Heelless athletic shoe

• US 5,694,706 A
• Filed: 08/26/1996
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Etienne Penka
• Original Assignee: Etienne Penka
• Inventors: Penka, Etienne
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US08/703,071
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 36/102, 36/103, 36/105, 36/25 R, 36/106, 36/129, 36/132, 36/30 R, 36/80
• US Class Current: 36/103
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/143 provided with wedged, concave or convex end portions, e.g. for improving roll-off of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/145 Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes
• 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 5/06 Running shoes; Track shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1445 situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/145 situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges

Abstract

A shoe comprising an upper and multiple part sole. An inner sole engages the plantar surface of a foot. A shock absorbing midsole underlies the inner sole from a location underlying the toes to a location at the base of a heel of the foot. An outer sole includes a first portion under the forefoot to provide a second shock absorbing layer and to define a landing surface. A thin, relatively rigid portion underlies the heel and corresponding portion of the inner sole to support the heel. This portion is elevated above the landing surface to inhibit heel landings and strikes.

Claims

1. A shoe having an upper, a toe portion and a rear portion and a multiple part sole forming an interior volume for receiving an individual'"'"'s foot, the foot including a plantar surface, a forefoot, a toe a heel and a calcaneum, said multiple part sole comprising:

(A) an inner sole for engaging the plantar surface,

(B) a midsole having an inner surface attached to the exterior of said inner sole to be substantially coextensive with said inner sole, said midsole having an outer surface, and

(C) an outer sole attached to the outer surface of said midsole whereby said midsole is intermediate the inner and outer soles, said outer sole having a first portion extending from the toe portion of the shoe to a position underlying the calcaneum with increasing thickness thereby to underlie at least a portion of the forefoot and a second, contiguous portion extending from said first portion to said rear portion for underlying the heel, said first portion providing a landing surface for the shoe and said second portion being relatively thin as compared to said first portion whereby an exterior surface of said second portion is recessed relative to the landing surface thereby to inhibit landings on the heel.

2. A shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein the calcaneum of the individual'"'"'s foot includes an apex and wherein said outer sole is comprised of a compressible hard rubber material, said outer sole extending from the toe portion to the apex of the calcaneum.

3. A shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein the individual'"'"'s foot includes distal phalanges of the toes with a base and the calcaneum with a base and wherein said midsole is comprised of a hard, pressure-deformable, cellular material that extends from the base of the calcaneum to the base of the distal phalanges of the toes.

4. A shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein the individual'"'"'s foot includes the calcaneum with an apex and base, distal phalanges having a base and tarsometatarsal joints and wherein said outer sole is comprised of a compressible hard rubber material, wherein first portion of said outer sole extends from the toe portion of the shoe to the apex of the calcaneum with generally increasing thickness and said second portion of said outer sole extends from the base of the calcaneum to the rear portion of the shoe and wherein said midsole is comprised of a hard, pressure-deformable, cellular material that extends from the apex of the calcaneum to the base of the distal phalanges of the toes, said shoe having a center of gravity at the tarsometatarsal joints.

5. A shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein the upper and said multiple part sole define a heel box generally coextensive with said second outer sole portion for receiving the heel and a toe box generally coextensive with said first outer sole portion for receiving the remainder of the foot including the toes, said toe box being wider than said heel box.

6. A shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein said exterior surface of said first outer sole portion includes spaced recesses and extensions distributed across the exterior surface.

7. A shoe as recited in claim 6 wherein said shoe is formed along a longitudinal axis from the toe portion to the rear portion of said shoe and said recesses include longitudinally spaced, transverse channels across the face of said landing surface.

8. A shoe as recited in claim 7 wherein said shoe is adapted for use with a cord for training and wherein said first outer sole portion includes means at one of said channels for engaging the cord.

9. A shoe as recited in claim 6 wherein said extensions include a plurality of spaced polygonal extensions distributed about the periphery of said first outer sole portion and a plurality of spaced hemispherical extensions distributed about the interior portion of said first outer sole portion.

10. A shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein the individual'"'"'s foot includes a fifth metatarsal bone and wherein said outer sole has a lateral extension for underlying the fifth metatarsal bone.

11. A shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein the individual'"'"'s foot is characterized by a skeletal structure and wherein said inner sole is composed of a relatively thin resilient layer of material and at least one of said midsole and outer sole includes a support for the underlying the skeletal structure of the foot.

12. A shoe as recited in claim 11 wherein said first outer sole portion forms an inner surface that is convex toward the interior of the shoe in longitudinal and transverse planes.

13. A shoe as recited in claim 11 wherein said midsole includes a central contoured portion to underlie, support and position the arch of the foot.

14. A shoe as recited in claim 13 wherein the individual'"'"'s foot is characterized by including metatarsal heads and wherein said midsole includes a plurality of annular members for supporting and positioning certain of the metatarsal heads of the foot.

15. A shoe as recited in claim 11 wherein the skeletal structure includes the calcaneum and wherein said second outer sole portion includes an upper surface with an annular member for alignment with the calcaneum.

16. A shoe having an upper for covering at least a portion of a foot and a multiple part, laminated sole attached to said upper for forming an interior volume extending from a toe portion to a heel portion for receiving a individual'"'"'s foot characterized by including toes, a heel, a plantar surface, distal phalanges of the toes, a calcaneum with a base and apex and a forefoot, said sole comprising:

(A) inner sole means for engaging the plantar surface of the foot,

(B) midsole, means for providing a shock absorbing cushion, said midsole means extending from the base of the distal phalanges of the toes to an area corresponding to the base of the calcaneum, the thickness of said midsole means varying to a maximum thickness proximate the calcaneum, and

(C) outer sole means for defining exterior lower surfaces of the shoe, said midsole means being intermediate said inner and outer sole means and said outer sole means including;

(i) landing surface means for forming a landing surface extending from the apex of the calcaneum to the base of the distal phalanges of the toes, and

(ii) recessed surface means for forming a surface that is recessed relative to said landing surface means and that extends oppositely to said landing surface means from the apex of the calcaneum to the rear portion of the shoe whereby, in use, said landing surface means engages the ground and said recessed surface means remains spaced from the ground and landing forces are transmitted through said landing surface means of said outer sole means, said midsole means and said inner sole means to the forefoot.

17. A shoe as recited in claim 16 wherein said outer sole means defines first and second inner surface portions substantially coextensive with said landing and recessed means, respectively, said first inner surface contacting said midsole means and said second inner surface having portions contacting said midsole means and portions contacting said inner sole means, said inner sole means comprising a relatively thin, resilient layer conforming to the plantar surface.

18. A shoe as recited in claim 17 wherein said midsole means defines another upper surface and at least one of said upper surfaces includes means for conforming said inner sole means to the plantar surface thereby to support and position the underlying skeletal structure of the foot.

19. A shoe as recited in claim 18 wherein one of said upper surfaces includes means for positioning and supporting the toes.

20. A shoe as recited in claim 19 wherein one of said upper surfaces includes an annular ring means positioned to underlie the heel opposite the base of the calcaneum for supporting and positioning the heel.

21. A shoe as recited in claim 20 wherein one of said upper surfaces includes a longitudinally extending raised portion corresponding to an arch of the foot.

22. A shoe as recited in claim 21 wherein the individual'"'"'s foot includes metatarsal heads and wherein one of said upper surfaces includes a plurality of annular extensions for positioning and supporting the metatarsal heads.

23. A shoe as recited in claim 22 wherein one of said upper surfaces includes an annular ring means positioned to underlie the heel opposite the base of the calcaneum for supporting and positioning the heel.

24. A shoe as recited in claim 23 wherein the individual'"'"'s foot is characterized by an arch and wherein one of said upper surfaces includes a longitudinally extending raised portion corresponding to an arch.

25. A shoe as recited in claim 24 wherein one of said upper surfaces includes a plurality of annular extensions for positioning and supporting the metatarsal heads of the foot.

26. A shoe as recited in claim 18 wherein one of said upper surfaces includes a plurality of annular extensions for positioning and supporting the metatarsal heads of the foot.

27. A shoe as recited in claim 18 wherein said recessed surface means is composed of a relatively hard substantially rigid material.

28. A shoe as recited in claim 27 wherein said landing surface means is composed of a pressure deformable material to cushion the foot on contact between said landing surface means and the ground.

29. A shoe as recited in claim 27 wherein said midsole means is composed of a hard, pressure-deformable cellular material.

30. A shoe as recited in claim 18 wherein said landing surface means is composed of a pressure deformable material to cushion the foot on contact between said landing surface and the ground.

31. A shoe as recited in claim 18 wherein said midsole is composed of a hard, pressure-deformable cellular material.

32. A shoe as recited in claim 18 wherein said landing surface means includes spaced recesses and extensions distributed across the landing surface.

33. A shoe as recited in claim 32 wherein said shoe is formed along a longitudinal axis from a toe portion to a rear portion of said shoe and said recesses include longitudinally spaced, transverse channels across the face of the landing surface.

34. A shoe as recited in claim 33 wherein the individual'"'"'s foot is characterized by including a styloid process of the fifth metatarsal bone and wherein said landing surface has a lateral extension for the styloid process of the fifth metatarsal bone.

35. A shoe as recited in claim 33 wherein said shoe is adapted for use with a cord for training and wherein outer sole means includes means at said channels for engaging the cord.

36. A shoe as recited in claim 32 wherein said extensions include a plurality of spaced polygonal extensions distributed about the periphery of said landing surface means and a plurality of spaced hemispherical extensions distributed about the interior portion of said landing surface means.