Performance enhancing shoe components and methods

• US 6,589,630 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William R. Crow
• Original Assignee: William R. Crow
• Inventors: Crow, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Watkins, III, William P.
• Application Number:
  US09/602,350
• Time in Patent Office: 1,110 Days
• Field of Search: 428/167, 428/156, 36/44, 36/43, 36/24, 36/28, 36/29, 36/27, 36/32.R, 36/35.R, 525/236, 525/237, 482/14, 482/15, 482/74, 482/79, 601/27
• US Class Current: 428/167
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/14 made of sponge, rubber, or plastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 25/00 Layered products comprising a layer of natural or synthetic rubber fibrous or filamentary layer made of a natural or synthetic rubber B32B5/02; particulate layer made of a natural or synthetic rubber B32B5/16; foamed layer made of a natural or synthetic rubber B32B5/18
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 11/00 Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of chloroprene
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 21/00 Compositions of unspecified rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 23/16 Elastomeric ethene-propene or ethene-propene-diene copolymers, e.g. EPR and EPDM rubbers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/06 Homopolymers or copolymers of unsaturated hydrocarbons; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2666/08 Homopolymers or copolymers according to C08L7/00 - C08L21/00; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 7/00 Compositions of natural rubber
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 9/00 Compositions of homopolymers or copolymers of conjugated diene hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 9/02 Copolymers with acrylonitrile
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24479 including variation in thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves

Abstract

The present invention provides performance enhancing shoe components and methods of using those shoe components to increase exercise performance. The shoe components comprise a layer of 1,4-polybutadiene and, optionally, a high energy returning rubber. A second layer of an energy returning rubber and/or a coating is optionally applied to the first layer. The invented shoe components may be formed as shoe inserts, insoles, midsoles, soles, or portions thereof.

Claims

1. A performance-enhancing shoe component, comprising:

(a) a first layer shaped for placement within a shoe, the layer having upper and lower surfaces, the first layer comprising a cured mix of;

(i) 1,4-polybutadiene having a cis content of at least about 90%, the amount of the 1,4-polybutadiene ranging from greater than about 46 to about 95 weight percent, and

(ii) rubber selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic isoprene rubber and polyisoprene, the amount of the rubber ranging from less than about 54 to about 5 weight percent;

wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the 1,4-polybutadiene and the rubber;

the layer is substantially free of fillers and non-energy-returning rubbers which reduce energy return;

the first layer provides at least 47% energy return, and

the upper surface has surface texture to increase the energy return of the layer.

2. The shoe component according to claim 1,

wherein the cured mix is substantially solid and substantially free of trapped gas.

3. The shoe component according to claim 1,

wherein the rubber in the first layer is natural rubber.

4. The shoe component according to claim 1,

wherein the first layer comprises 95 weight percent 1,4-polybutadiene.

5. The shoe component according to claim 1,

wherein the 1,4-polybutadiene is very high-cis 1,4-polybutadiene having a cis content of at least about 98%.

6. The shoe component according to claim 1, further comprising;

an energy returning layer comprising an energy returning rubber disposed on the first layer.

7. The shoe component according to claim 6, wherein the energy returning rubber is neoprene, natural rubber or a 1,4-polybutadiene/natural rubber mix.

8. The shoe component according to claim 1,

wherein the first layer extends substantially the length of the shoe.

9. The shoe component according to claim 1,

wherein the first layer is an insole, a midsole, an insert or a portion thereof.

10. A method of improving a person'"'"'s exercise performance, comprising placing shoes on the feet of the person, each shoe comprising a first layer as recited in claim 1, and performing an exercise by exerting and releasing force on said first layer, wherein the feet of the person exert a force on the first layers, thereby compressing the first layers, and, upon release of the force, the first layers rebound, thereby increasing the person'"'"'s exercise performance relative to exercise performance without said first layer.

11. A method of improving performance of a person during exercise, wherein the person is:

wearing shoes, each shoe having a shaped layer comprising a cured mix of;

(i) 1,4-polybutadiene having a cis content of at least about 90%, the amount of the 1,4-polybutadiene ranging from greater than about 46 to about 95 weight percent; and

(ii) rubber selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic isoprene rubber and polyisoprene, the amount of the rubber ranging from less than about 54 to about 5 weight percent;

wherein the weight percentages are based on the total weight of the 1,4-polybutadiene and the rubber;

the cured mix being substantially free of fillers and non-energy-returning rubbers which reduce energy return; and

performing an exercise by exerting and releasing force on said shaped layer wherein a foot of the person exerts a force on the shaped layer to compress the shaped layer, and, upon release of the force, the shaped layer rebounds, providing energy return to the foot of the person;

whereby the person'"'"'s performance during said exercise is improved relative to exercise performance without said shaped layer.

12. The method of claim 11,

wherein the exercise is walking, running, jumping, weight lifting, broad jumping, high jumping, volleyball, basketball, football or soccer.

13. The method of claim 11,

wherein the improvement in performance during said exercise is a reduction in fibrillation of the person'"'"'s heart.

14. The method of claim 11,

wherein the improvement in performance during said exercise is increasing the strength of the person.

15. The method of claim 11,

wherein the improvement in performance during said exercise is increasing the arm strength of the person.

16. The method of claim 11,

wherein the improvement in performance during said exercise is running faster.

17. The method of claim 11,

wherein the improvement in performance during said exercise is jumping higher or farther.

18. The method of claim 11,

wherein the improvement in performance during said exercise is walking faster.

19. The method of claim 11,

wherein the improvement in performance during said exercise is less exertion by the person.

20. The method of claim 11,

wherein the improvement in performance during said exercise is greater resistance to movement from a stationary position.

21. The method of claim 11,

wherein the shoes are athletic shoes, dress shoes, casual shoes, walking shoes, or sandals.