Anatomical padding in the shoe

Abstract

To provide a shoe padding which brings ideal fitness around the ankle of a wearer on the basis of an anatomical state.SOLUTION: An upper for a shoe comprises: a medial padding located in a medial portion of a heel area of the upper, wherein the medial padding has a first shape; a lateral padding located in a lateral portion of the heel area of the upper, wherein the lateral padding has a second shape. In the upper, the first shape differs from the second shape, the lateral padding is arranged closer to a sole of the shoe than the medial padding, and the lateral padding is arranged closer to a rear of the shoe upper than the medial padding.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe upper including asymmetrical padding and a method for making a shoe upper including asymmetrical padding. [Background technology]

[0002] Shoes must be made of durable materials to protect the foot and ensure a certain durability. The base material of the shoe must be relatively hard so that the shoe maintains its shape and adequately supports its wearer. To prevent the foot from being injured by this relatively hard base material when worn, pads and / or linings are used. The pads and / or linings may extend uniformly inside the upper of the shoe. However, linings and especially pads may be advantageous for various additional requirements.

[0003] Generally, pads can be designed into the shoe depending on the intended purpose of the shoe. One objective is to avoid pressure peaks and therefore chafing and / or abrasions. Another objective is optimal distribution of foot pressure within the shoe. In addition, the pads may have a corrective effect on the position of the foot. In medical applications, the pads can compensate for malpositions of the foot that would otherwise lead to malpositions of the entire musculoskeletal system.

[0004] Such considerations are particularly important in the ankle area, since in this area it is very important that the shoe fits snugly, since too much free movement of the foot in the shoe can lead to injury. Moreover, without special support, the wearer is at high risk of twisting his ankle. In addition, due to the rather pronounced protuberances of the ankle on both sides of the leg, caused by the ends of the fibula and tibia, and the lack of muscle and fat in this area, abrasions will occur quickly without adequate cushioning.

[0005] Conventional shoes do not accommodate the anatomy of the foot as they typically have symmetrical padding around the ankle on both sides of the leg, using the same padding shape on the medial and lateral sides, which leads to poor fit in addition to poor comfort, and in the worst case, malpositioning as the wearer tries to adapt their walking style to a shoe that does not fit ideally. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 4714329 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 7,140,128 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 6,442,875 Summary of the Invention

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shoe pad that provides an ideal fit around the wearer's ankle based on anatomical conditions.

[0008] Japanese Patent No. 4714329 relates to foot plates, insoles and footwear for correcting flat feet, valgus feet and club feet.

[0009] No. 7,140,128 relates to a J-bar located on either side of the boot above the heel. The J-bar also includes a memory material and is positioned and shaped to extend below and behind the user's talus bone.

[0010] US Patent No. 6,442,875 is directed to providing a boot upper having asymmetrical, largely rigid lateral and medial quarters.

[0011] The above problem is solved by a shoe upper including an inner pad located in an inner portion of a heel region of the upper and having a first shape, and an outer pad located in an outer portion of the heel region of the upper and having a second shape, the first shape being different from the second shape, the outer pad being positioned closer to a sole of the shoe than the inner pad, and the outer pad being positioned closer to a rear of the shoe upper than the inner pad.

[0012] The inner and outer shapes of the pad correspond to the anatomical condition of the wearer's ankle. The inner and outer ankles have different anatomical conditions, so that the same shape generally results in a mismatch between the pad and the ankle. The pad adapted to the respective anatomical condition of the inner or outer ankle ensures an ideal alignment of the pad with the talus. This allows the space between the pad and the talus to be minimized, resulting in a snug fit in the shoe. The snug fit can significantly limit the freedom of movement of the foot in the ankle region, thus avoiding or at least reducing injuries and blisters in this region. Furthermore, the snug fit improves the energy transfer of the foot in the shoe when stepping off a surface. In addition, the inner and outer pads are not symmetrically positioned. The asymmetrical positioning of the pads along the frontal and sagittal planes further supports the stability of the wearer's musculoskeletal system during walking, for example preventing the foot from twisting in the medial or lateral direction.

[0013] In the following, the location of the pads closer to the sole of the shoe is referred to as lower, and the location further away from the sole of the shoe is referred to as upper.

[0014] In particular, such padding can be advantageous in sports such as, for example, soccer, rugby or running, where there is a high risk of twisting the foot inwards or outwards. The upper according to the invention is therefore preferably a soccer shoe upper, a rugby shoe upper or a running shoe upper. Furthermore, the close fit between the shoe and the wearer's ankle is very suitable for hiking or sports involving frequent jumping, such as basketball. The upper according to the invention can therefore be a hiking shoe upper or a basketball shoe upper.

[0015] According to the invention, the horizontal extent of the medial pad, i.e. its thickness, measured in the frontal plane, may be less than the thickness of the lateral pad. Preferably, the difference in thickness between the medial and lateral pads may be at least 4 mm. The thickness of the pads may be measured, for example, in a direction perpendicular to the sagittal plane of the finished shoe upper when the finished shoe upper is bonded to the sole structure to form the shoe.

[0016] The different vertical thicknesses of the pads correspond to the anatomical conditions of the talus on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe, and therefore further stabilize the foot along the frontal and sagittal planes. A larger thickness of the medial pad severely restricts the freedom of movement of the foot in the medial direction, leading to an incorrect foot position. In addition, the possibility of twisting in the lateral direction is very high. Therefore, a larger thickness of the lateral pad compared to the medial pad can achieve stability in the frontal plane. Furthermore, a larger thickness of the lateral pad can provide a snug fit and prevent injuries due to too much space between the lateral pad and the lateral ankle, which increases friction. Thus, a snug fit at the ankle can also reduce the forward and backward movements of the foot, leading to stability in the sagittal plane. Furthermore, the lateral side of the ankle, which is more exposed than the medial side, can be further protected from objects hitting the lateral side of the shoe.

[0017] The horizontal extent, i.e., length, of the lateral pad measured in the sagittal plane may be less than the length of the medial pad. Preferably, the difference in length between the medial and lateral pads is at least 2 mm. The length of the pads may be measured, for example, in a direction perpendicular to the frontal plane of the completed shoe upper when the completed shoe upper is bonded to the sole structure to form the shoe.

[0018] The different lengths of the pads correspond to the anatomical conditions of the talus on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe, and therefore further stabilize the foot in the frontal and sagittal planes, particularly in the frontal plane, to prevent the foot from twisting in the medial direction. Furthermore, the larger length of the medial pad allows the medial ankle to fit more closely to the medial pad, further reducing the overall foot movement in the sagittal plane.

[0019] The vertical extent, i.e., the width, of the lateral pad measured in the frontal plane may be greater than the width of the medial pad measured in the frontal plane. Preferably, the difference in width between the medial and lateral pads may be at least 2 mm. In addition to the height difference between the lower lateral pad and the upper medial pad, the pads may have different widths. The width of the pad is defined as the distance from the bottom of the pad to the top of the pad measured in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the finished shoe upper, for example, when the finished shoe upper is joined to the sole structure to form the shoe.

[0020] The different widths of the pads correspond to the anatomical conditions of the talus on the medial and lateral sides of the shoe and can further stabilize the foot in the frontal plane. In particular, the twisting in the lateral direction can be effectively minimized. Furthermore, the lateral side of the foot can be further supported by the larger lateral pad. In addition, a more comfortable fit on the lateral and medial sides can be achieved.

[0021] The volume of the inner pad may be different from the volume of the outer pad, and preferably the volume of the inner pad may be smaller than the volume of the outer pad.

[0022] The different volumes of the medial and lateral pads provide additional stability to the wearer's foot. The smaller volume of the medial pads ensures freedom of movement of the foot on the medial side while at the same time providing a snug fit on the lateral side. The larger volume of the lateral pads provides additional protection for the lateral side of the ankle, particularly the lateral malleolus, which may be injured by another player's foot or an object.

[0023] The lateral pad may be positioned at least 2 mm closer to the sole of the shoe than the medial pad.

[0024] The asymmetrical height arrangement of the pads perpendicular to the horizontal plane can provide additional ankle stability along the frontal plane.

[0025] The lateral pad may be positioned at least 6 mm closer to the rear of the shoe upper than the medial pad.

[0026] Due to the asymmetrical positioning along the sagittal plane, the lateral pad is closer to the rear of the shoe than the medial pad, which reduces the forward and backward movement of the foot within the shoe. This configuration therefore ensures stability of the foot, especially along the sagittal plane. Furthermore, the positioning of the medial pad further from the heel than the lateral pad provides additional stability and support on the medial side.

[0027] The medial and / or lateral pads may include a foam material. The use of a foam material offers many advantages. First, foam materials can be formed from almost any plastic, offering a wide range of properties. Foam materials are also lightweight and easy to process, which is advantageous for shoes. Their low density allows moisture to wick away from the foot. Additionally, foam feels pleasant and soft. Foam may also help maintain body heat inside the shoe.

[0028] The medial and / or lateral pads may include pods. Pads including pods may provide more efficient damping. In addition, the haptic experience may be improved. In addition, the pods may have a greater restoring force than normal foam to compensate for foot slippage or protect the lateral side of the ankle, particularly the lateral malleolus, from forces acting from the outside.

[0029] The pods can be filled with liquid and / or gas. Depending on what type of filling is used, the tactile sensation and / or restoring force can change. Furthermore, depending on the filling material, the foot's body heat can be maintained or released. Furthermore, the filled pods can better conform to the individual shape of each wearer's foot.

[0030] The present invention also relates to a shoe including an upper as described herein and a sole attached to the upper, the shoe providing a snug fit around the ankle and further stabilizing the wearer's foot along the frontal and sagittal planes.

[0031] The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a shoe upper, the method including the steps of: disposing a medial pad having a first shape on a medial portion of the upper in a heel region; disposing an lateral pad having a second shape different from the first shape on a lateral portion of the upper in the heel region; disposing the lateral pad closer to a sole of the shoe than the medial pad; and disposing the lateral pad closer to a rear of the shoe upper than the medial pad.

[0032] The advantages of the upper obtained in such a manner have been discussed above and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0033] The method may further include the steps of providing a compression mold including one cavity and two plates for creating the pod in a compression molding process, filling the pod, and sealing the pod. This allows the pod to be manufactured by molding in one manufacturing step. Molding is a simple and fast manufacturing method since several single steps can be realized in one step.

[0034] The method may further include forming the inner pad and / or the outer pad in an embossing process using a first die and a second die, where the shape of the lower part of the first die corresponds to the upper part of the first shape and / or the second shape, and the upper part of the second die includes a recess corresponding to the shape of the lower part of the first shape and / or the second shape. The dies may be interchangeable or modularized so that more complex patterns can be easily created in the embossing process. This allows visual designs, such as trademarks or logos, to be added to the pod. Additionally, the pod may be equipped with a specific tactile feel to enhance its tactile perception.

[0035] The material of the first die and / or the second die can include magnesium and / or copper and / or brass. In the embossing process, the use of metals or metal alloys such as magnesium, copper, and brass is advantageous because they have sufficient hardness to deform the polymer. In addition, when the embossing process is carried out using heat, these metals provide good thermal conduction.

[0036] The method may further include disposing the material of the inner pad and / or the outer pad between the first die and the second die prior to the embossing process. By disposing the inner pad and / or the outer pad separately, different materials may be used for the inner pad and the outer pad, thereby providing a greater variety of selected properties for the inner pad and the outer pad.

[0037] The method may further include filling the inner and / or outer pad material between the first and second dies during the embossing press. The filling step may provide the pod with a number of desired properties. Because the filling is achieved during the embossing press, processing time and manufacturing effort may be reduced.

[0038] The material may be applied by rollers, which may advantageously allow for assembly line manufacturing.

[0039] The embossing process can include the application of heat. The use of heat allows less pressure to be applied and reduces the overall time taken for the embossing process. Additionally, heat allows the pod to be directly sealed at the edges, further reducing manufacturing steps and time.

[0040] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0041] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention showing a cross section of a shoe upper including a medial pad and a lateral pad. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is another view of an exemplary preferred embodiment showing a shoe upper including medial and lateral pads according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is another example of a preferred embodiment showing a shoe including an inner pod and an outer pod. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Possible embodiments of the invention are explained in the following detailed description, mainly with reference to shoes, it being emphasized that the invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an upper 10a of a shoe 18 according to the present invention. In addition, FIG. 1 shows a rear view of a foot 19 inserted into the shoe 18 and, for illustrative purposes, a top view of the foot 19. The shoe 18 includes a medial pad 13 on the medial side 11 of the shoe 18 and a lateral pad 14 on the lateral side 12 of the shoe 18. The shape of the medial pad 13 and the lateral pad 14 includes a semi-cylindrical base shape. However, in other embodiments, the base shapes of the medial pad and the lateral pad can vary fundamentally. For example, the base shape of the medial pad 13 can include a U-shape, a J-shape, a circular, a toric, or other suitable base shape that is favorable for the anatomical condition of the medial side 16 of the ankle. Regardless of the shape of the medial pad 13, the lateral pad 14 can include one of the following base shapes that are favorable for the anatomical condition of the lateral side 17 of the ankle: a U-shape, a J-shape, a circular, a toric, or other suitable base shape.

[0044] The medial pad 13 and the lateral pad 14 are positioned at different heights as shown by the line 15 connecting the medial pad 13 and the lateral pad 14. This corresponds to the anatomical condition of the human foot 19, in particular the anatomical condition of the medial 16 and lateral 17 ankle. This results in the lower end of the medial pad 13 being positioned at a height of 24 mm measured from the sole 10b of the shoe 18, and the lower end of the lateral pad 14 being positioned at a height of 20 mm measured from the sole of the shoe 18. In other embodiments, the height of the pads may vary depending on the type, size, use, etc. of the shoe.

[0045] In another embodiment, the medial pad 13 is positioned at a height of at least 2 mm above the lateral pad 14. This particular asymmetry caused by a higher medial pad 13 and a lower lateral pad 14 measured in the frontal plane leads to stability of the foot 19 in the frontal plane. The positioning of the higher medial pad 13 prevents twisting of the foot 19, especially on the medial side 11. Furthermore, the positioning of the lower lateral pad 14 prevents the lateral side of the ankle 17 and the lateral side of the ankle 17 12 of the athlete from being injured by the foot of another athlete or by an object.

[0046] The medial pad 13 has a vertical extent 13b measured in the frontal plane, i.e. a thickness of 6 mm, and the lateral pad 14 has a thickness of 10 mm. In further embodiments, the thicknesses 13b, 14b of the medial pad 13 and the lateral pad 14 may vary depending on the type of shoe. In some embodiments, the thickness 14b of the lateral pad 14 is at least 4 mm greater than the thickness 13b of the medial pad 13. This particular configuration of the medial pad 13 and the lateral pad 14 further provides a supportive and snug fit for the foot.

[0047] The pads have a width defined perpendicular to a horizontal plane from the bottom of the pad to the top of the pad. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the medial pad 13 has a width 13a of 10 mm measured in the frontal plane, and the lateral pad 14 has a width 14a of 12 mm measured in the frontal plane. In other embodiments, the widths 13a, 14a of the medial pad 13 and the lateral pad 14 may vary depending on the type of shoe. In some embodiments, the width 14a of the lateral pad 14 is at least 2 mm greater than the width 13a of the medial pad 13. This particular width configuration of the medial pad 13 and the lateral pad 14 provides additional stability in the frontal plane of the foot 19.

[0048] 1, the volume of the inner pad 13 is smaller than the volume of the outer pad 14. The difference in volume provides the athlete with good support and stability, especially while running.

[0049] Since the horizontal extent of the pad in the sagittal plane, i.e. its length, is not shown in FIG. 1, these aspects are explained in further detail in FIG.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an upper 20 of a soccer shoe. In other embodiments, the upper 20 may be for a rugby shoe, a running shoe, a hiking shoe, or a basketball shoe, for example. The upper 20 includes a medial pad 23 on the medial side 21 of the upper 20 and a lateral pad 24 on the lateral side 22. The medial pad 23 has a flat j-shaped base shape, and the lateral pad 24 has a flat u-shaped base shape. In general, the medial pad 23 and the lateral pad 24 may have different base shapes or the same base shape, and may have shapes different from those shown in FIG. 2.

[0051] In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, the medial pad 23 is positioned 18 mm from the rear 23d of the upper 20 along the sagittal plane, and the lateral pad 24 is positioned 8 mm from the rear 24d of the shoe 18 along the sagittal plane. In other embodiments, the positioning 23d, 24d of the medial pad 23 and the lateral pad 24 may vary depending on the type, size, use, etc. In some embodiments, the medial pad 23 is at least 6 mm further from the rear 23d of the upper 20 than the lateral pads 24, 24d. This creates an asymmetry along the sagittal plane, shown by line 25 (corresponding to the ankle asymmetry shown by line 15 in FIG. 1), which further prevents medial 21 twisting and excessive foot movement along the sagittal plane within the upper 20. This particular asymmetry along the sagittal plane, shown by line 25, therefore further stabilizes the foot within the shoe in the frontal and sagittal planes.

[0052] The medial pad 23 has a width 23a of 10 mm measured in the frontal plane of the finished shoe upper, i.e., when the finished shoe upper is joined to the sole to form the finished shoe, and the lateral pad 24 has a width 24a of 12 mm measured in the frontal plane. In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 2, the medial pad 23 is positioned at a height of 24 mm measured from the lower edge of the upper 20 and the lateral pad 24 is positioned at a height of 20 mm measured from the lower edge of the upper 20. In this embodiment, the medial pad 23 is closer to the collar portion of the upper 20 than the lateral pad 24.

[0053] The medial pad 23 includes a horizontal extent 23c of 24 mm measured in the sagittal plane, and the lateral pad 24 includes a horizontal extent 24c of 22 mm measured in the sagittal plane. The horizontal extent of the pad is also referred to as the length of the pad. In further embodiments, the length 23c, 24c of the medial pad 23 and the lateral pad 24 may vary depending on the type, size, use, etc. of the shoe. In some embodiments, the length 23c of the medial pad 23 is at least 2 mm greater than the length 24c of the lateral pad 24. This particular length configuration of the upper 20 provides additional stability of the foot along the sagittal and frontal planes. Thus, the medial 21 twisting and front-to-back movement of the foot within the finished upper 20 can be significantly reduced. Although the medial pad 23 is longer 23c than the lateral pad 24, 24c, the volume of the medial pad 23 is smaller than the volume of the lateral pad 24.

[0054] Being a two-dimensional top view, the thickness of the inner and outer pads 23, 24 is not shown in Fig. 2. Only the asymmetry along the frontal plane is perceptible due to the distance from the pads to the collar portion. These aspects are therefore described in more detail with respect to Fig. 3.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a portion of a shoe 30 according to the present invention. The shoe 30 includes an inner pod 33 on the inner side 31a and an outer pod 34 on the outer side 32. The outer pod 34 extends closer to the rear of the shoe 30 than the inner pod 33. Furthermore, the outer pod 34 has a thickness 34b that is greater than the thickness 33b of the inner pod 33. The inner pod 33 is higher than the outer pod 34, measured from the sole of the shoe 30. The inner pod 33 and the outer pod 34 include a foam material. In a further embodiment, the foam material may include memory foam. The size of the inner pod 33 and the outer pod 34 may vary depending on the type and use of the shoe. In one embodiment, a running shoe is considered in which the inner pod 33 has a length 33c of 68 mm and the outer pod 34 has a length 34c of 62 mm. Furthermore, the inner pod 33 has a width 33a of 10 mm and the outer pod 34 has a width 34a of 14 mm. Furthermore, the inner pod 33 has a thickness 33b of 8 mm and the outer pod 34 has a thickness 34b of 10 mm. In further embodiments where other shoe types are considered, such as basketball shoes or hiking shoes, the size may vary with respect to the size relationship between the inner pod 33 and the outer pod 34 according to the present invention.

[0056] The inner pod 33 and the outer pod 34 are filled with foam. The foam has a density of 80 kg / m 3 The pods are formed from polyurethane (PUR) foam of different hardness. In further embodiments, the medial pod 33 and the lateral pod 34 may have different hardness. In this embodiment, the PUR foam has high resilience and improves fit, thus improving foot stability and energy transfer within the shoe. In other embodiments, the pods have lower resilience and therefore higher memory properties, allowing them to be adjusted to perfectly fit the wearer's ankle for increased comfort. In general, the dynamic interaction properties of the pods in contact with other objects may vary depending on the type and use of the shoe. In further embodiments, the medial pod 33 may have different memory and / or resilience properties than the lateral pod 34.

[0057] The inner pod 33 and the outer pod 34 are produced in an embossing process with a first die and a second die. The material of the die can include copper, magnesium, or brass, depending on the preferred design of the pod. In a further embodiment, the material of the first die can be different from the material of the second die. The lower shape of the first die corresponds to the upper part of the shape of the inner pod 33 or the outer pod 34. The upper surface of the second die has a recess corresponding to the shape of the lower part of the inner pod 33 and / or the outer pod 34. The first die and the second die are customized to the intended design according to the exact size of the foaming pod. In this embodiment, the pod is filled with PUR foam. Thus, the PUR foam is placed between the first die and the second die, and then the embossing process is performed by applying heat at 125°C. This uses a baker (baking agent) composed of laminated velvetex between the first die and the second die and the foam.

[0058] An additional layer can be used to cover the PUR foam. In a preferred embodiment, the additional layer comprises a soft-touch material. In another embodiment, the additional layer can comprise a material with a non-slip and / or rough surface, for example with fibers facing in one direction, preferably toward the bottom of the shoe. The fiber configuration of the material of this layer further enhances the grip between the material and the wearer's sock, and further minimizes the movement of the foot, especially the heel, within the shoe. In a preferred embodiment, the additional layer is placed on only one side of the foam, i.e., the side that directly contacts the wearer's foot, during the embossing process. In a further embodiment, the additional layer may be placed on the side that is attached to the shoe upper. In another embodiment, the material of the additional layer can vary depending on which side of the shoe upper is used.

[0059] In further embodiments, materials other than PUR foam may be used, provided they are suitable for forming a three-dimensional structure. Before the embossing process, the material to be pressed can be placed between the first and second dies, which is called a "clamshell press". In further embodiments, the material can also be filled during the embossing process, where the material is filled into the press and exits from the other side, which is called a "straight stamp press". If the filling of the material is achieved by means of rollers, the process is called a "roll press". After the embossing process is finished, the manufactured inner pod 33 and outer pod 34 are attached to the shoe 30.

[0060] In another embodiment, the pod may be filled with liquid and / or gas. This is achieved by a different manufacturing process. A vacuum forming machine is provided that uses an upper mold and a lower mold with a cavity. The shape of the pod produced thereby corresponds to the cavity of the lower mold, which is preferably a three-dimensional semicircular shape. In a further embodiment, the shape may include a shape suitable for supporting and closely fitting the ankle, such as a three-dimensional j-shape, a three-dimensional u-shape, a toric shape, etc. In a first step, a first sheet of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) having a thickness of 0.8 mm is placed on the lower mold. In a further embodiment, other materials with other thicknesses can be used depending on the type of shoe and the purpose of the pod. In a second step, heat is applied until the first sheet reaches a suitable molding temperature and becomes flexible. In a third step, the flexible first sheet is exposed to a vacuum.

[0061] The vacuum stretches / pulls the flexible first sheet of the lower mould towards the cavity of the lower mould. To achieve an effective pull towards the cavity of the lower mould, fine holes are provided in the lower mould, which are drilled into the gap. This results in a suitable pod-like structure of the first sheet. The pod-like structure formed in the lower mould is then cooled. In a fourth step, the pod-like structure is injected and filled with a filling material, preferably polyurethane (PU). In a further embodiment, the filling material may comprise other liquids (e.g. water-like liquids, regenerative compounds, etc.) or gases suitable for conforming to the shape of the talus and for adhering to it. In a next step, the injected and filled pod-like structure is covered with a second sheet, preferably made of TPU. In a further embodiment, the second sheet may comprise a material different from the first material. The pod-like structure is then sealed by pressing the upper mould onto the lower mould. The resulting filled pod is then placed in a chamber heated to 50-60°C for 24 hours. After heating, the edges of the filled pod are trimmed and trimmed to remove any protruding material and uneven areas from the edges. The completed filled pod is then attached to the upper of a shoe. It should be noted that the present invention includes the following aspects. [Aspect 1] An upper (10a; 20) of a shoe (18), a) a medial pad (13; 23) located in a medial portion of the heel region of the upper (10a; 20) and having a first shape; b) a lateral pad (14; 24) located in a lateral portion of the heel region of the upper (10a; 20) and having a second shape; Including, c) the first shape is different from the second shape; d) the lateral pad (14; 24) is positioned closer to the sole (10b) of the shoe (18) than the medial pad (13; 23); e) a shoe upper, wherein the lateral pad (14; 24) is positioned closer to the rear of the upper (10a; 20) of the shoe (18) than the medial pad (13; 23). [Aspect 2] 2. The upper (10a; 20) of claim 1, wherein the horizontal extent, i.e., the thickness (13b), of the medial pad (13; 23) measured in the frontal plane is less than the thickness (14b) of the lateral pad (14; 24). [Aspect 3] 3. The upper (10a; 20) according to embodiment 2, wherein the difference in thickness (13b, 14b) between the inner pad (13; 23) and the outer pad (14; 24) is at least 4 mm. [Aspect 4] 2. The upper (10a; 20) according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal extent, i.e., the length (24c), of the lateral pad (14; 24) measured in the sagittal plane is less than the length (23c) of the medial pad (13; 23). [Aspect 5] 5. The upper (10a; 20) according to embodiment 4, wherein the difference in length (23c, 24c) between the medial pad (13; 23) and the lateral pad (14; 24) is at least 2 mm. [Aspect 6] The upper (10a; 20) according to embodiment 1, wherein the vertical extent, i.e., the width (14a; 24a), of the lateral pad (14; 24) measured in the frontal plane is greater than the width (13a; 23a) of the medial pad (13; 23). [Aspect 7] 7. The upper (10a; 20) according to embodiment 6, wherein the difference in width (13a, 14a; 23a, 24a) between the medial pad (13; 23) and the lateral pad (14; 24) is at least 2 mm. [Aspect 8] 2. The upper (10a; 20) according to embodiment 1, wherein the volume of the medial pad (13; 23) is different from the volume of the lateral pad (14; 24). [Aspect 9] 9. The upper (10a; 20) according to embodiment 8, wherein the volume of the inner pad (13; 23) is smaller than the volume of the outer pad (14; 24). [Aspect 10] 2. The upper (10a; 20) of claim 1, wherein the lateral pad (14; 24) is positioned at least 2 mm closer to the sole (10b) of the shoe (18) than the medial pad (13; 23). [Aspect 11] 2. The upper (10a; 20) of claim 1, wherein the lateral pad (14; 24) is positioned at least 6 mm closer to the rear of the upper (10a; 20) of the shoe (18) than the medial pad (13; 23). [Aspect 12] 2. The upper (10a; 20) according to embodiment 1, wherein the inner padding (13; 23) and / or the outer padding (14; 24) comprise a foam material. [Aspect 13] 2. The upper (10a; 20) according to embodiment 1, wherein the medial padding (13; 23) and / or the lateral padding (14; 24) comprise pods. [Aspect 14] The upper (10a; 20) according to embodiment 13, wherein the pod is filled with liquid and / or gas. [Aspect 15] A shoe (18), An upper (10a; 20) of a shoe (18) according to embodiment 1; A sole (10b) attached to the upper (10a; 20); Including shoes. [Aspect 16] A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18), comprising the steps of: a) placing a medial pad (13; 23) having a first shape on a medial portion of the heel region of said upper (10a; 20); b) placing a lateral pad (14; 24) having a second shape different from the first shape on a lateral portion of the heel region of the upper (10a; 20); c) positioning said lateral pad (14; 24) closer to the sole of said shoe (18) than said medial pad (13; 23); d) positioning said lateral pad (14; 24) closer to the rear of said shoe upper (10a; 20) than said medial pad (13; 23); The method includes: [Aspect 17] A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to aspect 16, wherein the horizontal extent, i.e., the thickness (13b), of the medial pad (13; 23), measured in the frontal plane, is less than the thickness (14b) of the lateral pad (14; 24). [Aspect 18] 18. A method for manufacturing a shoe upper (10a; 20) according to claim 17, wherein the difference in thickness (13b, 14b) between the medial pad (13; 23) and the lateral pad (14; 24) is at least 4 mm. [Aspect 19] A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to aspect 16, wherein the horizontal extent, i.e., the length (24c), of the lateral pad (14; 24) measured in the sagittal plane is less than the length (23c) of the medial pad (13; 23). [Aspect 20] 20. A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to aspect 19, wherein the difference in length (23c, 24c) between the medial pad (13; 23) and the lateral pad (14; 24) is at least 2 mm. [Aspect 21] A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to embodiment 16, wherein the vertical extent, i.e. its width (14a; 24a), of the lateral pad (14; 24) measured in the frontal plane is greater than the width (13a; 23a) of the medial pad (13; 23). [Aspect 22] 22. The upper (10a; 20) according to embodiment 21, wherein the difference in width (13a, 14a; 23a, 24a) between the medial pad (13; 23) and the lateral pad (14; 24) is at least 2 mm. [Aspect 23] 17. A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to claim 16, wherein the volume of the medial pad (13; 23) is different from the volume of the lateral pad (14; 24). [Aspect 24] 24. A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to claim 23, wherein the volume of the medial pad (13; 23) is smaller than the volume of the lateral pad (14; 24). [Aspect 25] 17. The method of manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to claim 16, wherein the lateral padding (14; 24) is positioned at least 2 mm closer to the sole (10b) of the shoe (18) than the medial padding (13; 23). [Aspect 26] 17. The method of manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to claim 16, wherein the lateral padding (14; 24) is positioned at least 6 mm closer to the rear of the shoe upper (10a; 20) than the medial padding (13; 23). [Aspect 27] 17. A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to aspect 16, further comprising the step of providing said medial padding (13; 23) and / or said lateral padding (14; 24) comprising a foam material. [Aspect 28] 17. A method of manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to aspect 16, further comprising the step of providing said medial padding (13; 23) and / or said lateral padding (14; 24) comprising pods. [Aspect 29] A method of manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) of a shoe (18) according to embodiment 28, further comprising the step of filling the pods with liquid and / or gas. [Aspect 30] providing a vacuum forming machine having upper and lower halves containing a cavity; placing a first sheet on the lower mold; using a vacuum applied to the cavity of the lower mould to pull a portion of the sheet into the lower mould to obtain a pod-like structure; filling the pod-like structure with a filling material; covering the filled pod-like structure with a second sheet; sealing the pod-like structure by pressing the upper mould onto the lower mould to obtain a filled pod; A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) of a shoe (18) according to embodiment 28, further comprising: [Aspect 31] forming said inner pad (13; 23) and / or said outer pad (14; 24) in an embossing process using a first die and a second die, the shape of a bottom portion of the first die corresponds to a top portion of the first shape and / or the second shape; A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) of a shoe (18) according to claim 16, wherein an upper portion of the second die includes a recess corresponding to a shape of a lower portion of the first shape and / or the second shape. [Aspect 32] A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) of a shoe (18) according to aspect 16, wherein a material of the first die and / or the second die comprises magnesium and / or copper and / or brass. [Aspect 33] A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to aspect 16, further comprising the step of placing material of the medial padding (13; 23) and / or the lateral padding (14; 24) between the first die and the second die before performing the embossing process. [Aspect 34] A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to aspect 16, further comprising the step of filling the material of the medial pad (13; 23) and / or the lateral pad (24; 24) between the first die and the second die during the embossing press. [Aspect 35] A method for manufacturing an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to embodiment 34, wherein the material is applied by a roller. [Aspect 36] 17. A method for making an upper (10a; 20) for a shoe (18) according to claim 16, wherein the embossing process comprises the application of heat. [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 10a, 20 upper 10b Sole 13, 23 Inner pad 13a, 14a, 23a, 24a, 33a, 34a Width 13b, 14b, 33b, 34b Thickness 14, 24 Outer pad 18, 30 Shoes 23c, 24c, 33c, 34c length 33 Inner Pod 34 Outer Pod

Claims

1. An upper (10a; 20) of a shoe (18), a) a medial pad (13; 23) located in a medial portion of the heel region of said upper (10a; 20) and having a first shape; b) a lateral pad (14; 24) located in a lateral portion of the heel region of the upper (10a; 20) and having a second shape; Including, c) the first shape is different from the second shape; d) said lateral pad (14; 24) is positioned closer to the sole (10b) of said shoe (18) than said medial pad (13; 23); e) said lateral pad (14; 24) is located closer to the rear of the upper (10a; 20) of said shoe (18) than said medial pad (13; 23); the horizontal extent, i.e. the thickness (13b), of said inner pad (13; 23), measured in the frontal plane, is smaller than the thickness (14b) of said outer pad (14; 24); the horizontal extent, i.e. the length (24c), of said outer pad (14; 24), measured in the sagittal plane, is less than the length (23c) of said inner pad (13; 23); the vertical extent, i.e. the width (14a; 24a) of said outer pad (14; 24), measured in the frontal plane, is greater than the width (13a; 23a) of said inner pad (13; 23), A shoe upper, wherein the volume of said medial pad (13; 23) is smaller than the volume of said lateral pad (14; 24).

2. 2. The upper (10a; 20) according to claim 1, wherein the difference in thickness (13b, 14b) between the inner pad (13; 23) and the outer pad (14; 24) is at least 4 mm.

3. 2. The upper (10a; 20) according to claim 1, wherein the difference in length (23c, 24c) between the inner pad (13; 23) and the outer pad (14; 24) is at least 2 mm.

4. 2. The upper (10a; 20) according to claim 1, wherein the difference in width (13a, 14a; 23a, 24a) between the medial pad (13; 23) and the lateral pad (14; 24) is at least 2 mm.

5. 2. The upper (10a; 20) of claim 1, wherein the lateral pad (14; 24) is positioned at least 2 mm closer to the sole (10b) of the shoe (18) than the medial pad (13; 23).

6. 2. The upper (10a; 20) of claim 1, wherein the lateral pad (14; 24) is positioned at least 6 mm closer to the rear of the upper (10a; 20) of the shoe (18) than the medial pad (13; 23).

7. The upper (10a; 20) according to claim 1 , wherein the inner padding (13; 23) and / or the outer padding (14; 24) comprise a foam material.

8. 2. The upper (10a; 20) of claim 1, wherein the inner pad (13; 23) includes an inner pod (33) formed from polyurethane foam and the outer pad (14; 24) includes an outer pod (34) formed from polyurethane foam.

9. the horizontal extent, i.e. its thickness (33b), of the inner pod (33), measured in the frontal plane, is less than the thickness (34b) of the outer pod (34); and / or the horizontal extent, i.e. its length (34c), of the outer pod (34), measured in the sagittal plane, is less than the length (33c) of the inner pod (33); and / or 9. The upper (10a; 20) according to claim 8, wherein the vertical extent, i.e. the width (34a), of the lateral pod (34) measured in the frontal plane is greater than the width (33a) of the medial pod (33).

10. the thickness (33b) of the inner pod (33) is smaller than the thickness (34b) of the outer pod (34); the length (34c) of the outer pod (34) is smaller than the length (33c) of the inner pod (33); 10. The upper (10a; 20) of claim 9, wherein the width (34a) of the outer pod (34) is greater than the width (33a) of the inner pod (33).

11. A shoe (18), An upper (10a; 20) of a shoe (18) according to claim 1, A sole (10b) attached to the upper (10a; 20); Including shoes.

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