Sole with extensible structure

• US 7,966,751 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Issued: 06/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exten.S
• Original Assignee: Exten.S
• Inventors: Durand, Jean-Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US12/576,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20100024249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 36/97, 36/25.R, 36/30.R, 36/28, 36/31, 361/30, 36/43, 36/44
• US Class Current: 36/97
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/12 Special watertight footwear overshoes A43B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/12 Stuck or cemented footwear

Abstract

Sole with stretchable structure, in which the forepart is associated with a stretchable material to fit differing foot widths easily; and footwear equipped with such a sole. The sole base (1) comprises openings (4) in which the lugs (3) of the stretchable part (2) are positioned in a sealed manner. The insole (5) comprises a deformable structure (6) in its forepart. When the wearer'"'"'s foot is put into a footwear article provided with such a complex, it exerts pressure on the edges of the upper (10) thus causing deformation of the sole, which avoids feelings of compression of the foot.

Claims

1. Stretchable sole for a shoe, said sole comprising:

a sole base having attachment zones for attachment of said base to edges of an upper, and

an insert mounted to said sole base between the attachment zones,

wherein said insert is relatively stretchable transversally as compared to the sole base,

wherein said insert is made of a deformable material with shape memorization,

wherein said insert is provided with at least one lug on its lower surface and a forepart of said sole base is provided with at least one opening into which the at least one lug is countersunk,

wherein said at least one opening extends continuously substantially from a toe area substantially to an arch area of the sole base, so that the sole stretches transversally to accommodate differing foot widths.

2. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the insert is glued or soldered by injection on the sole base.

3. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 2 and an upper attached to the sole.

4. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the sole base has properties suitable for gripping.

5. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 1 and an upper attached to the sole.

6. Footwear according to claim 5, further comprising an insole, wherein the insole has a deformable forepart and a rigid back part.

7. Footwear according to claim 6, wherein the deformable forepart of the insole comprises at least one longitudinal slit or cut-out zone.

8. Footwear according to claim 7, wherein the deformable forepart of the insole comprises several parallel longitudinal slits or cut-out zones.

9. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the insert is glued or molded to the base.

10. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the sole comprises a plurality of inserts made of deformable material with shape memorization attached to the sole base.

11. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 10 and an upper attached to the sole.

12. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the insert has a flat upper surface.

13. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 12 and an upper attached to the sole.

14. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the insert is assembled to the base so as to ensure a seal between the insert and the base.

15. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 14 and an upper attached to the sole.

16. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the base is glued or molded on the insert.

17. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is filled with the at least one insert.

18. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 17 and an upper attached to the sole.

19. Stretchable sole according to claim 17, wherein the sole has a flat upper surface.

20. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein said insert is provided with a single lug on its lower surface and a forepart of said sole base is provided with a single opening into which the lug is countersunk.