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US 4,492,046 AGranted
Running shoe
OwnerGhenz Kosovainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A running shoe has a longitudinal slot in the sole extending from its back edge into the arch region and dividing the shoe sole into upper and lower segments. A spring wire in this slot decreases the velocity of the heel impact and then, as the runner's weight shifts forward onto the ball and toes of the foot, launches the runner into a comfortable stride and reduces stress.
Claims14
In a sole for a running shoe having a sole body of deformable resilient material with:
- a heel-supporting rear segment with top and bottom faces;
- an arch-supporting middle segment extending forward from said rear segment;
- and
- a ball and toe-supporting front segment extending forward from said middle segment;
- said rear segment having a longitudinal slot extending forward from its rear edge between said top and bottom faces across its complete width and separating said rear segment of the sole body into upper and lower sections;
- the improvement which comprises:
- a spring wire received in said slot and having an upper half engaging said upper section of said rear segment of the sole body and a lower half engaging said lower section of said rear segment of the sole body, said upper and lower halves of said spring wire being flexibly and resiliently connected to each other at the front end to bias said upper half of the spring wire upward from its lower half toward the rear of the shoe sole and permit up and down movement of said upper half of the spring wire away from and toward said lower section of said rear segment of the shoe sole;
- said upper and lower halves of the spring wire being flexibly and resiliently connected to each other forward beyond said slot along the opposite sides of said middle segment of the shoe sole.
5 more elements
In a running shoe having a shoe upper and a sole body of deformable resilient material attached to said upper and having:
- a heel-supporting rear segment with top and bottom faces;
- an arch-supporting middle segment extending forward from said rear segment;
- and
- a ball and toe-supporting front segment extending forward from said middle segment;
- said rear segment having a longitudinal slot extending forward from its rear edge between said top and bottom faces across its complete width and separating said rear segment of the sole body into upper and lower sections;
- the improvement which comprises:
- a spring wire received in said slot and having an upper half engaging said upper section of said rear segment of the sole body and a lower half engaging said lower section of said rear segment of the sole body, said upper and lower halves of said spring wire being flexibly and resiliently connected to each other at the front end to bias said upper half of the spring wire upward from its lower half toward the rear of the shoe sole and permit up and down movement of said upper half of the spring wire away from and toward said lower section of said rear segment of the shoe sole;
- and
- retainer means on said shoe upper at the back of the shoe for engagement with said upper half of the spring wire to attach the latter to the shoe upper;
- said upper half of the spring wire at its rear end presenting an upwardly extending segment which extends up behind said upper section of said rear segment of the sole body and closely behind the back of said shoe upper;
- and
- said retainer means including a flexible flap forming a loop which is held closed by a fastener and which receives the upper end of said upwardly extending segment of the upper half of the spring.
9 more elements
In a running shoe having a shoe upper and a sole body of deformable resilient material attached to said upper and having:
- a heel-supporting rear segment with top and bottom faces;
- an arch-supporting middle segment extending forward from said rear segment;
- and
- a ball and toe-supporting front segment extending forward from said middle segment;
- said rear segment having a longitudinal slot extending forward from its rear edge between said top and bottom faces across its complete width and separating said rear segment of the sole body into upper and lower sections;
- the improvement which comprises:
- a spring wire received in said slot and having a lower half attached to said lower section of said rear segment of the sole body and an upper half engaging said upper section of said rear segment of the sole body from below along said slot, said upper half of the spring wire having its front end flexibly and resiliently attached to said lower half of the spring wire and behind its attached front end being free to move up and down toward and away from said lower section of said rear segment of the sole body, said upper and lower halves of the spring body being resiliently biased apart behind said attached front end of said upper half;
- said front end of said upper half of the spring wire being attached to said lower half of the spring wire on opposite sides of the sole body forwardly beyond said slot.
5 more elements
In a running shoe having a shoe upper and a sole body of deformable resilient material attached to said upper and having:
- a heel-supporting rear segment with top and bottom faces;
- an arch-supporting middle segment extending forward from said rear segment;
- and
- a ball and toe-supporting front segment extending forward from said middle segment;
- said rear segment having a longitudinal slot extending forward from its rear edge between said top and bottom faces across its complete width and separating said rear segment of the sole body into upper and lower sections;
- the improvement which comprises:
- a spring wire received in said slot and having a lower half attached to said lower section of said rear segment of the sole body and an upper half engaging said upper section of said rear segment of the sole body from below along said slot, said upper half of the spring wire having its front end flexibly and resiliently attached to said lower half of the spring wire and behind its attached front end being free to move up and down toward and away from said lower section of said rear segment of the sole body, said upper and lower halves of the spring body being resiliently biased apart behind said attached front end of said upper half;
- said upper half of the spring wire at its back end extending up behind the shoe upper and being attached to the latter above the back end of said slot;
- said lower half of the spring wire at its back end being anchored in said lower section of said rear segment of the sole body;
- said front end of said upper half of the spring wire being attached to said lower half of the spring wire on opposite sides of the sole body forwardly beyond said slot;
- and
- said upper and lower halves of the spring wire resiliently gripping the opposite sides of the sole body forwardly beyond said slot.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.