Footwear

Description

[0001] This invention relates to footwear and more particularly to sole units for boots and shoes.

[0002] It is known from EP 0122985 to provide a sole unit moulded from a resilient material, in which sole unit are provided a plurality of cavities and a system of channels formed in the upper surface for interconnecting the cavities. A bulge is formed on the bottom surface at the location of each cavity, the cavities being formed substantially wholly in the general thickness of the sole unit.

[0003] According to the present invention, there is provided a sole unit for an article of footwear comprising a midsole section and an outsole section, the midsole section having formed therein a plurality of cavities each of which is open at its top end and is of smaller cross-sectional area at said top end than its bottom end, the outsole section incorporating a plurality of diaphragm elements, each of which closes off the bottom of one of the cavities and is capable of resiliently deflecting relative to its associated cavity to effect a pumping action therein.

[0004] Usually, the sole unit also comprises a footbed disposed above the midsole section, the footbed having a through orifice at the location of the top opening of each cavity. Preferably, the footbed has a number of channels in its underside, said channels interconnecting the cavities of the sole unit. Often, further through orifices lead from the channels to the top side of the footbed and also the area of the underside of the footbed surrounding each orifice is concave.

[0005] In preferred arrangements the cross-sectional area of each cavity continually reduces towards its top end and preferably the cavities are substantially frusto-conical. Conveniently, each diaphragm is defined by a reduced thickness periphery and in addition the lower surface of each diaphragm is domed downwardly so as to protrude below the surrounding portions of the outsole section.

[0006] With some preferred embodiments, the midsole section is formed from a different material to the outsole section. Preferably, the midsole section is formed separately from and is secured to the outsole section. Sometimes the outsole section is formed from a plurality of separate portions which are attached to the midsole section. Preferably, the outsole section is not continuous over the entire footprint of the sole unit.

[0007] It is also possible that valve means are provided to control air flow through and/or between the cavities. In some sole units, the diaphragms are transparent or semi-transparent.

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side perspective view of an article of footwear incorporating a sole unit according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is an exploded view from below of the sole unit shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a lateral cross-sectional view through the assembled sole unit of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a lengthwise cross-sectional view through the heel part of an alternative sole unit according to the present invention,

Figure 5 is a lateral cross-sectional view through the heel part shown in figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a valve insert shown in figures 4 and 5.

[0009] Referring to the drawings, there is shown an article of footwear 10 having an upper 11 secured to a sole unit 12. In this arrangement, the sole unit comprises a footbed 13, a midsole section 14 and an outsole section 15. The footbed 13 is moulded from a resilient plastics material such as polyurethane but other materials could also be used. In this arrangement, the midsole section is moulded from a resilient plastics material such as EVA but again other materials would be suitable. The outsole section 15 comprises a number of natural rubber or synthetic rubber outsole portions 16 but a continuous outsole could also be used, as could other materials. This particular rubber compound has a Shore hardness of between 55 and 65 but other hardnesses could be employed depending on the required characteristics of the footwear. The use of separate outsole portions 16 can also lend itself to the provision of different materials in different parts of the outsole section 15 to produce varied wear/comfort characteristics.

[0010] The midsole section 14 has a plurality of frusto-conical cavities 17 each of which has a small opening at its top end 18 and a wider opening at its bottom end 19. In addition, there are a number of optional grooves 20 in the underside of the midsole section 14, the grooves improving the flexibility of the sole unit in chosen areas and giving an element of decoration. The outsole portions 16 are securely bonded to the underside of the midsole section and the outsole portions 16 are shaped so as not to cover the grooves 20.

[0011] The parts of the outsole portions 16 which cover the bottom ends 19 of the cavities 17 are in the form of diaphragms 21 each of which connects to the surrounding part of outsole portion 16 by means of a peripherally extending portion 22 of reduced thickness. Each reduced thickness portion 22 enables its enclosed diaphragm 21 to resiliently deflect more easily relative to its adjacent cavity 17. The lowermost surface 23 of each diaphragm bulges downwardly so as to protrude below the surrounding parts of the outsole portion 16.

[0012] The underside of the footbed 13 has a concave recess 25 positioned above each cavity top end 18 and the recesses 25 are interconnected by means of channels 26 formed in the underside of the footbed. A through orifice 27 is provided at each recess 25 to effect communication with the top side of the footbed. Further orifices 28 are provided in the channels 26. The action of walking causes the diaphragms 21 to deform resiliently upwards into the cavities 17 and back again thereby pumping air from cavity to cavity via the channels 26 and recesses 25. This action also causes air to flow through the orifices 27 and 28 to provide a ventilating effect within the upper 11 of the article of footwear.

[0013] In more advanced embodiments, valve means may be provided to control the flow of air into and/or out of the cavities, or through the orifices 27, 28, or along the channels 26. The valve means could be one-way mechanisms or could rely on compressive closure of the openings due to weight transfer during the walking cycle.

[0014] One example of a sole unit having a valve arrangement is shown in figures 4 to 6. The heel area of the sole unit incorporates an air inlet member 40 which is located generally in the midsole section 14 and which extends laterally in this embodiment. The inlet member 40 is generally tubular and is open to the atmosphere at one or both of its lateral ends 43. The inside of the inlet member 40 communicates with two of the cavities 17 in the heel area via one-way valves 41. In this embodiment the one-way valves 41 are in the form of "duck-bill" valves but other types of valves are envisaged. Air can therefore be drawn into the cavities 17 by suction when the diaphragms 21 deform resiliently downwards. The cavities 17 also have one-way valves 42 which control communication with the recesses 25/channels 26. Again, in this example the one-way valves 42 are "duck-bill" valves which are ideally carried by the inlet member 40.

[0015] Fresh air drawn into the cavities 17 as the diaphragms 21 deform downwards is then passed outwardly through the valves 42 when the diaphragms 21 deform upwardly into the cavities 17. This fresh air is distributed around the sole unit and out through orifices 27 and 28 (not shown in figures 5 and 6). This passage of air can assist ventilation of the shoe and/or can provide a cooling action and/or can assist in the dispersal of moisture and/or odour.

[0016] The precise form and location of the valve system is a matter of design choice and could be provided for more cavities than the two shown. The inlet member and valves need not be separate components but could be moulded as part of the midsole.

[0017] In other embodiments, the diaphragms 21 could be formed of a transparent or semi-transparent material such that the inside of the cavities/underside of the footbed can be seen. Contrasting colours in the cavity could produce a desirable decorative effect.

[0018] It will be appreciated that the number of cavities could vary as could their precise shape. Also, the reduced thickness portions 22 which define the shapes of the diaphragms could be omitted or partially omitted if the material of the outsole was already sufficiently flexible. The footbed could be omitted in some types of footwear, for example where an insole is lasted to the upper in which case the midsole would be secured to the lasting margin of the upper. Other modifications will be apparent without departing from the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

1. A sole unit for an article of footwear comprising a midsole section (14) and an outsole section (15), the midsole section (14) having formed therein a plurality of cavities (17) each of which is open at its top end (18) and is of smaller cross-sectional area at said top end than its bottom end (19), the outsole section (15) incorporating a plurality of diaphragm elements (21), each of which closes off the bottom of one of the cavities (17) and is capable of resiliently deflecting relative to its associated cavity (17) to effect a pumping action therein.

2. A sole unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sole unit also comprises a footbed (13) disposed above the midsole section, the footbed having a through orifice at the location of the top opening of each cavity.

3. A sole unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the footbed has a number of channels (26) in its underside, said channels interconnecting the cavities (17) of the sole unit.

4. A sole unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein further through orifices (27, 28) lead from the channels (26) to the top side of the footbed.

5. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the area of the underside of the footbed (13) surrounding each orifice is concave.

6. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cross-sectional area of each cavity (17) continually reduces towards its top end and preferably the cavities are substantially frusto-conical.

7. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each diaphragm (21) is defined by a reduced thickness periphery.

8. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the lower surface of each diaphragm (21) is domed downwardly so as to protrude below the surrounding portions of the outsole section.

9. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the midsole section (14) is formed from a different material to the outsole section.

10. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the midsole section (14) is formed separately from and is secured to the outsole section.

11. A sole unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the outsole section (15) is formed from a plurality of separate portions which are attached to the midsole section.

12. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims I to 11, wherein the outsole section (15) is not continuous over the entire footprint of the sole unit.

13. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein valve means (41, 42) are provided to control air flow through and/or between the cavities.

14. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein one or more of the cavities communicate with the atmosphere via one or more one-way valves (41, 42).

15. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the diaphragms (21) are transparent or semi-transparent.

Ansprüche

1. Sohleneinheit für Fußbekleidung mit einem Mittelsohlenabschnitt (14) und einem Außensohlenabschnitt (15), wobei in dem Mittelsohlenabschnitt (14) eine Mehrzahl von Ausnehmungen (17) gebildet ist, von denen eine jede an ihrem oberen Ende (18) offen ist und an dem oberen Ende eine kleinere Querschnittsfläche aufweist als an ihrem unteren Ende (19), wobei der Außensohlenabschnitt (15) eine Mehrzahl von Membranelementen (21) enthält, von denen ein jedes den Boden einer der Ausnehmungen (17) abschließt und in der Lage ist, nachgiebig gegenüber der zugehörigen Ausnehmung (17) auszulenken, um darin eine Pumpwirkung zu erzielen.

2. Sohleneinheit nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Sohleneinheit weiterhin ein oberhalb des Mittelsohlenabschnitts angeordnetes Fußbett (13) aufweist, wobei das Fußbett eine Durchgangsöffnung im Bereich der oberen Öffnung einer jeden Ausnehmung aufweist.

3. Sohleneinheit nach Anspruch 2, wobei das Fußbett eine Anzahl von Kanälen (26) in seiner Unterseite aufweist, die die Ausnehmungen (17) der Sohleneinheit miteinander verbinden.

4. Sohleneinheit nach Anspruch 3, wobei weitere Durchgangsöffnungen (27, 28) von den Kanälen (26) zur Oberseite des Fußbetts führen.

5. Sohleneinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 2 bis 4, wobei der jede Öffnung umgebende Bereich der Unterseite des Fußbetts (13) konkav ausgebildet ist.

6. Sohleneinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei die Querschnittsfläche einer jeden Ausnehmung (17) stetig in Richtung ihres oberen Endes abnimmt und die Ausnehmungen vorzugsweise im Wesentlichen kegelstumpfförmig ausgebildet sind.

7. Sohleneinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, wobei jede Membran (21) durch einen Umfang reduzierter Dicke begrenzt ist.

8. Sohleneinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, wobei die Unterfläche einer jeden Membran (21) nach unten gewölbt ist und nach unten über die umgebenden Bereiche des Außensohlenabschnitts übersteht.

9. Sohleneinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, wobei der Mittelsohlenabschnitt (14) aus einem anderen Material gebildet ist als der Außensohlenabschnitt.

10. Sohleneinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, wobei der Mittelsohlenabschnitt (14) separat zu dem Außensohlenabschnitt gebildet und an diesem befestigt ist.

11. Sohleneinheit nach Anspruch 10, wobei der Außensohlenabschnitt (15) aus einer Mehrzahl separater Partien gebildet ist, die an dem Mittelsohlenabschnitt befestigt sind.

12. Sohleneinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 11, wobei der Außensohlenabschnitt (15) nicht kontinuierlich über den gesamten Fußabdruck der Sohleneinheit ausgebildet ist.

13. Sohleneinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 12, wobei Ventilmittel (41, 42) zur Steuerung des Luftstroms durch und/oder zwischen den Ausnehmungen vorgesehen sind.

14. Sohleneinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 13, wobei eine oder mehrere der Ausnehmungen über ein oder mehrere Einwegventile (41, 42) mit der Atmosphäre kommunizieren.

15. Sohleneinheit nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 14, wobei die Membrane (21) transparent oder halbtransparent ausgebildet sind.

Revendications

1. Unité de semelle pour un article chaussant comprenant une section de semelle intercalaire (14) et une section de semelle d'usure (15), la section de semelle intercalaire (14) comportant, formées dans celle-ci, une pluralité de cavités (17) dont chacune est ouverte dans son extrémité supérieure (18) et est de superficie de section transversale plus faible dans ladite extrémité supérieure que dans son extrémité inférieure (19), la section de semelle d'usure (15) incorporant une pluralité d'éléments de diaphragme (21), dont chacun ferme le fond d'une des cavités (17) et est capable de se défléchir de façon résiliente par rapport à sa cavité associée (17) pour effectuer une action de pompage dans celle-ci.

2. Unité de semelle selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle l'unité de semelle comprend également une assise plantaire (13) disposée au-dessus de la section de semelle intercalaire, l'assise plantaire possédant un orifice de passage dans l'emplacement de l'ouverture supérieure de chaque cavité.

3. Unité de semelle selon la revendication 2, dans laquelle l'assise plantaire comporte un nombre de canaux (24) dans son côté inférieur, lesdits canaux interconnectant les cavités (17) de l'unité de semelle.

4. Unité de semelle selon la revendication 3, dans laquelle des orifices de passages supplémentaires (27, 28) conduisent des canaux au côté supérieur de l'assise plantaire.

5. Unité de semelle selon une quelconque des revendications 2 à 4, dans laquelle la zone du côté inférieur de l'assise plantaire (13) entourant chaque orifice est concave.

6. Unité de semelle selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans laquelle la superficie de section transversale de chaque cavité (17) diminue de façon continue vers son extrémité supérieure et de préférence les cavités sont sensiblement tronconiques.

7. Unité de semelle selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans laquelle chaque diaphragme (21) est défini par une périphérie d'épaisseur réduite.

8. Unité de semelle selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans laquelle la surface inférieure de chaque diaphragme (21) est bombée vers le bas afin de faire saillie en dessous des parties qui l'entourent de la section de semelle d'usure.

9. Unité de semelle selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans laquelle la section de semelle intercalaire (14) est formée d'un matériau différent de celui de la section de semelle d'usure.

10. Unité de semelle selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, dans laquelle la section de semelle intercalaire (14) est formée séparément de, et est fixée à, la section de semelle d'usure.

11. Unité de semelle selon la revendication 10, dans laquelle la section de semelle d'usure (15) est formée d'une pluralité de parties séparées qui sont fixées à la section de semelle intercalaire.

12. Unité de semelle selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11, dans laquelle la section de semelle d'usure (15) n'est pas continue sur l'empreinte entière de l'unité de semelle.

13. Unité de semelle selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 12, dans laquelle des moyens de valve (41, 42) sont prévus pour réguler l'écoulement d'air à travers et/ou entre les cavités.

14. Unité de semelle selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 13, dans laquelle une ou plusieurs des cavités communiquent avec l'atmosphère par l'intermédiaire d'une ou plusieurs valves de non-retour (41, 42).

15. Unité de semelle selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 14, dans laquelle les diaphragmes (21) sont transparents ou semi-transparents.

Drawing