Noise reducing footwear

Abstract

The present invention is drawn generally to footwear, and more specifically, to footwear having reduced noise and impact characteristics. According to the invention noise generated by the impact of the footfall when in contact with hard floors is reduced by an outer sole with certain hardness and a sound reducing insole which comprising a material of high indentation forced deflection (IFD) weight having a minimum thickness of ¼ to a maximum ¾ inch, and an optimal thickness of about ½ inch. Also, the footwear comprises an upper portion attached to the outer sole to provide comfort and foot protection.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The disclosed invention claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e)(1) of provisional application Ser. No. 61 / 838,848, filed on Jun. 24, 2013, the entire specification of which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention is drawn generally to footwear, and more specifically, to footwear having reduced noise and impact characteristics when walking on hard floors.[0004]2. Background Art[0005]Noise reducing footwear has been proposed for some time and especially for use to reduce noise outdoors. There are several kinds of noise reduction footwear used for outdoorsmen. The general idea is to use sound absorbing materials as a bottom sole of the footwear, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,418 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,1686,43. However, no such footwear has been proposed for use in an indoor casual or recreational environment having this function. The noi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a type of footwear that reduces noise and impact when walking or running on hard floors like tiled or wood. It's achieved through a special outsole with a specific hardness and a sound-reducing insole made of a material with high weight and density. The footwear has a comfortable and protective upper portion. Overall, this invention aims to offer a more comfortable and efficient experience while walking or running on hard floors.

Problems solved by technology

However, no such footwear has been proposed for use in an indoor casual or recreational environment having this function.

Also known are footwear intended for use in a casual or recreational environment, such as slipper socks described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,585, which discloses a combination of sock and a rubber sole, for providing comfort and foot protection, but not addressing the problem of noise reduction.

The thickness requirement in this disclosure is limited by the special use of the material for use in a ballet shoe.

In addition, there is a review article, entitled “The Use of Viscoelastic Materials in Shoes and Insoles,” which discloses in theory using viscoelastic materials in shoes and insoles for shock absorption and discloses that “[v]ery compliant foams tend to ‘bottom out’ at moderate loads, unless a considerable thickness is used, which is seldom practical”.

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