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Shoe bottom heel portionRelated Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Soles, CushionShoe bottom heel portion description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070028484, Shoe bottom heel portion. 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 footwear, more particularly to shoe bottoms for active and sport footwear, and especially to shock-absorbing heel portions. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] The modern consumer of sport footwear expects support, comfort and impact absorption in a tastefully ornamented product. Footwear designers have responded with products combining new materials, conspicuously displayed performance engineering features, and a profusion of new ornamental shapes, colors and textures. The Shox.RTM. brand footwear offered by the Nike Corporation and the Wave Creation.RTM. brand footwear offered by the Mizuno Corporation exemplify this response to consumer demand. As the public grows more sophisticated in its perception of footwear design features, designers will be driven toward greater refinement in how they blend mechanical and ornamental functions in every structural element of a product. [0005] The present invention recognizes and addresses a particular need for such refinement by providing a visually appealing laminated heel shoe bottom heel portion which absorbs impact comfortably over the lifetime of the product. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe bottom heel portion with cushioning and improved durability. [0007] In accordance with this object and with others which will be described and which will become apparent, a preferred exemplary embodiment of a shoe bottom heel portion in accordance with the present invention includes an upper midsole forming a central bulge; a lower midsole forming a central mound; a shank bonded to the central bulge and to the central mound; and a plurality of contacts of the upper midsole with the lower midsole. The contacts are arranged peripherally. Each contact includes a projection, either of the upper midsole or of the lower midsole, and also includes an indentation, in the lower or upper midsole, respectively. Each indentation receives a corresponding projection. This cooperation of the projections and indentations gives each contact a large surface area for adhesion and also reduces the likelihood of lateral displacement of the upper midsole relative to the lower midsole. [0008] The upper midsole may have a first edge, the lower midsole may have a second edge, with the second edge at least partially surrounding and embracing the first edge to increase adhesion area between the two and to resist lateral displacement. [0009] The contacts may be substantially permanent and may be bonded by an adhesive. [0010] At least one of the upper midsole and the lower midsole includes an injection or compression molded portion, which may be, for example, formed of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or thermoplastic urethane (TPU). In a preferred embodiment, the upper midsole is formed of EVA of approximately 65 shore C durometer hardness and the lower midsole is formed of TPU. [0011] At least one of the contacts may include a load transferring area surrounding the indentation and the projection thereof. [0012] The upper midsole and the lower midsole may have opposing concave forms intermediate the contacts, thereby forming peripheral openings intermediate the contacts. The openings enable the upper midsole and the lower midsole to bend and move closer together in order to cushion a wearer's footsteps. [0013] The upper midsole and the lower midsole may have opposing concave forms proximate the central bulge and the central mound, thereby forming cavities between the upper midsole and the lower midsole. The cavities enable the upper midsole and the lower midsole to bend and move closer together in order to cushion a wearer's heel strike. The cavities may communicate with the peripheral openings at the first edge and second edge, between the contacts. [0014] The upper midsole and the shank may extend forward beyond the lower midsole. A pair of the contacts may be located forward of the central mound, one laterally, the other medially, with the lower midsole including a front edge indented rearward from the pair of contacts to the central mound. [0015] The shank may contact the central mound over a first surface area and contact the central bulge over a second surface area, the second surface area being at least twice, four times, or eight times the first surface area. [0016] The central bulge may be formed of a material having a first stiffness, the central mound of a material having a second stiffness substantially greater than the first stiffness, and the shank formed of a material having a third stiffness substantially greater than the second stiffness, whereby bending is utilized to absorb impact. The central bulge may formed of 65 shore C durometer hardness EVA, the central mound of TPU, and the shank of a hard urethane resin. [0017] Also in accordance with the invention, a first alternative embodiment of a shoe bottom heel portion includes an upper midsole forming a central bulge; a lower midsole forming a central mound; and a shank bonded to the central bulge and to the central mound. However, this first alternative embodiment does not include the pillars and sockets that were described for the preferred exemplary embodiment. [0018] The upper midsole may have a first edge, the lower midsole may have a second edge, and the second edge may at least partially surround and embrace the first edge. [0019] At least one of the upper midsole and the lower midsole may include an injection or compression molded portion such as a piece formed of EVA or TPU, particularly an upper midsole formed of EVA of approximately 65 shore C durometer hardness and a lower midsole formed of TPU. [0020] The upper midsole and the lower midsole may have opposing concave forms proximate the central bulge and the central mound, the shank conforming to the upper midsole, forming at least one cavity between the upper midsole and the lower midsole The cavity may open at the first edge and second edge. [0021] The upper midsole and the shank may extend forward beyond the lower midsole. [0022] The upper midsole may extend forward beyond the lower midsole medially and laterally, and the lower midsole may include a front edge indented rearward centrally to the central mound. Continue reading about Shoe bottom heel portion... Full patent description for Shoe bottom heel portion Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Shoe bottom heel portion 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 Shoe bottom heel portion or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Air-permeable shoe Next Patent Application: Gel insoles with lower heel and toe recesses having thin spring walls Industry Class: Boots, shoes, and leggings ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Shoe bottom heel portion patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.80496 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error 174 |
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