Boots – shoes – and leggings – Soles – Cushion
Patent
1989-08-09
1990-11-20
Meyers, Steven N.
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Soles
Cushion
36 35R, 36 37, A43B 1320, A43B 2126
Patent
active
049708074
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an outsole of flexible plastic material for sports shoes.
The problem of so constructing the outsole of sports shoes that they adequately absorb (damp) the high loadings on the motor apparatus of the runner, which loadings occur practically in the form of impacts due to the foot being set down, while at the same time not adversely affecting the natural running style and performance has been the subject of numerous proposals and practical design configurations. It will be appreciated that the principal loading when the foot is put down occurs in the heel region as at least the average runner first puts his foot to the ground at that location, so that for a short period in the rolling has to take account of the different bodyweights of runners, as clearly an outsole which gives an adequate spring travel and thus an adequate damping effect for a heavy runner is too hard for a light runner while an outsole which suits a light runner is excessively compressed by the sole loadings applied by a heavy runner and therefore produces the above-mentioned floating feel or `bottoms out`. There are therefore many outsoles of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification which, for individual adaptation of the damping capacity of the outsole to the different bodyweights of runners, have support bodies or the like which can be interchangeably fitted into recesses under the heel support surface (see German published specification (DE-AS) No. 29 04 540; German laid-open application (DE-OS) No. 32 45 964). However those known constructions assume that the runner himself is capable of determining the damping effect which he requires, that is to say, the runner can himself make the choice in respect of the damping bodies which are required for that purpose, which however is in no way always the case.
It is also known that the spring resiliency of the materials of the known outsoles produces what is known as a `catapult effect` in that in proportion to the local reduction in loading during the rolling movement of the foot, the sole accelerates the foot in an upward direction, with a force corresponding to compression of the sole. Although that catapult effect is considered as contributing towards running efficiency, in a pronounced form it is disadvantageous from the point of view of health as, when the loading impressed on the sole is restored with full resiliency, the sole `strikes back` at the foot with the same force as that with which it had been previously loaded when the foot was put down on the ground. That gives rise in particular to damage in the region of the achilles tendons and the knee joints.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an outsole of the kind set forth in the opening part of this specification, which permits adaptation of the damping capability of the outsole to different runner bodyweights in a simpler fashion, without the runner himself having to take action in that respect. In addition the invention seeks to provide that the outsole cuts down on the loading peaks which are harmful to health, due to the catapult effect.
The fact that the damping body comprises a plurality of individual bodies of a resilient material, which in the non-loaded condition bear against each other only in a region-wise or point-wise manner and which can lie directly against each other or which are connected together by interposed resilient material provides a progressive spring characteristic. In that respect the invention is based on the consideration which is known in principle that a progressive spring characteristic in respect of the resilient damping body causes it automatically to provide for adaptation to different runner bodyweights. For, at a low level of loading, an adequate spring travel can be achieved by virtue of the soft springing effect which occurs in that situation while the increase in spring travel with increasing loading becomes progressively less in accordance with the progressively rising spring characteristic, so that a heavy runner, with th
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Anderie Wolf
Schacher Franz
Adidas AG
Meyers Steven N.
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