Shoe sole insert

Abstract

A shoe sole insert includes an upper member and a lower member, and a number of cells formed between the upper member and the lower member, the upper member includes an elastic pad and a pattern layer and a flexible envelope secured together, the lower member also includes an elastic pad and a pattern layer and a flexible envelope secured together, and the members each includes a number of recesses and depressions and receptacles aligned with each other, to form the cells of the shoe sole insert, and to increase elasticity and resilience for the shoe sole insert. The envelopes are transparent or semi-transparent, to allow patterns of the pattern layers to be seen through the envelopes.

Description

[0001] The present invention is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 364,384, filed 12 Feb. 2003, pending, and to be abandoned.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a midsole or a shoe sole insert for footwear, and more particularly to a shoe sole insert having a shock absorbing effect and having an elastic portion prevented from aging and wear. [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0005] Various kinds of typical sports shoes have been developed and provided for jogging, running or other sport purposes, and comprise two basic requirements. The principal task of the shoe is to help or to facilitate running and to allow runners to move easily. The other task of the shoe is to protect the feet from running exertion, so that runners' optimum performance may be preserved or maintained in races. In addition, in a consumer's point of view, longer life of a shoe sole is preferred. To achieve the af...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a shoe sole insert including a shock absorbing effect and including an elastic portion prevented from aging and wear.

[0012] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a shoe sole insert comprising an upper member and a lower member, and a number of cells formed between the upper member and the lower member, the upper member includes a lower portion having a first elastic pad attached thereto, and the first elastic pad includes a number of recesses formed therein, a first pattern layer is attached to the lower portion of the first elastic pad of the upper member and includes a number of depressions formed therein corresponding in shape to the recesses of the first elastic pad of the upper member respectively, and a first envelope is attached to the first pattern layer and includes a number of receptacles formed therein corresponding in shape to the recesses of the first elastic pad and to the depressions of the first pattern layer of the upper member respectively, the lower member includes an upper portion having a second elastic pad attached thereto, and the second elastic pad includes a number of recesses formed therein, a second pattern layer is attached to the upper portion of the second elastic pad of the upper member and includes a number of depressions formed therein corresponding in shape to the recesses of the second elastic pad of the lower member respectively, and a second envelope is attached to the second pattern layer and includes a number of receptacles formed therein corresponding in shape to the recesses of the second elastic pad and to the depressions of the second pattern layer of the lower member respectively, the receptacles of the first and the second envelopes are aligned with each other, and the first and the second envelopes includes interconnecting portions engaged with each other and secured together, to form the cells of the shoe sole insert, and to increase elasticity and resilience for the shoe sole insert, and the first and the second envelopes are made of transparent materials, to allow patterns of the first and the second pattern layers to be seen through the first and the second envelopes.

Problems solved by technology

However the rubber layer can only protect the bottom portion of the foamable material.

That causes the foamable material aged and worn quickly.

Besides, for the purpose of running or other sports with heavy duties, the elasticity provided by the foamable material of the traditional shoe sole structure is not enough.

However, the cost of air cushioned shoe sole is high and the procedure of manufacturing is complicated.

In addition, sometimes, unnecessary deformations may take place in the shoe soles of air cushion structure.

However, the openings are simply formed within the shoe portion by such as molding or mold injection processes, and thus may not have patterns formed around the openings or within the shoe portion.

Normally, the shoe portion is formed by foaming or foamable materials by hot-pressing processes, such that it will be difficult to form or to apply patterns or colors onto the shoe portion.

However, similarly, the membrane and the envelope are also formed by foaming or foamable materials by hot-pressing processes, such that it will also be difficult to form or to apply patterns or colors onto the membrane and the envelope.

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