Boots – shoes – and leggings – Soles – Laminated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-14
2002-05-21
Yu, Mickey (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Soles
Laminated
C036S028000, C036S031000, C036S03200A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06389713
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an athletic shoe midsole design and construction. More particularly, the invention relates to a midsole assembly where there are provided a midsole formed of soft elastic material and a corrugated sheet disposed in the midsole.
The sole of an athletic shoe used in various sports is generally comprised of a midsole and an outsole fitted under the midsole, directly contacting with the ground. The midsole is typically formed of soft elastic material in order to ensure adequate cushioning properties.
Running stability as well as adequate cushioning properties are required in athletic shoes. There is a need to prevent shoes from being deformed excessively in the lateral or transverse direction when contacting with the ground.
As shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No.
61-6804,
the applicant of the present invention proposes a midsole assembly having a corrugated sheet therein, which can prevent such an excessive lateral deformation of shoes.
The midsole assembly shown in the above publication incorporates a corrugated sheet in a heel portion of a midsole and it can produce resistant force preventing the heel portion of a midsole from being deformed laterally or transversely when a shoe contacts with the ground. Thus, the transverse deformation of the heel portion of a shoe is prevented.
Generally, by inserting a corrugated sheet, compressive hardness (or hardness to deformation against the compressive force) of the whole midsole becomes high and the midsole tends to be less deformed in the vertical direction as well as transverse direction. Therefore, when the corrugated sheet is interposed in the midsole, the midsole portion where adequate cushioning properties is required may show less cushioning properties, or an athlete may have an unpleasant feeling around the sole of a foot in the shoes when the shoes come in contact with the ground.
On the other hand, a corrugated sheet is generally composed of a homogeneous material, but if the compressive hardness can be changed according to the regions of the corrugated sheet, detailed and delicate adjustments can be possible with regard to the contradictory requirements of preventing lateral deformation and achieving cushioning properties on landing.
The object of the present invention is to provide a midsole assembly for an athletic shoe that can secure not only running stability but also cushioning properties. Another object of the present invention is to provide a midsole assembly for an athletic shoe that can secure running stability and make foot sole contact feeling pleasant. A further object of the present invention is to provide a midsole assembly for an athletic shoe that can make detailed and delicate adjustments with regard to the contradictory requirements of preventing lateral deformation and achieving cushioning properties on landing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a midsole assembly for an athletic shoe.
In one embodiment, a midsole assembly comprises a midsole formed of soft elastic material and a corrugated sheet disposed in the heel portion to the forefoot portion of the midsole. The midsole is composed of an upper midsole placed on the upper side of the corrugated sheet and a lower midsole placed on the lower side of the corrugated sheet. The upper midsole has a different hardness from that of the lower midsole.
A second embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein the upper and lower midsoles are comprised of the same material.
A third embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein the upper and lower midsoles are comprised of different materials.
A fourth embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein the heel portion of the upper midsole has a lower hardness than the heel portion of the lower midsole.
A fifth embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein the heel portion of the lower midsole has a lower hardness than the heel portion of the upper midsole.
A sixth embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein the forefoot portion of the upper midsole has a lower hardness than the forefoot portion of the lower midsole.
A seventh embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein the forefoot portion of the lower midsole has a lower hardness than the forefoot portion of the upper midsole.
An eighth embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein a higher elastic member than the corrugated sheet is provided along the outer circumference of the heel portion of the corrugated sheet.
A ninth embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein a lower elastic portion than the corrugated sheet is provided on the heel central region of the corrugated sheet.
A tenth embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein a higher elastic member than the corrugated sheet is provided along the outer circumference of the heel portion of the corrugated sheet. Also, a lower elastic portion than the corrugated sheet is provided on the heel central region of the corrugated sheet.
The higher elastic member may be comprised of a fiber-reinforced plastic sheet or a metal plate, as is respectively described in an eleventh or twelfth embodiment.
The higher elastic member may be bonded to the corrugated sheet, or may be injection molded with the corrugated sheet, as is respectively described in a thirteenth or fourteenth embodiment.
The lower elastic portion may be comprised of a plurality of holes formed in the corrugated sheet, as is described in a fifteenth embodiment. Alternatively, as is described in a sixteenth embodiment, the lower elastic portion may be comprised of a meshed sheet that is injection molded with the corrugated sheet.
A seventeenth embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein a lower elastic portion is provided at the forefoot portion of the corrugated sheet.
The lower elastic portion may be comprised of a plurality of holes formed in the corrugated sheet, as is described in an eighteenth embodiment. In the alternative, as is described in a nineteenth embodiment, the lower elastic portion may be comprised of a meshed sheet that is injection molded with the corrugated sheet.
The forefoot portion of the corrugated sheet may include a groove that extends in the transverse direction, as is described in a twentieth embodiment.
A twenty-first embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein a higher elastic member than the corrugated sheet is provided at the plantar arch portion of the corrugated sheet.
The higher elastic member may be comprised of a fiber-reinforced plastic sheet, or a metal plate, as is respectively described in a twenty-second or twenty-third embodiment.
The higher elastic member may be bonded to the corrugated sheet, as is described in a twenty-fourth embodiment. Alternatively, the higher elastic member may be injection molded with the corrugated sheet, as is described in a twenty-fifth embodiment.
A twenty-sixth embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein the amplitude of the wave configuration of the corrugated sheet is larger on the medial and lateral sides of the heel portion of the corrugated sheet, and smaller at the heel central portion.
A twenty-seventh embodiment provides a midsole assembly according to the first embodiment, wherein the phase of the wave configuration of the corrugated sheet is offset by one-half pitch between the medial and lateral sides of the heel portion of the corrugated sheet.
In the first embodiment, a corrugated sheet is disposed in the heel portion to the forefoot portion of the midsole.
Thus, the regions from the heel portion to the forefoot portion of the midsole tend to be less deformed in the lateral or transverse direction at the time of landing on the grou
Mizuno Corporation
Mohandesi Jila
Yu Mickey
LandOfFree
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