Abstract:
An athletic shoe for simulating training in running spikes. The athletic shoe includes an outsole for engaging a horizontal supporting surface, a midsole having a wedge portion coupled to the outsole and an arch portion elevated at an angle of not less than 15° relative to the horizontal surface, and an upper that encloses the midsole. By incorporating a wedge that elevates the forefoot of the shoe and a molded plate, rigidity is provided to the arch of the foot to maintain the user on the balls of the user&#39;s feet.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. application Ser. No. 61/894,353, filed on Oct. 22, 2013, titled ATHLETIC SHOE TRAINER, which application is incorporated in its entirety by reference in this application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates generally to an athletic shoe, and in particular, an athletic shoe trainer having an elevated midsole to simulate training in running spikes. 
         [0004]    2. Background 
         [0005]    High performance athletic sprinters often suffer from injuries or chronic pain in the lower leg, e.g., shin splints. It is hypothesized that this is due to sprinters not having access to footwear that provides conditioning that accurately simulates the later season training and competition in sprinting spikes. This gap can be attributed to the fact that competitive spike shoes possess key functional features not incorporated into typical training flats. Specifically, he spike shoe places the heel in an elevated position and also typically incorporates a common feature known as a “spike plate” which limits flexibility in the arch of the foot. In order to prevent these injuries, sprinters must gradually incorporate spike shoes into their training regimen. Often training facilities that are available for early season conditioning do not permit spike training. 
         [0006]    Thus, a need exists for an athletic shoe that Allows for speed and power training in true sprint form on all indoor surfaces and, further, Provides conditioning of lower leg muscles and transition from traditional running shoes (“flats”) to running spikes (“spikes”). 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An athletic shoe is provided to simulate training in running spikes. The athletic shoe includes an outsole for engaging a horizontal supporting surface, a midsole having a wedge portion coupled to the outsole and an arch portion elevated at an angle of not less than 15° relative to the horizontal surface; and an upper that encloses the midsole. By incorporating a wedge that elevates the forefoot of the shoe and a molded plate (i.e., the arch portion), rigidity is provided to the arch of the foot which forces the user to run on the ball of the user&#39;s feet. The outsole also facilitates optimum support and force transfer via integrated bands and a Velcro® strap that runs over the laces. 
         [0008]    In one example, the athletic shoe may include an outsole for engaging a supporting horizontal surface and a midsole coupled to the outsole, where the midsole includes an arch portion elevated at an angle of not less than 15° relative to the horizontal surface. The athletic shoe also includes an upper that encloses the midsole. 
         [0009]    In another example, the athletic shoe may include an outsole having a planar gripping surface designed to engage in planar contact with a supporting horizontal surface, and a midsole coupled to the outsole, where the midsole includes an arch portion elevated at an angle of not less than 15° relative to the horizontal surface. The athletic shoe further includes an upper that encloses the midsole. 
         [0010]    In yet another example, the athletic shoe may include an outsole and a midsole coupled to the outsole, where the midsole includes a first portion and a second portion elevated at an angle of not less than 15° relative to the first portion. The athletic shoe further includes an upper that encloses the midsole. 
         [0011]    Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, and be protected by the accompanying claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]    The present disclosure may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of one example of an implementation of an athletic shoe  100  according to the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2 . is a lateral side view of the outsole assembled with the midsole of the athletic of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the outsole assembled with the midsole, as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrates cross-sectional views of the various components of the midsole assembly  104  shown at Sections A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D in  FIGS. 2 . and  3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top view illustrating the configuration of the upper of the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is rear view illustrating the configuration of the upper for the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a top view illustrating the tongue configuration of the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  illustrates a lateral view of athletic shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  illustrates a medial view of athletic shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the athletic shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the athletic shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a back view of the athletic shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 13A  is a medial view of the athletic shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 13B  is a lateral view of the athletic shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 14A  is a top view of the midsole assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 14B  is a lateral view of the midsole assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0029]      FIG. 14C  is a medial side view of the midsole assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]      FIGS. 1-14C  illustrate examples of different implementations of an athletic shoe is provided to simulate training in running spikes. The athletic shoe, according to the present teachings, may generally include an outsole for engaging a supporting horizontal surface, a midsole coupled to the outsole, the midsole having an arch portion elevated at an angle of not less than 15 degrees relative to the horizontal surface, and an upper that encloses the midsole. The outsole may be made of rubber and include a planar gripping surface designed to engage in planar contact with the supporting horizontal surface. The outsole may be designed for all-surface wear and include ridges and a tread design on the forefoot tip portion of the outsole for increased traction. The midsole may include a wedge portion that elevates the forefoot from the ground (i.e., horizontal support surface) to an angle (not less than 15°) that simulates training in spike shoes. The midsole may also include a foot length force plate (i.e., arch portion) made of high performance elastomer, such as Pebax®, to be compliant yet stiff enough to provide additional support to the arch of the foot and maximize the force transfer between the leg and the ground. The force plate may include a plastic mold with cut-outs to secure or otherwise couple the force plate to the midsole wedge. The force plate may also include a series of axially extending stiffening ribs or ridges to increase the rigidity of the shoe. The upper may be made of synthetic leather and include a Velcro® strap that extends across the tongue of the shoe to provide compression support to the foot. The upper may also include four or more integrated bands to provide additional compression support of the foot. The athletic shoe my further include a heel bumper or outsole to enclose the heel and couple the quarter of the upper to the force plate. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of one example of an implementation of an athletic shoe  100  according to the present disclosure. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the athletic shoe  100  includes an outsole  102 , a midsole assembly  104 , and an upper  106 . The outsole  102  includes a toe outsole portion  108  with a gripping surface and a heel outsole portion  110  with the gripping surface. The toe outsole  108  and heel outsole  110  may be constructed of polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), rubber or other suitable material. 
         [0032]    The midsole  104  includes a rubber midsole wedge  112  and a force plate  114  constructed of polyether block amide (Pebax®). The upper  106  includes a Velcro® strap  116  for securing the users foot within the shoe, and integrated band supports  118  for providing support about the quarter of the shoe. The heel outsole  110  couples the quarter of the upper  106  to the force plate  114 . The upper  110  may also include a tongue portion  120 . The upper  106  may be made from a combination of synthetic leather and synthetic nubuck leather. The upper  106  may also be made from a combination of polyester, nylon, micro-fiber, open mesh cloth, or any other suitable synthetic fabrics. 
         [0033]    An insole (not shown) made from vinyl or any other suitable material may be laid over the midsole  104  in the interior of the shoe  100 . The insole couples the upper  106  to the midsole. The insole may be adhered, such as by gluing, to the top of the midsole  104 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 2 . is a lateral side view of the outsole  102  assembled with the midsole  104 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the outsole  102  assembled with the midsole  104 . As illustrated, the toe outsole  108  may include a gripping surface having series of ridges and v-shaped tread designs and the heel outsole went in may also include a tread surface having v-shaped treads. As shown, the force plate  114  may be elevated at an angle of no less than 15° relative to the gripping surface of the toe outsole  108 . The toe outsole when a late may include a series of cut-outs that complement a corresponding to a series of cut-outs in the force plate  114  to facilitate coupling of force plate  114  to the midsole wedge  112  and toe outsole  108 . The toe outsole  108  may also include a toe tab  202  that overlays the upper  106  to provide additional protection to the toe. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrates cross-sectional views of the various components of the midsole assembly  104  shown at Sections A-A, B-B, C-C, and D-D in  FIGS. 2 . and  3 . In particulate, Section A-A is a sectional view along the axial centerline of the midsole assembly. Section B-B is a sectional view of the midsole wedge that illustrates the dimensional features of the cut-outs. Section C-C is a sectional view of the force plate that illustrates the dimensional features of the axial stiffening ribs. Section D-D is a sectional view illustrating the dimensional features of the heel outsole. 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  is a top view and  FIG. 6  is rear view illustrating the configuration of the shoe upper  106 . The top view illustrates features of the tongue, quarter and vamp designs. The rear view illustrates features of the heel, back stay, and outside counter.  FIG. 7  is a top view of the tongue  120 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate lateral and medial views of athletic shoe  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . As shown, the shoe upper may include a synthetic leather vamp, open-cell tech mesh saddle with a v-shaped thermal transfer weld overlay extending over the saddle to the quarter, a synthetic nubuck quarter with a synthetic leather quarter overlay, open-cell tech mesh tongue, and a synthetic leather back stay. The upper may further include an eye stay having eyelets or lace loops to accommodate shoe lacing, and a Velcro® strap to provide additional support at across the tongue. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12  illustrates side, top and back views, respectively of the athletic shoe  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 13A and 13B  illustrate medial and lateral views of the athletic shoe  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . In particular, the figures illustrate features of the Velcro® support strap. As shown, the support strap may include a medial side strap base that is secured beneath the quarter overlay, where the medial side strap base includes a “D” ring, and a strap extending from a slot formed in the lateral side strap base. In this way, the supporting strap is crossed over the laces to the medial side, looped through the “D” ring, and is then crossed back over itself and secured on the lateral side, as shown in  FIG. 13C . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 14A-14C  illustrate top and lateral and medial side views of the midsole assembly  104  shown in  FIG. 2 . In particular, the figure illustrates the features of the force plate  114  which, as shown, may include a series of axially extending stiffening ribs, cut-outs for air ventilation, and a raised arch portion for supporting the arch of the foot. 
         [0042]    In general, terms such as “coupled to,” and “configured for coupling to,” and “secured to,” and “configured for securing to” and “in communication with” (for example, a first component is “coupled to” or “is configured for coupling to” or is “configured for securing to” or is “in communication with” a second component) are used herein to indicate a structural, functional, mechanical, electrical, signal, optical, magnetic, electromagnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two or more components or elements. As such, the fact that one component is said to be in communication with a second component is not intended to exclude the possibility that additional components may be present between, and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first and second components. 
         [0043]    The foregoing description of implementations has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above description or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.