U.S. patent application number 13/680291 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-22 for multiplex sockliner system.
This patent application is currently assigned to BROWN SHOE COMPANY, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is BROWN SHOE COMPANY, INC.. Invention is credited to Steven Bacon, Ashley D. Stark, David L. Vattes.
Application Number | 20140137431 13/680291 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50726598 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140137431 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vattes; David L. ; et
al. |
May 22, 2014 |
MULTIPLEX SOCKLINER SYSTEM
Abstract
A sockliner for use in a shoe assembly designed to strategically
distribute underfoot pressure and to facilitate air circulation
within a shoe. The sockliner includes a base having a top face, a
bottom face and a plurality of perforation holes positioned across
the length of the base and extending therethrough. The sockliner
further includes a plurality of ventilation grooves located along a
peripheral edge of the sockliner designed to cooperate with the
perforation holes to encourage air flow. The bottom face of the
sockliner further includes a plurality of zones, each zone
including a plurality of lugs which are strategically designed and
located to support the weight of the wearer and provide cushioning
to the wearer's foot.
Inventors: |
Vattes; David L.;
(University City, MO) ; Stark; Ashley D.; (St.
Louis, MO) ; Bacon; Steven; (Vista, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BROWN SHOE COMPANY, INC. |
St. Louis |
MO |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
BROWN SHOE COMPANY, INC.
St. Louis
MO
|
Family ID: |
50726598 |
Appl. No.: |
13/680291 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/43 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 17/08 20130101;
A43B 17/02 20130101; A43B 17/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/43 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/40 20060101
A43B013/40 |
Claims
1. A sockliner comprising: a base having a top face and a bottom
face; a plurality of perforation holes positioned across the length
of said base and extending therethrough; a plurality of zones
located on the surface of the bottom face, each zone having a
plurality of lugs extending downwardly from said bottom face for
providing support and cushioning to the foot.
2. The sockliner of claim 1 including a plurality of ventilation
grooves located along a peripheral edge of the sockliner.
3. The sockliner of claim 1 wherein said top face is anatomically
shaped.
4. The sockliner of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the total surface
area of the bottom face to the total surface area of said plurality
of lugs is approximately 0.25.
5. The sockliner of claim 1 wherein said plurality of zones
includes four zones, a hindfoot zone, a midfoot zone, a metatarsal
zone and a phalange zone, at least one of said zones having a ratio
of total surface area of lugs to total surface area of said zone of
approximately 0.25.
6. The sockliner of claim 5 wherein at least one of said zones
having a ratio of total surface area of lugs to total surface area
of said zone of approximately 0.24.
7. The sockliner of claim 6 wherein at least one of said zones
having a ratio of total surface area of lugs to total surface area
of said zone of approximately 0.27.
8. The sockliner of claim 7 wherein at least two of said zones
having a ratio of total surface area of lugs to total surface area
of said zones of approximately 0.25.
9. The sockliner of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the total surface
area of the bottom face to the total surface area of said plurality
of lugs is in the range of between 0.2 and 0.3.
10. The sockliner of claim 1 wherein said plurality of zones
includes four zones, a hindfoot zone, a midfoot zone, a metatarsal
zone and a phalange zone, at least one of said zones having a ratio
of total surface area of lugs to total surface area of said zone in
the range of between 0.2 and 0.3.
11. The sockliner of claim 10 wherein at least two of said zones
having a ratio of total surface area of lugs to total surface area
of said zones in the range of between 0.2 and 0.3.
12. The sockliner of claim 10 wherein at least three of said zones
having a ratio of total surface area of lugs to total surface area
of said zones in the range of between 0.2 and 0.3.
13. The sockliner of claim 10 wherein all of said zones having a
ratio of total surface area of lugs to total surface area of said
zones in the range of between 0.2 and 0.3.
14. The sockliner of claim 1 wherein the hardness of the base is in
the range of about 20 to about 50 on the Asker "C" Scale.
15. The sockliner of claim 1 wherein the hardness of the lugs is in
the range of about 20 to about 50 on the Asker "C" Scale.
16. The sockliner of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the
perforation holes is in the range of about 1.5 mm to about 4
mm.
17. The sockliner of claim 2 wherein the width of the grooves is in
the range of about 1 mm to about 10 mm.
18. A sockliner comprising: a base having a top face and a bottom
face; a plurality of perforation holes positioned across the length
of said base and extending therethrough; a plurality of ventilation
grooves located along a peripheral edge of the sockliner; and a
plurality of zones located on said bottom face, each zone having a
plurality of lugs extending downwardly from said bottom face for
providing support and cushioning, said lugs being spaced within
each said zone so as to allow sufficient space for each lug to
compress and expand horizontally relative to each other.
19. The sockliner of claim 13 wherein said top face is anatomically
shaped.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a footwear
construction and, more particularly, to a sockliner having
ventilation grooves and perforation holes for promoting airflow,
and having a plurality of zones for housing a network of lugs
designed for facilitating foot movement, cushioning, breathability
and flexibility.
[0002] Numerous attempts have been made over the years to
incorporate into footwear means for providing improved cushioning
and support within a shoe's construction. Shoes, at their most
fundamental level, are intended to provide protection and comfort
to the human foot during the course of day-to-day activities.
Footwear designs have varied greatly over time as well as from
culture to culture, with the predominate focus relating to
functionality. Typically, shoe interiors contain a variety of hard
materials and/or low density foam and often include substantially
flat surfaces which come into direct contact with the foot. Such
materials are employed within the construction of footwear
interiors in an attempt to provide support and/or cushioning. While
these types of materials may provide comfort in the short-term,
such materials quickly compress, thus failing to provide sufficient
support and/or cushioning over the course of an entire day.
[0003] In order to correct for the design deficiencies of such
footwear interiors, consumers often purchase aftermarket insoles to
insert within shoes they find uncomfortable in an attempt to
compensate for the shoe's deficiencies in support and/or comfort.
Although many of these aftermarket insoles are marketed as a simple
solution for increasing support and/or comfort, their use is often
associated with fit problems and ultimately fail to deliver the
improvements promised. This is because the space and structural
limitations of a variety of footwear interiors were not considered
when these insoles were designed. Furthermore, aftermarket insoles
are typically a solid piece of foam which traps air, preventing air
from flowing under and around the foot, creating an unpleasant
environment within the shoe.
[0004] Oftentimes, individuals generally find footwear
uncomfortable after a full day of wear, regardless of whether the
individual is relying only on the support elements built within the
shoe's structure or if they have added additional support in the
form of a purchased aftermarket insole. Indeed, numerous
combinations of shoe constructions and/or separately sold insoles
have been employed in an attempt to provide support and/or comfort.
In particular, such current support elements fail to adequately
distribute an individual's weight during footstrike and are
constructed in a way that inhibits airflow around the foot. It is
therefore desirable to provide an improved sockliner for
integration into various types of footwear which provides increased
comfort, flexibility and support while facilitating airflow and
breathability within the shoe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is directed to a sockliner which uses
pressure distribution technology to adequately distribute an
individual's weight and includes ventilation mechanisms to
facilitate airflow around the foot. The present invention further
involves the integration of the present sockliner into a shoe
assembly. It is also generally recognized that the sockliner of the
present invention is more resistant to "bottoming out" which, for
purposes of this disclosure, means that the sockliner will not
reach a threshold of force where the single density material will
not further compress.
[0006] The present sockliner includes a base having a top face that
is anatomically shaped to reflect the natural contours of a
wearer's foot and is positioned within the interior layer of the
shoe. The sockliner extends from the rear of the shoe forward and
its plantar surface topography maximizes surface contact with the
wearer's foot and increases comfort.
[0007] The base further includes a bottom face which has four
anatomically placed zones. A network of lugs is positioned within
each zone providing perceivably noticeable cushioning and improved
support over the course of an entire day. More particularly, each
of the zones and the corresponding lugs are sized in accordance
with a specific ratio for each zone and for the entire sockliner.
The ratio of the surface area of the lugs to the total surface area
of the four zones as well as the ratio of the surface area of the
lugs within a specific zone to the total surface area of the
specific zone are employed on the underside of the sockliner to
distribute pressure, facilitate movement and to provide support to
the sole during footstrike. Each lug is sized, shaped and spaced
strategically within one of the four underfoot zones to support the
weight of the wearer and distribute underfoot pressure. Further,
the lugs are designed and positioned to create a tactile feeling
underneath the foot when the wearer is walking or standing and to
compress and recover to their original size throughout the complete
gait cycle.
[0008] The present sockliner further includes ventilation
mechanisms in the form of perforation holes which extend through
the top and bottom faces of the sockliner and ventilation grooves
which extend around a peripheral edge of the sockliner. The
perforation holes are spaced across the length of the sockliner for
facilitating air circulation within the shoe assembly. The
ventilation grooves are located along the peripheral edge of the
sockliner and are designed to cooperate with other shoe components
to provide additional spaces for allowing air to pass
therethrough.
[0009] The combination of the anatomically shaped top face, the
four zones, the plurality of lugs, the ventilation mechanisms and
the use of a single density material that substantially maintains
its form all function to improve the distribution of the underfoot
pressure, cushioning and breathability within a shoe assembly.
Furthermore, as pressure is applied to the present sockliner, the
lugs compress vertically within each zone, causing them to expand
horizontally. The spacing of the lugs within each zone provides
space for each lug to expand horizontally, allowing for additional
compression and cushioning without resistance or pressure increases
due to bottoming out.
[0010] Specific advantages and features of the present assembly
will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description
of several illustrative embodiments of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a bottom plan form view of one embodiment
of a sockliner constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the sockliner of FIG.
1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the sockliner of
FIG. 1 showing the square inches of the surface area of each of the
zones and the square inches of the surface area of each of the lugs
within a respective zone.
[0014] It should be understood that the present drawings are not
necessarily to scale and that the embodiments disclosed herein are
sometimes illustrated by fragmentary views. In certain instances,
details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present
invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may
have been omitted. It should also be understood that the invention
is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments
illustrated herein. Like numbers utilized throughout the various
figures designate like or similar parts or structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Footwear generally includes an upper and a sole assembly
that is affixed to the upper or to other components of a shoe. It
is envisioned that the upper may embody any number of
characteristics of footwear, accommodating variations in style
preference. The sole assembly typically includes a peripheral shape
designed to conform to the shape of a wearer's foot. For ease of
reference herein, the human foot may be generally considered to
have three regions: the forefoot region (area adjacent to the toes,
and which underlies at least a portion of the phalanges and the
metatarsals), the midfoot region (area adjacent to the medial arch
between the forefoot and the hind foot regions and which underlies
at least a portion of the arch of the wearer's foot) and the hind
foot region (area adjacent to the heel, and which underlies at
least a portion of the wearer's heel). When referring to such
locations and the way in which the regions of the foot are received
within a shoe, these terms should be interpreted to include those
areas that are disposed generally (and not necessarily directly)
beneath the corresponding elements of the foot. It should be
understood, however, that the boundaries between the regions are
not precise and that these terms should be interpreted loosely and
with a great deal of flexibility.
[0016] Referring now to the drawings, more particularly by
reference numbers, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of a
sockliner 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention. Although the present sockliner 10 is configured
and discussed herein as being incorporated into other components of
a shoe assembly as will be hereinafter discussed, the present
invention could also be incorporated into an aftermarket insole
product as well.
[0017] The sockliner 10 may be secured within the shoe using any
suitable attachment means including, but not limited to, cement
adhesives, glue, welt, direct attachment constructions and the
like. The peripheral edge 12 of the sockliner 10 may be structured
to enable the sockliner 10 to be strobel stitched to form the
bottom of the upper portion of a shoe. The peripheral edge 12 of
the sockliner 10 may further be modified to enable strobel
stitching to the upper, thereby ensuring that the edge thickness
and the shape of the sockliner 10 are conducive to stitching and
having enough strength to avoid tearing. The sockliner 10 may be
stitched and turned to the bottom of the upper to close the shoe.
It is also recognized that the sockliner 10 may likewise be
attached to the upper of the shoe by cementing the edges of the
upper to the peripheral edge 12 of the sockliner 10. Upper
materials may be selected to minimize restriction of movement and
promote breathability, thus cooperating with the sockliner 10. In
still another embodiment, the sockliner 10 can also be fabricated
so as to be unsecured within the shoe and removable by the wearer
if desired. In this embodiment, the sockliner 10 functions as an
aftermarket sockliner which is easily and readily insertable and
removable from any particular shoe.
[0018] The sockliner 10 is constructed to engage the sole of the
wearer's foot and to distribute weight during footstrike, providing
support, cushioning and/or airflow thereto. To this end, the base
14 of the sockliner 10 is a layer of foam with an anatomically
shaped top surface and an optional top cloth as will be hereinafter
explained. The base 14 may be formed from any suitable single
density material including, but not limited to, various forms of
foam which may be injection molded, compression molded, or poured.
Foam types may include, but are not limited to, polyurethane, EVA,
blended co-polymers, blown rubber or other resilient foams. The
base 14 preferably has a hardness range from about 20 to about 50
on the Asker "C" Scale. Because the sockliner 10 is generally made
of a single density material, the material specifications, for the
sockliner 10 are engineered to adequately support body weight in
critical areas throughout the complete gait cycle without bottoming
out. By not fully compressing, peak plantar pressures are avoided
and the cushioning material provides long lasting comfort and
support to the wearer. In one embodiment, the sockliner 10 may be
operably attached to a stabilizer plate (not shown) for providing
additional support and cushioning to critical areas of the foot
throughout the gait cycle.
[0019] More particularly, the sockliner 10 includes a base 14 that
may be formed in any suitable style or shape, the base 14 having a
top face 16 and a bottom face 18 as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The
anatomical shape of the top face 16 likewise maximizes foot
contact. The base 14 may have a thickness in the range from about 1
mm to about 10 mm and may further include a plurality of
perforation holes 20 for facilitating airflow around the foot. The
perforation holes 20 are distributed across the base 14 and around
the plurality of lugs 32 as best shown in FIG. 1, each hole 20
extending through the top and bottom faces 16 and 18 of the base
14. In one embodiment, each of the perforation holes 20 may have a
diameter in the range from about 1.5 mm to about 4 mm. Preferably,
the top face 16 is anatomically shaped to match the natural contour
of the wearer's foot, for example, by providing a recessed area for
receiving the wearer's heel and/or a raised area for engagement
with the wearer's arch. The top face 16 may be exposed for direct
contact with the wearer's foot, or, in an alternative embodiment,
the top face 16 may be directly or indirectly secured to and
covered by a top cloth (not shown). The top cloth may be made of
any suitable fabric material including, but not limited to, any
nylon or a polyester blend, the top cloth cooperating with the base
14 to receive the wearer's foot and to promote air circulation
within the shoe. It is recognized that the perforation holes 20
would also extend through the top cloth as well if used.
[0020] The peripheral edge 12 of the sockliner 10 may also extend
upwardly becoming the top edge of the sockliner 10. A plurality of
ventilation grooves 22 may be located within and/or around the
peripheral edge 12, the ventilation grooves 22 extending downwardly
along the outside edge portion of the sockliner so as to form a
space between the sockliner and other shoe components for allowing
air to flow therethrough. The grooves 22 cooperate with the
perforation holes 20 to circulate air within the shoe and around a
wearer's foot. In one embodiment, each of the ventilation grooves
22 may have a width in the range from about 1 mm to about 10 mm. It
is also envisioned that in alternative embodiments, the ventilation
grooves 22 may be formed in a variety of different shapes, as
desired, without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
[0021] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bottom face 18 includes
four zones 24, 26, 28 and 30, substantially underlying the
above-referenced regions of the wearer's foot. The hind foot zone
24 is positioned to underlie at least an area of the wearer's heel
located at the distal end of the shoe. The midfoot zone 26 is
positioned to underlie at least an area of the medial arch of the
wearer's foot. The metatarsal zone 28 is positioned to underlie at
least an area of the forefoot where the metatarsals are located.
The phalange zone 30 is positioned to underlie at least an area of
the forefoot where the phalanges are located at the proximate end
of the shoe.
[0022] The bottom face 18 further includes a plurality of
anatomically placed lugs 32 for engaging with the shoe assembly as
will be hereinafter further explained. The lugs 32 could likewise
be made from a variety of different types of foam material which is
injection molded, compression molded, or poured. The foam material
may again include, but is not limited to, polyurethane, EVA,
blended co-polymers, blown rubber or other resilient foams. In one
embodiment, the thickness of each lug 32 can be in the range from
about 1 mm to about 10 mm; the width of each lug 32 can be in the
range from about 5 mm to about 30 mm; and the length of each lug 32
can be in the range from about 5 mm to about 20 mm. The lugs 32 may
also have a hardness in the range from about 20 to about 50 on the
Asker "C" Scale. The lugs 32 evenly distribute weight and pressure;
they compress and recover to their original size giving better
cushioning and support; and the absence of foam under certain areas
of the sockliner such as between the various lugs 32 gives
multi-directional flexibility for natural foot motion.
[0023] Specifically, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the
total approximate surface area of the lugs 32 in all four (4) zones
24, 26, 28 and 30 is approximately 6.809 in.sup.2 whereas the total
approximate surface area of the bottom face 18 is approximately
26.981 in.sup.2. This results in a ratio of total surface area of
all of the lugs 32 in bottom face 18 to the total surface area of
the bottom face 18 itself being in the neighborhood of
approximately 0.2523, or approximately 0.25. More particularly, in
the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the total approximate surface
area of the lugs 32A in zone 24 is approximately 1.946 in.sup.2 and
the total approximate surface area of zone 24 is approximately 7.91
in.sup.2. This results in a ratio of the total surface area of the
lugs 32A in zone 24 to the total surface area of zone 24 being in
the neighborhood of approximately 0.2459, or approximately 0.25.
The total approximate surface area of the lugs 32B in zone 26 is
approximately 1.421 in.sup.2 and the total approximate surface area
of zone 26 is approximately 0.964 in.sup.2. This results in a ratio
of the total surface area of the lugs 32B in zone 26 to the total
surface area of zone 26 being in the neighborhood of approximately
0.2382, or approximately 0.24. The total approximate surface area
of the lugs 32C in zone 28 is approximately 2.314 in.sup.2 and the
total approximate surface area of zone 28 is approximately 8.671
in.sup.2. This results in a ratio of the total surface area of the
lugs 32C in zone 28 to the total surface area of zone 28 being in
the neighborhood of approximately 0.2668, or approximately 0.27.
Still further, the total approximate surface of the lugs 32D in
zone 30 is approximately 1.128 in.sup.2 and the total approximate
surface area of zone 30 is approximately 4.435 in.sup.2. This
results in a ratio of the total surface area of the lugs 32D in
zone 30 to the total surface area of zone 30 being in the
neighborhood of approximately 0.2543, or approximately 0.25.
[0024] It is recognized and anticipated that the overall total
surface area of the bottom face 18, the total surface area of all
of the lugs 32, and the total surface area of each of the zones 24,
26, 28 and 30 as well as the total surface area of each of the
respective lugs 32A, 32B, 32C and 32D within the respective zones
will change and vary depending upon the shoe size of the sockliner,
the type of shoe into which the sockliner will be placed, and the
particular size, shape and application of the sockliner.
Nevertheless, in a preferred embodiment, the lugs 32 may be
distributed amongst each of the respective zones 24, 26, 28, 30 in
any manner consistent with the various ratios set forth above.
Still further, it is recognized that the lugs 32 may be distributed
amongst each of the zones 24, 26, 28 and 30 such that all of the
various ratios discussed above fall in the range of between 0.2 and
0.3. This still provides improved cushioning, flexibility, support,
and weight distribution.
[0025] In one embodiment, each of the hind foot lugs 32A may be
positioned within the hind foot zone 24, regardless of the size and
shape of the lugs 32A and the zone 24, so long as the ratio of the
respective surface areas (lugs 32A/zone 24) is approximately 0.25,
or so long as the ratio of the respective surface areas falls in
the range of between 0.2 and 0.3. In one embodiment, each of the
midfoot lugs 32B may be positioned within the midfoot zone 26,
regardless of the size and shape of the lugs 32B and the zone 26,
so long as the ratio of the respective surface areas (lugs 32B/zone
26) is approximately 0.24, or so long as the ratio of the
respective surface areas falls in the range of between 0.2 and 0.3.
In one embodiment, each of the metatarsal lugs 32C may be
positioned within the metatarsal zone 28, regardless of the size
and shape of the lugs 32C and the zone 28, so long as the ratio of
the respective surface areas (lugs 32C/zone 28) is approximately
0.27, or so long as the ratio of the respective surface areas falls
in the range of between 0.2 and 0.3. In one embodiment, each of the
phalange lugs 32D may be positioned within the phalange zone 30,
regardless of the size and shape of the lugs 32D and the zone 30,
so long as the ratio of the respective surface areas (lugs 32D/zone
30) is approximately 0.25, or so long as the ratio of the
respective surface areas falls in the range of between 0.2 and 0.3.
It is also envisioned that in alternative embodiments, the lugs 32
may be located in any number of positions across the bottom face 18
and that the number of lugs 32 located within a particular zone
and/or the size and/or shape of lugs 32 employed may vary, as
desired, within each respective zone, without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0026] It is also envisioned that the materials which form the base
14 and the lugs 32 could be different materials, or the same
materials, or different materials with different hardnesses. It is
further envisioned that the base 14 and the lugs 32 could be
integrally formed as one member, or they could be made as separate
members which may be operably coupled or connected together.
Additionally, the heights of each of the lugs 32 may vary, as
desired, to facilitate cushioning and/or shoe traction. In
alternative embodiments, the lugs 32 may be positioned on the top
face 16 of the base 14 for engaging with the sole of a wearer's
foot.
[0027] Further, the overall dimensions of the present sockliner 10
as well as the specific shape and configuration of the various
sections thereof are also subject to wide variations and may be
sized and shaped into a wide variety of different sizes and
configurations so as to be compatible with the size and shape of
the particular footwear into which the present structure may be
inserted, incorporated and/or secured, or to conform to any space
limitations associated therewith without impairing the teachings
and practice of the present invention. It is also understood that
various modifications may be made to all of the various embodiments
disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention.
[0028] Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments
of a novel sockliner which promotes airflow and facilitates support
and cushioning throughout the complete gait cycle. As is evident
from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present
invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples
illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other
modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur
to those skilled in the art. The terms "having" and "including" and
similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in
the sense of "optional" or "may include" and not as "required".
Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and
applications of the present invention will, however, become
apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the
specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes,
modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do
not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to
be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims
which follow.
* * * * *