Footwear with multi-layer cushioning

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide footwear that has excellent absorption of pressure or impact from above, is adequately received by the insole portion, is adequately supported by the outsole portion, and provides rebound force when used for physical activity, comprising an upper body portion that covers the side of the user's foot from the sole to the top of the instep, an insole portion that provides a place for the user's foot to rest and supports the load applied by the user, and an outsole portion that is the lower outer part of the shoe that is in direct contact with the ground surface on which the shoe is used.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to footwear having multiple layers on both the insole and the outsole, and more particularly to sports shoes designed to provide comfort and reliability in cushioning impacts during sports activities. The sole portion of this footwear is composed of several layers of foam components that can attenuate the impact and pressure from the wearer's foot and can also provide a reactive force (bounce) to the user. The footwear described herein includes various types of shoes, sandals, and hybrid shoe-sandals.

Background Art

[0002] Footwear typically consists of at least three main parts, including an upper part that covers the foot and the area above it, an insole that is part of the sole in contact with the sole of the foot, and an outsole that serves as a cover for the sole. Various developments have been made for these three main parts. Developments are being made to meet the needs for shoes that are comfortable, protective, and durable. In terms of comfort, which is also one of the objectives of the present invention, there is no prior art that can provide complete comfort to the wearer, especially when using shoes for a certain period of time while standing, or during sports activities such as walking, running, or a combination of both.

[0003] The present invention mainly focuses on the development of the insole, and there has been no prior art that truly addresses the fatigue and pain caused by standing in shoes for a long time and provides a reactive force to the user, especially users of sports footwear. As is well known, shoes used in sports such as running, brisk walking, badminton, volleyball, basketball, etc. not only effectively cushion the downward pressure and absorb the impact from below or from the sole of the foot when the user's foot touches the floor or ground, but also provide sufficient reactive force, resulting in a need for shoes that make the user feel comfortable, reduce fatigue, and assist in movement.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to provide footwear that has excellent absorption capabilities against pressure or impact (pound) from above, which is effectively absorbed by the insole and appropriately supported by the outsole, while also providing rebound force when used in sports activities.

[0005] Furthermore, the present invention also encompasses components used to form insoles and outsoles that are truly comfortable and have excellent cushioning. Footwear according to the present invention includes: An upper body section with side walls that cover the user's foot from the sole to the ankle and above the ankle; The insole portion that functions as a resting place for the user's soles and supports the load applied by the user; and The outsole is the outer part of the bottom of the shoe that comes into direct contact with the ground surface on which the shoe is used.

[0006] Furthermore, the present invention focuses more on developing an insole portion that provides a more comfortable insole and can not only absorb pressure from above but also bounce upward. The insole portion of footwear according to the present invention includes the following, from top to bottom: The sole layer that comes into direct contact with the user's sole; A layer of air pockets that can cushion impacts from above; Middle layer; A molded cup insole for the insole that is molded to fit the user's foot and also serves to enhance the stability of the body posture while standing and walking, and includes: and A stabilizer layer that provides rebound force to the user; Layers of front absorber and rear absorber; and An outsole layer comprising a front recess for accommodating a front absorption layer and a rear recess for accommodating a rear absorption layer.

[0007] The molded cup insole of the shoe consists of several cushioning layers designed to absorb weight and impact from above.

[0008] Thus, all components of footwear, both in the insole and outsole, have been described. The arrangement and use of pressure-absorbing and rebounding layers are of paramount importance. Therefore, in this invention, the arrangement of the rebounding (bounce) layer plays a crucial role. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] The present invention further includes illustrative drawings as an example of the disclosure of the present invention. Here: [Figure 1] This diagram illustrates the layers of the insole of a sports shoe. [Figure 2] This figure illustrates the layers of the outsole according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure illustrates the layers of an actual insole according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The present invention will be further described in reference to the accompanying drawings provided herein. These drawings are purely illustrative and intended to facilitate understanding of the invention, and are not intended to limit the invention. Reference numerals in the drawings are for illustrative purposes only, and the use of arrows without reference numerals indicates the direction of mounting, connection, or insertion of the depicted components.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, referring first to Figure 1, the layer structure of the insole portion following the upper portion (41-43) of the footwear is shown, which, viewed from top to bottom, includes at least the following: Base layer (21) that directly contacts the soles of the user's feet; A layer of air pockets (22) that can cushion impacts from above; Intermediate inner layer (23); A molded cup insole (24) that is molded to fit the user's foot and also serves to enhance the stability of the body's posture while standing and walking: and A stabilizer layer (25) that provides rebound force to the user; Front cushion layer (52) and rear cushion layer (51); and An outsole layer (7) having a front recess (72) for accommodating a front cushioning layer (52) and a rear recess (71) for accommodating a rear cushioning layer (51) on its upper surface.

[0012] The molded cup insole (24) of the insole consists of several cushioning layers designed to absorb weight and impact from above.

[0013] Returning to the accompanying drawings provided herein, it is clear from Figure 1 that the insole includes: A textile liner (21) preferably made of natural leather material functions as a soft, cushioned pad that comes into direct contact with the user's sole. The textile liner (21) can reduce slipperiness during use. The surface of the leather layer that comes into contact with the user's sole is made smooth and uniform to enhance long-term comfort and prevent heat buildup and odor. The natural leather layer is preferably perforated for air circulation and preferably has a thickness of about 0.8 mm; A layer of air pockets (22), preferably having an air pocket in the center, wrapped in a 0.3 mm thick mica sheet (31); A cushioning layer (23) designed to absorb impact (pounding) in the midfoot; The molded cup insole (24), also known as a performance insole, features several cushioning layers to provide good shock absorption to the foot. It is molded to fit the shape of the user's foot and also serves to enhance the stability of the body's posture while standing and walking. This cup insole (24) has a rim around its perimeter, particularly near the heel, to enhance user stability; The stabilizer layer (25) is a special cushioning layer that provides rebound force to support athletes during sports activities. This rebound force helps the stabilizer layer (25) assist the athlete's athletic performance and reduces fatigue.

[0014] Furthermore, referring to Figures 2 and 3, it can be observed that the outsole (7) has a front upper recess (72) and a rear upper recess (71), and that a rear pressure absorber (absorber) (51) or the like, which is positioned below the stabilizer (25), can be inserted into these recesses, respectively.

[0015] Returning to Figure 1, the upper portion of the shoe (1) has a strobel layer (41) positioned in the middle layer to provide a strong strobel structure, thereby enhancing sensitivity and flexibility. This strobel layer (41) is preferably attached by sewing to an 8-ounce canvas insole. The strobel layer (41) of the insole also preferably extends from the front to the back of the insole of the shoe; and A peak performance and stabilizer with a Strobel reinforcement layer (42), preferably made of a porous material to allow air circulation. The material used is 4-ounce canvas, which has good flexibility and durability. This reinforcement layer (42) also preferably extends from the front to the back of the shoe's insole. Both the Strobel (41) and Strobel reinforcement (42) materials are sewn together with the upper sole (43) and thus function as a separator between the insole and the upper outsole.

[0016] Next, the foam layer specific to the stabilizer (25) as seen in FIG. 1 is a layer made of a material that functions as a cushion, allows air passage, and has a high shock absorption capacity. A preferred material for this specific foam layer (25) is a microcellular polyurethane damping material, particularly a continuous cell (open cell) foam made of red poron foam sold by Rogers Corporation, or a bilayer made of this red poron foam material. The damping material for the foam layer (25) has the ability to withstand impacts with values measured between approximately 0.3 and 2.5 seconds when tested using the ASTM D2632-92 "Vertical Rebound" test, and a 90% compression recovery time (recovery). This compression recovery time refers to the time required for a material that has undergone elastic deformation due to compression to return to 90% of the volume loss caused by that action. With respect to thickness, this foam layer (25) has a greater thickness than the surrounding layers and ranges from 2 mm to 6 mm, preferably about 3 mm. Further, the characteristics of this specific damping layer (25) can be seen in the following table:

Table 1

[0017] Furthermore, those skilled in the art of this technology will understand that the embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings and described above are exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It is also understood that the present invention can be modified and improved within the scope of the present invention defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Footwear having multiple cushioning layers that form an insole portion following the upper body portion (41-43) of the footwear, and when viewed in order from top to bottom, the footwear includes at least the following: Base layer (21) that comes into direct contact with the soles of the user's feet; A layer of air pockets (22) that can absorb impact from above; The central layer (23); An insole cup (24) that is molded to fit the shape of the sole of the foot and also functions to improve postural stability during standing and walking, and includes: and A peak performance and stabilizer layer (42) equipped with a strobe booster that provides rebound force to the wearer; Front damper layer (52) and rear damper layer (51); and The outer sole layer (7) has a front recess (72) that houses a front damper layer (52) on its upper surface, and a rear recess (71) that houses a rear damper layer (51) positioned below the stabilizer.

2. Footwear having multiple cushioning layers according to claim 1, characterized in that the peak performance and stabilizer layer with Strobel reinforcement (42) is a layer capable of providing rebound force to the user and is an open-cell foam of microcellular polyurethane damping material.

3. Footwear having multiple cushioning layers according to claim 1, characterized in that the peak performance and stabilizer layer with Strobel reinforcement (42) has a thickness greater than the adjacent layer, in the range of 2 mm to 6 mm, preferably about 3 mm.

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