Dual rigidity shoe sole

Abstract

The invention provides bicycling shoes having soles containing materials of at least two different material densities configured to provide improved comfort, and fit for a wearer when walking or running in the shoes, while providing enhanced force transfer from the wearer to a bicycle pedal when bicycling in the shoes.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 355,643 filed Jun. 17, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The invention relates to articles of footwear useful for touring or commuting by bicycle.BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0003]When riding a bicycle, the largest force produced by the bicyclist is transmitted from the knee, through the foot to the bicycle pedal. A recreational bicyclist typically reproduces the pedaling force about 4,500 to about 7,500 times an hour. Unlike many bicycle shoes designed for road bicycle racing, mountain biking or commuter biking shoes typically have recessed cleats and a more flexible sole designed to allow the cyclist to comfortably walk or run when they dismount the bicycle. The flexible rubber sole, while flexible and cushioning for walking or running, unfortunately leads to inefficiencies and a loss of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The present invention provides bicycling shoes, having dual rigidity materials in the soles that are comfortable for walking while providing efficient energy transfer from the rider to the pedal when bicycling. The sole of the invention allows for more rigid or stiff materials in the pedal or cleat region of the shoe, proximate the metatarsal region of the rider's foot, thereby minimizing the energy loss experienced between the rider's foot and pedal when the rider is bicycling. The shoe sole of the invention allows for less rigid or stiff (i.e. more flexible) materials in the heel and toe regions of the foot, providing for greater flexibility and comfort, injury prevention and ease of use when the rider is running or walking dismounted from the bicycle.

Problems solved by technology

The flexible rubber sole, while flexible and cushioning for walking or running, unfortunately leads to inefficiencies and a loss of energy expended by the rider when energy from the rider's foot to the pedal, energy is lost in compression or flexing of the sole of the shoe between the rider's foot and the pedal.

Though a completely rigid sole material renders a bicycling shoe more efficient by reducing energy loss, it is difficult to use when the rider dismounts the bicycle, for example, during portions of a mountain bike race or while commuting by bicycle.

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