Footwear inserts or midsoles

Abstract

Footwear comprising a sole (12) and a midsole (10) arranged to be in contact with a user's foot (15) and having a structure (14) made of an elastomer, the midsole (10) having a series of zones or regions (11A, 11B, 11C) corresponding to hollowing out of the lower profile of the midsole (10) arranged to be in contact with the sole (12) corresponding to a series of spaces (13) of predetermined height formed between the structure (14) and the sole (12).

Description

explanation

[0001] The present invention relates to an insert or midsole, preferably molded in a particular way to be joined to a sole for footwear, which may be inserted into any footwear or into a similar article that is itself inserted into footwear, such as an inner shoe for a ski boot.

[0002] The structural composition of the insert according to the invention allows for cushioning of the user's weight and / or shocks or impacts, resulting in foot comfort whether during long periods of standing or while walking or running.

[0003] The insert is in particular made of one or more thermoplastic elastomers with specific structures for different parts of the foot.

[0004] The technical and geometric properties of the thermoplastic elastomers used allow the cushioning function and the resulting comfort of the user to be obtained, since the adverse effects of impacts on the rounded parts of the bottom of the foot in contact with the ground and flat surfaces are significantly reduced, thus ensuring a high level of comfort for the feet, both statically when standing for hours, and dynamically when walking or running.

[0005] There are currently a variety of buffer systems or systems on the market for recirculating air internally and pumping air externally.

[0006] With reference to the above mentioned systems, all of these systems are made with specific details such as purposely designed soles, the use of water repellent membranes, and / or various pump elements such as air chambers and / or plastic trays to achieve specific functions, for example cushioning and temperature regulation functions inside the footwear by recirculating the internal air.

[0007] All of these solutions impose expensive components due to the need for specialized equipment and / or complex and expensive manufacturing processes.

[0008] Other shock absorbing, resilient, and vibration dampening materials are also known that may be used in the construction of sports skates and / or footwear.

[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the above mentioned technical drawbacks and in particular to create an insert or midsole for footwear which is able to significantly reduce the adverse effects of impacts on the rounded parts of the bottom of the foot in contact with the ground and flat surfaces, thus ensuring high comfort for the user's feet, both statically when standing for hours and dynamically when walking or running.

[0010] Preferably, in practice, the midsole is hollowed out or cut in areas of predetermined anatomical shape to achieve a high level of comfort for the user's foot in both static conditions (when the user is standing still for a period of time) and dynamic conditions (while the user is walking or running).

[0011] The particular anatomical shape of the cut out areas described above, which conform to the bottom of the user's foot with rounded protruding portions, determines foot health and comfort in a variety of situations.

[0012] In effect, an interface is created between the sole of the footwear and the protruding rounded portion, which interface partially collapses under the weight and movement of the user, cushioning the user's impact.

[0013] Further features and advantages of the insert or midsole for footwear according to the invention will become more apparent from the following description of exemplary preferred but non-limiting embodiments of the insert object of the invention and the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 shows a top view of an insert or midsole made in accordance with the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 shows a cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention made along line A-A', where the insert is inserted into a shoe worn by a user. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention taken along line B-B', where the insert is inserted into a shoe worn by a user. [Figure 4] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention taken along line CC', where the insert is inserted into a shoe worn by a user. [Diagram 5] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention made along line D-D', where the insert is inserted into a shoe worn by a user. [Figure 6] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention taken along line E-E', where the insert is inserted into a shoe worn by a user. [Figure 7] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention taken along line F-F', where the insert is inserted into a shoe worn by a user. [Figure 8] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention made along line G-G', where the insert is inserted into a shoe worn by a user. [Figure 9] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention made along line H-H', where the insert is inserted into a shoe worn by a user. [Figure 10] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention taken along line M-M'. [Figure 11] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention taken along line N-N'. [Figure 12] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an insert according to the invention taken along line O-O'. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0015] With reference to the above figures, an insert or midsole according to the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and is sandwiched within the shoe between the sole 12 and the user's foot 15 .

[0016] The midsole 10, having a structure 14 preferably made of elastomer, in particular EVA, provides a series of zones or regions 11A, 11B, 11C in which the lower profile of the midsole 10, arranged in contact with the sole 12, is hollowed out to create a series of hollow spaces 13 of predetermined height between the elastomeric structure 14 of the midsole 10 and the sole 12.

[0017] In particular, the zones 11A, 11B, 11C in which the hollowing out of the midsole 10 is carried out correspond to the anterior and medial plantar fascia, as well as to the heel region (Figures 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8), while the plantar fascia located between zones 11A and 11B (Figure 3), the fascia substantially corresponding to the cambril 21 of the footwear (Figure 6), and the posterior fascia relative to the heel region (Figure 9) are substantially free.

[0018] Even more specifically, the hollowing is carried out along the lateral direction of the midsole 10, resulting in a hollow space 13 having an approximately rectangular geometric shape and increasing or decreasing the height between the longitudinal axis of the midsole 10 and the lateral ends of zones 11A, 11B, 11C.

[0019] Preferably, corresponding to the first front zone 11A of the midsole 10, two portions 16, 17 are provided in which the hollowing out of the elastomeric structure 14 facing the sole 12 is carried out by obtaining a hollow space 13, the height of which presents a curved and asymmetrical run on both sides relative to the longitudinal axis of the midsole 10 (Figure 2).

[0020] Similarly, corresponding to the second central zone 11B of the midsole 10, two other portions 18, 19 are provided in which hollowing out of the elastomeric structure 14 facing the sole 12 is carried out by obtaining hollow spaces 13, the height of these portions presenting a curved and asymmetrical course on both sides relative to the longitudinal axis of the midsole (Figures 4, 5).

[0021] Finally, corresponding to the heel of the user's foot 15, hollowed-out portions 20 of the elastomeric structure 14 facing the sole 12 are provided by obtaining hollow spaces 13, the height of which presents a curved and symmetrical run on both sides relative to the longitudinal axis of the midsole 10 (Figures 7, 8).

[0022] Moreover, again preferably, the height of cavity space 13 is greater in sections 18, 19, and 20 than in sections 16 and 17 (FIGS. 10-12).

[0023] The midsole structure 10 thus realized allows advantageous cushioning of the bottom rounded portion of the user's foot 15 in contact with the ground and flat surfaces, with a beneficial effect on the user's comfort, both statically when standing for hours, and dynamically when walking or running.

[0024] The invention thus conceived and exemplified herein is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

[0025] Moreover, all the details may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0026] Finally, the components used can be any according to the requirements and the state of the art, as long as they fit the specific application and dimensions.

[0027] When features and techniques described in any claim are followed by reference marks, those reference marks are included solely for the purpose of enhancing the comprehension of the claim, and therefore, those reference marks do not have a limiting effect on the interpretation of the respective elements identified as examples by those reference marks.

Claims

1. A footwear, comprising a midsole (10) having a sole (12) and a structure (14) arranged to contact the user's foot (15) and made of an elastomer, wherein a lower profile of the midsole (10) arranged to contact the sole (12) has a series of zones or regions (11A, 11B, 11C) corresponding to a series of spaces (13) of a predetermined height formed between the structure (14) and the sole (12), and corresponding to a first zone or region (11A) of the zones or regions, there are two first parts (16, 17) corresponding to the space (13) being provided within the structure (14), and the space (13) has a height having a curved and asymmetric course on one side and the other side with respect to the longitudinal axis of the midsole (10).

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the zones or regions (11A, 11B, 11C) correspond to the front, central plantar region and heel region of the user's foot (15).

3. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the space (13) has a substantially rectangular geometric shape, and the height between the longitudinal axis of the midsole (10) and the lateral ends of the zones or regions (11A, 11B, 11C) is increased or decreased.

4. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein corresponding to a second zone or region (11B) of the zones or regions (11A, 11B, 11C), there are two second parts (18, 19) corresponding to the space (13) being provided within the structure (14).

5. The footwear according to claim 4, wherein the space (13) has a height having a curved and asymmetric trend on one side and the other side with respect to the longitudinal axis of the midsole (10).

6. Corresponding to the third zone or region (11C) of the zones or regions (11A, 11B, 11C), there is a third portion (20) corresponding to the space (13) being provided within the structure (14), and the height of the third portion (20) has a curved and symmetric course on both sides with respect to the longitudinal axis of the midsole (10). The footwear according to claim 1, characterized in that.

7. The footwear according to claim 4 or 6, characterized in that the space (13) has a height corresponding to second and third portions (18, 19, 20) that are larger than the two first portions (16, 17).

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