Shoe with external torsion stability element

• US 6,497,058 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2000
• Issued: 12/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adidas International BV (Adidas AG)
• Original Assignee: Adidas International BV (Adidas AG)
• Inventors: Knoche, Bernhard, Dietrich, Stephan Johannes Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony D.
• Application Number:
  US09/516,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20020050078A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 361/42, 361/43, 361/44, 361/45, 361/48, 361/49, 361/54, 361/62, 361/66, 361/69, 361/73, 361/74, 361/76, 361/80, 36/69, 36/88, 36/91, 36/92, 361/02, 361/07, 36/71, 36/25.R, 36/43, 36/44, 36/30.R
• US Class Current: 36/69
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/24 Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side , preventing supination or pronation

Abstract

An article of footwear is disclosed, in particular a sports shoe with a sole ensemble and a stability element constructed of a material and configured for the selective support of single parts of the sole ensemble. The stability element includes a base element extending from a rearfoot portion to a forefoot portion of a shoe along the medial or the lateral side of the forefoot portion of the shoe and includes at least one support element. The at least one support element encompasses the sole ensemble upwardly or downwardly or both. Further, the stability element may include a heel support connected to the base element and a second base element for additional lateral support of the shoe.

Claims

1. A shoe including a sole ensemble and a stability element for selective support of single parts of the sole ensemble, the stability element comprising:

a) a first base element extending from a rearfoot portion into a forefoot portion forward of an arch area of the shoe along as one medial side and a lateral side of the shoe; and

b) at least one support element extending from the base element and encompassing the sole ensemble on the only one of the medial side and the lateral.

2. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the support element encompasses the sole ensemble in at least one of an upwardly direction and a downwardly direction.

3. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the stability element further comprises a heel support connected to the first base element, the heel support at least partially encompassing a heel portion of the shoe.

4. A shoe according to claim 3, wherein the stability element further comprises a second base element separate from the first base element and extending on an opposite side of the forefoot portion with respect to the first base element, the second base element comprising at least one support element extending from the second base element and encompassing the sole ensemble on the opposite side.

5. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first base element forms at least one slit in the forefoot portion.

6. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first base element comprises an additional support in the rearfoot portion for an arch of a foot.

7. A shoe according to claim 3, wherein a connection between the first base element and the heel support includes a ridge with torsional flexibility to allow a turning movement of the first base element with respect to the heel support.

8. A shoe according to claim 3, wherein the heel support fully encompasses the heel portion.

9. A shoe according to claim 4, wherein a portion of at least one of the first and second base elements and the heel support is embedded in the sole ensemble and a portion of at least one of the first and second base elements and the heel support is visible from outside the sole ensemble.

10. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support element further encompasses a foot for support of single parts of the foot.