Patent Publication Number: US-2005126042-A1

Title: Shoe with support element

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In general, a shoe of the present invention comprises a midsole, an outsole, an upper, a closure system and a sole stiffening member. The midsole has a midsole bottom surface, a midsole top surface, and midsole medial and lateral side surfaces extending up from the midsole bottom surface. The outsole has an outsole forefoot portion and an outsole heel portion. The outsole forefoot portion is adjacent the midsole bottom surface and the outsole heel portion is adjacent the midsole bottom surface. The upper extends up from the midsole and has an upper heel portion, an upper medial portion and an upper lateral portion. The upper heel portion is laterally between the upper medial portion and the upper lateral portion. The closure system has a medial closure portion operatively connected to the upper medial portion and a lateral closure portion operatively connected to the upper lateral portion. The closure system is adapted for movement between a tensioned condition and a loosened condition. The tensioned condition is a condition in which the closure system maintains the medial closure portion a tightened distance from the lateral closure portion. The loosened condition is a condition in which the closure system maintains the medial closure portion a loosened distance from the lateral closure portion. The loosened distance is greater than the tightened distance. The sole stiffening member has a connecting portion, a forefoot engageable portion, a heel engageable portion, a medial wing portion having a medial wing distal tip portion, and a lateral wing portion having a lateral wing distal tip portion. The forefoot engageable portion extends generally forward from the connecting portion. The heel engageable portion extends generally rearward from the connecting portion. The medial wing portion extends generally medially from the connecting portion. The lateral wing portion extends generally laterally from the connecting portion. The forefoot engageable portion is secured to the midsole bottom surface and the heel engageable portion is secured to the midsole bottom surface. The medial and lateral wing portions are positioned such that at least a portion of a straight line segment extending from the medial distal tip portion to the lateral distal tip portion is spaced over at least a portion of the midsole top surface. The portion of the midsole top surface is between the portion of the line segment and a portion of the midsole bottom surface. The sole stiffening member is adapted to provide increased support in a shank area of the shoe.  
      Another aspect of the invention is a shoe comprising a midsole, an outsole, an upper and a sole stiffening member. The midsole has a midsole bottom surface, a midsole top surface, and midsole medial and lateral side surfaces extending up from the midsole bottom surface. The outsole has an outsole forefoot portion and an outsole heel portion. The outsole forefoot portion is adjacent the midsole bottom surface and the outsole heel portion is adjacent the midsole bottom surface. The upper extends up from the midsole and has an upper heel portion, an upper medial portion and an upper lateral portion. The upper heel portion is laterally between the upper medial portion and the upper lateral portion. The sole stiffening member has a connecting portion, a forefoot engageable portion, a heel engageable portion, a medial wing portion having a medial wing distal tip portion, and a lateral wing portion having a lateral wing distal tip portion. The forefoot engageable portion extends generally forward from the connecting portion. The heel engageable portion extends generally rearward from the connecting portion. The medial wing portion extends generally medially from the connecting portion. The lateral wing portion extends generally laterally from the connecting portion. The forefoot engageable portion is secured to the outsole forefoot portion and the heel engageable portion is secured to the outsole heel portion. The medial and lateral wing portions are positioned such that at least a portion of a straight line segment extending from the medial distal tip portion to the lateral distal tip portion is spaced over at least a portion of the midsole top surface. The portion of the midsole top surface is between the portion of the line segment and a portion of the midsole bottom surface. The sole stiffening member is adapted to provide increased support in a shank area of the shoe.  
      In another aspect of the invention, a shoe comprises a midsole, an outsole, an upper and a sole stiffening member. The midsole has a midsole bottom surface, a midsole top surface, and midsole medial and lateral side surfaces extending up from the midsole bottom surface. The outsole has an outsole forefoot portion and an outsole heel portion. The outsole forefoot portion is adjacent the midsole bottom surface and the outsole heel portion is adjacent the midsole bottom surface. The upper extends up from the midsole and has an upper heel portion, an upper medial portion and an upper lateral portion. The upper heel portion is laterally between the upper medial portion and the upper lateral portion. The sole stiffening member has a connecting portion, a forefoot engageable portion, a heel engageable portion, a medial wing portion having a medial wing distal tip portion, and a lateral wing portion having a lateral wing distal tip portion. The forefoot engageable portion extends generally forward from the connecting portion. The heel engageable portion extends generally rearward from the connecting portion. The medial wing portion extends generally medially from the connecting portion. The lateral wing portion extends generally laterally from the connecting portion. The forefoot engageable portion is secured to the outsole forefoot portion and the heel engageable portion is secured to the outsole heel portion. The medial and lateral wing portions are positioned such that at least a portion of a straight line segment extending from the medial distal tip portion to the lateral distal tip portion is spaced over at least a portion of the midsole top surface. The portion of the midsole top surface is between the portion of the line segment and a portion of the midsole bottom surface. The sole stiffening member is adapted to interact with the midsole such that a portion of the midsole bottom surface adjacent the sole stiffening member is compressed as the shoe bends during use.  
      Other features and advantages will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a shoe of the present invention, the shoe having a securing system and a sole stiffening member;  
       FIG. 2  is a bottom plan view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a fragmented, cross-sectional view taken along the plane of line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the shoe of  FIG. 1  in a first condition;  
       FIG. 5  is top plan view of the shoe of  FIG. 1  in a second condition;  
       FIG. 6  is a rear elevation view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the securing system and the sole stiffening member of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the sole stiffening member of  FIG. 7 ;  
       FIG. 9  is a fragmented, cross-sectional view taken along line the plane of line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 2 ; and  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another securing system and sole stiffening member of the present invention. 
    
    
      Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a shoe of the present invention is indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral  20 . The shoe comprises a midsole generally indicated at  22 , an outsole generally indicated at  24 , an upper generally indicated at  26 , a sole stiffening member  28 , a securing system  30 , and a closure system generally indicated at  32 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 3  the midsole includes a midsole top surface  36 , a midsole bottom surface  38 , a midsole medial side surface  40 , and a midsole lateral side surface  42 . The midsole medial and lateral side surfaces extend up from the midsole bottom surface. For purposes of clarity, no additional shoe structure (i.e. sock liner) has been presented in the drawings. Of course, the shoe set forth in the drawings may include such additional shoe structure.  
      The outsole shown in  FIG. 2  includes an outsole forefoot portion  44  and an outsole heel portion  46 . The outsole forefoot portion is adjacent to and operatively connected to a portion of the midsole bottom surface. The outsole heel portion is adjacent to and operatively connected to another portion of the midsole bottom surface.  
      The upper ( FIGS. 4-6 ) extends up from and is operatively connected to the midsole. The upper includes an upper medial portion generally indicated at  48 , an upper lateral portion generally indicated at  50 , and an upper heel portion generally indicated at  52 . The upper heel portion is laterally between the upper lateral and medial portions. The upper can also include a tongue. The upper and midsole are shaped and adapted to receive a wearer&#39;s foot.  
      In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the closure system generally indicated at  32  interacts with the upper to allow the wearer to insert a foot into the shoe and to subsequently tighten the shoe about the wearer&#39;s foot to reduce the relative movement of the shoe to the wearer&#39;s foot. The closure system has a medial closure portion generally indicated at  54  and a lateral closure portion generally indicated at  56 . The medial closure portion is operatively connected to the upper medial portion and the lateral closure portion is operatively connected to the upper lateral portion. In the embodiment shown, the closure system includes a shoelace  58  laced through a plurality of eyelets on the upper medial portion  48  to comprise the medial closure portion  54  and the shoelace is laced through a plurality of eyelets on the upper lateral portion  50  to comprise the lateral closure portion  56 . The closure system is adapted for movement between a tensioned condition and a loosened condition. The tensioned condition is a condition in which the closure system maintains the medial closure portion  54  a tightened distance d T  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) from the lateral closure portion  56 . The loosened condition is a condition in which the closure system maintains the medial closure portion  54  a loosened distance d L  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) from the lateral closure portion  56 . The loosened and tightened distances are variable depending upon the dimensions of the wearer&#39;s foot, but in all cases the loosened distance is greater than the tightened distance. Although the closure system is shown to be a shoelace and corresponding eyelets, it should be understood that any type of closure system could be used.  
      The sole stiffening member indicated generally in  FIG. 7  and indicated in its entirety in  FIG. 8  by reference numeral  28 , has a connecting portion indicated generally at  60 , a forefoot engageable portion indicated generally at  62 , a heel engageable portion indicated generally at  64 , a lateral wing portion  66  extending laterally from the connecting portion, and a medial wing portion  68  extending medially from the connecting portion. The forefoot engageable portion  62  is downwardly offset and extends generally forward from the connecting portion  60 . The forefoot engageable portion  62  includes a medial tab  70  extending medially and a lateral tab  72  extending laterally. The forefoot engageable portion  62  is secured between a portion of the outsole forefoot portion  44  and a portion of the midsole bottom surface  38 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 9 , the heel engageable portion  64  is secured to the midsole bottom surface  38 . The heel engageable portion  64  is downwardly offset and extends generally rearward from the connecting portion  60 . The heel engageable portion  64  is sandwiched between a portion of the outsole heel portion  46  and a portion of the midsole bottom surface  38 . The forefoot engageable portion  62  is sandwiched between a portion of the outsole forefoot portion  44  and a portion of the midsole bottom surface  38 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , the medial wing portion  68  has a medial distal tip portion  74  and the lateral wing portion  66  has a lateral distal tip portion  76 . The medial and lateral wing portions are positioned such that a phantom line X can be formed through the medial and lateral distal tip portions  74  and  76 . Phantom line X includes a straight line segment X s  between the medial and lateral distal tip portions  74  and  76 . At least a portion of straight line segment X s  is spaced over a least a portion of the midsole top surface  36 . The portion of the midsole top surface is between the portion of the line segment X s  and a portion of the midsole bottom surface  38 . The sole stiffening member is made of a resilient material having a relative hardness greater than the upper. In the embodiment shown, the sole stiffening member is made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).  
      The securing system  30  shown in  FIG. 7  is adapted to assist the closure system in reducing the amount of relative movement between the shoe and a wearer&#39;s foot. The securing system has a heel securing portion generally indicated at  80 , a medial instep securing portion  82 , a lateral instep securing portion  84 , a medial attaching portion  86 , and a lateral attaching portion  88 . The heel securing portion  80  is adjacent the upper heel portion  52 . The medial instep securing portion  82  extends generally forward from the heel securing portion  80  and is operatively connected to the medial closure portion  54  of the closure system. The lateral instep securing portion  84  extends generally forward from the heel securing portion  80  and is operatively connected to the lateral closure portion  56  of the closure system. The medial instep securing portion  82  includes a medial instep opening  90 . The medial instep opening may be aligned with one of the plurality of eyelets on the medial closure portion  54  of the closure system. Similarly, the lateral instep securing portion  84  includes a lateral instep opening  92 . The lateral instep opening may be aligned with one of the plurality of eyelets on the lateral closure portion  54  of the closure system. The medial attaching portion  86  extends generally downward from the heel securing portion  80  and the medial instep securing portion  82 . The lateral attaching portion  88  extends generally downward from the heel securing portion  80  and the lateral instep securing portion  84 . The medial attaching portion  86  is operatively connected to the medial wing portion  68  of the sole stiffening member  28 . The lateral attaching portion  88  is operatively connected to the lateral wing portion  66  of the sole stiffening member  28 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the securing system is a thermoplastic polyurethane. It could also be leather, synthetic leather, reinforced mesh, or any other suitable material. The securing system could also be integrally formed with the sole stiffening member. An alternative configuration of the sole stiffening member  128  and securing system  130  is shown in  FIG. 10 . The sole stiffening member and securing system are a single unitary piece of a monolithic construction.  
      In use, the shoe is preferably placed on a wearer&#39;s foot by moving the closure system to a loosened condition. In a loosened condition, the medial and lateral closure portions  54  and  56  are moved apart from each other a sufficient distance to allow the wearer&#39;s foot to slide into the shoe. The shoe is then secured by placing the closure system in a tensioned condition from this loosened condition by moving the upper medial portion  48  towards the upper lateral portion  50 . As the upper medial portion  48  moves towards the upper lateral portion  50 , the shoe firmly holds the wearer&#39;s foot, particularly in a region of the foot adjacent the medial and lateral closure portions  48  and  50 . The closure system  32  is maintained in this tensioned condition. In the embodiment shown, the shoelace of the closure portion is tied in a knot to maintain the closure system in a tensioned condition.  
      The sole stiffening member  28  is adapted to provide both static and dynamic support in a shank area of the shoe. The shank area of the shoe is the area of the shoe between where the heel and the ball of the foot contact the shoe. The sole stiffening member provides static support as a person stands on the shoe compressing a portion of the shoe under the foot. The compression of the shoe compacts a portion of the midsole and moves the connecting portion relatively downward. As shown by the arrows in  FIG. 9 , the downward movement of the connecting portion is translated in a generally forward direction to the forefoot engageable portion and in a generally rearward direction to the heel engageable portion. The resilient nature of the midsole, outsole, and sole stiffening member causes the compressed portion of the midsole to expand and the sole stiffening member to move relatively upward when the shoe is unloaded (i.e. when the person removes his weight from the shoe).  
      The sole stiffening member provides dynamic support as a person walks or runs. The sole stiffening member remains generally rigid when loaded in a longitudinal direction. By linking a heel region and a forefoot region of the shoe, the sole stiffening member can translate forces from one to the other as a result of this longitudinal rigidity. As the heel strikes the ground and the person transfers weight on to that foot, the sole stiffening member transitions some of the resulting forces into the forefoot portion of the shoe. This force transition improves the gait cycle.  
      In addition to the support described above the sole stiffening member  28  provides increased durability to the shoe. The action of walking or running causes the shoe to bend as the heel is lifted from the ground while the ball of the foot remains in contact with the ground. In a shoe without a sole stiffening member this cyclical bending stretches a portion of the midsole bottom surface. The repeated stretching of the midsole diminishes the resiliency of the midsole until the shoe is no longer comfortable to wear. As described above the sole stiffening member is made of a thermoplastic polyurethane material. This material will bend and is difficult to stretch. As a result the sole stiffening member bends rather than stretches during use. The bending of the sole stiffening member causes a portion of the midsole to be compressed in the region of the bending and reduces the amount of stretching in the region of the bending (as compared to bending the shoe without the sole stiffening member). This reduction of the midsole stretching increases the period of time it takes to reduce the resiliency of the midsole and thus increases the durability of the shoe.  
      In addition to the support and durability functions described above, the sole stiffening member  28  is adapted to operatively connect to the securing system  32 . The integration into the securing system allows an additional means for preventing relative movement between the shoe and the wearer&#39;s foot. In the embodiment shown, the medial instep securing portion  82  has an opening  90  that aligns with an eyelet of the medial closure portion  54  of the closure system and the lateral instep securing portion  84  has an opening  92  that aligns with an eyelet of the lateral closure portion  56  of the closure portion. The shoelace is threaded through the medial and lateral instep securing openings  90  and  92 . When the closure system is placed in the tensioned condition the medial and lateral instep securing portions  82  and  84  are drawn toward each other placing the securing system  30  and the sole stiffening member in tension. In this state, the securing system  30  and the sole stiffening member  28  squeeze the shoe such that a portion of the midsole and a portion of the upper heel portion are moved towards a wearer&#39;s foot. This compresses a portion of the shoe between the wearer&#39;s foot and the sole stiffening member  28  and the securing system  30 . Securing forces are generated by the sole stiffening member  28  and the securing system  30 . The securing forces are directed towards the wearer&#39;s foot.  
      As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.