Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
  • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
  • A43B13/16—Pieced soles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
  • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
  • A43B7/142—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
  • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
  • A43B7/1425—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
  • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
  • A43B7/143—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the lateral arch, i.e. the cuboid bone
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
  • A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
  • A43B7/1435—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the joint between the fifth phalange and the fifth metatarsal bone
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
  • A43B7/1475—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the type of support
  • A43B7/148—Recesses or holes filled with supports or pads
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
  • A43B7/1475—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the type of support
  • A43B7/1485—Recesses or holes, traversing partially or completely the thickness of the pad
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
  • A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
  • A43B7/1475—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the type of support
  • A43B7/149—Pads, e.g. protruding on the foot-facing surface

Definitions

• the invention relates to a sole structure and a shoe arranged with the sole structure.
• Prior art sport shoes usually comprise a substantially flat and flexible sole.
• Other sport shoes have been proposed, in particular shoes that are used for running, such as e.g. a shoe having a rigid sole structure with a toe part being bent upwards in relation to the remaining part of the sole structure as disclosed in European patent number o 964 625, in order to better exploit dynamic forces created during running.
• shoes having rigid soles with bent-upwards toe parts have increased in popularity, especially for sprinting and hurdling.
• a further sport shoe having a non-flat sole is the EasyTone sneaker from Reebook.
• the EasyTone is a walking shoe arranged with balancing pods on the underside of the sole, which pods are arranged around a central axis along substantially the complete length of the shoe. This creates an unstable shoe where the point of balance of a wearer's foot alternately shifts from the inner edge to the outer edge of the shoe and vice versa, depending on the wearer's motion pattern. This instability allegedly encourages toning through increased muscle activation.
• soles are designed to cause a wearer's foot to perform in some devised manners.
• a pronating runner can have custom-made insoles designed by means of having an orthotist plaster cast the feet and using the plaster cast to create a removable insole with the aim to counteract the wearer's pronation.
• the insole is built up at its inner edge, at the back section of the sole, thereby reducing pronation.
• An object of the present invention is to provide a sole structure and a shoe using the sole structure which improves biomechanical conditions for a wearer of the shoe.
• This object is attained in a first aspect of the present invention by a sole structure having a front section and a back section, comprising means located at or in connection to the front section for causing at least a portion of the sole structure to be inclining in one of two transversal directions extending from an outer edge to an inner edge of the sole structure with respect to a surface on which the sole structure is located.
• the sole structure is further arranged such that inclination in the other of the two transversal directions is prevented when the sole structure is in use.
• the foot then moves forward and upwards, but now with an ankle tilting angle in the other transversal direction of the foot, until the front foot pad loses contact with the underlying surface and only the toes are in contact with the surface until the foot is lifted and hence entirely loses contact with the surface and the other foot is set to contact the surface.
• the other foot is set to contact the surface before the first foot entirely has lost contact with the surface.
• the contact of the person's foot with the underlying surface can be different as compared to when the person walks or runs slowly.
• the heel has a tendency of not contacting the underlying surface at all, but the foot initially contacts the surface at its outer side, at the fifth metatarsal, at the front foot pad and subsequently pronate inwards against the first metatarsal. The foot then moves forward and upwards causing propulsion until the front foot pad loses contact with the underlying surface and only the toes are in contact with the surface until the foot is lifted and hence entirely loses contact with the surface.
• These movements require muscular motion and force from the person, resulting in fatigue and loss of energy in order for the body to perform the necessary movements.
• the present invention advantageously facilitates improvement of the person's biomechanical condition, e.g. by reducing fatigue and use of energy of the person by changing biomechanical movement, thereby better utilizing the speed and gravitational pull of the person in her forward motion.
• the sole structure is arranged with means for causing at least a portion of the structure to incline in either one of the two transversal directions of the sole structure, or of a shoe being arranged with the sole structure, depending on how said means of the sole structure is arranged.
• the sole structure or shoe of the present invention facilitates tilting of a wearer's shoe - and consequently the wearer's foot - in one transversal direction but is arranged to prevent tilting of the wearer's shoe in the other transversal direction.
• propulsion can be improved. It should be noted that in some embodiments of the present invention, a portion of the sole structure is caused to incline, while in other embodiments the complete sole structure is caused to incline.
• the means for causing a portion to be inclining is arranged such that a plane extending in the portion at an upper side of the sole structure, from the outer edge to the inner edge, is located at a greater distance from the surface on which the sole structure is located at the outer edge than at the inner edge.
• the inventor has come to the insight that the sole structure and shoe of this particular embodiment of the present invention improves the biomechanical conditions for the wearer of the shoe, ultimately facilitating the wearer of the shoe to run faster.
• an inclining plane is created such that the wearer's foot is tilted inwards when the shoe contacts the underlying surface.
• a runner can further increase her speed by either increasing her stride length or her stride rate, also known as cadence.
• the inventor has come to the insight that a shoe according to the present embodiment of the invention increases the cadence of a runner wearing the shoe and consequently also her running speed.
• the means for causing portion to be inclining is arranged such that a plane extending in the portion at an upper side of the sole structure, from the outer edge to the inner edge, is located at a greater distance from the surface on which the sole structure is located at the inner edge than at the outer edge.
• the inventor has come to the insight that the sole structure and shoe of this particular embodiment of the present invention improves the biomechanical conditions for the wearer of the shoe, ultimately facilitating the wearer of the shoe to walk and run faster under certain conditions.
• an inclining plane is created such that the wearer's foot is tilted outwards when the shoe contacts the underlying surface.
• the sole structure and shoe of the second embodiment of the present invention is particularly advantageous when taking corners, for instance when running a 400 m or 800 m race on a running track.
• a shoe according to the second embodiment of the present invention enables more efficient cornering for a wearer of the shoe, thus ultimately increasing the running speed of the wearer.
• the plane extending at the upper side of the sole structure forms an angle with the surface on which the sole structure is located of approximately 10 degrees or more.
• the angle that is formed between the plane and the surface i.e. the tilting angle for the foot on which the shoe is placed, should be at least 10 degrees. A slight inclination may not be enough to cause the appropriate tilting angle.
• the front section of the sole structure is bent upwards in relation to the back section.
• the angle formed with the surface is preferably in the range of 1-50 0 , and more preferably above 30 0 , in relation to the surface and the back section.
• an arched section of the sole structure defines a transition between the front section and the back section, while in another embodiment, a line defines a transition between the front section and the back section. In the case of having a line defining the transition, the transition will be relatively sharp and direct as compared to the smoother and gradual transition provided by the arched transition.
• the utilization of speed and gravitational pull of a wearer of the sole structure or shoe according to the invention will further be improved by a sole structure being at least partly composed of a rigid material.
• the sole structure is preferably rigid enough not to bend when the weight of a runner acts on the sole structure.
• the sole structure may be composed of carbon fibre or aluminium, or any other suitable rigid and light-weight material.
• the inclining portion of the sole structure is arranged to be tapered in a transversal direction from the outer edge of the sole structure towards the inner edge of the sole structure.
• the inclination of the sole structure i.e. the tilting of the wearer's foot
• the inclination of the sole structure can be achieved by a tapered and thus naturally inclining sole structure having non-uniform thickness, in that the thickness of the sole structure is greater at the outer edge than at the inner edge in the case of providing an inward inclining plane, while being thicker at the inner edge than at the outer edge in the case of providing an outward inclining plane.
• the sole structure has a uniform thickness, and is rigid and thin, typically of a light-weight material such as carbon fibre, in which case the inclination is achieved by means of bending the sole structure along appropriately selected rupture line(s).
• the tapered sole structure is easier to design and
• a raised section is created on an upper side of the sole structure at its outer edge e.g. by means of an appropriately arranged insole in order to tilt the wearer's foot in the direction of the inner edge of the sole structure.
• the rigid sole having uniform thickness is advantageous since different inclining planes can be created along one or more rupture lines, thus creating highly elaborated inclinations which further easier can be adapted to an individual wearer, if necessary.
• the sole structure is arranged with a raised section on an upper side of the sole structure at the outer edge. This is an easy and
• the sole structure is arranged with a recessed section on its upper side at the inner edge. This may be attained by providing a midsole of a shoe with the recessed section in order to achieve an inward tilting angle.
• the sole structure is arranged with a protruding section on its under side at the outer edge. This may be attained by providing an outsole of a shoe with the protruding section thus achieving an inward tilting angle.
• the sole structure is arranged with a recessed section on its under side at the inner edge. This may be attained by cutting a recess in an outsole of a shoe.
• a recessed section on its under side at the inner edge. This may be attained by cutting a recess in an outsole of a shoe.
• different combinations of raised, protruding and recessed sections as described in these embodiments can be envisaged to achieve an inward tilting angle of the wearer's foot.
• the inclining portion is arranged to be tapered, but where an outward tilting angle for a wearer's foot is created, a variety of different shapes for the sole structure is accordingly envisaged, where the means for causing inclination is embodied in different ways.
• the sole structure is arranged with a raised section on an upper side of the sole structure at the inner edge. This is an easy and
• the sole structure is arranged with a recessed section on its upper side at the outer edge. This may be attained by providing a midsole of a shoe with the recessed section in order to achieve an inward tilting angle.
• the sole structure is arranged with a protruding section on its under side at the inner edge. This may be attained by providing an outsole of a shoe with the protruding section thus achieving an outward tilting angle.
• the sole structure is arranged with a recessed section on its under side at the outer edge. This may be attained by cutting a recess in an outsole of a shoe.
• a recessed section on its underside a further embodiment is envisaged where a padding piece is inserted in the recessed section, thereby filling the recessed section and creating a shoe with a substantially flat outsole.
• the padding piece is fastened to the recessed section in the outsole by means of a suitable fastening means such as e.g. Velcro, thereby providing a removable padding piece.
• a wearer of the shoe can selectively remove the padding piece to create a shoe which tilts the wearer's foot in the appropriate direction.
• a "normal" running shoe is obtained.
• a further embodiment is envisaged where a removable protruding piece is attached to a substantially flat outsole of a shoe, thereby creating a shoe with an outsole that tilts the wearer's foot in the appropriate direction.
• the protruding piece is fastened to the outsole by means of a suitable fastening means such as e.g. Velcro.
• a wearer of the shoe can selectively attach the protruding piece to a "normal" running shoe to create a shoe which tilts the wearer's foot in the appropriate direction.
• the means for causing the inclination of the sole structure located in or in connection to the front section comprises a first protruding section on an under side of the sole structure at the outer edge to create an inward tilting angle.
• the means for causing inclination may comprise one or more further protruding sections.
• said means further comprises a second protruding section on the under side of the sole structure at the inner edge and located longitudinally on a level with, and being less protruding than, the first protruding section.
• said means further comprises a third protruding section on the under side of the sole structure at the outer edge and located in front of the first protruding section.
• said means further comprises a fourth protruding section on the under side of the sole structure at the inner edge and located longitudinally on a level with, and being less protruding than, the third protruding section.
• said means further comprises a fifth protruding section on the under side of the sole structure in front of the third and the fourth protruding section at a central part of the front section, and being less protruding than both the third and the fourth protruding section.
• a fifth protruding section on the under side of the sole structure in front of the third and the fourth protruding section at a central part of the front section, and being less protruding than both the third and the fourth protruding section.
• the line forms an angle a with the transversal direction of the sole in the range of -i5°-35 °. Since the sole structure is adapted to a foot and is used with a shoe, the line roughly follows the natural angle/anatomy of the foot, i.e. the transition between the metatarsal bone and the phalanx bone of the foot, from the fifth (i.e. the little toe) to the second metatarsal to the fifth to the and second phalanx, respectively
• the means for causing at least a portion of the sole structure to be inclining comprises a raised section at the back section of the sole structure in connection to the line at the inner edge.
• the inclining portion of the sole structure is arranged with the raised section in connection to the front section.
• the raised section is such that when the sole structure or shoe is viewed from the inner edge, the raised section will have the appearance of an arch at the inner edge which decreases in width and height towards the outer edge, where the rear of the back section and the outer edge lies in the same horizontal plane.
• the raised section is preferably at its highest and widest at the inner edge and narrows in width and reduces in height in the direction of the outer edge.
• the raised section extends into the front section of the sole structure.
• the raised section is arranged to extend from the inner edge of the sole structure to a first point located on a distance from the inner edge, which distance constitutes at least a third of the width of the sole at the transition between the front section and the back section of the sole and wherein the first point is arranged to be located in a same horizontal plane as the back section of the sole.
• Other distances may be envisaged, such as half or two thirds of the width of the sole structure.
• the raised section can extend all the way to the outer edge.
• the raised section will further improve the biomechanical conditions of a wearer of a shoe on which the sole structure according to embodiments of the invention is arranged, since it will aid the foot in tilting inwards.
• the object of the present invention is further attained in a second aspect of the present invention by a sole structure being arranged with a resilient section at its inner edge, wherein a plane extending at an upper side of the sole structure, from an outer edge to an inner edge of the sole structure, is located at a greater distance from a surface on which the sole rests at the outer edge than at the inner edge, when a force acts on the resilient section and presses the resilient section against said surface.
• the resilient section when contacting an underlying surface, the resilient section will be compressed when acted upon by a force applied by the weight of a wearer of a shoe on which the sole structure is arranged, and cause the foot to tilt inwards.
• the object of the present invention is further attained in a third aspect of the present invention by a sole structure being arranged with a resilient section at its outer edge, wherein a plane extending at an upper side of the sole structure, from an outer edge to an inner edge of the sole structure, is located at a greater distance from a surface on which the sole is located at the inner edge than at the outer edge, when a force acts on the resilient section and presses the resilient section against said surface.
• the resilient section when contacting an underlying surface, the resilient section will be compressed when acted upon by a force applied by the weight of a wearer of a shoe on which the sole structure is arranged, and cause the foot to tilt outwards.
• the inclining of the sole structure could be achieved already when the sole structure rests on a surface, or that the inclining of the sole structure is achieved when an applied force presses the sole structure towards the surface, depending on where the point of balance of the sole structure (or the shoe on which the sole structure is arranged) is located.
• the tilting could be obtained already when the sole structure rests on a surface, or alternatively that pressure must be applied to the sole structure towards the underlying surface to cause the sole structure to tilt.
• Figure la shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure according to an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure lb shows a cross section of the sole structure of Figure la in a front view
• Figure 2a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure according to another embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2b shows a cross section of the sole structure of Figure 2a in a front view
• Figure 3a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure according to yet another embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 3b shows a cross section of the sole structure of Figure 3a in a front view
• Figure 3c shows an elevated perspective view of a variant of the sole structure according to Figure 3a
• Figure 4a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure according to still another embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 4b shows a cross section of the sole structure of Figure 4a in a front view
• Figure 4c shows an elevated perspective view of a variant of the sole structure according to Figure 4a;
• Figure 5a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 5b shows a cross section of the sole structure of Figure 5a in a front view
• Figure 6a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure according to still a further embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 6b shows a cross section of the sole structure of Figure 6a in a front view
• Figure 7a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 7b shows a cross section of the sole structure of Figure 7a in a front view
• Figure 7c shows an elevated perspective view of a variant of the sole structure according to Figure 7a
• Figure 8a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure according to even a further embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 8b shows a cross section of the sole structure of Figure 8a in a front view
• Figure 8c shows an elevated perspective view of a variant of the sole structure according to Figure 8a
• Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, where a protruding piece is selectively removable from, or attachable to, a sole structure at an inner edge;
• Figure 10 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, where a protruding piece is selectively removable from, or attachable to, a sole structure at an outer edge;
• Figure 11a shows a bottom view of a sole structure according to embodiments of the present invention where up to five protruding sections are used for causing inclination;
• Figure lib shows a side view of the sole structure shown in Figure 11a;
• Figure 12a shows an elevated perspective view a sole structure according to an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 12b shows a side view of the sole structure of Figure 12a
• Figure 13a shows a top view of a sole structure according to another embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 13b shows an elevated perspective view of the sole structure of Figure 13a;
• Figure 13c shows a cross section of the sole structure of Figure 13a in a front view
• Figure 14a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure according to still a further embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 14b shows a cross section of the sole structure of Figure 14a in a front view
• Figure 15a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure according to yet a further embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 15b shows a cross section of the sole structure of Figure 15a in a front view.
• a longitudinal direction is defined as the direction along a shoe, i.e. from heel to toe or from toe to heel.
• a transversal direction is defined as being perpendicular, or at least substantially perpendicular, to the longitudinal direction.
• an inner edge of a shoe is defined as the edge running along the first metatarsal bone of the foot, informally referred to as the big toe, while an outer edge of a shoe is defined as the edge running along the fifth metatarsal bone of the foot, i.e. the little toe.
• a shoe is oftentimes referred to as having a front section and a back section, where the front section is defined as the part of the shoe extending substantially from the medial malleolus of the foot, i.e. the ankle to the end of the heel part.
• the front section is defined as the part of the shoe extending substantially from the end of the arch of the foot towards the first metatarsal bone to the end of the toe part of the foot.
• Figure la shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure lb shows a cross section of the sole structure 1 in a front view, which sole structure 1 is arranged as an insole or midsole of a shoe illustrated in cross section by means of its outsole 20.
• the sole structure 1 has a front section 2 and a back section 3 and further comprises means in the form of a raised section 6a on an upper side 8 for causing at least a portion of the sole structure to be inwards inclining towards an inner edge 4 of the sole structure, i.e. the sole structure 1 is tapered in the direction of the inner edge 4.
• the inclining portion substantially consists of the longitudinally extending portion delimited by dashed lines L1-L2.
• the raised section 6a causes an inwards inclination in the form of a plane extending along line P1-P2 in the inclining portion at an upper side of the sole structure, from the outer edge to the inner edge, which plane is located at a greater distance di from a surface on which the sole structure 1 (or shoe) is located at the outer edge 7 than at the inner edge 4.
• an angle ⁇ is formed with the surface in which the shoe is located.
• the angle ⁇ is preferably io° or more.
• the raised section 6a could be placed closer to the very front of the sole structure, or further in the longitudinal direction towards the back section 3, as long as it is located in the front section 2, or in direct connection to the front section 2 of the sole structure l.Further, the raised section 6a could even extend from the front section 2 towards the very back section 3 of the sole structure, in which case the inclining portion will stretch across almost the complete length of the sole structure, even though this is not shown on a particular drawing for this embodiment.
• Figure 2a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 2b shows a cross section of the sole structure 1 in a front view, which sole structure 1 is arranged as an insole or midsole of a shoe illustrated in cross section by means of an outsole 20.
• the sole structure 1 has a front section 2 and a back section 3 and further comprises means in the form of a recessed section 12a on an upper side 8 for causing at least a portion of the sole structure to be inwards inclining towards an inner edge 4 of the sole structure, i.e. the sole structure 1 is tapered in the direction of the inner edge 4.
• the inclining portion substantially consists of the longitudinally extending portion delimited by dashed lines Li-
• the recessed section 12a causes an inwards inclination in the form of a plane extending along line P1-P2 in the inclining portion at an upper side of the sole structure, from the outer edge to the inner edge, which plane is located at a greater distance di from a surface on which the sole structure 1 (or shoe) is located at the outer edge 7 than at the inner edge 4.
• an angle ⁇ is formed with the surface in which the shoe is located.
• the angle ⁇ is preferably io° or more.
• the recessed section 12a could be placed closer to the very front of the sole structure, or further in the longitudinal direction towards the back section 3, as long as it is located in the front section 2, or in direct connection to the front section 2 of the sole structure 1. Further, the recessed section 12a could even extend from the front section 2 towards the very back section 3 of the sole structure, in which case the inclining portion will stretch across almost the complete length of the sole structure, even though this is not shown on a particular drawing for this embodiment.
• Figure 3a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 3b shows a cross section of the sole structure 1 in a front view, which sole structure 1 is arranged as an outsole of a shoe.
• the sole structure 1 has a front section 2 and a back section 3 and further comprises means in the form of a protruding l8 section 6b on an under side 9 for causing at least a portion of the sole structure to be inwards inclining towards an inner edge 4 of the sole structure, i.e. the sole structure 1 is tapered in the direction of the inner edge 4.
• the inclining portion substantially consists of the longitudinally extending portion delimited by dashed lines L1-L2.
• the protruding section 6b causes an inwards inclination in the form of a plane extending along line P1-P2 in the inclining portion at an upper side of the sole structure, from the outer edge to the inner edge, which plane is located at a greater distance from a surface on which the sole structure 1 (or shoe) is located at the outer edge 7 than at the inner edge 4.
• an angle ⁇ is formed with the surface in which the shoe is located.
• the angle ⁇ is preferably io° or more.
• protruding section 6b could be placed closer to the very front of the sole structure, or further in the longitudinal direction towards the back section 3, as long as it is located in the front section 2, or in direct connection to the front section 2 of the sole structure 1.
• the protruding section 6b could even extend from the front section 2 towards the very back section 3 of the sole structure, in which case the inclining portion will stretch across almost the complete length of the sole structure.
• the protruding section 6b preferably, but optionally, extends longitudinally over a greater part of the front section 2.
• the protruding section 6b has a transversal width and thus extends transversally over a part of the sole structure, such as over at least a third of the width of the sole structure 1.
• the transversally extending protruding section 6b will advantageously have the sole structure 1 (or the shoe using the sole structure) smoothly and
• Figure 4a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 4b shows a cross section of the sole structure 1 in a front view, which sole structure 1 is arranged as an outsole of a shoe.
• the sole structure 1 has a front section 2 and a back section 3 and further comprises means in the form of a recessed section 12b on an under side 9 for causing at least a portion of the sole structure to be inwards inclining towards an inner edge 4 of the sole structure, i.e. the sole structure 1 is tapered in the direction of the inner edge 4.
• the inclining portion substantially consists of the longitudinally extending portion delimited by dashed lines L1-L2.
• the recessed section 12b causes an inwards inclination in the form of a plane extending along line P1-P2 in the inclining portion at an upper side of the sole structure, from the outer edge to the inner edge, which plane is located at a greater distance from a surface on which the sole structure 1 (or shoe) is located at the outer edge 7 than at the inner edge 4.
• an angle ⁇ is formed with the surface in which the shoe is located.
• the angle ⁇ is preferably 10 0 or more.
• the recessed section 12b could be placed closer to the very front of the sole structure, or further in the longitudinal direction towards the back section 3, as long as it is located in the front section 2, or in direct connection to the front section 2 of the sole structure 1. Further, with reference to figure 4c, the recessed section 12b could even extend from the front section 2 towards the very back section 3 of the sole structure, in which case the inclining portion will stretch across almost the complete length of the sole structure. As can be seen in all embodiments described with reference to Figures 1-4, the respective sole structure 1 is arranged to incline inwards but is further due to its construction prevented from inclining outwards when in use.
• Figure 5a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 5b shows a cross section of the sole structure 1 in a front view, which sole structure 1 is arranged as an insole or midsole of a shoe illustrated in cross section by means of its outsole 20.
• the sole structure 1 has a front section 2 and a back section 3 and further comprises means in the form of a raised section 6c on an upper side 8 for causing at least a portion of the sole structure to be outwards inclining towards an outer edge 7 of the sole structure, i.e. the sole structure 1 is tapered in the direction of the outer edge 7.
• the inclining portion substantially consists of the longitudinally extending portion delimited by dashed lines L1-L2.
• the raised section 6c causes an outwards inclination in the form of a plane extending along line P1-P2 in the inclining portion at an upper side of the sole structure, from the outer edge to the inner edge, which plane is located at a greater distance di from a surface on which the sole structure 1 (or shoe) is located at the inner edge 4 than at the outer edge 7.
• an angle ⁇ is formed with the surface in which the shoe is located.
• the angle ⁇ is preferably io° or more.
• the raised section 6c could be placed closer to the very front of the sole structure, or further in the longitudinal direction towards the back section 3, as long as it is located in the front section 2, or in direct connection to the front section 2 of the sole structure 1. Further, the raised section 6c could even extend from the front section 2 towards the very back section 3 of the sole structure, in which case the inclining portion will stretch across almost the complete length of the sole structure, even though this is not shown on a particular drawing for this embodiment.
• Figure 6a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure ⁇ according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 6b shows a cross section of the sole structure l in a front view, which sole structure l is arranged as an insole or midsole of a shoe illustrated in cross section by means of an outsole 20.
• the sole structure 1 has a front section 2 and a back section 3 and further comprises means in the form of a recessed section 12c on an upper side 8 for causing at least a portion of the sole structure to be outwards inclining towards an outer edge 7 of the sole structure, i.e. the sole structure 1 is tapered in the direction of the outer edge 7.
• the inclining portion substantially consists of the longitudinally extending portion delimited by dashed lines Li-
• the recessed section 12c causes an outwards inclination in the form of a plane extending along line P1-P2 in the inclining portion at an upper side of the sole structure, from the outer edge to the inner edge, which plane is located at a greater distance di from a surface on which the sole structure 1 (or shoe) is located at the inner edge 4 than at the outer edge 7.
• an angle ⁇ is formed with the surface in which the shoe is located.
• the angle ⁇ is preferably io° or more.
• FIG. 7a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 7b shows a cross section of the sole structure 1 in a front view, which sole structure 1 is arranged as an outsole of a shoe.
• the sole structure 1 has a front section 2 and a back section 3 and further comprises means in the form of a protruding section 6d on an under side 9 for causing at least a portion of the sole structure to be outwards inclining towards an outer edge 7 of the sole structure, i.e. the sole structure 1 is tapered in the direction of the outer edge 7.
• the inclining portion substantially consists of the longitudinally extending portion delimited by dashed lines L1-L2.
• the protruding section 6d causes an outwards inclination in the form of a plane extending along line P1-P2 in the inclining portion at an upper side of the sole structure, from the outer edge to the inner edge, which plane is located at a greater distance from a surface on which the sole structure 1 (or shoe) is located at the inner edge 4 than at the outer edge 7.
• an angle ⁇ is formed with the surface in which the shoe is located.
• the angle ⁇ is preferably io° or more.
• protruding section 6d could be placed closer to the very front of the sole structure, or further in the longitudinal direction towards the back section 3, as long as it is located in the front section 2, or in direct connection to the front section 2 of the sole structure 1.
• the protruding section 6d could even extend from the front section 2 towards the very back section 3 of the sole structure, in which case the inclining portion will stretch across almost the complete length of the sole structure.
• the protruding section 6d preferably, but optionally, extends longitudinally over a greater part of the front section 2.
• the protruding section 6d has a transversal width and thus extends transversally over a part of the sole structure, such as over at least a third of the width of the sole structure 1.
• the transversally extending protruding section 6d will advantageously have the sole structure 1 (or the shoe using the sole structure) smoothly and
• Figure 8a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• Figure 8b shows a cross section of the sole structure 1 in a front view, which sole structure 1 is arranged as an outsole of a shoe.
• the sole structure 1 has a front section 2 and a back section 3 and further comprises means in the form of a recessed section i2d on an under side 9 for causing at least a portion of the sole structure to be outwards inclining towards an outer edge 7 of the sole structure, i.e. the sole structure 1 is tapered in the direction of the outer edge 7.
• the inclining portion substantially consists of the longitudinally extending portion delimited by dashed lines L1-L2.
• the recessed section i2d causes an outwards inclination in the form of a plane extending along line P1-P2 in the inclining portion at an upper side of the sole structure, from the outer edge to the inner edge, which plane is located at a greater distance from a surface on which the sole structure 1 (or shoe) is located at the inner edge 4 than at the outer edge 7.
• an angle ⁇ is formed with the surface in which the shoe is located.
• the angle ⁇ is preferably io° or more.
• the recessed section i2d could be placed closer to the very front of the sole structure, or further in the longitudinal direction towards the back section 3, as long as it is located in the front section 2, or in direct connection to the front section 2 of the sole structure 1. Further, with reference to Figure 8c, the recessed section i2d could even extend from the front section 2 towards the very back section 3 of the sole structure, in which case the inclining portion will stretch across almost the complete length of the sole structure. As can be seen in all embodiments described with reference to Figures 5-8, the respective sole structure 1 is arranged to incline outwards but is further due to its construction prevented from inclining inwards when in use.
• Figure 9 shows a further embodiment of the present invention, where the sole structure 1 of Figure 4 is arranged as an outsole on a shoe, i.e. a recessed section 12b is arranged on an under side 9 of the sole structure 1 at its inner edge 4 to cause an inwards inclination.
• a padding piece 25 is arranged to be inserted in the recessed section, thereby filling the recessed section and creating a shoe with a substantially flat outsole.
• the padding piece is fastened to the recessed section in the outsole by means of a suitable fastening means such as e.g. Velcro, thereby providing a removable padding piece.
• a wearer of the shoe can selectively remove the padding piece 25 to create a shoe which tilts the wearer's foot inwards. By inserting the padding piece into the recessed section, a "normal" running shoe is obtained.
• Figure 10 shows a still a further embodiment of the present invention, where the sole structure 1 of Figure 8 is arranged as an outsole on a shoe, i.e. a recessed section i2d is arranged on an under side 9 of the sole structure 1 at its outer edge 7 to cause an outwards inclination.
• a padding piece 25 is arranged to be inserted in the recessed section, thereby filling the recessed section and creating a shoe with a substantially flat outsole.
• the padding piece is fastened to the recessed section in the outsole by means of a suitable fastening means such as e.g. Velcro, thereby providing a removable padding piece.
• a wearer of the shoe 30 can selectively remove the padding piece 25 to create a shoe which tilts the wearer's foot inwards.
• a "normal" running shoe is obtained.
• a further embodiment of the present invention envisages that a removable protruding piece is attached to a substantially flat outsole of a shoe, thereby creating a shoe with an outsole that tilts the wearer's foot in the appropriate direction.
• the removable protruding piece would embody any one of the protruding sections 6b (inward tilting) or 6d (outward tilting) shown in Figures 3 and 7, respectively.
• the protruding piece is fastened to the outsole by means of a suitable fastening means such as e.g. Velcro.
• a wearer of the shoe can selectively attach the protruding piece to a "normal" running shoe to create a shoe which tilts the wearer's foot in the appropriate direction.
• Figure 11a shows a bottom view of a sole structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure lib shows a side view of the same sole structure 1, where the sole structure is provided on the under side of a shoe, either as an outsole or alternatively as an add-on to the outsole
• the means for causing the inclination of the sole structure located in or in connection to the front section 2 comprises a first protruding section 13 on an under side 9 of the sole structure at the outer edge 7 to create an inward tilting angle.
• the means for causing inclination may comprise one or more further protruding sections.
• the first protruding section 13 preferably, but optionally, extends longitudinally over a greater part of the front section 2. Further, the first protruding section 13 has a transversal width and thus extends transversally over a part of the sole structure 1, such as at least over a third of the width of the front section 2 of the sole structure 1.
• the means for causing inwards inclination further comprises a second protruding section 15 on the under side 9 of the sole structure at the inner edge 4 and located longitudinally on a level with, and being less protruding than, the first protruding section 13.
• the means for causing inwards inclination further comprises a third protruding section 14 on the under side 9 of the sole structure at the outer edge 7 and located in front of the first protruding section 13.
• the third protruding section 14 could be more or less protruding than the first protruding section 13.
• the third protruding section 14 could be equally protruding to the first protruding section 13.
• inclination further comprises a fourth protruding section 16 on the under side 9 of the sole structure at the inner edge 4 and located longitudinally on a level with, and being less protruding than, the third protruding section 14.
• the means for causing inwards inclination further comprises a fifth protruding section 17 on the under side 9 of the sole structure in front of the third 14 and the fourth 16 protruding section at a central part of the front section 2, and being less protruding than both the third 14 and the fourth 16 protruding section.
• the front section 2 of the sole structure 1 is bent upwards in relation to the back section 3.
• the front section 2 forms and angle ⁇ with the surface on which the sole structure rests of 30 degrees or more.
• the advantages of having the front section 2 being bent upwards in relation to the back section 3 are more apparent in case of a rigid sole structure, or at least where the front section 2 of the sole structure is rigid or at least substantially non- flexible, namely that propulsion is increased when a wearer of the shoe on which the sole structure is arranged presses the front section 2 against the surface by means of her forefoot and thus causes the wearer to experience a so called trebuchet effect.
• the sole structure according to the embodiments described with reference to any one of Figures 1-11 could be either rigid or flexible depending on the particular usage for which the respective sole structure is designated.
• Figure 12a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 12b shows a side view of the same sole structure 1, where the sole structure is arranged at a shoe either as an insole, a midsole or an outsole.
• the sole structure 1 is rigid and has a front section 2 being bent upwards in relation to a back section 3.
• the sole structure 1 is further preferably thin and of a light-weight material such as carbon fibre.
• an arched section 11 defines a transition between the front section 2 and the back section 3, as can be seen in Figure 12b.
• the arched section 11 provides a smooth and gradual transition between the back section 3 and the front section 2.
• the sole structure can be designed to have a greater thickness at its outer edge 7 in case inwards inclination is to be attained, or alternatively to have a greater thickness at its inner edge 4 in case outwards inclination is to be achieved.
• the means for causing the inclination of the sole structure 1, which means is located in or in connection to the front section 2, could be a protruding section on an under side of the sole structure, at the outer edge 7 to create an inward tilting angle, or alternatively at the inner edge 4 to create an outward tilting angle.
• the front section 2 forms an angle with the surface on which the sole structure rests of 30 degrees or more.
• the front section 2 of the sole structure 1 is bent upwards in relation to the back section 3.
• the front section 2 thus forms and angle with the surface on which the sole structure rests of preferably 30 degrees or more, thereby increasing propulsion when a wearer of the shoe on which the sole structure 1 is arranged presses the front section 2 against the surface by means of her forefoot and thus causes the wearer to experience a trebuchet effect.
• Figure 13a shows a top view of a sole structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 13b shows an elevated perspective view of an under side of a sole structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 13c shows a front view of the same sole structure 1, which sole structure is arranged on a shoe either as an insole, a midsole or an outsole.
• the sole structure 1 is rigid and has a front section 2 being bent upwards in relation to a back section 3.
• the sole structure 1 is further preferably thin and of a light-weight material such as carbon fibre.
• the transition between the front section 2 and the back section 3 of the sole structure is defined by a line B-B, thus creating a sharp and direct transition.
• the sole structure 1 has a substantially uniform thickness.
• the means for causing the inclination of the sole structure 1 in an inwards direction is embodied in the form of a raised section 6e arranged at the back section 3 of the sole structure in connection to the line B-B at the inner edge 4, which line defines the transition between the front section 2 and the back section 3.
• the raised section 6e is located in direct connection to the front section 6e.
• the raised section 6e extends into the front section 2.
• the raised section 6e is located in connection to the front section 2 at the inner edge 4, at the transition defined by line B-B, without actually extending into the front section 2.
• the raised section 6e is such that when the sole structure or shoe is viewed from the inner edge 4, the raised section 6e will have the appearance of an arch at the inner edge 4 which decreases in width and height towards the outer edge 7, where the rear of the back section 3 and the outer edge 7 lies in the same horizontal plane.
• the raised section 6e is preferably at its highest and widest at the inner edge 4 and narrows in width and reduces in height in the direction of the outer edge 7.
• the raised section 6e located in the back section 3 at line B-B is positioned at the front foot pad of the wearer behind the big toe at the first metatarsal bone and thus narrows in width and reduces in height in the direction of the fifth metatarsal bone.
• the raised section 6e is arranged to extend from the inner edge 4 of the sole structure 1 to a first point 5 located on a distance from the inner edge 4, which distance constitutes at least a third of the width of the sole structure at the transition B-B between the front section 2 and the back section 3 and wherein the first point 5 is arranged to be located in a same horizontal plane as the back section 3 of the sole structure 1.
• the first point 5 is located at the back section 3 in connection to transition line B-B.
• Other distances may be envisaged, such as half or two thirds of the width of the sole structure.
• the raised section 6e can extend all the way to the outer edge 7. It can be seen that a first edge is created in the sole structure along a rupture line extending from the first point 5 to a second point 10, a second edge is created along a rupture line extending from the first point 5 to a third point 13, and a third edge is created along a rupture line extending from the first point 5 to a fourth point 18, this invention is particularly advantageous since inclining planes can be created along one or more rupture lines, thus creating highly elaborated inclinations which further easier can be adapted to individual requirements of a wearer, if necessary.
• the line B-B along which the front section 2 is bent upwards in relation to the back section 3 extends in an embodiment of the present invention from the inner edge 4 backwards towards the outer edge 7 of the sole structure 1.
• the line forms an angle a with the transversal direction of the sole structure 1 in the range of 0-35 0 .
• the line B-B along which the front section 2 is bent upwards in relation to the back section 3 extends from the inner edge 4 forwards towards the outer edge 7 of the sole structure 1.
• the line forms an angle a with the transversal direction of the sole structure 1 in the range of -i5°-o°.
• the line roughly follows the natural angle/anatomy of the foot, i.e. the transition between the metatarsal bone and the phalanx bone of the foot, from the fifth (i.e. the little toe) to the second metatarsal to the fifth to the and second phalanx, respectively.
• the front section 2 of the sole structure 1 is bent upwards in relation to the back section 3.
• the front section 2 thus forms an angle with the surface on which the sole structure rests of preferably 30 degrees or more, thereby increasing propulsion when a wearer of the shoe on which the sole structure 1 is arranged presses the front section 2 against the surface by means of her forefoot and thus causes the wearer to experience a trebuchet effect.
• the raised section 6e will further improve the biomechanical conditions of a wearer of a shoe on which the sole structure according to embodiments of the invention is arranged, since it will aid the foot in tilting inwards and further facilitate transversal stability.
• Figure 14a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 14b shows a cross section of the sole structure 1 taken along line I-Ii, being arranged with a resilient section 19 at its inner edge 4, wherein a plane P1-P2 extending at an upper side of the sole structure, from an outer edge 7 to the inner edge 4 of the sole structurei , is located at a greater distance from a surface on which the sole structure rests at the outer edge 7 than at the inner edge 4, when a force acts on the resilient section 19 (delimited by dashed lines L1-L2) and presses the resilient section against the surface.
• the resilient section 19 when contacting an underlying surface, the resilient section 19 will be compressed when acted upon by a force applied by the weight of a wearer of a shoe on which the sole structure 1 is arranged, and cause the foot to tilt inwards.
• Figure 15a shows an elevated perspective view of a sole structure 1 according to a further embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 15b shows a cross section of the sole structure 1 taken along line J-Ji, being arranged with a resilient section 20 at its outer edge 7, wherein a plane P1-P2 extending at an upper side of the sole structure 1, from the outer edge 7 to an inner edge 4 of the sole structure 1, is located at a greater distance from a surface on which the sole structure is located at the inner edge 4 than at the outer edge 7, when a force acts on the resilient section 20 (delimited by dashed lines L1-L2) and presses the resilient section against the surface.
• the resilient section 20 when contacting an underlying surface, the resilient section 20 will be compressed when acted upon by a force applied by the weight of a wearer of a shoe on which the sole structure 1 is arranged, and cause the foot to tilt outwards.

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• 2013
  • 2013-09-18 US US14/434,225 patent/US20150264998A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-09-18 EP EP13763076.0A patent/EP2906065B1/de active Active
  • 2013-09-18 WO PCT/EP2013/069346 patent/WO2014056687A2/en not_active Ceased

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