US20020088145A1 - Shoe construction - Google Patents
Shoe construction Download PDFInfo
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- US20020088145A1 US20020088145A1 US10/025,211 US2521101A US2002088145A1 US 20020088145 A1 US20020088145 A1 US 20020088145A1 US 2521101 A US2521101 A US 2521101A US 2002088145 A1 US2002088145 A1 US 2002088145A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- shoe
- foot
- chassis
- expansion
- zone
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
- A43B7/1445—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/16—Pieced soles
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/18—Resilient soles
- A43B13/181—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B3/26—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use adjustable as to length or size
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B9/00—Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts
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- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Epidemiology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
A shoe has a bottom including an expansion mechanism for expanding the bottom laterally underlying the metatarsals. An upper is carried by the bottom. A chassis is carried by the bottom for underlying the foot. In one embodiment, the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes a base portion and an expansion portion, the base portion having a plurality of slots extending generally longitudinally in the mid-foot region defining the expansion portion, the expansion portion formed of a material allowing lateral expansion of the bottom. In one embodiment, the upper has an expanding and contracting mechanism for expanding and contracting the upper therein stabilizing holding the foot as the foot moves. In one embodiment, the expanding and contracting mechanism is an elastic omega seam interposed between two pieces of leather at a seam wherein the omega opens and closes. In one embodiment, the chassis has at least three tailored zones, a heel zone underlying the heel of the foot, a metatarsal zone underlying the metatarsals, and a toe zone underlying the toes of the foot. In one embodiment, the chassis has an additional tailored zone, an arch zone underlying the arch of the foot.
Description
- This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/304,250, filed on Jul. 10, 2001 and U.S. Provisional Application No.60/258,184 filed on Dec. 22, 2000. The entire teachings of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.
- People have been wearing articles on their feet for protection for thousands of years. In the twentieth century these articles, typically referred to as shoes, have included three basic components: a bottom which contacts the ground and creates a barrier from the ground, an inner sole which contacts the foot, and an upper portion which primarily retains the foot within the shoe. The three components can vary and be integrated; for example, a flat sandal wherein the bottom and the sole are formed together as one piece of homogenous material and the upper consists of a few straps to retain the foot against the sole. In addition, shoes can have other special features such as added support or protection. The protection feature can be, for example, a layer of hardened material over the toe for protection in a work environment.
- Shoes have been classified in numerous different ways in the latter half of the twentieth century. One such classification system consists of the three categories of conventional, Euro Comfort, and fashion. The first category, that of conventional shoes, typically has stiff leather components which result in a stiff shoe that retains its shape. The second category, that of Euro Comfort shoe, includes shoes where the leather is soft and generally has a wide last, track of a foot or form. In addition, the Euro Comfort shoe typically has foam as part of the insole under the foot. The Euro Comfort type shoes typically do not hold their shape as in conventional shoes. The third category is that of fashion shoe wherein the desired feature is the look of the shoe with little concern related to comfort or the health of the foot.
- This invention relates to a shoe that conforms and changes shape to react to changes in the foot that occur during the day. As a typical person moves, the foot changes shape in reaction to applied forces. For example, as a person walks the heel of the foot hits the ground first and as the person moves forward different portions of the foot interact with the ground. The foot changes shape during walking as the foot reacts to changing loading and resultant pressure. In addition, as the person moves from sitting to standing and back, the foot expands and contracts as the foot is loaded and unloaded. The shoe according to the invention provides comfort and in addition the shoe can be stylish.
- The shoe as described below in various embodiments has several elements that work alone or in combination to achieve comfort and more evenly distribute the forces and lessen the pressure on the foot. The shoe in various embodiments combines elements that expand and recover as the foot changes shape, and elements having zones tailored to the different parts of the foot and the unique pressures occurring at those parts in reaction to external forces.
- The shoe manages the transmission of ground reaction forces as the person passes through the gait cycle of walking or running and other loading and unloading of the foot such as moving to and from various positions, such as sitting and standing.
- The shoe includes various elements including an expandable outsole, a zoned or tailored chassis or orthotic, and a stretchable upper. The zoned or tailored chassis has a plurality of zones with varying density of materials to more evenly distribute the ground reaction force applied to the foot, and reduce resultant pressure.
- The shoe, according to the invention, expands and contracts with the motion of the foot. The expansion and recovery of the shoe results in a shoe that is comfortable while maintaining its shape and style.
- The bottom of the shoe has an expansion mechanism. The chassis is a zoned pressure system for providing a more even pressure distribution than in conventional shoes. The chassis has a plurality of zones. Each zone is specially designed or tailored to manage the pressure on the portion of the foot that overlies the zone. The upper of the shoe has an expansion mechanism so that the upper expands and recovers with the foot to provide a comfortable fit.
- The invention relates to a shoe having a bottom including an expansion mechanism for expanding the bottom laterally under the metatarsals and the metatarsophalangeal joints. An upper is carried by the bottom. A chassis is carried by the bottom for underlying the foot.
- In an embodiment, the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes a crowned shape such that the bottom has a bottom surface wherein a central region of the bottom surface extends below a pair of side edges of the bottom surface when the shoe is in an unloaded state and the edges move outward and downward when the shoe is in a loaded state.
- In an embodiment, the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes an outer sole having a plurality of apertures, the outer sole of the bottom and the upper defining a shoe volume, the bottom including a displacement portion generally overlying the outer sole and filling a portion of the shoe volume, the displacement portion capable of deforming and projecting through the apertures of the sole portion therein increasing the shoe volume.
- In an embodiment, the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes a base portion and an expansion portion, the base portion having at least one slot extending generally longitudinally in the mid-foot region defining the expansion portion, the expansion portion formed of a material allowing lateral expansion of the bottom.
- In an embodiment, the upper has an expansion and contraction or recover mechanism for expanding and contracting the upper as the foot moves. In an embodiment, the expansion and recovery mechanism is a flexible material interposed between two pieces of leather at a seam wherein the flexible material expands and recovers back to the initial shape. In one embodiment, the expansion and recovery mechanism is an elastic omega seam interposed between two pieces of leather at a seam wherein the omega opens and closes.
- The chassis has at least three specially designed or tailored zones for managing the pressure on the portion of the foot that overlies the zone. The three zones are a heel zone underlying the heel of the foot, a metatarsal zone underlying at least the metatarsophalangeal joints and the fifth metatarsal, and a toe zone underlying the toes of the foot. In an embodiment, the chassis has an additional specially designed or tailored zone, an arch zone underlying the arch of the foot.
- The chassis in several embodiments is separate and removable from the rest of the shoe. The chassis in addition can be formed with the bottom or have components that are formed with the bottom while other components are separate and removable from the rest of the shoe. The chassis is registered to the bottom or upper in several embodiments.
- In an embodiment, a waterproof, breathable liner is carried in the shoe. The waterproof, breathable liner prevents water from passing through the liner to the foot, but allows moisture to pass from the foot out of the shoe. In an embodiment, the waterproof, breathable liner has a 360° expandable fore part region and a non-expandable back part region. In another embodiment, the expandable waterproof, breathable liner is located in the upper portion of the fore part region.
- In one embodiment, the chassis includes a base layer, a top layer, and an insert. The insert extends between the base layer and the top layer in the heel zone and an arch zone. The insert in the arch zone has a plurality of fingers allowing for flexure.
- In one embodiment, the expansion mechanism of the bottom of the shoe includes an expansion portion of a second material for expanding the shoe longitudinally. The ability to expand the shoe in the longitudinal direction can be used in shoes for children with growing feet.
- In one embodiment, the chassis of the shoe includes a heel cup. The heel cup extends upward from the remainder of the chassis for surrounding the heel of the foot. The heel cup is separate from the upper and the bottom.
- The chassis in one embodiment is linked or registered to the upper of the shoe. The linking of the chassis to the upper prevents the chassis from moving in the fore and aft direction relative to the upper and the rest of the shoe. By registering the chassis to the upper, the foot does not rub relative to the upper as the foot moves with the chassis.
- A foot is dynamic in shape and the foot's shape changes as the foot is loaded and unloaded. The shoe according to the invention has a bottom portion, a chassis, and an upper portion that allows for the movement of the foot within the shoe in comfort. The bottom portion expands and contracts in several embodiments with expansion joints and or a crowned shape. The chassis spreads the force on the foot over a greater area than the typical three loading points therefore reducing the pressure and likewise expands in shape because of a curve of the chassis in combination with the bottom. The upper portion expands and contracts as the foot moves. The combination of the structure and features of the bottom portion, the chassis, and the upper portion allows for a comfortable supportive shoe that also achieves a fashionable look.
- The present invention is also directed to footwear for accepting a foot having a heel, arch, metatarsals, and toes. The footwear includes a lower portion having an expansion mechanism for expanding the lower portion laterally underlying the metatarsals.
- In preferred embodiments, the lower portion includes a bottom having longitudinally extending grooves which are configured to expand laterally when the bottom flexes. The grooves can have longitudinally extending sidewalls which are angled outwardly. The bottom may have a crowned bottom surface, wherein flattening of the bottom surface laterally expands the bottom.
- The present invention is further directed to a method of expanding footwear in which the footwear has a bottom for accepting a foot having a heel, arch, metatarsals, and toes. The foot is allowed to expand. The bottom is then expanded laterally underlying the metatarsals with an expansion mechanism by exertion of forces by the expanding foot.
- The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
- FIG. 1 is a top medial side perspective view of a right human foot;
- FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a right human foot;
- FIG. 3 is a top medial side perspective view of a left shoe according to the invention;
- FIG. 4A is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the top portion broken away and rotated so the inner portion is seen. The chassis of the toe portion is exploded out;
- FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the toe portion of FIG. 4A;
- FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a bottom of a shoe according to the invention;
- FIG. 6A is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 6A-6A of FIG. 5; - FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 6B-6B of FIG. 5; - FIG. 6B1 is an enlarged view of one of the lips shown in FIG. 6B;
- FIG. 6C is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 6C-6C of FIG. 5; - FIG. 6D is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 6D-6D of FIG. 5; - FIG. 6E is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 6E-6E of FIG. 5; - FIG. 7A is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 7A-7A of FIG. 5; - FIG. 7B is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 7B-7B of FIG. 5; - FIG. 8A is a top view of a chassis of a shoe;
- FIG. 8B is a bottom view of a chassis of a shoe;
- FIG. 9A is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 9A-9A of FIG. 8B; - FIG. 9B is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 9B-9B of FIG. 8B; - FIG. 9C is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 9C-9C of FIG.8B; - FIG. 9D is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 9D-9D of FIG. 8B; - FIG. 9E is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 9E-9E of FIG 8B; - FIG. 9F is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 9F-9F of FIG 8B; - FIG. 9G is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the line9G-9G of FIG. 8B;
- FIG. 10A is a lateral side view of the chassis;
- FIG. 10B is a medial side view of the chassis;
- FIG. 11A is a sectional view showing an elastic omega seam;
- FIG. 11B is a sectional view of the elastic omega seam in a stretched position;
- FIG. 12A is a sectional view showing a piece of a goring connecting the side to the upper portion of the upper;
- FIG. 12B is a sectional view showing the goring of FIG. 12A in a stretched position;
- FIG. 13A is a side view of the waterproof, breathable membrane on the last prior to the taping;
- FIG. 13B is a side view of a waterproof, breathable membrane on a last;
- FIG. 13C is a bottom view of the waterproof, breathable membrane with a gasket on the last;
- FIG. 13D is a bottom side perspective view of the waterproof, breathable membrane on the last;
- FIG. 13E is a front lateral perspective view of an alternative construction of a waterproof, breathable membrane;
- FIG. 14A is an alternative construction of a waterproof, breathable membrane;
- FIG. 14B is the waterproof, breathable membrane of FIG. 14A including the gasket;
- FIG. 14C is an alternative construction of a waterproof, breathable membrane;
- FIG. 14D is the waterproof, breathable membrane of FIG. 14C with a full gasket;
- FIG. 14E is a bottom view of an alternative construction of a waterproof, breathable membrane with a string lost construction;
- FIG. 14F is a sectional view taken along the
lines 14F-14F of FIG. 14E; - FIG. 15A is a top view of an alternative chassis;
- FIGS.15B-15F are schematic sectional views of the chassis of FIG. 15A for five alternative embodiments;
- FIG. 16A is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a chassis of a shoe;
- FIG. 16B is a bottom view of the alternative embodiment of a chassis of a shoe of FIG. 16A;
- FIG. 17A is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 17A-17A of FIG. 16B; - FIG. 17B is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 17B-17B of FIG. 16B; - FIG. 18A is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 18A-18A of FIG. 16B; - FIG. 18B is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 18B-18B of FIG. 16B; - FIG. 18C is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 18C-18C of FIG. 16B; - FIG. 18D is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 18D-18D of FIG. 16B; - FIG. 18E is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 18E-18E of FIG. 16B; - FIG. 18F is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 18F-18F of FIG. 16B; - FIG. 18G is a sectional view of the chassis of the shoe taken along the
line 18G-18G of FIG. 16B; - FIG. 19A is a lateral side view of the chassis;
- FIG. 19B is a medial side view of the chassis;
- FIG. 19C is a side sectional view of a shoe with the chassis linked to the upper;
- FIG. 19D is a side view of an alternative shoe with an alternative linking mechanism between the chassis and the upper;
- FIG. 19E is a rear view of the shoe of FIG. 19D;
- FIG. 19F is an enlarged view of a linking mechanism;
- FIG. 20 is a front side view of an alternative shoe;
- FIG. 21A is a bottom view of the shoe of FIG. 20;
- FIG. 21B is a top view of the bottom of the shoe;
- FIG. 22A is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 22A-22A of FIGS. 21A and 21B; - FIG. 22B is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 22B-22B of FIGS. 21A and 21B; - FIG. 22B1 is a sectional view of the shoe including the upper and the chassis taken along the
line 22B-22B; - FIG. 22C is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 22C-22C of FIGS. 21A and 21B; - FIG. 22D is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 22D-22D of FIGS. 21A and 21B; - FIG. 22D1 is an enlarged view of one of the lips shown in FIG. 22D;
- FIG. 22E is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 22E-22E of FIGS. 21A and 21B; - FIG. 23A is a medial side view of the bottom of FIGS. 21A and 21B;
- FIG. 23B is a lateral side view of the bottom;
- FIG. 24A is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of a bottom of a shoe;
- FIG. 24B is a top view of the bottom of the shoe of FIG. 24A;
- FIG. 25A is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 25A-25A of FIG. 24A; - FIG. 25B is a sectional view of the bottom of the shoe taken along the
line 25B-25B of FIG. 24A; -
line 25C-25C of FIG. 24; - FIG. 26 is a front sectional view of a shoe with an alternative bottom construction;
- FIG. 27A is a front sectional view of a shoe with another alternative bottom construction; and
- FIG. 27B is a top view of a front portion of the bottom of the shoe of FIG. 27A
- A
foot 40 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thefoot 40 has several key and distinct regions going from anankle 42 to the tip of atoe 44. These regions of thefoot 40 include aheel 46, an arch 48 on the medial side of thefoot 40, and thetoes 44. In addition, as best seen, FIG. 2, thefoot 40 has fivemetatarsals 50, the portion of thefoot 40, more particularly the bone of thefoot 40, that extend rearward from each of the respective metatarsophalangeal (MP) joints 52 to the anterior portion of thetarsus 54 formed by the distal aspect of the cuneiforms and cuboid. - The
foot 40 is far from homogeneous and the regions have different characteristics. Theheel 46 is predominantly a boney area, while the arch 48 is predominantly connective tissue. Thetoes 44 in contrast are more brittle and need to have space to be able to spread apart and move to aid balance, adapt to varying terrain, and manage ground reaction forces and the resultant pressure. - In conventional shoes, loading of the weight of the body through the
foot 40 is typically at theheel 46 and the first and the fifth MP joints 52. Theheel 46 has the greatest loading. The first MP joint 52 has the second greatest concentration of loading. - It is recognized that the shape of the foot is dynamic and the foot's shape changes as the foot loads and unloads. The shape of the foot when an average person is standing is different than that of the same foot when a person is sitting and applying no weight to the foot. The
foot 40 of an average human adult in the metatarsal region can expand up to 5 millimeters from a resting position to a standing position. This expansion of 3 to 5 millimeter relates to a typical half (½) a shoe size in width. - FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a
shoe 30 according to the invention. Theshoe 30 is shown from a top medial side view. Theshoe 30 has three main components, a bottom 32, an upper 34, and achassis 36 as seen in FIG. 4A. The upper 34 consists predominantly of leather and in the embodiment shown has atongue 62 and a pair ofeyelet tabs 64 each with a plurality ofeyelets 66 for receiving a shoelace. The upper 34 is secured to the bottom 32. In the embodiment shown, the upper 34 is secured to the bottom 32 with at least one line ofstitching 70. Thestitching 70 extends through the upper 34 and a portion of the bottom 32 and is referred to as thewelt 72 as seen in FIG. 4B. - FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the
shoe 30 of FIG. 3 with the toe portion of theshoe 30 broken away and rotated in order to see the interior. Thechassis 36 is seen carried on top of the bottom 32 and encircled by the upper 34. - As explained in greater detail below, the
chassis 36 in this embodiment, as seen in FIGS. 4A and 4B, has a series of layers including at least abase layer 76 and anupper layer 80. Thechassis 36 is described below with respect to FIGS. 8A-10B. - The upper34 includes a
principal portion 86 that is typically formed of leather. Portions of theprincipal portion 86 are joined together with seams so as to shape the upper 34. In the embodiment shown, anexpansion portion 88 connects a piece ofleather 86 that forms theside 90 of the upper 34 to anupper section 92 of the upper 34. Theexpansion portion 88 is also seen in FIG. 3. Theexpansion portion 88 allows the shoe to expand and recover according to the invention as explained below including related to FIGS. 11A and 11B. In addition, the upper 34 has aninner lining 94. Theinner lining 94 has at least a portion that is anexpansion portion 96. - Still referring to FIG. 4B, the bottom32 of the
shoe 30 has a base or outer sole 100 and aninner liner 102. Thebase 100 has afirst material portion 104 with a series of slots orgrooves 106 that are filled with asecond material portion 108. - In an embodiment, the
first material portion 104 is formed of an elastomer material such as rubber, thermoplastic rubber (T.P.R.), or thermoplastic urethane (TPU). Thesecond material portion 108 is formed of a compatible or identical elastomer of a lower durometer or specific gravity such as Huntsman Avalon 65 AE TPU. Thefirst material portion 104 and thesecond material portion 108 are molded together during the manufacturing process, such as a dual component injection molding or co-extrusion process. - The
second material portion 108 has a “u”-shapedchannel 110 that extends longitudinally to allow expansion. Theinner liner 102 of the bottom 32 forms a platform for thechassis 36. Theinner liner 102 has a pair ofslots 112 that extend longitudinally in theshoe 30 and overlie the “u”-shapedchannel 110 in thesecond material portion 108 of thebase 100 of the bottom 32. Thechassis 36, as described below in further detail, has asturdy base layer 76; the primary purpose of theinner liner 102 of the bottom 32 is to give a finished look. Theinner layer 102 in an embodiment is a pressed fiber board or a non-woven board. The pressed fiber boardinner liner 102 can be manufactured from material marketed and sold under the trade name “Bonstich 305” by Bontex, Inc. - Referring to FIG. 5, a bottom view of the
base 100 of the bottom 32 of theshoe 30 according to the invention is shown. Thebase 100 of the bottom 32 is formed of thefirst material portion 104 having the pair of grooves orslots 106. Thesegrooves 106 extend generally longitudinally in the forefoot and midfoot regions of the bottom 32. Thegrooves 106 receive thesecond material portion 108, the expansion portion, which expands to widen the shoe as more force is applied to the bottom 32. - The shoe widens to accommodate the expansion of the foot. The bottom is engineered such that the expansion portion expands when the force is exerted and contracts or recovers when the force is reduced. It is recognized that the bottom can be designed to expand to a different width or to expand at different load levels through material selection and geometry. For example, children's shoes could be designed to expand less and with a different force level needed to cause expansion.
- Referring to FIGS.6A-6E, cross sectional views of the bottom 32 of the
shoe 30 are shown. FIG. 6A shows a section near the tip of theshoe 30. Thebase 100 of the bottom 32 has thefirst material portion 104 extending from the medial side or edge to the lateral side or edge. At each of the edges of the bottom 32, alip 116 projects upward which forms thewelt 72 with the upper 34 as seen in FIG. 4B. In the embodiment shown, the lip is formed of the same material as thesecond material portion 108. Theinner liner 102 is shown overlying thebase 100 of the bottom 32 of theshoe 30. - FIGS.6B-6D each show a section of the bottom 32 of the
shoe 30 through the region that has an expansion portion. Thebase 100 has thefirst material portion 104 with the pair ofgrooves 106. Thegrooves 106 extend generally in a longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. 5 and receive thesecond material portion 108, the expansion portion. Besides thesecond material portion 108 being more flexible and having a lower durometer than thefirst material portion 104, thesecond material portion 108 has a geometry to facilitate expansion. Thesecond material portion 108 of thebase 100 of the bottom 32 of theshoe 30 has the “u”-shapedchannel 110 which can flatten to allow expansion. - The
inner liner 102 is shown overlying thebase 100 of the bottom 32 of theshoe 30 in FIG. 6B. Theinner liner 102 has aslot 112 overlying each of the “u”-shapedchannels 110 on the base 100 to allow the edges of theinner liner 102 to move apart as thebase 100 expands. - The
lip 116, which extends completely around the bottom 32, and thus seen in FIGS. 6B-6E, projects upward from the base 100 to create a location to which the upper 34 is sewn to form thewelt 72. An enlarged section of thelip 116 is seen in FIG. 6B1. Thelip 116 has a groove or slot to facilitate attachment of the upper. While the connection of the upper 34 to the bottom 32 is shown with the upper 34 overlying thelip 116 in FIG. 6B1, it is recognized that other methods can be used to secure the upper 34 to the bottom 32. FIG. 22B1, which is discussed below, shows another arrangement of securing the upper 34 to the bottom 32. In addition, other methods of attachment include sewing the upper to the bottom in a portion that is underlying thechassis 36. In addition to sewing, other methods of attachment include gluing the upper 34 to the bottom 32 of theshoe 30 or the molding of the bottom 32 to the upper 34 of theshoe 30. - FIG. 6E shows a section in the heel region of the bottom32 of the
shoe 30. As will become clearer below, it is not desirable in this embodiment to have the heel region of the bottom 32 expand. The heel of the foot is retained to maximize the natural cushioning ability of the heel by keeping the fat pads under the heel bone for cushioning. While thebase 100 has both thefirst material portion 104 and thesecond material portion 108, thesecond material portion 108 is not designed to expand in this zone. In contrast to what is shown in FIGS. 6B-6D, thesecond material portion 108 has a thick cross-section and not the geometry to flatten therein allowing expansion. The longitudinally extending sidewalls of thegrooves 106 can be formed at a downward outwardly directed angle that is sufficient to cause lateral widening or spreading of thegrooves 106 and bottom 32 when the toe portion of the bottom 32 is bent or flexed upwardly during walking or running. Thegrooves 106 and bottom 32 then contract when the bottom 32 straightens or returns to an unflexed state. As a result, lateral expansion and contraction of the shoe can occur in response to the flexure and return of the bottom 32. In addition, bottom 32 can have a generally central, downwardly facing, longitudinally extending crown on the sole 100, such as that shown in FIGS. 22B1 and 27A. The crowned center of the sole 100 extends downwardly below the side edges. The crowned sole 100 flexes and flattens when the sole 100 contacts the ground during walking or running, causing lateral expansion of the bottom 32. - FIG. 7A is a sectional view taken generally along the center line of the bottom32 of the
shoe 30. The section of the base 100 shown is thefirst material portion 104. In the forefoot and the midfoot regions, the portion shown is thefirst material portion 104 between thesecond material portion 108. Overlying thebase 100 is theinner liner 102. Thelip 116 for attaching the upper 34 is shown at the front and back of theshoe 30. - FIG. 7B is a sectional view going through the expansion portion, the
second material portion 108. As indicated above, while the heel region includes portions that are formed of thesecond material 108, the geometry and the thickness of thesecond material portion 108, such as seen in FIG. 6E, result in the heel not expanding as described above with respect to the metatarsal region. The section through theinner liner 102 includes theslot 112 in the forward part of the bottom 32 that overlies the “u”-shapedchannel 110. - As indicated above, as force is applied to the bottom32 of the
shoe 30 and thefoot 40 expands in themetatarsal 50 region, thebase 100 expands by stretching and flexing thesecond material portion 108 and in particular the “u”-shapedchannel 110. Theinner liner 102 does not physically expand, but has theslots 112 as best seen in FIGS. 6B-6D that allow the edges to move apart. - The bottom32 of the
shoe 30 can include a shock diffusion plate. The shock diffusion plate overlies thebase 100 of the bottom 32 in the heel zone for diffusing the shock of the heel of the shoe hitting the ground. A shock diffusion plate is further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,683, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. - While the bottom32 of the
shoe 30 expands, thechassis 36 serves a different purpose of properly supporting different regions of thefoot 40. Thechassis 36 has contours to better support and retain “fat pads” under the boney structure for cushioning. The chassis has a plurality of zones. Each zone is specially designed or tailored by selection of materials and shapes to the portion of the foot that overlies and contacts that zone of the chassis. The chassis manages and spreads the force the foot receives as the foot is dynamically loaded as the foot moves. - Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the top and the bottom views of the
chassis 36 are shown. As indicated above with respect to FIG. 2, thefoot 40 has various regions including theheel 46, themetatarsal region 50, and thetoe region 44. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A-10B, thechassis 36 has a plurality of regions or zones wherein the zones are tailored to reflect the region of thefoot 40 that overlies and contacts the chassis. Thechassis 36 of the embodiment shown has three zones or regions; aheel zone 120, ametatarsal zone 122, and atoe zone 124, as seen in FIG. 8A. While referred to as themetatarsal zone 122, themetatarsal zone 122 underlies the MP joints 52 and the first metatarsal and not the second through fifth metatarsals in typical embodiments. - FIG. 8B shows the bottom or
base layer 76 of thechassis 36, the portion that contacts theinner liner 102 of the bottom 32 as seen in FIG. 4. The bottom of thechassis 36 has a plurality ofgrooves 126. The purpose of thegrooves 126 is to allow for greater flexure of thechassis 36. The location of thegrooves 126 relative to the edges of thezones base layer 76 of thechassis 36 is formed of a single material in this embodiment. Thegrooves 126 while adding flexure to thechassis 36 also can be employed to denote zones. - FIG. 9A is a sectional view taken generally along the longitudinal center line of the
chassis 36 of theshoe 30. Thechassis 36 has thebase layer 76. Thebase layer 76 extends through to the top in theheel zone 120 and thetoe zone 124. Thematerial 130 for the base is selected to be resilient for theheel zone 124. In themetatarsal zone 122, a second material, aninlay 132 overlies thebase layer 76. Theinlay 132 is selected to be a cushion material for themetatarsals 50 of thefoot 40. Thegrooves 126 for flexure are shown. - FIGS.9B-9G are sectional views taken along their respective lines in FIG. 8B. In the
heel zone 120 and thetoe zone 124, thechassis 36 has thebase layer 76 of the material 130 extending from the bottom to the top, as is seen in FIG. 7F and FIG. 9B respectively. It will be noted that thetoe zone 124 has a curved shape as seen in FIG. 9B in contrast to the flat bottom of theheel zone 120 as seen in FIG. 9F. The curved shape of thechassis 36 works in conjunction with the expansion of the bottom 32 of theshoe 30 to allow the edges to move apart when loaded as discussed above. - Similarly, referring to FIGS. 9C, 9D, and9G, the sections are not planar but have a curved shape such that when pressure is applied to the
chassis 36, similar to the bottom 32, thechassis 36 flattens therein increasing the width of the shoe. - In addition, as seen in FIGS. 9C, 9D, and9G, the
inlay 132 for themetatarsal zone 122 overlies thebase layer 76 to provide a different material for this region. Theinlay 132 in the embodiment shown extends into an arch zone orregion 128 as seen in FIG. 9D and best seen in FIG. 8A. - FIG. 9E shows the
inlay 132 overlying thebase layer 76 in thearch zone 128. In contrast to FIGS. 9D and 9G, thebase layer 76 in FIG. 9E is planar since this portion of theshoe 30 does not expand. It is desirable that the shoe not expand in this region, theheel zone 120, because it is desired that the heel of the foot be retained in position to maximize the natural cushioning ability of the heel by keeping the fat pads under the heel bone. - The
chassis 36 has anupper edge contour 136 in thearch region 128 and theheel zone 120 for support. In theheel zone 120, the curvedupper edge 136 is on both the medial and lateral sides as seen in FIG. 9F. The curvedupper edge 136 decreases in height or levels out moving from the rear towards the front on thechassis 36 and more drastically on the lateral side than the medial side as seen in FIGS. 9D, 9E, and 9G. The curved upper edges give lateral support to the foot and keep fats pads under the bones of the foot for cushioning. - FIG. 10A shows the lateral side view of the
chassis 36 of FIGS. 8A-9G. FIG. 10B shows the medial side view. As indicated above, theinlay 132 overlies thebase layer 76 in themetatarsal zone 122 and on the medial side extends back towards the heel in thearch zone 128. The curved shape of thechassis 36 is evident in thetoe zone 124 and themetatarsal zone 122. Likewise, the curvedupper edge 136 of theheel zone 120 is shown. - With the bottom32 and the
chassis 36 of one embodiment of theshoe 30 discussed, the upper 34 is described in greater detail below. Referring back to FIG. 4, while leather typically expands during the useful life of the footwear, theshoe 30 has portions, theexpansion portion 88, that expand and recover back to their previous state as thefoot 40 moves to provide both comfort and support for thefoot 40. In addition, theshoe 30 has a more tailored look than for example a Euro Comfort. - Referring to FIG. 11A, an enlarged section of the upper34 is shown with an
expandable omega seam 140 as theexpansion portion 88. Theomega seam 140 is sewn to the two pieces of material, theside 90 and theupper section 92 of the upper 34 by a pair of lines ofstitching 142. When the foot expands, theupper section 92 of the upper 34 deflects upward and theomega seam 140 stretches to a more planar state as shown in FIG. 11B. - FIG. 12A is a sectional view of a segment of the upper34 showing an alternative expansion portion connecting the
side 90 and theupper section 92 of the upper 34. The expansion portion is a piece of goring 144, an expandable material. The two pieces ofmaterial side 90 and theupper section 92. The goring 144 is sewn using lines ofstitching 142 to secure both pieces of material. - Referring to FIG. 12B, when the foot expands, the goring144 stretches to expand with the foot. Likewise when the foot contracts, the goring 144 contracts to its original dimension bringing the two pieces of the
material - With respect to the upper34 of the
shoe 30, the goring 144 of seams or theexpandable omega seam 140 allows for stability of the foot, while also allowing for expansion and contraction of the upper 34 as the foot moves. An alternative to the goring 144 of the seams or theexpandable omega seam 140 is the use of materials such as a stretch leather, neoprene, lycra, spandex, or any appropriate stretchable material which allows a give and take in certain directions but retains the foot in other directions. - While the
shoe 30 shown in FIG. 3 has aninner lining 94 on the upper 34, it is sometimes desirable to have a liner which is a waterproof liner which encircles thefoot 40 to a certain height to protect thefoot 40 in wet environments. As indicated above, theshoe 30 expands and contracts in themetatarsal zone 122. The waterproof, breathable liner needs to expand and contract with the rest of the shoe for maximum comfort. In addition to being waterproof, the liner is breathable to allow the foot to breathe and allow moisture, such as perspiration, to pass from the shoe. - A side view of a waterproof,
breathable liner 150 for theshoe 30 is shown in FIG. 13A. The waterproof,breathable liner 150 in the embodiment shown has astretchable region 152 and anon-stretchable region 154. In a preferred embodiment, both regions are made of a waterproof, breathable membrane that allows the foot to breathe by allowing moisture out, but does not allow moisture or water in. The waterproof, breathable membrane can include microporous, hydrophilic, or other similar base materials promoting the passage of moisture vapor and/or low pressure air only in one direction. - It is typical in shoe construction to use a form which is referred to as a last156 around which the upper 34 is formed and secured to the bottom 32. The waterproof,
breathable liner 150 is shown on the last 156 in FIG. 13A. - Still referring to FIG. 13A, both the
stretchable region 152 and thenon-stretchable region 154 of theliner 150 are formed of a series ofpanels panels stretchable region 152 are sewn together. Thestretchable region 152 is likewise sewn to thenon-stretchable region 154 as seen in FIG. 13B where thepanel 158 a is shown sewn topanel 160 c. - While the
panels panels breathable liner 150 are joined are taped using awaterproof tape 166. The stitching is shown in hidden line under the waterproof tape in FIG. 13C. The tape can have similar breathable and stretch attributes to the membrane but the primary function is to create a waterproof seal over stitched seams and reinforce the mechanical interlock of the otherwise separate bootie panels. - In the construction method shown in FIGS.13A-13D, the
panels - With the
panels gasket 164 is secured by adhesive to thenon-stretchable region 154 in bothpanels stretchable region 152, in bothpanels gasket 164 is non-stretchable and underlies the heel, which in theshoe 30 is a non-stretchable region. Thegasket 164 is an impermeable material. Thegasket 164 is used instead of a non-stretchable membrane liner because of several factors including no need for breathability when it abuts impermeable surfaces such as nylon, TPU, or EVA and the combination of the adhesive structure for bond and barrier results in manufacturing efficiencies. - The
panels gasket 164 completes the bottom covering of the last 156. The folding of a panel, such aspanel 160 a, over the last 156 and securing another panel, such asgasket 164, with an adhesive or cement is typically referred to as a cement last construction. The combining of strobel last construction and cement last construction as described with respect to FIGS. 13A-13D is referred herein as advanced combination construction (ACC). U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,683 describes a strobel stitched and cement construction. - Before the
gasket 164 is secured to the waterproof,breathable liner 150, the seams where thepanels waterproof tape 166 are shown in FIG. 13D. The tape can have similar breathable and stretch attributes as the membrane but the primary function is to create a waterproof seal over stitched seams and reinforce the mechanical interlock of the otherwise separate liner or bootie panels. - In an embodiment, the
gasket 164 is made of a material having uniform directional strength that is resistant to flex cracking over a wide temperature range (e.g., −13° F. (−25° C.) to 100° F. (38° C.)). Thegasket 164 also is capable of remaining water impermeable both from a bond retention strength and product integrity after extended angle flexing (e.g., 100,000 45° flexes ) in a high temperature/humidity environment (e.g., 120° F. (49° C.) 98% relative humidity typically). - An alternative construction of a waterproof, breathable liner168 is shown in FIG. 13E. The waterproof, breathable liner 168 has five panels, 160 a, 160 b, 160 c, 160 d, and 158 a. The liner 168 has four
non-stretchable panels non-stretchable region 154. Astretchable panel 158 a forms astretchable region 152 which overlies the foot in front of the ankle, generally underlying where a tongue of a shoe is located. The waterproof liner can have a gasket as described above or a gasket which completely underlies the foot as described with respect to FIGS. 14C and 14D. It is recognized that portions of the breathable liner can underlie the entire foot. - An alternative waterproof,
breathable liner 170 is shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B. The waterproof,breathable liner 170 has a series of panels including astretchable region 172 having threepanels non-stretchable region 174 having a pair ofpanels panels - During manufacture of the footwear or
shoe 30, the waterproof,breathable liner 170 is attached to the upper 34 either as the upper 34 is formed, or inserted into the upper 34 after the upper 34 is formed. In either case theliner 170 is attached above the highest desired waterproof point, typically by sewing, and attached at other portions, typically by adhesive such as in the toe region, so that the liner does not move or shift relative to the upper 34 and expands and recovers with the upper. Thechassis 36 overlies the bottom of waterproof liner and/or gasket to assist in keeping the liner in position. - The waterproof,
breathable liner 174 is placed over a last orform 156 prior to the forming of the upper 34 around the last or with the upper 34. The last orform 156 can have an insole orchassis 398 temporarily attached to facilitate shaping the waterproof,breathable liner 174. - As indicated above, the liner is partially formed using a cement construction. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the fore portion of the bottom of the liner is constructed using a strobel construction. The aft portion of the bottom of the liner is constructed using a cement last construction. In the cement last construction portion an adhesive band is applied to the inner lining of the waterproof,
breathable liner 170 and theinsole 398. The liner has a “lasting allowance” to allow the liner to lay flush. In a typical embodiment, the allowance is approximately 0.75″ (19 mm) from the last feather edge. The waterproof liner is folded around the last orform 156 and into contact with theinsole 398. While drawing the waterproof,breathable liner 170 to the last orform 156, the waterproof,breathable liner 170 or theinsole 398 material is massaged to minimize gathering or wrinkling in any concentrated area. (i.e., the gathering of the material is uniform or flush, not bunched up non-uniformly such as in one area.) Ideally the last orform 156 or theinsole 398 bottom can be premarked to include a reference point for properly positioning the waterproof,breathable liner 170 or bottomless bootie when drawn against the last orform 156 or theinsole 398. - Referring to FIG. 14B, after the waterproof,
breathable liner 170 is secured to theinsole 398 as seen in FIG. 14A, agasket 164 is secured to the heel region. As in the previous embodiments, the seams that are sewn are taped before thegasket 164 is secured. The tape is not shown in FIG. 14B for clarity. - While the embodiments above describe a non-stretchable gasket, it is recognized that in certain situations a stretchable gasket may be preferred and used, for example, where the gasket covers the entire bottom. FIGS. 14C and 14D show a construction of a waterproof,
breathable liner 300 having a full gasket bottom. FIG. 14C shows the waterproof,breathable liner 300 with a non-waterproof stretchable panel ormaterial 302 stitched to the forward portion of the bottom to thepanels bottom gasket 308 is sized to meet the feather edge (typically 5mm beyond the outer stitch seam edge). By thegasket 308 extending over certain seams, those seams do not need to be taped in addition. Those seams that are not covered by thegasket 308 are taped prior to the application of thegasket 308; the tape is not shown in FIG. 14D for clarity. - An alternative method of construction of a waterproof,
breathable liner 314 is shown in FIG. 14E. The waterproof, breathable 314 liner is shown in FIG. 14E. The waterproof,breathable liner 314 is formed of one or more panels of either or bothstretchable material 316 andnon-stretchable material 318 forming stretchable andnon-stretchable regions panels panels layer 324 folded over forming achannel 326 to receive a string orcord 328. The bottomless waterproof,breathable liner 314 is placed over a last orform 156. The last 156 can have an insole orchassis 330. Thecord 328 is pulled to uniformly gather the bottomless waterproof,breathable liner 314 the last 156. Similar to the cement last construction, the material can be massaged to minimize gathering or wrinkling in any concentrated area. - When the bottomless waterproof,
breathable liner 314 is uniformly drawn against the last orform 156 with or without aninsole 330, thecord 328 is tied off either against the start end or to pins molded on the last orform 156 or molded or attached to theinsole 330 above. Ideally the last orform 156 orinsole 330 bottom would be premarked to include a reference point for a properly positioned bottomless bootie when drawn against the last orform 156 orinsole 330. Once drawn against the last orform 156 orinsole 330 and properly positioned and secured, the application of a waterproof gasket material 332 is typically required to make the footwear waterproof. But in some embodiments, the bottom 32 can be direct injected or vulcanized to the waterproof,breathable liner 314 and likely the upper 34, therein creating a waterproof bottom 32 and not requiring a gasket 332. - It is recognized that other techniques for assembling the waterproof, breathable liner can be used. One of the factors for determining what style of waterproof, breathable liner is used is the design of the shoe. For example, one criteria is the location of the stretch and recovery portions of the upper. It may be desirable to place non-stretch material in the toe section of the certain patterns to retain the shape, such as seen in FIG. 13E.
- In several of the embodiments disclosed, the waterproof, breathable liner has a moisture vapor permeability rating greater than or equal to 3.6 mg/cm2/hr measured according to SATRA PM47 and be resistant to or have a protective outer layer providing abrasion and puncture resistance and minimize tearing due to stretch when saturated and/or cemented to the outer upper material. In certain embodiments, the liner can be laminated to foams, insulators and/or lining materials to form a waterproof lining package. The assembly is now ready to be incorporated in any of a number of footwear construction alternatives resulting in a waterproof product having an inherent comfort level due to the ability of the product to allow water vapor to exit the assembly while preventing water penetration from external sources while providing a dynamic fit, fluctuating with the wearer's variable weight load requirements.
- The bottom32 and the upper 34 are secured to each other in a conventional manner such as with the
welt 72 shown in FIG. 4. However, the securing of the two portions needs to be done in a manner which does not nullify the structure and features of the waterproof breathable liner described above. - With the bottom32 and the upper 34 secured together, with or without a waterproof, breathable liner, the
chassis 36 is slipped into theshoe 30 to form part of theshoe 30. - As indicated above, the foot is dynamic in shape and the foot's shape changes as the foot is loaded and unloaded. The shoe having the bottom portion, the chassis, and the upper portion described allows for dynamic loading of the foot in comfort. The bottom portion expands and contracts with the expansion joints and the crowned shape. The chassis spreads the force on the foot over a greater area than the typical three loading points therefore reducing the pressure. The chassis likewise expands in shape because of the curve of the chassis in combination with the bottom. The upper portion expands and contracts as the foot moves. The combination of the structure and features of the bottom, the chassis, and the upper allows for a comfortable supportive shoe that also achieves a fashionable look.
- While one embodiment has been described above with several alternative embodiments of the waterproof, breathable liner, it is recognized that alternative embodiments can achieve the same benefits. An
alternative chassis 176 having four zones or regions is shown in FIG. 15A. In contrast to thechassis 36 shown in FIGS. 8A-10B, which has a single zone for both the heel and medial arch, thechassis 176 has aheel zone 178 and anarch zone 180. This is in addition to thechassis 36 having themetatarsal zone 182 and thetoe zone 184. In addition, in contrast to the previous embodiment, a transition area 186 is located between theheel zone 178 and thearch zone 180 where the property characteristics change, typically from a firm resilient area in theheel zone 178 to a lower/soft durometer material. While the chart as represented in FIGS. 15B-15D shows transition through theentire zone 3, the arch zone, it is recognized that the transition can occur in a smaller area such as shown in FIG. 15A. The remainder ofzone 3 can have uniform properties such as having a material with a medium hardness and an Asker C hardness rating of between 45-50 for the embodiment shown in FIG. 15C. - In one embodiment as schematically represented in FIG. 15B, the
chassis 176 has a thickness of at least 6 millimeters. Theheel zone 178 has a heel insert with an Asker C hardness rating of 45-50. Asker C is a scale similar to the durometer scale used to measure the hardness. The Asker C scale is typically used for soft material. (The use of the word insert in relation to FIGS. 15B -15D indicates that the component is added in a secondary operation, such as using an adhesive after the remaining layers are formed/molded together during the manufacturing process, such as a dual molding/extrusion process.) Overlying the insert is a second layer having a firm property with an Asker C hardness rating of 60-65. The arch zone 180 (zone 3) has a soft layer with an Asker C hardness rating of 30-35 that is overlaid by the firm layer. The total thickness stays constant, but the thickness of the firm upper layer tapers or thins out and the thickness of the soft layer increases as moving forward from theheel zone 178. The metatarsal zone 182 (zone 2) in this embodiment is formed of just the soft material. The final zone (zone 1), thetoe zone 184 of thechassis 176 has a top layer of firm material and a bottom layer of soft material. - In an alternative embodiment as schematically represented in FIG. 15C, which could be considered a more comfortable and
durable chassis 176, and typically moreexpensive chassis 176 to produce, the thickness of thechassis 176 is at least 8 millimeters. Theheel zone 178 has a lower layer which is considered medium hardness and has an Asker C hardness rating of 45-50. The upper layer of theheel zone 178 is a firmer hardness material similar to the previous embodiment. Thearch zone 180 has a medium hardness material which is overlied by the firm hardness material. The thickness of the firm hardness material tapers or thins out as in the previous embodiment. Both themetatarsal zone 182 and thetoe zone 184 have a medium hardness material having an Asker C hardness rating of 45 to 50 as a lower layer. Inserts overlie or underlie the medium hardness material of themetatarsal zone 182 and thetoe zone 184. The insert of themetatarsal zone 182 has a soft material having an Asker C hardness rating of 30-35, such as Poron™ or polyurethane. The insert of thetoe zone 184 has a medium hardness material having an Asker C hardness rating of 45-50, such as Poron™ or polyurethane. While the materials of the inserts are similar, the material properties, such as hardness, are selected for the particular zone. - Still referring to FIG. 15C, the insert of the
metatarsal zone 182 is a polyurethane that is characterized as a soft hardness material with an Asker C hardness rating of 30-35. The insert of thetoe zone 184 is a polyurethane that is characterized as a medium hardness material with an Asker C hardness rating of 45-50. The reason that there are two layers in the toe zone that have the same material property is that one is added as an insert after the remaining layers are formed/molded together during the manufacturing process. - In an alternative embodiment as schematically represented in FIG. 15D, which could be considered a more comfortable and
durable chassis 176 and typically a moreexpensive chassis 176 to produce than schematically shown in FIGS. 15B and 15C, the thickness of thechassis 176 is at least 10 millimeters. In contrast to the previous embodiments, thechassis 176 has a moldedbottom 188 and anupper insert 190. The moldedbottom 188 is made of a polyurethane having an Asker C hardness rating of 45-50. Theupper insert 190 is a slow recovery material which means that the material conforms to the foot therein increasing the surface area of contact between the foot and thechassis 176 resulting in an improved pressure distribution. While conforming, the slow recovery material does recover slowly to its unloaded position, therefore the material partially recovers but still retains some or all of the shape of the foot as the foot goes through the gait cycle. Theupper insert 190 in this embodiment is made of urethane such as slow recovery Poron™. - Interposed between the two layers, the molded
bottom 188 and theupper insert 190, is a layer that has four zones, which defines the four zones of thechassis 176. Theheel zone 178 has a material with a firm hardness. Thearch zone 180,zone 3, has both material with a soft hardness and material with a firm hardness, similar to the first embodiment. - An alternative embodiment of a
chassis 192 is shown in FIG. 15E. This embodiment is similar in some respects to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8A-10B in that generally three zones are shown. Thechassis 192 has a base orbottom layer 194, such as TPU, which extends the entire area. Thechassis 192 is shown with an upper ortop layer 196 of leather for the predominate purpose of style or fashion. Interposed is alayer 198 of varying materials or at least a material of varying properties. - In contrast to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS.8A-10B, the chassis has areas of
transition 200. For example, the heel and arch zones,zones - A fifth alternative embodiment of
chassis 202 having transition zones is shown in FIG. 15F. Thechassis 202 has asingle layer 204 of varying materials or at least a material of varying properties. In contrast to the previous embodiment, transition occurs over theentire heel zone 120 and theentire toe zone 124. - FIGS. 16A and 16B show a top and bottom view respectively of an alternative embodiment of a
chassis 206 for ashoe 30. Thechassis 206 has three zones or regions; aheel zone 208, ametatarsal zone 210, and atoe zone 212. Thechassis 206 has aninsert 214 that defines theheel zone 208. - In one embodiment, the
insert 214 is made of polyurethane. Theheel zone 208 in this embodiment includes the arch. The insert has a plurality of projections orfingers 216 that underlie the arch. Thefingers 216 allow theinsert 214 to flex more, therein creating a softer region than under the heel. - FIGS. 17A and 17B show sectional views of the
chassis 206. Thechassis 206 has a plurality of materials to form the chassis. As indicated above, theinsert 214 on the medial side of the arch portion has a plurality offingers 216. Thefingers 216 create a series ofslots 218. - Underlying the
insert 214 and interposed between thefingers 216 in theslot 218 is abase material 220. Overlying theinsert 214 is a top orfinish material 222. - In addition, in contrast to the previous chassis, this
chassis 206 has acupped heel portion 226. Thecupped heel portion 226 has aninterior support layer 228 and a pair ofouter coverings 230. As seen in FIG. 17A, thecupped heel portion 226 is fixed between theinsert 214 and thetop material 222. - With the
cupped heel portion 226 being part of thechassis 206 in contrast to being formed in the upper 34, there is less likely to be rubbing between thefoot 40 and theshoe 30 in the heel region. Thechassis 206 moves with thefoot 40 in contrast to the bottom 32 and the upper 34 whose movement is also influenced by the interaction with the ground. - A sectional view near the lateral side of the
chassis 206 is shown in FIG. 17B. Theinsert 214 is interposed between thebase material 220 and thetop material 222. Thecupped heel portion 226 is fixed between theinsert 214 and thetop material 222. While thebase material 220 extends the entire length of thechassis 206, the upper layer transitions from theheel zone 208 to themetatarsal zone 210. Thechassis 206 has atop material 234 in themetatarsal zone 210 which is distinct from thetop material 222 in theheel zone 208. - A sectional view of the
chassis 206 generally along the center line is shown in FIG. 18A. The three regions of theheel zone 208, themetatarsal zone 210, and thetoe zone 212 are defined by the different materials used as atop material - As indicated above, the
chassis 206 has three regions or zones, that of theheel zone 208, themetatarsal zone 210, and thetoe zone 212. Thetop material 222 for theheel zone 208 is selected to be resilient. Thetop material 234 in themetatarsal zone 210 is selected to be a cushioning type material. - FIGS.18B-18G show the cross sectional views at various locations of the
chassis 206. In FIGS. 18F and 18G, the sides of thecupped heel portion 226 are seen. As indicated above, thecupped heel portion 226 is secured to the rest of thechassis 206 by being interposed between theinsert 214 and thetop material 222. - FIGS. 19A and 19B show the lateral side view and medial side view of the
chassis 206 respectively. Thecupped heel portion 226 projects upward from the rest of thechassis 206. Thebase material 220 is seen extending the length of thechassis 206. Thetop materials base material 220 in their respective zones. - A sectional view of a
shoe 30 is shown in FIG. 19C. Theshoe 30 has a bottom 32 and an upper 34. The upper 34 has anexpansion portion 88. The upper 34 is sewn to the bottom 32 at thelip 116. - The shoe, in addition, has a
chassis 206 similar to that shown in FIGS. 17A-19B. Thechassis 206 has a plurality of zones including aheel zone 208, ametatarsal zone 210, and atoe zone 212. Thechassis 206 has acupped heel portion 226. In contrast to the previous embodiments, thecupped heel portion 226 has a tab 294 which extends through an opening 296 in the upper 34. - The interaction between the tab294 and the upper 32 links or registers the
chassis 206 with the upper 32. This registration prevents thechassis 206 from moving in the fore and aft direction relative to the upper 32 and the rest of theshoe 30. By registering thechassis 206 to the upper 32, the foot does not rub relative to the upper as the foot moves with thechassis 206. The registration of thechassis 206 with the upper 32 using the tab 294 allows the bottom 32 to expand as required and as discussed above and thechassis 206 to dynamically handle the pressure distribution to the foot. - It is recognized that registration of the
chassis 206 to the rest of theshoe 30, the bottom 32 or upper 34, can be done by other techniques. For example, the chassis can have a rail or projection that is accepted in a complimentary void in the bottom. Furthermore, the mere fit of the chassis to the remainder of the shoe in certain embodiments results in registration. - FIGS. 19D and 19E show an alternative shoe that has a
chassis 206 which includes acupped heel portion 226. The upper 34 has atab 338 that projects upward and has afastener 340. Thecupped heel portion 226 of thechassis 206 extends upward above thecuff 342 of the upper 34. Thecuff 342 of the shoe in the heel has a concave cut as best seen in FIG. 19E. Thecupped heel portion 226 has afastener 344 which is complementary to thefastener 340 of the tab 298. The interaction between thefasteners chassis 206 with the upper 34. - An enlarged view of a
linking mechanism 346 for registering thechassis 206 to the upper 34 is shown in FIG. 19F. Thelinking mechanism 346 of thechassis 206 overlies and secures to the upper 34 to register the chassis with the upper 34. - While the chassis is shown as detachable from the bottom, it is recognized that the distinctive zones, which are tailored for the respective part of the foot that interacts with the zone, can have the components of the chassis that are secured to the bottom34. In the alternative, some of the components of the chassis can be secured to the bottom while other components of the chassis can be detachable and removable from the remainder of the shoe.
- FIG. 20 shows an
alternative shoe 240 having a bottom 242. The bottom 242 has a bottom surface or sole 244 that is not flat. Thebottom surface 244 has a crown or concave surface wherein the edges, thelateral edge 246 and themedial edge 248 are raised compared to acenter region 250. As the bottom 242 is loaded and thebottom surface 244 flattens, the lateral andmedial edges shoe 240 in the region having this curvature. Typically the curvature is in the metatarsal zone and the toe zone. - Referring to FIG. 21A, the
bottom surface 244 of the bottom 242 is shown. In contrast to the shoe shown in FIGS. 3 through 7B, the bottom 242 does not have an expansion portion to allow the edges to move apart. - FIG. 21B shows the top side of the bottom242. The bottom 242 has an
upper layer 256, in addition to an outer sole 254. Theupper layer 256 has a heel andframe segment 258 and a pair ofsmaller inlays inlays frame segment 258. One of theinlays 260 is in the toe zone and theother inlay 262 is in the metatarsal zone. In the bottom 242, there is a supportingshank 264 shown in hidden line which extends from the heel region through the arch zone and in proximity to the metatarsal zone. In this embodiment, theinlays - A sectional view taken generally along the center line of the bottom242 is shown in FIG. 22A. The bottom 242 has the outer sole 254 with the
bottom surface 244. The heel andframe segment 258 of theupper layer 256 is shown in the heel and arch region and at the front of the shoe. Within the heel andframe segment 258 is theshank 264 which stiffens the arch zone of theshoe 30. The metatarsal zone and toe zone have respectivelydifferent inlays - In a preferred embodiment, the outer sole254 is made of rubber for its wear and slip resistance properties. The
inlay 262 in the toe zone is made of a polyurethane having an Asker C hardness of 45-50. Theinlay 260 in the metatarsal zone is made of a polyurethane having a hardness of 30 Asker C. Both inlays, 260 and 262 are selected for cushioning and resilience properties. The supportingshank 264 in a preferred embodiment is made of a molded or stamped stiff material such as nylon, TPU, or steel. - FIGS.22B-22E show sectional views of the bottom 242. The bottom 242 has a
lip 266 for securing to the upper 34. Thelip 266 is carried by the heel andframe segment 258 of theupper layer 256. - As seen in FIG. 22B, the
bottom surface 244 of the outer sole 254 is not flat and is crowned. Theedges bottom surface 244 of the bottom 242 are raised compared to thecentral region 250. When a load, such as stepping is applied to thebottom 242 of theshoe 30, thebottom surface 244 flattens therein moving the lateral andmedial edges shoe 30 has a more tailored look in the unloaded position. - FIGS. 22C, 22D, and22E each show cross sections of the bottom 242. The supporting
shank 264 extends through the heel andframe segment 258 of theupper layer 256. While thebottom surface 244 has a slight curvature in the heel zone as seen in FIGS. 22D and 22E, the slight curvature in combination with the increased thickness of theupper layer 256 results in the heel zone expanding only slightly as compared to the metatarsal zone. - In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIGS.3-7B, the upper is not sewn with a horizontal stitch through the welt to the side. In contrast as seen in FIG. 22B1, the upper is sewn through to the sole 254 of the bottom 242 with a line of
stitching 268. Thelip 266 in this embodiment helps retain the shape of the upper 34. Achassis 36 is shown overlying the bottom 242. - An enlarged view of the
lip 266 is seen in FIGS. 22D1. The upper 34 is sewn with a vertical stitch with the upper 34 located inboard of thelip 266. - Referring to FIG. 23A and 23B, the medial and lateral side of the bottom242 is shown. Both the outer sole 254 and the heel and
frame segment 258 of theupper layer 256 are seen. Thelip 266 which helps retain the upper 34 is likewise shown. - Referring to FIG. 24B, an
alternative bottom 272 has aninlay 274 which is encircled by a heel andframe segment 278 of anupper layer 276. However in contrast to the previous embodiment, theinlay 274 is a displacement material, which while located above the outer sole 280, extends throughports 282, as seen in FIG. 25C, toward abottom surface 284 of the outer sole 280. As thefoot 40 applies pressure to thechassis 36, not shown in this figure, theinlay 274, the displacement material, is forced intosoling channels 286 of theshoe 30 as seen in FIG. 24A therein creating more space within the shoe. - FIG. 25A is a sectional view taken generally along the center line of the bottom272 of the
shoe 30 showing that the outer sole 280 of the bottom 272 has thebottom surface 284 similar to the previous embodiment. In addition, the heel andframe segment 278 of theupper layer 276 receives a supportingshank 264. Theinlay 274 or displacement material is shown extending through the ports orapertures 282 to the soling channels orgrooves 286 on thebottom surface 284 of the outer sole 280. - FIGS. 25B and 25C are sectional views of the metatarsal zone showing the displacement material,
inlay 274, overlying the outer sole 280 and extending through theapertures 282 to thegrooves 286 in thebottom surface 284. - Referring to FIG. 26, a
shoe 350 with an alternative embodiment of an expandingbottom 352 is shown. Theshoe 350 has an upper 34, a bottom 352, and achassis 36. The bottom 352 has a base orsole portion 354 having a void 356 in which aninner layer 358 is located. Interposed between theinner layer 358 of the bottom 352 and thebase 354 of the bottom 352, acavity 360 is formed. Thecavity 360 is bounded on top by theinner layer 358 therein forming anupper surface 362. Theupper surface 362 has a planarouter edge 364 and aconvex center portion 366. Located within acenter portion 368 of thecavity 360 underlying theconvex center portion 366 of theupper surface 362 is an inlay ordisplacement material 370 similar to that described above with respect to FIGS. 24A-25C. This inlay ordisplacement material 370 expands intoexterior portions 372, underlying the planarouter edge 364 of theupper surface 362 of thecavity 360, when force is applied to theinner layer 358 of the bottom 352. This force is applied through the chassis as the person loads the shoe. As thedisplacement material 368 expands into theexterior portion 372, theinner layer 358 and likewise thechassis 36 can move downward in theshoe 350, therein creating more space within the shoe. Likewise, as the force is removed, the inlay or displacement material contracts back into the center chamber forcing the inner layer upward therein reducing or decreasing the volume within the shoe. - In manufacturing this shoe, the upper34 is secured by a line of
stitching 376 to theinner layer 358 prior to the base or outer sole 354 of the bottom 352 being molded such as by direct injection or vulcanized to theinner layer 358 of the bottom 352 and the upper 34. In one embodiment, theinlay material 370 is a polymergel having exponential elongation properties with memory, that is molded or extruded into a base shape. The midsole is premolded into a convex shape and allows for shape displacement. Thecavity 360 with theinlay 370 is typically located in the metatarsal zone and toe zone of theshoe 350. - FIG. 27A is a front sectional view of a
shoe 380 with another alternative bottom construction. Theshoe 380 has an upper 34, a bottom 382 and achassis 36. The bottom 382 has a base layer 384 and an upper layer 386. The upper layer 386 has a rigidouter portion 388 which underlies thechassis 36 in theshoe 380 except for a void 390 in the metatarsal zone. Thiscentral void 390 in the metatarsal zone receives arigid inlay 392. In a preferred embodiment, therigid inlay 392 is a polyurethane or a TPU. Theinlay 392 is secured to theouter portion 388 by a plurality ofelastic membranes 394 which allow theouter layer 388 to expand away from theinlay 392 as the foot expands. By theouter portion 388 and theinlay 392 being of a rigid material in the upper layer 386, an external concentrated load or pressure point such as from a rock is dissipated over a larger area by this rigid inner layer therein reducing the pressure to the foot. Expansion or movement can be provided by a crown and mechanical grooves. - FIG. 27B is a top view of the bottom382 of the
shoe 380 showing the connections by theelastic membranes 394 of theinlay 392 to the rigidouter layer 388. - This dissipation of pressure by spreading the force over an area results in ground insulation, i.e., the ground surface is not perceived.
- It is recognized that while the expansion of the bottom of the shoe has been shown in the embodiments to expand in the lateral direction, the shoe can be designed to expand lengthwise also. Lengthwise expansion maybe desirable in children's shoes so that the shoe has some room for growth. One method of expansion is to have slots in a first material which receive a second material, such as in the first embodiment, extending in a lateral direction.
- As indicated above the foot is dynamic in shape and the foot's shape changes as the foot is loaded and unloaded. The shoe having the bottom portion, the chassis, and the upper portion as described allows the dynamic movement of the foot in comfort. The bottom portion expands and contracts with the expansion joints and the crowned shape. The chassis spreads the force on the foot over a greater area than the typical three loading points therefore reducing the pressure and likewise expanding in shape because of the curve of the chassis in combination with the bottom. The upper portion expands and contracts as the foot moves. The combination of the structure and features of the bottom portion, the chassis, and the upper portion allows for a comfortable supporting shoe that also achieves a fashionable look.
- While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims. For example, various features of different embodiments can be combined or omitted. In some embodiments, more than one expansion mechanism is provided, whereby each expansion mechanism separately contributes to the expansion of the shoe. Additionally, some embodiments of the present invention shoe can have a lower or bottom portion that includes a bottom and a chassis, while other embodiments can have a lower or bottom portion that has a bottom but no chassis.
Claims (58)
1. A shoe to accept a foot having a heel, arch, metatarsals, and toes, the shoe comprising;
a bottom having an expansion mechanism for expanding the bottom laterally underlying the metatarsals;
an upper carried by the bottom; and
a chassis carried by the bottom for underlying the foot.
2. A shoe of claim 1 wherein the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes a crowned shape such that the bottom has a bottom surface wherein a central region of the bottom surface extends below a pair of side edges of the bottom surface when the shoe is in an unloaded state/position and the edges move outward and downward when the shoe is in a loaded state.
3. A shoe of claim 1 wherein the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes an outer sole having a plurality of apertures, the outer sole of the bottom and the upper defining a shoe volume, the bottom including a displacement portion generally overlying the outer sole and filling a portion of the shoe volume, the displacement portion capable of deforming and projecting through the apertures of the sole portion and into channels therein increasing the shoe volume.
4. A shoe of claim 1 wherein the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes a base portion and an expansion portion, the base portion having a plurality of slots extending generally longitudinally in the mid-foot region defining the expansion portion, the expansion portion formed of a material allowing lateral expansion of the bottom.
5. A shoe of claim 4 wherein the upper has an expanding and contracting mechanism for expanding and contracting the upper.
6. A shoe of claim 5 wherein the expanding and contracting mechanism is a flexible material interposed between two pieces of leather at a seam wherein the flexible material expands and contracts.
7. A shoe of claim 5 wherein the expanding and contracting mechanism is an expandable omega seam interposed between two pieces of leather at a seam wherein the omega opens and closes.
8. A shoe of claim 5 wherein the chassis has at least three tailored zones, a heel zone underlying the heel of the foot, a metatarsal zone underlying the metatarsals, and a toe zone underlying the toes of the foot.
9. A shoe of claim 8 wherein the chassis has an additional tailored zone, an arch zone underlying the arch of the foot.
10. A shoe of claim 8 further comprising a waterproof, breathable liner carried in the shoe, the waterproof, breathable liner prevents water from and passing through the liner to the foot and allows the foot to breathe.
11. A shoe of claim 10 wherein the waterproof, breathable liner has an expandable region in the metatarsal and toe zones and non-expandable region in the heel zone.
12. A shoe to accept a foot having a heel, arch, metatarsals, and toes, the shoe comprising;
a bottom having an expansion mechanism for expanding the bottom laterally underlying the metatarsals;
an upper carried by the bottom; and
a chassis carried by the bottom for underlying the foot, the chassis having at least three tailored zones, a heel zone underlying the heel of the foot, a metatarsal zone underlying the metatarsals, and a toe zone underlying the toes of the foot.
13. A shoe of claim 12 wherein the chassis includes a base layer, a top layer, and an insert, the insert extending between the base layer and the top layer in the heel zone and an arch zone, the insert in the arch zone having a plurality of fingers allowing for flexure.
14. A shoe of claim 13 wherein the chassis has an additional tailored zone, an arch zone underlying the arch of the foot.
15. A shoe of claim 14 wherein the upper has an expanding and contracting mechanism for expanding and contracting the upper.
16. A shoe of claim 15 wherein the expanding and contracting mechanism is a flexible material interposed between two pieces of leather at a seam wherein the flexible material expands and contracts.
17. A shoe of claim 15 wherein the expanding and contracting mechanism is an expanding omega seam interposed between two pieces of leather at a seam wherein the omega opens and closes.
18. A shoe of claim 15 wherein the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes a base portion and an expansion portion, the base portion having a plurality of slots extending generally longitudinally in the mid-foot region defining the expansion portion, the expansion portion formed of a material allowing lateral expansion of the bottom.
19. A shoe of claim 11 wherein the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes a base portion and an expansion portion, the base portion having a plurality of slots extending generally longitudinally in the mid-foot region defining the expansion portion, the expansion portion formed of a material allowing lateral expansion of the bottom.
20. A shoe of claim 19 wherein the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes expansion mechanisms for expanding the shoe longitudinally.
21. A shoe of claim 20 wherein the longitudinal expansion mechanism includes the base portion having at least a portion of the slots extending generally laterally defining an expansion portion, the expansion portion receiving a material allowing longitudinal expansion of the bottom.
22. A shoe of claim 19 further comprising a heel cup formed integrally with the chassis and separate from the upper and the bottom.
23. A shoe to accept a foot having a heel, arch, metatarsals, and toes, the shoe comprising;
a bottom;
an upper carried by the bottom; and
a chassis carried by the bottom for underlying the foot, the chassis having at least three tailored zones, a heel zone underlying the heel of the foot, a metatarsal zone underlying the metatarsals, and a toe zone underlying the toes of the foot.
24. A shoe of claim 23 wherein the upper has an expanding and contracting mechanism for expanding and contracting the upper.
25. A shoe of claim 24 wherein the bottom further comprises an expansion mechanism for expanding the bottom laterally underlying the metatarsals.
26. A shoe of claim 25 wherein the upper is secured to the bottom by a securing mechanism underlying the chassis.
27. A shoe of claim 25 wherein the upper is secured to the bottom by a securing mechanism extending generally vertically.
28. A shoe of claim 25 wherein the bottom further comprises a lip, the upper having a portion that overlies the lip, and further comprising a line of stitching extending through the upper into the lip to define a welt.
29. A shoe of claim 28 wherein the chassis has an additional tailored zone, an arch zone underlying the arch of the foot.
30. A shoe of claim 29 wherein the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes a base portion and an expansion portion, the base portion having a plurality of slots extending generally longitudinally in the mid-foot region defining the expansion portion, the expansion portion formed of a material allowing lateral expansion of the bottom.
31. A shoe of claim 30 further comprising a waterproof, breathable liner carried in the shoe, the waterproof, breathable liner having an expandable region in the metatarsal and toe zones and non-expandable region in the heel zone, the waterproof, breathable liner preventing water from passing through the liner to the foot and allowing the foot to breathe.
32. A shoe of claim 31 wherein the expanding and contracting mechanism is an elastic omega seam interposed between two pieces of leather at a seam wherein the omega opens and closes.
33. A shoe to accept a foot having a heel, arch, metatarsals, and toes, the shoe comprising;
a bottom;
an upper carried by the bottom, the upper having an expanding and contracting mechanism for expanding and contracting the upper;
a chassis carried by the bottom for underlying the foot; and
a waterproof, breathable liner carried in the shoe, the waterproof, breathable liner having a expandable region in the metatarsal and toe zones and non-expandable region in the heel zone, the waterproof, breathable liner preventing water from passing through the liner to the foot and allowing the foot to breathe.
34. A shoe of claim 33 wherein the bottom further comprises an expansion mechanism for expanding the bottom laterally underlying the metatarsals.
35. A shoe of claim 34 wherein the expanding and contracting mechanism is an elastic omega seam interposed between two pieces of leather at a seam wherein the omega opens and closes.
36. A shoe of claim 35 wherein the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes a base portion and an expansion portion, the base portion having a plurality of slots extending generally longitudinally in the mid-foot region defining the expansion portion, the expansion portion formed of a material allowing lateral expansion of the bottom.
37. A chassis for underlying a foot having a heel, arch, metatarsals, and toes, the chassis comprising;
the chassis having at least three tailored zones, a heel zone underlying the heel of the foot, a metatarsal zone underlying the metatarsals, and a toe zone underlying the toes of the foot.
38. A chassis of claim 37 wherein the chassis has an additional tailored zone, an arch zone underlying the arch of the foot.
39. A chassis of claim 38 wherein the chassis has a transition area between at least two of the zones.
40. A shoe having a forefoot region, a mid-foot region, and a heel region, the shoe comprising;
a bottom having a base portion and an expansion portion, the base portion having a plurality of slots extending generally longitudinally in the midfoot region defining the expansion portion, the expansion portion formed of a material allowing lateral expansion of the bottom;
an upper portion carried by the bottom portion; and
a chassis carried by the bottom and having a plurality of materials adapted to the foot for spreading the force.
41. The shoe of claim 40 wherein the bottom portion has a crowned shape such that the center of the bottom surface extends below the edges when the shoe is in an unloaded state and the edges move outward when the shoe is in a loaded state.
42. The shoe of claim 40 wherein the upper portion has an expanding and contracting mechanism for stabley holding the foot as the foot moves.
43. The shoe of claim 42 wherein the expanding and contracting mechanism is a flexible material interposed between two pieces of material at a seam wherein the flexible material expands and contracts.
44. The shoe of claim 42 wherein the expanding and contracting mechanism is an elastic omega seam.
45. The shoe of claim 40 wherein the chassis has a heel cup for supporting the foot.
46. The shoe of claim 40 wherein the chassis is contoured to the foot.
47. A shoe to accept a foot, the shoe comprising:
a bottom;
an upper carried by the bottom;
a chassis carried by the bottom for underlying the foot; and
a waterproof, breathable liner carried inside the bottom and the upper, the liner having a slip lasted fore part and a cement lasted back part sealed with a waterproof gasket for preventing water from passing through the liner to the foot and allows the foot to breathe.
48. Foot wear for accepting a foot having a heel, arch, metatarsals, and toes, the footwear comprising a lower portion having an expansion mechanism for expanding the lower portion laterally underlying the metatarsals.
49. The footwear of claim 48 in which the lower portion includes a bottom having longitudinally extending grooves which are configured to expand laterally when the bottom flexes.
50. The footwear of claim 49 in which the grooves have longitudinally extending sidewalls, the sidewalls being angled outwardly.
51. The footwear of claim 48 in which the lower portion includes a bottom having a crowned bottom surface, wherein flattening of the bottom surface laterally expands the bottom.
52. A method of forming a shoe for accepting a foot having a heel, arch, metatarsals, and toes, the method comprising:
providing a bottom having an expansion mechanism for expanding the bottom laterally underlying the metatarsals;
providing an upper carried by the bottom; and
providing a chassis carried by the bottom for underlying the foot.
53. A method of forming footwear for accepting a foot having a heel, arch, metatarsals, and toes, the method comprising forming a lower portion having an expansion mechanism for expanding the lower portion laterally underlying the metatarsals.
54. A method of expanding footwear, the footwear having a bottom for accepting a foot having a heel, arch, metatarsals, and toes, the method comprising:
allowing the foot to expand; and
expanding the bottom laterally underlying the metatarsals with an expansion mechanism by exertion of forces by the expanding foot.
55. A method of expanding footwear, the footwear having a lower portion, the method comprising:
flexing the lower portion during use; and
expanding the lower portion with an expansion mechanism, the expansion mechanism expanding in response to flexing of the lower portion.
56. The method of claim 55 in which the lower portion includes a bottom having longitudinally extending grooves, the method further comprising configuring the grooves to expand laterally with flexing of the bottom.
57. The method of claim 56 further comprising providing the grooves with longitudinally extending sidewalls that are angled outwardly.
58. The method of claim 55 further comprising providing the lower portion with a bottom having a crowned bottom surface, wherein flattening of the bottom surface laterally expands the bottom.
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US10/932,947 US20050022426A1 (en) | 2000-12-22 | 2004-09-02 | Shoe construction |
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- 2001-12-19 JP JP2002552428A patent/JP2004535211A/en active Pending
- 2001-12-19 DE DE60122007T patent/DE60122007T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-12-19 CA CA002432697A patent/CA2432697A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-12-19 AT AT01985072T patent/ATE334607T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2001-12-19 US US10/025,211 patent/US20020088145A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-12-19 WO PCT/US2001/049381 patent/WO2002051273A2/en active IP Right Grant
- 2001-12-19 KR KR10-2003-7008540A patent/KR20040011451A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-12-19 EP EP01985072A patent/EP1349464B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-12-21 TW TW090131788A patent/TW558424B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
TW558424B (en) | 2003-10-21 |
EP1349464B1 (en) | 2006-08-02 |
EP1349464A2 (en) | 2003-10-08 |
WO2002051273A3 (en) | 2002-12-27 |
ATE334607T1 (en) | 2006-08-15 |
KR20040011451A (en) | 2004-02-05 |
WO2002051273A2 (en) | 2002-07-04 |
US20050022426A1 (en) | 2005-02-03 |
DE60122007D1 (en) | 2006-09-14 |
CA2432697A1 (en) | 2002-07-04 |
DE60122007T2 (en) | 2007-03-01 |
JP2004535211A (en) | 2004-11-25 |
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