Shoe sole orthotic structures and computer controlled compartments

• US 7,793,429 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frampton E. Ellis III
• Original Assignee: Frampton E. Ellis III
• Inventors: Ellis, Frampton E. III
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US11/768,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 36/25.R, 36/88, 361/01, 361/00, 361/46, 361/61, 36/10, 36/29, 36/15, 36/31
• US Class Current: 36/25.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/00 Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/189 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/36 Easily-exchangeable soles protecting-soles A43C13/12
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/38 Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/40 with cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/035 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1425 situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1435 situated under the joint between the fifth phalange and the fifth metatarsal bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/148 Recesses or holes filled with supports or pads

Abstract

A shoe including an insertable midsole orthotic located within a structure formed by a combination of a bottom sole and a portion of a shoe upper attached to the bottom sole. Both the inner and outer surfaces of the sole include rounded portions which together define a rounded portion of the shoe sole located between the rounded surfaces, and at least a rounded part of each rounded portion of the sole has a uniform thickness extending at least from a lowest point of the sole to at least a sidemost extent of the side of the sole, all as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition. The shoe sole can also include at least one compartment containing a liquid, gas, or gel, or include at least two computer controlled compartments and a duct providing fluid communication between them.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising:

a shoe upper and a shoe sole including a least a bottom sole;

at least a portion of said shoe sole being formed by an insertable midsole orthotic;

at least a portion of the sides of said shoe upper being attached directly to the bottom sole such that the shoe upper envelopes, on the outside, at least the insertable midsole orthotic of said shoe sole, such that the insertable midsole orthotic of said shoe sole is located within a structure formed by a combination of said bottom sole and a portion of said shoe upper that is attached to said bottom sole;

the inner surface of the shoe sole including at least one convexly rounded portion, said convexity being determined relative to a portion of the shoe sole directly adjacent to the inner surface of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

the outer surface of the shoe sole including at least one concavely rounded portion, said concavity being determined relative to a portion of the shoe sole directly adjacent to the outer surface of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

each said concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface being located on the shoe sole at a location corresponding to the location of at least one convexly rounded portion of the sole inner surface so as to define a rounded portion of the shoe sole located between said convexly rounded portion of the sole inner surface and said concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition; and

wherein at least a rounded part of each said rounded portion of the shoe sole between parallel rounded portions of the sole outer surface and inner surface has a uniform thickness, and said rounded portion part of the shoe sole which has a uniform thickness extends from a lowest point of the shoe sole to at least a sidemost extent of the side of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe is upright and in an unloaded condition.

2. A shoe according to claim 1, wherein said rounded part of the shoe sole having uniform thickness extends from at least a centerline of the shoe sole to at least one said sidemost section extent, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

3. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rounded part of the shoe sole having uniform thickness extends to both said sidemost extents of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

4. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rounded part of the shoe sole having uniform thickness extends to both said sidemost extents of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section taken in a heel area of the shoe sole when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

5. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein said insertable midsole orthotic is secured to said shoe sole by interlocking surfaces located on said insertable midsole orthotic and said shoe sole, and said interlocking surface of said insertable midsole orthotic forms at least one substantially right angle, and said interlocking surface of said shoe sole forms at least one corresponding substantially right angle.

6. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 5, wherein said interlocking surface of said insertable midsole orthotic forms at least two substantially right angles, and said interlocking surface of said shoe sole forms at least two corresponding substantially right angles.

7. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoe sole further comprises at least one compartment containing a liquid, gas or gel.

8. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 7, wherein the shoe sole includes at least two compartments and further comprises a duct that is in fluid communication with each of said at least two compartments.

9. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 3, wherein the shoe sole further comprises at least one compartment containing a liquid, gas or gel.

10. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shoe sole includes at least two compartments and farther comprises a duct that is in fluid communication with each of said at least two compartments.

11. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoe sole includes at least two rounded parts having a uniform thickness, and wherein one said rounded part of the shoe sole which has a uniform thickness is located on a lateral side of the shoe sole and extends at least to a lateral sidemost extent of the shoe sole side, as viewed in a first frontal plane cross-section when the shoe is upright and in an unloaded condition, and a second said rounded part of the shoe sole which has a uniform thickness is located on a medial side of the shoe sole and extends at least to a medial sidemost extent of the shoe sole side, as viewed in a second, different frontal plane cross-section when the shoe is upright and in an unloaded condition.

23. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 8, wherein said compartments are computer controlled.

24. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 10, wherein said compartments are computer controlled.

26. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 23,

wherein the insertable midsole orthotic comprises at least two compartments containing a fluid, a pressure sensor for each compartment to monitor the compartment pressure, a flow regulator, and a computer control system in communication with said compartments and said flow regulator, and

wherein said computer control system is capable of automatically adjusting the pressure in said compartments based on sensing of a predetermined pressure in said compartments resulting from impact of the shoe sole with the ground surface.

27. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 24,

wherein the insertable midsole orthotic comprises at least two compartments containing a fluid, a pressure sensor for each compartment to monitor the compartment pressure, a flow regulator, and a computer control system in communication with said compartments and said flow regulator, and

wherein said computer control system is capable of automatically adjusting the pressure in said compartments based on sensing of a predetermined pressure in said compartments resulting from impact of the shoe sole with the ground surface.

12. A shoe comprising:

a shoe upper and a shoe sole including at least an inner surface, an outer surface and a bottom sole;

at least a portion of said shoe sole being formed by an insertable midsole orthotic;

at least a portion of the sides of said shoe upper being attached directly to the bottom sole, such that the shoe upper envelopes, on the outside, at least the insertable midsole orthotic of said shoe sole, such that the insertable midsole orthotic of said shoe sole is located within a structure formed by a combination of said bottom sole and a portion of said shoe upper that is attached to said bottom sole;

the inner surface of the shoe sole including at least one convexly rounded portion, said convexity being determined relative to a portion of the shoe sole directly adjacent to the inner surface of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

the outer surface of the shoe sole including at least one concavely rounded portion, said concavity being determined relative to a portion of the shoe sole directly adjacent to the outer surface of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

each said concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface being located on the shoe sole at a location corresponding to the location of at least one convexly rounded portion of the sole inner surface so as to define a rounded portion of the shoe sole located between said convexly rounded portion of the sole inner surface and said concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

at least a rounded part of each said rounded portion of the shoe sole between parallel rounded portions of the sole outer surface and inner surface has a uniform thickness, and said rounded part of the shoe sole which has a uniform thickness extends from at least a lowest point of the shoe sole to at least a sidemost extent of the side of the shoe, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe is upright and in an unloaded condition; and

wherein the shoe sole further comprises at least one compartment containing a liquid, gas or gel.

13. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 12, wherein the shoe sole includes at least two compartments and further comprises a duct that is in fluid communication with each of said at least two compartments.

14. A shoe according to claim 13, wherein said rounded part of the shoe sole having uniform thickness extends from at least a centerline of the shoe sole to at least one said sidemost extent, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

15. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 12, wherein said rounded part of the shoe sole with uniform thickness extends to both said sidemost extents of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

16. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 13, wherein said rounded part of the shoe sole with uniform thickness extends to both said sidemost extents of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

19. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 15, wherein said rounded part of the shoe sole with uniform thickness extends to both said sidemost extents of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section taken at the heel when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

20. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 16, wherein said rounded part of the shoe sole with uniform thickness extends to both said sidemost extents of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section taken at the heel when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

21. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 20, wherein said insertable midsole orthotic and said shoe sole each have an interlocking surface, said insertable midsole orthotic is secured to said shoe sole by said interlocking surfaces, said interlocking surface of said insertable midsole orthotic forms at least one substantially right angle, and said interlocking surface of said shoe sole forms at least one substantially right angle which corresponds to the substantially right angle formed by said interlocking surface of said insertable midsole orthotic.

22. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 21, wherein said interlocking surface of said insertable midsole orthotic forms at least two substantially right angles, and said interlocking surface of said shoe sole forms at least two corresponding substantially right angles.

25. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 13, wherein said compartments are computer controlled.

28. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 25, wherein the insertable midsole orthotic comprises at least two compartments containing a fluid, a pressure sensor for each compartment to monitor the compartment pressure, a flow regulator, and a computer control system in communication with said compartments and said flow regulator, and

wherein said computer control system is capable of automatically adjusting the pressure in said compartments based on sensing of a predetermined pressure in said compartments resulting from impact of the shoe sole with the ground surface.

17. A shoe comprising:

a shoe upper and a shoe sole including at least an inner surface, an outer surface and a bottom sole;

at least a portion of said shoe sole being formed by a insertable midsole orthotic;

at least a portion of the sides of said shoe upper being attached directly to the bottom sole, such that the shoe upper envelopes, on the outside, at least the insertable midsole orthotic of said shoe sole, such that the insertable midsole orthotic of said shoe sole is located within a structure formed by a combination of said bottom sole and a portion of said shoe upper that is attached to said bottom sole;

the inner surface of the shoe sole including at least one convexly rounded portion, said convexity being determined relative to a portion of the shoe sole directly adjacent to the inner surface of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

the outer surface of the shoe sole including at least one concavely rounded portion, said concavity being determined relative to a portion of the shoe sole directly adjacent to the outer surface of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

each said concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface being located on the shoe sole at a location corresponding to the location of at least one convexly rounded portion of the sole inner surface so as to define a rounded portion of the shoe sole located between said convexly rounded portion of the sole inner surface and said concavely rounded portion of the sole outer surface, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

at least a rounded part of each rounded portion of the shoe sole between parallel rounded portions of the sole outer surface and inner surface has a uniform thickness, and said rounded part of the shoe sole which has a uniform thickness extends from at least a lateral sidemost extent of one side of the shoe sole to at least a medial sidemost extent of the other side of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe is upright and in an unloaded condition;

at least two computer controlled compartments, wherein a computer control for the computer controlled compartments is located in the upper portion of the insertable midsole orthotic; and

a duct providing fluid communication between each of said at least two computer controlled compartments.

18. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 17, wherein said rounded part of the shoe sole with uniform thickness extends to both said sidemost extents of the shoe sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section taken at a heel area of the shoe sole when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

29. A shoe sole as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the insertable midsole orthotic further comprises a pressure sensor for each compartment to monitor the compartment pressure, a flow regulator, and said computer control system is in communication with said compartments and said flow regulator, and

wherein said computer control system is capable of automatically adjusting the pressure in said compartments based on sensing of a predetermined pressure in said compartments resulting from impact of the shoe sole with the ground surface.