US20110154689A1

US20110154689A1 - Shoe sole including shock absorbing structure

Info

Publication number: US20110154689A1
Application number: US13/061,016
Authority: US
Inventors: Boksun Chung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-26
Filing date: 2009-07-23
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Also published as: JPWO2010024070A1; WO2010024070A1; JP4465040B2; KR200443485Y1

Abstract

[Problem to be Solved] To reduce the feeling of fatigue and improve the wearing feeling of shoes by dispersing shock transmitted to a front portion, a center portion, and a rear portion of a foot through a main sole during walking.

[Solution] A main sole (10) of a shoe according to the present invention is created in a curved shape so that the front and rear are separated from the ground, the main sole (10) of the shoe comprising: a first cushion space (S1) arranged at a position corresponding to an arch of a foot of a wearer; a second cushion space (S2) arranged at a position closer to a heel than the first cushion space (S1); and a third cushion space (S3) arranged at a position closer to toes than the first cushion space (S1) and provided with a plurality of projections inside.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a shoe sole.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, among shoes for wearing, athletic shoes are provided with a material that allows the wearer to stand up by stepping on the ground, the material serving as a bottom surface of the upper that covers the foot.
Recently, functional shoes that attain a sufficient motional effect just by wearing the shoes and walking are being developed and sold.
Among the functional shoes, shoes for walking like Masai people, the shoes without rear axes of the shoes, the back of the main sole forming a curved surface (arc shape), are called Masai Walking active rolling walking footware (walking footwear that rotates) in South Korean Patent No. 10-377822 (Patent Literature 1), and a method of walking by “Masai Walking” is further described.
The Korea Walking Association, the World Walking Association, the shoe industry, and general customers call the shoes for walking like Masai people “Masai Barefoot Technology”, the shoes without rear axes of the shoes, the back of the main sole forming a curved surface (arc shape). The shoes are called Masai Walking shoes or Masai people walking shoes not only on the Internet, but also in newspapers, magazines, and on TV.
As shown in FIG. 1, a main sole (10) applied and arranged on the shoe mainly includes an insole (12) bonded to an upper (1), a midsole (14) that prevents shock and twisting, and an outsole (16) provided with a thread that touches the ground to prevent slippage.
In general, the motions performed by the foot of the wearer against the ground during walking can be roughly classified into three stages. More specifically, the three stages include: 1. landing stage of the heel; 2. stage that the center of gravity moves from the heel to the toes; and 3. stage of stepping hard on the ground by the front of the foot and detaching. The foot of the wearer repeats these three stages (motions).
The rear axis of the conventional shoes is substantially perpendicular to the ground. As for the heel, the landing area is small, and the small portion first touches the ground. Therefore, the shock at landing is large, and the movement of the center of the gravity, which is the stage following the landing, is immediately performed. Thus, sudden shock is applied not only to the joints of the foot, but also to the foot and the joints of the body. As a result, the feeling of landing is poor, and walking may be unnatural.
In contrast, the main sole of the shoe created to have the form of Masai people walking may solve the problems.
The athletic shoes developed for the purpose of the motions are usually created by using more flexible (soft) polyurethane with excellent resilience so that the material provides the shoes with the feeling of cushion as a way to absorb shock by the midsole of the main sole.
However, an example of a method of meeting (clearing) conditions that the body of the wearer needs to satisfy in order for the loaded sole of the foot to sustain the load in a balanced manner includes a method of creating the midsole to make the hardness of the midsole different in the front and rear to realize more stable wearing feeling. There are two methods of creating the midsole to make the hardness partially different, a method of making the thickness different at each position and a method of compressing the part.
Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the cost of creating the midsole in the main sole of the shoe is high, and moreover, there is particularly a problem that the function of mitigating the shock applied to the body from the ground when the shoes are put on for walking is relatively reduced.
In consideration of the points, there is a method of creating the shoes by inserting a spring material with a cushion effect or an INSERT cushion reinforcing material made of a material with different hardness into the insole and the midsole. However, this also poses a problem of reduction in the productivity caused by a substantial increase in the cost.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: South Korean Patent No. 10-377822

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

The present invention has been devised to solve the conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the feeling of fatigue and improving the wearing feeling of shoes by improving constituent elements of a main sole of a shoe including an insole, a midsole, and an outsole and by dispersing shock transmitted to a front portion, a center portion, and a rear portion of the foot through the main sole during walking.

Solution to Problem

A main sole of a shoe according to the present invention devised to attain the object is formed in a curved shape so that the front and rear are spaced (separated) from the ground, the main sole of the shoe comprising: a first cushion space (S1) arranged at a position corresponding to an arch of a foot of a wearer; a second cushion space (S2) arranged at a position closer to a heel than the first cushion space (S1); and a third cushion space (S3) arranged at a position closer to toes than the first cushion space (S1) and provided with projections inside.
According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the main sole (10) comprises: an insole (12) bonded to an upper; a midsole (14) that attaches to a bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock from the ground and that prevents twisting; and an outsole (16) including a thread that attaches to a bottom surface of the midsole (14) to prevent slippage from the ground, and a protrusion (16 a) that supports the center of the bottom surface of the midsole (14) at a position vertically below the arch of the sole of the foot of the wearer is formed at the center of an upper surface of the outsole (16), while a first recessed portion (16-1) that is spaced (separated) from the bottom surface of the midsole (14) and that forms the first cushion space (S1) is formed at the center of the protrusion (16 a).
A second recessed portion (14-2) forming the second cushion space (S2) and a third recessed portion (14-1) forming the third cushion space (S3) that are spaced (separated) from the bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock applied to front and rear sections around the arch of the sole of the foot of the wearer may be formed on an upper surface of the midsole (14), a fourth recessed portion (14-3) corresponding to the first cushion space (S1) relative to the first recessed portion (16-1) may be formed on a center portion of the bottom surface of the midsole (14), a fifth recessed portion (12-1) corresponding to the second cushion space (S2) relative to the third recessed portion (14-2) of the midsole (14) may be formed on the bottom surface of the insole (12), and the projections arranged inside the third cushion space (S3) may be a plurality of shock mitigating projections (12 a) for dispersing shock that are formed at positions corresponding to the second recessed portion (14-1) of the midsole (14) on the bottom surface of the insole (12).
According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the main sole (10) may comprise: an insole (12) bonded to an upper; a midsole (14) that attaches to a bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock from the ground and that prevents twisting; and an outsole (16) including a thread that attaches to a bottom surface of the midsole (14) to prevent slippage from the ground, a protrusion (16 a) that supports the center of the bottom surface of the midsole (14) at a position vertically below the arch of the sole of the foot of the wearer may be formed at the center of an upper surface of the outsole (16), while a first recessed portion (16-1) that is spaced (separated) from the bottom surface of the midsole (14) and that forms the first cushion space (S1) may be formed at the center of the protrusion (16 a), a third recessed portion (14-2) forming the second cushion space (S2) and a second recessed portion (14-1) forming the third cushion space (S3) that are spaced (separated) from the bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock applied to front and rear sections around the arch of the sole of the foot of the wearer may be formed on an upper surface of the midsole (14), a fourth recessed portion (14-3) corresponding to the first cushion space (S1) relative to the first recessed portion (16-1) may be formed on a center portion of the bottom surface of the midsole (14), a fifth recessed portion (12-1) corresponding to the second cushion space (S2) relative to the third recessed portion (14-2) of the midsole (14) may be formed on the bottom surface of the insole (12), and the projections arranged inside the third cushion space (S3) may be a plurality of convex portions (14 a) formed on the second recessed portion (14-1).
It is preferable if a reinforcing iron (11) that supports the arch and the rear of the sole of the foot and that controls twisting of the main sole (10) is embedded inside the insole (12). In this case, the reinforcing iron (11) may form a curved line relative to the ground, a reinforcing groove (11 a) may be formed in a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing iron (11), and a supporting groove (11 b) that prevents movement inside the insole (12) may be formed at one end.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention can easily and efficiently absorb shock applied to the front portion, the center portion, and the rear portion of the sole of the foot of the wearer in the main sole of the shoe formed by bonding the insole, the midsole, and the outsole, and the present invention can attain an effect of significantly reducing fatigue caused by walking after the shoes are put on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a conventional shoe and a main sole of the shoe.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a main sole of a shoe according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the main sole according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view (partially enlarged view) showing components of the main sole of the shoe according to the first embodiment, the side view showing cushioning actions of the components.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the main sole of the shoe according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the main sole of the shoe according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side view (partially enlarged view) showing components of the main sole of the shoe according to the second embodiment, the side view showing cushioning actions of the components.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 2 shows an exploded main sole of a shoe according to a first embodiment (exploded perspective view), and FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an assembled state of the main sole of the shoe. FIG. 4 is a side view (partially enlarged view) showing components of the main sole of the shoe according to the first embodiment, the side view showing shock cushioning actions that the components have.
A main sole (10) of the shoe of the first embodiment includes an insole (12) that bonds to an upper, a midsole (14) that attaches with a bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock from the ground and prevent twisting, and an outsole (16) including a thread that attaches with a bottom surface of the midsole (14) to prevent slippage from the ground. The front and the rear of the midsole (14) and the outsole (16) form curved lines relative to the ground so as to be spaced (separated) from the ground.
A protrusion (16 a) that supports the center of the bottom surface of the midsole (14) at a position vertically below the arch (shank section) of the sole of the foot of the wearer is formed at the center of the upper surface of the outsole (16), while a first recessed portion (16-1) that is spaced (separated) from the bottom surface of the midsole (14) and that forms a first cushion space (S1) is formed at the center of the protrusion (16 a).
For the front portion and the rear portion on the bottom surface of the outsole (16), a material formed by injecting an I.G. (Integral Skin Form) resin and a non-foam resin (Non Form) to an ester-urethane resin generally used for the sole of the shoe is used to form a nonskid portion (not shown). As a result of mixing the I.G. (Integral Skin Form) resin and the non-foam resin (Non Form) with the ester-urethane resin, the frictional force increases as compared to when only the ester-urethane resin is used, and a significantly excellent nonskid effect can be obtained.
The midsole (14) has a structure including, on the upper surface, a second recessed portion (14-2) including (forming) a second cushion space (S2) and a third recessed portion (14-1) corresponding to a third cushion space (S3) that are spaced (separated) from the bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock applied to the front and rear sections around the arch (shank section) of the sole of the foot of the wearer and including, at the center portion of the bottom surface, a fourth recessed portion (14-3) extended and formed so as to correspond to the cushion space (S1) for the first recessed portion (16-1).
A Soft Form resin is used to form the foam to create the midsole (14). The hardness and the density of the resin are the least among the grades of the resins used for the sole of the shoe, and the resin is adopted for soft shoes wearing feeling and for lightening. As the resin is softer than the insole, the resin is excellent in the bending property of the sole of the shoe.
An extended fifth recessed portion (12-1) is formed on the bottom surface of the insole (S12) so as to correspond to the cushion space (S2) for the third recessed portion (14-2) of the midsole (14), and a multiplicity of shock mitigating projections (12 a) for dispersing shock are formed on the bottom surface corresponding to the second recessed portion (14-1) of the midsole (14).
Actions provided by a shock absorbing structure included in the main sole of the shoe according to the present embodiment with the structure will be described in detail.
As is already known, the insole (12) is first attached to the upper (not shown in the drawings) having a form of a shoe, and then the midsole (14) and the outsole (14) are attached in this order to create the main sole (10).
After the attachment of the soles, the front portions and the rear portions of the bottom surfaces of the constituent elements of the main sole (10) generally have rounding shapes. A motional effect can be obtained through a Masai people walking system, and a motional effect can be obtained while reducing fatigue by shock absorbing structures included in the insole (12), the midsole (14), and the outsole (16) of the main sole of the shoe.
As is already known, the shock applied to the sole of the foot in walking and running while the shoes are put on is usually cushioned by the midsole (14) to reduce the fatigue. However, the present invention is constituted to more easily absorb the shock applied to the front portion, the center portion, and the rear portion of the sole of the foot.
The front portion of the sole of the foot is adhered to the upper surface in the second recessed portion (14-1), in which the multiplicity of shock mitigating projections (12 a), which are formed on the bottom surface of the insole (12), are formed on the upper part of the midsole (14). The shock is absorbed by dispersing and transmitting the load applied by the load of the body of the wearer to the midsole (14) through the shock mitigating projections (12 a). As a result, the wearer can perform more stable landing. The shock is absorbed through the shock mitigating projections (12 a), and the cushion space (S3) formed by the second recessed portion (14-1) formed on the upper part of the midsole (14) for the bottom surface of the insole (12) has a cushion effect, although not large, to reduce the fatigue of the front portion of the foot.
The first cushion space (S1) formed by the fourth recessed portion (14-3) formed at the bottom of the midsole (14) and by the first recessed portion (16-1) dented inward at the center portion of the upper protrusion (16 a) of the outsole (16) repeats a contraction and restoration process in the directions of the arrows shown in FIG. 4 to absorb the shock transmitted to the arch (shank section) of the foot of the wearer in the main sole (10) of the shoe.
Meanwhile, the second cushion space (S2) formed by the fifth recessed portion (12-1) of the insole (12) and by the third recessed portion (14-2) of the midsole (14) repeats a contraction and restoration process based on the action of the force in the directions of the arrows applied from the load of the sole of the foot and the ground to absorb the shock and load applied to the rear portion of the sole of the foot of the wearer.
The shock absorption is enabled by defining the cushion space at each portion (front, center, and rear) of the main sole of the shoe. An ideal cushion effect can be obtained by the midsole located between the insole and the outsole, and the feeling of fatigue can be significantly reduced as compared to when existing shoes are put on for exercise.
Although the first embodiment of the present invention has been described, the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the example, and various changes can be made without changing the scope of the invention.
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to V. The same constituent elements as the main sole (10) of the shoe in the first embodiment are designated with the same reference numerals.
A multiplicity of convex portions (14 a) are formed on the second recessed portion (14-1) of the midsole (14) in the main sole (10) of the shoe according to the second embodiment, and the main sole (10) is configured to be more easily bent by the convex portions (14 a).
The upper surface of the insole (12) in the main sole (10) of the shoe according to the second embodiment is flat. This is advantageous that foreign matters entered from a slight gap are unlikely to remain on the upper surface of the insole (12) even if the gap is formed between, for example, the upper and the insole (12) during use, as compared to when a plurality of concave portions are arranged on the upper surface as in the insole (FIGS. 2 and 3) of the first embodiment. Furthermore, a reinforcing iron (11) for controlling twisting of the main sole (10) by supporting the arch (shank section) of the sole of the foot and the rear of the arch is embedded in the insole (12) as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.
The reinforcing iron (11) forms a curved line relative to the ground, and a reinforcing groove (11 a) that provides a steel property to the reinforcing iron (11) is formed in the longitudinal direction. A supporting groove (lib) that is engaged inside the insole (12) to prevent the reinforcing iron (11) from moving (particularly in the horizontal direction) is formed at one end of the reinforcing iron (11), or specifically, an end positioned closer to the heel of the main sole (10).
The insole (12) is molded and created after the foam is formed using the I.G. (Integral Skin Form) resin, and the surface has a high-density structure and is highly durable. Comfortable wearing feeling is realized by providing cushion, and the insole (12) has a structure for mitigating shock.
As in the first embodiment, the front portions and the rear portions of the bottom surfaces of the constituent elements of the attached main sole (10) generally have rounding shapes in the main sole of the shoe according to the second embodiment with the structure. A motional effect that can be obtained through the Masai people walking system is obtained, and a motional effect can be obtained while reducing fatigue by shock absorbing structures included in the insole (12), the midsole (14), and the outsole (16) of the main sole of the shoe.
As is already known, the shock applied to the sole of the foot in walking and running while the shoes are put on is usually cushioned by the midsole (14) to reduce the fatigue. However, as in the first embodiment, the main sole (10) of the second embodiment is constituted to more easily absorb the shock applied to the front portion, the center portion, and the rear portion of the sole of the foot.
The front portion of the sole of the foot has excellent flexibility due to the multiplicity of convex portions (14 a) formed on the upper surface of the midsole (14). The main sole (10) is more easily bent during walking or driving, and the wearing feeling is excellent. This can provide an effect of significantly reducing the feeling of fatigue during operation of the pedal of a vehicle or the like.
The reinforcing iron (11) embedded in the insole (12) constituting the main sole (10) is embedded during molding of the insole. The action of the supporting groove (11 b) inside the insole (12) can control twisting or unnatural curving of the main sole and can keep the form of the main sole stable.
More specifically, the reinforcing iron (11) generally protects the middle part of the main sole and reduces twisting of the main sole (10) that may occur during walking or exercise while the shoes are put on. The reinforcing iron (11) forms a curved line from the ground and provides elasticity when pressure is applied to the insole (12). The reinforcing groove (11 a) formed on the reinforcing iron (11) prevents deformation of the reinforcing iron (11) that maintains the curved line.
A delicate cushion effect can be obtained in the third cushion space (S3) generated by the formation of the second recessed portion (14-1) of the midsole (14) relative to the bottom surface of the insole (12), and fatigue of the entire sole of the foot can be reduced.
The first cushion space (S1) formed by the fourth recessed portion (14-3) formed at the bottom of the midsole (14) and by the first recessed portion (16-1) dented inward at the center portion of the upper protrusion (16 a) of the outsole (16) repeats a contraction and restoration process in the directions of the arrows shown in FIG. 4 to absorb the shock transmitted to the arch (shank section) of the foot of the wearer in the main sole (10) of the shoe.
Meanwhile, the second cushion space (S2) formed by the fifth recessed portion (12-1) of the insole (12) and by the third recessed portion (14-2) of the midsole (14) repeats a contraction and restoration process based on the action of the force in the directions of the arrows applied from the load of the sole of the foot and the ground to absorb the shock and load applied to the rear portion of the sole of the foot of the wearer.
The shock absorption is enabled by defining the cushion space at each portion (front, center, and rear) of the main sole of the shoe. An ideal cushion effect can be obtained by the midsole located between the insole and the outsole, and the feeling of fatigue can be significantly reduced as compared to when existing shoes are put on for exercise.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

10 main sole of shoe
11 reinforcing iron
11 a recessed portion
11 b supporting groove
12 insole
12-1 fifth recessed portion
12 a shock mitigating projection
14 midsole
14-1 second recessed portion
14-2 third recessed portion
14-3 fourth recessed portion
14 a convex portion
16 outsole
16-1 first recessed portion
16 protrusion

Claims

1. A main sole (10) of a shoe formed in a curved shape so that the front and rear are separated from the ground, the main sole (10) of the shoe comprising:

a first cushion space (S1) arranged at a position corresponding to an arch of a foot of a wearer;

a second cushion space (S2) arranged closer to a heel than the first cushion space (S1); and

a third cushion space (S3) arranged closer to toes than the first cushion space (S1) and provided with projections inside.

2. The main sole (10) according to claim 1, wherein

the main sole (10) comprises: an insole (12) bonded to an upper; a midsole (14) that attaches to a bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock from the ground and that prevents twisting; and an outsole (16) including a thread that attaches to a bottom surface of the midsole (14) to prevent slippage from the ground,

a protrusion (16 a) that supports the center of the bottom surface of the midsole (14) at a position vertically below the arch of the sole of the foot of the wearer is formed at the center of an upper surface of the outsole (16), while a first recessed portion (16-1) that is spaced from the bottom surface of the midsole (14) and that forms the first cushion space (S1) is formed at the center of the protrusion (16 a),

a second recessed portion (14-2) forming the second cushion space (S2) and a third recessed portion (14-1) forming the third cushion space (S3) that are spaced from the bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock applied to front and rear sections around the arch of the sole of the foot of the wearer are formed on an upper surface of the midsole (14), a fourth recessed portion (14-3) corresponding to the first cushion space (S1) relative to the first recessed portion (16-1) is formed on a center portion of the bottom surface of the midsole (14),

a fifth recessed portion (12-1) corresponding to the second cushion space (S2) relative to the third recessed portion (14-2) of the midsole (14) is formed on the bottom surface of the insole (12), and

the projections arranged inside the third cushion space (S3) are a plurality of shock mitigating projections (12 a) for dispersing shock that are formed at positions corresponding to the second recessed portion (14-1) of the midsole (14) on the bottom surface of the insole (12).

3. The main sole (10) according to claim 1, wherein

a third recessed portion (14-2) forming the second cushion space (S2) and a second recessed portion (14-1) forming the third cushion space (S3) that are spaced from the bottom surface of the insole (12) to mitigate shock applied to front and rear sections around the arch of the sole of the foot of the wearer are formed on an upper surface of the midsole (14), a fourth recessed portion (14-3) corresponding to the first cushion space (S1) relative to the first recessed portion (16-1) is formed on a center portion of the bottom surface of the midsole (14),

the projections arranged inside the third cushion space (S3) are a plurality of convex portions (14 a) formed on the second recessed portion (14-1).

4. The main sole (10) according to claim 3, wherein

a reinforcing iron (11) that supports the arch and the rear of the sole of the foot and that controls twisting of the main sole (10) is embedded inside the insole (12).

5. The main sole (10) according to claim 4, wherein

the reinforcing iron (11) forms a curved line relative to the ground, a reinforcing groove (11 a) is formed in a longitudinal direction of the reinforcing iron (11), and a supporting groove (11 b) that prevents movement inside the insole (12) is formed at one end.