CUSHIONING ELEMENT FOR SPORTS APPAREL

• US 20140223776A1
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Wardlaw, Angus, Reinhardt, Stuart David, Le, Tru, Holmes, Christopher Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,781,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/102
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/14 made of sponge, rubber, or plastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0042 with circular or circle shaped parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/06 ventilated

Abstract

Improved cushioning elements for sports apparel, in particular for soles for sports shoes, are described. A cushioning element for sports apparel with a first deformation element is provided. The deformation element includes a plurality of randomly arranged particles of an expanded material, wherein there are first voids within the particles and/or between the particles.

Claims

1. Cushioning element for sports apparel, comprising:

(a) a first deformation element comprising a plurality of randomly arranged particles of an expanded material;

(b) wherein there are first voids within the particles and/or between the particles.

2. Cushioning element according to claim 1, wherein the particles of the expanded material comprise one or more of the following cross-sectional profiles:

ring-shaped, oval, square, polygonal, round, rectangular, and star-shaped.

3. Cushioning element according to claim 1, wherein the first deformation element is manufactured by inserting the particles of the expanded material into a mold and, after the inserting into the mold, subjecting the particles of the expanded material to a heating and/or a pressurization and/or a steaming process.

4. Cushioning element according to claim 3, wherein, before inserting into the mold, the particles comprise a density of 10-150 g/l.

5. Cushioning element according to claim 1, wherein the first deformation element is manufactured by intermixing the particles of the expanded material with a further material which is subsequently removed or remains at least partially within the first voids of the first deformation element.

6. Cushioning element according to claim 5, wherein a solidified liquid resides in the first voids of the first deformation element.

7. Cushioning element according to claim 1, wherein the first voids form one or more cavities in which air is trapped.

8. Cushioning element according to claim 1, wherein the first voids form one or more channels through the first deformation element that are permeable to air and/or liquids.

9. Cushioning element according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing element, in particular a textile reinforcing element and/or a foil-like reinforcing element and/or a fiber-like reinforcing element.

10. Cushioning element according to claim 9, wherein the reinforcing element is provided as a foil comprising thermoplastic urethane.

11. Cushioning element according to claim 9, wherein the first voids form one or more channels through the first deformation element that are permeable to air and/or liquids, and the reinforcing element comprises at least one opening which is arranged in such a way that air and/or a liquid passing through the one or more channels in the first deformation element can pass in at least one direction through the at least one opening in the reinforcing element.

12. Cushioning element according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning element is provided as at least a part of a sole of a shoe, in particular as at least a part of a midsole or as at least a part of an insole.

13. Shoe comprising at least one cushioning element according to claim 12.

14. Cushioning element for sports apparel, comprising:

(a) a first deformation element comprising a plurality of randomly arranged particles of an expanded material;

(b) wherein there are first voids within the particles and/or between the particles;

(c) wherein the first deformation element takes up a first partial region of the cushioning element and wherein the cushioning element further comprises a second deformation element.

15. Cushioning element according to claim 14, wherein the second deformation element comprises a plurality of randomly arranged particles of an expanded material, wherein there are second voids within the particles and/or between the particles of the second deformation element, and wherein the second voids are smaller on average than the first voids of the first deformation element.

16. Cushioning element according to claim 14, wherein the first voids form one or more channels through the first deformation element that are permeable to air and/or liquids.

17. Cushioning element according to claim 16, further comprising a reinforcing element, in particular a textile reinforcing element and/or a foil-like reinforcing element and/or a fiber-like reinforcing element.

18. Cushioning element according to claim 17, wherein the reinforcing element is provided as a foil comprising thermoplastic urethane.

19. Cushioning element according to claim 17, wherein the reinforcing element comprises at least one opening which is arranged in such a way that air and/or a liquid passing through the one or more channels in the first deformation element can pass in at least one direction through the at least one opening in the reinforcing element.

20. Shoe comprising at least one cushioning element for sports apparel, the at least one cushioning element comprising:

(a) a first deformation element comprising a plurality of randomly arranged particles of an expanded material;

(b) wherein there are first voids within the particles and/or between the particles;

(c) wherein the first deformation element takes up a first partial region of the at least one cushioning element and wherein the at least one cushioning element further comprises a second deformation element;

(d) wherein the at least one cushioning element is provided as at least a part of a sole of the shoe, in particular as at least a part of a midsole or as at least a part of an insole.