EP3949786A1

EP3949786A1 - Sole for shoes and corresponding shoe that comprises it

Info

Publication number: EP3949786A1
Application number: EP21187527.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sayed Muslim Mirza Din Mahamed
Original assignee: Da Ma e Co SRL
Current assignee: Da Ma e Co SRL
Priority date: 2020-08-06
Filing date: 2021-07-23
Publication date: 2022-02-09

Abstract

A sole (1) for shoes (10), which is constituted by a single element made with a compound based on expandable and cross-linkable polyolefins, commonly known as expanded ethylene vinyl acetate (expanded EVA), which comprises transverse grooves (2) distributed on two mutually opposite faces. A first face is designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the foot of the user, a second face is designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the ground during use.

Description

The present invention relates to a sole for shoes and any corresponding shoe that comprises it.
Shoes are constituted by two main elements, the sole and the upper, between which intermediate layers can be interposed (such as mid-soles, insoles, protective sheets and the like) and on which further functional components (treads, heel protectors etc.) and aesthetic components (buckles, decorations and the like) can be attached.
Soles have been made of a huge number of different materials, of natural origin, artificial origin, and combinations thereof.
Among the elastomeric materials adopted to make soles, the use is increasingly frequent of EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate): expanded EVA is resistant to fungi and bacteria, it is non-allergenic and non-toxic, and so it is particularly suitable for all applications in which there is direct contact with the body of the user. It is normally used to make parts of soles, in combination with other materials or with different versions of the same material. In sports shoes, EVA is used to make the shock-absorbing part: the shock-absorbing part can be made with a "soft" EVA or a "hard" EVA or with a combination thereof.
The comfort provided by a sole that comprises layers made of EVA is particularly appreciated by users, although it is generally applied only to some categories of shoes which constitute only a small percentage of the entire sector.
In order to increase the comfort of shoes that instead comprise a sole made of rubber or a layering of rubber and other materials, the use is known of providing transverse incisions that define zones in the sole that are completely empty.
Obviously, the localized weakening of the sole, owing to the presence of recesses and incisions, results in a greater pliability thereof in certain areas (the areas affected by the recesses and incisions) and therefore makes it possible to calibrate the elastic response and shock absorption (and as a consequence the comfort).
Such structure can easily be provided in soles made of rubber, in that the molding technique is simplified by the linear and predictable behavior of the material during injection and extraction from the mold.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a sole for shoes that is made of EVA and is adapted to be applied in any type of shoe.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a sole for shoes that has a predefined progression of the elastic response and of the pliability of its parts.
Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe that offers a high level of comfort.
Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe for specific applications, with the pliability of the sole calibrated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a sole for shoes and a shoe that comprises such sole which are of low cost, easily and practically implemented, and safe in use.
This aim and these objects are achieved by a sole for shoes, characterized in that it is constituted by a single element made with a compound based on expandable and cross-linkable polyolefins, commonly known as expanded ethylene vinyl acetate (expanded EVA), which comprises transverse grooves distributed on two mutually opposite faces, a first face being designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the foot of the user, a second face being designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the ground during use.
Such aim and such objects are also achieved by a shoe characterized in that it comprises an upper and a sole that is constituted by a single element made of expanded ethylene vinyl acetate (expanded EVA), which comprises transverse grooves distributed on two mutually opposite faces, a first face being designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the foot of the user, a second face being designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the ground during use.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the sole for shoes and of the corresponding shoe that comprises it, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a possible embodiment of a shoe provided with a sole according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the shoe in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an additional possible embodiment of a shoe provided with a sole according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of an additional possible embodiment of a shoe provided with a sole according to the invention;
Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of an additional possible embodiment of a shoe provided with a sole according to the invention.

With particular reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a sole for shoes and the reference numeral 10 generally designates a shoe provided with the sole 1.
The sole 1 according to the invention is constituted by a single element made with a compound based on expandable and cross-linkable polyolefins, commonly known as expanded ethylene vinyl acetate (expanded EVA), which comprises transverse grooves 2 distributed on two mutually opposite faces.
A first face of the sole 1 affected by the grooves 2 will be the face designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the foot of the user, a second face while a second face will be the face designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the ground during use.
The grooves 2 can advantageously have a shape preferably chosen from prismatic, with a constant cross-section the shape of which is fanciful, with a constant cross-section the shape of which is geometric, semi-cylindrical, semi-conical, cylindrical, conical, or irregular, and combinations thereof.
In particular it should be noted that the terms semi-cylindrical and cylindrical are also used to mean irregular cylinders, such as cylinders that are elliptical, hyperbolic, parabolic and the like.
In practice, each groove 2, seen from the front (therefore observing the sole 1 from one of its sides) will have a track that can correspond to any geometric figure, but also to any fanciful shape (such as heart shapes, or any other shape).
The shape of each groove need not necessarily be the same between the outside and the inside of the sole for each groove; the grooves need to be designed with regard to the elastic response and the comfort that the sole needs to have at the corresponding zones where that groove is located.
It should be noted that prismatic grooves 2 with a triangular base (shown by way of example in the accompanying figures) can advantageously be a plurality: in this case the grooves 2 will positively be distributed with an alternating progression on the first and on the second face, so as to define a side profile of the sole 1 that is substantially zigzagged.
Such shape will determine an extended pliability and deformability of the sole (with respect to traditional soles).
In particular, even in an embodiment that comprises prismatic grooves 2 with a polygonal base, it will be advantageously possible for the grooves to be a plurality. In this case too, the grooves 2 will be distributed with an alternating progression on the first and on the second face, so as to define a side profile of the sole 1 of a type chosen from that of a square wave, a sawtooth wave and the like.
By adopting particular geometric shapes for the grooves 2, it will be possible to vary at will the deformability of the sole and therefore the comfort perceived by the user wearing it.
Finally it should be noted that also if the grooves 2 are substantially semi-cylindrical, semi-conical and the like, it is possible for the grooves to be a plurality and that they are distributed with an alternating progression on the first and on the second face, so as to define a side profile of the sole of the type of a sinusoidal wave and the like.
All the shape structures illustrated can be chosen for specific applications or combined with each other, in order to obtain an optimal technical result in terms of elastic response, pliability, deformability and therefore comfort.
Obviously, the distribution (concentration in some parts and spacing-out in other) along the longitudinal extension of the sole 1 of the grooves 2, as with their dimensions, can be used for a perfect calibration of the pliability and of the elastic response of the sole 1, so as to adapt the sole 1 to specific uses or in order to maximize the comfort of the shoe 10 that incorporates it.
The shoe 10 according to the invention comprises an upper 11 and the sole 1 which is constituted by a single element made of expanded ethylene vinyl acetate (expanded EVA).
As illustrated above the sole 1 of the shoe 10 will conveniently comprise transverse grooves 2 distributed on two mutually opposite faces, a first face being designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the foot of the user, a second face being designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the ground during use.
The most innovative characteristic of the shoe 10 lies in the fact that the upper 11 that can be connected to the sole 1 can advantageously be of a type chosen from uppers for classic shoes, uppers for sneakers, uppers for work shoes, uppers for safety shoes, uppers for hiking shoes, uppers for combat boots, uppers for boots, uppers for snow boots, uppers for gym shoes and the like.
The innovation of the present invention lies in the possibility of using the same sole 1 for shoes 10 of different type, thanks to the great versatility of the sole 1 which ensures the maximum of comfort by virtue of its particular shape structure (and the specific distribution of the grooves 2), without needing to be joined to further elements (traditional soles comprise multiple glued or heat-sealed layers, each one of which is designed to ensure the necessary comfort and/or the appropriate resistance to abrasion and/or the adapted elastic response).
Instead, the shoe 10 achieves such result solely by adopting a sole 1 that ensures comfort (localized softness where it is needed according to ergonomic criteria), resistance to abrasion (in order to prevent the sole 1 from being rapidly worn out during use) and good elastic response (necessary in sports shoes and in some types of work shoes).
It should be noted that, conveniently, between the sole 1 and the upper 11 at least one sheet 12 of material can be interposed which is preferably chosen from polymers, cork, hide, leather, eco-friendly hide, eco-friendly leather, textile fibers, natural fibers, wood and derivatives thereof, composite materials and combination thereof. The possibility is not ruled out that such sheet can be metallic, for example in safety shoes.
In such case the user will rest the foot on such sheet 12.
Finally it should be noted that the sole 1 can conveniently be joined to the respective upper 11 with a technique chosen from adhesive bonding, heat-sealing, sewing, interlocking, interference fit and combinations thereof.
Joins by interference fit can also entail the adoption of optional elements, such as nails, rivets and the like.
Advantageously the present invention solves the above mentioned problems, by providing a sole 1 for shoes 10 that is made of EVA and is adapted to be applied in any type of shoe 10.
Conveniently the sole 1 for shoes 10 according to the invention has a predefined progression of the elastic response and of the pliability of its parts (this is obtained by virtue of the specific distribution, concentration and dimensions of the grooves 2 present).
Usefully the shoe 10 according to the invention offers a high level of comfort.
Profitably the shoe 10 according to the invention is suitable for specific applications, with the pliability of the sole 1 calibrated.
Positively the sole 1 for shoes 10 and any corresponding shoe 10 that comprises such sole 1 are easily and practically implemented and of low cost: such characteristics make the sole 1 and the shoe 10 according to the invention safe in use.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.
In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.
In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Utility Model Application No. 202020000004684 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A sole for shoes (10), characterized in that it is constituted by a single element made with a compound based on expandable and cross-linkable polyolefins, commonly known as expanded ethylene vinyl acetate (expanded EVA), which comprises transverse grooves (2) distributed on two mutually opposite faces, a first face being designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the foot of the user, a second face being designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the ground during use.
The sole for shoes according to claim 1, characterized in that said grooves (2) have a shape preferably chosen from prismatic, with a constant cross-section the shape of which is fanciful, with a constant cross-section the shape of which is geometric, semi-cylindrical, semi-conical, cylindrical, conical, or irregular, and combinations thereof.
The sole for shoes according to claim 2, characterized in that said prismatic grooves (2) with a triangular base are a plurality, said grooves (2) being distributed with an alternating progression on said first and on said second face so as to define a side profile of said sole (1) that is substantially zigzagged.
The sole for shoes according to claim 2, characterized in that said prismatic grooves (2) with a polygonal base are a plurality, said grooves (2) being distributed with an alternating progression on said first and on said second face so as to define a side profile of said sole (1) of a type chosen from that of a square wave, a sawtooth wave and the like.
The sole for shoes according to claim 2, characterized in that said grooves (2) which are substantially semi-cylindrical, semi-conical and the like are a plurality, said grooves (2) being distributed with an alternating progression on said first and on said second face so as to define a side profile of said sole (1) of the type of a sinusoidal wave and the like.
A shoe, characterized in that it comprises an upper (11) and a sole (1) that is constituted by a single element made of expanded ethylene vinyl acetate (expanded EVA), which comprises transverse grooves (2) distributed on two mutually opposite faces, a first face being designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the foot of the user, a second face being designed to abut, directly or indirectly, against the ground during use.
The shoe according to claim 6, characterized in that said upper (11) is of a type chosen from uppers for classic shoes, uppers for sneakers, uppers for work shoes, uppers for safety shoes, uppers for hiking shoes, uppers for combat boots, uppers for boots, uppers for snow boots, uppers for gym shoes and the like.
The shoe according to claim 6, characterized in that between said sole (1) and said upper (11) at least one sheet (12) of material is interposed which is preferably chosen from polymers, cork, hide, leather, eco-friendly hide, eco-friendly leather, textile fibers, natural fibers, wood and derivatives thereof, composite materials and combination thereof.
The shoe according to claim 6, characterized in that said sole (1) is joined to said upper (11) with a technique chosen from adhesive bonding, heat-sealing, sewing, interlocking, interference fit, including with the adoption of optional elements, such as nails, rivets and the like, and combinations thereof.