Climbing shoe with concave sole

• US 6,470,599 B1
• Filed: 04/23/2001
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Young Chu
• Original Assignee: Young Chu
• Inventors: Chu, Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony D.
• Application Number:
  US09/840,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20020152642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 36/43, 36/88, 36/93, 361/02, 361/04, 361/07, 361/08, 361/13, 361/14, 36/30.R, 36/31, 36/44, 36/76.R, 36/76.C, 36/75.R
• US Class Current: 36/113
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/10 Metal
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• 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 13/146 Concave end portions, e.g. with a cavity or cut-out portion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/003 for free climbing

Abstract

A climbing shoe includes an inner sole, an outer sole and a molded middle sole between the inner sole and the outer sole. The middle sole is concave in shape. The outer sole conforms to the concave shape of the middle sole. The concave shape allows the outer sole to hook on a rocky ledge. The molded middle sole provides a structure that causes the concave outer sole to substantially maintain the concave shape when pressure is applied to the outer sole.

Claims

1. A climbing sloe comprising:

a) an upper portion;

b) an inner sole attached to the upper portion;

c) an outer sole attached to the inner sole and having a front section and a back section; and

d) a middle sole embedded between the inner sole and the outer sole at the front section of the outer sole;

wherein the middle sole having a concave surface, wherein an edge of the middle sole is spaced from an edge of the outer sole by a predetermined and substantially uniform distance at the front section of the outer sole, wherein the concave surface of the middle sole is attached to the front section of the outer sole, wherein the front section conforms to the concave shape of the middle sole, wherein the middle sole has stiffness to maintain the concave shape when a climber applies pressure to the climbing shoe during rock climbing, whereby the front section can hook on a rocky ledge, and whereby the front section of the outer sole substantially maintains the concave shape when pressure is applied to the outer sole.

2. The climbing shoe of claim 1 wherein the outer sole has a rim formed on the edge of the outer sole at the front section of the outer sole.

3. The climbing shoe of claim 1 wherein the front section of the outer sole has about a uniform thickness.

4. The climbing shoe of claim 3 wherein the back section of the outer sole is flat.

5. The climbing shoe of claim 4 wherein the middle sole further having a convex surface, wherein the convex surface is attached to the inner sole.

6. The climbing shoe of claim 5 wherein the middle sole forms apertures, thereby reducing the weight of the middle sole.

7. The climbing shoe of claim 6 wherein the inner sole further having an upper surface, wherein the upper surface is flat.

8. The climbing shoe of claim 7 wherein the outer sole further having a bottom surface, wherein the front section of the bottom surface substantially conforms to the concave shape of the middle sole.

9. The climbing shoe of claim 3 wherein the middle sole further having a top surface, wherein the top surface is flat.

10. The climbing shoe of claim 9 wherein the middle sole further having an apex, and a base line, and wherein the vertical distance between the base line and the apex is less than about 20 percent of the length of the base line.

11. The climbing shoe of claim 10 wherein the middle sole forms apertures, thereby reducing the weight of the middle sole.

12. The climbing shoe of claim 11 wherein the back section of the outer sole is flat.

13. The climbing shoe of claim 10 wherein the vertical distance between the base line and the apex is less than about 10 percent of the length of the base line.