US 5,469,638 A · Forefoot spring apparatus

Abstract

Athletic and other footwear has an upper and also an insole, a midsole and an outsole in successive layers. The midsole may be made from a flexible material (e.g. polyurethane or EUA) and may be shaped to conform to the shapes of the insole and the outsole. A cavity in the midsole at a forefoot position extends from the top surface to a position near the bottom surface of the midsole. The cavity may extend downwardly and rearwardly at an angle of approximately 10.degree.-45.degree., preferably approximately 15.degree. to the horizontal. The cavity may be undercut to provide a recess at the bottom of the cavity. A spring disposed in the cavity may have a slightly concave configuration in the cavity. The spring may have a flat configuration at the opposite ends of the spring in the longitudinal direction. The spring may be made from a fabric material woven with a warp and a fill and impregnated with a resin material. The spring may extend rearwardly past the cavity to a position substantially flush with the top surface of the midsole. The cavity and the spring may be disposed to provide the spring with potential energy having components in the upward and forward directions when the wearer's foot is disposed on the ground. When the wearer's foot is lifted from the ground, the potential energy in the spring is released to facilitate the movement of the foot upwardly and forwardly. The spring provides a dynamic response, durability, strength and adequate flex in the forefoot.

Claims38

Dependent claims

In combination, footwear having a forefoot and including:

a midsole having opposite surfaces,
an insole disposed on one surface of the midsole in coupled relationship to the midsole,
an outsole disposed on the other surface of the midsole in coupled relationship to the midsole,
the midsole having a cavity across substantially the lateral width of the midsole at the position of the forefoot of the footwear, the cavity extending forwardly and downwardly in the midsole, and
a spring disposed in the cavity across substantially the lateral width of the cavity for receiving potential energy upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground and for releasing this potential energy upon the lifting of the forefoot of the footwear from the ground,
the midsole having flat surfaces,
the cavity being disposed at an acute angle relative to the flat surfaces of the midsole in a forwardly and downwardly facing direction from the top of the midsole, and
the spring being disposed in the cavity to provide a component of the potential energy in the forward direction and a component of the potential energy in the upward direction upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground,
the cavity and the spring being disposed relative to each other to provide an abutting relationship between the midsole and the spring in the forward and downward extension of the cavity when the forefoot of the footwear is on the ground and when the forefoot of the footwear is off the ground.

6 more elements

In combination, footwear having a forefoot and including:

a midsole having opposite surfaces,
an insole disposed on one surface of the midsole in coupled relationship to the midsole,
an outsole disposed on the other surface of the midsole in coupled relationship to the midsole,
the midsole having a cavity across substantially the lateral width of the midsole at the position of the forefoot of the footwear, and
a spring disposed in the cavity across substantially the lateral width of the cavity for receiving potential energy upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground and for releasing this potential energy upon the lifting of the forefoot of the footwear from the ground,
the midsole having flat surfaces,
the cavity being disposed at an acute angle relative to the flat surfaces of the midsole in a forwardly facing direction from the top of the midsole, and
the spring being disposed in the cavity to provide a component of the potential energy in the forward direction and a component of the potential energy in the upward direction upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground,
the midsole being provided with upper and lower surfaces and the spring being provided with flat configurations at its forward and rear ends and, between the flat ends, with an intermediate portion integral with the flat configurations of the spring and at an acute angle relative to the flat configurations of the spring and
the flat configuration of the spring at the rear end of the spring being engaged by the upper surface of the midsole and the flat configuration of the spring at the forward end of the spring being engaged by the lower surface of the midsole.

7 more elements

In combination, footwear having a forefoot and including:

a midsole having opposite surfaces,
an insole disposed on one surface of the midsole in coupled relationship to the midsole,
an outsole disposed on the other surface of the midsole in coupled relationship to the midsole,
the midsole having a cavity across substantially the lateral width of the midsole at the position of the forefoot of the footwear, and
a spring disposed in the cavity for receiving potential energy upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground and for releasing this potential energy upon the lifting of the forefoot of the footwear from the ground,
the midsole having flat surfaces,
the cavity being disposed at an acute angle relative to the flat surfaces of the midsole in a forwardly facing direction from the top of the midsole,
the spring being disposed in the cavity to provide a component of the potential energy in the forward direction and a component of the potential energy in the upward direction upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground,
the spring being provided with flat configurations at its forward and rear ends and, between the flat ends, with an intermediate portion integral with the flat configuration of the spring and angled relative to the flat configuration of the spring,
the cavity being undercut to define a recess and to provide for a bending of the intermediate portion of the spring into the recess upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground, and
the flat configuration at the rear end of the spring being disposed on the top surface of the midsole and the cavity being provided with a socket at its forward end and the flat configuration of the spring at the forward end being disposed in the socket.

8 more elements

In combination, footwear having a sole and having a forefoot and further including:

a midsole having the shape of the sole and having top and bottom surfaces,
a cavity in the midsole at a position corresponding to the forefoot of the footwear, the cavity extending forwardly and downwardly in the midsole, and
a spring disposed in the cavity along substantially the the forward and downward extension of the cavity to store potential energy upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground and to convert the potential energy to kinetic energy upon the movement of the forefoot of the footwear from the ground,
the cavity being disposed at an acute angle in the forward and downward extension in the midsole relative to the top and bottom surfaces of the midsole,
the spring having, between the opposite ends of the spring, an intermediate portion which is integral with the opposite ends of the spring in the forward and downward extension and which is disposed at an acute angle relative to such opposite ends to provide potential energy having forward and upward components upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground,
the cavity being reduced in size upon a disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground,
the spring and the cavity in the midsole being constructed and disposed relative to each other to provide an abutting of the midsole against the intermediate portion of the spring in the forward and downward extension of the cavity when the forefoot of the footwear is on the ground and when the forefoot of the footwear is off the ground.

4 more elements

In combination, footwear having a sole and having a forefoot and further including:

a midsole having the shape of the sole and having top and bottom surfaces,
a cavity in the midsole at a position corresponding to the forefoot of the footwear, and
a spring disposed in the cavity along substantially the length of the cavity to store potential energy upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground and to convert the potential energy to kinetic energy upon the movement of the forefoot of the footwear from the ground,
the cavity being disposed at an acute angle in the midsole relative to the top and bottom surfaces of the midsole,
the spring having, between the opposite ends of the spring, an intermediate portion which is integral with the opposite ends of the spring and which is disposed at an acute angle relative to such opposite ends to provide potential energy having forward and upward components upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground,
the cavity being reduced in size upon a disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground,
the spring and the cavity in the midsole being constructed and disposed relative to each other to provide for an engagement of the midsole against the intermediate portion of the spring at the positions of the cavity when the forefoot of the footwear is on the ground and when the forefoot of the footwear is off the ground,
the cavity being undercut to define a recess and to provide for the displacement of the intermediate portion of the spring into the recess upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground,
the midsole having an intermediate portion, and
the upper surface of the cavity being defined by a particular surface and the intermediate portion of the spring being disposed against the midsole along the particular surface of the cavity when the forefoot is not disposed on the ground and the intermediate portion of the midsole and the being bent into the recess when the forefoot is on the ground,
the spring having flat portions at the forward and rear ends of the spring,
the flat portion at the rear end of the spring being disposed on the midsole in substantially flush relationship with the top surface of the midsole and a socket extending from the cavity in continuous relationship with the recess at the forward end of the cavity and the flat portion of the spring at the forward end being disposed in the socket.

9 more elements

In combination, footwear having a sole and having a forefoot and further including:

a midsole having the shape of the sole,
a cavity in the midsole at a position corresponding to the forefoot of the footwear,
a spring disposed in the cavity to store potential energy upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground and to convert the potential energy to kinetic energy upon the movement of the forefoot of the footwear from the ground,
the cavity being disposed in a direction in the midsole, and the spring being disposed in the cavity, to provide forward and upward components to the potential energy,
the spring having, between the opposite ends of the spring, an intermediate portion which is integral with the opposite ends of the spring and which is disposed at an angle relative to such opposite ends to provide potential energy having forward and upward components upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground,
the cavity being undercut to define a recess and to provide for the displacement of the intermediate portion of the spring into the recess upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground,
the upper surface of the cavity being defined by a particular surface in the midsole and the intermediate portion of the midsole being disposed against the particular surface of the cavity when the forefoot is not disposed on the ground and the intermediate portion being bent into the recess when the forefoot is on the ground,
the midsole having a top surface, and
the spring having a flat portion at the rear end of the spring and the flat portion being disposed on the midsole in substantially flush relationship with the top surface of the midsole and a socket extending from the cavity in continuous relationship with the recess at the forward end of the cavity and the spring having at the forward end a flat portion disposed in the socket, and
the bottom of the socket being defined by a surface near the bottom surface of the midsole and the flat portion at the forward end of the spring being disposed on such surface in the socket.

7 more elements

In combination for disposition on a wearer's foot,

footwear having a forefoot and an upper, an insole and an outsole,
the upper being disposed above the insole,
a midsole disposed in the footwear between the insole and the outsole,
there being in the midsole a cavity extending forwardly from the top of the midsole toward the bottom of the midsole, and
a spring disposed in the cavity for storing potential energy with components in the forward and upward directions upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground and for releasing this potential energy upon the lifting of the forefoot of the footwear from the ground,
the spring being provided with flat portions at its front and rear ends and being provided with an intermediate portion between its front and rear ends, the intermediate portion being integral with the flat portions and being disposed at an angle relative to the flat portions,
the cavity being undercut to define a recess and to provide for a displacement of the intermediate portion of the spring downwardly into the recess upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground,
the intermediate portion of the spring being concave relative to the flat portions of the spring when the forefoot is not on the ground,
the spring being made from a fabric material impregnated with a resin material,
the fabric material having a warp and a fill,
the flat portion at the rear end of the spring being disposed on the midsole in substantially flush relationship with the top surface of the midsole and a socket extending from the forward end of the cavity in continuous relationship with the cavity near the bottom of the midsole and the flat portion at the forward end of the cavity being disposed in the socket.

8 more elements

In combination for disposition on a wearer's foot,

footwear having a forefoot and having an upper, an insole and an outsole,
the upper being disposed above the insole,
a midsole disposed in the footwear between the insole and the outsole,
there being in the midsole a cavity extending forwardly from the top of the midsole toward the bottom of the midsole, and
a spring disposed in the cavity for storing potential energy with components in the forward and upward directions upon the disposition of the forefoot of the footwear on the ground and for releasing this potential energy upon the lifting of the forefoot of the footwear from the ground,
the spring being provided with flat portions at its front and rear ends and being provided with an intermediate portion between its front and rear ends, the intermediate portion being integral with the flat portions and being disposed at an acute angle relative to the flat portions,
the spring extending rearwardly beyond the rear end of the cavity and resting on the top surface of the midsole at its rear end,
there being a socket in the cavity at the bottom and forward end of the cavity and the flat portion of the spring at the front end of the spring being disposed in the socket.

5 more elements

In combination, footwear having a sole with a forefoot and further including:

a midsole made from a flexible material and contoured to the shape of the sole of the footwear,
the midsole having upper and lower surfaces,
there being a cavity in the midsole at the position of the forefoot, the cavity being disposed at an angle in the longitudinal direction relative to the upper and lower surfaces of the midsole,
a spring disposed in the cavity and constructed to store potential energy with components in the upward and forward directions upon the disposition of the forefoot of the midsole on the ground and to release the potential energy upon the lifting of the forefoot of the midsole from the ground,
an insole affixed to the upper surface of the midsole,
an outsole affixed to the lower surface of the midsole, and
the spring having horizontal flat portions at its upper and lower ends and having an intermediate portion disposed between the flat portions in integral relationship to the flat portions and disposed at substantially the angle relative to the flat portions, the flat portion at the upper end of the spring being disposed on the midsole in substantially flush relationship with the upper surface of the midsole and a socket extending forwardly from the cavity near the lower surface of the midsole and the flat end at the forward end of the spring being disposed in the socket.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Forefoot spring apparatus

Life of this patent

Forefoot spring apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims38