Rear sole structure for athletic shoe

• US 20040237345A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Akeva LLC
• Original Assignee: Akeva LLC
• Inventors: Meschan, David F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,996,924 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/28
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/26 projecting beyond the sole surface
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/26 Resilient heels
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/36 characterised by their attachment; Securing devices for the attaching means combined with soles A43B13/28
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/433 rotatably mounted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/52 Interchangeable heel parts without special attachments
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0042 with circular or circle shaped parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 999/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

A shoe including a plate capable of being deflected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe, an arch bridge integral with the plate, and a rear sole having an outsole layer with an interior sidewall visible from beneath the shoe that connects an upper surface of the outsole layer with a lower surface of the outsole layer.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising:

a bottom;

a major longitudinal axis;

an upper having an arch region and a heel region;

a rear sole secured below the heel region of the upper, the rear sole having a forward portion and an opposite rearward portion connected below the heel region of the upper, and an outsole layer having a thickness and being formed of a first material, the layer having an upper surface, a lower surface, a peripheral portion and an interior portion, the lower surface of the layer being at least in part ground-engaging, the interior portion of the layer having an interior sidewall connecting the lower surface with the upper surface, the interior sidewall of the layer being visible from beneath the shoe, at least a portion of the interior sidewall of the layer being located beneath at least a portion of the heel region of the upper;

a plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, an interior portion and peripheral portions and positioned between at least a portion of the outsole of the rear sole and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper, at least one of the peripheral portions of the plate being proximate at least one of a medial side of the shoe, a lateral side of the shoe and a rear of the shoe, the interior portion of the plate being positioned over a void and exposed to the void, at least a portion of the plate capable of being deflected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe;

at least one opening in the shoe, the opening being in communication with the void to expose the interior portion of the plate from outside the shoe through the opening and the void; and

an arch bridge integral with the plate extending from a position proximate a forward portion of the plate, forward beneath at least a portion of the arch region of the upper.

2. The shoe of claim 1, further including at least one wall proximate at least a portion of the peripheral portions of the plate and extending in an upwardly direction from the plate, the at least one wall being made of the same material as the plate and being integral with the plate.

3. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the at least one wall integral with the plate is visible from at least one of the medial side of the shoe, the lateral side of the shoe, and the rear of the shoe.

4. The shoe of claim 2, further including at least one wall integral with the arch bridge proximate at least one of the medial side of the shoe and the lateral side of the shoe and extending in an upwardly direction from the arch bridge, the at least one wall of the arch bridge being made of the same material as the plate and being visible at least in part from outside the shoe.

5. The shoe of claim 4, wherein the at least one upwardly extending wall of the arch bridge is integral with the at least one upwardly extending wall of the plate.

6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the arch bridge has a lower surface that is at least in part visible from outside the shoe.

7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the arch bridge has a lower surface that is at least in part visible from the bottom of the shoe.

8. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the shoe has a non-ground-engaging portion extending from the medial side of the shoe to the lateral side of the shoe below at least a portion of the arch region of the upper.

9. The shoe of claim 8, wherein the non-ground-engaging portion extends below at least a substantial portion of the arch region of the upper.

10. The shoe of claim 8, wherein the non-ground-engaging portion extends below substantially the entire arch region of the upper.

11. The shoe of claim 8, wherein at least a forward portion of the non-ground-engaging portion proximate the medial side of the shoe is inclined upwardly in a direction toward the rear of the shoe.

12. The shoe of claim 8, wherein at least a rearward portion of the non-ground-engaging portion proximate the medial side of the shoe is inclined upwardly in a direction toward a front of the shoe.

13. The shoe of claim 8, wherein the rear sole includes a ground-engaging portion formed of a first material, at least a portion of the non-ground-engaging portion of the bottom below the arch region being formed of a second material different from the first material.

14. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the arch bridge has a lower surface that is at least in part visible from outside the shoe, the lower surface of a peripheral region of the arch bridge along the lateral side of the shoe being approximately planar with the lower surface of the plate for at least a substantial portion of the full extension of the arch bridge as measured along an axis that is parallel with the major longitudinal axis of the shoe.

15. The shoe of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the interior sidewall is curved in a plane generally perpendicular to the vertical central axis.

16. The shoe of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the interior sidewall is curved in a plane generally parallel with the vertical central axis.

17. The shoe of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the interior sidewall is curved in a plane generally perpendicular to the vertical central axis and in a plane generally parallel with the vertical central axis.

18. The shoe of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the interior sidewall is arcuate in shape in a plane generally perpendicular to the vertical central axis.

19. The shoe of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the interior sidewall is arcuate in shape in a plane generally parallel with the vertical central axis.

20. The shoe of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the interior sidewall is arcuate in shape in a plane generally perpendicular to the vertical central axis and in a plane generally parallel with the vertical central axis.

21. The shoe of claim 18, wherein the arcuate portion of the interior sidewall defines at least in part a circle.

22. The shoe of claim 1, wherein a non-ground-engaging member is located above the upper surface of the layer and adjacent to the interior sidewall of the layer, the non-ground-engaging member being visible at least in part from beneath the shoe.

23. The shoe of claim 22, wherein the non-ground-engaging member that is visible from beneath the shoe is formed of a second material different from that of the first material including the layer.

24. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the interior portion of the plate is capable of being deflected relative to at least a portion of the peripheral portions of the plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe.

25. The shoe of claim 1, wherein one of the peripheral portions of the plate is proximate the medial side of the shoe and one of the peripheral portions of the plate is proximate the lateral side of the shoe.

26. The shoe of claim 1, wherein one of the peripheral portions of the plate is proximate the medial side of the shoe, one of the peripheral portions of the plate is proximate the lateral side of the shoe and one of the peripheral portions of the plate is proximate the rear of the shoe.

27. The shoe of claim 26, wherein the major longitudinal axis intersects the rear of the shoe at a point, the portion of the peripheral portions proximate the rear of the shoe being proximate the point.

28. The shoe of claim 26, wherein the plate portion proximate the medial side of the shoe and the plate portion proximate the lateral side of the shoe each contact a member made of the same material as the plate, each of the members extending in at least one of an upwardly and a downwardly direction from the plate, the member contacted by the plate portion proximate the medial side of the shoe being located on the medial side of the shoe and being exposed to and visible from the medial side of the shoe, the member contacted by the plate portion proximate the lateral side of the shoe being located on the lateral side of the shoe and being exposed to and visible from the lateral side of the shoe.

29. The shoe of claim 28, wherein the members are integrally formed with the plate.

30. The shoe of claim 28, wherein the plate portion proximate the rear of the shoe contacts a member made of the same material as the plate, the member contacted by the plate portion proximate the rear of the shoe extending in at least one of an upwardly and a downwardly direction from the plate and being exposed to and visible from the rear of the shoe.

31. The shoe of claim 30, wherein the members are integrally formed with the plate and with each other.

32. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the interior portion of the plate is positioned at least in part beneath the calcaneus of the wearer of the shoe.

33. The shoe of claim 32, wherein the interior portion of the plate that is positioned at least in part beneath the calcaneus of the wearer is positioned at least in part beneath the approximate center of the calcaneus of the wearer of the shoe.

34. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the plate extends under at least a majority of the area occupied by the heel region.

35. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the plate extends under at least two-thirds of the area occupied by the heel region.

36. The shoe of claim 35, wherein the plate extends under substantially the entire area occupied by the heel region.

37. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the plate extends under substantially the entire area occupied by the heel region.

38. The shoe of claim 29, wherein the plate extends under substantially the entire area occupied by the heel region.

39. The shoe of claim 31, wherein the plate extends under substantially the entire area occupied by the heel region.

40. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the rear sole includes a vertical central axis passing through the bottom of the shoe and the heel region of the upper, the vertical central axis of the rear sole being generally perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe and being completely surrounded by at least a portion of the plate.

41. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the rear sole has a width from the medial side of the shoe to the lateral side of the shoe, the plate forming a support bridge across the width of the rear sole from a point proximate the medial side of the shoe to a point proximate the lateral side of the shoe.

42. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the interior portion of the plate is supported by a portion of the medial side of the shoe and a portion of the lateral side of the shoe.

43. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the rear sole has a width from the medial side of the shoe to the lateral side of the shoe, the plate being adapted to support laterally the heel of a wearer across the entire width of the rear sole.

44. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the shoe includes a ground-engaging portion, at least a portion of the plate being visible from the bottom of the shoe between at least two portions of the ground engaging portion of the bottom of the shoe.

45. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the rear sole has a bottom surface with a perimeter and a ground-engaging portion, the ground-engaging portion of the bottom surface including at least one substantially planar portion having an outer edge proximate a portion of the perimeter of the bottom surface of the rear sole, the at least one substantially planar portion being located proximate at least one of the medial side of the shoe and the lateral side of the shoe, the ground-engaging portion of the bottom surface including at least one portion non-planar with the at least one substantially planar portion, the at least one non-planar portion positioned proximate the perimeter of the bottom surface and inclined upwardly in a direction toward the perimeter of the bottom surface from another portion of the bottom surface, the at least one non-planar portion having an outer edge proximate a portion of the perimeter of the bottom surface and proximate a rearward portion of the rear sole, the portion of the perimeter of the bottom surface of the rear sole to which the outer edge of the at least one substantially planar portion is proximate and the portion of the perimeter of the bottom surface of the rear sole to which the outer edge of the at least one non-planar portion is proximate each having the shape of an arc of a circle, the circle having a diameter no greater than the maximum width of the bottom surface of the rear sole as measured on a line generally perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe from a point on the medial side of the shoe to a point on the lateral side of the shoe.

46. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the rear sole has a bottom surface with a perimeter and a center located beneath the approximate center of the calcaneus of the wearer of the shoe, the bottom surface having at least two portions which are beveled in different directions away from the center of the rear sole, each of the beveled portions defining at least in part the perimeter of the rear sole.

47. The shoe of claim 46, wherein one of the at least two beveled portions is located at least in part in the forward portion of the rear sole and is oriented at least in part toward a front of the shoe.

48. The shoe of claim 46, wherein one of the at least two beveled portions is located at least in part in the rearward portion of the rear sole and is oriented at least in part toward the rear of the shoe.

49. The shoe of claim 46, wherein one of the at least two beveled portions is located at least in part in the forward portion of the rear sole and is oriented at least in part toward a front of the shoe and one of the at least two beveled portions is located at least in part in the rearward portion of the rear sole and is oriented at least in part toward the rear of the shoe.

50. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the rear sole has a perimeter, the lower surface of the layer including at least one substantially planar portion and at least two portions non-planar with the at least one substantially planar portion, the non-planar portions being positioned proximate the perimeter of the rear sole and separated from each other by other portions of the lower surface of the layer, each of the non-planar portions being inclined upwardly from another portion of the lower surface of the layer in a direction toward the perimeter of the rear sole, one of the at least two non-planar portions being proximate the rearward portion of the rear sole, and at least a portion of another of the at least two non-planar portions being proximate the forward portion of the rear sole.

51. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper includes an open interior, further including at least one opening extending upwardly from the bottom of the shoe and being in air communication with the open interior of the upper.

52. The shoe of claim 1, further including at least one rib integral with at least a portion of the lower surface of the plate and being visible from outside the shoe.

53. The shoe of claim 52, wherein the at least one rib includes a plurality of ribs.

54. The shoe of claim 1, further including a substantially air-tight enclosure located at least in part between a portion of the upper and a portion of the bottom of the shoe, the air-tight enclosure having a top, a bottom and a vertical central axis passing through the top and the bottom of the air-tight enclosure.

55. The shoe of claim 54, wherein the air-tight enclosure is an inflated cushion.

56. The shoe of claim 55, including a forward sole, the inflated cushion being located in the forward sole.

57. The shoe of claim 55, wherein the inflated cushion includes a bladder.

58. The shoe of claim 57, wherein the bladder is an air bladder.

59. The shoe of claim 54, wherein a portion of the air-tight enclosure is at least in part curved.

60. The shoe of claim 59, wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is curved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical central axis.

61. The shoe of claim 59, wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is curved in a direction substantially parallel with the vertical central axis.

62. The shoe of claim 59, wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is curved in a direction substantially parallel with the vertical central axis and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical central axis.

63. The shoe of claim 59, wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is arcuate in shape in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical central axis.

64. The shoe of claim 59, wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is arcuate in shape in a direction substantially parallel with the vertical central axis.

65. The shoe of claim 59, wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is arcuate in shape in a direction substantially parallel with the vertical central axis and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical central axis.

66. The shoe of claim 54, wherein at least a portion of the air-tight enclosure is transparent.

67. The shoe of claim 54, wherein the air-tight enclosure is spaced apart from the plate during the entire walking gait cycle of the wearer, during the entire running gait cycle of the wearer, when the shoe is in an unloaded state and at all other times.

68. The shoe of claim 54, wherein at least a portion of the top of the air-tight enclosure is in contact with a portion of the shoe when the shoe is in an unloaded state.

69. The shoe of claim 54, wherein at least one of the top and the bottom of the air-tight enclosure has a portion that is generally flat and perpendicular to the vertical central axis when the shoe is in an unloaded state.

70. The shoe of claim 54, wherein each of the top and the bottom of the air-tight enclosure has a portion that is generally flat and perpendicular to the vertical central axis when the shoe is in an unloaded state.

71. The shoe of claim 54, wherein at least a portion of the bottom of the air-tight enclosure is generally flat and perpendicular to the vertical central axis when the shoe is in an unloaded state.

72. The shoe of claim 54, wherein at least a portion of the top of the air-tight enclosure is generally flat and perpendicular to the vertical central axis when the shoe is in an unloaded state.

73. The shoe of claim 54, wherein each of the upper and the rear sole includes a peripheral region, the air-tight enclosure being located at least in part between a portion of the peripheral region of the upper and a portion of the peripheral region of the rear sole.