Footwear with integrated energy wave sockliner

Abstract

A shoe assembly is designed to enable unhindered natural foot motion between the foot and the ground. The shoe assembly includes an integrated anatomically shaped sockliner and outsole. The sockliner includes a top face and a bottom face, each having a generally planar surface, extending along a base plane. On the top face of the sockliner, a plurality of grooves extend across the base plane in a generally undulating pattern for engagement with the sole of the foot. The bottom face of the sockliner may include a plurality of alternating ridges and / or valleys extending from the inside to the outside of the foot in a generally undulating pattern for engagement with the outsole. A strobel insole of encapsulated high resiliency foam may be positioned between the sockliner and the outsole. An optional midfoot support element may be positioned between the insole and outsole to control tortional stiffness.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This non-provisional application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 484,379, titled FOOTWEAR PROMOTING NATURAL MOTION, filed May 31, 2012, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 491,570, titled ENERGY WAVE SOCKLINER, filed Jun. 7, 2012. This application incorporates by reference all of the disclosures therein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to the construction of a shoe, and, more particularly, to a shoe assembly which provides improved comfort and which promotes a natural motion of the foot by simulating a barefoot experience, and by allowing better flexibility, improved ground contact and less weight.[0003]Shoes, at their most fundamental level, are intended to provide protection and comfort to the human foot during the course of day-to-day activities. Shoe designs have varied greatly over time as well as from culture to culture, with th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a shoe assembly that allows for natural foot motion and reduced weight. It includes a shoe with a cupped heel, contoured arch, and a radiused forepart. The shoe has an integrated sockliner with a raised area under the medial arch and a recessed area under the heel. The sockliner is made of a base foam and has perimeter edges that attach to the shoe. The outsole is made of rubber or polyurethane and has hardness in the range of 45A to 75A on a Shore A scale. The shoe assembly improves distribution of pressure, comfort, and stimulates the foot through more natural motion. It also reduces peak heel pressure during heel impact. The optional midfoot support element helps control torsional stiffness. The integrated sockliner is designed to reflect the natural contours of the human foot. The shoe assembly is more resistant to bottoming out and provides better support and comfort.

Problems solved by technology

However, these designs usually lose their effectiveness over the course of a day, as they become increasingly compressed.

In some cases, prolonged use may result in increasing discomfort as the cushioning becomes less effective.

However, there are many problems with such “barefoot” running shoes, and their “fingers.” The lack of cushioning and protection underfoot, combined with encouragement to users that they land on their forefoot (rather than their heels) increases the impact force and potential discomfort experienced by the wearer.

Further, the radical design is a turn-off to many mainstream consumers, which limits the end use and wearing occasions.

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