WO1999051118A1

WO1999051118A1 - Shock absorbing device for a shoe

Info

Publication number: WO1999051118A1
Application number: PCT/IB1999/000552
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles Ogilvie Wood
Original assignee: Charles Ogilvie Wood
Priority date: 1998-04-03
Filing date: 1999-03-31
Publication date: 1999-10-14
Also published as: AU2950099A

Abstract

This invention relates to a shock absorbing device (10) which is releasably attachable to a shoe. The device comprises a frame which supports a pneumatically cushioned sole (16). The sole is in the form of two tubular treads which extend parallel relative to one another, side by side, substantially along the length of a sole portion of the frame.

Description

SHOCKABSORBINGDEVICEFORASHOE

BACKGROUND OFTHEINVENTION

THIS invention relates to a shock absorbing device for an article of footwear such as a shoe. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a shock absorbing device for an article of footwear, the device comprising:

a frame having a front end for supporting a toe portion of the article of footwear and a back end for supporting a heel portion of the article of footwear;

a leaf spring located at the front end and/or rear end of the frame; and

a cushioned sole, preferably a pneumatically cushion sole, carried on the frame.

Preferably, the device comprises a leaf spring located at the front end thereof and a leaf spring located at the rear end thereof, with a sole portion between the front and rear leaf springs supporting the pneumatically cushioned sole.

Advantageously, the pneumatically cushion sole comprises at least two tubular treads which extend side by side substantially along the length of the sole portion of the frame. Preferably, the tubular treads are inclined relative to one another along a longitudinal axis nning along the length of the frame.

The sole portion of the frame preferably comprises at least one slot for receiving a flexible tread having an inner tube, and a cover engageable with the frame for securing the inner tube and tread to the frame.

Alternatively, the frame comprises an upper surface for supporting the article of footwear and a lower surface supporting the pneumatically cushioned sole, wherein the upper and lower surfaces are joined by a leaf spring located at a front end of the frame.

Typically, the frame comprises at least one channel for receiving the pneumatic sole which is in the form of a continuous tube that encircles the frame. Preferably, the frame comprises two channels each of which is arranged to receive a tube so that the tubes are carried side by side on the frame.

Advantageously, the tubes are ovaloid in shape.

Conveniently, the device is releasably attachable to the article of footwear.

According to another embodiment of the invention there is provided a sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising at least two pneumatically cushioned tubes that extend side by side, in parallel, at least substantially along the length of the sole.

According to a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a sole for an article of footwear, the sole comprising a frame supporting at least one continuous pneumatically cushioned tube, the tube being ovaloid in shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a side view of a shock-absorbing device according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a partly cut away pictorial view of a bracket for attaching a shock- absorbing device according to the invention to a shoe;

Figure 4 is a partly cut away exploded view of the sole of a shock absorbing device according to one embodiment the invention;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 along the line V-V;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative tread for the shock absorbing device of the invention;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view through the sole of a shock absorbing device according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a side view of shock-absorbing device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is a top view of Figure 1 ;

Figure 10 is cross-sectional view of Figure 8 along the line W-W; and

Figure 11 is a pictorial view of a pneumatically cushioned tube for the device shown in Figure 8. DETAILED DESCRD7TION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a shock absorbing device 10 is provided for supporting an article of footwear such as a shoe 12 (shown in dotted outline).

The shock absorbing device 10 comprises a flexible frame 14, a pneumatically cushioned sole 16 and a bracket 18 for attaching a heel portion 20 of the shoe 12 to the shock absorbing device 10.

The frame 14 is an elongate strip of flexible material which has been bent at one end to form a generally U-shaped front leaf spring 22 and bent at the other end to form a generally U-shaped rear leaf spring 24. The front leaf spring 22 provides a platform 26 for supporting at least a toe portion 28 of the shoe 12. The rear leaf spring 24 forms a platform 30 which carries the bracket 18 and supports the heel portion 20 of the shoe. The portion of flexible strip between the front and rear leaf springs forms a sole-supporting portion 32 and carries the pneumatic sole 16. The frame may be made from spring steel or any other suitable flexible material such as carbon fibre.

It will be noted that there are no securement means provided for securing the platform 26 of the frame 14 to the toe portion 28 of the shoe 12. This is because the platform 26 is biased toward the toe portion 28 by the rear leaf spring 24 when the bracket 18 is attached to the heel portion 20 of the shoe 12. A strip of scored rubber material 27 is however bonded to the upper surface of the platform 26, to stop the toe portion of the shoe from slipping.

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, the bracket 18 comprises a U-shaped base 34 which has a peripheral wall 36 extending around the U portion thereof. In this embodiment, the "U" is sized to fit the width of the heel of a size 10 shoe. A clamp 38, for clamping the heel of a shoe in the bracket, comprises a threaded spindle 40 which extends across the U of the bracket 18. The spindle 40 is rotatably fixed to the peripheral wall 36 at point 42 and protrudes through the peripheral wall 36 at point 44. A handle 46 is pivotally connected to the protruding end 45 of the spindle 40. A clamping element 48, which has a threaded aperture 50 which engages with the threaded spindle 40. Rotation of the spindle 40 by way of the handle 46 causes the clamping element to move toward or away from the heel of a shoe to clamp or release the heel. Once the heel has been clamped, the handle 46 is clipped back against the peripheral wall 36 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 so that it is kept out of the way. A range of shoe sizes, say size 7 to 10, can be used with the bracket described in this embodiment.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the pneumatic sole 16 comprises a tread 52 and two inner tubes 54A and 54B. The tread and inner tubes are carried on the frame 14 and held are held in place by way of a sliding cover 56.

The frame 14 has two parallel slots 58 and 60 and the tread 52 has two parallel tubular tracks 62 an 64 which fit through these slots when the tread is brought into engagement with the frame 14. The inner tubes 54A and 54B each fit into one of the a tubular tracks. Once the tread and tubes have been placed in the frame 14, the cover 56 is placed on top and slides into engagement with the frame 14 by way of complimentary sliding engagement formations 72 on the cover plate 56 and frame 14. The tubes are then inflated by way of valves 74A and 74B. The air pressure in the tubes forces the tubes against the cover plate 56, locking the plate in place. The pressure of the air within each tube can be varied to provide a "harder" or "softer" walk. Also, if a tube is punctured it can be removed from the device and patched.

The tread 52 is moulded from a pliable yet hard (ie. resistant to abrasion and wearing) plastics material and the bottom surfaces of the tracks are scored so that the tracks have a good grip on a walking surface. The inner tubes 54A and 54B are made from rubber and are similar to the inner tube of a bicycle. The cover 56 is moulded from a flexible plastics material.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be noted that the tread is shaped so that the parallel tracks are inclined relative to one another, along a longitudinal axis mnning along the length of the flexible sole. This shape provides better stability and support for the shoe.

Referring to Figure 6, instead of having the outer tread 52 and inner tube 54, the tread is a unitary moulded tread 78 made from a dense and abrasion resistant foam material. The tracks of the tread fit through the slots in the sole and the tread is locked in place in the same way as described above, with the cover plate compressing the foam when it is attached to the frame so that the resilience of the tread locks the cover plate in place.

Figure 7 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the frame 14 is angled along its length to form two diverging surfaces 80 and 82 in which the slots 58 and 60 are located. Two separate tubular tracks 84 and 86 are fitted into the slots 58 and 60 and inner tubes 54A and 54B are fitted into each track. The tracks 84 and 86 and inner tubes 54A and 54B are covered by separate cover plates 88 and 90 which each connect to the frame in the same manner as the plate 56 illustrated in Figure 5 is connected to the frame 14.

It will be appreciated that the diverging surfaces 80 and 82 cause the tracks 84 and 86 to be inclined relative to one another, along a longitudinal axis ranning along the length of the flexible sole, thus providing more stability and support for the shoe.

Referring to Figures 8 and 9, a shock absorbing device 90 according to a second embodiment of the invention is provided for supporting an article of footwear such as a shoe 92 (shown in dotted outline).

The shock absorbing device 90 comprises a frame 94, a pneumatically cushioned sole 96 carried on the frame and a bracket 98 for attaching a heel portion 100 of the shoe 92 to the shock absorbing device 90. A velcro™ strap 101 is provided for attaching a toe portion 103 of the shoe 92 to the device 90.

The frame 94 comprises a rigid shoe-supporting upper surface 102 and a rigid sole-supporting surface 104 which are joined by a front leaf spring 106. In this embodiment, the frame 94 is made from a moulded plastics material with the front leaf spring 106 being arranged to cause the "free" ends 107 and 109 thereof, to be biased away from one another.

Referring to Figure 10, the upper and lower support surfaces 102 and 104 of the frame 94 are provided with parallel channels 108 A and 108B and 110A and HOB respectively. The channels are arranged to receive and hold pneumatically cushioned soles in the form of continuous tubes 112 which form the pneumatically cushioned sole 96. The tubes 112 are similar to racing bicycle tyres, have an outer casing that surrounds an inner tube. The outer casing is ovaloid in shape, having two parallel sides joined by two semi-circular sides, as shown in Figure 11. The tubes 112 also have valves 114 for inflating the tubes. When inflated, each tube "locks" onto the frame, in the same manner as a bicycle tyre "locks" onto the rim of a bicycle.

The channels 108 A and 110A on the upper surface 102 of the frame 94 are deeper than those on the lower surface 104. Thus, the portion of the tube 112 located at the lower surface 104 protrudes from the frame 94, for engaging with a ground surface while the portion of the tube located at the upper surface 102 does not protrude as far, but still protrudes to provide a cushion support for the sole of the shoe 92.

In use, the heel portion 100 of the shoe 92 is attached to the bracket 98 which is the same as the bracket illustrated in Figure 3. The toe portion 103 of the shoe 92 is attached to the front end of the frame by way velcro™ straps 101. When walking on the device 90 heel pressure at the back end of the device is absorbed by the back portion 122 of the tubes 112 and the free ends 107 and 109 of the frame are forced towards each other. As the user shifts his/her weight forward on his/her foot, the foot is cushioned by the tubes 112, and the free ends 107 and 109 of the frame are biased away from each other. The air pressure within each tube 112 can be varied to provide a "harder" or a "softer" walk.

Claims

-10-CLAIMS

1. A shock absorbing device for an article of footwear, the device comprising:

a leaf spring located at the front end and/or rear end of the frame; and

a cushioned sole, preferably a pneumatically cushioned sole, carried on the frame.

2. The device according to claim 1, the frame comprising a leaf spring located at the front end thereof and a leaf spring located at the rear end thereof, with a sole portion between the front and rear leaf springs supporting the pneumatically cushioned sole.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the pneumatically cushioned sole comprises at least two tubular treads which extend side by side substantially along the length of the sole portion of the frame.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the tubular treads are inclined relative to one another along a longitudinal axis n╬▒nning along the length of the frame.

5. The device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, the sole portion of the -11-

frame comp╧Çsing at least one slot for receiving a flexible tread having an inner tube, and a cover engageable with the frame for securing the inner tube and tread to the frame

The device according to claim 1, the frame comp╧Çsing an upper surface for supporting the article of footwear and a lower surface supporting the pneumatically cushioned sole, wherein the upper and lower surfaces are joined by a leaf spring located at the front end of the frame

The device according to claim 6, wherein the frame comp╧Çses at least one channel for receiving the pneumatic sole which is in the form of a continuous tube that encircles the frame

The device according to claim 7, comp╧Çsing at least two channels that are o╧Çented side by side, parallel to one another, on the frame, each channel being arranged to receive a tube

The device according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the tube/s is/are ovaloid in shape

The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is releasably attachable to the article of footwear

A sole for an article of footwear, the sole compnsing at least two pneumatically cushioned tubes that extend side by side, in parallel, at least substantially along the length of the sole

A sole for an article of footwear, the sole comp╧Çsing a frame supporting -12-

at least one continuous pneumatically cushioned tube, the tube being ovaloid in shape.

13. A sole according to claim 12, comprising at least two tubes, the tubes being a╧Çanged to lie side by side.