Anti-fatigue ply rib construction
First Claim
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1. A cushioning support system for use in an article of footwear, the cushioning support system having a series of components comprising:
- a cushioning layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a pattern of frustum-shaped recesses is formed into at least one of the top and bottom surfaces, each of the frustum-shaped recesses having a substantially continuous internal wall surface defining the frustum shape of each recess;
a welt-frame assembly attached to the bottom surface of the cushioning layer, the welt-frame assembly having a rear part and a separate forepart; and
a flexible ply rib connected to a periphery of the cushioning support system for securing to a welt,wherein the cushioning support system includes toe, heel, and arch regions and a longitudinal and lateral axis, the longitudinal axis extending from the toe region to the heel region and the lateral axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis, andwherein a first one of the frustum-shaped recesses extends into the top surface of the cushioning layer and a second one of the frustum-shaped recesses extends into the bottom surface of the cushioning layer, the second frustum-shaped recess being inverted with respect to the first frustum-shaped recess, andwherein the cushioning support system is a sole element shaped according to the perimeter of a foot, such that the cushioning support system is adapted for use in the article of footwear.
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Abstract
An improved welt construction for use in a welted shoe is disclosed, in which the construction contains a number of components, including: (1) an anti-fatigue layer with tapered recesses for providing cushioning; (2) a rigid shock diffusion welt-frame back part; (3) a flexible forepart welt-frame; (4) a torsional shank; and (5) a flexible ply rib, which may surround a periphery of the support system. Methods of: (1) constructing a shoe utilizing the aforementioned welt construction; and (2) manufacturing the aforementioned welt construction through the use of a mold(s) are also disclosed.
36 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A cushioning support system for use in an article of footwear, the cushioning support system having a series of components comprising:
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a cushioning layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a pattern of frustum-shaped recesses is formed into at least one of the top and bottom surfaces, each of the frustum-shaped recesses having a substantially continuous internal wall surface defining the frustum shape of each recess; a welt-frame assembly attached to the bottom surface of the cushioning layer, the welt-frame assembly having a rear part and a separate forepart; and a flexible ply rib connected to a periphery of the cushioning support system for securing to a welt, wherein the cushioning support system includes toe, heel, and arch regions and a longitudinal and lateral axis, the longitudinal axis extending from the toe region to the heel region and the lateral axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein a first one of the frustum-shaped recesses extends into the top surface of the cushioning layer and a second one of the frustum-shaped recesses extends into the bottom surface of the cushioning layer, the second frustum-shaped recess being inverted with respect to the first frustum-shaped recess, and wherein the cushioning support system is a sole element shaped according to the perimeter of a foot, such that the cushioning support system is adapted for use in the article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A shoe comprising:
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a cushioning support system having a series of components including; a cushioning layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a pattern of frustum-shaped recesses is formed into at least one of the top and bottom surfaces, each of the frustum-shaped recesses having a substantially continuous internal wall surface defining the frustum shape of each recess, wherein the recesses extend into the at least one of the top and bottom surfaces and, at least in part, interrupt the respective top or bottom surface to form openings in the respective surface; a welt-frame assembly attached to the bottom surface of the cushioning layer, the welt-frame assembly having a rear part and a separate forepart; and a flexible ply rib attached to a periphery of the cushioning support system, the cushioning support system including toe, heel, and arch regions and a longitudinal and lateral axis, the longitudinal axis extending from the toe region to the heel region and the lateral axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis, wherein the pattern of frustum-shaped recesses includes a first frustum-shaped recess with a first depth and width and a second frustum-shaped recess with a second depth and width, each depth and width being different, and wherein the first frustum-shaped recess extends into the top surface of the cushioning layer and the second frustum-shaped recess extends into the bottom surface of the cushioning layer, the second frustum-shaped recess being inverted with respect to the first frustum-shaped recess; and a welt secured to the flexible ply rib and attached to an upper of the shoe. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification