FR2830725A1 - SPORTS SHOE - Google Patents

Abstract

Sports shoe (1) comprising an upper (2), an outsole (4) and a midsole (3), which comprises a heel area comprising a lateral flank (10), a medial flank (11) and a rear flank (12) surrounding a central cushion. The shoe (1) further comprises a heel strap (5) comprising a lateral belt (7) applied to said lateral sidewall (10), a medial belt (8) applied to said medial sidewall (11), a rear belt (6) applied to said rear flank (12), a lateral anchor (14), a medial anchor (13) and retaining means connecting the lateral (14) and medial (13) anchor at a substantially constant distance one the other. On the other hand, having as a reference plane the plane of the outsole (4), the elevation of the rear belt (6) is substantially the same as the elevation of the side belt (7) and of the medial belt (8). The retaining means linking the lateral (13) and medial (14) anchorage can be a strip (15) made of the same material as the heel strap (5) and integrally formed with it, or even horizontal tongues which at the time of the sole assembly are sandwiched between the midsole and the outsole.

Description

Spell shoe The invention relates to sports shoes and more

  particularly to shoes intended for skatoboard. It is known in the field of the manufacture of sports shoes to provide cushioning means for the heel in order to limit the harmful effects of the shocks suffered by the foot and indirectly by all of the practitioner's joints. It is also known that the increase in the shock absorbing capacities of a shoe takes place

  usually at the expense of shoe stability.

  Document US 6,205,681 shows the construction of a midsole or cup ensuring stability during the race while retaining the shoe cushioning properties. For this a relatively rigid blade is embedded in the rear part of the midsole. If such a construction can be satisfactory for the absorption of small shocks, for example the shocks generated by the contact of the heel with the ground during a running race,

  and is largely unsuitable in the case of more severe shocks.

  Indeed under the effect of a very strong shock or the reception of a jump of several meters, the damping capacities of the soft and elastic material of the midsole are exceeded as well as those of the wavy blade and the sportsman no longer has amortization. We say that the shoe "heels". When there is tailgating the athlete is in danger because

  the energy of the shock must be absorbed by its joints.

  The objective of the invention is to design a sports shoe whose shock absorption capacities are increased and

  which however retains excellent stability.

  The objective of the invention is solved by the presence of a heel strap placed around the periphery of the midsole in the heel area. The heel strap allows to contain the flow of the

  or materials making up the midsole.

  More specifically, the objective of the invention is solved by providing a sports shoe comprising: - a upper - a outsole - a midsole, which comprises a heel zone comprising a lateral flank, a medial flank and flank

  rear framing a central cushion.

  The shoe is characterized in that it comprises a heel strap comprising a lateral belt applied to said lateral flank, a medial belt applied to said medial flank, a rear belt applied to said rear flank, a lateral anchoring, a medial anchoring and retaining means linking the lateral and medial anchoring at a distance

  substantially constant from each other.

  In a pretended embodiment, the flange comprises a side belt, a medial belt and a rear belt, applied respectively to the lateral flanks,

  medial and rear of the midsole.

  Preferably, the flange further comprises a lateral anchoring, a medial anchoring and means for retaining the lateral and medial anchoring at a distance substantially

constant of each other.

  In one embodiment of the invention, this retaining means is a strip made of the same material as the flange and

  connecting the lateral and medial anchors together.

  In another embodiment of the invention, this retaining means is simply achieved by the fact that the lateral and medial anchors are horizontal tabs which, after assembly, are glued between the outsole and the midsole. In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the medial, lateral and rear belts are equidistant from the outsole. In other words, by having the outsole plane as the reference plane, the elevation of the rear belt is substantially the same as the elevation of the

  lateral belt and medial belt.

  In a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the elevation of the rear belt is substantially the same as the highest elevation of the side belt and the

medial girdle.

  The invention also includes the features which are

  described below in the description of the accompanying drawing and in

  which: i - FIG. 1 is a side view of a shoe according to a first embodiment of the invention, - FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heel strap, - FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are transverse sections of the sole of Figure l subjected to stresses of different amplitudes, - Figure 4 is a side view of a shoe according to a second embodiment of the invention, - Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the shoe shown in Figure 4, - Figure 6 shows an oblique section along the plane VI-VI of Figure 4, of a shoe according to the second embodiment of the invention, Figures 7a and 7b are a illustration of the behavior of the heel strap of a shoe according to the second mode of

realization of the invention.

  - Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative midsole of the shoe according to the second embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 4. Figure l shows a view of a shoe according to a first mode for carrying out the invention. The shoe 1 comprises a rod 2 glued to the midsole 3. The mounting of the sole can be done in any known manner, mounting on form, mounting strobel, etc. The midsole is made of one or more materials chosen for their

cushioning properties.

  Under the midsole is glued a outsole 4. A heel strap 5 contains the heel area of the sole

intermediate.

  Figure 2 shows in perspective the heel strap 5 isolated from the rest of the shoe. This includes a medial belt 8 which is applied against the medial flank lO of the midsole. On the lateral flank ll of the intermediate sole applies a lateral belt 7. The lateral 7 and medial 8 belts are connected by means of a rear belt 6 which is applied against the rear flank 12 of the intermediate sole. If we take the outsole plane as the reference plane, we can see that the elevation of the lateral, medial and rear belts is substantially the same. In their ends opposite to the rear belt, the medial and lateral belts are respectively extended by a medial leg 16 and a lateral S leg 17, which are substantially vertical and end respectively with a medial anchoring and a lateral anchoring. These anchors are connected together by a strip 15 so that they are retained at a distance substantially

constant of each other.

  Figures 3a, 3b, 3c show three views in partial section of the shoe described in Figure 1. These three views show only the sole of the shoe, the latter further comprising an insert 9 made of a more flexible material than the midsole. These three cuts are made along the plane III of Figure 1 which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sole and cuts the latter at the center of the heel. In the heel area, this insert has a tapered shape

  whose axis passes through the center of the heel.

  In FIG. 3a, the simple arrow represents the weight of a user at rest. Subject to such a constraint, the sole is slightly deformed and the heel strap is not very operational. Figure 3b shows the state of the sole during walking, the double arrow corresponding to the stress that the sole undergoes at each heel impact. Under these conditions, the energy is mainly absorbed by the insert as well as by the noticeable deformation of the midsole. Since the insert rests in a cavity in the form of a funnel at the bottom of which is a well, the more flexible material of the insert can freely flow downwards. At the end of the possible creep of this material, the deformation of the flanks

  of the midsole is initiated.

  Finally, Figure 3c shows the strapping effect of the heel strap on the sides of the midsole which occurs when receiving a jump of very large amplitude. As you can see, the midsole deforms but is contained by the heel strap which is under tension. Thus the lateral stability of the sole is guaranteed because the risk of the sole shifting to one side or the other is greatly reduced. The fact that the shock absorbing material of the midsole is contained by the heel strap, or compression, S pushes the limit of "tailgating" thereof. Thus, if we compare the behavior of the sole according to the invention with that of a conventional sole made of the same shock absorbing materials, and therefore offering substantially similar comfort, there is a clear difference when receiving jumps. For example, in the practice of skateboarding, jumps sometimes have amplitudes of several meters and the reception is not damped, neither by the board, nor by the surface on which this activity is practiced, this one being very often concrete or bitumen. FIG. 3c represents the behavior of the sole according to the invention when receiving a large amplitude jump during the

skatoboard practice.

  The containment of the midsole by the heel strap also acts as a stabilizer when receiving jumps on an inclined surface. This is particularly the case during

  the practice of skateboarding in "half-pipe".

  Figure 4 shows a side view of a shoe according to a second embodiment of the invention. Similarly, the shoe comprises a upper 2, a midsole 3 and a outsole 4. The heel strap 5 has an upper belt 18 and a lower part 19. The upper belt is constituted by lateral and medial belts connected l 'to each other by a rear belt. The lower part 19 is applied against the base of the midsole and is connected to the upper belt on the lateral side, respectively medial, by a lateral leg 17,

respectively medial 16.

  FIG. 5 represents an exploded perspective view of the shoe shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment,

  the midsole includes two half-soles, the half

  lower sole 20 comprising in the heel area a cavity 21 having substantially the shape of an inverted cone at the bottom of

  which is formed by a well 22 crossing this and the half

  upper sole comprising a dome extending by a stud, the assembly having a shape complementary to that of the cavity. The lower half sole 20 (or cup) comprises a low surface which will come into contact with the outsole 4

  S and a high surface which will come into contact with the half

  upper midsole 23. The periphery of the

  bowl 20 consists of substantially vertical edges.

  In its front part, the lower surface of the bowl 20 has a plurality of lower projections. The lower projections are cylindrical in shape and protrude downward from the bowl 20. They are regularly arranged

  over the entire front part of the lower surface of the bowl 20.

  The arrangement of the lower projections is made in a frame the first direction of which is substantially oriented 1S along the longitudinal axis of the shoe. The second direction of the frame makes with the first an angle between 60 and. The lower protrusions have a cylindrical shape with a diameter between 4 and 6 mm and project from a distance between 1.5 and 3 mm. The distance between two neighboring lower protuberances is between 1 mm and 5 mm. Preferably, this distance is approximately equal to 2 mm. The upper surface of the bowl 20 is bordered on its periphery by the rim. It includes a depression in the entire front area, this depression corresponds to the front area of the bottom surface of the bowl 20 o are arranged the lower projections. Thus at this depression the bowl 20 a, apart from the height of the

  proLubérances, its smallest thickness.

  At the heel, the upper surface comprises a cavity having substantially the shape of an inverted cone at the bottom of which is formed a well passing through the bowl 20. the bowl 20 having in its heel part a thickness substantially greater than in the part front, the upper surface of the latter also includes a part

  inclined joining the depression to the cavity 21.

  The upper intermediate half-sole 23 comprises a lower surface and an upper surface. The lower surface is complementary to the upper surface of the bowl 20. Thus in the front part, a projecting block is arranged

  which resumes the form of depression.

  The heel part comprises a downward-facing dome, which is extended at its end by a stud. The upper surface includes, in its front part, a recessed area, the peripheral contour of which corresponds to the projecting block

  present on the lower surface.

  From the bottom of this recessed area, a plurality of upper projections protrude upward. The arrangement of these upper protuberances is made in a frame of which one direction corresponds substantially to the longitudinal axis of the shoe while the other makes an angle with the latter of between 60 and 80. The upper protuberances have a cylindrical shape with a diameter between 4 mm and 6 mm. Their height is not uniform over the entire surface of the upper surface. In the central area, that is to say in an area close to the longitudinal axis, the proLuberances have a height of between 2 and 4 mm. On the other hand, in the peripheral areas, the

  height of the protrusions is between 4 and 6 mm.

  Once the two half-flanges are assembled with each other, each upper proLuberance is found in substantially vertical alignment with a lower protuberance. A structure is thus obtained which combines damping and transmission of sensations, the damping being obtained by the compression of the discrete elements constituted by the stacking of an upper proLuberance on a lower proLuberance, while the transmission of sensations is particularly favored by the relative independence that these discrete elements have between them. Indeed, the overall structure of the midsole behaves, at least in its front part as if it were a juxUaposition of discrete elements, which are not connected

  with each other by a thin central core.

  Of course, in order to optimize the damping properties, different materials will be chosen for the two half midsoles. Preferably, the material of the lower half-sole is less soft than that of the half-sole. superleure. I1 is also envisaged to make the entire front part of the midsole in one and the same block. One such alternative of the second embodiment of the invention is

  in particular shown in figure 8.

  The latter represents an intermediate sole 3, the upper intermediate half-sole 23 of which is reduced to the rear part, while the upper proLuberances are directly formed on the lower half-sole. Such an arrangement makes it difficult to use different materials for producing the upper and lower projections. However in the context of use

  of the same material, the cost of production is reduced.

  The heel strap 5 comprises a medial belt 8, a rear belt 6 and a lateral belt 7 having a substantially horizontal orientation. The flange 5 also includes a lower part 12 also horizontal. The lateral and medial belts are respectively connected to the lower part by lateral legs 17 and medial legs 16. the lateral leg, respectively the medial leg, is located opposite the center of the heel. Finally the heel strap includes a lateral anchor 14 and a medial anchor 13. When the midsole, the flange, the outsole are assembled, retaining means are provided so as to maintain lateral launch and the medial anchorage at a distance sensibly

constant of each other.

  The lateral anchor 14 consists of a horizontal tongue.

  Symmetrically, the medial anchor 13 consists of a

horizontal language.

  After assembling the sole, these tongues will be sandwiched between the lower half-sole 20 and the outsole 4 thus ensuring that they are kept at a constant distance from each other. The lateral 17 and medial 16 legs will be

  located opposite the well 22 of the lower half-sole 20.

  The well 22 is located in the zone where the impacts are the most significant, that is to say under the center of the heel. The lower part 19 of the flange will be applied to the side of the midsole near the outsole 5, while the lateral, medial and rear belts are applied against the top of the side and against the base of the rod pg. To further improve the attachment of the heel strap to the rest of the shoe, partial covering of the lower part 10 can be provided by the edge of the outsole, this covering being accompanied by bonding. The heel strap being made up of a low part encircling the base of the midsole and a high part made up of lateral, medial and rear belts, these two parts meet at the lateral and medial anchorages, this deforms like a clamp when it is subjected to a vertical force, that is to say that the rear belt is closer to the

  lower part than does the medial and lateral belt.

  This clamp-type behavior is represented by the succession of FIGS. 7a and 7b. In FIG. 7a, a low stress subjected to the new does not cause deformation of the flange. As soon as the stress is greater, the latter deforms mainly according to a precise diagram, namely the approximation of the rear part of the belt is

closer to the lower part.

  In doing so, the heel strap guides and directs the deformation of the sole. This effect is particularly noticeable during walking at the time of the heel attack, because whatever the lateral offset of the angle of attack, the heel strap will impose symmetrical lateral / medial deformation of the sole. The gripper type behavior is notably improved by the fact that the material of the heel strap 5 is more rigid than that of

the midsole 3.

  When receiving large amplitude jumps, the softer material of the upper half-sole is mainly channeled downwards and not towards the lateral and medial sides of the sole. Such a channeling is made possible by the cone and well shape of the cavity formed in the lower half-sole and by the presence of

  vertical legs which prevent a crushing of the half

  bottom sole. If the surface on which the athlete receives his jump is not horizontal, the heel strap prevents shear deformation of the sole both on the sides thanks to the lateral 7 and medial 8 belts as on

  the rear thanks to the rear belt 6.

  i As can be seen in Figure 4, the flange 5 does not apply exclusively on the sides of the midsole but also on the base of the upper. Thus, the heel strap in addition to its role of restraining the midsole also provides lateral support for the base of the upper. In addition, when receiving jumps on inclined surfaces, such an arrangement prevents the

  shear of the upper relative to the midsole.

  The cut of Figure 6 is made while the sole is subjected to a very high stress, such as when receiving a jump of great amplitude. When the stress reaches a certain amplitude, the lateral and medial legs are deformed by buckling towards the inside of the sole, which accentuates the phenomenon of compression due to the presence of the strap itself. The materials necessary for carrying out the invention are for the sole all the materials commonly used in the field of footwear.

  sports shoes, especially EVA for the midsole.

  Regarding the heel strap, many materials can be chosen with the condition that they are less extensible than the materials of the midsole. Indeed, the phenomenon of strapping the midsole by the heel strap causes a difference in behavior of the materials when extended. However, it is not always bear

  necessary to use rigid material.

  The invention is not limited to the two embodiments described here by way of example and also relates to other equivalent embodiments where a heel strap contains the

  shock absorbing material of the midsole.

NOMENCLATURE

  1- Shoe 2- Upper 3- Midsole 4- Outsole - Heel strap 6- Back belt 7- Side belt 8- Medial belt 9Insert - Lateral flank 11- Medial flank 12- Rear flank 13- Medial anchoring 14- Anchoring lateral - Band 16- Medial leg 17- Side leg 18- Upper belt 19- Lower part - Lower half-sole 21Cavity 22- Well 23- Upper half-sole 24- dome - Nipple 26ProLubber upper 27- ProLubber lower

Claims (9)

  1- Sports shoe (1) comprising: - a upper (2), - an outsole (4), - a midsole (3), which includes a heel zone comprising a lateral flank (10), a flank medial (11) and a rear flank (12) framing a central cushion, shoe (1) characterized in that it comprises a heel strap (5) comprising a lateral belt (7) applied to said lateral flank (10), a medial belt (8) applied to said medial flank (11), a rear belt (6) applied to said rear flank (12), a lateral anchor (14), a medial anchor (13) and retaining means connecting the lateral (14) and medial (13) anchoring at substantially constant distance one of the other.   2- sports shoe (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that having as a reference plane the plane of the outsole (4), the elevation of the rear belt (6) is substantially the same as the belt elevation   lateral (7) and the medial coat (8).   3- Sports shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means connecting the lateral (13) and medial (14) anchoring comprise a strip (15) made of the same material as the heel strap (5) and intogrally formoe with her.   4- Sports shoe according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the midsole (3) comprises a first damping material on which is fixed a two   softer damping material than said first material.   - Sports shoe according to claim 4, characterized in that in the heel area of the sole (3), the first cushioning material defines a cavity (21), the   second material having a complementary shape.   6- Sports shoe according to one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that the midsole (3) comprises, in its front part, damping means constituted by a plurality of upper protrusions (26) and a   plurality of lower protrusions (27).   7- Sports shoe according to one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that the midsole (3) comprises a lower half-sole (20) and an upper half-sole (23) made of a more flexible material than the material of the lower half-sole (20). 8- Sports shoe according to claim 5 and 7, characterized in that the lower projections (27) thus   that the cavity are formed on the lower half-sole.   9- Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means linking the lateral and medial anchoring are constituted by horizontal tongues which at the time of assembly of the sole are sandwiched between the   midsole and outsole.   - Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that 1S that the heel strap comprises a lower part (19) connected to the medial strap (8), respectively lateral (7) via a medial leg (16), respectively a side leg (17).   11- Shoe according to claim 7, characterized in that the lateral leg (17), respectively the medial leg   (16) is located opposite the center of the heel.   12- Shoe according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the heel strap (5) is less extensible than   the material of the midsole.