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  Structure for the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body, and a damping memberUSPTO Application #: 20080005928Title: Structure for the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body, and a damping member Abstract: Structure, especially shoe-sole structure for the flexible damping dynamic effects on a body, which structure has layers (9, 10) situated transversally with respect to the direction of the dynamic effect, connected to each other with flexible connecting element (11),said layers (9, 10) being situated at a distance from each other in an unloaded condition. This structure is characterized in that one end of the connecting elements (11) is caught in the cavity (19) created in at least one of the layers (10), and the internal space of the cavity (19) is larger than or the same as that of the connecting element (11) extending into it, and the connecting element (11) is made of a material with a greater ability of flexible deformation than that of the material of the layers (9, 10). The invention also concerns a damping member. (end of abstract) Agent: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman - Sunnyvale, CA, US Inventor: Istvan Koszegi USPTO Applicaton #: 20080005928 - Class: 036029000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Soles, Cushion, Pneumatic The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080005928. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The invention relates to a structure for the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body, especially a shoe-sole structure, mainly for sporting shoes. The subject of the invention is also a damping member that can be used for such structures. [0002] In numerous fields of technical and everyday life the problem occurs that there is a need for the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body, such as vibration, oscillation or shocks in order for a body in the widest sense, for example a machine, building or sporting shoe, to be able to bear dynamic effects ensuring its currently given function to an optimal extent at the same time. [0003] In the course of using sporting shoes, every time the shoe-soles hit the floor, such as land surface or the floor of a gymnasium, they transfer dynamic stress onto the soles of sportspeople, or in a wider sense persons wearing sporting shoes, and soles--also in respect of sporting shoes--also include heels. If shoe-soles are inflexible and hard, the dynamic effects generated when the shoe-soles hit the floor have an extremely harmful effect on the feet of the person wearing sporting shoes, on the ankle-joints and also on the knee and hip joints, as a result of which sporting shoes (trainers) were manufactured with flexible soles even earlier, but they did not prove to be sufficient to avoid effects harmful to the joints. [0004] As a result of research carried out by companies manufacturing sporting shoes involving significant intellectual and financial investments the development of sporting shoes has been aimed at approaching the bio-mechanical operation of feet wearing shoes to the operation of bare feet, because due to the connection of the shoe-sole surface and the floor, which is different to the natural bare-footed sole surface, the shoes change the dynamic effects in a sense harmful to the joints, which effects are generated in the joints of bear feet when making different movements. [0005] As a result of research specialists are hoping to ensure appropriate flexibility by creating a layered shoe-sole structure and making the behaviour of shoe-soles during use similar to the bio-mechanical operation of bare feet. In order to reach this aim on the one part they are trying to achieve desired flexibility by placing different layers, bent sole elements and longitudinal structural units on top of each other, creating the possibility of folds on the given sole surfaces, sole layers and sole edges; on the other part they are trying to achieve optimal flexibility and folding ability by inserting individual base cells, group of rod-like elements, air insoles and cells, making use of the deforming and dimensional changing ability of these elements inserted between the layers occurring as a result of dynamic effects. However, so far they have not been able to find a solution satisfactory from all aspects, because in the developed constructions the folding and flexibility zones are either too soft or too hard; in both cases problems occur during use, so presently no sporting shoes are known that can ensure the folding possibilities and changing flexibility behaviour that can be experienced when bare feet touch the floor. [0006] The task to be solved with the invention is to provide a structure that can be used for the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body in the most general sense of the word, which structure ensures damping more efficient than the presently known similar structures, and also technically it can be realised in a simple way and is reasonable from the aspect of economy. Within this scope the task to be solved with the invention is also to provide a shoe-sole structure, especially sporting shoe-sole structure that provides maximum protection of the ankle, knee and hip joints of the person wearing sporting shoes with soles of this type, by approaching the bio-mechanical operation of bear soles. Finally the task to be solved with the invention is also to provide a damping member that can be used as a part of such structures. [0007] The invention is based on the following recognition: for example when after jumping up bare soles touch the ground again, in the first moments the skin surfaces gets in contact with the ground. AS compared to each other the ground and the skin surface do not move, but a soft part of about 4-8 mm-s of the bare feet get deformed, and activated by this it forms a soft flexibility zone when hitting the ground. Whatever type of movements people make--e.g.: stepping, jumping, turning--only a certain part of their soles touch the floor or the ground, which part folds and undergoes soft deformation when it touches the ground. At this point the stabilisation of the feet is started, and in the second phase the harder flexibility and appropriate stability is provided by the ligamentous and muscular apparatus. In the first phase the dynamic effect is small and the deformation--movement--is large, while in the second phase the dynamic effect is large and deformation/movement is small. [0008] On the basis of the above facts an optimal shoe-sole structure should contain a folding/flexible zone that first ensures softer flexibility allowing relatively larger deformation on the given sole-part, and then harder flexibility allowing smaller deformation. In other words the shoe-sole structure should operate similarly to the bare sole--edge of the sole--when touching the ground. However, in the course of creating the right shoe-sole construction it should be taken into consideration that if shoes, first of all sporting shoes are put on the feet, the bio-mechanical operation of the feet changes when touching the ground: the material of the edges of the shoes, the construction and flexibility of the shoe-soles influence the operation of the feet, the legs and the joints. First of all there is a greater risk of injury, especially the injury of the ankles and the knees, in the course of making movements associated with sports. [0009] Taking into consideration all aspects described above we realised that the disadvantages of the presently known sporting shoe soles listed above can be overcome by using a sole structure that ensures the damping of dynamic effects occurring while making movements within the shoe-sole, with a connection between the layers of sole, which connection is characterised by flexibility changing in two phases and allows slight movements--folding--between neighbouring sole layers. [0010] On the basis of the above recognition, in accordance with the invention the set task was solved with a structure, especially shoe-sole structure for the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body, which structure has layers situated transversally with respect to the direction of the dynamic effect, connected to each other with flexible connecting elements, situated at a distance from each other in an unloaded condition, and which structure is characterised by that one end of the connecting elements is caught in the cavity created in at least one of the layers, and the internal space of the cavity is larger than or the same as that of the connecting element extending into it, and the connecting elements are made of a material with a greater ability of flexible deformation than that of the material of the layers. The other end of the connecting elements can be attached to the surface, for example flat surface, of the other layer. Basically this solution represents a connection between the layers that ensures two types of different flexibility occurring between the layers, for example shoe-sole parts, in two phases, and the movement of the layers with respect to each other in space--that is in all directions--in the case that dynamic effect occurs. [0011] According to a favourable construction example the gap between the layers is an air-gap, although the possibility is not excluded that the gap is filled with some compressible material or material suitable for deflection as a result of pressure, for example gel, or with some other plastic, soft material, or with gas other than air. Obviously inside the structure space must be ensured for a material suitable for deflection. [0012] Practically the connecting element and/or the cavity accommodating it has the shape of a truncated cone, although other, practically optional shapes can also be chosen, for example with a circular, oval or polygonal cross-section. The connecting elements can be solid or hollow, which provides the possibility of changing the time and/or extent of compression and the movement of the layers to suit the current field of use of the structure. [0013] According to a further feature of the invention--especially in the case of shoe-sole structures--the connecting element starts from an upper layer and extends downwards, into a cavity created in a lower layer. Obviously the connecting element can also start from the flat surface of a lower layer and fit into the cavity of an upper layer facing downwards. According to another construction example both ends of the connecting element fit into a cavity respectively, created in layers facing each other. It may also be practical, if one or more intermediate layers are inserted between an upper layer and a lower layer, which intermediate layers are connected to the upper layer and the lower layer with a connecting element extending into a cavity, at a certain distance from them. Obviously other structural solutions are also possible, which--similarly to the cross-sectional shape and size of the connecting elements and the cavities, the material quality of the layers and the connecting elements, etc.--must be chosen to ensure appropriate optimal flexibility and the possibility of folding and moving. This possibility is also provided in another construction example by positioning the connecting elements at right or other angles to the surface of the layers connecting to them or at an angle or in a stepped formation. [0014] Generally it is practical, if the layers are parallel to each other; and if the surface of the layers and/or connecting elements is smooth and/or coarse, and/or grooved and/or wavy and/or arched; and if the connecting elements are attached to the layers connected to them by gluing. A further important feature of the invention is that only the end-plate of the connecting elements fitting into the cavity is fixed to the bottom-plate of the cavity, because in this way the connection element has the maximum freedom of lateral movement inside the cavity. [0015] According to another construction example the materials of the layers connected by the connecting elements that can be flexibly deformed to a smaller extent than above can have different flexibility; for example in the case of shoe-soles the upper layer is made of polyethylene, the connecting element is made of rubber, for example latex, and favourably the lower layer is made of cr pe fabric. Obviously other type of materials and combinations of materials, artificial and natural rubbers, plastics, etc. can also be used, and mostly the lower layer is made of a less flexible material, and obviously both layers are harder and less flexible than the connecting elements. [0016] The invention also relates to a damping member used for the structure for the flexible damping of dynamic effects on a body, which damping member has a flexibly deformable connecting element situated between practically parallel layers situated at a distance from each other transversally with respect to the direction of the dynamic effect, and is characterised by that one end of the connecting element is caught in a cavity created at least in one of the layers, and the internal space of the cavity is larger than or the same as that of the connecting element extending into it; and the connecting element is made of a material with a greater ability of flexible deformation than that of the material of the layers. [0017] Below the invention is described in detail on the basis of the attached drawings containing the favourable construction examples of the sole structure of sporting shoes. In the drawings [0018] FIGS. 1a-1d show three phases of the deformation of a bare human foot when it touches the ground, and the geometrical position of the foot during deformation; [0019] FIGS. 2a-2d how the situation shown in FIGS. 1a-1d changes, when there is a shoe on the same foot; [0020] FIG. 3 shows a damping member of the sole structure according to the invention in perspective view at a scale larger than in reality; [0021] FIG. 4 shows another construction of a damping member of the structure in perspective view; [0022] FIGS. 5a-5e show a few further possible constructions of the damping members of the sole structure in diagrammatic vertical section; [0023] FIGS. 6-8 show further possible constructions of the damping members of the sole structure according to the invention at an increased scale; [0024] FIG. 9a shows the upper layer of the sporting shoe with a sole structure according to the invention in perspective bottom view; Continue reading... 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