U.S. patent application number 17/095332 was filed with the patent office on 2022-05-12 for sole including lateral and medial plate members.
The applicant listed for this patent is Deckers Outdoor Corporation. Invention is credited to Matthew James Head, Thibaut Poupard.
Application Number | 20220142296 17/095332 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220142296 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Head; Matthew James ; et
al. |
May 12, 2022 |
Sole Including Lateral and Medial Plate Members
Abstract
An article of footwear is provided and includes a sole having a
forefoot portion, a heel portion, a medial side and a lateral side.
A first plate member is positioned on the medial side of the sole,
where the first plate member has a first length, and a second plate
member is positioned on the lateral side of the sole, where the
second plate member has a second length. The first length of the
first plate member is greater than or equal to the second length of
the second plate member.
Inventors: |
Head; Matthew James; (Santa
Barbara, GB) ; Poupard; Thibaut; (Goleta,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Deckers Outdoor Corporation |
Goleta |
CA |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/095332 |
Filed: |
November 11, 2020 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/16 20060101
A43B013/16; A43B 13/04 20060101 A43B013/04; A43B 5/06 20060101
A43B005/06; A43B 13/12 20060101 A43B013/12; A43B 13/22 20060101
A43B013/22 |
Claims
1. An article of footwear comprising: a sole having a forefoot
portion, a heel portion, a medial side and a lateral side; a first
plate member positioned on the medial side of the sole, said first
plate member having a first length; and a second plate member
positioned on the lateral side of the sole, said second plate
member having a second length, wherein said first length of said
first plate member is greater than or equal to said second length
of said second plate member.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said first plate
member extends from said forefoot portion to said heel portion.
3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein said second plate
member extends from said forefoot portion to said heel portion.
4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said second plate
member extends from said forefoot portion to said heel portion.
5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of said
first plate member and said second plate member extends from said
forefoot portion to a midfoot portion of said sole.
6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said sole includes a
first channel on said medial side and a second channel on said
lateral side, and wherein said first plate member is located in
said first channel and said second plate member is located in said
second channel.
7. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein a central area of at
least one of said first channel and said second channel includes a
cavity that is greater than a thickness of said at least one of
said first channel and said second channel.
8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of said
first plate member and said second plate member includes at least
one lateral curve.
9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of said
first plate member and said second plate member includes has
portions that are at different heights.
10. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said first plate
member includes a first thickness and said second plate member
includes a second thickness, and wherein said first thickness and
said second thickness are the same.
11. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said first plate
member includes a first thickness and said second plate member
includes a second thickness, and wherein said first thickness and
said second thickness are the different.
12. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said first plate
member and said second plate member are spaced from each other.
13. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of
said first plate member and said second plate member includes at
least one of a vertically oriented concave curve and a vertically
oriented convex curve.
14. An article of footwear comprising: a sole having a forefoot
portion, a heel portion, a medial side and a lateral side; a first
plate member positioned on the medial side of the sole, said first
plate member having a first length; and a second plate member
positioned on the lateral side of the sole, said second plate
member having a second length, wherein said first plate member and
said second plate member are connected to each other, and wherein
said first length of said first plate member is greater than or
equal to said second length of said second plate member.
15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein said first plate
member and said second plate member are connected in a midfoot
portion of said sole.
16. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein said sole includes
a first channel on said medial side and a second channel on said
lateral side, and wherein said first plate member is located in
said first channel and said second plate member is located in said
second channel.
17. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein a central area of
at least one of said first channel and said second channel includes
a cavity that is greater than a thickness of said at least one of
said first channel and said second channel.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present application relates generally to footwear, and
more particularly, to a sole including plate members for footwear
that support a user's feet while efficiently transferring energy
from the user's legs and feet to optimize running efficiency during
walking, jogging and running while reducing fatigue.
[0002] Running involves the transfer of energy between a person's
legs and feet and an underlying surface, such as the ground,
contributing to propel a person forward along a trail, a sidewalk,
a street or other path. The power a person is able to produce and
the speed at which a person is able to move in a forward direction
depends on a number of factors. For example, the ability to
properly apply forces on a surface affects the energy produced and
the rate of speed that the person is able to move. In particular,
the propulsion generated by a person's legs and feet is important
while walking, jogging or running. If a person's feet are not
sufficiently supported by their shoes and their feet to do not have
a stable push off point, less energy could be transferred from the
person's feet to the ground to propel the person forward. Shoe
constructions and the supportive systems in shoes are factors that
help with proper force application and efficient energy transfer
useful for walking or running. The lack of support could also cause
a person's legs to tire quicker and thereby affect their ability to
walk, jog or run.
[0003] There are many different types of structures for footwear to
facilitate running efficiency and optimal force application. For
example, some shoes include midsoles and outsoles that are made of
materials having different characteristics including hardness,
density and elasticity, which provide more support in some areas
and less support in other areas of a person's foot leading to
different shock absorption and propulsion behaviors. For example,
harder materials could support to foot structures during the
stance, helping a proper force application and energy transfer. In
another example, a plate is inserted or embedded in the sole of a
shoe to enhance the rigidity of the sole similar to harder
materials. The plate is a supportive element as well as
contributing to the performance attributes of a shoe while still
allowing the other materials of the sole to provide cushioning in
areas of the foot, such as the heel, to provide comfort.
[0004] It is therefore desirable to provide footwear that supports
a person's feet during walking, jogging and running to optimize
force application and energy transfers to enhance a person's
walking and running efficiency.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present article of footwear includes a sole having two
plate members where one of the plate members is on a medial side
and the other plate member is on a lateral side of the sole. The
plate members provide stability to the medial and lateral sides of
the sole and also provide a support that a user's foot can press
against and propel the user in a desired direction. Further, the
plate members enable a user's legs and feet to efficiently transfer
energy to the plate members to help reduce fatigue.
[0006] In an embodiment, an article of footwear is provided and
includes a sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion, a medial
side and a lateral side. A first plate member is positioned on the
medial side of the sole, where the first plate member has a first
length, and a second plate member is positioned on the lateral side
of the sole, where the second plate member has a second length. The
first length of the first plate member is greater than or equal to
the second length of the second plate member.
[0007] In another embodiment, an article of footwear is provided
and includes a sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion, a
medial side and a lateral side. A first plate member is positioned
on the medial side of the sole, where the first plate member has a
first length, and a second plate member is positioned on the
lateral side of the sole, where the second plate member having a
second length. In this embodiment, the first plate member and the
second plate member are connected to each other, and the first
length of the first plate member is greater than or equal to the
second length of the second plate member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of footwear
including the present sole;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the article of footwear of FIG.
1;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the present sole shown in
FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the lateral side of the
sole of FIG. 3;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the sole of FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the medial side of the sole
of FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of the sole of FIG. 5 taken
substantially along the line 7-7 in the direction generally
indicated;
[0015] FIG. 8 is a cross-section view of the sole of FIG. 5 taken
substantially along the line 8-8 in the direction generally
indicated;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the sole of FIG. 3 showing the
plate members;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a cross-section view of the sole of FIG. 9 taken
substantially along the line 10-10 in the direction generally
indicated;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a cross-section view of the sole of FIG. 9 taken
substantially along the line 11-11 in the direction generally
indicated;
[0019] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of the sole of FIG. 3 that
shows the medial plate member;
[0020] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of the sole of FIG. 3 that
shows the lateral plate member;
[0021] FIG. 14 is a top view of the medial plate member;
[0022] FIG. 15 is a side view of the medial plate member of FIG.
14;
[0023] FIG. 16 is a cross-section view of the medial plate member
of FIG. 14 taken substantially along the line 16-16 in the
direction generally indicated;
[0024] FIG. 17 is a top view of the lateral plate member;
[0025] FIG. 18 is a side view of the lateral plate member of FIG.
17; and
[0026] FIG. 19 is a cross-section view of the lateral plate member
of FIG. 17 taken substantially along the line 19-19 in the
direction generally indicated; and
[0027] FIG. 20 is a bottom view of another embodiment of the
present sole showing the plate members connected together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0028] The present sole is attached to an upper to form an article
of footwear to stabilize and cushion a user's foot during walking,
jogging and running, while providing enhanced stability and spring
for efficient propulsion. More specifically, the present sole
includes a midsole and an outsole where two plate members are
located on or in the midsole or outsole to provide enhanced support
in the user's feet and enable the user's feet to push against the
plate members and propel the user in a desired direction.
[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an article of footwear 20
includes an embodiment of the present sole, generally indicated as
22, where the sole 22 includes a midsole 24 attached to an upper
21, and an outsole 26. The midsole 24 may be an integral, molded
component made of a material having a designated hardness value or
made with different materials having the same or different hardness
values. For example, one or more portions of the midsole 24 may be
made with a material having a hardness or hardness value that is
greater than a hardness or hardness value in other areas of the
midsole to increase the stability and support in designated areas
of the midsole. In the illustrated embodiment, the midsole 24
includes a first material layer 28 made of a foam material, and a
second material layer 30 made of Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or an
EVA foam material. As shown in FIG. 1, the outsole 26 is attached
to a bottom surface 32 of the midsole 24 by an adhesive or by
molding, and is made of rubber. The outsole 26 typically includes a
plurality of tread members 34 that are configured to grip an
underlying surface, such as the ground, during movement. It should
be appreciated that the midsole 24 and outsole 26 may be made of
any suitable materials or combinations of materials.
[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, at least a portion of the sole 22 in a
heel or heel portion 36 extends outwardly at a predetermined angle
e from the upper. The sole 22 also extends outwardly from the rear
part of a heel or heel area 36 to enhance stability and balance
during movement. In the illustrated embodiment, the outer surface
38 of the sole 22 forms an angle e of thirty degrees relative to a
vertical line. Preferably, the angle e of the outer surface 38 of
the sole is twenty to thirty-five degrees. It should be appreciated
that the angle .crclbar. may be any suitable angle.
[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 4-19, the sole 22 is formed with
channels 40a and 40b that are configured to receive medial and
lateral plate members, which are described in more detail below.
The first channel or medial channel 40a extends along a medial side
42 of the sole 22 and the second channel 40b extends along a
lateral side 44 of the sole 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the
first channel 40a on the medial side of the sole 22 extends from
the heel area 36 to a forefoot area 46 of the sole. As shown in
FIG. 9, the first channel 40a has curves that generally correspond
to the curves of the sole 22 on the medial side 42. Similarly, the
second channel 40b on the lateral side 44 extends from the heel
area 36 to the forefoot area 46 of the sole 22. The second channel
40b also has curves that generally correspond to the curves on the
lateral side 44 of the sole 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the
first and second channels 40a and 40b are formed in a bottom
surface 48 of the first material layer 28 (upper layer) of the
midsole 24. In another embodiment, the first and second channels
40a and 40b are formed in a top surface 50 of the first material
layer 28 of the midsole 24. The first and second channels 40a and
40b may also be formed in the top surface 52 or the bottom surface
54 of the second material layer 30 (bottom layer) of the midsole
24, formed in the top surface 56 of the outsole 26 or at any
location within the midsole 24 or the outsole 26. As described in
more detail below, the first channel 40a or medial channel has a
length that is greater than a length of the second channel 40b or
lateral channel. Also, the first and second channels 40a, 40b are
formed as separate channels where the distance or space between the
channels varies along the lengths of the first and second channels
based on the desired support provided in different areas of the
sole 22. It should be appreciated that the length of the second
channel 40a may be greater than the length of the first channel 40
or that the lengths of the first and second channels 40a and 40b
may be the same.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 7, 8, 12 and 13, the first and second
channels 40a, 40b are configured to have a size and shape that
correspond to the size and shape of the plate members shown in
FIGS. 14 and 17. Similarly, the heights of the first and second
channels 40a, 40b correspond to the thicknesses, i.e., the distance
between the top and bottom surfaces, of the plate members shown in
FIGS. 16 and 19. A central area 58a, 58b of the first and second
channels 40a, 40b includes a height that is greater than the
thicknesses of the plate members to form a cavity or space 60a, 60b
that allow central portions of the plate members to flex downwardly
and upwardly within the cavities 60a, 60b due to pressure applied
to the central portions of the plate members by a user's feet. The
heights or sizes of the cavities 60a, 60b (FIGS. 12 and 13) in the
central areas 58a, 58b of the first and second channels 40a, 40b
may be any suitable heights based on the desired flex or movement
of the central portions of the plate members within the channels.
Further, the first and second channels 40a, 40b in the illustrated
embodiment are in the same horizontal or lateral plane in the sole
22. It is also contemplated that the first and second channels 40a,
40b may be in different planes relative to the vertical height of
the sole or portions of the first and second channels 40a, 40b may
be in the same plane or different planes.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 14-16, the first plate member or medial
plate member 62 is preferably made of carbon fiber material but may
be made with metal, a composite material or any suitable material
or combination of materials. As shown in FIG. 14, the first plate
member 62 has a first end 64 and a second end 66 that define an
overall length L1. As shown in FIG. 14, the first plate member 62
has a first curve 68 that curves laterally outwardly from the first
end 64 to a central area of the first plate member, and a second
curve 70 that curves laterally inwardly from the central area to
the second end 66. As described above, the lateral curves 68 and 70
of the first plate member 62 correspond to the curves of the medial
side 42 of the sole 22. It should be appreciated that the first
plate member 62 may have one or more lateral curves depending on
the desired support provided by the first plate member. It should
be appreciated that the first plate member 62 may also be straight
or substantially straight.
[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the first plate member 62 is
also bent or formed so that different portions of the first plate
member have different heights and configurations. As shown in FIG.
15, the first end 64 of the first plate member 62 has a concave
curve 74 that extends toward a central area 76. The central area 76
of the first plate member 62 has a convex curve 78 and the second
end 66 has a concave curve 80 that extends to the central area 76.
The different vertical heights and/or configurations of the first
plate member 62 enables the different portions of the first plate
member to provide different levels of support and flexibility. In
this way, the different portions of the first plate member 62
combine to provide a spring effect that enables a user to
efficiently transfer energy from their legs and feet to the sole 22
to spring or propel forward or in another desired direction.
[0035] Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the second plate member or
lateral plate member 82 is preferably made of a carbon fiber
material but may be made with metal, a composite material or any
suitable material or combination of materials, and has a similar
size and shape to the first plate member 62 but with a shorter
overall length L2. As shown in FIG. 17, the second plate member 82
has a first end 84 and a second end 86 where the first end has a
first curve 88 that curves laterally outwardly toward the lateral
side 44 of the sole 22 and a central area 90 of the second plate
member 82 that has a second curve 92 that curves laterally inwardly
away from the lateral side 44 of the sole 22 at the second end 86.
It should be appreciated that the second plate member 82 may have
any suitable number of curves or may be straight or substantially
straight. Also, the curves or curvatures of the first and second
plate members 62 and 82 may be the same or different from each
other.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 18, the second plate member 82 is bent or
formed to have different heights and/or configurations. In this
embodiment, the first end 84 of the second plate member 82 has a
concave curve 96 that extends toward the central area 90, a convex
curve 98 that extends from the central area 90 to a concave curve
100 at the second end 86. As described above, the formation of the
concave and convex curves in the second plate member 82 enables the
second plate member to provide a desired or predetermined level of
support and flexibility in different portions of the lateral side
44 of the sole 22. As a result, the second plate member 82 provides
a spring effect on the lateral side 44 of the sole 22 to enhance
the support and propulsion for a user as their foot presses or
pushes against the second plate member during movement.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 16 and 19, the first and second plate
members 62 and 82 respectively have first and second thicknesses T1
and T2. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second
thicknesses T1 and T2 are uniform along the entire lengths L1 and
L2 of the first and second plate members, where the first and
second thicknesses are the same. In another embodiment, the first
and second thicknesses T1 and T2 are different to provide different
levels of support and spring to the medial and lateral sides 42 and
44 of the sole 22. It is also contemplated that the first thickness
T1 and the second thickness T2 may vary along the lengths L1 and L2
of the first and second plate members 62 and 82. For example, the
thickness of the first plate member 62 and/or the thickness of the
second plate member 82 at the first end may be greater than or less
than the thickness at the central area and/or the second end of the
first and second plate members.
[0038] Additionally, the first and second plate members 62 and 82
in the above embodiment, each extend form the forefoot area 46 to
the heel area 36 of the sole 22. The first and/or second plate
members 62 and 82 may also extend from the forefoot area 46 to a
mid-foot area 102 (FIG. 9) depending on the support and cushioning
desired for the sole 22. At a minimum, the first and second plate
members 62 and 82 are located in the forefoot area 46 of the sole
22 to enable the forefoot of a user's foot to be able to push
against the first and/or second plate members 62 and 82 for
propulsion. As described above, the first and second plate members
62 and 82 may extend from the forefoot area 46 to any desired
location along the sole 22 to enhance the support and flexibility
of the sole.
[0039] In the above embodiments, providing the separate plate
members 62 and 82 on the medial and lateral sides 42 and 44 of the
sole 22 allow for different levels of support and flexibility to be
provided to a user's feet on the medial and lateral sides of the
article of footwear 20. For example, more support and flexibility
or spring may be provided on the medial side 42 than the lateral
side 44. Alternatively, more support and spring may be provided on
the lateral side 44 than the medial side 42. Further, the first
plate member 62 is longer than the second plate member 82 to
correspond to user's foot where the medial side of the foot is
longer than the lateral side. Forming the first and second plate
members 62 and 82 with lengths that correspond to the different
lengths of the feet on the medial and lateral sides maximizes the
spring effect provided by the first and second plate members. Also,
the configurations of the first and second plate members 62 and 82,
such as the lateral shape and vertical heights, and the lengths of
the first and second plate members are determined based one the
desired support and flexibility or spring-effect desired in the
different areas of the sole 22 to help a user to efficiently
transfer energy generated by their legs and feet to the plate
members, and thereby the sole 22, and efficiently propel their body
in a desired direction.
[0040] In another embodiment, the sole 104 includes a recessed area
or channel 106 formed in a midsole or outsole. A medial plate
member 108 extends along the medial side 110 of the sole, and a
lateral plate member 112 extends along the lateral side 114 of the
sole as described above. In this embodiment, a connecting portion
116 connects or joins the medial plate member 108 and the lateral
plate member 112 in an area between the mid-foot area and heel area
of the sole 104. The connecting portion 116 is preferably formed
with a flexible material so that the medial plate member 108 and
the lateral plate member 112 may move relative to each other during
use. It should be appreciated that the connecting portion 116 may
be located at any suitable point along the medial plate member 108
and the lateral plate member 112. Additionally, the connecting
portion may be longer or shorter along a longitudinal axis of the
sole depending on the desired level of rigidity and
flexibility.
[0041] While particular embodiments of the present sole for an
article of footwear have been shown and described, it will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and
modifications may be made thereto without departing from the
invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following
claims.
* * * * *