Shoe with cushioning and speed enhancement midsole components and method for construction thereof
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A shoe to be worn on a foot, said shoe comprising a midsole having a top surface, said shoe midsole fabricated from material having a fixed elastic modulus and having at least one cavity formed in said top surface below the bottom of the foot, said at least one cavity filled with material consisting essentially of a dilatant compound, all of which material consisting essentially of a dilatant compound is retained below the bottom of the foot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An athletic shoe, in particular a running shoe, having improved cushioning and energy returning properties that vary depending upon the speed of the runner due to incorporation of at least one insert containing dilatant compound encapsulated in a shell and set into the midsole of the running shoe is disclosed. A method for converting the midsole of an existing running shoe is also disclosed.
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Citations
11 Claims
- 1. A shoe to be worn on a foot, said shoe comprising a midsole having a top surface, said shoe midsole fabricated from material having a fixed elastic modulus and having at least one cavity formed in said top surface below the bottom of the foot, said at least one cavity filled with material consisting essentially of a dilatant compound, all of which material consisting essentially of a dilatant compound is retained below the bottom of the foot.
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7. A shoe to be worn on a foot, said shoe comprising
(a) a midsole made of elastomeric material, (b) a cavity beneath the heel portion of said midsole, (c) a disc-shaped insert filling the cavity, said insert comprising a thin, flexible wall with negligible elasticity when compared with said elastomeric material and when compared with said material consisting essentially of a dilatant compound, said thin, flexible wall enclosing a material consisting essentially of a dilatant compound with less elasticity than the elastomeric midsole material under slow load and greater elasticity than the elastomeric midsole material under fast load, all of which dilatant compound is retained below the foot.
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10. A shoe to be worn on a foot, said shoe comprising
(a) a midsole made of elastomeric material, (b) a cavity beneath the heel portion of said midsole, (c) a disc-shaped insert filling the cavity, said insert comprising a thin, flexible wall with negligible elasticity, said wall enclosing a material consisting essentially of dilatant compound with less elasticity than the elastomeric midsole material under slow load and greater elasticity than the elastomeric midsole material under fast load, all of which material consisting essentially of a dilatant compound is retained below the foot, and wherein said disc-shaped insert when the shoe is off the foot has a diameter between 1⅜ - ″ and
1⅝
″ and
has a thickness between ⅜
″ and
⅝
″
, and wherein said material consisting essentially of a dilatant compound is derived from a mixture of dimethyl siloxane, hydroxy-terminated polymers with boric acid, Thixotrol ST®
, polydimethysiloxane, decamethyl cyclopentasiloxane, glycerine, and titanium dioxide.
- ″ and
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11. A shoe to be worn on a foot, said shoe comprising a midsole made of elastomeric material, said midsole containing a disc-shaped chamber encapsulating a material consisting essentially of dilatant compound with less elasticity than the elastomeric midsole material under slow load and greater elasticity than the elastomeric midsole material under fast load, all of which material consisting essentially of a dilatant compound is retained below the foot, and wherein said disc-shaped insert when the shoe is off the foot has a diameter between 1⅜
- ″ and
1⅝
″ and
has a thickness between ⅜
″ and
⅝
″
, and wherein said material consisting essentially of a dilatant compound is derived from a mixture of dimethyl siloxane, hydroxy-terminated polymers with boric acid, Thixotrol ST®
, polydimethysiloxane, decamethyl cyclopentasiloxane, glycerine, and titanium dioxide.
- ″ and
Specification