Cushioning Element for Sports Apparel
Assigneeadidas AG
InventorsAngus Wardlaw, Stuart David Reinhardt, Christopher Edward Holmes, Tru Huu Minh Le
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Improved cushioning elements for sports apparel, in particular for soles for sports shoes, are described. A cushioning element for sports apparel with a first deformation element is provided. The deformation element includes a plurality of randomly arranged particles of an expanded material, wherein there are first voids within the particles and/or between the particles.
Claims20
1-13. (canceled)
A shoe sole comprising at least one cushioning element for sports apparel, the at least one cushioning element further comprising:
- (a) a first deformation element comprising a plurality of randomly arranged particles of an expanded material;
- (b) wherein there are first voids within the particles and/or between the particles;
- (c) wherein the first deformation element takes up a first partial region of the cushioning element and wherein the cushioning element further comprises a second deformation element.
A shoe comprising at least one cushioning element for sports apparel, the at least one cushioning element comprising:
- (a) a first deformation element comprising a plurality of randomly arranged particles of an expanded material;
- (b) wherein there are first voids within the particles and/or between the particles;
- (c) wherein the first deformation element takes up a first partial region of the at least one cushioning element and wherein the at least one cushioning element further comprises a second deformation element;
- (d) wherein the at least one cushioning element is provided as at least a part of a sole of the shoe, in particular as at least a part of a midsole or as at least a part of an insole.
A method of manufacturing a shoe sole comprising at least one cushioning element comprising at least one deformation element, the method comprising:
- inserting particles of an expanded material into a mold, each particle of the expanded material having a closed outer surface;
- subjecting the particles of the expanded material to a steaming process to at least partially melt the outer surfaces of the expanded material particles;
- forming a first deformation element by bonding the particles directly to each other at their outer surfaces while maintaining the integrity of the outer surfaces;
- and
- forming first voids between the particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.