Shoe with hanging structure

Abstract

A shoe (10) comprising: an upper (20) comprising a flexible body defining a cavity; the sole main body (30) comprises at least one midsole (31) which is connected with the vamp (20) so as to support the sole of a user; a suspension structure (40) comprising a plurality of elastic suspension elements defining respective separate and separate ground support surfaces (42), each of said suspension elements elastically deforming independently of one another, providing better adaptability to uneven terrains and improved stability and grip during sports or normal walking activities. This is achieved by forming a single suspension element into a one-piece suspension bracket (41), said suspension bracket configuration being adapted to at least partially wrap the underside edge of the bottom region (22) of the upper (20) and being arranged one behind the other along the entire circumference of the upper (20), with each suspension bracket (41) surrounding or wrapping the midsole (31) and the upper (20) at least partially along the circumference of the upper (20).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to shoes, and more particularly but not limited to shoes suitable for sports activities such as running or jogging, said shoes comprising: an upper including a flexible body defining a cavity; a sole body including at least one midsole connected to the upper to support the user's foot sole; and a suspension structure including a plurality of suspension elements defining respective independent and separate ground support surfaces, the suspension elements being elastically deformable independently of each other; the use of suspension elements for attachment to the upper, and a plurality of suspension brackets. Background Art

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

[0003] In most traditional shoes, the sole includes a rigid body as a tread surface configured to have wear resistance; and a softer midsole having a cushioning function to provide greater comfort to the user. However, if the sole as a whole is too rigid, it will not be able to effectively adapt to uneven ground and may even cause injuries to the user's lower limbs, such as sprains; on the contrary, if the sole is too soft, it may exacerbate the user's varus deformity, resulting in instability and motion control problems.

[0004] Document US2006 / 137220 shows a sports shoe including an upper connected to a midsole and a suspension structure designed to support the midsole, the suspension structure including a plurality of substantially vertical elements or columns located at the periphery of the heel portion, each element or column having an elastic middle section and a ground contact surface. Each column of the suspension structure is arranged and configured to be elastically deformable independently of adjacent columns to jointly provide flexible support for the shoe.

[0005] However, the suspension structure as described above only slightly solves the above problems. In fact, the columns constituting the structure are not limited to the heel area and are substantially integrally formed with the midsole and can only deform in the vertical direction and be compressed within themselves, so its ability to adapt to the ground is limited. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The main task of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a shoe, and more particularly but not limited to a sports shoe, having a suspension structure capable of better adapting to uneven terrain and improving stability and grip during sports or normal walking activities.

[0007] In the context of the above task, an object of the present invention is to provide a shoe equipped with a suspension structure that can optimize the transmission of the user's leg force to the ground, making the shoe reliable and precise.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe equipped with a suspension structure that can protect the shoe upper from tearing and abrasion, thereby reducing abrasion and tearing, and further extending the service life of the shoe.

[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe equipped with a suspension structure that promotes a smoother rolling of the foot.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe equipped with a suspension structure to improve the overall comfort of the user.

[0011] Last but not least, the goal is to design a shoe that can achieve the above tasks and objectives at a competitive cost and can be realized by commonly used and well-known machinery, factories, and equipment.

[0012] The above tasks and objectives, as well as other tasks and objectives that will become more apparent in the following description, are achieved by the shoe defined in claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of specific but non-exclusive embodiments, by way of non-limiting example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0014] Figure 1 The shoe according to the present invention is shown in perspective view;

[0015] Figure 2 is shown in exploded view Figure 1 the said shoe;

[0016] Figure 3 is shown in exploded view a partially assembled shoe according to the present invention to show its preferred embodiment;

[0017] Figure 4 The shoe according to the present invention is shown in a bottom-up plan view;

[0018] Figure 5 The elements constituting the suspension structure of the shoe of the present invention are shown in side view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Referring to the attached Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown is a shoe 10 according to the present invention, particularly including a shoe upper 20, a sole body 30, and a suspension structure 40.

[0020] The terms "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc. will be used in the following description; those skilled in the art will be able to understand that these terms refer to the positions of the shoe 10 when in its normal working position (i.e., when in use), as shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0021] The upper 20 includes a flexible hollow body, shaped to accommodate the user's foot and provided for this purpose with a top opening 21 for putting on the shoe 10.

[0022] Preferably, the upper 20 is made using a "knitting" technique, i.e., it has a sock-like flexible structure, formed by thermoforming a single seamless knitted fabric tube on a knitting machine. However, other types of uppers can also be used, made of materials most suitable for the intended use.

[0023] For the sake of description, the upper 20 can be divided into three regions, named according to their position relative to the user's foot: Specifically, as Figure 2 better observed, the upper 20 defines a forefoot region 23, corresponding to the part of the upper 20 located above the user's toes and including the toe P of the shoe; a midfoot region 24, corresponding to the part of the upper 20 located above the middle of the user's foot; and a hindfoot region 25, corresponding to the part of the upper 20 located near the heel T of the shoe 10.

[0024] In addition, the upper 20 includes a bottom region 22, corresponding to the part of the shoe located under the user's sole.

[0025] The upper 20 also defines an inner side (not shown in the figures) and an outer side 26, both extending on opposite sides of the foot, from the toe P to the heel T, through the respective regions 23 to 25.

[0026] Preferably, the upper 20 is equipped with a known, preferably releasable type of lacing device 50, preferably provided at its top, preferably located in the midfoot region 24 and near the opening 21; the lacing device 50 is adapted to adjust the size of the internal cavity defined by the upper 20 to fit the shape of the user's foot and facilitates the insertion and removal of the foot relative thereto.

[0027] The sole body 30 includes at least one midsole 31, adapted to be connected to the upper 20 to support the user's sole. Preferably, the midsole 31 is formed by inclined elements, whose configuration substantially replicates the contour of the user's sole and is made of a preferably flexible material, preferably having a hardness between 47 and 53 ShC (according to ISO 868), capable of providing comfort to the user and effectively cushioning impacts during walking or running. Preferably, the midsole 31 includes a thermoplastic elastomer, most preferably a polyamide elastic material such as polyether block amide (PEBA).

[0028] As Figure 3As better shown, the midsole 31 is received inside the upper 20, introduced into the cavity defined by the upper through the top opening 21, and positioned at the corresponding bottom region 22, where it is preferably glued; thus, in use, the upper surface 31A of the midsole 31 contacts the user's sole.

[0029] Alternatively, the midsole 31 can be restricted outside the upper 20, i.e., its lower outer part, so as not to directly contact the user's foot during use.

[0030] The thickness of the midsole 31 can vary according to the different regions that support the sole: in particular, preferably, in the heel T region of the shoe 10, the midsole 31 has a greater thickness, for example, about 21 millimeters; while in the forefoot region, its thickness is smaller, for example, about 15 millimeters.

[0031] In a particular embodiment, the sole body 30 further comprises a support element 32 that is as light but rigid as possible, for example, made of carbon or other materials that combine rigid and lightweight characteristics, adapted to be connected to the lower part and advantageously the outer part of the upper 20 or the midsole 31 (if the latter is mounted outside the upper 20), for example, by gluing, aimed at supporting the central part of the user's sole and effectively transmitting the force to the suspension structure 40 below.

[0032] The support element 32 preferably has a thickness of about 1 millimeter, and its shape preferably basically replicates the shape of the user's foot. In addition, it can be provided with one or more grooves 33 or incisions to facilitate its deformation so as to follow the movement of the user's foot.

[0033] Importantly, the suspension structure 40 is connected to the side of the upper 20 opposite to the upper opening 21 and comprises a plurality of elastic suspension brackets 41, each suspension bracket 41 defining a corresponding independent and separate ground support surface 42.

[0034] The suspension brackets 41 are arranged side by side in sequence along the entire perimeter of the upper 20, and the bodies of each elastic suspension bracket 41 are spaced apart from each other by inserting into the corresponding plurality of free gaps 43, as Figure 4 shown, so that each elastic suspension bracket 41 can elastically deform independently of other elastic suspension brackets.

[0035] Therefore, these elastic suspension brackets 41 are adapted to compress to slow down the ground reaction force, and the gaps 43 alternately arranged with the elastic suspension brackets 41 allow the suspension structure 40 to bend, cooperating with the natural bending of the foot during the rolling process.

[0036] All the suspension brackets 41 are separated from each other by the free spaces 43 between adjacent suspension brackets 41.

[0037] The suspension bracket 41 is a one-piece molded component, with the number of settings being more than four, and it completely surrounds the upper 20 and the sole body 30 and is distributed relative to the ground. All the suspension brackets 41 are respectively fixed to the ground-facing parts of the upper 20 or the sole body 30 by gluing or welding. Each suspension bracket 41 at least partially surrounds the upper 20 and the sole body 30. More preferably, at least eight and at most sixteen suspension brackets 41 are installed along the perimeter of the upper 20 and the sole body 30.

[0038] The suspension bracket 41 covers the upper 20 and is irreversibly fixed to its sides and bottom, thereby partially supporting the upper 20 and forming a plane for stepping on through the ground support surface 42.

[0039] Preferably, as Figure 5 shown, each suspension bracket 41 has a structure adapted to at least partially cover the lower edge of the upper 20 and / or a part of the midsole 31 and / or the peripheral edge of the support element 32. The suspension bracket 41 shown in the figure is placed on the ground G, and the schematic positions of the upper 20, the midsole 31, and the support element 32 are illustrated.

[0040] Specifically, each suspension bracket 41 has a structure substantially in an "L" shape or a "C" shape, or a similar "bracket" shape, which is defined by a first arm 41A (or lower arm) and a second arm 41B (or upper arm). The first arm 41A (or lower arm) is adapted to be connected to the corresponding part of the peripheral edge of the bottom area 22 of the upper 20 located under the sole of the foot, and the second arm 41B (or upper arm) is adapted to be connected to the corresponding part of the lower peripheral edge of the upper 20, and may also be connected to the corresponding part of the midsole 31 and is continuously connected to the first arm 41A. All the suspension brackets 41 should be manufactured in one piece.

[0041] The outer surface of the first arm 41A, that is, the ground-facing surface of the first arm 41A, defines the support surface 42 of the elastic suspension bracket 41. The support surfaces 42 of all the elastic suspension brackets 41 together form the stepping surface of the shoe 10. The support surface 42 can be the rough, patterned, or knurled part of the surface of the suspension bracket 41, and / or the support surface formed by an additional material layer 42 attached. This additional material layer 42 can be processed onto the outer surface of the first arm 41A by molding, attachment, or other means to improve the adhesion to the ground, thereby enhancing the traction of the shoe 10.

[0042] Preferably, the thickness D1 of the first arm 41A is between 23 mm and 36 mm; advantageously, the thickness D1 of the corresponding first arm 41A of the elastic suspension bracket 41 near the toe P of the shoe 10 is less than the thickness D1 of the corresponding first arm 41A of the elastic suspension bracket 41 in the heel region T. Preferably, the thickness D2 of the second arm 41B is between 8 mm and 12 mm, and the thickness D2 of all the suspension brackets 41 is always less than its thickness D1 to achieve sufficient flexibility to at least partially surround or wrap the support element 32 and the bottom region 22 of the upper 20.

[0043] The length L1 of the first arm 41A of the suspension bracket 41 is between 30 mm and 55 mm, while the length L2 of the second arm 41B is between 25 mm and 65 mm; the lengths L1 and L2 of the arms 41A, 41B can vary according to the position of the suspension bracket 41 around the perimeter of the upper 20. In addition, the dimensions of the arms 41A, 41B can also vary according to the size of the shoe to which they are attached.

[0044] Preferably, each elastic suspension bracket 41 is made of a single material, which is advantageously a polymeric material with high durability and wear resistance, and its hardness is preferably between 57 and 63 ShC (according to ISO 868 standard). For example, the elastic suspension bracket 41 can be made of thermoplastic foam material, preferably ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or other polymeric materials, possibly used in combination with rubber.

[0045] Preferably, the elastic suspension brackets 41 are arranged at equal intervals along the perimeter of the upper 20, separated from each other by inserting a corresponding plurality of free gaps 43. The free gaps 43 can have the same width to provide higher stability; however, it is also possible to insert a corresponding plurality of free gaps 43 with variable widths so that the elastic integral suspension brackets 41 are arranged more closely or more sparsely in certain areas of the upper 20 to achieve specific functions, such as correcting overpronation, enhancing the buffering effect, or promoting a natural rolling motion.

[0046] In addition, for the same purpose, these elastic suspension brackets 41 should be made of EVA or other polymeric materials with different densities to impart different mechanical properties according to their arrangement on the shoe.

[0047] Generally, at least a pair of adjacent elastic suspension brackets 41 are used, and the adjacent elastic suspension brackets 41 are connected by a connecting bridge 44, which extends into the corresponding free gap 43 between the adjacent suspension brackets 41 to facilitate assembly on the upper 20; advantageously, all or part of the suspension brackets 41 can be connected by the corresponding connecting bridges 44.

[0048] It is also possible to directly connect two adjacent suspension brackets 41 in the heel T or toe P area of the shoe upper 20.

[0049] In summary, it can be clearly seen from the above that the present invention achieves the originally envisaged objectives and advantages. In fact, a shoe with a suspension structure has been designed, which is configured to be able to adapt to uneven terrain and improve stability and grip during sports or normal walking activities.

[0050] In fact, thanks to the shape and arrangement of the elastic suspension brackets 41 in the suspension structure 40, these brackets can deform independently of each other in multiple directions and even tilt relative to the ground, thus improving the stability of the shoe 10 and enabling it to effectively adapt to the shape of the ground.

[0051] It also promotes a smoother roll of the foot while maintaining a high degree of flexibility in the forefoot area.

[0052] Furthermore, thanks to the great flexibility in the arrangement of the elastic suspension brackets 41 in the suspension structure 40, and the possibility of diversifying their dimensions and / or using materials with different mechanical properties according to their arrangement on the shoe, different requirements can be met. For example, it is foreseeable to use materials with good shock-absorbing capabilities in the heel area and harder materials that can provide greater support in the midfoot area to support varus feet.

[0053] The characteristic "L" - shaped or "C" - shaped configuration of the elastic suspension brackets 41, which at least partially wraps the lower edge of the shoe upper 20, can also protect the shoe upper 20 itself from tearing and abrasion, thus reducing abrasion and tearing and extending the service life of the shoe.

[0054] Advantageously, the rigid sole body 30 or at least the support element 32 allows the forces generated by the wearer's foot / leg system to be directly transmitted in a diagonal direction to the lateral elastic suspension brackets 41, thereby providing stability, precision, and reliability to the shoe 10 during movement.

[0055] In addition, since the sole body 30 does not form a tread surface, this allows the midsole 31 to use a particularly soft material to provide better user comfort and ensure proper shock - absorbing effects. The required tread surface properties, such as abrasion resistance and grip, can be ensured by appropriately selecting the materials, shapes, dimensions, and arrangements of the elastic suspension brackets 41 and the ground support surface 42.

[0056] List of reference numerals

[0057] T Heel

[0058] P Toe

[0059] G Ground

[0060] 10 Shoe

[0061] 20 vamp

[0062] 21 top opening

[0063] 22 bottom region

[0064] 23 forefoot region

[0065] 24 midfoot region

[0066] 25 hindfoot region

[0067] 26 outer side

[0068] 30 sole body

[0069] 31 midsole

[0070] 31A upper surface

[0071] 32 support element

[0072] 33 groove or notch

[0073] 40 suspension structure

[0074] 41 suspension bracket

[0075] 41A first arm

[0076] 41B second arm

[0077] D1 thickness of 41A

[0078] D2 thickness of 41B

[0079] L1 length

[0080] L2 length

[0081] 42 ground support surface

[0082] 43 free clearance

[0083] 44 connecting bridge

[0084] 50 lacing device

Claims

1. Shoe (10), comprising: An upper (20), which includes a flexible body defining a cavity; A sole body (30), which includes at least one midsole (31) connected to the upper (20) to support the user's sole; And A suspension structure (40), which includes a plurality of suspension elements that define corresponding independent and separate ground support surfaces (42), and each of the suspension elements elastically deforms independently of each other; Characterized in that: The single suspension element forms an integral suspension bracket (41), the configuration of which is adapted to at least partially wrap the lower edge of the bottom region (22) of the upper (20) and is arranged sequentially along the entire perimeter of the upper (20), wherein each suspension bracket (41) at least partially surrounds or wraps the perimeter of the midsole (31) and the upper (20) along the perimeter of the upper (20).

2. The shoe (10) according to claim 1, wherein each of the suspension brackets (41) comprises: A first arm (41A), which is adapted to be connected to a corresponding part of the peripheral edge of the bottom region (22) of the upper (20), and the bottom region (22) is connected with a support element (32); and a second arm (41B), which is adapted to be connected to a corresponding part of the bottom side edge of the upper (20) and is connected to the outer side surface of the upper (20).

3. The shoe (10) according to claim 2, wherein the outer part of the first arm (41A) of the suspension bracket (41) defines a support surface (42), such that all the support surfaces (42) of the plurality of suspension brackets (41) together form the stepping surface of the shoe (10).

4. The shoe (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the thickness (D1) of the corresponding first arm (41A) of the suspension bracket (41) in the part of the suspension structure (40) near the toe (P) of the shoe (10) is less than the thickness (D1) of the corresponding first arm (41A) of the suspension bracket (41) in the part of the heel region (T).

5. The shoe (10) according to any one of the above claims, wherein the suspension bracket (41) is made of a foamed polymer material.

6. The shoe (10) according to any one of the above claims, wherein the support surface (42) is formed by a rough, patterned or knurled part of the surface of the suspension bracket (41) and / or an additional attached material layer (42) for each support surface (42).

7. The shoe (10) according to any one of the above claims, wherein the suspension bracket (41) is made of polymer materials with different densities to endow different mechanical properties according to the arrangement on the shoe product.

8. The shoe (10) according to any one of the above claims, wherein the suspension brackets (41) are arranged at uniform intervals along the perimeter of the upper (20), and are separated from each other by inserting corresponding multiple free gaps (43) with uniform and / or variable widths.

9. The shoe (10) according to claim 8, wherein at least one pair of adjacent suspension brackets (41) are connected by a connecting bridge (44) extending into the corresponding free gap (43) between the adjacent suspension brackets (41).

10. The shoe (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper (20) is made by a "knitting" technique and presents a flexible sock-like structure obtained by thermoforming a seamless knitted fabric tube.

11. The shoe (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the midsole (31) is adapted to be received inside the upper (20) and comprises a thermoplastic elastomer, most preferably a polyamide elastomer material such as polyether block amide PEBA.

12. The shoe (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suspension brackets (41) are single-piece elements, provided in a number greater than four and at most sixteen, and are distributed entirely around the upper (20) and the sole body (30) with respect to the ground, at least partially surrounding or wrapping the midsole (31) and the upper (20).

13. The shoe (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suspension brackets (41) are glued or welded to the parts of the upper (20) and the sole body (30) facing the ground, at least partially surrounding the upper (20) and the sole body (30).

14. A suspension element for attachment to the upper (20) of a shoe (10), wherein the suspension element forms an integral suspension bracket (41) configured to at least partially wrap around the lower edge of the bottom region (22) of the upper (20), and each suspension bracket (41) comprises: A first arm (41A), which is adapted to be connected to a corresponding part of the peripheral edge of the bottom region (22), the bottom region (22) being connected to a support element (32); and a second arm (41B), which is adapted to be connected to a corresponding part of the bottom-side edge of the upper (20) and is connected to the outer side of the upper (20).

15. Use of a plurality of suspension brackets (41) according to claim 14, which are fixed to the peripheral edge of the bottom region (22) of the upper (20) and at least partially surround or wrap the support element (32) of the shoe (10) and the bottom region (22) of the upper (20).

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