Devices with internal flexibility sipes, including siped chambers for footwear

• US 20060248749A1
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frampton Erroll Ellis
• Original Assignee: Frampton Erroll Ellis
• Inventors: Ellis, Frampton Erroll
• Granted Patent: US 8,141,276 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/28
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/189 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1425 situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1435 situated under the joint between the fifth phalange and the fifth metatarsal bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/24 Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side , preventing supination or pronation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations

Abstract

The present invention attempts to replicate in footwear, orthotics, and other products the naturally effective anatomical structures like a bare foot that provide superior flexibility, cushioning, and stable support compared to existing products. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for such products including a unitary internal sipe component, said internal sipe providing increased flexibility for said device. Even more specifically, the invention relates to footwear, orthotic or other products with an outer chamber and at least one inner chamber inside the outer chamber; the outer chamber and the inner chamber being separated at least in part by an internal sipe; and the internal sipe providing increased flexibility, cushioning, and stability.

Claims

1. A device for a footwear sole or footwear upper or both, or an orthotic or orthotic upper or both, or other product, including:

a unitary internal sipe component;

said internal sipe providing increased flexibility, cushioning, and stability for said footwear, orthotic or other product.

2. The device according to claim 2, wherein said internal sipe component has opposing inner surfaces that are separate from each other and therefore can move relative to each other;

and

at least a portion of said opposing inner surfaces are in contact with each other in a unloaded condition.

3. The device according to claim 2, further including at least one chamber.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein at least a portion of an outer surface of said chamber forming at least a portion of one of said inner surfaces of said internal sipe.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein said chamber is at least partially enveloped or substantially surrounded by said internal sipe.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of said inner surfaces of said sipe are separated by a media when unloaded.

7. A device for a footwear sole or footwear upper or both, or an orthotic or orthotic upper or both, or other product, including:

an outer chamber;

at least one inner chamber inside said outer chamber;

said outer chamber and said inner chamber being separated at least in part by an internal sipe;

at least a portion of an inner surface of said outer chamber forming at least a portion of an inner surface of said internal sipe;

said internal sipe providing increased flexibility, cushioning, and stability for said footwear, orthotic or other product.

8. The device according to the preceding claim 7, wherein said inner surface of said outer chamber substantially forming said inner surface of said internal sipe.

9. The device according to preceding claim 7, wherein said outer chamber at least partially or mostly or entirely enclosing a space within said outer chamber;

said inner chamber located inside said enclosed space of said outer chamber.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein said internal sipe has opposing inner surfaces that are separate from each other and therefore can move relative to each other;

and

at least a portion of said opposing inner surfaces are in contact with each other in a unloaded condition.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said inner surfaces of said sipe are separated by a media when unloaded.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said inner chamber is attached to an adjoining portion of said outer chamber.

13. The device according to claim 7, further including at least two internal chambers.

14. The device according to claim 7, wherein said at least inner chamber includes at least one internal structure.

15. The device according to claims 7, wherein at least one said chamber includes a media with at least one selected from a group of a gas, a liquid, a fluid, a gel, a foamed plastic and a foamed rubber.

16. The device according to claims 7, wherein at least one said chamber includes a media with at least a combination of two selected from a group of a gas, a liquid, a fluid, a gel, a foamed plastic and a foamed rubber.

17. The device according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of said chamber media or said sipe media includes a magnetorheological fluid.

18. The device according to claim 7, further including fiber.

19. The device according to claim 7, wherein at least one said inner chamber includes a structural element made of one selected from a group of a foamed plastic and a material the same as that of said inner chamber.

20. The device according to claim 7, wherein at least one said inner chamber is located in an instep area of the shoe sole between the heel area and the forefoot area;

and

includes a flexible shank.

21. The device according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the outer surface of the outer chamber is the outer surface of at least one selected from a group of the footwear sole, footwear upper, orthotic, orthotic upper, and other product.

22. The device according to claim 7, wherein at least one said inner chamber includes at least one selected from a group of mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, and microprocessor components.

23. The device according to claim 7, wherein an outer surface of at least one said inner chamber is formed from a foamed plastic.

24. The device according to claim 7, wherein said at least one inner chamber has a thickness measured about vertically or horizontally that is nearly the same but somewhat less than said outer chamber.

25. The device according to claim 7, wherein said footwear sole or orthotic has a thickness which is one selected from a group of greater in the heel area than in the forefoot area, greater in the forefoot area than in the heel area, and about equal in both the forefoot and heel area.