Shoe structure
The shoe structure addresses rapid wear and tear issues in 'knit' technology footwear by integrating differentiated midsoles, a deformable support element, and a grid-like traction element, enhancing stability and durability while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- US · United States
- Patent Type
- Applications(United States)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- X TECH SWISS GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-23
Smart Images
Figure US20260206913A1-D00000_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe structure comprising an upper with a flexible body defining a cavity with an opening to receive the user's foot and a sole body with a midsole with an upper surface, associated with the upper to support the sole of the user's foot, configured to improve walking or running and capable of adapting to uneven terrain.STATE OF THE ART
[0002] Generally, a shoe essentially comprises an upper and a sole. The upper consists of a flexible body, defining an internal cavity suitable to accommodate the user's foot. The sole is associated inferiorly to the upper and supports the sole of the user's foot, allowing it to develop traction on the ground and to absorb shocks against it during walking, running or other sporting activities.
[0003] Recently, very popular on the market are footwear with an upper made with ‘knit’ technology, i.e. with a sock-like structure that is obtained by thermoforming from a seamless knitted fabric made in one piece by a knitting machine.
[0004] A drawback of footwear made as described above lies in the ease of abrasion of the upper and / or midsole with the consequent rapid wear and tear of the same, particularly at the sidewalls placed close to the ground due to continuous rubbing against the roughness of the ground itself during use of the footwear.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The main task of the present invention is therefore to propose a shoe, in particular but not exclusively a sports shoe, capable of overcoming the drawbacks of known footwear.
[0006] In the context of the above task, one purpose of the present invention is to realise a shoe with a structure configured to improve walking or running and capable of adapting to uneven terrain, thereby increasing the stability of the user's foot.
[0007] Another aim is to provide a footwear structure that allows optimal transfer of effort from the user's leg to the ground during sports or normal walking activity, giving the footwear reliability and precision.
[0008] Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a footwear structure that is capable of protecting the upper, at least partly, from tears and abrasions in order to reduce wear and tear and, consequently, increase the useful life of the footwear.
[0009] Last but not least, the aim is to devise a shoe that achieves the above-mentioned task and purpose at a competitive cost and that is achievable with the usual and well-known machinery, plant and equipment.
[0010] The above-mentioned task and purposes, and others that will better appear in the following description, are achieved by a shoe as defined in claim 1.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of particular, but not exclusive, forms of embodiment, illustrated by way of non-limiting example only with reference to the accompanying illustrations, in which
[0012] FIG. 1 shows, with a perspective view, a shoe structure according to the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a first stage of assembly of the shoe structure shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a second stage of assembly of the shoe structure shown in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 4 shows a third stage of assembly of the shoe structure shown in FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 5 shows a final stage of assembly of the shoe structure shown in FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a view from underneath the sole of the footwear referred to in FIG. 1.DESCRIPTION
[0018] FIG. 1 depicts a footwear structure or shoe structure 1 according to the present invention, comprising in particular an upper 2, a sole body 3 and a grid-configured traction element 4.
[0019] Terms such as ‘top’, ‘bottom’, ‘top’, ‘bottom’, ‘top’, ‘bottom’, ‘inside’, ‘outside’ or the like will be used in the following description; the expert in the field will have no difficulty in understanding that these terms refer to the position of shoe structure 1 in its normal operating position, i.e. in use, as depicted in the attached figures.
[0020] The upper 2 comprises a flexible, hollow body shaped to receive the user's foot and provided, for this purpose, with a top opening 5 to allow the shoe structure 1 to be fitted.
[0021] Most preferred, the upper 2 is obtained by means of ‘knit’ technology, i.e. it has a flexible sock-like structure which is obtained by thermoforming from a seamless knitted fabric tube made in one piece by a knitting machine. However, other types of uppers, made from the most suitable materials for the desired use, can be provided.
[0022] Lacing means 6 of a known type are preferably associated with the upper 2 in order to modify the dimensions of the inner cavity defined by the upper 2 in such a way as to adapt and tighten the shoe structure 1 to the user's foot, also facilitating entry and exit of the foot.
[0023] According to what is depicted in FIG. 2, the sole body 3 comprises at least one midsole 7 adapted to be associated internally with the upper 2 to support the sole of the user's foot in order to confer comfort and shock absorption during walking or running.
[0024] The midsole 7 is advantageously formed of an element shaped to essentially copy the contour of the sole of the user's foot and is made of an advantageously flexible material preferably having a hardness of between 47 and 53 Shore C (according to ISO 868). Preferably, the midsole 7 is made of a polyamide elastomeric material and / or polyehter elastomeric material, such as PEBAX®.
[0025] Advantageously, in order to provide more comfort and efficiently absorb shocks during use of the shoe structure 1, the thickness of the midsole 7 can be differentiated according to the area of the sole of the foot that it has to support: in particular in the heel area, the midsole 7 has a smaller thickness, e.g. about 8 mm, while in the forefoot area it has a greater thickness, e.g. about 15 mm.
[0026] As better shown in FIG. 2, the midsole 7 is internally housed in the upper 2, being introduced into the cavity defined by the upper 2 through the top opening 5 and positioned at the bottom region of the upper 2, where it is advantageously bonded; in this way, the upper surface 8 of the midsole 7 is, in use, in contact with the sole of the user's foot.
[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the shoe structure 1 further comprises an elastically deformable resilient support element 9, for example made of carbon or another material combining characteristics of stiffness, elasticity and lightness, suitable to be associated with the lower part of the upper 2, for example glued to the outside of the upper 2, with the purpose of storing energy when elastically deformed during walking or running and releasing it when it returns to its original non-deformed position.
[0028] The support element 9 preferably has a thickness of about 1 mm and is advantageously shaped to essentially copy the shape of the user's foot. Furthermore, it may be provided with one or more notches 10 suitable to promote deformation so as to follow the movement of the user's foot in order to maximise efficiency in energy release.
[0029] Advantageously, the support element 9 has a pair of wings 11 extending, one on each side, from the support element 9 towards the side walls of the upper 2 so as to perform a stabilising and supporting action of the heel during walking or running to keep the foot in the correct position.
[0030] The pair of wings 11 may be obtained in a single piece with the support element 9 or be made up of separate elements associated with the support element 9, as shown in FIG. 3. In the latter case, the material of the wings 11 will have the same characteristics of stiffness, lightness and elasticity as the material of the support element 9, but with a differentiated thickness optimised for the function to be performed, for example carbon with a thickness of about 0.8 mm.
[0031] According to what is depicted in FIG. 4, the sole body 3 may beside the midsole 7, with upper surface of midsole 8, the support element 9 with the at least one notch 10 and the pair of wings 11, advantageously further comprise a second midsole 12 suitable to be associated externally to the upper 2 at the lower surface of the support element 9 so as to be fixed to the support element 9 and to be at least partially wrapped around the lower perimeter edge of the upper 2.
[0032] The second midsole 12 is advantageously formed of a contoured element configured to essentially copy the contour of the first midsole 7 and / or the support element 9 and is made of an advantageously elastic material preferably having a hardness of between 54 and 60 Shore C (according to ISO 868). Preferably, the second midsole 12 is made of an elastomeric material, such as, for example, EVA mixed with rubber.
[0033] Advantageously, in order to improve shock absorption during use of the shoe structure 1, the thickness of the second midsole 12 can vary depending on the area of the foot it is intended to support: in particular in the heel area, the second midsole 12 has a greater thickness, e.g. about 18 mm, while in the forefoot area it has a lesser thickness, e.g. about 10 mm.
[0034] According to the present invention, the bottom surface of the sole body 3 is associated with a traction element 4, configured in a grid pattern suitable for resting on the ground to develop traction such that the user can walk or run and, in cooperation with the other constituent elements of the sole body 3, absorb shocks during walking or running. The traction element 4 is made from a flexible grid-like structure or mesh-like structure. As shown in FIG. 5 the grid-like traction element 4 comprises a main centred non-slip surface 40 and edge sections 41, which can be wrapped at least partly around the outer edge of the sole body 3 and the lower edge of the upper 2, as marked with open arrows. Further functions performed by the grid-like traction element 4 are to contain the lateral overhangs of the shoe structure 1 during its use, thus improving the stability of the foot, and to return the energy stored during the elastic restraining deformation to the user's foot, allowing for better energy efficiency in movement and, consequently, less foot fatigue.
[0035] The grid-like traction element 4 is made of a flexible elastomeric material, such as, for example, rubber, thermoplastics like Ethylene-vinyl acetate, EVA or PEVA or a similar material, and can be obtained either from a flat sheet, for example by moulding or blanking, and subsequently folded to adhere to the shape of the shoe 1 as exemplified in FIG. 5, or by moulding into the final three-dimensional shape.
[0036] Advantageously, the thickness of the grid-like traction element 4 can vary between about 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm, depending on the containment and springback effect desired.
[0037] The grid-like traction element 4 covers the entire lower part of the sole body 3 by extending vertically to contain the perimeter edges of the sole body 3 and wrap at least partially around the lower edges of the perimeter walls of the upper 2 with its edge sections, as exemplified in FIG. 1.
[0038] The grid-like traction element 4, the main centred non-slip surface and the egde sections are connected to the sole body 3 and the upper 20, for example by glueing with suitable adhesive, on the lower surface of the support element 9 or, in the event that the second midsole 12 is also provided, on the lower surface of the second midsole 12.
[0039] The grid-like traction element 4 is forming a grid outsole 4 of the shoe structure 1 which is retrofitted to the sole body 3 and the upper 2.
[0040] Additionally the lower surface of the grid-like traction element 4, i.e. the surface in contact with the ground during use, comprises a plurality of projections 13, distributed in the plane of the main centred non-slip surface and projecting in the direction of the ground to improve the grip, also referred to as ‘grip’, of the shoe structure 1 on the ground.
[0041] The combined and synergetic effect of the support element 9 and the grid-like traction element 4 gives the shoe 1 a better stability thanks to the stabilising action provided by the grid-like traction element 4. If the pair of wings 11 is present, supporting the upper 2, additionally the foot is kept in the correct position during walking or running, containing the deformation of the upper 2 itself.
[0042] Furthermore, during use of the shoe structure 1, when the user loads the sole body 3 with his weight, there is a compression along the vertical axis of the inner midsole 7 and, if present, of the second outer midsole 12, which results in an expansion of the same in the horizontal plane. The expansion movement is counteracted and contained by the grid-like traction element 4 and the pair of wings 11 giving rise to the stabilising action mentioned above by limiting the transversal deformation of the shoe structure 1. Furthermore, during walking or running, the bending deformation of the sole body 3 along the longitudinal axis causes a similar deformation of the support element 9 and the grid-like traction element 4. The energy stored as a result of the combined action of the transverse and longitudinal elastic bending deformations of the grid-like traction element 4, the support element 9 and the pair of wings 11 is returned to the shoe structure 1 once the aforementioned deforming actions have ceased, creating an elastic return of energy that facilitates walking or running and, consequently, less foot fatigue for the same performance or better energy efficiency of the shoe structure 1.
[0043] A further advantage of the shoe structure 1 according to the present invention lies in the ease of adaptation to uneven terrain and ground roughness due to the elastic deformability of the grid-like traction element 4 whose different zones can deform independently of each other depending on the terrain conformation.
[0044] The grid-like traction element 4 also performs a protective function on the side walls of the upper 2 that are located close to the ground, and therefore more prone to tears and abrasions, in such a way as to reduce wear in these areas and, consequently, increase the service life of the shoe structure 1.
[0045] Naturally, the present invention is susceptible to numerous applications, modifications or variations without thereby departing from the scope of protection as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the materials and equipment used in the realisation of the present invention, as well as the shapes and dimensions of the individual components, may be the most suitable depending on the specific requirements.LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS1 shoe structure
[0047] 2 upper
[0048] 3 sole body
[0049] 30 bottom surface
[0050] 4 grid-like traction element (Grid outsole, grid-like, flexibles)
[0051] 40 main centred non-slip surface
[0052] 41 edge sections
[0053] 5 opening
[0054] 6 lacing means
[0055] 7 midsole
[0056] 8 upper surface of midsole
[0057] 9 support element (elastically deformable resilient)
[0058] 10 notch
[0059] 11 wing
[0060] 12 second midsole
Claims
1-13. (canceled)14. A shoe structure comprising:an upper with a flexible body defining a cavity with an opening to receive the user's foot and a sole body with a midsole with an upper surface associated with the upper to support the sole of the user's foot,wherein the shoe structure comprises an elastically deformable support element, fixed underneath the lower part of the upper facing the ground away from the opening building part of the sole body anda traction element, configured in a grid pattern and connected at the bottom surface of the sole body, the traction element comprising a main centred non-slip surface fixed underneath the centre of the sole body and edge sections, at least partly wrapped around the outer edge of the sole body and the lower edge of the upper,wherein the grid-like traction element is adapted to contain the deformation of the upper and sole body during use of the shoe structure, cooperating with the resiliently deformable resilient support element to provide the user's foot with an elastic return of the energy stored during use of the shoe structure resulting from the elastic deformation of the grid-like traction element and the support element.
15. The shoe structure according to claim 14, wherein the traction element covers the entire lower part of the sole body extending vertically to contain the perimeter edges of the sole body and wrapping at least partially around the lower edges of the perimeter walls of the upper.
16. The shoe structure according to claim 14, wherein the traction element is directly fixed to the lower surface of the support element.
17. The shoe structure according to claim 14, wherein the grid-like traction element is made of flexible elastomeric material, such as rubber, thermoplastics like Ethylene-vinyl acetate.
18. The shoe structure according to claim 14, wherein the grid-like traction element is made from a flat sheet material and subsequently folded to adhere partly to the shape of the sole body and the upper.
19. The shoe structure according to claim 14, wherein the grid-like traction element has a thickness between 0.8 mm and 1.5 mm.
20. The shoe structure according to claim 14, wherein the grid-like traction element comprises a plurality of projections, distributed in the plane of the main centred non-slip surface, projecting in the direction of the ground.
21. The shoe structure according to claim 14, wherein the at least one midsole is adapted to be housed internally in the upper and a second midsole is fixed underneath the support element forming part of the sole body and the grid-like traction element is at least partially wrapped around the lower part of the sole body and the upper.
22. The shoe structure according to claim 14, wherein the support element is made of carbon or other material having equivalent characteristics.
23. The shoe structure according to claim 14, wherein the support element is provided with one or more notches suitable for elastic deformation.
24. The shoe structure according to claim 14, wherein the support element has a pair of wings arranged in correspondence with the lateral areas of the upper wrapping around the heel area, the pair of wings extending, one on each side, from the support element towards the lateral walls of the upper.
25. The shoe structure according to claim 24, wherein the pair of wings is obtained in one piece with the support element.
26. The shoe structure according to claim 24, wherein the pair of wings consists of separate elements associated with the support element.