Devices with internal flexibility sipes, including siped chambers for footwear

• US 8,291,618 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2007
• Issued: 10/23/2012
• 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:
  US11/802,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20080083140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 36/29, 36/35.B, 361/53, 361/54, 36/25.R, 36/30.R
• US Class Current: 36/103
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/064 with relative movement between layers
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/121 with at least one layer or pad containing a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• 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 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• 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 7/24 Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side , preventing supination or pronation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1233 for the hip
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1241 for the thigh
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/125 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1258 for the shin, e.g. shin guards
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1266 for the calf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/02 Frames
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 : wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/12 : Metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/06 : Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 : characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 : with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 : with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/12 : for the body or the legs , e.g. for the shoulders A63B71/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/146 : Golf gloves
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/04 : Spherical articles, e.g. balls B29D22/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 1/0016 : Compositions of the tread
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/00 : Tyre tread bands; Tread patterns; Anti-skid inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/005 : with cap and base layers
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/0323 : tread comprising channels under the tread surface, e.g. for draining water
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 : Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 9/18 : Structure or arrangement of belts or breakers, crown-reinforcing or cushioning layers

Abstract

Devices with internal flexibility sipes, such as slits, provide improved flexibility, improved cushioning to absorb shock and/or shear forces, and improved stability of support. Siped devices can be used in any existing product that provides or utilizes cushioning and stability. These products include human and other footwear, both soles and uppers, as well as orthotics; athletic, occupational and medical equipment and apparel; padding or cushioning, such as for equipment or tool handles, as well as furniture; balls; tires; and any other structural or support elements in a mechanical, architectural, or any other product.

Claims

1. A footwear or orthotic sole, comprising:

an outer sole; and

a footwear or orthotic device, the device including

an outer chamber, compartment or bladder having an uppermost surface curved concavely relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder inside said outer chamber, compartment or bladder;

said outer chamber, compartment or bladder and said inner chamber, compartment or bladder being separated at least in part by at least a first internal sipe; and

wherein said first internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said outer chamber, compartment or bladder and an outer surface of said inner chamber, compartment or bladder; and

the inner and outer surfaces forming the first internal sipe oppose each other and can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and

at least two layers of flexible, resilient midsole material are located within the at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, at least one layer of the midsole material including at least a plastic or rubber, and

at least a second internal sipe is formed by opposing surfaces of said two layers of midsole material within the at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder so that the opposing surfaces of said two layers of midsole that form the second internal sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion.

2. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said opposing surfaces forming said first internal sipe are in contact with each other when said device is in an unloaded condition.

3. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said first internal sipe is a slit.

4. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 1, wherein said outer chamber, compartment or bladder entirely encloses a space within said outer chamber, compartment or bladder;

and

said inner chamber, compartment or bladder is located inside said enclosed space of said outer chamber, compartment or bladder.

5. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one upper portion or at least one lower portion of said inner chamber, compartment or bladder is attached to an opposing portion of said outer chamber, compartment or bladder.

6. The footwear or orthotic sole 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 sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one layer of the midsole material measures at least 90 durometers on a Shore A Hardness Scale and/or at least 40 durometers on a Shore D Hardness Scale, and/or at least 100 durometers on the Asker C Hardness Scale.

8. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 1, wherein the device is removable or insertable into a shoe upper.

9. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one layer of said midsole material is substantially composed of a non-foamed and/or a non-cell flexible, resilient material such as plastic and/or rubber, including a non-blown rubber.

10. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 1 wherein at least three layers of midsole material are located within the at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, and at least the third layer of the midsole material including at least a plastic or rubber or gel.

11. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said opposing surfaces forming at least one said internal sipe are separated by a media selected from a liquid, gel, a coating, and silicone.

12. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 1, wherein at least the second layer of the midsole material including at least a plastic or rubber or gel.

13. A footwear or orthotic sole, comprising:

an outer sole; and

a footwear or orthotic device, said device including

at least one chamber, compartment or bladder having an uppermost surface curved concavely relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

at least two layers of flexible, resilient midsole material are located within the at least one chamber, compartment or bladder, at least one layer of the midsole material including at least a plastic or rubber;

said at least one chamber, compartment or bladder and said at least two layers of midsole material are separated at least in part by at least a first

internal sipe formed by an inner surface of said chamber, compartment or bladder and an opposing surface of said at least two of said layers of midsole material, and the surfaces forming the first internal sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and

at least a second internal sipe is formed by opposing surfaces of said two layers of midsole material within the at least one chamber, compartment or bladder so that the opposing surfaces of said two layers of midsole that form the second internal sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion.

14. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of said opposing surfaces forming said first internal sipe are in contact with each other when said device is in an unloaded condition.

15. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of said first internal sipe is a slit.

16. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 13, wherein said chamber, compartment or bladder entirely encloses a space within said chamber, compartment or bladder;

and

said at least two layers of flexible, resilient midsole material are located inside said enclosed space of said chamber, compartment or bladder.

17. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 13, wherein at least one upper portion or at least one lower portion of said at least two layers of flexible, resilient midsole material is attached to an opposing portion of said chamber, compartment or bladder.

18. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 13, 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.

19. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 13, wherein at least one layer of the midsole material measures at least 90 durometers on a Shore A Hardness Scale and/or at least 40 durometers on a Shore D Hardness Scale, and/or at least 100 durometers on the Asker C Hardness Scale.

20. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 13, wherein the device is removable or insertable into a shoe upper.

21. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 13, wherein at least one layer of said midsole material is substantially composed of a non-foamed and/or a non-cell flexible, resilient material such as plastic and/or rubber, including a non-blown rubber.

22. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 13, wherein at least three layers of midsole material are located within the at least one chamber, compartment or bladder, and at least the third layer of the midsole material including at least a plastic or rubber or gel.

23. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 13, wherein at least a portion of said opposing surfaces forming at least one said internal sipe are separated by a media selected from a liquid, gel, a coating, and silicone.

24. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 13, wherein at least the second layer of the midsole material including at least a plastic or rubber or gel.

25. A footwear or orthotic sole, comprising:

an outer sole; and

a footwear or orthotic device, the device including

an outer chamber, compartment or bladder having an uppermost surface, curved concavely relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder inside said outer chamber, compartment or bladder;

said outer chamber, compartment or bladder and said inner chamber, compartment or bladder being separated at least in part by at least a first internal sipe; and

wherein said internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said outer chamber, compartment or bladder and an outer surface of said inner chamber, compartment or bladder; and

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

at least two layers of flexible, resilient midsole material are located within the at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, at least one layer of the midsole material including at least a plastic or rubber;

at least a second internal sipe formed by opposing surfaces of said two layers of midsole material within the at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder so that the opposing surfaces of said two layers of midsole that form the second internal sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and

the device including fiber.

26. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein at least one said midsole layer includes inelastic fiber.

27. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein the midsole material includes fiber oriented substantially in a plane substantially paralleling an inner surface of the sole.

28. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein at least one said midsole layer includes fiber.

29. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein at least a portion of said opposing surfaces forming said first internal sipe are in contact with each other when said device is in an unloaded condition.

30. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein at least a portion of said first internal sipe is a slit.

31. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein said outer chamber, compartment or bladder entirely encloses a space within said outer chamber, compartment or bladder;

and

said inner chamber, compartment or bladder is located inside said enclosed space of said outer chamber, compartment or bladder.

32. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein at least one upper portion or at least one lower portion of said inner chamber, compartment or bladder is attached to an opposing portion of said outer chamber, compartment or bladder.

33. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, 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.

34. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein at least one layer of the midsole material measures at least 90 durometers on a Shore A Hardness Scale and/or at least 40 durometers on a Shore D Hardness Scale, and/or at least 100 durometers on the Asker C Hardness Scale.

35. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein the device is removable or insertable into a shoe upper.

36. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein at least one layer of said midsole material is substantially composed of a non-foamed and/or a non-cell flexible, resilient material such as plastic and/or rubber, including a non-blown rubber.

37. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein at least three layers of midsole material are located within the at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder, and at least the third layer of the midsole material including at least a plastic or rubber or gel.

38. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 25, wherein at least a portion of said opposing surfaces forming at least one said internal sipe are separated by a media selected from a liquid, gel, a coating, and silicone.

39. A footwear or orthotic sole, comprising:

an outer sole; and

a footwear or orthotic device, said device including

at least one chamber, compartment or bladder having an uppermost surface curved concavely relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;

at least two layers of elastomeric midsole material are located within the at least one chamber, compartment or bladder, at least one layer of the midsole material including at least a plastic or rubber;

said at least one chamber, compartment or bladder and said at least two layers of elastomeric midsole material are separated at least in part by at least a first internal sipe formed by an inner surface of said chamber, compartment or bladder and an opposing surface of said at least two of said layers of midsole material, and the surfaces forming the first internal sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion;

at least a second internal sipe is formed by opposing surfaces of said two layers of midsole material within the at least one chamber, compartment or bladder so that the opposing surfaces of said two layers of midsole that form the second internal sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and

the device including fiber.

40. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein at least a portion of said opposing surfaces forming said first internal sipe are in contact with each other when said device is in an unloaded condition.

41. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein at least a portion of said first internal sipe is a slit.

42. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein said chamber, compartment or bladder entirely encloses a space within said chamber, compartment or bladder;

and

said at least two layers of flexible, resilient midsole material are located inside said enclosed space of said chamber, compartment or bladder.

43. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein at least one upper portion or at least one lower portion of said at least two layers of flexible, resilient midsole material is attached to an opposing portion of said chamber, compartment or bladder.

44. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, 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.

45. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein at least one layer of the midsole material measures at least 90 durometers on a Shore A Hardness Scale and/or at least 40 durometers on a Shore D Hardness Scale, and/or at least 100 durometers on the Asker C Hardness Scale.

46. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein the device is removable or insertable into a shoe upper.

47. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein at least one layer of said midsole material is substantially composed of a non-foamed and/or a non-cell flexible, resilient material such as plastic and/or rubber, including a non-blown rubber.

48. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein at least three layers of midsole material are located within the at least one chamber, compartment or bladder, and at least the third layer of the midsole material including at least a plastic or rubber or gel.

49. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein at least a portion of said opposing surfaces forming at least one said internal sipe are separated by a media selected from a liquid, gel, a coating, and silicone.

50. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein at least one said midsole layer includes inelastic fiber.

51. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein the midsole material includes fiber oriented substantially in a plane substantially paralleling an inner surface of the sole.

52. The footwear or orthotic sole according to claim 39, wherein at least one said midsole layer includes fiber.