Shoe sole structures

• US 6,584,706 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1993
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anatomic Research Inc.
• Original Assignee: Anatomic Research Inc.
• Inventors: Ellis, Frampton E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony D.
• Application Number:
  US08/033,468
• Time in Patent Office: 3,757 Days
• Field of Search: 361/14, 36/28, 36/29, 36/71, 36/81, 36/97, 36/30.R, 36/84, 36/69
• US Class Current: 36/29
• 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 13/189 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407

Abstract

A shoe having an anthropomorphic sole that copies the underlying stability, support, and cushioning structures of the human foot. Natural stability is provided by attaching a completely flexible but relatively inelastic shoe sole upper directly to the bottom sole, enveloping the sides of the midsole, instead of attaching it to the top surface of the shoe sole. Doing so puts the flexible side of the shoe upper under tension in reaction to destabilizing sideways forces on the shoe causing it to tilt. That tension force is balanced and in equilibrium because the bottom sole is firmly anchored by body weight, so the destabilizing sideways motion is neutralized by the tension in the flexible sides of the shoe upper. Support and cushioning is provided by shoe sole compartments filled with a pressure-transmitting medium like liquid, gas, or gel. Unlike similar existing systems, direct physical contact occurs between the upper surface and the lower surface of the compartments, providing firm, stable support. Cushioning is provided by the transmitting medium progressively causing tension in the flexible and semi-elastic sides of the shoe sole. The support and cushioning compartments are similar in structure to the fat pads of the human foot, which simultaneously provide both firm support and progressive cushioning.

Claims

1. A shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including:

at least an underneath shoe sole portion located below an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the underneath portion formed with a sole inner surface and a sole outer surface,

the sole inner surface being adjacent an intended wearer'"'"'s foot and having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in the frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface having at least a concavely rounded portion extending through a lowest portion of the sole outer surface, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the concavely rounded underneath portion thereby providing stable support similar to a rounded underneath portion of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearer'"'"'s foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded portions, and

wherein, the frontal plane is located in the heel area of the shoe sole and a heel area sole thickness is greater than forefoot area sole thickness.

2. A shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including;

an outer periphery of the shoe sole including a sole inner surface and a sole outer surface, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane;

a shoe sole side defined by that portion of the shoe sole located outside of a line extending vertically from a lateral extent of the sole inner surface as viewed in the frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the sole inner surface adjacent a wearer'"'"'s foot having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in a frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface including a concavely rounded portion extending down the at least one shoe sole side to a lowermost point of the side, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the at least one concavely rounded shoe sole side thereby providing stable support similar to a rounded side of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot;

an uppermost portion of a cushioning midsole of the shoe sole extending to a point at least above the lowest point of the sole inner surface, as viewed in the frontal plane when the shoe is in the upright, unloaded condition; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface and at least a part of the compartment extending into the concavely rounded portion of the shoe sole side,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearer'"'"'s foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded shoe sole side, and

wherein, the frontal plane is located in the heel area of the shoe sole and a heel area sole thickness is greater than a forefoot area sole thickness.

3. A shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including:

at least an underneath shoe sole portion located below an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the underneath portion formed with a sole inner surface and a sole outer surface,

the sole inner surface being adjacent an intended wearer'"'"'s foot and having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in the frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface having at least a concavely rounded portion extending through a lowest portion of the sole outer surface, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the concavely rounded underneath portion thereby providing stable support similar to a rounded underneath portion of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearer'"'"'s foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded portions,

at least one shoe sole side formed by the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface;

the sole outer surface concavely rounded portion also forming the outer surface of the at least one sole side below a lateral extent of the sole outer surface, as viewed in the frontal plane during a shoe upright condition, and

including, a sole outer surface concavely rounded portion extending through a second, opposing sole side lateral extent of the sole outer surface, as viewed in the frontal plane.

4. The shoe sole of claim 3 wherein:

the sole outer surface concavely rounded portion extends from the lateral extent of the outer surface to the opposing side lateral extent of the sole outer surface, as viewed in the frontal plane.

5. A shoe comprising a shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including:

at least one shoe sole side, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane;

a shoe heel area with a thickness that is different from a thickness of a shoe forefoot area, as viewed in a sagittal plane;

an outer periphery of the shoe sole including sole inner surface and a sole outer surface, as viewed in the frontal plane,

the at least one shoe sole side defined by that part of the shoe sole located outside of a line extending vertically from a lateral extent of the sole inner surface, as viewed in the frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the sole inner surface adjacent an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in the frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface having a concavely rounded portion extending down the at least one shoe sole side to a lowermost point of the side, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the at least one concavely rounded shoe sole side thereby providing stable support similar to a corresponding rounded side of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot;

an uppermost portion of a cushioning midsole of the shoe sole extending to a point at least above the lowest point of said sole inner surface when the shoe sole is in the upright, unloaded condition; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole, especially a thicker portion, can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearers foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded shoe sole side, and

wherein, at least a portion of a shoe upper envelopes at least a portion of the cushioning midsole of the shoe sole, so that at least the midsole portion is inside the shoe upper.

6. A shoe comprising a shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including:

at least an underneath shoe sole portion located below an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the underneath portion formed with a sole inner surface and a sole outer surface,

the sole inner surface being adjacent an intended wearer'"'"'s foot and having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in the frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface having at least a concavely rounded portion extending through a lowest portion of the sole outer surface, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the concavely rounded underneath portion thereby providing stable support similar to a rounded underneath portion of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearer'"'"'s foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded portions, and

wherein, at least a portion of a shoe upper envelopes at least a portion of a cushioning midsole of the shoe sole, so that at least the midsole portion is inside the shoe upper.

7. A shoe comprising a shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including:

an outer periphery of the shoe sole including a sole inner surface and a sole outer surface, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane;

a shoe sole side defined by that portion of the shoe sole located outside of a line extending vertically from a lateral extent of the sole inner surface as viewed in the frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the sole inner surface adjacent a wearer'"'"'s foot having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in a frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface including a concavely rounded portion extending down the shoe sole side to a lowermost point of the side, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the concavely rounded shoe sole side thereby providing stable support similar to a rounded side of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot;

an uppermost portion of a cushioning midsole of the shoe sole extending to a point at least above the lowest point of the sole inner surface, as viewed in the frontal plane when the shoe is in the upright, unloaded condition; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface and at least a part of the compartment extending into the concavely rounded portion of the shoe sole side,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearer'"'"'s foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded shoe sole side, and

wherein, at least a portion of a shoe upper envelopes at least a portion of the cushioning midsole of the shoe sole, so that at least the midsole portion is inside the shoe upper.

8. A shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including:

at least one shoe sole side, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane;

a shoe heel area with a thickness that is different from a thickness of a shoe forefoot area, as viewed in a sagittal plane;

an outer periphery of the shoe sole including sole inner surface and a sole outer surface, as viewed in the frontal plane,

the at least one shoe sole side defined by that part of the shoe sole located outside of a line extending vertically from a lateral extent of the sole inner surface, as viewed in the frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the sole inner surface adjacent an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in the frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface having a concavely rounded portion extending down the at least one shoe sole side to a lowermost point of the side, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the at least one concavely rounded shoe sole side thereby providing stable support similar to a corresponding rounded side of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot;

an uppermost portion of a cushioning midsole of the shoe sole extending to a point at least above the lowest point of said sole inner surface when the shoe sole is in the upright, unloaded condition; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole, especially a thicker portion, can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearer'"'"'s foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded shoe sole side, and

wherein, the gas, gel, or liquid of the at least one cushioning compartment is encapsulated itself in a capsule.

9. A shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including:

at least an underneath shoe sole portion located below an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the underneath portion formed with a sole inner surface and a sole outer surface,

the sole inner surface being adjacent an intended wearer'"'"'s foot and having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in the frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface having at least a concavely rounded portion extending through a lowest portion of the sole outer surface, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the concavely rounded underneath portion thereby providing stable support similar to a rounded underneath portion of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearer'"'"'s foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded portions, and

wherein, the gas, gel, or liquid of the at least one cushioning compartment is encapsulated itself in a capsule.

10. A shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including:

an outer periphery of the shoe sole including a sole inner surface and a sole outer surface, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane;

a shoe sole side defined by that portion of the shoe sole located outside of a line extending vertically from a lateral extent of the sole inner surface as viewed in the frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the sole inner surface adjacent a wearer'"'"'s foot having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in a frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface including a concavely rounded portion extending down the at least one shoe sole side to a lowermost point of the side, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the at least one concavely rounded shoe sole side thereby providing stable support similar to a rounded side of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot;

an uppermost portion of a cushioning midsole of the shoe sole extending to a point at least above the lowest point of the sole inner surface, as viewed in the frontal plane when the shoe is in the upright, unloaded condition; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface and at least a part of the compartment extending into the concavely rounded portion of the shoe sole side,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearer'"'"'s foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded shoe sole side, and

wherein, the gas, gel, or liquid of the at least one cushioning compartment is encapsulated itself in a capsule.

11. A shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including:

at least an underneath shoe sole portion located below an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the underneath portion formed with a sole inner surface and a sole outer surface,

the sole inner surface being adjacent an intended wearer'"'"'s foot and having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in the frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface having at least a concavely rounded portion extending through a lowest portion of the sole outer surface, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the concavely rounded underneath portion thereby providing stable support similar to a rounded underneath portion of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearer'"'"'s foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded portions, and

wherein, at least a part of the at least one cushioning compartment is bounded about a top portion thereof by a midsole portion, as viewed in the frontal plane during a shoe upright, unloaded condition.

12. A shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including:

an outer periphery of the shoe sole including a sole inner surface and a sole outer surface, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane;

a shoe sole side defined by that portion of the shoe sole located outside of a line extending vertically from a lateral extent of the sole inner surface as viewed in the frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the sole inner surface adjacent a wearer'"'"'s foot having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in a frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface including a concavely rounded portion extending down the at least one shoe sole side to a lowermost point of the side, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the at least one concavely rounded shoe sole side thereby providing stable support similar to a rounded side of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot;

an uppermost portion of a cushioning midsole of the shoe sole extending to a point at least above the lowest point of the sole inner surface, as viewed in the frontal plane when the shoe is in the upright, unloaded condition; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface and at least a part of the compartment extending into the concavely rounded portion of the shoe sole side,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearers foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded shoe sole side, and

at least a part of the at least one cushioning compartment is bounded about a top portion thereof by a portion of the cushioning midsole, as viewed in the frontal plane during a shoe upright, unloaded condition.

13. A shoe sole designed to emulate the structure and function of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot sole, thereby improving shoe sole stability and cushioning, including:

at least one shoe sole side, as viewed in a shoe sole frontal plane;

a shoe heel area with a thickness that is different from a thickness of a shoe forefoot area, as viewed in a sagittal plane;

an outer periphery of the shoe sole including a sole inner surface and a sole outer surface, as viewed in the frontal plane,

the at least one shoe sole side defined by that part of the shoe sole located outside of a line extending vertically from a lateral extent of the sole inner surface, as viewed in the frontal plane during a shoe upright condition,

the sole inner surface adjacent an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location having at least a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in the frontal plane, when the shoe is upright and not under a bodyweight load, and the concavity being determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the sole outer surface having a concavely rounded portion extending down the at least one shoe sole side to a lowermost point of the side, as viewed in the frontal plane, during the unloaded, upright shoe condition, the concavity again determined with respect to the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location within the shoe,

the at least one concavely rounded shoe sole side thereby providing stable support similar to a corresponding rounded side of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot;

an uppermost portion of a cushioning midsole of the shoe sole extending to a point at least above the lowest point of said sole inner surface when the shoe sole is in the upright, unloaded condition; and

at least one cushioning compartment located between the sole inner surface and the sole outer surface,

the at least one cushioning compartment including a gas, gel, or liquid,

the at least one cushioning compartment thereby cushioning in a manner similar to a fat pad of the intended wearer'"'"'s bare foot sole so that the shoe sole, especially a thicker portion, can more easily deform to flatten into a stable base under bodyweight load during tilting sideways motion of the wearer'"'"'s foot on the ground, thereby further enhancing the stability improvement provided by the concavely rounded shoe sole side, and

wherein, the shoe sole includes the cushioning midsole having a density variation.