Boots – shoes – and leggings – Heels – Cushion
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-08
2003-04-29
Patterson, M. D. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Heels
Cushion
C036S027000, C036S03500R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06553692
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a shock absorption mechanism for shoes, and more particularly to a shock absorption mechanism positioned within the heel of a shoe to absorb shock upon impact and to maintain good shoe stability.
The terms “shock absorption,” or “absorption of shock,” or other like terms all relate to the ability of a device compressing or expanding upon a force being applied to the device, to reduce that force to zero, to reduce the acceleration of the device to zero, and to reduce the velocity of that device to zero in a manner in which rapid changes of acceleration or velocity are not experienced. In order to provide comfort when wearing the shoe, this “shock absorption” must be accomplished whereby the decrease in acceleration is gradual and the decrease in velocity is gradual. For example, if the acceleration is reduced to zero and the velocity is reduced to zero instantaneously, as the words “shock absorption” are used herein, no shock absorption has occurred. The term “shock absorption” has nothing to do with inner soles which may be utilized in addition to the shock absorption device to Make a shoe comfortable in a static condition.
The term “shoe stability” is used herein to describe a feature of a shoe which will, in a static condition and upon walking, support the weight of the person wearing the shoe in a manner which allows the person to have good balance. A shoe with “good stability” provides the person with support that is firm and dimensionally stable, and does not provide the person with a feel that he is walking on wet sand or “SILLY PUTTY.”
In the past, cushioned innersoles have been provided for shoes which are formed of compressible, elastomeric material, such as cellular or plastic foam, foam rubber, or the like. These innersoles have provided only a limited amount of shock absorbency, or none at all resulting in little or no significant improvement in the wearer's comfort. It is therefore highly desirable to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes.
Recently, shoes have been provided with soles having air cushions in the toe and heel or throughout the sole with air circulation between separated air cushions. The air cushions have been provided with mechanisms that circulate the air and ventilate the shoes during walking activities. These air cushions, however, have been known to wear and to vary the shock absorption and the circulation of air during use, and the shock absorption provided is directly proportional to the compressibility of air and the circulation of air during use. Thus, it is highly desirable to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which maintains its shock absorption properties during use.
In some shoes, an air pump is incorporated in the heel of the shoe which is more or less in communication with one or more air bladders located in the toe or other portions of the shoe. An example of these shoes are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,173 and this inventor's Korean Patent No. 60907, Korean Patent Published Nos. 94-7402 (Application No. 91-20772), 94-1007 (Application No. 92-1238), and 94-10008 (Application No. 92-1239).
These shoes, in the past, have experienced difficulties in that the air bladders leak, and the communication between air bladders change during use, and the shock absorption feature of the shoe either cannot be relied upon or is too much dependent upon the compressibility of air, and thus, does not absorb the shock satisfactorily. Thus, it is highly desirable to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which does not involve an air cushion. It is also highly desirable to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which does not have one or more air bladders in communication with each other. It is also highly desirable to provide a new and improved shock absorption device for a shoe which does not have all of the disadvantages of air cushions and bladders. It is also highly desirable to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism which has a mechanical shock absorption mechanism.
Finally, there have been provided shoes with a spring device positioned in the heel. Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,737. However, such devices have not been dimensionally stable and thus, become “stuck” against other portions of the shoe and cannot be relied upon to function properly, do not provide the good shoe stability required, are highly complex, have multiple parts and are relatively expensive to manufacture and assemble, or do not have the necessary shock absorption property desired, or at times do not provide the appropriate stability required in a shoe.
Therefore, it is highly desirable to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes to be positioned in the heel portion of the shoe. It is also highly desirable to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which is dimensionally stable during compression. It is also highly desirable to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for a shoe which is comprised of few parts, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and is relatively simple to assemble. It is also highly desirable to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for a shoe which provides appropriate stability and support for the shoe when not under impact.
Both good shoe stability and good shock absorption properties require that any shock absorption mechanism used in children's, women's and men's shoes be adjustable to provide these properties for persons of various weight.
Finally, it is highly desirable to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for a shoe which has all of the above features.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which maintains its shock absorption properties during use.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which does not involve an air cushion.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which does not have one or more air bladders in communication with each other.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which has a mechanical shock absorption device.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which does not have all of the disadvantages of air cushions and bladders.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes to be positioned in the heel portion of the shoe.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which is dimensionally stable during compression.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which is comprised of few parts, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and is relatively simple to assemble.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for a shoe which provides appropriate stability and support for the shoe when not under impact.
Finally, it is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes which has all of the above features.
In the broader aspects of this invention, there is provided a new and improved shock absorption mechanism for shoes comprising a plurality of members defining an upper support planar surface and a lower support planar surface. The upper planar surface and lower planar surface are moveable toward and away from each other. A plurality of near-collapsible members are operatively connected between the upper and lower planar surfaces. The collapsible members are moveable between an ext
Krieg DeVault Lundy LLP
Patterson M. D.
Pipenger Gary G.
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