United States Patent
`Shin
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4, 658, 514
`Apr. 21, 1987
`
`4/1983
`7/1983
`9/1983
`1/1985
`4/1985
`1/1986
`
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`. . . . . 36/59 C
`4, 378, 643
`Johnson
`Spreng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`. . . . . 36/32 R
`4, 393, 605
`Parracho et al. . . . .
`. . . . . 36/32 R
`4, 402, 146
`Lawlor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`. . . . . 36/25 R
`4, 494, 321
`Dassler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`. . . . . . . 36/102
`4, 507, 879
`. . . . . 36/25 R
`Frederick et al. . . .
`4, 562, 651
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`. . . . . 36/32 R
`2043659 3/1972 Fed. Rep. of Germany
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36/59 C
`4296 of 1896 United Kingdom
`Primary Examiner — Werner H. Schroeder
`Assistant Examiner — Steven N. Meyers
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Wolf, Greenfield k Sacks
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A running shoe having a sole structure
`that includes an
`outsole extending from the toe to the heel and having a
`thickened section extending
`the full width of the sole
`the ball of the foot.
`structure and positioned
`to underlie
`The thickened section is appreciably
`thicker
`than the
`portions of the outsole that underlie
`the remainder of
`the foot. A plurality of parallel
`slots are cut in the
`thicker section across the full width of the outsole and
`extend from the bottom surface or tread, upwardly
`to
`just short of the top surface of the outsole
`to form
`hinges which allow it to readily fiex. The slots may be
`partially bridged by struts which do not interfere with
`the hinge action at each of the slots but which provide
`to the outsole at that region.
`added strength
`
`9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures
`
`[54] SHOE DESIGN
`Yoon K. Shin, Pusan, Rep. of Korea
`[75] Inventor:
`[73] Assignee: Mercury International Trading Corp. ,
`N. Attleboro, Mass.
`[21] Appl. No. : 663, 381
`[22] Filed:
`Oct. 22, 1984
`
`Related U. S. Application Data
`[63] Continuation of Ser. No. 464, 204, Feb. 7, 1983, Pat.
`No. 4, 498, 251.
`[51] Int. C1. 4 . . .
`
`[52] U. S. Cl.
`
`[58] Field of Search
`
`[56]
`
`. . . . . . . A43B 13/14; A43B 13/18;
`A43B 13/00
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36/30 R; 36/32 R;
`36/59 C
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36/25 R, 30R, 30 A,
`36/32 R, 59 C, 102, 103, 114
`References Cited
`U. S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`Messinger . . . .
`D. 192, 553
`4/1962
`Craver . . . . . . . . .
`6/1939
`2, 162, 912
`Prue . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`5/1940
`2, 201, 300
`Supple . . . . . . . . . .
`2, 381, 937
`8/1945
`. . .
`2, 981, 011
`4/1961
`Lombardo
`. . . . . . .
`3, 018, 571
`1/1962
`Doherty
`. . . . . . . .
`12/1966
`3, 290, 803
`Spatola
`Denu . . . . . . . . . . . .
`4, 130, 947
`12/1978
`Hunt . . . . . . . . . . . .
`4, 309, 832
`1/1982
`. . .
`3/1983
`4, 377, 041
`Alchermes
`
`. . . . . 36/59 C
`. . . . . 36/59 C
`. . . . . 36/25 R
`. . . . . . . . . 36/33
`. . . . . 36/59 C
`. . . . . 36/59 C
`. . . . . 36/32 R
`. . . . . 36/32 R
`. . . . . 36/32 R
`. . . . . . . . . 36/3 1
`
`sa
`
`70
`
`Patent Owner Reebox International Limited
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`

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`U. S. Patent Apr. 21, 1987
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`70'
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`90
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`FIG. ZA
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`54
`p90 p90
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`54
`I-90
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`54 52 54
`I-90
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`eo co~re
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`rek
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`60
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`rel-eo
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`re FIG. 8A
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`Patent Owner Reebox International Limited
`Exhibit 2018 - Page 2 of 6
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`U. s. Patent
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`Apr. 21, 1987
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`Sheet 2 of 2
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`4, 658, 514
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`44 54 58 54
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`Patent Owner Reebox International Limited
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`

`

`SHOE DESIGN
`
`is a continuation of application Ser.
`This application
`No. 464, 204, filed Feb. 7, 1983, now U. S. Pat. No. 5
`4, 498, 251.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to shoes such as running
`to an out-
`shoes and sport shoes and more particularly
`sole which provides
`and added
`improved
`flexibility
`to the ball of the foot.
`protection
`2. Brief Background of the Invention
`With the advent of the intense
`interest
`in running,
`shoe manufacturers
`to design shoes
`have endeavored
`which are comfortable, safe, and long-wearing. Unfor-
`tunately, some have found that in order to accomplish
`one of these goals, another
`is sacrificed.
`concentrated
`shoe manufacture~s
`Initially,
`running
`their efforts on the heel portion of the shoe. Their goal
`was to reduce the amount of force transmitted
`to the
`foot upon heel strike. This was done by adding
`foam
`wedges of various sizes and shapes directly beneath the
`heel portion of the shoe. As a result, the heel portion of 25
`the running shoe has become elevated, which causes an
`exaggerated heel-to-toe foot roll movement. Manufac-
`that the exaggerated heel-to-toe
`turers have determined
`movement causes the ball of the foot to be subjected to
`a torque-like force in addition to the normal downward
`force upon
`the running
`surface.
`impact with
`striking
`These forces act in such a way that the ball of the foot
`requires a shoe which has sufficient cushioning
`in order
`to absorb the striking force, and yet is flexible enough to
`handle the torque movement of the foot. Unfortunately,
`the ball of the
`as cushioning material
`is added beneath
`foot, the flexibility of the shoe is reduced. Conversely, if
`the shoe is made more flexible, very often it is accom-
`the amount of cushioning beneath
`plished by reducing
`the ball of the foot.
`To add flexibility
`to the shoe while maintaining
`an
`amount of cushioning,
`adequate
`some manufacturers
`have made
`the upper more flexible, and others have
`the shoe so that the toe box portion
`lasted
`is curved
`upward. These designs often have not been satisfactory 45
`in that they have not provided
`the comfort and long-
`wearing characteristics desired by the average runner.
`In addition,
`it is quite common for the cushioning
`material beneath the ball of the foot to become flattened
`and deformed. This results not only from the striking 50
`force but also from the significant
`torque forces during
`the breakdown of the cushion-
`foot roll. Consequently,
`the ball of the foot sometimes
`re-
`ing portion beneath
`quires the shoe to be discarded even though other parts
`of the shoe are not worn.
`The present
`invention
`flexibility with a
`combines
`significant amount of padding beneath
`the ball of the
`foot. This is accomplished
`in such a way as to minimize
`the ball of the
`the breakdown of the material beneath
`in a long-wearing
`foot and results
`shoe.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The present invention
`relates to a running show hav-
`ing a sole structure
`that has a thickened section beneath
`the ball of the foot. The sole structure
`includes an out- 65
`from the toe to the heel and having a
`sole extending
`the full width of the sole
`thickened section extending
`the ball of the foot. The
`to underlie
`and positioned
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`55
`
`60
`
`top view of the outsole at
`
`fragmentary
`
`cross-sectioned
`
`thickened section is appreciably
`thicker
`than the por-
`tions of the outsole
`the remainder of the
`to underlie
`foot. A plurality of parallel slots are cut in the thicker
`section across the full width of the outsole in order to
`form hinge-like sections which allow the ball of the foot
`to flex. The slots may be partially bridged by struts
`which do not interfere with the hinge action but which
`to the thickened portion of the
`provide added strength
`outsole at the hinges.
`This combination provides
`the necessary flex in the
`toe box region, provides
`the necessary padding under
`the ball of the foot to protect the foot upon impact with
`the ground, and is long-wearing
`since the outsole mate-
`rial is generally
`longer lasting than the soft cushioning
`material used in other shoes.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a
`the new sole structure of the
`running shoe embodying
`present
`invention;
`FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the outsole of the running
`in FIG. 1;
`shoe shown
`FIG. 2A is a fragmentary
`the ball section;
`FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectioned views of the sole
`taken along the section lines 3 — 3 and 4 — 4 in
`structure
`FIG. 2, respectively;
`FIG. 3A is an enlarged
`view taken along section lines 3A — 3A in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the outsole of a second
`embodiment of this invention;
`FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a few teeth of the
`tread of the outsole of FIG. 5; and
`FIG. 6 is a cross-sectioned view of the outsole taken
`along the section lines 6 — 6 of FIG. 5.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`The running shoe 10, shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, includes
`an upper 10 and sole 12 which may be secured together
`by any of the well-known
`lasting techniques used in the
`manufacture of running shoes. The upper 10 is prefera-
`bly made of a lightweight, breathable material 14 which
`carries a heel counter 16 made of a firm material
`to
`center and stabilize the heel of the foot in the shoe. The
`upper also includes a toe box 18 that includes a firm toe
`guard 20 made of leather or other heavier material and
`is shown to include a notch 22 at the flexing line in the
`shoe forepart so as to contribute more flexibility
`in the
`ball area.
`in FIG. 3 is a multilayered
`The sole as shown
`struc-
`improvements of
`ture which incorporates
`the particular
`the present invention. The several layers comprises the
`outsole 30 and a midsole which in turn includes sections
`32 and 34 and wedge 36. The several parts of the sole
`are described
`in greater detail below, particularly with
`reference to FIGS. 2A, 3, 3A and 4.
`Outsole 30, made of solid rubber or other wear-resist-
`is molded as a unitary
`structure and in-
`ant material,
`cludes a rear or heel section 40, front or toe section 42,
`and ball section 44. Ball section 44 accounts for approxi-
`mately i ~to 1/5 of the total length of the outsole 30. The
`heel and toe sections 40 and 42 are of generally uniform
`thickness (typically I (5 mm) inch) while ball section 44,
`also of uniform
`is several times as thick (typi-
`thickness,
`cally 9/16 (15 mm) inch) as the heel and toe sections.
`The rear end of heel section 40 is shown
`turned up-
`
`Patent Owner Reebox International Limited
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`

`

`4, 658, 514
`
`wardly at 46 to increase the life of the shoe by protect-
`ing the wedge 36 and insole section 34.
`The lower surface 48 of outsole 40 may be provided
`two of which
`with a variety of different
`tread patterns,
`are shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The tread pattern shown in
`FIG. 2 includes a number of heavy, generally rectangu-
`lar bars 50 which extend uniformally across the surface
`traction while reducing friction
`48 to provide maximum
`and rejecting dirt and mud.
`In FIG. 3 four parallel
`transverse slots 50 are shown
`which extend across the full width of the outsole in the
`ball section 44. Each of the slots 50 extends to the lower
`surface 48 of the outsole, and they extend upwardly
`so
`as to terminate just short of the upper surface S2 of the
`section 44. The thin sections of the rubber outsole mate-
`rial above each slot 50 define hinge lines for the outsole
`so as to allow it to flex readily at the ball area. The
`thickness of the material. above each of the slots is equal
`to or less than the thickness of the outsole 30 at the
`sections 40 and 42 so that the outsole is at least as flexi-
`ble at the ball area as in the other sections of the sole,
`even though the ball section 44 far exceeds the thickness
`of the heel and toe sections 40 and 42.
`As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 3A, and 4, a number of struts
`54 bridge the upper part of each slot 50 so as to provide
`for the outsole. While the struts 54
`increased strength
`provide increased strength of the material so as to pre-
`vent it from splitting above the slots, the struts 54 are
`nevertheless sufficiently flexible so as not to appreciably
`the bending or flexing at the ball area
`interfere with
`along the hinge lines at the upper ends of the slots 50.
`While outsole 30 is made of a solid rubber material
`having great resistance to wear, the wedge 36 and the
`midsole sections 32 and 34 are made of a foam material
`to main-
`which is very resilient and which is designed
`tain this resilience for the life of the shoe. Wedge 36,
`which covers the heel portion 40 of the outsole at its
`in thickness to the
`rear end 60, is approximately
`equal
`difference between the thicknesses of the heel section 40
`and the ball section 44 of the outsole. The wedge tapers
`to a sharp edge at its forward end 62 adja-
`uniformally
`cent the rear wall 64 of the ball portion 44. The wedge
`may typically provide a forward slope for the sole plat-
`form of approximately 7'.
`The midsole sections 32 and 34, which may be made
`of the same or a different foam material
`than the wedge
`the same as the
`36 and whose density may be essentially
`wedge 36, tapers in a forward direction at the toe sec-
`tion 32 so that its thickness at the rear portion 66 is equal
`in height to the front wall 68 of the ball section 44 of the
`outsole. The toe section 32 of the midsole
`tapers to a
`f inch from the front edge 70 of the
`point approximately
`outsole. Heel section 34 of the midsole is of substantially
`and its thickness is essen-
`thickness throughout,
`uniform
`tially equal to the height of the rear wall 64 of the ball
`section 44 of the outsole. Consequently, when the mid-
`sole sections 32 and 34 are cemented together, a smooth
`from the rear or heel
`upper platform 74 is provided
`portion of the sole structure to the toe tip 70. That is, the
`upper surfaces of the midsole sections 32 and 34 merge
`into the surface 52 of the ball section 44 of the
`smoothly
`outsole, and the front edge of the midsole toe section 32
`into the upper surface of the toe sec-
`merges smoothly
`tion 42 of the outsole.
`As shown in FIG. 3A, the slots 50, which traverse the
`ball section 44 of the outsole, define three major bar
`treads 76 that extend across the ball of the sole struc-
`ture. These bars are in turn provided with several small
`
`the trac-
`ridges 78 on their lower surfaces to maximize
`tion afforded by the bars. The ridges 78, because they
`in cross-section measured
`from
`are relatively narrow
`front to rear, are quite flexible so as to provide an added
`cushioning effect at the ball area to reduce shock upon
`desirable because of the
`impact. This is particularly
`absence of a foam insole at the ball area. The bars 80,
`which are provided at the heel and toe sections 40 and
`42 of the outsole, do not include the ridges 78, as those
`10 areas are provided with the cushion midsole. The very
`end of the toe section 42 adjacent edge 70 is provided
`ribs 84 which are of very limited height
`with transverse
`so as to reduce friction in that area.
`To reduce the weight of the sole structure, additional
`slots 90 are formed in the ball section 44 of the outsole
`and are positioned between or out of alignment with the
`from the lower surface.
`slots 50 that extend upwardly
`the upper ends of the
`The slots 90 vertically overlap
`in FIG. 2A, terminate short of
`slots 50 and, as shown
`the side edges of the outsole so as not to weaken the ball
`section 44.
`in FIGS. 5
`The embodiment of the invention shown
`in FIGS. 2 to 4, princi-
`and 6 differs from that shown
`in the configuration of the tread of the outsole.
`pally
`With the exception of the front and rear portions 100
`and 102 of the tread 104, the tread is uniform
`through-
`out the bottom surface of the outsole and is composed
`of a number of longitudinally
`extending rows 106 which
`30 in section define a saw-tooth 108 configuration
`as
`in FIGS. 5 and 6. The rows 106 are relatively
`shown
`1 inch or less
`in
`narrow, preferable
`approximately
`width, and each tooth 108 defines an isosceles triangle.
`The teeth 108 in adjacent rows 106 are shown in FIGS.
`35 5, SA and 6 to be 180 degrees out of phase with one
`another so as to maintain uniform flexibility throughout
`the outsole over the major tread area, with the excep-
`tion of the increased flexibility provided
`in the outsole
`teeth 108 in
`slots 50. The triangular
`by the transverse
`40 adjacent rows 106 may be provided with thin ridges 110
`on one of their inclined faces 112 and 114. The stag-
`gered relationship of the teeth 108 provides small pock-
`ets at the base of the teeth which create a suction action
`load so as to in-
`the teeth are deformed under
`when
`45 crease the gripping action of the tread. To reduce fric-
`in the regions 100 and
`tion, the teeth are not provided
`102 of the tread, but rather shallow cross-bars are pro-
`vided to reduce friction.
`In FIGS. 5 and 6, a slightly different strut arrange-
`in slots 50. While in the embodiment of
`gp ment is shown
`FIGS. 2 to 4 three struts 54 are shown to bridge each
`slot at the top and each strut is flat at the bottom, the
`struts 116 in the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 are round
`at the bottom and are staggered from one slot to another
`the
`three struts while
`slots contain
`55 so that alternate
`relationship, while
`others contain two. This staggered
`strength at the ball section,
`the increased
`providing
`increases the flexibility.
`somewhat
`those
`in detail,
`invention
`Having described
`this
`that numerous modifi-
`60 skilled in the art will appreciate
`cations that have been made in this invention without
`from its spirit. Therefore,
`it is not intended
`departing
`that the breadth of this invention be limited to the spe-
`illustrated and described. Rather, the
`cific embodiments
`65 scope of the invention
`is to be determined by the ap-
`pended claims and their equivalents.
`What is claimed is:
`1. An article of footwear comprising:
`
`Patent Owner Reebox International Limited
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`

`

`from the toe region to the heel
`an outsole extending
`region and and having a section extending over the
`the ball of the foot and across
`region underlying
`the full width of the sole structure,
`said section
`thicker than the remainder of the
`being appreciably
`outsole,
`a plurality of parallel
`the section
`traversing
`slots
`across the full width of the outsole and extending
`from the bottom surface to just short of 10
`upwardly
`the top surface thereof to form hinges in the outsole
`to make the section underlying
`the ball region very
`flexible so that it can bend easily, and
`the outsole at the
`separate midsole pieces overlying
`toe and heel regions.
`2. An article of footwear as defined in claim 1 further
`characterized by the section of the outsole underlying
`the ball region being about three times the thickness of
`the remainder of the outsole.
`3. An article of footwear as defined
`in claim 2 further
`characterized by the portions of the outsole lying for-
`wardly and rearwardly of the section underlying
`the
`ball region each being of substantially
`thick-
`uniform
`ness.
`4. An article of footwear as defined in claim 2 further
`characterized by the thickness of the outsole above each
`of the slots being no greater
`than the thickness of the
`outsole at the toe and heel regions so that the outsole is 30
`
`20
`
`at least as flexible at the ball section as in the other
`sections of the outsole.
`5. An article of footwear as defined in claim 1 further
`characterized by the midsole piece at the toe region
`increasing
`in thickness rearwardly and a wedge member
`the outsole and midsole piece at the
`disposed between
`heel region.
`6. An article of footwear as defined in claim 1 further
`in the bottom surface of the
`comprising a tread formed
`outsole to provide
`traction, said tread com-
`increased
`prising an array of longitudinal
`rows of saw-tooth cleats
`in the lower surface of the outsole and extend-
`formed
`ing from the heel to the toe regions, said teeth in adja-
`cent rows being out of phase with one another.
`7. An article of footwear as defined in claim 1 further
`comprising a tread formed in the bottom surface of the
`outsole to provide increased traction, said tread includ-
`ing a plurality of spaced parallel bars in the lower sur-
`face of the outsole, which bars traverse the outsole from
`the inner to the outer edge thereof.
`8. An article of footwear as defined in claim 1 further
`characterized by said section extending over approxi-
`i4 to 1/5 the total length of the outsole.
`mately
`9. An article of footwear as defined in claim 1 further
`comprising:
`a plurality of transverse
`from the
`ridges protruding
`bottom surface of said outsole between the parallel
`the cushioning effect of said
`slots for increasing
`section.
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`Patent Owner Reebox International Limited
`Exhibit 2018 - Page 6 of 6
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