US 7,921,580 B2Granted

Sole construction for energy storage and rebound

AssigneeNewton Running Company, Inc.

InventorBrian A. Russell

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Abstract

A sole construction for supporting at least a portion of a human foot and for providing energy storage and return is provided. The sole construction includes a generally horizontal layer of stretchable material, at least one chamber positioned adjacent a first side of the layer, and at least one actuator positioned adjacent a second side of the layer vertically aligned with a corresponding chamber. Each actuator has a footprint size smaller than that of the corresponding chamber, and is sized and arranged to provide individual support to the bones of the human foot. The support structure when compressed causes the actuator to push against the layer and move the layer at least partially into the corresponding chamber. In one embodiment, the horizontal layer of stretchable material is at least partially enclosed by a wall the prevents horizontal displacement of the layer during compression.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A sole construction having an anterior end, a posterior end, a lateral side, and a medial side, the sole construction comprising:

a stretchable layer, wherein the first stretchable layer has a first side and a second side;
an actuator layer, wherein the actuator layer has a plurality of actuators, at least one actuator positioned on the first side of the first stretchable layer;
a chamber layer, wherein the chamber layer has a plurality of chambers, at least one chamber positioned on the second side of the stretchable layer to receive a corresponding actuator on the first side of the stretchable layer;
and
a midsole having a surface area, a region of the surface area extending generally under and substantially from the lateral side to the medial side between the anterior and posterior ends of the sole construction, wherein the region of the surface area borders a portion of the chamber layer and substantially conforms to the shape of the portion of the chamber layer;
wherein the chamber layer has a plurality of actuators, at least one actuator positioned on the second side of the stretchable layer;
wherein the actuator layer has a plurality of chambers, at least one chamber positioned on the first side of the first stretchable layer to receive a corresponding actuator on the second side of the stretchable layer.

4 more elements

A sole construction having an anterior end, a posterior end, a lateral side, and a medial side, the sole construction comprising:

a first stretchable layer and a second stretchable layer spaced apart from one another, wherein the first stretchable layer has a first side and a second side and the second stretchable layer has a first side and a second side;
a plurality of actuators, wherein at least one actuator is positioned on the first side of the first stretchable layer and at least one actuator is positioned on the first side of the second stretchable layer;
a plurality of chambers, wherein at least one chamber is positioned on the second side of the first stretchable layer to receive a corresponding actuator on the first side of the first stretchable layer, and wherein at least one chamber is positioned on the second side of the second stretchable layer to receive a corresponding actuator on the first side of the second stretchable layer;
and
a midsole having a surface area, a region of the surface area extending generally under and substantially from the lateral side to the medial side between the anterior and posterior ends of the sole construction, wherein the region of the surface area borders a portion of the plurality of chambers layer and substantially conforms to the shape of the portion of the plurality of chambers.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/690,023Filed 19 Jan 2010 · continuation
Priority: 1 Dec 2000
Published: US 2010/0115791 A113 May 2010
Granted: 12 Apr 2011
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A43B 7/1415
With pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form: characterised by the location under the foot
A43B 13/12
Characterised by the material: soles with several layers of different materials
A43B 13/181
Resilient soles: resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
A43B 13/185
Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole: elasticated plates sandwiched between two interlocking components, e.g. thrustors

Family

Application60/250,545Us provisional application · filed 1 Dec 2000
Application10/004,533Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Dec 2001
Application10/730,377Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Dec 2003
Application11/325,795Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Dec 2005
US 7,036,245 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 2 May 2006
Application12/041,591Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Mar 2008
US 7,337,559 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 4 Mar 2008
US 2010/0115791 A1Pre-grant publication · published 13 May 2010
US 2002/0157280 A1Published application
US 2004/0134097 A1Published application
US 2006/0156580 A1Published application
US 2008/0263895 A1Published application
US 7,921,580 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.