Shoe sole component and shoe sole component construction method

• US 6,098,313 A
• Filed: 01/23/1995
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mary C. Liesenfeld
• Original Assignee: Retama Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Skaja, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Application Number:
  US08/376,298
• Time in Patent Office: 2,024 Days
• Field of Search: 36/28, 36/30 R, 36/31, 36/35 R, 36/101, 36/15, 36/25 R, 36/34 R, 36/44, 36/43
• US Class Current: 36/28
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/142 Soles
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/376 having projections, studs, serrations or the like on at least one surface F16F1/3835 , F16F1/387 take precedence

Abstract

A high polymer resin material is configured into a shoe sole component having a plurality of inwardly extending indentations in one or both of the top and bottom members of the component. The indentations extend into the interval between the members and adjacent to the opposite member to provide support members for the sole component. The sole component can be constructed by molding upper and lower sole component halves wherein the molds are configured to provide indentations in the top and bottom members. The upper and lower sole component halves are then joined to complete the sole component.

Claims

1. A shoe sole component comprising:

(a) a flexible top sheet made from a high polymer resin and having substantially uniform thickness, an outer periphery, and a plurality of hollow, resiliently compressible indentations molded into the top sheet, each of the indentations having an upwardly facing recess and a downwardly facing projection;

(b) a flexible bottom sheet made from a high polymer resin and having substantially uniform thickness, an outer periphery, and a plurality of hollow, resiliently compressible indentations molded into the bottom sheet, each of the indentations having a downwardly facing recess and an upwardly facing projection;

(c) the top and bottom sheets joined at their outer peripheries whereby the top and bottom sheets are in spaced relation to one another to define a cavity therebetween, the projections of the indentations in the top and bottom sheets extending into the cavity, at least one of the indentations in the top sheet abutting an indentation in the bottom sheet.

2. The shoe sole component of claim 1 wherein at least one of the indentations is cone-shaped.

3. The shoe sole component of claim 1 wherein at least one of the indentations is rib-shaped.

4. The shoe sole component of claim 1 wherein at least one of the indentations in the top sheet is joined to an indentation in the bottom sheet.

5. The shoe sole component of claim 1 further comprising a wall member extending between at least a portion of the peripheries of the top and bottom sheets.

6. The shoe sole component of claim 1 further comprising at least one hole through at least one of the top and bottom sheets to allow free passage of air into and out from the cavity.

13. The shoe sole component of claim 1 wherein the flexible top sheet and bottom sheet each have a thickness of between 0.040 and 0.100 inches.

7. A shoe sole component comprising a flexible thermoplastic body configured for incorporation into a shoe, said body member further comprising:

(a) a top member formed from a flexible sheet of substantially uniform thickness, having an outer periphery and a plurality of hollow, resiliently deformable indentations therein, each of the indentations having a downwardly facing projection and an upwardly facing recess;

(b) a bottom member formed from a flexible sheet of substantially uniform thickness, having an outer periphery and a plurality of hollow, resiliently deformable indentations therein, each of the indentations having an upwardly facing projection and a downwardly facing recess;

(c) means for joining the top and bottom members along at least a portion of their outer peripheries whereby the members are in at least partially spaced relation to one another defining a cavity therebetween, the projections of the indentations in the top and bottom members extending into the cavity, a plurality of the indentations in the top member abutting the indentations in the bottom member.

8. The shoe sole component of claim 7 wherein at least one of the indentations is cone-shaped.

9. The shoe sole component of claim 7 wherein at least one of the indentations is rib-shaped.

10. The shoe sole component of claim 7 wherein at least one of the indentations in the top member is joined to an indentation in the bottom member.

11. The shoe sole component of claim 7 further comprising a wall member extending between at least a portion of the peripheries of the top and bottom members.

12. The shoe sole component of claim 7 further comprising at least one hole through at least one of the top and bottom members to allow free passage of air into and out from the cavity.

14. The shoe sole component of claim 7 wherein the top member and bottom member each have a thickness of 0.040 and 0.100 inches.