Footwear or orthotic inserts with inner and outer bladders separated by an internal sipe including a media

• US 8,567,095 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Frampton E. Ellis
• Original Assignee: Frampton E. Ellis
• Inventors: Ellis, Frampton E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Jila M
• Application Number:
  US13/457,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20120210603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 36/27, 36/28, 36/29, 36/35.R, 36/25.R, 36/30.R, 361/03, 361/02, 361/07, 361/08, 36/31, 36/76.R
• US Class Current: 36/29
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/12 Cushioning devices
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/121 with at least one layer or pad containing a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/125 with a padded structure, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/186 Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32
• 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 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/027 with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0285 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel or water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/029 Pneumatic upper, e.g. gas filled
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• 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 7/1445 situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/32 with shock-absorbing means resilient soles A43B13/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/266 : characterised by an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/30 : characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs apertured layer B32B3/266; layer with cavities or internal voids B32B3/26
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/00 : Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers using fluid F16F5/00, F16F9/00; specific for rotary systems F16F15/10 ; belt tensioners F16H7/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24331 : including nonapertured component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24562 : Interlaminar spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2933 : Coated or with bond, impregnation or core

Abstract

A footwear or orthotic device, including a footwear or orthotic sole and an insert with an outer bladder having an uppermost surface curved concavely relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the device, as viewed upright and unloaded in a frontal plane. The outer bladder forms a component of the sole. An inner bladder includes a gas located inside and is substantially surrounded on at least the top, bottom and sides by the outer bladder. The outer bladder and inner bladder are separated by an internal sipe including a media. The sipe is formed by an inner surface of the outer bladder and an outer surface of the inner bladder. The surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other, are separate from each other and therefore can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and the surfaces forming the sipe are proximate to each other.

Claims

1. A footwear or orthotic device, comprising:

a footwear or orthotic sole; and

an insert including at least one outer bladder having side portions, an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, both said surfaces being curved concavely on both said side portions to define concavely curved side portions of the at least one outer bladder, so that said concavely curved side portions, together with a middle portion extending between the side portions, form said at least one outer bladder in a U-shape, the concave curvature and the U-shape being determined relative to a central portion an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the footwear or orthotic device, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

said at least one outer bladder forming a component of the footwear or orthotic sole; and

at least one inner bladder substantially surrounded on at least a top, bottom and sides by the at least one outer bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section,

said at least one inner bladder including at least a gas located at least inside of said at least one inner bladder,

said at least one outer bladder and said at least one inner bladder being separated at least in part by at least one internal sipe, said internal sipe including a magnetorheological fluid,

wherein said internal sipe is defined by an inner surface of said at least one outer bladder and an outer surface of said at least one inner bladder; and

the inner and outer surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other, are separate from each other and therefore can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and

at least a portion of each of said surfaces forming the sipe are proximate to each other in an unloaded condition.

2. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the surfaces forming said sipe are substantially parallel to one another.

3. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 1, wherein the surfaces forming said sipe are substantially parallel to one another.

4. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of one of a medial or lateral side of the footwear or orthotic sole comprises a convexly rounded portion, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section during an unloaded, upright condition of the footwear or orthotic sole, the convexly rounded portion of the inner surface existing with respect to a section of the footwear or orthotic sole directly adjacent to the convexly rounded portion of the inner surface of the footwear or orthotic sole;

and

an outer surface of one of the medial or lateral sides of the footwear or orthotic sole comprises a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section during an unloaded, upright condition of the footwear or orthotic sole, the concavely rounded portion of the outer surface existing with respect to a section of the footwear or orthotic sole directly adjacent to the concavely rounded portion of the outer surface of the footwear or orthotic sole.

5. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 4, wherein the rounded portion of at least one of said lateral or medial sides is uniformly thick between said inner and outer surfaces, said uniform thickness extending from a ground-contacting portion to a sidemost extent of said outer surface, as viewed in said frontal plane cross-section during the unloaded, upright condition of the footwear or orthotic sole.

6. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 1, wherein said footwear or orthotic sole has a uniform radial thickness between a lateral extent of each side, when measured in a frontal plane cross-section in an upright, unloaded condition, exclusive of insole or sockliner and upper.

7. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 1, wherein said device includes at least one electromagnetic field-creating circuit.

8. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inner bladder has one or more openings.

9. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inner bladder is completely surrounded by at least one the outer bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section.

10. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one inner bladder is completely surrounded by he at least one outer bladder.

11. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 1, wherein said uppermost surface and said lowermost surface are also curved concavely in the middle portion of said at least one bladder that extends between said concavely curved side portions of said at least one bladder, said concave curvature being determined relative to a central portion of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

12. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 1, wherein both of the concavely curved side portions of said at least one bladder extend to a location outside of a sidemost extent of both sides of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

13. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 12, wherein both of the concavely curved side portions of said at least one bladder extend from a location underneath the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole to a location outside of a sidemost extent of both sides of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

14. A footwear or orthotic device, comprising:

a footwear or orthotic sole; and

an insert including at least one outer bladder having side portions, an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, both said surfaces being curved concavely on both said side portions to define concavely curved side portions of the at least one bladder, so that said concavely curved side portions, together with a middle potion extending between the side portions, form said at least one bladder in a U-shape, the concave curvature and the U-shape being determined relative to a cetral portion of an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the footwear or orthotic device, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

said at least one outer bladder forming a component of the footwear or orthotic sole; and

at least one inner bladder substantially sunounded on at least the top, bottom and sides by the at least one outer bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section,

said at least one inner bladder including at least a gas located at least inside of said at least one inner bladder,

said at least one outer bladder and said at least one inner bladder being separated at least in part by at least one internal sipe, said internal sipe including a media comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a gel, a foamed plastic, a rubber, and a coating;

wherein said internal sipe is defined by an inner surface of said at least one outer bladder and an outer surface of said at least one inner bladder; and

the inner and outer surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other, are separate from each other and therefore can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and

at least a portion of each of said surfaces forming the sipe are proximate to each other in an unloaded condition.

15. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the surfaces forming said sipe are substantially parallel to one another.

16. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 14, wherein the surfaces forming said sipe are substantially parallel to one another.

17. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 14, wherein an inner surface of one of a medial or lateral side of the footwear or orthotic sole comprises a convexly rounded portion, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section during an unloaded, upright condition of the footwear or orthotic sole, the convexly rounded portion of the inner surface existing with respect to a section of the footwear or orthotic sole directly adjacent to the convexly rounded portion of the inner surface of the footwear or orthotic sole;

and

an outer surface of one of the medial or lateral sides of the footwear or orthotic sole comprises a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section during an unloaded, upright condition of the footwear or orthotic sole, the concavely rounded portion of the outer surface existing with respect to a section of the footwear or orthotic sole directly adjacent to the concavely rounded portion of the outer surface of the footwear or orthotic sole.

18. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 17, wherein the rounded portion of at least one of said lateral or medial sides is uniformly thick between said inner and outer surfaces, said uniform thickness extending from a ground-contacting portion to a sidemost extent of said outer surface, as viewed in said frontal plane cross-section during the unloaded, upright condition of the footwear or orthotic sole.

19. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 14, wherein said footwear or orthotic sole has a uniform radial thickness between a lateral extent of each side, when measured in a frontal plane cross-section in an upright, unloaded condition, exclusive of insole or sockliner and upper.

20. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 14, the coating is located on at least one said surface forming the sipe and the coating comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

21. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 14, wherein said at least one inner bladder has one or more openings.

22. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 14, wherein said at least one inner bladder is completely surrounded by the at least one outer bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section.

23. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 14, wherein said the at least one inner bladder is completely surrounded by the at least one outer bladder.

24. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 14, wherein said uppermost surface and said lowermost surface are also curved concavely in the middle portion of said at least one bladder that extends between said concavely curved side portions of said at least one bladder, said concave curvature being determined relative to a central portion of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

25. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 14, wherein both of the concavely curved side portions of said at least one bladder extend to a location outside of a sidemost extent of both sides of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

26. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein both of the concavely curved side portions of said at least one bladder extend from a location underneath the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole to a location outside of a sidemost extent of both sides of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

27. A footwear or orthotic device, comprising:

a footwear or orthotic sole; and

an insert including at least one outer bladder having side portions, an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, both said surfaces being curved concavely on both said side portions to define concavely curved side portions of the at least one bladder, so that said concavely curved side portions, together with a middle portion extending between the side portions, form said at least one bladder in a U-shape, the concave curvature and the U-shape being determined relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the footwear or orthotic device, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

said at least one outer bladder forming a component of the footwear or orthotic sole; and

at least one inner bladder substantially surrounded on at least a top, bottom and sides by the at least one outer bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section,

said at least one inner bladder including at least a gas located at least inside of said at least one inner bladder,

said at least one outer bladder and said at least one inner bladder being separated at least in part by at least one internal sipe, said internal sipe including a media comprising two or more materials selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a gel, a gas, a foamed plastic, a rubber, and a coating;

wherein said internal sipe is defined by an inner surface of said at least one outer bladder and an outer surface of said at least one inner bladder; and

the inner and outer surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other, are separate from each other and therefore can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and

at least a portion of each of said surfaces forming the sipe are proximate to each other in an unloaded condition.

28. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 27, wherein at least a portion of the surfaces forming said sipe are substantially parallel to one another.

29. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 27, wherein the surfaces forming said sipe are substantially parallel to one another.

30. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 27, wherein an inner surface of one of a medial or lateral side of the footwear or orthotic sole comprises a convexly rounded portion, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section during an unloaded, upright condition of the footwear or orthotic sole, the convexly rounded portion of the inner surface existing with respect to a section of the footwear or orthotic sole directly adjacent to the convexly rounded portion of the inner surface of the footwear or orthotic sole;

and

an outer surface of one of the medial or lateral sides of the footwear or orthotic sole comprises a concavely rounded portion, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section during an unloaded, upright condition of the footwear or orthotic sole, the concavely rounded portion of the outer surface existing with respect to a section of the footwear or orthotic sole directly adjacent to the concavely rounded portion of the outer surface of the footwear or orthotic sole.

31. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 30, wherein the rounded portion of at least one of said lateral or medial sides is uniformly thick between said inner and outer surfaces, said uniform thickness extending from a ground-contacting portion to a sidemost extent of said outer surface, as viewed in said frontal plane cross-section during the unloaded, upright condition of the footwear or orthotic sole.

32. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 31, wherein said footwear or orthotic sole has a uniform radial thickness between a lateral extent of each side, when measured in a frontal plane cross-section in an upright, unloaded condition, exclusive of insole or sockliner and upper.

33. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 27, the coating is located on at least one said surface forming the sipe and the coating comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.

34. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 27, wherein said at least one inner bladder has one or more openings.

35. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 27, wherein said at least one inner bladder is completely surrounded by the at least one outer bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section.

36. The footwear or orthotic device according to claim 27, wherein said at least one inner bladder is completely surrounded by the at least one outer bladder.

37. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 27, wherein said uppermost surface and said lowermost surface are also curved concavely in the middle portion of said at least one bladder that extends between said concavely curved side portions of said at least one bladder, said concave curvature being determined relative to a central portion of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

38. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 27, wherein both of the concavely curved side portions of said at least one bladder extend to a location outside of a sidemost extent of both sides of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.

39. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 38, wherein both of the concavely curved side portions of said at least one bladder extend from a location underneath the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole to a location outside of a sidemost extent of both sides of the intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.