Shoe sole structures

• US 6,163,982 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anatomic Research Inc.
• Original Assignee: Anatomic Research Inc.
• Inventors: Ellis, Frampton E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US08/477,954
• Time in Patent Office: 2,029 Days
• Field of Search: 36/25 R, 36/32 R, 36/30 R, 36/31, 36/114, 36/88, 36/89, 36/11, 36/12, 36/127, 36/92, 36/93, 36/14, 36/15, 36/91, 36/113, 36/115, 36/140, 36/143, 36/144
• US Class Current: 36/25.00R
• 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 13/146 Concave end portions, e.g. with a cavity or cut-out portion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/148 Wedged end portions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/18 Resilient soles skating boots provided with resilient means A43B5/1658
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407

Abstract

In its simplest conceptual form, the applicant'"'"'s invention is the structure of a conventional shoe sole that has been modified by having its sides bent up so that their inner surface conforms to a shape nearly identical but slightly smaller than the shape of the outer surface of the sides of the foot sole of the wearer (instead of the shoe sole sides conforming to the ground by paralleling it, as is conventional). The shoe sole sides are sufficiently flexible to bend out easily when the shoes are put on the wearer'"'"'s feet and therefore the shoe soles gently hold the sides of the wearer'"'"'s foot sole when on, providing the equivalent of custom fit in a mass-produced shoe sole. This invention can be applied to shoe sole structures based on a theoretically ideal stability plane as a basic concept, especially including structures exceeding that plane. The theoretically ideal stability plane is defined as the plane of the surface of the bottom of the shoe sole, wherein the shoe sole conforms to the natural shape of the wearer'"'"'s foot sole, particularly its sides, and has a constant thickness in frontal or transverse plane cross sections.

Claims

1. An athletic shoe sole for supporting a foot of an intended wearer, the shoe sole comprising:

a sole inner surface for supporting the foot of the intended wearer, and a sole outer surface, the sole outer surface having a sole middle portion and at least a sole side adjacent to the sole middle portion;

the sole defining a heel portion at a location substantially corresponding to a calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, a midtarsal portion at a location substantially corresponding to a midtarsal of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a forefoot portion at a location substantially corresponding to a forefoot of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the heel portion having a lateral heel part at a location substantially corresponding to the lateral tuberosity of the calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a medial heel part at a location substantially corresponding to the base of the calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the midtarsal portion being between the forefoot portion and heel portion, and having a lateral midtarsal part at a location substantially corresponding to the base of a fifth metatarsal of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a main longitudinal arch part at a location substantially corresponding to the longitudinal arch of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the forefoot portion having a forward medial forefoot part at a location substantially corresponding to the head of the first distal phalange of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and rear medial and lateral forefoot parts at locations substantially corresponding to the heads of medial and lateral metatarsal of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the sole further including at least one concavely rounded bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane, during a shoe sole unloaded, upright condition, the concavity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe;

one said concavely rounded bulge being located at the sole side proximate to at least one of the;

medial heel part, lateral heel part, forward medial forefoot part, rear medial forefoot part, rear lateral forefoot part, lateral midtarsal part, and main longitudinal arch part;

each said at least one concavely rounded bulge including a concavely rounded portion of the inner surface of a midsole component and a concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface, all as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition, the concavity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe;

the sole including a lateral sidemost section and a medial sidemost section, each section at a location outside of a straight vertical line extending through the shoe sole at a respective sidemost extent of a midsole component inner surface, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane cross section during an unloaded, upright shoe sole condition;

each said at least one concavely rounded bulge includes midsole component extending into the sidemost section of the same sole side as said bulge, as viewed in a sole frontal plane cross section during an unloaded, upright shoe sole condition;

each said at least one concavely rounded bulge further includes a midsole component upper part extending up said at least one concavely rounded bulge to above a level corresponding to a lowest point of the midsole component inner surface of the same sole side as said bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane cross section during an unloaded, upright shoe sole condition; and

the sole outer surface of at least part of the midtarsal portion is substantially convexly rounded, as viewed in a shoe sole sagittal plane cross section during an unloaded, upright shoe sole condition, the convexity existing with respect to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe;

the concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface extending through at least a lowermost part of said sole side; and

wherein

the shoe sole includes at least two said concavely rounded bulges; and

a heel portion thickness that is greater than a forefoot portion thickness, as viewed in a shoe sole sagittal plane.

2. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein the shoe sole includes at least three said concavely rounded bulges.

3. A sole according to claim 1, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the lateral midtarsal part.

4. A sole according to claim 1, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the lateral midtarsal part, another said concavely rounded bulge is located at the rear lateral forefoot part, the sole having an indentation between the lateral midtarsal part and rear lateral forefoot part concavely rounded bulges for forming a first flexibility axis in the sole.

5. A sole according to claim 1, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the lateral heel part, another said concavely rounded bulge is located at the lateral midtarsal part, and an indentation is located between said concavely rounded bulges for forming a flexibility axis in the sole.

6. The shoe sole of claim 1, further including an indentation in the shoe sole adjacent to the one said concavely rounded bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole horizontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition.

7. The shoe sole of claim 6, wherein the indentation is a first indentation, and the sole includes a second indentation, such that the first indentation is located anterior to one said concavely rounded bulge and the second indentation is located posterior to one said concavely rounded bulge, all as viewed in a shoe sole horizontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition.

8. The shoe sole of claim 6, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the heel portion of the shoe sole, and the first indentation is located on a lateral side of the shoe sole anterior to the heel portion bulge, and the second indentation is located on a medial side of the shoe sole anterior to the heel portion bulge, all as viewed in a shoe sole horizontal plane.

9. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge includes a tapered portion having a thickness that decreases gradually from a greatest thickness to a least thickness on a side of the bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole horizontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition.

10. The shoe sole of claim 9, wherein at least part of the sole outer surface of the tapered portion is concavely rounded, as viewed in the shoe sole horizontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition, the concavity existing with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shoe sole.

11. The shoe sole of claim 10, wherein the shoe sole includes at least three said concavely rounded bulges.

12. The shoe sole of claim 10, wherein said at least one concavely rounded bulge encompasses substantially all of its respective part.

13. The shoe sole of claim 10, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge encompasses only said respective part.

14. A sole according to claim 10, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the lateral midtarsal part.

15. The shoe sole of claim 14, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the main longitudinal arch part.

16. The shoe sole of claim 10, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the medial heel part.

17. A sole according to claim 10, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the rear medial forefoot part.

18. A sole according to claim 10, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the rear lateral forefoot part.

19. A sole according to claim 10, wherein one concavely rounded bulge is located at the lateral heel part.

20. A sole according to claim 10, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the forward medial forefoot part.

21. A sole according to claim 10, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the rear medial forefoot part and another said concavely rounded bulge is located at the rear lateral forefoot part, the sole forming a groove between said bulges, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during an upright, unloaded shoe sole condition.

22. The shoe sole of claim 10, wherein the shoe sole includes at least four said concavely rounded bulges.

23. The shoe sole of claim 10, wherein said at least one concavely rounded bulge includes a tapered portion having a thickness that decreases gradually from a greatest thickness to a least thickness on each side of the bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole horizontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition.

24. The shoe sole of claim 10, wherein said concavely rounded portion of the sole inner surface extends to an inner surface sidemost extent of said sole side, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during a shoe sole unloaded, upright condition, the concavity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe.

25. The shoe sole of claim 10, wherein the concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface extends from the outer surface middle portion to an outer surface sidemost extent of said sole side, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during a shoe sole unloaded, upright condition, the concavity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe.

26. The shoe sole of claim 10, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge extends to an outer surface sidemost extent of the same sole side as said bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane.

27. The shoe sole of claim 10, wherein said outer surface portion of at least one said concavely rounded bulge decreases gradually from a greatest thickness to a least thickness, as viewed in a shoe sole sagittal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition.

28. The shoe sole of claim 27, wherein the outer surface portion of one said concavely rounded bulge defines a portion of a concavely rounded outer surface of the shoe sole, as viewed in the sagittal plane, during the shoe sole upright, unloaded condition, the concavity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe.

29. An athletic shoe sole for supporting a foot of an intended wearer, the shoe sole comprising:

a sole inner surface for supporting the foot of the intended wearer, and a sole outer surface, the sole outer surface having at least a sole middle portion and a sole side adjacent to the sole middle portion;

the sole defining a heel portion at a location substantially corresponding to a calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, a midtarsal portion at a location substantially corresponding to a midtarsal of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a forefoot portion at a location substantially corresponding to a forefoot of an intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the heel portion having a lateral heel part at a location substantially corresponding to the lateral tuberosity of the calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a medial heel part at a location substantially corresponding to the base of the calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the midtarsal portion being between the forefoot portion and heel portion, and having a lateral midtarsal part at a location substantially corresponding to the base of a fifth metatarsal of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a main longitudinal arch part at a location substantially corresponding to the longitudinal arch of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the forefoot portion having a forward medial forefoot part at a location substantially corresponding to the head of the first distal phalange of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and rear medial and lateral forefoot parts at locations substantially corresponding to the heads of the medial and lateral metatarsals of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the sole further including at least one concavely rounded bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane, during a shoe sole unloaded, upright condition, the concavity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe,

one said concavely rounded bulge being located at least at one of the;

medial heel part, lateral heel part, forward medial forefoot part, rear medial forefoot part, rear lateral forefoot part, lateral midtarsal part, and main longitudinal arch part;

each said at least one concavely rounded bulge including a concavely rounded portion of the inner and outer surfaces of a midsole component, the concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface extending through at least a lowermost part of said middle portion;

the sole including a lateral sidemost section and a medial sidemost section, each section at a location outside of a straight vertical line extending through the shoe sole at a respective sidemost extent of a midsole component inner surface, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane cross section during an unloaded, upright shoe sole condition;

at least one sole side includes midsole component extending into the sidemost section of the same sole side as said bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane cross section during an unloaded, upright shoe sole condition;

said at least one sole side further includes a midsole component upper part extending up said at least one sole side to above a level corresponding to a lowest point of the midsole component inner surface of the same sole side as said bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane cross section during an unloaded, upright shoe sole condition; and

the sole outer surface of at least part of the midtarsal portion is substantially convexly rounded, as viewed in a shoe sole sagittal plane cross section during an unloaded, upright shoe sole condition, the convexity existing with respect to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe; and

wherein

the shoe sole includes at least two said concavely rounded bulges; and

a heel portion thickness that is greater than a forefoot portion thickness, as viewed in a shoe sole sagittal plane cross section.

30. The shoe sole of claim 29, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge encompasses substantially all of the said respective part.

31. The shoe sole of claim 30, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge encompasses only said respective part.

32. The shoe sole of claim 30, wherein the shoe sole includes at least three said concavely rounded bulges.

33. The shoe sole of claim 30, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge includes a tapered portion having a thickness that decreases gradually from a greatest thickness to a least thickness on a side of the bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole horizontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition.

34. The shoe sole of claim 30, further including an indentation in the shoe sole adjacent to one said concavely rounded bulge, as viewed in a horizontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition.

35. The shoe sole of claim 34, wherein the indentation is a first indentation, and the sole includes a second indentation, such that the first indentation is located anterior to said at least one concavely rounded bulge and the second indentation is located posterior to said at least one concavely rounded bulge, all as viewed in a shoe sole horizontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition.

36. The shoe sole of claim 30, wherein the tapered portion of said at least one concavely rounded bulge includes a sole outer surface portion which is concavely rounded as viewed in the shoe sole horizontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition, the concavity existing with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shoe sole.

37. The shoe sole of claim 36, wherein the shoe sole includes at least three said concavely rounded bulges.

38. The shoe sole of claim 36, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the rear medial forefoot part.

39. The shoe sole of claim 36, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the rear lateral forefoot part.

40. The shoe sole of claim 36, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the lateral heel part.

41. The shoe sole of claim 36, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the forward medial forefoot part.

42. The shoe sole of claim 36, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the medial heel part.

43. The shoe sole of claim 36, wherein one said concavely rounded bulge is located at the lateral midtarsal part.

44. The shoe sole of claim 43, wherein said at least one concavely rounded bulge is located at the main longitudinal arch part.

45. The shoe sole of claim 36, wherein said at least one concavely rounded bulge is located at the rear medial forefoot part, a second said at least one concavely rounded bulge is located at the rear lateral forefoot part, the sole forming a groove between the first and second bulges as viewed in a frontal plane cross section during an upright, unloaded shoe sole condition.

46. The shoe sole of claim 36, wherein said at least one concavely rounded bulge includes a tapered portion having a thickness that decreases gradually from a greatest thickness to a least thickness on each side of the bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole horizontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition.

47. A sole according to claim 36, wherein said concavely rounded portion of the sole inner surface extends to an inner surface sidemost extent of said sole side, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during a shoe sole unloaded, upright condition, the concavity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe.

48. The shoe sole of claim 36, wherein the concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface extends from the outer surface middle portion to an outer surface sidemost extent of the sole side, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during a shoe sole unloaded, upright condition, the concavity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe.

49. The shoe sole of claim 36, wherein said at least one concavely rounded bulge includes a tapered portion that decreases gradually from a greatest thickness to a least thickness, as viewed in a shoe sole sagittal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition, the convexity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe.

50. The shoe sole of claim 49, wherein the tapered portion of said at least one concavely rounded bulge includes a sole outer surface portion which is concavely rounded, as viewed in the sagittal plane, during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition, the concavity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe.

51. A shoe sole for supporting a foot of an intended wearer, the shoe sole comprising:

a sole inner surface for supporting the foot of the intended wearer, and a sole outer surface, the outer surface having a sole bottom portion and at least a sole side adjacent to the sole bottom portion;

the sole defining a heel portion at a location substantially corresponding to a calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, a midtarsal portion at a location substantially corresponding to a midtarsal of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a forefoot portion at a location substantially corresponding to a forefoot portion of an intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the heel portion having a lateral heel part at a location substantially corresponding to the lateral tuberosity of the calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a medial heel part at a location substantially corresponding to the base of the calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the midtarsal portion being between the forefoot portion and heel portion, and having a lateral midtarsal part at a location substantially corresponding to the base of a fifth metatarsal of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a main longitudinal arch part at a location substantially corresponding to the longitudinal arch of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the forefoot portion having a forward medial forefoot part at a location substantially corresponding to the head of the first distal phalange of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and rear medial and lateral forefoot parts at locations substantially corresponding to the heads of medial and lateral metatarsal of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the sole further including at least one concavely rounded bulge, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane, during a shoe sole unloaded, upright condition, the concavity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe,

one said concavely rounded bulge being located at least at one of the;

medial heel part, lateral heel part, forward medial forefoot part, rear medial forefoot part, rear lateral forefoot part, lateral midtarsal part, and main longitudinal arch part;

each said at least one concavely rounded bulge including a contour about the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface, the outer surface contour extending through at least a part of both said sole bottom portion and said sole side to a lateral extent of the sole side;

wherein one said bulge is located at the lateral midtarsal part, another said bulge is located at the rear lateral forefoot part, the sole having a first indentation between the lateral midtarsal and rear lateral forefoot part bulges for forming a first flexibility axis in the sole;

another said bulge being located at the lateral heel part, and a second indentation is located between the lateral heel part bulge and the lateral midtarsal part bulge for forming a second flexibility axis in the sole;

including a further bulge at the main longitudinal arch part;

wherein the main longitudinal arch part is separated from the lateral midtarsal part bulge by a further indentation for forming a third flexibility axis;

another said bulge being located at the rear medial forefoot part and the first indentation extends along the first flexibility axis between the rear medial forefoot part and the midtarsal portion of the sole, the first flexibility axis extending between main longitudinal arch part bulge and the rear medial forefoot bulge; and

a heel portion thickness that is greater than a forefoot portion thickness, as viewed in a shoe sole sagittal plane.

52. A sole according to claim 51, wherein the second flexibility axis extends between the main longitudinal arch part bulge and the lateral heel part bulge.

53. A shoe sole for supporting a foot of an intended wearer, the shoe sole comprising:

a sole outer surface and a sole inner surface for supporting the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the sole defining a heel portion at a location substantially corresponding to a calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, a midtarsal portion at a location substantially corresponding to a midtarsal of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a forefoot portion at a location substantially corresponding to a forefoot of an intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the heel portion having a lateral heel part at a location substantially corresponding to the lateral tuberosity of the calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a medial heel part at a location substantially corresponding to the base of the calcaneus of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the midtarsal portion being between the forefoot portion and heel portion, and having a lateral midtarsal part at a location substantially corresponding to the base of a fifth metatarsal of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and a main longitudinal arch part at a location substantially corresponding to the longitudinal arch of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the forefoot portion having a forward medial forefoot part at a location substantially corresponding to the head of the first distal phalange of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot, and rear medial and lateral forefoot parts at locations substantially corresponding to the heads of medial and lateral metatarsal of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot;

the sole including a plurality of concavely rounded bulges, the concavity existing with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during a shoe sole upright, unloaded condition, the bulges including;

(i) a first said bulge located at the lateral midtarsal part;

(ii) a second said bulge at the rear lateral forefoot part, the sole having a first indentation between said first and second bulges for forming a first flexibility axis in the sole;

(iii) a third said bulge at the lateral heel part, and a second indentation between the lateral heel part third bulge and the lateral midtarsal part first bulge forming a second flexibility axis in the sole;

(iv) a fourth said bulge at the main longitudinal arch part;

the main longitudinal arch part fourth bulge being separated from the lateral midtarsal part bulge by a third indentation forming a third flexibility axis;

(v) a fifth said bulge at the rear medial forefoot part and a further indentation along the first flexibility axis and extending between the rear medial forefoot part and the midtarsal portion of the sole, the main longitudinal arch part bulge being separated from the rear medial forefoot part fifth bulge by the first flexibility axis; and

a heel portion thickness that is greater than a forefoot portion thickness, as viewed in a shoe sole sagittal plane.

54. A sole according to claim 53, wherein the second flexibility axis extends between the main longitudinal arch part fourth bulge and the lateral heel part third bulge.