EP1843675B1 - Shoe, in particular a sports shoe - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, comprising an upper part ( 1 ) and a sole ( 2 ). Said sole ( 2 ) comprises a support or inner part ( 2 ') which is joined to the upper part ( 1 ), an intermediate sole ( 2 '') which is joined to the support or upper part ( 2 ') and an outer sole ( 2 ''') which is joined to the intermediate sole ( 2 ''). According to the invention, the intermediate sole ( 2 '') is embodied at least over one part of the base outlet surface as a damping element in order to maintain the simple production possibilities of the spring and dampening ratio of the shoe, said damping element comprising a plurality of first elements ( 3 ) which are arranged next to each other and which extend, essentially, in a load direction (R) over a pre-determined height (H) in the unloaded state of the damping element, and is embodied as a hollow body defining a receiving area ( 4 ) in which an associated second element ( 5 ) with a smaller cross-section then the first element ( 3 ) can at least partially penetrate. The second element ( 5 ) extends essentially in the load direction (R) over a pre-determined height (h) in the unloaded state of the damping element ( 1 ), and is arranged in a coaxial manner in relation to the first element ( 3 ).

Description

The invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with a shoe upper and a sole, wherein the sole has a connected to the shoe upper or inner part, connected to the carrier or inner part midsole and an outsole connected to the outsole.

Shoes of this type are well known in the art. In order to influence the spring and damping behavior of the shoe according to desired criteria, it is further known to integrate damping elements, in particular in the midsole, so that the sole is given certain properties in this respect.

From the WO 03/092423 A1 is a damping element for a shoe, in particular for a sports shoe, known, which has a special construction. The damping element has a plurality of juxtaposed individual elements, each forming a spring and damping chamber in the manner of a piston-cylinder system. In the form corresponding first and second elements are connected to each other via a connecting portion, wherein upon loading of the sole, the smaller formed element enters the larger, which forms a receiving space for this purpose.

Such a damping element is according to said solution primarily intended to be integrated into a midsole, for which there are other models in the prior art. This is on the EP 0 387 505 A1 which discloses a honeycomb-shaped damping element, which is inserted into a receiving space in the midsole of the shoe.

Similar solutions with spring and damping elements in the manner of a "piston-cylinder system" reveal the US 4,521,979 and the US 2003/0033731 A1 ,

Of course, the production of such a shoe is a not inconsiderable expense. In the production of the midsole, a receiving space must first be introduced into this or this receiving space must be made in the manufacture of the sole with. Then the damping element must be made and this finally installed in the midsole, before it is connected to the other shoe components.

The invention has for its object to provide a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, which is characterized by a simpler manufacturing method, but not to dispense with the advantageous property of the previously known damping element. It should be possible in particular to keep the spring and damping behavior of the shoe influenceable.

The solution of this problem by the invention is characterized in that the midsole at least over part of the Floor-tread surface of the shoe is designed exclusively as a damping element having a number of juxtaposed first elements extending substantially in a loading direction in the unloaded state of the damping element over a predetermined height and, designed as a hollow body defining a receiving space in the one associated second element, at least partially penetrate in the cross-section of smaller dimensions than the first element, wherein the second element extends substantially in the loading direction in the unloaded state of the damping element over a predetermined height and is arranged coaxially with the first element, wherein the outsole by a number individual sole parts is formed, wherein each sole part is arranged at the end remote from the first element of the second element or at the end remote from the second element of the first element, wherein the two associated elements übe r are connected to each other an elastic connecting portion, which extends only between the first element and the second element, and wherein the second element is located in the unloaded state of the damping element in the loading direction outside of the first element.

Thus, the concept of the invention is based on the fact that the previously known damping element is used exclusively to form it - at least over a part of the surface of the midsole. Furthermore, the outsole is formed segmented; each "piston" of the midsole piston-cylinder elements receives part of the outsole in contact with the ground.

The shape of the individual parts of the outsole preferably corresponds to that of the second element - in a section perpendicular to the loading direction.

As is known in the art, the second element is also designed as a hollow body according to further development. However, it is also possible that the second element is designed as a completely solid or at least substantially massive part. Furthermore, in each case a first Element and a second element together with the connecting portion form a gas-tight chamber.

The first and the second element usually have in a section perpendicular to the loading direction a mutually corresponding shape. Here is intended above all a polygonal, especially hexagonal, form; possible is also a circular shape. This is to be understood that the cross-sectional geometry of the first and the second element are formed congruent to each other, so that a matching receiving and entry space is created in the first element for the second element.

Advantageously, the first element is in the unloaded state of the midsole with its axial extent substantially outside the axial extent of the second element. This is to be understood that the piston-like second element is arranged in the unloaded state of the midsole axially outside of the cylinder-like first element. Only when loading the damping element in the loading direction then enters the "piston" in the "cylinder".

The first elements may be interconnected in their lateral region or their lateral boundary walls may each be formed from a common section. Each element can also be manufactured as a separate component and then assembled.

The first and / or second elements may have different heights at least partially in the unloaded state of the damping element.

In the unloaded state of the damping element of the connecting portion in a plane perpendicular to the loading direction may be flat or arched. With the latter embodiment, the entry of the "piston" is favored in the "cylinder" under load.

The first element, the connecting portion and the second element are preferably formed in one piece. In this case, the first element, the connecting portion and the second element can be produced by a common injection molding process.

To create gas-tight chambers, the end remote from the second element of the first element may be connected to a sealing film. Gas-tightness of the end of the second element remote from the first element can be achieved by the outsole segment placed there.

The material of the elements is preferably plastic, in particular thermoplastic material, in question. Have proven - as known in the art - polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutane, polyamide, polyurethane or a mixture of at least two of these plastics, wherein the plastic of the midsole is particularly preferably translucent or transparent. However, for the outsole also such a plastic in question, wherein the material here is preferably not translucent or not transparent.

The material of the first element, the second element and the connecting portion, and the geometric dimensions of these parts are selected to determine the damping properties of the damping element accordingly.

In contrast to previously known solutions, the number of adjacent or interconnected damping elements represent the midsole itself, there are only these elements that form the midsole. Optionally, the end remote from the carrier or inner end of the second elements so wear-resistant and / or stiff and / or thick be formed, that this end portion of the second elements acts as an outsole and acts, d. H. that then no separate outer sole member is attached to the end of the second element.

The midsole can absorb energy when loading the sole in the direction of loading and release it again when the sole is relieved. In order to do so while providing a return effect when the damping element is depressurized, the lower axial end region of the first element and the upper axial end region of the second element are connected to one another via the connecting section. It is in the connecting portion - as well as the first and second element - is a part of elastic plastic material, so that upon application of a loading force to the damping element in the loading direction, a deformation takes place. The second element occurs like a piston in the receiving space of the first element.

• Das dem zweiten Element abgewandte Ende des ersten Elements kann mit einer Dichtfolie verbunden, insbesondere damit verschweißt werden. Damit bilden das erste Element, das zweite Element, der Verbindungsabschnitt und die Dichtfolie einen gasdicht abgeschlossenen Raum, der optimale Feder- und Dämpfeigenschaften aufweist.

Thus, after pressure relief of the damping element of the initial state is reached again, not only the connecting portion is made elastic, the following measures can still be taken:

• The second element facing away from the end of the first element can be connected to a sealing film, in particular welded thereto. Thus form the first element, the second element, the connecting portion and the sealing film a gas-tight closed space, which has optimal spring and damping properties.

Individual "piston-cylinder elements" are arranged side by side to form a damping element with greater areal extent. While the first elements functioning as "cylinders" are connected to each other, the second elements, the "pistons", are freely adjacent to one another.

By adjusting the geometry of the sole elements and in particular the heights and widths of the first and second elements, by the choice of the thickness and design of the connecting portions, and finally by the choice of the material of which these parts are made, the spring and damping characteristics of the damping element be adapted or selected as desired. The spring and damping characteristics of the damping element - in particular the spring force on the spring travel - can thus be largely selected according to a desired course.

• Fig. 1 schematisch einen Schuh, von der Seite aus betrachtet,
• Fig. 2 die Vergrößerung "Z" gemäß Fig. 1 und
• Fig. 3 den Schnitt A-B gemäß Fig. 2.

In the drawing, an embodiment of the invention is shown. Show it:

• Fig. 1 schematically a shoe, viewed from the side,
• Fig. 2 the magnification "Z" according to Fig. 1 and
• Fig. 3 the section AB according to Fig. 2 ,

In Fig. 1 is a shoe, namely a sports shoe, shown only very schematically. The shoe has in a known manner a shoe upper 1, which is connected to a sole 2.

The sole 2 is designed so that it expands in the front sole area 8 over a certain areal extent. In the rear sole region 9, it also expands over a defined areal extent.

The structure of the sole 2 goes into more detail Fig. 2 out. The sole 2 consists of three (sole) parts, namely a carrier or inner part 2 ', a midsole 2 "and an outsole 2"'. The support or inner part 2 'may be an insole, an insole, a strobe sole or directly around a shaft material that forms the connection between the shoe upper 1 and the midsole 2. "A particularly preferred embodiment provides the carrier or inner part 2 'as a plastic injection molded part (preferably made of EVA) and is cup-shaped.

The carrier or inner part 2 'is connected to the shoe upper 1. The compound can be produced, for example, by an injection molding process by injection molding the plastic material forming the carrier or inner part 2 'onto the upper part 1, which consists for example of textile material. Similarly, a bonding of shoe upper 1 and carrier and inner part 2 'is possible.

The midsole 2 "consists of a plurality of damping elements, which are constructed in the manner of a piston-cylinder system.At the end of the midsole 2" remote from the carrier or inner part 2 'is the Outsole 2 "'arranged, which consists of one of the number of damping elements corresponding number of sole segments 2"'.

It should be noted that it is not necessary that the entire sole be constructed as explained. For example, only the front sole region 8 can be configured as described, while the rear foot region can be formed in a previously known manner.

The exact structure of the sole 2 goes from the synopsis of Figures 2 and 3 out.

The individual damping elements that form the midsole 2 "are in the exemplary embodiment - viewed in the loading direction R of the sole 2 - formed with a hexagonal basic shape in the manner of a honeycomb pattern (s. Fig. 2 ).

Each damping element has a first element 3, which extends over a defined height H and forms a receiving space 4. Via a web-shaped connecting section 6, the end of the first element 3 facing away from the carrier or inner part 2 'is connected to a second element 5 which has a shape corresponding to the shape of the first element 3 - viewed in the direction R -, d. H. Also, the second elements 5 have a hexagonal shape in the embodiment. The second element 5 extends over a height h, which does not have to be equal to the height H.

How out Fig. 3 It can be seen that the dimensions - width B of the first element 3 and width b of the second element 5 - are selected so that the second element 5 can enter the receiving space 4 defined by the first element 3 when the damping element is loaded in the loading direction R is. The first element 3 and the second element 5 thus operate in the manner of a telescopic damper, wherein the first element 3 acts as a "cylinder", in which the second element 5 can enter in the manner of a "piston".

At the end of the second element 5 facing away from the carrier or inner part 2 ', an outsole segment 2' 'is attached, for example adhesively bonded or directly injection-molded, which consists for example of abrasion-resistant plastic material "'a shape that corresponds to that of the second element 5, but this is not necessarily the case.

If a force in the direction R is applied to the outsole segment 2 "', as occurs when the shoe hits the ground, above all the connecting section 6 deforms, so that, as explained, the second element 5 moves into the receiving space in the manner of a piston 4 of the first element 3 occurs.

In order to positively influence the jounce behavior, the space enclosed by the first element 3, connecting section 6 and second element 5 can be made gas-tight.

Optionally, gas-tightness to the carrier or inner part 2 'can be produced by a film 7 which, if required, is glued or welded onto the end region of the first elements 3 facing the carrier or inner part 2'.

While in known solutions, the outsole is practically always designed as a flat extending element that at least one forms the essential area of the contact surface to the ground, it is thus provided here that the outsole is formed segmented and secured to the second elements.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Shoeupper

2

sole

2 '

Carrier or inner part

2 '

midsole

2 ''

outsole

3

first element

4

accommodation space

5

second element

6

connecting portion

7

sealing film

8th

Front sole area

9

Behind sole area

R

load direction

H

Height of the first element

H

Height of the second element

B

Dimension of the first element

b

Dimension of the second element

Claims (20)

1. Shoe, in particular sports shoe, with a shoe upper part (1) and a sole (2), where the sole (2) has a support part or inner part (2') connected to the shoe upper part (1), a midsole (2") connected to the support or inner part (2') and an outsole (2"') connected to the midsole (2"),
   characterized in that
   the midsole (2") is, at least across a part of the ground-contact area of the shoe, exclusively a damping element, which has a number of first elements (3) arranged alongside one another which in essence extend across a prescribed height (H) in a direction (R) of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element and, being hollow bodies, define a receptacle (4) into which an associated second element (5), smaller in cross-sectional dimensions than the first element (3), can penetrate at least to some extent,
   wherein the second element (5) in essence extends across a prescribed height (h) in a direction (R) of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element and has been arranged coaxially with respect to the first element (3),
   wherein the outsole (2"') is formed via a number of individual sole parts,
   wherein each sole part has been arranged at that end of the second element (5) that faces away from the first element (3) or that end of the first element (3) that faces away from the second element (5),
   wherein the two elements (3, 5) associated with one another have connection to one another by way of an elastic connecting portion (6), which extends merely between the first element (3) and the second element (5), and
   wherein the second element (5) is located in the unloaded condition of the damping element, viewed in the direction (R) of loading, outside the first element (3).
2. Shoe according to Claim 1, characterized in that the shape of the individual parts of the outsole (2"') corresponds to that of the second element (5) or to that of the first element (3) in a section perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading.
3. Shoe according to Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the second element (5) is also a hollow body.
4. Shoe according to Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the second element (5) is an entirely solid or at least substantially solid part.
5. Shoe according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that respectively a first element (3) and a second element (5), together with the connecting portion (6), form a gastight chamber.
6. Shoe according to any of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first element (3) and the second element (5) have a mutually corresponding shape in a section perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading.
7. Shoe according to Claim 6, characterized in that the first element (3) and the second element (5) have a polygonal, in particular hexagonal, shape in a section perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading.
8. Shoe according to Claim 6, characterized in that the first element (3) and the second element (5) have a circular shape in a section perpendicular to direction (R) of loading.
9. Shoe according to any of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first elements (3) have connection to one another in their lateral region, or their lateral boundary walls are respectively formed from a shared portion.
10. Shoe according to any of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first and/or second elements (3, 5) have at least to some extent, in the unloaded condition of the damping element, different heights (H, h).
11. Shoe according to any of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the connecting portion (6) has a flat profile in a plane perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element.
12. Shoe according to any of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the connecting portion (6) has a curved profile in a plane perpendicular to the direction (R) of loading in the unloaded condition of the damping element.
13. Shoe according to any of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the first element (3), the connecting portion (6) and the second element (5) are one-piece items.
14. Shoe according to Claim 13, characterized in that the first element (3), the connecting portion (6) and the second element (5) have been produced via a common injection-moulding process.
15. Shoe according to any of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that that end of the first element (3) that faces away from the second element (5) has connection to a sealing foil (7).
16. Shoe according to any of Claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the elements (3, 5) are composed of plastic, in particular of thermoplastic material.
17. Shoe according to Claim 16, characterized in that the plastic provided comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polyamide, polyurethane or a mixture of at least two of these plastics.
18. Shoe according to Claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the plastic is translucent or transparent.
19. Shoe according to any of Claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the outsole (2"') is composed of plastic, preferably of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polyamide, polyurethane, or a mixture of at least two of these plastics, and the material here is not translucent or is not transparent.
20. Shoe according to any of Claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the material of the first element (3), of the second element (5) and of the connecting portion (6) and the geometric dimensions of these parts, have been selected in order to establish the damping properties of the damping element.

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