| Footwear sole assembly having spring mechanism -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Footwear sole assembly having spring mechanismUSPTO Application #: 20070101617Title: Footwear sole assembly having spring mechanism Abstract: A sole assembly which includes a heel cradle configured to cradle a heel of a human foot when the human foot is rested within the heel cradle, a rigid upper plate including a first part connected to the heel cradle and a second part located farther from the heel cradle than is the first part, a lower plate including a first part of which is connected to the first part of the upper plate and including a second part which is connected to the second part of the upper plate, an oblong gap located between the upper plate and lower plate and between the first and second parts of the upper and lower plates. A sole assembly including an upper plate and a lower plate stiffer than the upper plate and attached to the upper plate so as to form an oblong gap. Also, a shoe including the sole assembly. (end of abstract) Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C. - Alexandria, VA, US Inventors: Chris Brewer, Olivier Henrichot USPTO Applicaton #: 20070101617 - Class: 036103000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Boots And Shoes, Having Particular Outsole (e.g., Sectional Sole) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070101617. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a device that supports a person's foot, and more specifically, to a shoe sole assembly having a spring mechanism for storing and releasing mechanical energy during the gait cycle. [0003] 2. Discussion of the Background [0004] Footwear has often incorporated various methods of absorbing impact energy generated while a person walks or runs. Specifically, sponges or cushion materials are often used to absorb and dissipate energy throughout the wearer's gait cycle. However, in order to achieve sufficient cushioning, a large amount of cushioning material that substantially covers the entire plantar region of the shoe may be necessary. This creates a thick and heavy sole structure that adds weight to the shoe and prevents air flow to the plantar region of the wearer's foot. Cushion material may also become compacted over time and lose its cushioning effect, and does very little to store energy for use during the gait cycle. [0005] Shoe makers have also created "through-holes" in the cushion material that extend from the lateral to medial sides of the shoe sole in order to reduce the weight of the shoe. However, as these conventional through-holes are typically mere vacancies created in the cushion material, they do not provide effective air flow to the plantar region of the wearer's foot. Moreover, conventional through-holes do not provide a structure for effectively storing mechanical energy. [0006] Various spring elements have been used in footwear in an attempt to store impact energy for use during the gait cycle. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,449,878 discloses a spring assembly including a first spring element that extends over a large area of the shoe sole, and a second spring element attached to the first element in a midfoot region but spaced from and opposing the first element in a heel region of the shoe. The opposing first and second spring elements form a tension spring in the heel region of the shoe. However, this spring assembly is complex and requires large and highly resilient components that are too heavy to be of practical use for most shoes, particularly athletic shoes. [0007] While simple and light-weight plastic-type assemblies have been implemented into footwear, these structures have generally been used to provide rigidity to certain regions of the sole and cannot efficiently store and release energy during the gait cycle. For example, U.S. Patent Publication 2003/0005600A1 discloses a plastic shank member embedded in a midfoot region of a shoe sole. The shank member is a substantially rigid sheet of material closed to form an oblong cross sectional shape. Placement of the shank member in the midfoot region of the midsole provides greater rigidity to this area of the midsole so that the forefoot of the midsole is more bendable. However, the shank is not disclosed as a spring element for storing and releasing energy during gait. [0008] Furthermore, the present inventors have recognized that when any type of energy storage device is implemented in footwear, foot placement within the shoe during contact with the ground is important to realizing a spring effect. Moreover, if the foot is improperly placed relative to the energy storage device, the device may interfere with the natural sequence of pressure distribution of the foot during the footstep, thus resulting in foot discomfort. For example, in the heel area, the heel of the foot tends to break contact or at least reduce pressure on the heel portion of the sole of the shoe when the foot is lifted. Accordingly, the heel of the foot may drift within the shoe and not impact the sole of the shoe in the optimum location for cushion effect and energy storage. Conventional shoes have not recognized this importance of heel placement, and thus have not provided comfortable and efficient energy storage mechanisms. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to address at least some of the above described and/or other problems of conventional footwear. [0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, light-weight footwear spring element for effectively storing and releasing energy during the gait cycle. [0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a footwear mechanism for effectively positioning the wearer's heel in relation to a sole spring element in order to enhance efficient storage of energy in the spring at impact. Any of these and/or other objects can be provided by a sole assembly according to the present invention. [0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, a sole assembly is disclosed including: a heel cradle configured to cradle a heel of a human foot when the human foot is rested within the heel cradle, a rigid upper plate including a first part connected to the heel cradle and a second part located farther from the heel cradle than is the first part, a lower plate including a first part which is connected to the first part of the upper plate and including a second part which is connected to the second part of the upper plate, an oblong gap located between the upper plate and lower plate and between the first and second parts of the upper and lower plates shaped such that a gap dimension between the upper and lower plates in a first direction, measured from the first part of the upper plate to the second part of the upper plate, is greater than a gap dimension between the upper and lower plates in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. [0013] According to another aspect of the present invention, a shoe is disclosed including: an upper portion; and a sole assembly including, a heel cradle configured to cradle a heel of a human foot when the human foot is rested within the heel cradle, a rigid upper plate including a first part connected to the heel cradle and a second part located farther from the heel cradle than is the first part, a lower plate including a first part which is connected to the first part of the upper plate and including a second part which is connected to the second part of the upper plate, an oblong gap located between the upper plate and lower plate and between the first and second parts of the upper and lower plates shaped such that a gap dimension between the upper and lower plates in a first direction, measured from the first part of the upper plate to the second part of the upper plate, is greater than a gap dimension between the upper and lower plates in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. [0014] According to another aspect of the invention, a sole assembly is disclosed including: an outsole located on a side of the sole assembly and configured to support the sole assembly, a cushion material located next to the outsole, a means for cradling a heel of a human foot when the human foot is rested within the means for cradling, and a means for storing energy generated during walking connected to the means for cradling. [0015] According to another aspect of the invention, a sole assembly is disclosed including: a rigid upper plate including a first part and a second part and having a first stiffness, a lower plate having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness and including a first part which is connected to the first part of the upper plate and including a second part which is connected to the second part of the upper plate, an oblong gap located between the upper plate and lower plate and between the first and second parts of the upper and lower plates shaped such that a gap dimension between the upper and lower plates in a first direction, measured from the first part of the upper plate to the second part of the upper plate, is greater than a gap dimension between the upper and lower plates in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe incorporating a sole assembly and heel cradle according to one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 2 shows the medial side of a sole assembly according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 3 shows the lateral side of a sole assembly according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [0020] FIG. 4 shows the back of a sole assembly according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [0021] FIG. 5 shows the bottom of a sole assembly including the outsole and various cross-section lines according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Continue reading... Full patent description for Footwear sole assembly having spring mechanism Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Footwear sole assembly having spring mechanism patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Footwear sole assembly having spring mechanism or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Molded gasket for footwear Next Patent Application: Cleat for athletic shoe Industry Class: Boots, shoes, and leggings ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Footwear sole assembly having spring mechanism patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.1066 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Canon USA , Celera Genomics , Cephalon, Inc. , Cingular Wireless , Clorox , Colgate-Palmolive , Corning , Cymer , |
||
