Groove system for outsole of footwear
By designing a multi-region raised and notched structure on the top side of the footwear outsole, the problem that the outsole in the prior art is difficult to take into account structural strength and vertical flexibility, achieving a more comfortable walking experience and higher durability.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202411119964.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-08-19
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-15
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-21
AI Technical Summary
While pursuing structural strength, existing footwear outsoles are difficult to take into account sufficient vertical flexibility, resulting in insufficient walking.
By designing the raised portions of different regions on the top side of the outsole, including crossed raised portions and non-crossed raised portions, combining the raised peripheral portions and notches, a balance of multi-region flexibility and structural strength of the outsole is achieved.
It realizes the vertical flexibility of the outsole while maintaining structural strength, improves walking comfort, and reduces weight and improves durability.
Smart Images
Figure CN119488197A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates generally to footwear and, more particularly, to footwear outsoles. Background Art
[0002] Footwear generally has an outsole and an upper coupled to the outsole. The outsole separates the wearer's foot from the ground. Therefore, it is desirable that the outsole has sufficient structural integrity to withstand the forces applied to the footwear, and therefore to the ground, by each step of the wearer. For example, FIG. 1 shows a top view of an outsole having intersecting raised portions that define a honeycomb pattern. The honeycomb pattern provides structural support for the outsole. However, the honeycomb pattern reduces the flexibility of the outsole. Therefore, attempts have been made to increase the vertical flexibility of the outsole to facilitate a more comfortable walk while providing the outsole with sufficient structural integrity.
[0003] FIG2 shows a bottom view of an outsole having a honeycomb pattern, and FIG3 shows a cross-sectional view of such an outsole along line AA' in FIG2. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the underside of the outsole defines transverse grooves that are disposed along the longitudinal length of the outsole and extend transversely to the central axis of the outsole. These grooves are configured to promote vertical flexibility of the outsole. However, these outsole are still rigid in terms of vertical flexibility.
[0004] For these reasons, there is a need for an outsole that has improved flexibility while having structural strength. The outsole also needs to be lightweight. The outsole further needs to be durable. Summary of the invention
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an outsole that provides increased flexibility that facilitates the natural gait cycle.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide an outsole that achieves the above objectives and also provides structural strength that maintains stability throughout the outsole, and particularly the rearfoot and arch areas, while preventing excessive torsion in the forefoot area.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide an outsole which achieves the above objects and also provides differential flexibility along the longitudinal length of the outsole.
[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide an outsole which achieves the above objects and also has a reduced weight.
[0009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an outsole that achieves the above objects and has maintained or improved durability.
[0010] The present invention achieves the above objects, as well as other objects and advantages that will be apparent from the following description, by providing an outsole. The outsole has a rear foot region, a mid foot region, and a fore foot region that is disposed opposite the mid foot region and away from the rear foot region. The outsole has a top side and a bottom side that is configured to contact the ground when a wearer walks. In some embodiments, the present invention achieves the above objects, as well as other objects and advantages that will be apparent from the following description, by providing footwear that includes an outsole and an upper coupled to the outsole.
[0011] In some embodiments, the rearfoot region or the midfoot region has a first raised portion extending along the top side of the outsole in a first pattern. In some embodiments, the first raised portion is configured to provide the rearfoot region or the midfoot region with a first amount of vertical flexibility. In some embodiments, the forefoot region has a second raised portion extending along the top side of the outsole in a second pattern. In some embodiments, the second pattern is different from the first pattern. In some embodiments, the second raised portion is configured to provide the forefoot region with a greater amount of vertical flexibility than the rearfoot region or the midfoot region. In some embodiments, the first raised portion and the one or more second raised portions are configured to increase the structural strength of the outsole. Therefore, the second raised portion increases the flexibility of the outsole while maintaining or improving its structural strength.
[0012] In some embodiments, the first raised portion and the second raised portion are configured to increase the structural strength of the outsole compared to another outsole that is identical except for the lack of the first raised portion or the second raised portion.
[0013] In some embodiments, the first raised portion includes raised intersection portions that intersect each other. In some embodiments, the second raised portion includes raised non-intersection portions that do not intersect each other. In some embodiments, each of the one or more second raised portions defines a sinusoidal wave shape.
[0014] In some embodiments, the upper includes a third raised portion on the top side. In some embodiments, the third raised portion defines a boundary between the first pattern and the second pattern. In some embodiments, the third raised portion intersects each of the first raised portions extending to the boundary. In some embodiments, the third raised portion intersects each of the first raised portions extending to the boundary at a location where two or more such first raised portions meet each other. In some embodiments, the third raised portion does not intersect the second raised portion.
[0015] In some embodiments, the upper includes a raised peripheral portion extending along the periphery of the outsole. In some embodiments, the raised peripheral portion surrounds the first raised portion or the second raised portion. In some embodiments, the raised peripheral portion defines a recess between two or more adjacent second raised portions. In some embodiments, the recess is configured to increase the flexibility of the outsole. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a top view of the outer sole.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the outer sole in FIG. 1 .
[0019] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the outer sole in FIG. 1 taken along line AA′ in FIG. 2 .
[0020] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an article of footwear having an outer sole according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Bottom view of the outsole in FIG.
[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 4 Isometric bottom view of the outsole in .
[0023] Figure 7 yes Figure 4 Isometric top view of the outsole in the .
[0024] Figure 8 is along Figure 6 The A-A1 line in Figure 4 Isometric cross-section of the outsole in .
[0025] Fig. 9 is along Figure 6 The B-B1 line in Figure 4 Isometric cross-section of the outsole in .
[0026] Fig.10 is along Figure 6 The C-C1 line in Figure 4 Isometric cross-section of the outsole in .
[0027] Fig.11 is along Figure 6 The D-D1 line in Figure 4 Isometric cross-section of the outsole in .
[0028] Fig.12 yes Figure 4 Isometric side view of the outsole.
[0029] Fig.13 yes Figure 4 Isometric medial view of the outsole.
[0030] Fig.14 is a top view of a second embodiment of an outsole in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
[0031] Fig.15 yes Fig.14 A top perspective view of the outsole in the.
[0032] Fig.16 is a top view of a third embodiment of an outsole in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
[0033] Fig.17 yes Fig.16 A top view of the outsole in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] An article of footwear in accordance with the principles of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 2 in the figures of the drawings wherein numbered elements in the drawings correspond to like numbered elements herein.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 1 , footwear 2 has an outer sole 4 and an upper 6 coupled to the outer sole 4. In some embodiments, the upper 6 is bonded to the outer sole 4. Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the underside of the outsole 4 has a plurality of grooves extending through the longitudinal axis of the outsole 4 to promote vertical flexibility of the outsole 4 in the area of these grooves. Figure 7 As shown, according to some embodiments, the rearfoot region 8 and the midfoot region 10 of the top side of the outsole 4 have intersecting raised portions 12 that define a honeycomb pattern, while the forefoot region 14 of the top side of the outsole 4 has non-intersecting raised portions 16 that define a different pattern than the pattern in the rearfoot region 8 or the midfoot region 10. Therefore, the forefoot region 12 of the outsole 4 has increased vertical flexibility compared to the rearfoot region 8 or the midfoot region 10.
[0036] In some embodiments, one or more non-intersecting raised portions 16 define a non-linear shape or path. Figure 7 As shown, one or more non-intersecting raised portions 16 define a wave shape or path, such as a sine wave. Such a shape or path increases the structural strength of the outsole in the area of such non-linear non-intersecting raised portions 16 compared to linear non-intersecting raised portions. Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the transition between the intersecting raised portions 12 and the non-intersecting raised portions 16 is defined by a raised portion 18 that defines a boundary between regions having a different pattern than the rearfoot region 8 or the midfoot region 10. In some embodiments, as Figure 7 As shown, the boundary portion 18 intersects each raised portion 12 extending to the boundaries at the intersection of the intersecting raised portions 12 (i.e., the boundary portion 18 intersects two or more raised portions 12 at a given intersection point along the boundaries). Therefore, the boundary portion 18 helps to increase the structural strength of the outsole 4 along the boundaries compared to a boundary portion that intersects each raised portion 12 extending to such boundaries at a point offset from the intersecting raised portions (i.e., such an alternative boundary portion intersects a single raised portion 12 at a given intersection point along the boundaries).
[0037] In some embodiments, the top side of the outsole 4 has a raised peripheral portion 20 surrounding the raised portions 12, 16 or 18. In some embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the raised perimeter portion 20 defines a notch 32 between two or more adjacent non-intersecting raised portions 16 or between a non-intersecting raised portion 16 and a raised border portion 18. The notch 32 further increases the vertical flexibility of the outsole 4 in the forefoot region.
[0038] like Figure 8-11 As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 , the non-intersecting raised portions 16 are separated from each other by recesses defined by the top side of the outsole 4. Figure 8-11 As shown in the cross-sectional view of , except for the positions where these raised portions 12 cross each other, the crossed raised portions 12 are also separated from each other by recesses defined by the top side of the outsole 4.
[0039] In some embodiments, such as Fig.14 and 15 In the embodiment of the outsole 62 shown, the underside of the outsole 62 defines one or more grooves, and the top side of the outsole 62 has one or more protuberances 64 directly above and extending along such one or more grooves, which helps to provide an increased amount of material directly disposed on such grooves without increasing the thickness of the entire recessed portion between two or more non-intersecting raised portions or between a non-intersecting raised portion and a boundary raised portion. Therefore, such protuberances 64 help to further increase the vertical flexibility of the outsole 62 and help to reduce the weight of the outsole 62. Fig.14 and Fig.15 In the , the mark is displayed with Figure 7 The peripheral portion 20 corresponds to the peripheral portion to highlight Fig.14 and 15 In the embodiment shown, there is no notch. Fig.15As highlighted by the ridges 64 in the figure, in some embodiments, the non-intersecting raised portions are spaced farther apart from one another along the longitudinal axis of the outsole 62 than the grooves in the same area of the outsole 62. Thus, in some embodiments, the ridges 64 are positioned differently from one another relative to the respective adjacent non-intersecting raised portions in front of or behind the ridges 64.
[0040] In some embodiments, such as Fig.16 and 17 With the illustrated embodiment of outsole 82 , raised portions, such as intersecting raised portions 84 , have different shapes or define different patterns or paths than those illustrated with respect to the embodiments of outsole 4 or outsole 62 .
[0041] Except for the differences described above, the embodiments of the outsole 4, the outsole 62 and the outsole 82 are substantially the same. These differences may be combined with other features, characteristics or elements of other embodiments of the outsole described or shown herein.
[0042] In some embodiments, the outsole has a layer of material disposed on a top side of the outsole, such as on a raised portion, such as a raised perimeter portion, a raised non-intersecting portion, a raised intersecting portion, or a raised border portion.
[0043] Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, Figure 6-12 The dimensions shown in are in millimeters. In some embodiments, the outsole is an injection molded unitary structure.
[0044] As used herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the following terms have the meanings expressly associated with them herein. The terms "front," "front," "rear," and "rear" are defined relative to the central or longitudinal axis of the outsole. The terms "front" and "front" refer to the portion of the footwear that is separate from the rearfoot region and opposite the midfoot region. The terms "rear" and "rear" refer to the portion of the footwear that is away from the forefoot region and opposite the midfoot region. The terms "height," "vertical," "upper," "lower," "above," "below," "top," "bottom," "topmost," and "bottommost" are defined relative to the vertical axis of the outsole, while the underside of the outsole is on a horizontal ground. The vertical axis is not parallel to the longitudinal axis, and is defined as being parallel to the direction of the earth's gravity on the footwear when the underside of the outsole is on a horizontal ground. The term "lateral" is defined relative to the lateral axis of the outsole. The lateral axis is not parallel to the longitudinal axis and the vertical axis. The longitudinal axis extends through the middle of the outsole, through the rearfoot, midfoot, and forefoot regions, along the length of the outsole.
[0045] The term "configuration" as used herein refers to one or more of limiting the size, limiting the dimensions, positioning or orientation of an element to achieve or provide the function or result. The term "direct connection" as used herein refers to one component contacting (e.g., when bonding) or welding to another component. The term "indirect connection" as used herein refers to connecting a first component to a second component by means of one or more intermediate components that are directly connected to the first and second components. A first component that is indirectly connected to a second component is directly connected to a third component, which can be directly connected to the second component or a fourth component that is directly connected to the second component. Therefore, the term "connection" should be understood to disclose direct and indirect connections of components or elements that are described as being connected to each other.
[0046] The term "substantially parallel" means parallel or parallel within 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 45 degrees. The term "substantially orthogonal" means orthogonal or orthogonal within 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 45 degrees. The term "substantially horizontal" or "substantially horizontally" means horizontal or horizontal within 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 45 degrees. The term "substantially vertical" or "substantially vertically" means vertical or vertical within 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 45 degrees. The term "approximately" or "substantially" means within 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 40% or 50% of a determined value or range.
[0047] The term "or" is an inclusive grammatical conjunction, indicating that one or more of the connected terms can be used. For example, the phrase "one or more A, B, or C" or the phrase "one or more A, B, or C" is used to discretely disclose the following: i) one or more A, ii) one or more B, iii) one or more C, iv) one or more A and one or more B, v) one or more A and one or more C, vi) one or more B and one or more C, and vii) one or more A, one or more B, and one or more C. The term "based on" as used herein is not exclusive and allows for other factors not described. The articles "a", "an", and "the" include plural references. Plural references are also intended to disclose singular forms.
[0048] As described above, although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Unless the principles of the present invention clearly provide otherwise, each disclosure of a component preferably having a feature or characteristic is intended to also disclose a component without the feature or characteristic. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. On the contrary, the present invention should be determined entirely with reference to the claims. It should also be noted that the claim dependencies or element combinations recited in the claims do not reflect the intention to abandon the claim to protect other subject matter disclosed herein. On the contrary, the present disclosure is also intended to disclose the subject matter of any combination of any two or more claims, so that the subsequent claim group can be described, and any dependent claim is subordinate to any other one or more claims, up to and including all other claims of the alternative (e.g., "a device or method in any of the preceding or subsequent claims..."). The present disclosure is also intended to disclose the subject matter of any dependent claim, as if it is an independent claim that includes or does not include all or part of the subject matter of the original independent claim (one or more) or any other subject matter disclosed herein.
[0049] Other alternative embodiments of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art after reading this disclosure. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the above description, but is determined by the claims.
Claims
1. A pair of footwear comprising: vamp; and an outsole coupled to the upper, the outsole having a rearfoot region, a midfoot region, and a forefoot region, the forefoot region being disposed opposite the midfoot region and away from the rearfoot region, the outsole having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side being configured to contact a ground when a wearer of the footwear walks, one or more of the rearfoot region or the midfoot region having one or more first raised portions extending along the top side of the outsole in a first pattern, the one or more first raised portions being configured to provide a first amount of vertical flexibility to one or more of the rearfoot region or the midfoot region, the forefoot region having one or more second raised portions extending along the top side of the outsole in a second pattern different from the first pattern, the one or more second raised portions being configured to provide a second amount of vertical flexibility to the forefoot region that is greater than the first amount of vertical flexibility, the one or more first raised portions and the one or more second raised portions being configured to increase the structural strength of the outsole, The one or more second raised portions thereby increase the flexibility of the outsole.
2. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first raised portions and the one or more second raised portions are configured to increase the structural strength of the outsole as compared to another outsole having every characteristic, element, and configuration of the outsole except lacking the one or more first raised portions and the one or more second raised portions.
3. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the one or more first raised portions include raised intersection portions that intersect one another.
4. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the one or more second raised portions include raised non-intersecting portions that do not intersect one another.
5. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the one or more first raised portions include raised intersection portions that intersect one another. The footwear of claim 5 , wherein each of the one or more second raised portions defines a sinusoidal wave shape.
7. The footwear according to claim 5, further comprising a third raised portion on the top side of the outsole, the third raised portion defining a boundary between an area of the top side having a first pattern and an area of the top side having a second pattern, the first raised portion intersecting each of the one or more first raised portions extending to the boundary.
8. The footwear of claim 7, wherein the third raised portion intersects each of the one or more first raised portions extending to the boundary at a location where two or more of the one or more first raised portions extending to the boundary meet each other.
9. The footwear of claim 7, wherein the third raised portion does not intersect the one or more second raised portions.
10. The footwear of claim 1, further comprising a raised perimeter portion extending along a perimeter of the outsole and surrounding the one or more first raised portions and the one or more second raised portions.
11. The footwear of claim 10, wherein the raised peripheral portion defines a notch between two or more adjacent ones of the one or more second raised portions, whereby the notch increases flexibility of the outsole.
12. A footwear outsole comprising: rear foot area; mid-foot area; and A forefoot region is disposed away from the rearfoot region and opposite to the midfoot region, the outsole having a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side being configured to contact the ground when a wearer of the footwear having the outsole walks, one or more of the rearfoot region or the midfoot region having one or more first raised portions extending along the top side of the outsole in a first pattern, the one or more first raised portions being configured to provide a first amount of vertical flexibility to one or more of the rearfoot region or the midfoot region, the forefoot region having one or more second raised portions extending along the top side of the outsole in a second pattern different from the first pattern, the one or more second raised portions being configured to provide a second amount of vertical flexibility to the forefoot region different from the first amount of vertical flexibility, the one or more first raised portions and the one or more second raised portions being configured to increase the structural strength of the outsole.
13. The footwear of claim 12, wherein the one or more first raised portions include raised intersection portions that intersect one another.
14. The footwear of claim 12, wherein the one or more second raised portions include raised non-intersecting portions that do not intersect one another, and the second amount of vertical flexibility is greater than the first amount of vertical flexibility.
15. The footwear of claim 14, wherein the one or more first raised portions include raised intersection portions that intersect one another.
16. The footwear of claim 15, wherein each of the one or more second raised portions defines a sinusoidal wave shape.
17. The footwear according to claim 15, further comprising a third raised portion on the top side of the outsole, the third raised portion defining a boundary between an area of the top side having the first pattern and an area of the top side having the second pattern, the third raised portion intersecting each of the one or more first raised portions extending to the boundary.
18. The footwear of claim 17, wherein the third raised portion intersects each of the one or more first raised portions extending to the boundary at a location where two or more of the one or more first raised portions extending to the boundary meet each other.
19. The footwear of claim 17, wherein the third raised portion does not intersect the one or more second raised portions.
20. The footwear according to claim 12 further comprises a raised peripheral portion extending along the periphery of the outsole and surrounding the one or more first raised portions and the one or more second raised portions, the raised peripheral portion defining a recess between two or more adjacent portions of the one or more second raised portions, whereby the recess increases the flexibility of the outsole.