Footwear with a sole provided with a damper device

• US 5,794,361 A
• Filed: 06/19/1996
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Novus S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Sadler S.A.S. Di Marc Sadler & C.
• Inventors: Sadler, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US08/665,911
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 36/29, 36/35 B, 36/153, 36/93
• US Class Current: 36/29
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/206 provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members

Abstract

A footwear with its sole provided with a damper device, comprising a first reservoir with deformable but inextensible walls and containing a substantially incompressible fluid, in a position interposed between a plantar and a tread of said sole; a second reservoir, in contact with the first reservoir, with deformable but inextensible walls and containing a substantially compressible fluid, and a third reservoir with deformable but inextensible walls, which communicates with the first reservoir via a first passage of adjustable cross-section.

Claims

1. A footwear having a sole provided with a damper device, wherein said damper device comprises:

a first reservoir with deformable but inextensible walls and containing a substantially incompressible fluid, in a position interposed between a plantar and a tread of said sole said first reservoir being disposed at a heel of said footwear;

a second reservoir with deformable but inextensible walls and containing a substantially compressible fluid, said second reservoir being vertically aligned with said first reservoir, with at least a wall of said first reservoir contacting a wall of said second reservoir; and

a third reservoir with deformable but inextensible walls, which communicates with said first reservoir via a first passage of adjustable cross-section.

2. A footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third reservoir is positioned substantially below a plantar arch of said sole.

3. A footwear as claimed in claim 1, comprising in said first passage an adjustment valve operable from outside.

4. A footwear as claimed in claim 3, wherein said valve is provided with an adjustment knob positioned in proximity to ground.

5. A footwear as claimed in claim 4, wherein said valve is provided with an adjustment knob comprising a pointer movable along a graduated scale.

6. A footwear as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a unidirectional second passage extending from said third reservoir to said first reservoir.

7. A footwear as claimed in claim 6, wherein said said first and second passages are formed in a single conduit provided with a non-return valve associated with a flow regulator device.

8. A footwear as claimed in claim 1, weherein said substantially incompressible fluid is oil.

9. A footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substantially compressible fluid is air.

10. A footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein with said second reservoir there is associated a pressure sensor which controls a microvalve positioned in said first passage between said first reservoir and said third reservoir.

11. A footwear as claimed in claim 10, wherein said pressure sensor is positioned on said first reservoir.

12. A footwear as claimed in claim 10, wherein said valve is connected to a microprocessor.