WO2014078523A1

WO2014078523A1 - Comfort shoe

Info

Publication number: WO2014078523A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/070078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Victor H. DABAH; Peter ANADIO
Original assignee: Acculign Shoe Company Limited
Priority date: 2012-11-15
Filing date: 2013-11-14
Publication date: 2014-05-22
Also published as: US20140130269A1

Abstract

A method of making a shoe includes the steps of providing a midsole having a plurality of downward extending flexible projections that elastically flex when exposed to the weight of a person walking in the shoe; and determining; the number of associated projections based on the anticipated weight: and/or foot width and/ or foot length of the wearer of the shoe. Each one of the downwardly expending projections is configured as a small bowl- shaped element, open at the top, with a cylindrical plug extending down from the bottom of the bowl into the outsole recess that is associated with the projections. The method may include the step of selecting a dimension of the cross-sectional surface area of the cylindrical plugs of the projections, wherein said area is increased for a larger shoe Si2¾ and decreased for a smaller shoe size.

Description

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.Related Afi eitfoiit

[0001] This application is a nonprovisionai of US Provisional Application No.

81726,839 filed November 15.2012, and this application claims the benefit of the fling date thereof.

[0002] The resent Invention relates to a shoe, and in particular, to a shock

absorbing show that can has to protect the f et, legs and back of the wearer while at the same time providing additional b i nce to the wearer. 0003] US Patent No. ? / i d 220 the disclosure of which is ereby incorporated by reference, discfoses a shoo that has cushioning prelections onder the forefoot and in the iee area. This shoe also Includes a ventilation system.

[0004] lik many prior art shoes, the shoe shown in US Patent No. 7712,229 is an atternpi at providing an improved walking and standing platform for a wearer. However, Applicant has studied this shoe and has delerrninsO that it can be improved significantly. Applicant's improved shoe is detailed below, and Is shown in the accompanying drawings.

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[00051 The present invention relates to a %ho%_s and in particular, to a shock

absorbing shoe that can help to protect the feet, legs and back of the wearer, while at Hie same time providing additional balance to the while standing or walking. The invention Is applicable to shoes of varying constructions. As representative of the invention, the drawings illustrate a shoe 10 that is one embodiment of the invention,

[0006] The sole of the shoe 10 incyctos an outsole 12, a midsole 14, and an

insole 16. These three parts of the shoe 10 are joined Togethe in a known manner to form the sole of the shoe that is then jointed to the upper (not illustrated).

[0007] The bottom of the midsole 14 is formed with multiple front projections 20 in the forefoot area 22. Each projection 20 is configured as a small bowbshaped element 24, open at th top, with a cylindrical plug 26 extending down from the bottom of the bowl. In the illustrated embodiment, there are fifteen front

projections 20.

[0008] The bottom of the midsole 14 Is formed w th one or more rear projections 30 n the heel area 32. Each projection 30 m configured as a small bowl-shaped element 34 _: open af the top,, with a cylindrical plug 36 extending down from the bottom of the bowl. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two ear projections. OQ9] The upper surface 35 of the Outsoie 1 Is formed with a nutmber of openings or recesses 38 In the forefoot area 40 of the oufsofc 12, Each recess 38 is associated with (underlies) a respective one of the front midsole projections 20. In one embodiment each plug 26 on 3 front projection 20 extends freely n So sfs associated opening 38 without adhering, in another embodiment, each plug 28 is adhered in its associated opening 38. for example, with adhesive.

[00010] The upper surface 35 of the outsoie 12 Is formed with 3 number of

openings or recesses 44 in the heel area 46 of the outsole 12. Each recess 44 is associated with { underlies) a respective one of the heel midsole projections 30. In one embodiment, ¾ ch plug 34 on a rear projection 30 extends freely into its associated opening 44 without adhenng. In another embodiment, each plug 34 Is adhered In its associated opening 44, for exam le, with adhesive. 000 1] The midsole 14 Is rmade from a soft, elastic materia!. I be projections 20 and 30 are configured to absorb shock during walking. Thus, when the rear portion of the tool presses down on the midsole 14 during walking, the rear projections 30 are compressed, absorbing the Impact The sides of the bowl portions 34 of the rear projections 30 deform down and out, allowing the prelections to compress vertically, to provide for the desired cushioning effect. [00012] Thereafter during the stride, the front or forefoot ortion of the foot pr sses 4mm. on the mldsole 14. The front p ojections 20 are compressed _> absorbing the impact. The sloes of the bowl portions 24 of the front rojections 20 deform down and out, allowing the front projections to compress vertically, to provide for the desired cushioning effect.

[00013] When the shoe 10 is thereafter lifted up from the ground the elastic nature f the projections 20 and 30 returns them to their original shape and

configuration.

10001 ] The shoe 10 of the present Invention differs from the shoe of the

aforementioned US Patent m significant ways. The s oe 10 still Includes a large number of projections 20 under the forefoot of the sols, However, there are only fiftee front projections 20 provided in the forefoot area, in the illustrated embodiment This number of projections: 20^: is significantly toss thin in the shoes that are shown end described in the aforeme tioned US patent.

[000151 The shoe 10 includes a number of projections 3D under the heel area.

However, there are only two rear projections 30 provided in the heel area. This number of projections 30 is significantly loss than In the shoes that are shown and described in the aforementioned US patent. The two heel rear projections 30 are centered laterally. Thus, there are a total of only 34 projections per pair of shoes 10.

100016] Applicant has found, that because of these specific aspects of the

construction of the inventive shorn the shoes provide significantly increased weight dlstnby!ign: and comfort for the wearer while Ooth walking and standing The shoes 10 also provide significantly Increased balance for the wearer,

{00017J s determination was made in siee-by-slde somporisens with shoes as shown and described In the aforementioned patent. Significant experimentation provided the knowledge that this reduced numb r of projections 20 and 30 contributes greatly to balance especially, and also to Increased comfort. ^'[000161 T shoe 1 «^■ of Ihe present invention does not have venilsilon through notes in the insole 16, which would allow air to flow through the sate ma out through Ihe heel area. A plicant has found that thls entiiafen effect is not necessary to provide the comfort and balance that are desired.

[000 9] The invention is applicable to all types of shoes including men's shoes. wornenA shoes, and children's shoes. As the size of the shoe 10 varies overall, the size, number, and spacing of the projections 20 and 30 can on white other features can remain the same. These parameters can be selected In various manners in accordance with the present invention, as described below.

[00020] The construction of the shoe 1 Q is tailored to fit several different criteria:

weight at the user, width of the foot, and length of the foot. A heavier person will require more; shock absorption and balancing capability from the shoe D, Therefore, additional projections 20 anchor 30 are added to compensate, A wider foot requires: a wider shoe I d, and the number and spacing of the projections 20 and/or 30 are varied proportionately. A longer foot requires a longer shoe 10_; and the number and spacing of the projections 10 and/or 30 are, again, varied proportionately.

[00021] In another method, the size and spacing and number of projections can be based, initially, on the person - shoe size. One method Includes the following steps. Start with a standard number of projections, for example, fifteen.

Increase the cross- ectlocai area of the plugs 26 or 36 of each projection, by a small percentage for a larger mm shoe. For example, the cross -sectional areas of the plugs could be increased by from about five percent to about eight percent when going to a larger shoe size,

Γ0002 ] In another example, this increase i the cross-soctional area of the plugs occurs in croupe of three shoe sizes; thus, the erosa-sectlonal area of the plugs would be the same across shoe sues 6/7/8 for economy, and would increase for shoe sizes 9/10/1 1 ,

[00023] A different number of projections can be provided, alternatively. For

example, a shoe that is a larger size Sands much differently during the users stride. A method of selecting the number of rojections can Include the steps of starting with a redeter ined number -of pro ec on of a predetermined z& and spacing; and adjusting the number of projections io fir the available sol© space. For exsmpte, on a smaier shoe, the predetermined number of projections might have to be reduced: on a larger shoe, the number of projections could be increased to fi available space, 0241 The improved balance that Is provided by the shoes of the preset invention has been shown on an electronic balance pad. The electronic balance pad measures a persons' movement and d st nce of bod eighi distribution.. The persons stands, on the pad In socks for an initial measurement After the user has worn the inventive shoe for a period of time, the user can retake the measurement lex! and clearly note the difterence, i.e., improved balance.

Claims

1. A method of making a shoe, comprising the steps of:

providing a midsote having a plurality of downward extending flexible projections thai eiasiieally flex when exposed to the weight of a person walking in the Shoe;

providing an outsote having a plurality of upward opening recesses for receiving the lower ends of the projections, arid

securing the midsole to the on sole so thai the lower ends of the downward extending projections are located In the recesses in the outsote. with the plurality of projections being associated in a one to one relationship with the plurality of recesses;

said steps of providing a aidso!e and providing an aoiso!e Including determining th number of associate projections and openings based on the anticipated weight and/or foot width and/or foot length of the wearer of the shoe,

2, A method as set forth in claim 1 herein each one of the downwardly expending projections is configured as a small bowi-shaped element open at the top, with a cylindrical plug extending down from the bottom of the bow! into the outsote recess that is associated with the projections.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 further including the step of selecting a dimension of the oross-secflonal surface area Of the cylindrical plugs of the projections wherein said area Is increased for a larger shoe size and decreased for a smaller shoe size..

4, A method as set forth m claim 3 wherein said area is maintained constant over a group of two to three shoe sizes and is increased or a group of the next two or three larger shoe sizes.

5. A met od as set forth in ckfm 3 wherein the shoe has fifteers T oefeS oo the forefoot area and the cross-sectional area of the iy is increased by an amount :··: the range of from about five percent to about eight percent when going from e smaller shoe mm to a larger shoe size,

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rmdsote Includes a first group of projections and recesses I the forefoot area and a second group of projections and reoessee in the heel area.