Shoe dynamic fitting and shock absorbtion system

• US 4,924,605 A
• Filed: 02/04/1987
• Issued: 05/15/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard G. Spademan
• Original Assignee: Richard G. Spademan
• Inventors: Spademan, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Application Number:
  US07/011,409
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 36/88, 36/114, 36/119, 36/121, 36/71.5, 36/70 R, 36/132, 36/50, 36/109, 36/58.5, 36/89
• US Class Current: 36/114
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0441 by lifting the insole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/28 Adapting the inner sole or the side of the upper of the shoe to the sole of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/00 Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes dress fastenings in general A44B
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 999/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A shoe having a dynamic fitting and shock absorption system. Disposed within the shoe is an insert defined by a sensing means including a U-shaped pivot bar that straddles a movable footbed. The bar has an upper end attached to a strap extending over the instep and forefoot. The opposite end of the strap is attached to the footbed. The bar is pivotally secured to the sides of the footbed. The lower end of the bar rests on the shoe sole. Movement of the footbed in a downward direction upon foot strike pivots the bar toward a position parallel to the footbed dynamically tightening the strap on the foot and distributing a portion of the shock load to the midfoot and forefoot.

Claims

1. In a shoe including an upper shell and a lower sole secured to the upper shell, the improvement comprising means for sensing when a user of the shoe applies increased weight to the sole upon touching a support surface for the shoe, and tightening means responsive to the sensing means for increasing the tightness of the fit of the shoe on a foot of the user as the user applies the increased weight to the sole.

2. A shoe according to claim 1 including adjusting means for varying the degree to which the tightness of the fit is increased by the tightening means.

3. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means includes a footbed movable relative to the shoe.

4. A shoe according to claim 3, wherein tightening means includes a strap for increasing the tightness of the fit of the shoe on the foot when the footbed is moved.

5. A shoe according to claim 3, wherein the sensing means includes a heel cup secured to the footbed and formed to engage the heel of the foot.

6. A shoe according to claim 5 including means operatively coupled with the sensing means and the tightening means for increasing the tightness of the heel cup on the foot when the footbed is moved.

7. A shoe according to claim 1 wherein the sensing means includes a strap formed to engage the upper surface of the shoe.

8. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the tightening means includes means for increasing the tightness of the fit of the upper shell on a foot heel.

9. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the tightening means includes means for increasing the tightness of the fit of the upper shell on a foot instep.

10. In a shoe including an upper shell and a lower sole secured to the upper shell, the improvement comprising an apparatus coupled to the shoe for increasing the tightness of the fit of the shoe on a foot during weighting of the shoe, the apparatus including, a footbed movable relative to the shoe, a strap for increasing the tightness of the fit of the shoe on the foot when the footbed is moved, said strap being formed to secure to the footbed on one end and secure to a bar pivotably secured to the footbed on the other end.

11. A shoe according to claim 10, wherein said bar is formed to engage the lower sole.

12. In a shoe including an upper shell and a lower sole secured to the upper shell, the improvement comprising an apparatus coupled to the shoe for increasing the tightness of the fit of the shoe on a foot during weighting of the shoe, the apparatus including a strap formed to engage an upper surface of the shoe and being formed to engage a member pivotably secured to the shoe.

13. A shoe according to claim 12 wherein said apparatus further includes means for increasing the tightness of the upper shell on the foot when the member is pivoted during weighting of the shoe.

14. A shoe adapted to fit over a foot of a user comprising a sole, a shell secured to the sole, a sensor operatively coupled with the sole for sensing the weight applied by the user to a portion of the sole when the sole is in contact with a support surface, tightening means for engaging an upper surface of the foot, and connecting means operatively coupled with the sensor means and the tightening means for forcing the tightening means towards the upper surface of the foot in response to and as a function of the user'"'"'s weight applied to the portion of the sole to thereby temporarily increase the tightness with which the tightening means engages the foot for as long as the user applies the weight to the portion of the sole.

15. A shoe according to claim 14 wherein the sensor is formed to provide lateral stability for the foot while the user applies his weight to the sole.

16. A shoe according to claim 15 wherein the sensor includes a member shiftable relative to said sole.

17. A shoe according to claim 16 wherein the tightening means includes straps extending from the sole and formed to engage an upper surface of the shoe.

18. A shoe according to claim 17 wherein said straps are formed to engage a lace secured to the shell for increasing the tightness of the fit of the lace on the shoe while the user applies his weight to the sole.

19. A shoe according to claim 14 wherein the tightening means includes a distensible bladder.

20. A shoe according to claim 19 wherein said bladder contains a fluid.

21. In a shoe including an upper shell and a lower sole secured to the upper shell, the improvement comprising an apparatus coupled to the shoe including a member located at the sole and movable relative to the sole for increasing the tightness of the fit of the shoe on a foot during weighting of the shoe and complementary meshing corrugated surfaces located at the lower sole.

22. A shoe according to claim 21 wherein said apparatus further includes means for engaging the straps between the complimentary meshing corrugated surfaces for increasing the tightness of the straps on the shoe during weighting of the shoe.

23. A shoe adapted to fit over a foot of a user comprising sole means adapted to support the user'"'"'s weight and formed to be compressed when the user applies his weight thereto, holding means for engaging an upper surface of the foot, and tightening means operatively coupling the sole means and the holding means and formed to move the holding means generally towards the sole means when the sole means is compressed by an amount sufficient to increase the force applied by the holding means to the upper surface of the foot as compared to the force applied by the holding means to the upper surface of the foot when the sole means is in a relatively uncompressed state.