Abstract:
The invention relates to a new design for a shoe, especially an athletic shoe, with a sole that cushions mechanical stress while running, with an area with a cushioning effect and at least one further area with an effective transfer of force.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention pertains to shoes, especially athletic shoes and in particular running shoes. Athletic shoes are increasingly becoming high-tech products, since both the manufacturer and the user of these shoes have extremely high expectations regarding quality and effectiveness, not only concerning the materials used, but especially with respect to the positive effects on the running process and protection of the feet while running. The result of this is that such shoes are designed with a view toward minimizing the strain on the feet and legs.  
           [0002]    One object of the invention is to design the soles of such shoes so as to actively cushion the strains that arise while running, such as jolts, countering them by adapted damping properties to cushion their effect.  
           [0003]    Piezo-electric materials can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa. Mechanical stress causes a charge transfer in these materials, which can be tapped as electrical voltage (piezo effect). On the other hand, the dimensions of these materials changes under the influence of an electrical field (inverse piezo effect). Known piezo-electric materials are, for example, piezo ceramics and piezo-electric PVDF (polyvinylidenefluoride) foils.  
           [0004]    Electro-rheological fluids have as a base material an oil in which fine particles float dispersed. This base material determines the base viscosity. When an electric field is created, the particles form chains, the length of which is dependent on the created electric field. Therefore, the viscosity of electro-rheological fluids changes in dependence on the created electric field.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    This technology described above can be used for the implementation of an active traveling mechanism, or for an active cushioning for a shoe, especially an athletic shoe. The piezo-electric component (PVDF or piezo ceramic) serves as a sensor in this process. Based on the pressure that ensues when the shoe contacts the ground, electric voltage is produced. This voltage can be sent to an electronic control circuit or directly to the electro-rheological fluids. In addition, the shoe can be equipped with an acceleration sensor, which measures the speed of the runner and sends this value as additional information to the electronic control circuitry.  
           [0006]    The sole of a modern athletic shoe can be divided into three areas. In the first area, there are no piezo elements and no electro-rheological fluids. This area is conventionally designed in the same manner as a conventional shoe sole and provides the basic cushioning of the shoe and is the outer section of the shoe sole nearest the ground. The second area is the sensor area, in which the force is transferred as directly as possible to the piezo-electric sensors. In order to ensure an effective transfer of the force, the material of the sole in this area should be relatively hard (high shore hardness). The third area is the area of active cushioning and is provided with inserts containing electro-rheological fluids. Depending on the voltage created in the second area or depending on the control impulses of the electronic circuitry, the cushioning of this area is altered by means of the electro-rheological fluids.  
           [0007]    In actual practice, the three areas are divided for practical purposes into several or numerous spatial areas that extend over the surface of the sole. The arrangement of the areas should be such that the second area is preferably located at the areas that touch the ground first when the shoe comes into contact with the ground. The third area should preferably be located at areas in which the maximum pressure load and/or the maximum stress integral occur during a step.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    The invention is represented schematically below in connection with the following drawing figures which illustrate a sample embodiment:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 shows a shoe with a cross section of a shoe sole according to the invention, with the foot indicated by a dash-dot line; and  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 shoes a schematic representation, partially in block diagram, of the principle of the cushioning system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]    The number  1  indicates the foot,  2  refers to the shoe upper surrounding the foot, and  3  refers to the sole of the shoe. The lowest or first area of the conventional type is indicated schematically with  4 , the second area  5  has piezo-electric sensors  6 ,  7 ,  8  at the preferred stress locations of the shoe sole, and the third area  9  contains the inserts  10 ,  11 ,  12  with electro-rheological fluids. Furthermore, the sole accommodates the electronic control circuitry  13 , which processes the electric voltage created at the sensors or sends it directly to the electro-rheological fluids. Instead of accommodating the electronic control circuitry within the shoe sole at a suitable location  13 , this electronic control circuitry can also be located on the outside of the shoe, e.g. at the heel end  14  of the shoe, or at the top of the front of the shoe or optionally at another suitable location. For example, the electronic control circuitry can be integrated in a location on the top of the shoe, e.g. where the shoe fastener is located, for example a flap that is attached to the shoe by means of a Velcro type fastener, since a display device would be easy to read at this location.  
         [0012]    The schematic representation according, to FIG. 2, shows the functionality of the device according to the invention in the form of two cushioning elements  7 ,  8 , which are depicted as cushion- or tube-like elements  15  with corresponding narrow areas  16  as connecting elements, whereby the sections  16  with a reduced profile function as nozzles. The sections  15  are designed as cushions or tube elements with an increased diameter and the sections  16  with a reduced profile alternate with each other and are filled with a fluid as a cushioning means, the viscosity of which can be altered by means of an electric and/or magnetic field. On the hose sections  16  there are electrodes  17 , which upon application of an electric current produce an electric field in the respective hose section  16 . The electrodes  17  on the hose sections  16  are connected with an electronic control  18 , which based on a signal from one or more sensors  6 ,  7 ,  8  controls the voltage applied to the electrodes  17  and therefore the viscosity of the cushioning fluid flowing through the respective hose section  16 , so that the electronic control  18  controls the regulation of the sections  16  based on the signal of the sensor (or sensors)  21 .  
         [0013]    Such a configuration is designed to function so that by applying pressure to the cushioning means  10 ,  11 ,  12  and based on the resulting increased mechanical tension, the cushioning fluid is forced out of the cushioning element  10 ,  11 ,  12 , and the displaced cushioning fluid is distributed among the remaining length of the respective cushioning element and flows through the tube sections  16  due to the elastic deformation of the cushion or tube  15 . Depending on the voltage applied at the electrodes  17  and the thereby created change in the viscosity of the cushioning fluid, the respective tube sections  16  then function as regulators, so that the properties of the sole can be controlled dynamically based on the signal of the sensor  19 .  
         [0014]    As depicted in FIG. 1, there are preferably several sensors  6 ,  7 ,  8  distributed over the surface of the sole, so that when pressure is applied to the shoe sole by the sole of the foot, the cushioning is increased due to an increase in the viscosity of the cushioning fluid or conversely the cushioning is reduced by a reduction of the viscosity of the cushioning fluid.  
         [0015]    As described above, the sensors  6 ,  7 ,  8  are sensors that function according to the piezo effect and provide an electric signal based on the deformation of the sensor.  
         [0016]    Generally it is possible to control the pairs of electrodes  17 ,  17  located on the tube sections  16  singly or in groups by means of the electronic control circuitry  18 , from signals of one or more sensors, e.g. also using specified control patterns defined in the electronic control circuitry  18  or in memory located there.  
         [0017]    Furthermore, it is possible to replace or supplement a sensor  6 ,  7 ,  8  with an adjusting device that can be used to manually adjust the degree of cushioning or stiffness of the cushioning elements  10 ,  11 ,  12 .  
         [0018]    The electronic circuitry  18 , the power supply, if needed, in the form of a battery, e.g. a rechargeable battery, the adjusting device  20  and possibly a display  21  that provides information on the current status of the system are to be accommodated in the shoe sole or at a suitable location on the shoe.  
         [0019]    In the above description, the effect on the viscosity of the cushioning fluid was indicated by means of an electric field. Generally it is also possible to use a magnetic field instead of an electric field for the cushioning fluid. In this case, magnet coils that are controlled by the electronic control circuitry  18  are required instead of the electrodes  17 .  
         [0020]    In a further embodiment of the invention, chambers or closed areas can be provided in the shoe sole with the variable-viscosity fluid, so that pressure exerted by the foot on the shoe sole causes this fluid to flow. By changing the viscosity of the fluid, the flow can be regulated to increase or decrease, which enables control of the deformability of the sole.