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(11) | EP 0 111 256 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
Inner sole for footwear Brandsohle für Schuhe Semelle intérieure de chaussures |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] This invention relates to an inner sole for footwear, and in particular to an inner sole which is suitable for use in a wide range of footwear types.
[0002] As is known, the shape of the inner sole is all- important in determining not only the fit of an item of footwear, but also its orthopaedic and functional characteristics.
[0003] Many known insole types fail to maintain their shape for a long period of time, thus leading to changes in the fit, as well as the orthopaedic and functional characteristics of the footwear items to which such insoles are applied.
[0004] Known from DE-A-2 030 205 is a sole structure which incorporates a stiffener element, extending between the heel region and the arch area of the sole.
[0005] Whilst this arrangement provides a sole which is reinforced and thus, which maintains its shape for a longer period of time, such known sole structures are often difficult to incorporate into an item of footwear, and are not suitable for a wide range of footwear types.
[0006] The ease of assembly of footwear is important to footwear manufacturers, since the assembly step has a considerable influence on the production cost of the finished footwear item.
[0007] In an attempt to reduce production costs, resort has been made to glueing insoles in position inside footwear items. Although such footwear is faster and easier to manufacture, the end product is less durable than a stitched footwear item.
[0008] Accordingly, an aim of the present invention is to provide an accurately shaped inner sole which will maintain its shape for a considerable period of time, and which is also simple to secure into an appropriate item of footwear.
[0009] Within the above-mentioned aim, an object of the present invention is to provide an insole which can be used in a wide range of footwear types.
[0010] This aim and object, as well as other objects which will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by an inner sole which is pre-formed in a mould by a method of synthetic resin injection comprising an elongate leaf spring accommodated in a slot, provided in the under side of said inner sole and extending at least between the heel region and the arch area thereof, characterized in that said inner sole has at least in the upper surface of the sole region a groove of diminished thickness, spaced inwardly of the periphery of said inner sole and intended to receive stitches to hold the inner sole in position in an appropriate item of footwear such that the material of the stitches does not protrude above the level of said upper surface, and in that at least one end of said leaf spring is attached to the underside of said inner sole.
[0011] The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the upper surface of a preferred embodiment of the inner sole of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the underside of the same inner sole, and;
Fig. 3 is a cross section view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 1.
[0012] A preferred embodiment of the inner sole of the invention, as illustrated in the drawing, is pre-formed in a mould by a method of synthetic resin injection.
[0013] This method ensures production of durable g inner soles of consistant accurate shape. Moreover the shape of each inner sole is maintained for a long period of time. The shape of the inner sole 1 is particularly important for the fit of the item of footwear, whether boot or shoe, and the orthopaedic and functional characteristics of the boot or shoe also depend on the shape of the inner sole 1.
[0014] A suitable material for the inner sole 1 has been found to be thermoplastic nylon No. 6, but, of course, other materials may be equally suitable. The overall shape of the inner sole 1 includes predetermined areas of different thickness so as to guarantee differing degrees of pliability in different areas according to the foot region to be supported and the type of footwear - for example, walking shoes, sports shoes and orthopaedic shoes - require inner soles of different degrees of pliability.
[0015] In the region of the sole, the inner sole 1 is thicker in the central area and at the extreme edge, while a peripheral band of diminished thickness in the form of a groove 2 in the upper surface is provided. This groove 2 is intended to receive stitches (not shown) which will secure the inner sole 1 in an appropriate item of footwear. The material of the stitches will lie in the groove 2 and will not protrude above the level of the upper surface of the inner sole 1 so that no discomfort is likely to be caused to a wearer's foot. Although it is faster and easier to glue inner soles into position in items of footwear rather than to stitch same in position, it is preferable to secure same by stitching as this leads to a much more durable product. Accordingly, provision of a special peripheral band of diminished thickness (such as the groove 2) for reception of stitches facilitates production of good quality, long-lasting items of footwear. Moreover, the thin peripheral band guides the stitching needle and facilitates piercing of the inner sole 1 by the needle.
[0016] As mentioned, it is possible, within certain limits, to vary the pliability of differing areas of the inner sole 1 by varying the thickness thereof, taking into account the elasticity of the chosen inner sole material. However, in certain types of footwear, it is not possible to provide the required pliability and durability in this way, particularly in the arch area which has to undergo most stress. To this end, in the illustrated embodiment of inner sole 1 an elongate steel leaf spring 3 of appropriate thickness and springiness is accommodated in a slot 6 in the underside of the inner sole 1. This slot 6 extends between the region of the heel and the arch area of the inner sole 1. The spring 3 is attached in the slot 6 at each end by means of rivets 4, 5 extending through the inner sole 1 and the spring 3. This inner sole 1 is substantially rigid and is suitable for certain types of footwear such as skating boots, cycling shoes etc., in which the sole of the boot or shoe itself is relatively stiff. In other words provision of a spring 6 makes the inner sole 1 sturdier and also more resilient.
1. An inner sole (1) which is pre-formed in a mould by a method of synthetic resin
injection comprising an elongate leaf spring (3) accommodated in a slot (6), provided
in the under side of said inner sole (1) and extending at least between the heel region
and the arch area thereof, characterized in that said inner sole (1) has at least
in the upper surface of the sole region a groove (2) of diminished thickness, spaced
inwardly of the periphery of said inner sole (1), and intended to receive stitches
to hold the inner sole (1) in position in an appropriate item of footwear such that
the material of the stitches does not protrude above the level of said upper surface,
and in that at least one end of said leaf spring (3) is attached to the underside
of said inner sole (1).
2. An inner sole (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that said at least one
end of said elongate leaf spring (3) is attached to the underside of said inner sole
(1) at said heel region thereof so as to allow sliding movement of the free end of
said elongate leaf spring (3) in said slot (6) in a direction extending along said
arch area of said inner sole (1).
3. Inner sole (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that said elongate leaf spring
(3) is attached in said slot (6) at least at both ends thereof for enhancing the sturdiness
of said inner sole (1).
4. An inner sole (1) according to claim 1 characterized in that said peripheral groove
(2) is adapted for guiding a stitching needle.
5. An inner sole (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that said elongate
leaf spring (3) is attached in said slot (6) by fixing means extending through said
inner sole (1) and said elongate leaf spring (3).
6. An inner sole (1) according to one or more of the preceeding claims, characterized
in that it is formed of thermoplastic nylon No. 6.
1. Brandsohle (1), welche in einer Form durch Spritzgießen eines Kunstharzes vorgeformt
ist, mit einer langgestreckten Blattfeder (3), die in einem auf der Unterseite der
Brandsohle (1) vorgesehenen und sich wenigstens zwischen dem Fersenbereich und dem
Fußgewölbebereich derselben erstreckenden Schlitz (6) untergebracht ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Brandsohle (1) wenigstens auf der oberen Fläche des Sohlenbereiches eine Rille
(2) mit kleinerer Dicke besitzt, die im Abstand von der Peripherie der Brandsohle
(1) nach innen angeordnet ist und zur Aufnahme von Nadelstichen zur Halterung der
Brandsohle (1) in ihrer Lage in einem entsprechenden Schuhwerk dient, so daß das Material
der Nadelstiche nicht über das Niveau der genannten oberen Fläche hinausragt, und
daß wenigstens ein Ende der Blattfeder (3) an der Unterseite der Brandsohle (1) befestigt
ist.
2. Brandsohle (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß wenigstens ein Ende
der langgestreckten Blattfeder (3) an der Unterseite der Brandsohle (1) im Fersenbereich
derselben befestigt ist, so daß das freie Ende der langgestreckten Blattfeder (3)
im Schlitz (6) eine Gleitbewegung in einer entlang des Fußgewölbebereiches der Brandsohle
(1) verlaufenden Richtung durchführen kann.
3. Brandsohle (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die langgestreckte
Blattfeder (3) im Schiltz (6) wenigstens an beiden Enden desselben befestigt ist,
um die Robustheit der Brandsohle (1) zu verbessern.
4. Brandsohle (1) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die periphere Rille
(2) zur Führung einer Nähnadel ausgebildet ist.
5. Brandsohle (1) nach Anspruch 1, 2 oder 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die langgestreckte
Blattfeder (3) im Schlitz (6) mittels Befestigungseinrichtungen befestigt ist, die
sich durch die Brandsohle (1) und die langgestreckte Blattfeder (3) hindurch erstreckten.
6. Brandsohle (1) nach einem oder mehreren der vorhergehenden Anspruche, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß sie aus thereoplastischem Nylon 6 gebildet ist.
1. Semelle intérieure (1) préformée dans un moule par un procédé d'injection de résine
synthétique comprenant une lame-ressort allongée (3) logée dans une encoche (6), réalisée
dans la face inférieure de la semelle intérieure (1) et s'étendant au moins entre
la région du talon et la zone de la voûte plantaire de celle-ci, caractérisée en ce
que la semelle intérieure (1) a au moins dans la surface surface supérieure de la
région de la semelle une gorge (2) de profondeur restreinte, en retrait vers l'intérieur
par rapport au pourtour de la semelle intérieure (1) et destinée à recevoir des points
de piqûre pour maintenir la semelle intérieure (1) en place dans un article chaussant
de façon que la matière des points de piqûre ne dépasse pas au-dessus du niveau de
ladite surface supérieure, et en ce qu'au moins une extrémité de la lame-ressort (3)
est fixée à la face inférieure de la semelle intérieure (1).
2. Semelle intérieure (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que qu'au moins
une extrémité de la lame-ressort allongée (3) est fixée à la face inférieure de la
semelle intérieure (1) au niveau de ladite région du talon de celle-ci afin de permettre
un glissement de l'extrémité libre de la lame-ressort allongée (3) dans l'encoche
(6) dans une direction s'étendant le long de ladite zone de voûte plantaire de la
semelle intérieure (1).
3. Semelle intérieure (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la lame-ressort
allongée (3) est fixée dans l'encoche (6) au moins aux deux extrémités de celle-ci
pour renforcer la robustesse de la semelle intérieure (1).
4. Semelle intérieure (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisée en ce que la gorge
périphérique (2) est conçue pour guider une aiguille de piquage.
5. Semelle intérieure (1) selon la revendication 1, 2 ou 3, caractérisée en ce que
la lame-ressort allongée (3) est immobilisée dans l'encoche (6) par un moyen de fixation
s'étendant à travers la semelle intérieure (1) et la lame-ressort allongée (3).
6. Semelle intérieure (1) selon une ou plusieurs des revendications précédentes, caractérisée
en ce qu'elle est en "Nylon" thermoplastique n° 6.