# US 11,432,615 B2 · Sole or sole insert including concavely rounded portions and flexibility grooves > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,615 B2 - Document ID: US11432615B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/008,082 - Filed: 2018-06-14 - Published: 2018-10-11 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-04-18 - Applicants: Frampton E. Ellis - Inventors: Frampton E. Ellis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432615B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/141: {with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion} - A43B 1/0054: {provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances} - A43B 3/38: with power sources - A43B 7/14: with foot-supporting parts - A43B 13/18: Resilient soles {(skating boots provided with resilient means A43B5/1658)} - A43B 13/181: {Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole} - A43B 13/186: {Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32)} - A43B 13/189: {filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water} - A43B 13/203: {provided with a pump or valve} - A43B 13/38: Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process - A43B 13/40: with cushions - A43B 17/026: {filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water} - A61B 5/1036: {Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies} - A61B 5/6807: {Footwear} - A61B 5/6898: {Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers} - A61F 5/14: Special medical insertions for shoes for flat-feet, club-feet or the like - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - A43B 1/00: Footwear characterised by the material - A43B 3/00: Footwear characterised by the shape or the use - A43B 13/20: Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) ## Abstract A sole for footwear or a removable sole insert for footwear including a heel area, a forefoot area, and a midfoot area located between the heel and forefoot areas of the sole or the removable sole insert. The sole or removable sole insert include a concavely rounded upper and lower surfaces of the sole or removable sole inserts, a first flexibility groove located in a lateral side of the midfoot area of the sole or removable sole insert, and a second flexibility groove located in a medial side of the midfoot area of the sole or the removable sole insert. The concavely founded lower surface of the sole or the removable sole insert may extend to the sidemost extend of the lateral and medial sides of the sole or the removable sole insert except at a location of the second flexibility groove. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A footwear sole or a removable footwear sole insert, comprising: a heel area, a forefoot area and a midfoot area located between the heel and forefoot areas of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, wherein the forefoot area defines a first extent from a toe end of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert towards a heel end of the footwear sole or the removeable footwear sole insert, the midfoot area defines a second extent, and the heel area defines a third extent from the heel end of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert towards the toe end, wherein a length of the first extent is greater than a length of the second extent, and the length of the first extent is also greater than a length of the third extent; a concavely rounded upper surface and a convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, as viewed in frontal plane cross-sections taken in the heel area, the forefoot area and the midfoot area, and in sagittal plane cross-sections taken through the heel area and the forefoot area, the concavity and the convexity being determined relative to a middle portion of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert between the concavely rounded upper surface and the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert; a middle portion of the concavely rounded upper surface and a middle portion of the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert are parallel, as viewed in frontal plane cross-sections taken from proximate to a rearmost portion of the heel area to proximate a foremost portion of the forefoot area: a first flexibility groove located in a lateral side of the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert; and a second flexibility groove located in a medial side of the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert; and wherein: the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert extends to a sidemost extent of a lateral side of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert except at a location of the first flexibility groove; the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert extends to a sidemost extent of a medial side of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert except at a location of the second flexibility groove; and lowermost extents of the first and second flexibility grooves are at or below a lowermost extent of the concavely rounded upper surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert and an uppermost extent of the first and second flexibility grooves are at or above an uppermost extent of the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, when the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert is upright and in an unloaded condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 1, wherein the first and the second flexibility grooves are located in a same frontal plane cross-section of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 1, wherein at least one of said flexibility grooves is concavely rounded relative to a location outside of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, as viewed from above the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 1, wherein both of said flexibility grooves are concavely rounded relative to a location outside of said footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, as viewed from above the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 1, further comprising a fabric cover over at least one of said flexibility grooves. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 1, wherein the first and second flexibility grooves are the only flexibility grooves located on the medial and lateral sides of the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 6, wherein the first and second flexibility grooves are the only flexibility grooves located on the medial and lateral sides of the midfoot and heel areas of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 6, wherein the first and second flexibility grooves are the only flexibility grooves located on the medial and lateral sides of the midfoot and forefoot areas of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 6, wherein the first and second flexibility grooves are the only flexibility grooves located on the medial and lateral sides of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 1, wherein the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert is configured to correspond to an intended wearer's foot; and the first and second flexibility grooves are located at a location on the forefoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert that is configured to correspond to a location between heads of metatarsal bones of the intended wearer's foot and at a location on the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert that is configured to correspond to a base of the fifth metatarsal bone of the intended wearer's foot, respectively. ### Claim 11 A footwear sole or a removable footwear sole insert, comprising: a heel area, a forefoot area and a midfoot area located between the heel and forefoot areas of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, wherein the forefoot area defines a first extent from a toe end of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert towards a heel end of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, the midfoot area defines a second extent, and the heel area defines a third extent from the heel end of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert towards the toe end, wherein a length of the first extent is greater than a length of the second extent, and the length of the first extent is also greater than a length of the third extent; a concavely rounded upper surface and a convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, as viewed in frontal plane cross-sections taken in the heel area, the forefoot area and the midfoot area, and in sagittal plane cross-sections taken in the heel area and the forefoot area, the concavity and convexity being determined relative to a middle portion of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert between the concavely rounded upper surface and the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or removable footwear sole insert; a middle portion of the concavely rounded upper surface and a middle portion of the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert are parallel, as viewed in frontal plane cross-sections taken from proximate to a rearmost portion of the heel area to proximate a foremost portion of the forefoot area: a first flexibility groove located in a lateral side of the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert; and a second flexibility groove located in a medial side of the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert; and wherein: at least one of the first and second flexibility grooves extends from one of the lateral and medial sides of the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert through part of an underneath portion of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert located between the lateral and medial sides of the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert; the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert extends to a sidemost extent of a lateral side of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert wherein the convexly rounded lower surface terminates before the sidemost extent of the lateral side of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert at a location of the first flexibility groove; the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert extends to a sidemost extent of a medial side of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert wherein the convexly rounded lower surface terminates before the sidemost extent of the medial side of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert at a location of the second flexibility groove. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 11, wherein the first flexibility groove extends through all of the underneath portion of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert to proximate the second flexibility groove to form a single flexibility groove from the first and second flexibility grooves. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 11, wherein the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert comprises a first side and a second side, and further comprises a third flexibility groove that extends from the first side through all of the underneath portion of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert located between the first side and the second side and further extends to the second side. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 11, wherein the first and second flexibility grooves are the only flexibility grooves located on the medial and lateral sides of the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 14, wherein the first and second flexibility grooves are the only flexibility grooves located on the medial and lateral sides of the midfoot and heel areas of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 14, wherein the first and second flexibility grooves are the only flexibility grooves located on the medial and lateral sides of the midfoot and forefoot areas of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 14, wherein the first and second flexibility grooves are the only flexibility grooves located on the medial and lateral sides of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 11, wherein the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert is configured to correspond to an intended wearer's foot; and the first and second flexibility grooves are located at a location on the forefoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert that is configured to correspond to a location between heads of metatarsal bones of the intended wearer's foot and at a location on the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert that is configured to correspond to a base of the fifth metatarsal bone of the intended wearer's foot, respectively. ### Claim 19 A footwear sole or a removable footwear sole insert, comprising: a heel area, a forefoot area and a midfoot area located between the heel and forefoot areas of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, wherein the forefoot area defines a first extent from a toe end of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert towards a heel end of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, the midfoot area defines a second extent, and the heel area defines a third extent from the heel end of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert towards the toe end, wherein a length of the first extent is greater than a length of the second extent, and the length of the first extent is also greater than a length of the third extent; a concavely rounded upper surface and a convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, as viewed in frontal plane cross-sections taken in the heel area, the forefoot area and the midfoot area, and in sagittal plane cross-sections taken through the heel area and the forefoot area, the concavity and the convexity being determined relative to a middle portion of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert between the concavely rounded upper surface and the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert; a middle portion of the concavely rounded upper surface and a middle portion of the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert are parallel, as viewed in frontal plane cross-sections taken from proximate to a rearmost portion of the heel area to proximate a foremost portion of the forefoot area: a first flexibility groove located in a lateral side of the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert; and a second flexibility groove located in a medial side of the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert; and the first and second flexibility grooves are the only flexibility grooves located on the medial and lateral sides of the midfoot and heel areas of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert; and wherein: the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert extends to a sidemost extent of a lateral side of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert except at a location of the first flexibility groove; the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert extends to a sidemost extent of a medial side of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert except at a location of the second flexibility groove; and lowermost extents of the first and second flexibility grooves are at or below a lowermost extent of the concavely rounded upper surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert and an uppermost extent of the first and second flexibility grooves are at or above an uppermost extent of the convexly rounded lower surface of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert, when the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert is upright and in an unloaded condition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert of claim 19, wherein the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert is configured to correspond to an intended wearer's foot; and the first and second flexibility grooves are located at a location on the forefoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert that is configured to correspond to a location between heads of metatarsal bones of the intended wearer's foot and at a location on the midfoot area of the footwear sole or the removable footwear sole insert that is configured to correspond to a base of the fifth metatarsal bone of the intended wearer's foot, respectively.