Shoe structure

Abstract

The disclosed invention consists of a shoe structure (1) comprising: an upper (2) having a flexible body defining a cavity with an opening (5) to receive a user's foot; and a sole body (3) having a midsole with an upper surface connected to the upper (2) for supporting a user's sole, which enables optimal transfer of user's leg strength to the ground during sports or normal walking activities, thereby imparting reliability and accuracy to the footwear. This is achieved in that the shoe structure (1) comprises elastically deformable support elements and traction elements (4), said traction elements (4) being constructed in a mesh pattern, comprising a bottom surface connected to the sole body (3), comprising a main central anti-slip surface (40) fixed below the center of the sole body (3), and an edge portion (41), the edge part (41) at least partially wraps the outer edge of the sole main body (3) and the lower edge of the vamp (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe structure, the shoe structure comprising: an upper, which includes a flexible body defining a cavity with an opening for receiving a user's foot; a sole body having a midsole, the midsole having an upper surface connected to the upper to support the sole of the user's foot; the shoe structure being configured to improve walking or running and being capable of adapting to uneven terrain. Background Art

[0002] Generally, shoes mainly include an upper and a sole. The upper is composed of a flexible body, the flexible body defining an internal cavity adapted to receive a user's foot. The sole is located below the upper and is connected to the upper to support the sole of the user's foot so that it can generate traction on the ground during walking, running or other sports activities and absorb the impact with the ground.

[0003] In recent years, shoes made using the "knit" technology for manufacturing the upper have become very popular in the market, that is, a sock-like structure is obtained by thermoforming a single-piece seamless knitted fabric through a knitting machine.

[0004] The shoes manufactured as above have the drawback that, due to the continuous friction of the shoes with the rough surface of the ground during use, the upper and / or the midsole are easily worn, resulting in their rapid damage and tearing, especially on the sidewalls close to the ground. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the main task of the present invention is to propose a shoe, particularly but not limited to a sports shoe, which can overcome the drawbacks of existing footwear.

[0006] In the context of the above task, an object of the present invention is to implement a shoe whose structure is configured to improve walking or running and is capable of adapting to uneven terrain, thereby enhancing the stability of the user's foot.

[0007] Another object is to provide a shoe structure that enables the force of the user's leg to be optimally transmitted to the ground during sports or normal walking activities, endowing the shoe with reliability and precision.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe structure that can at least partially protect the upper from tearing and wear to reduce wear and tear and thus extend the service life of the shoe.

[0009] Last but not least, it is intended to design a shoe that can achieve the above tasks and objects at a competitive cost and can be realized by conventional and known machinery, equipment and devices.

[0010] The above tasks and objects, as well as other things that will become more apparent in the following description, are achieved by the shoe defined in claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following specific but non - limiting description of embodiments, which are illustrated by way of non - limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 A shoe structure according to the present invention is shown in perspective view;

[0013] Figure 2 showing Figure 1 a first assembly stage of the shown shoe structure;

[0014] Figure 3 showing Figure 1 a second assembly stage of the shown shoe structure;

[0015] Figure 4 showing Figure 1 a third assembly stage of the shown shoe structure;

[0016] Figure 5 showing Figure 1 a final assembly stage of the shown shoe structure;

[0017] Figure 6 being Figure 1 a bottom view of the shown sole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Figure 1 There is shown a footwear structure or shoe structure 1 according to the present invention, specifically including an upper 2, a sole body 3, and a mesh - configured traction element 4.

[0019] In the following description, terms such as "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer" etc. will be used; those skilled in the art will be able to understand that these terms refer to the positions of the shoe structure 1 when in its normal working position (i.e., when in use), as shown in the drawings.

[0020] The upper 2 includes a flexible hollow body shaped to accommodate a user's foot and provided with a top opening 5 for this purpose, in order to put on the shoe structure 1.

[0021] Most preferably, the upper 2 is obtained by a "knitting" technique, i.e., it has a flexible sock - like structure which is made by thermo - forming a single - piece seamless knitted fabric tube by a knitting machine. However, other types of uppers made of materials most suitable for the intended use may also be provided.

[0022] Preferably, a lacing device 6 of a known type is connected to the upper 2 so as to vary the size of the internal cavity defined by the upper 2, thereby adapting and conforming the shoe structure 1 to the user's foot, while also facilitating the insertion and removal of the foot.

[0023] As Figure 2 shown, the sole body 3 includes at least one midsole 7, which is adapted to be internally connected to the upper 2 to support the sole of the user's foot, thereby providing comfort and shock absorption during walking or running.

[0024] The midsole 7 is preferably constituted by an element whose shape substantially replicates the contour of the user's sole, and which is made of a flexible material preferably having a Shore C hardness of 47 to 53 (according to ISO 868). Preferably, the midsole 7 is made of a polyamide elastomer material and / or a polyether elastomer material, such as

[0025] Advantageously, in order to provide greater comfort and effective shock absorption when using the shoe structure 1, the thickness of the midsole 7 can be differentially designed according to the sole area it needs to support: in particular, in the heel area, the midsole 7 has a smaller thickness, for example about 8 mm, while in the forefoot area it has a larger thickness, for example about 15 mm.

[0026] As Figure 2 better shown, the midsole 7 is received inside the upper 2, introduced into the cavity defined by the upper 2 through a top opening 5, and positioned in the bottom area of the upper 2, where it is preferably glued; thus, the upper surface 8 of the midsole 7 contacts the user's sole during use.

[0027] As Figure 3 shown, the shoe structure 1 further includes an elastically deformable elastic support element 9, for example made of a carbon material or other materials combining rigidity, elasticity and lightness characteristics, adapted to be connected to the lower part of the upper 2, for example glued on the outside of the upper 2, for the purpose of storing energy when elastically deforming during walking or running and releasing the energy when returning to its original undeformed position.

[0028] The support element 9 preferably has a thickness of about 1 mm and advantageously has a shape substantially replicating the shape of the user's foot. In addition, it can be provided with one or more grooves 10 adapted to facilitate deformation in order to follow the movement of the user's foot, thereby maximizing the efficiency of energy release.

[0029] Advantageously, the support element 9 has a pair of wings 11, one on each side, each wing extending from the support element 9 towards the side wall of the upper 2 to provide a stabilizing and supporting effect on the heel during walking or running, thereby keeping the foot in the correct position.

[0030] The pair of wings 11 can be integrally formed with the support element 9 or consist of separate elements connected to the support element 9, as Figure 3 shown. In the latter case, the material of the wings 11 will have the same rigidity, lightness, and elastic properties as the support element 9, but with a different thickness, which is optimized to suit its function, for example, using carbon with a thickness of approximately 0.8 mm.

[0031] According to Figure 4 shown, in addition to including a midsole 7 (with an upper surface 8 of the midsole), a support element 9 (with at least one groove 10), and a pair of wings 11, the sole body 3 advantageously further includes a second midsole 12, which is adapted to be externally connected to the shoe upper 2, located at the lower surface of the support element 9, so as to be fixed to the support element 9 and at least partially cover the lower peripheral edge of the shoe upper 2.

[0032] The second midsole 12 advantageously consists of an element with a contour configured to substantially replicate the contour of the first midsole 7 and / or the support element 9 and is made of an elastic material with a Shore C hardness of 54 to 60 (in accordance with ISO 868 standard). Preferably, the second midsole 12 is made of an elastomeric material, such as a mixture of EVA and rubber.

[0033] Advantageously, in order to improve the shock absorption performance during the use of the shoe structure 1, the thickness of the second midsole 12 can vary according to the foot area it is expected to support: particularly in the heel area, the second midsole 12 has a greater thickness, such as approximately 18 mm; while in the forefoot area, its thickness is smaller, such as approximately 10 mm.

[0034] According to the present invention, the bottom surface of the sole body 3 is connected to a traction element 4, which is configured in a grid pattern and is adapted to contact the ground to generate traction, enabling the user to walk or run and cooperate with other components of the sole body 3 to absorb shock during walking or running. The traction element 4 is made of a flexible grid-like structure or a mesh structure. As Figure 5 shown, the grid-like traction element 4 includes a main central anti-slip surface 40 and an edge portion 41, and the edge portion 41 can at least partially cover the outer edge of the sole body 3 and the lower edge of the shoe upper 2, as shown by the open arrows in the figure.

[0035] Other functions performed by the grid-like traction element 4 are to limit its lateral protrusion during the use of the shoe structure 1, thereby improving the stability of the foot, and returning the stored energy to the user's foot during the elastic limit deformation process, thereby improving the energy efficiency of movement and reducing foot fatigue.

[0036] The mesh traction element 4 is made of a flexible elastomeric material, such as rubber, a thermoplastic material such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or PEVA, or a similar material, which can be made from a flat sheet, for example, by molding or blanking, and then folded to conform to the shape of the shoe structure 1, as Figure 5 shown, or obtained by molding into the final three-dimensional shape.

[0037] Advantageously, the thickness of the mesh traction element 4 can vary between about 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm depending on the desired restraint and resilience effects.

[0038] The mesh traction element 4 covers the entire lower part of the sole body 3, extends vertically to accommodate the peripheral edge of the sole body 3, and at least partially wraps around the lower edge of the peripheral wall of the upper 2, as Figure 1 shown.

[0039] The mesh traction element 4, the main central anti-slip surface, and the edge portion are connected to the sole body 3 and the upper 2, for example, by gluing with a suitable adhesive to the lower surface of the support element 9, or, in the case where a second midsole 12 is provided, to the lower surface of the second midsole 12.

[0040] The mesh traction element 4 forms the mesh outsole 4 of the shoe structure 1, which is reinstalled on the sole body 3 and the upper 2.

[0041] Furthermore, the lower surface of the mesh traction element 4, i.e., the surface that contacts the ground during use, includes a plurality of protrusions 13 that are distributed in the plane of the main central anti-slip surface and project towards the ground to improve the grip of the shoe structure 1 on the ground, also known as "traction".

[0042] The combination and synergistic effect of the support element 9 and the mesh traction element 4 impart better stability to the shoe structure 1, thanks to the stabilizing effect provided by the mesh traction element 4. If there is a pair of wings 11 to support the upper 2, it can also keep the foot in the correct position during walking or running and limit the deformation of the upper 2 itself.

[0043] In addition, during the use of the shoe structure 1, when the user loads their own weight onto the sole body 3, the inner midsole 7 and the outer second midsole 12 (if present) are compressed along the vertical axis, causing them to expand in the horizontal plane. This expansion movement is resisted and restricted by the grid-like traction element 4 and a pair of wings 11, thereby generating the above-mentioned stabilizing effect and restricting the lateral deformation of the shoe structure 1. In addition, during walking or running, the bending deformation of the sole body 3 along the longitudinal axis causes similar deformations of the support element 9 and the grid-like traction element 4. Due to the combined action of the elastic bending deformations of the grid-like traction element 4, the support element 9, and a pair of wings 11 in the lateral and longitudinal directions, the stored energy returns to the shoe structure 1 after the above-mentioned deformation action is released, generating elastic energy feedback, promoting walking or running, and thus reducing foot fatigue or improving the energy efficiency of the shoe structure 1 under the same performance.

[0044] According to the present invention, another advantage of the shoe structure 1 is its easy adaptability to uneven terrain and ground roughness, which is due to the elastic deformability of the grid-like traction element 4, and different regions thereof can deform independently of each other according to the terrain configuration.

[0045] In addition, the grid-like traction element 4 also protects the side walls of the shoe upper 2 close to the ground (these areas are more prone to tearing and wear), thereby reducing the wear in these areas and further extending the service life of the shoe structure 1.

[0046] Of course, the present invention can be applied to various situations and can be subject to various modifications or variations without exceeding the scope of protection defined by the claims. In addition, the materials and equipment used in implementing the present invention, as well as the shapes and sizes of the various components, can be selected as the most suitable according to specific requirements.

[0047] List of reference numerals

[0048] 1 Shoe structure

[0049] 2 Shoe upper

[0050] 3 Sole body

[0051] 30 Bottom surface

[0052] 4 Grid-like traction element (grid outsole, grid-like, flexible)

[0053] 40 Main central anti-slip surface

[0054] 41 Edge part

[0055] 5 Opening

[0056] 6 Lacing device

[0057] 7 Midsole

[0058] 8 Upper surface of the midsole

[0059] 9 Support element (elastically deformable elastomer)

[0060] 10 Recess

[0061] 11 Wing

[0062] 12 Second midsole

Claims

1. A shoe structure (1), comprising: An upper (2) having a flexible body that defines a cavity with an opening (5) for receiving a user's foot; And A sole body (3) having a midsole (7) with an upper surface (8) connected to the upper (2) to support the sole of the user's foot, Characterized in that: The shoe structure (1) includes an elastically deformable support element (9) fixed below the lower part of the upper (2) away from the opening (5) and facing the ground, forming part of the sole body (3); and A traction element (4) constructed in a grid pattern and connected to the bottom surface of the sole body (3), the traction element including a main central anti-slip surface (40) fixed below the center of the sole body (3) and an edge portion (41) that at least partially wraps the outer edge of the sole body (3) and the lower edge of the upper (2), Wherein, the grid-like traction element (4) is adapted to limit the deformation of the upper (2) and the sole body (3) during the use of the shoe structure (1), and cooperate with the elastically deformable support element (9) to elastically return the energy stored due to the elastic deformation of the grid-like traction element (4) and the support element (9) to the user's foot during the use of the shoe structure (1).

2. The shoe structure according to claim 1, wherein, The traction element (4) covers the entire lower part of the sole body (3), extends vertically to accommodate the peripheral edge of the sole body (3), and at least partially wraps the lower edge of the peripheral wall of the upper (2).

3. The shoe structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The traction element (4) is directly fixed to the lower surface of the support element (9).

4. The shoe structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The grid-like traction element (4) is made of a flexible elastomeric material, such as rubber, a thermoplastic material such as ethylene-vinyl acetate.

5. The shoe structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The grid-like traction element (4) is made of a flat material and then folded to partially conform to the shapes of the sole body (3) and the upper (2).

6. The shoe structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The thickness of the grid-like traction element (4) is between 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm.

7. The shoe structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein The grid-like traction element (4) includes a plurality of protrusions (13) distributed in the plane of the main central anti-slip surface and protruding in the direction of the ground.

8. The shoe structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one midsole (7) is adapted to be received inside the upper (2), and a second midsole (12) is fixed below the support element (9), forming part of the sole body (3), and the grid-like traction element (4) at least partially wraps the lower parts of the sole body (3) and the upper (2).

9. The shoe structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The support element (9) is made of carbon material or other materials with equivalent properties.

10. The shoe structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The support element (9) is provided with one or more grooves (10) adapted to elastically deform.

11. The shoe structure according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The support element (9) has a pair of wings (11) provided at positions corresponding to the side regions of the upper (2) to wrap the heel region, and one of the pair of wings (11) extends from the support element (9) to the side wall of the upper (2) on each side.

12. The shoe structure according to claim 11, wherein, The pair of wings (11) is integrally formed with the support element (9).

13. The shoe structure according to claim 11, wherein, The pair of wings (11) is formed by a separate element connected to the support element (9).

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