U.S. patent application number 15/107430 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-05 for sole, particularly for sports shoes.
The applicant listed for this patent is DIADORA SPORT S.R.L.. Invention is credited to Angelo MASON, Enrico POLEGATO MORETTI.
Application Number | 20170000213 15/107430 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50159416 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170000213 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MASON; Angelo ; et
al. |
January 5, 2017 |
SOLE, PARTICULARLY FOR SPORTS SHOES
Abstract
A sole, particularly for sports shoes, which includes in
succession from the bottom: a tread sole, a hollow mid-sole made of
elastic material with a bottom that has through openings that face
opposite faces thereof, and at least one upper border, which
delimits a respective opening that is directed toward the bottom
and is raised from it by supporting elements at least at the heel,
which define a succession of lateral passages of the mid-sole that
connect its internal cavity to the outside. The sole further
includes a laminar support layer for the foot, which is associated
perimetrically with the upper border so as to cover the opening. he
laminar support layer has extensibility characteristics and the
mid-sole has flexibility characteristics such that, in combination,
the system returns a thrust in response to the pressure of the foot
on the laminar support layer during sports activity.
Inventors: |
MASON; Angelo; (Caerano Di
San Marco, IT) ; POLEGATO MORETTI; Enrico; (Crocetta
Del Montello, IT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DIADORA SPORT S.R.L. |
Caerano Di San Marco |
|
IT |
|
|
Family ID: |
50159416 |
Appl. No.: |
15/107430 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
December 15, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2014/077789 |
371 Date: |
June 22, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/223 20130101;
A43B 13/141 20130101; A43B 13/187 20130101; A43B 13/125 20130101;
A43B 13/14 20130101; A43B 13/04 20130101; A43B 13/181 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/18 20060101
A43B013/18; A43B 13/04 20060101 A43B013/04; A43B 13/22 20060101
A43B013/22; A43B 13/12 20060101 A43B013/12; A43B 13/14 20060101
A43B013/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 2013 |
IT |
PD2013A000358 |
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A sole, particularly for sports shoes, comprising in succession
from the bottom: a tread sole, a hollow mid-sole made of elastic
material, with a bottom that has through openings that face
opposite faces thereof, and at least one upper border, which
delimits a respective opening that is directed toward said bottom
and is raised from it by means of supporting elements at least at
the heel, which define a succession of lateral passages of said
mid-sole that connect its internal cavity to the outside, a laminar
support layer for the foot, which is associated perimetrically with
said upper border so as to cover said opening, said laminar support
layer having extensibility characteristics and said mid-sole having
flexibility characteristics such that in combination the system
returns a thrust in response to the pressure of the foot on said
laminar support layer during sports activity.
22. The sole according to claim 21, wherein said laminar support
layer has limited extensibility characteristics, so as to flex
toward each other transversely opposite side walls of said mid-sole
when it is subjected to the pressure of the foot, said mid-sole
being made of elastically flexible material.
23. The sole according to claim 22, wherein said laminar support
layer has lower elasticity characteristics than said mid-sole.
24. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said laminar support
layer comprises at least one non-extensible net.
25. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said laminar support
layer comprises at least one substantially non-extensible net
coupled to at least one film made of plastic material.
26. The sole according to claim 25, wherein said substantially
non-extensible net is made of plastic material.
27. The sole according to claim 21, wherein said laminar support
layer had greater elasticity characteristics than said
mid-sole.
28. The sole according to claim 27, wherein said laminar support
layer comprises an elastically flexible net.
29. The sole according to claim 28, wherein said elastically
flexible net is made of plastic material.
30. The sole according to claim 21, wherein said upper border is
extended along the entire perimeter of said mid-sole.
31. The sole according to claim 21, wherein said laminar support
layer is associated perimetrically with said upper border by
heat-sealing two films made of plastic material, between which it
is interposed at its perimetric region, with said upper border
.
32. The sole according to claim 21, wherein said mid-sole is made
in a single piece of thermoplastic elastomeric material.
33. The sole according to claim 21, wherein said supporting
elements protrude downwardly from the upper border and are inclined
toward said heel or toward said forefoot so as to connect to said
bottom.
34. The sole according to claim 21, wherein said through openings
of said bottom are defined by the crossing of a succession of
transverse elements with a longitudinal pin, said transverse
elements being substantially parallel to each other and extending
from the lower end of said supporting elements between said two
side walls of said mid-sole.
35. The sole according to claim 34, wherein said tread sole covers
said transverse elements on the side for contact with the ground,
adapting to their contour, at said heel and at said forefoot.
36. The sole according to claim 21, wherein said supporting
elements are externally substantially tubular and with rounded
edges and are provided in a single piece with said bottom of said
mid-sole.
37. The sole according to claim 36, wherein a succession of said
supporting elements, which are arranged side by side along the
perimeter of said mid-sole, defines a succession of said lateral
passages that connect the internal cavity of said mid-sole to the
outside.
38. The sole according to claim 37, wherein said supporting
elements are alternated in their succession, on the outer side, by
separators.
39. The sole according to claim 21, wherein said mid-sole is
provided in two parts, with an upper border that is provided
separately from the hollow portion of said mid-sole.
40. The sole according to claim 39, wherein said upper border and
said separators are made of thermoplastic elastomeric material and
said hollow portion is made of polymeric material.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a sole, particularly for
sports shoes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Currently, in the sports shoe field the need is felt to
propose shoes capable of controlling movement and of cushioning the
impacts of the foot with the ground.
[0003] In this regard, the tread of a sports shoe has the function
of ensuring traction on slippery ground, such as wet tarmac, and
must withstand wear. In fact, since it is subjected to various
stresses, it is composed typically of a rubber mix, for qualities
of high resistance and durability, with various sculpting in order
to adapt to the walking surface and ensure the best possible grip
with it.
[0004] Very often, the tread has, in the forefoot region, some
flexing grooves that allow, in the last phase of rolling, a better
mobility thereof, while in the central part of the waist the tread
can be absent, leaving space to the mid-sole in order to reduce the
weight of the shoe.
[0005] As regards the level of shock absorption, it has to be such
as to reduce adequately the excessive load in the region of impact
of the foot with the ground and return elastically part of the
received energy in order to facilitate especially the thrust phase
during rolling, trying to reduce muscular stress and the loads
affecting the muscular-skeletal system.
[0006] Up to now, in order to meet these needs, mid-soles are known
which comprise a thickness of elastically flexible and
shock-absorbing material, adapted to conform itself anatomically
according to the configurations that the foot of the user assumes
during the practice of sports. Currently, mid-soles are made of
polymeric material, particularly PU and EVA, acronyms of
polyurethane and ethyl vinyl acetate, with reinforcements, known as
shanks, in the region of the waist made of TPU or PEBAX, acronyms
of thermoplastic polyurethane and of Polyether Block Amides.
[0007] The shank arranged in the median region of the central
section of the sole ensures better torsional stability both during
heel impact and during thrust and especially during lateral
movements.
[0008] The use of ethyl vinyl acetate, hereinafter abbreviated with
its acronym EVA, is widespread because, being an expanded material,
it is lightweight and capable of absorbing impacts.
[0009] However, one of the problems of EVA is that, due to repeated
compressions during use, it loses over time the shock-absorbing
characteristics and the elastic return of the thrust phase.
[0010] Polyurethane foam would solve this problem, but it is
heavier than EVA and subject to hydrolysis over a short time.
[0011] Sports shoe manufacturers have proposed some solutions to
these problems that consist in embedding, at the heel region,
shock-absorbing devices that consist of pads containing air or gel
or the like, adapted to be deformed and absorb partly elastically
and partly plastically the energy of the impact with the
ground.
[0012] However, over time, the pads deflate and break easily if
subjected to repeated compressions during sports activity.
[0013] Another proposed solution is the provision of the mid-sole
with a honeycomb structure, which however is still too heavy.
SUMMARY
[0014] The aim of the present disclosure is to provide a sole for
sports shoes that is light and flexible in order to conform easily
to the movements of the foot of the user and at the same time is
capable of damping effectively impacts with the ground during
sports activities.
[0015] Within this aim, the disclosure provides a sole capable of
maintaining over time the sought characteristics of shock
absorption and thrust.
[0016] The disclosure further provides a sole that is simple and
can be manufactured at low costs.
[0017] These aims that will become better apparent hereinafter are
achieved by providing a sole, particularly for sports shoes,
characterized in that it comprises in succession from the bottom:
[0018] a tread sole, [0019] a hollow mid-sole made of elastic
material, with a bottom that has through openings that face
opposite faces thereof, and at least one upper border, which
delimits a respective opening that is directed toward said bottom
and is raised from it by means of supporting elements at least at
the heel, which define a succession of lateral passages of said
mid-sole that connect its internal cavity to the outside, [0020] a
laminar support layer for the foot, which is associated
perimetrically with said upper border so as to cover said opening,
[0021] said laminar support layer having extensibility
characteristics and said mid-sole having flexibility
characteristics such that in combination the system returns a
thrust in response to the pressure of the foot on said laminar
support layer during sports activity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] Further characteristics and advantages of the disclosure
will become better apparent from the description of two preferred
but not exclusive embodiments of the sole according to the
disclosure, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a side view of the sole according to the
disclosure in its first embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the sole according to the
disclosure, again in the first embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 2, taken along the line
III-III;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of FIG. 2, taken along the line
IV-IV;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the sole according to the
disclosure, again in the first embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a side view of the sole according to the
disclosure in its second embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the sole according to the
disclosure, again in the second embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of FIG. 7, taken along the line
VIII-VIII;
[0031] FIG. 9 is a sectional view of FIG. 7, taken along the line
IX-IX; and
[0032] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the sole according to the
disclosure, again in the second embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] With reference to the figures, the sole according to the
disclosure, in its first embodiment, is designated generally by the
reference numeral 10.
[0034] As clearly visible in the sectional views of FIGS. 2 and 3,
the sole comprises in succession from the bottom a tread sole 11
made of rubber, a hollow mid-sole 12 made of elastic material, and
a laminar support layer 13 for the foot.
[0035] In particular, the mid-sole 12 is provided in a single piece
and made of thermoplastic elastomeric material, preferably
PEBAX.
[0036] The hollow of the mid-sole 12 is clearly visible in FIGS. 3
to 5, which show clearly a bottom 14 that has through openings 15
facing opposite faces 16a, 16b thereof, and an upper border 17,
which delimits an opening that is directed toward the bottom 14 and
is extended along all of the perimeter of the mid-sole 12. The
laminar support layer 13 is associated perimetrically with the
upper border 17 so as to cover the opening that it delimits
[0037] The upper border 17 is raised from the bottom 14 by means of
supporting elements 18 that extend along the perimeter of the sole
10, being raised further by elements that are higher at the heel 19
than the forefoot 20 and the waist 21.
[0038] The same support elements 18, as shown in FIG. 1, define a
succession of lateral passages 22 of the mid-sole 12 that connect
its internal cavity to the outside.
[0039] Said passages extend from the border downwardly and are
inclined toward the heel 19 or toward the forefoot 20 until they
connect to the bottom 14.
[0040] In general, the laminar support layer 13 has extensibility
characteristics and the mid-sole 12 has flexibility characteristics
such that in combination the system returns a thrust in response to
the pressure of the foot on the laminar support layer 13 during
sports activity.
[0041] In particular, it can have lower elasticity characteristics
than the mid-sole 12.
[0042] More in particular, in this case the laminar support layer
13 has a non-extensible net-like structure preferably made of
plastic material, of the type of thermoplastic polyurethane, in
short TPU.
[0043] In FIG. 5 it is shown only partially in the region of the
heel 19 in order to allow the mid-sole 12 to be visible.
[0044] In the case shown, the laminar support layer 13 has limited
extensibility characteristics, so as to flex toward each other
transversely opposite side walls 23 of the mid-sole 12 when it is
subjected to the pressure of the foot. Conveniently, in this case
the mid-sole is made of elastically flexible material. FIG. 4 is a
transverse sectional view, taken at the region of the heel 19, in
which A designates the direction of movement of the laminar support
layer 13 following the pressure applied thereon by the foot and B
designates the directions toward which the substantially
non-extensible laminar support layer 13, by curving downwardly,
flexes the side walls 23 of the mid-sole 12.
[0045] As an alternative, the laminar support layer 13 may comprise
a non-extensible net coupled to a film made of plastic material for
reinforcement, in order to ensure light weight and flexibility. The
plastic material of the film also is constituted preferably by
TPU.
[0046] In order to ensure the thrust for response to the pressure
of the foot on the laminar support layer 13, such layer can have,
in another version, greater elasticity characteristics than those
of the mid-sole 12 and can comprise for example an elastically
flexible net made of plastic material, again made of TPU. In this
case the deformation thereof does not flex the side walls 23 of the
mid-sole 12, the material of which is less elastic, but the
material itself deforms downwardly in an elastic manner
[0047] The laminar support layer 13 can be glued to the upper
border 17, or preferably, as in the case described, is associated
perimetrically with the upper border 17 by heat-sealing two films
24 made of plastic material, between which it is interposed at its
peripheral region, with the upper border 17.
[0048] The laminar support layer 13 can be likewise associated with
the upper border 17 of the mid-sole 12 by gluing.
[0049] As clearly visible in the figures in top plan and bottom
plan view, the through openings 15 are defined by the crossing of a
succession of transverse elements 25 with a longitudinal pin
26.
[0050] The transverse elements 25 are shaped, substantially
parallel to each other and extending from the lower end of the
supporting elements 18 between the two opposite side walls 23 of
the mid-sole 12, connecting them.
[0051] The tread sole 11 substantially covers the transverse
elements 25 on the side for contact with the ground at the heel 19
and at the forefoot 20.
[0052] The transverse elements 25, at the waist 21 are conveniently
thinner than those of the regions of the heel 19 and of the
forefoot 20, constituting substantially an extension of the support
elements 18 under the sole of the foot.
[0053] In the second embodiment, the sole is designated generally
by the reference numeral 110 and is shown in FIGS. 6 to 10.
[0054] In particular, in the sectional view of FIG. 8, it can be
seen that it comprises, as in the previous embodiment, in
succession from the bottom a tread sole 111 made of rubber, a
hollow mid-sole 112 made of elastic material and a laminar support
layer 113 for the foot.
[0055] The cavity of the mid-sole 112 is clearly visible in FIGS. 8
to 10, in which a bottom 114 is recognizable which has through
openings 115 that face opposite faces 116a, 116b thereof, and an
upper border 117, which delimits an opening that is directed toward
the bottom 114 and is extended along the entire perimeter of the
mid-sole 112. The laminar support layer 113 is associated
perimetrically with the upper border 117 so as to cover the opening
that delimits it. In FIG. 10 the laminar support layer 113 is shown
only partially, as in the previous embodiment, in order to leave
the rest of the mid-sole 112 in view.
[0056] Unlike the previous embodiment, the mid-sole 112 is provided
in two parts, with an upper border 117 provided separately from the
hollow portion 127 of the mid-sole 112.
[0057] In this embodiment also, the upper border 117 is raised from
the bottom 114 by means of supporting elements 118 that extend
along the perimeter of the sole 110, raised more by higher elements
at the heel 119 than at the forefoot 120 and at the waist 121.
[0058] In particular, the supporting elements 118 appear from the
outside as substantially tubular elements, with quadrilateral
cross-section in the example and with rounded corners, provided in
a single piece with the bottom 114 of the mid-sole 112. The series
of these elements, arranged laterally adjacent along the perimeter
of the mid-sole 112 as indicated in FIG. 6, defines a succession of
lateral passages 122 that connect the internal cavity of the
mid-sole 112 to the outside.
[0059] Actually, the supporting elements 118 are provided in a
single piece not only with the bottom 114 but also with each other
and the same figure allows to notice that they are alternated on
the outside by separators 128 in the described embodiment.
[0060] Moreover, the supporting elements 118 arranged side by side
along the perimeter constitute substantially the wall of the hollow
portion 127.
[0061] The tread sole 111 is made of rubber and covers, at least
partially, the bottom 114 on the side for contact with the
ground.
[0062] The upper border 117 and the separators 128 are made of
thermoplastic elastomeric material, preferably two types of PEBAX,
and the hollow portion 127 is made of polymeric material,
preferably EVA.
[0063] In this embodiment also, a peculiarity of the sole 110
resides in that the laminar support layer 113 has extensibility
characteristics and the mid-sole 112 has flexibility
characteristics such that in combination the system returns a
thrust in response to the pressure of the foot on the laminar
support layer 113 during sports activity. The materials of the
support layer 113 and of the mid-sole 112 can be the same described
in the previous embodiment, and so can their respective
characteristics, one relative to the others, can be of the same
type already described.
[0064] It can be noted from FIG. 10 that the laminar support layer
113 comprises a net.
[0065] It can have limited extensibility characteristics, so as to
flex toward each other transversely opposite side walls 129 of the
mid-sole 112 when it is subjected to the pressure of the foot, as
described previously and shown in FIG. 4 for the first
embodiment.
[0066] Again, in this case the laminar support layer 113 is
associated perimetrically with the upper border 117 by heat-sealing
two films 124 made of plastic material, between which it is
interposed at its perimetric region, with the upper border 117.
[0067] However, the laminar support layer 113 can be equally
associated with the upper border 117 of the mid-sole 112 by
gluing.
[0068] In other constructive variations, the mid-sole 12 or 112 can
have multiple upper borders 17, for example, one in the heel region
and one in the forefoot region, the openings of which are covered
by respective laminar support layers 13 or 113.
[0069] Advantageously, in the provision of a shoe, the use of a
sole 10 or 110 according to the disclosure, particularly with a
net-like laminar support layer 13 or 113 to be coupled to other
vapor-permeable elements of the insole, allows to obtain a shoe
with vapor-permeability characteristics, creating a ventilation
buffer volume in the cavity of the mid-sole 12 or 112.
[0070] It should be noted that during the use of a shoe that
comprises a sole 10 according to the disclosure, with a laminar
support layer 13 having lower elastic characteristics than the
mid-sole 12, the pressure of the foot of the user causes a lowering
of the laminar support layer 13 that causes the elastic deformation
of the opposite side walls 23 that flex substantially in direction
B, moving closer in the manner already described and shown in FIG.
4.
[0071] During rolling, the compression to which the portion of sole
has just been subjected occurs and the laminar support layer 13, by
cooperating with the mid-sole 12, resumes its initial position,
releasing the accumulated energy with a "springboard" thrust effect
against the foot.
[0072] The laminar support layer 13 facilitates significantly the
thrust phase during sports activity.
[0073] The same remarks can be repeated for the second embodiment
of the sole 110.
[0074] For both embodiments, the "springboard" thrust effect is
obtained also if the laminar support layer has greater elasticity
characteristics than the mid-sole, and is due in this case to the
elastic return of such laminar support layer.
[0075] It should be noted that the cavity of the mid-sole allows to
provide a structure that is flexible, in order to conform
anatomically to the configurations of the foot, and lightweight
thanks to the reduced quantity of material used.
[0076] Moreover, the use of a laminar support layer, of the type
described, allows to keep unchanged over time the characteristics
of elastic performance and thrust, and likewise the cavity inside
the mid-sole allows, by limiting at the same time the weight of the
structure, to cushion the impact with the ground, reducing the
dependence of this characteristic on the material used.
[0077] It should be noted also that in both embodiments the
supporting elements 18 and 118 not only space the upper border 17
or 117 from the bottom 14 or 114 of the mid-sole 12 or 112 but are
also designed to cushion impacts with the ground and to return at
least partially the energy in the thrust phase.
[0078] In practice it has been found that the disclosure provides a
sole capable of conforming easily to the foot during use of the
shoe and to cushion effectively impacts with the ground while
ensuring the necessary elastic return in the thrust phase.
[0079] Moreover, the sole maintains the initial cushioning and
thrust characteristics longer over time.
[0080] Another advantage of the sole according to the disclosure
resides in the particular aesthetic effect due to the fact that the
through openings in the bottom of the mid-sole and the lateral
passages make the inside of the cavity and the laminar support
layer visible from the bottom.
[0081] The disclosure thus conceived is susceptible of numerous
modifications and variations; all the details may further be
replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
[0082] In practice, the materials used, so long as they are
compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes
and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the
state of the art.
[0083] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No.
PD2013A000358 from which this application claims priority are
incorporated herein by reference.
* * * * *