 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-24 for shoe outsole.
The applicant listed for this patent is Herve Dumont. Invention is credited to Herve Dumont.
Application Number | 20140109444 14/056229 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50484037 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140109444 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dumont; Herve |
April 24, 2014 |
SHOE OUTSOLE
Abstract
An outsole for a shoe having a plurality of convex shaped
protrusions, which may be substantially spherical in shape, with
predetermined lateral diameter to vertical height ratios. In some
embodiments said convex shaped protrusions have different
diameters, with some protrusions having a larger diameter and being
located on a bottom outward surface of said outsole over
acupressure points on the bottom of the foot.
Inventors: |
Dumont; Herve; (Los Angeles,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Dumont; Herve |
Los Angeles |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50484037 |
Appl. No.: |
14/056229 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61716418 |
Oct 19, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/25R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/184 20130101;
A43B 13/14 20130101; A43B 13/145 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/25.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/14 20060101
A43B013/14 |
Claims
1. An outsole for a shoe comprising: A bottom outward outsole
surface; said bottom outward outsole surface having a plurality of
outward extending protrusions; said outward extending protrusions
having a convex shaped outer surface; said outward extending
protrusions having a lateral diameter across said outward outsole
surface and a vertical height above said outward outsole surface;
wherein the ratio of said lateral diameter to said vertical height
for said outward extending protrusions is in the range of 3:1 to
4:1.
2. The outsole for a shoe of claim 1 wherein said vertical height
of said outward extending protrusions is approximately 0.5
millimeters and said lateral diameter is in the range of 1.5
millimeters to 2 millimeters.
3. The outsole for a shoe of claim 1 wherein said shoe has a
minimalist drop.
4. The outsole for a shoe of claim 3 wherein said minimalist drop
is approximately 4 millimeters.
5. An outsole for a shoe comprising: a bottom outward outsole
surface; said bottom outward outsole surface having a plurality of
first outward extending protrusions each with a convex shaped outer
surface, a lateral diameter, and a vertical height; said first
outward extending protrusions having a ratio of said lateral
diameter to said vertical height of approximately 1:1; said bottom
outward outsole surface having at least one second outward
extending protrusion with a convex shaped outer surface, a lateral
diameter, and a vertical height; said at least one second outward
extending protrusion having a ratio of said lateral diameter to
said vertical height of approximately 4:1.
6. The outsole for a shoe of claim 5 wherein said at least one
second outward extending protrusion is located on said bottom
outward outsole surface at a position adjacent to an acupressure
point location on a user's foot.
7. The outsole for a shoe of claim 5 wherein: said first outward
extending protrusions have a lateral diameter of approximately 5
millimeters and a vertical height of approximately 5 millimeters;
and said second outward extending protrusions having a lateral
diameter of approximately 20 millimeters and a vertical height of
approximately 5 millimeters.
8. The outsole for a shoe of claim 5 wherein said shoe has a
minimalist drop.
9. The outsole for a shoe of claim 8 wherein said minimalist drop
is 4 millimeters.
10. The outsole for a shoe of claim 5 wherein at least one second
outward extending protrusion is surrounded by said first outward
extending protrusions.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
provisional patent application 61/716,418 filed on Oct. 19, 2012,
the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is an outsole for a shoe, and one that
is particularly applicable to athletic shoes. Shoes are used to
protect and comfort the human foot during various activities.
Athletic shoes are designed to be worn for participating in various
sports.
[0003] Shoes for running are one type of athletic shoe. Shoes for
running may affect many parts of the body of a runner. Even small
variations in the design of a running shoe may cause foot pain,
ankle pain, back pain, or even headaches. Some of the many
considerations that go into the design of a shoe for running are
shock absorption, flexibility, fit, traction, sole wear, weight,
etc . . . Indeed, the design of a running shoe may involve
contributions from both the fields of podiatry and biomechanics.
Functional running shoes are designed primarily to provide maximum
overall shock absorption for the foot. This can help to prevent
shin splints, tendonitis, heel pain, stress fractures and other
overuse syndromes.
[0004] A typical shoe consists of three basic components: the
outsole, the midsole, and the upper. The outsole is the bottom part
of the shoe, and is the part that comes in direct contact with the
ground. Outsoles can be made of a variety of materials. Certain
types of outsoles provide more traction than others, by using
specific materials or designs. Tread pattern of the shoe outsole
also affects friction. The shape and composition of the outsole
tread also impacts the shock absorption properties of the shoe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a bottom side view of a first embodiment of a shoe
outsole.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a bottom side view of a second embodiment of a
shoe outsole.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side section view of a convex shaped protrusion
of a shoe outsole.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a side section view of a shoe with a sole,
illustrating the shoe drop.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] FIG. 1 shows an outsole 10. Outsole 10 may be comprised of,
for example, rubber, polyurethane, or any other suitable material
for outsoles as known to those skilled in the art. The bottom
outward surface of outsole 10 contains a plurality of spaced apart
integral convex shaped protrusions 20 extending away from the
bottom outward surface towards the ground. The convex shaped
protrusions, which may be substantially spherical in shape,
facilitate the dispersion of impact energy both laterally and
vertically. This allows the user of a shoe having such an outsole
to run on hard surfaces such as concrete or asphalt with more
comfort. As shown in FIG. 3 convex shaped protrusions have a
lateral diameter (d) and a vertical height (h).
[0010] In a first preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 & 3
it is contemplated that the integral convex shaped protrusions 20
would have a lateral diameter (d) across the bottom outward surface
of outsole 10 that is in the range of three to four times the
vertical height (h) that the convex shaped protrusion 20 extends
away from the bottom outward surface of outsole 10 towards the
ground. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, where the vertical
height (h) of convex shaped protrusion 20 is approximately 0.5
millimeters (mm) the lateral diameter (d) of the convex shaped
protrusion 20 across the bottom of outward surface of outsole 10
would be in the range of approximately 1.5-2.0 (mm).
[0011] FIG. 2 shows an outsole 10 for a second embodiment. In the
second preferred embodiment first convex protrusions 40 are
contemplated to have a lateral diameter (d) across the bottom
outward surface of outsole 10 that is in a 1:1 ratio with the
vertical height (h) of convex protrusions 40. For example, it is
contemplated in such an embodiment that first convex protrusions 40
have a lateral diameter (d) of approximately 5 mm and a vertical
height (h) of approximately 5 mm. Furthermore, the second
embodiment has in addition to said first convex protrusions 40 at
least one second convex protrusion 30. Each of said at least one
second convex protrusion 30, which may be surrounded by said first
convex protrusions 40, is contemplated to be placed at a location
on outsole 10 that match acupressure points on the bottom of a
user's foot. It is contemplated that second convex protrusions 30
would have a lateral diameter (d) to vertical height (h) ratio of
4:1. For example, a second convex protrusion 30 may have a lateral
diameter (d) of approximately 20 mm across the bottom outward
surface of outsole 10 and a vertical height (h) of approximately 5
mm.
[0012] It is contemplated that the embodiments of the outsole
invention described herein would be particularly well suited for
applications with minimalist, or minimal drop, style running shoes,
such as for example a shoe with a 4 mm drop. Referring to FIG. 4
the drop of a shoe has its customary and ordinary meaning of the
difference between the height (b) above the ground where a heel of
a foot sits in the shoe and the height (a) above the ground where
the forefoot sits in the shoe. However, the invention described
herein is not limited to just minimal drop shoes, and may be
applied successfully to any type of shoe.
* * * * *