Boots – shoes – and leggings – Soles – Rope
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-29
2001-04-10
Patterson, M. D. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Soles
Rope
C036S107000, C036S091000, C036S07600R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212795
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a shoe sole having reinforced structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is well known to have a reinforcing member in the arch portion of the sole of a shoe conforming to the shape of the treadless portion of the midsole, i.e., the portion of the midsole not attached to an outer sole that does not have ground contact when the outer sole is grounded. Such reinforcing device reinforces the rigidity of the treadless portion of the midsole by suppressing the deformation of the midsole. These known devices are exemplified those shown in FIGS.
6
(
a
) and
6
(
b
) and FIGS.
7
(
a
) and
7
(
b
), herein.
FIG.
6
(
a
) exemplifies the side elevation of a prior art shoe sole disclosed in the Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication (unexamined) No. 7-34703 (Published on Jun. 27, 1995). FIG.
6
(
b
) is the bottom view of such prior art shoe sole. In this prior art shoe sole, the reinforcing member
3
of the treadless portion of the midsole is an integrally formed member that includes an arch portion
3
a,
a front support portion
30
at the front end of the sole and a rear support portion
31
at a rear end of the sole. The arch portion
3
a
is affixed on its back face to the midsole
2
. The front support portion
30
and the rear support portion
31
are disposed, respectively, at the front and rear of the arch portion
3
a.
The front support portion
30
is sandwiched between the midsole
2
and an outer sole
1
below the midsole
2
. The front support portion
30
is supported on a front supporting face
1
F of the upper surface of the outer sole
1
. The rear support portion
31
is sandwiched between the midsole
2
and the outer sole
1
. The rear support portion
31
is supported on a rear supporting face
1
B of the upper face of the outer sole
1
.
FIG.
7
(
a
) exemplifies the side elevation of another prior art shoe sole as disclosed in the Japanese Patent Publication (unexamined) No. 7-79804 (Published on Mar. 28, 1995). FIG.
7
(
b
) is a bottom side perspective view of such prior art shoe sole. This sole is substantially similar to the aforedescribed prior art sole.
Additionally, the reinforcing device
3
is made of a sufficiently soft or flexible material to permit the shoe sole to have a torsional motion. Because of this, the front support portion
30
and the rear support portion
31
of the reinforcing device
3
can displace longitudinally upon the grounding of the sole. This can cause the reinforcing device
3
to longitudinally extend, flattening the arch portion
3
a
of the reinforcing device
3
. This causes the treadless portion of the midsole
2
to depress toward the ground causing stress on the arch of the foot.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a reinforcing support structure for the treadless portion of the midsole of the shoe to prevent the arch portion of the midsole from flattening.
The foregoing object as well as others is accomplished by the shoe sole of this invention that has an integrally reinforced portion. The shoe sole comprises an outer sole having a ground contact surface and an opposite upper surface and a midsole having portions thereof attached to and covered by the upper surface of the outer sole. A treadless portion of the midsole which is not attached to the upper surface of the outer sole and does not have ground contact when the ground contact surface of the outer sole is grounded has an arched support member. The support member comprises an arched portion, a front support portion disposed in front of the arched portion and a rear support portion disposed in the rear of the arched portion. The arched portion is affixed to the treadless portion of the midsole. The front support portion of the arched portion is affixed and sandwiched between the midsole and the outer sole below the midsole and supported on a front supporting face of the upper surface of the outer sole. The rear support portion is affixed and sandwiched between the midsole and the outer sole and supported on a rear supporting face of the upper surface of the outer sole.
The front supporting face of the upper surface of outer sole has a tapered inclined face ascending as it inclines in the forward direction and the front support portion of the arched support member is supported by such inclined face. Thus, the front support portion of the arched support member is inhibited from moving in a direction that opens the arched portion of the support member when the outer sole is grounded.
According to another aspect of the invention, additionally or alternatively, the rear supporting face of the upper surface of outer sole has a tapered inclined face ascending as it inclines in the backward direction. Thus the rear support portion of the arched support member is supported by the inclined face and is inhibited from moving in a direction that opens the arched portion of the support member when the outer sole is grounded.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, additionally or optionally, the rear supporting face of the upper surface of outer sole has a tapered inclined face descending as it inclines in the backward direction. Thus the rear support portion of the arched support member is supported by the inclined face and is inhibited from moving in a direction that opens the arched portion of the support member when the outer sole is grounded.
In accordance with this invention, when the sole of the shoe lands (or grounds), the front support portion and the rear support portion of the arched support member are clamped between the outer sole and the midsole. By these clamping actions, the front support portion and the rear support portion of the arched support member are difficult to displace (or move) forward and backward when a load is applied from above the arch at the time of landing. This inhibits or prevents the arch portion from being deformed to a flattened position thereby to suppress the depression of the treadless portion of the midsole.
In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the front support portion and the rear support portion of the arched support member are each supported by an inclined face to thus provide a wedged type structure. This wedging action suppresses the forward displacement of the front support portion and/or the backward displacement of the rear support portion. As a result, it is possible to suppress the depression or flattening of the treadless portion of the midsole.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4546559 (1985-10-01), Dassler
patent: 4686994 (1987-08-01), Harr et al.
patent: 4731940 (1988-03-01), Zanatta et al.
patent: 5052130 (1991-10-01), Barry et al.
patent: 5282326 (1994-02-01), Schroer, Jr. et al.
patent: 5319866 (1994-06-01), Foley et al.
patent: 5325611 (1994-07-01), Dyer et al.
patent: 5400528 (1995-03-01), Skinner et al.
patent: 5528842 (1996-06-01), Ricci et al.
patent: 5832634 (1998-11-01), Wong
patent: 5903985 (1999-05-01), DeMarchi
patent: 5915820 (1999-06-01), Kraeuter et al.
patent: 6041522 (2000-03-01), Anteby
patent: 7-79804 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 7-34703 (1995-06-01), None
Isobe Masashi
Mitsui Shigeyuki
Nakabe Noboru
Nishiwaki Tsuyoshi
Asics Corporation
Patterson M. D.
Zall Michael E.
LandOfFree
Shoe sole with reinforced support structure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Shoe sole with reinforced support structure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Shoe sole with reinforced support structure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2521657