Devices with internal flexibility sipes, including siped chambers for footwear
First Claim
1. A footwear or orthotic sole comprising:
- an outer sole; and
a footwear or orthotic device, comprising;
at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder having an uppermost surface, at least a portion of said uppermost surface being curved concavely relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;
at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder inside said outer chamber, compartment or bladder;
said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder includes;
at least one structural element being located inside the at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder,said at least one structural element comprising at least a foamed plastic or a blown rubber, andsaid at least one structural element extending from at least a part of an upper inner surface of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder to at least a part of a lower inner surface of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when said footwear or orthotic sole is in an upright, unloaded condition, anda gas located in at least a portion of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, the portion being outside of said at least one structural element;
said outer chamber compartment or bladder and said inner chamber, compartment or bladder being separated at least in part by an internal sipe;
wherein said internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said outer chamber, compartment or bladder and an outer surface of said inner chamber, compartment or bladder; and
the inner and outer surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other and can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and
at least a portion of said movable surfaces forming the sipe are proximate to each other in an unloaded condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention attempts to replicate in footwear, orthotics, and other products the naturally effective anatomical structures like a bare foot that provide superior flexibility, cushioning, and stable support compared to existing products. More specifically, the invention relates to a device for such products including a unitary internal sipe component, said internal sipe providing increased flexibility for said device. Even more specifically, the invention relates to footwear, orthotic or other products with an outer chamber and at least one inner chamber inside the outer chamber; the outer chamber and the inner chamber being separated at least in part by an internal sips; and the internal sipe providing increased flexibility, cushioning, and stability.
342 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A footwear or orthotic sole comprising:
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an outer sole; and a footwear or orthotic device, comprising; at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder having an uppermost surface, at least a portion of said uppermost surface being curved concavely relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition; at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder inside said outer chamber, compartment or bladder; said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder includes; at least one structural element being located inside the at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, said at least one structural element comprising at least a foamed plastic or a blown rubber, and said at least one structural element extending from at least a part of an upper inner surface of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder to at least a part of a lower inner surface of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when said footwear or orthotic sole is in an upright, unloaded condition, and a gas located in at least a portion of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, the portion being outside of said at least one structural element; said outer chamber compartment or bladder and said inner chamber, compartment or bladder being separated at least in part by an internal sipe; wherein said internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said outer chamber, compartment or bladder and an outer surface of said inner chamber, compartment or bladder; and the inner and outer surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other and can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and
at least a portion of said movable surfaces forming the sipe are proximate to each other in an unloaded condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A footwear or orthotic sole comprising:
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an outer sole; and a footwear or orthotic device, comprising; an outer chamber, compartment or bladder having an uppermost surface, at least a portion of said uppermost surface being curved concavely relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition; at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder inside said outer chamber, compartment or bladder, wherein said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder comprises at least three structural elements located inside said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, said at least three structural elements comprising at least a foamed plastic or a blown rubber, and each structural element extending from at least a part of an upper inner surface of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder to at least a part of a lower inner surface of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when said footwear or orthotic sole is in an upright, unloaded condition, said outer chamber compartment or bladder and said inner chamber, compartment or bladder being separated at least in part by an internal sipe; wherein said internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said outer chamber, compartment or bladder and an outer surface of said inner chamber, compartment or bladder; and the inner and outer surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other and can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and
at least a portion of said movable surfaces forming the sipe are proximate to each other in an unloaded condition.
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37. An insert device removable from an orthotic or footwear, said orthotic or footwear being configured to be worn directly over an intended wearer'"'"'s foot, comprising:
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an outer chamber, compartment or bladder having an uppermost surface, at least a portion of said uppermost surface being curved concavely relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the shoe, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the shoe sole is upright and in an unloaded condition; at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder inside said outer chamber, compartment or bladder, wherein said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder includes; at least one structural element located inside said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, each said structural element comprising at least a foamed plastic or a blown rubber, and said at least one structural element extending from at least a part of an upper inner surface of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder to at least a part of a lower inner surface of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, and a gas located in at least a portion of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, the portion being outside said at least one structural element; said outer chamber compartment or bladder and said inner chamber, compartment or bladder being separated at least in part by an internal sipe; wherein said internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said outer chamber, compartment or bladder and an outer surface of said inner chamber, compartment or bladder; and the inner and outer surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other and can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and
at least a portion of said movable surfaces forming the sipe are proximate to each other in an unloaded condition. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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Specification