FLEXIBILITY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is related to shoes and more particularly is directed towards an improved shoe sole having a plurality of grooves in the frontal portion to facilitate flexing about the ball of the wearer's foot when walking or running.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The sole of the foot includes four basic regions. These are, in order from back to front: the heel region; the arch region; the ball-of-foot region; and the toe region. The heel region and the ball-of-foot region are those regions which are indicated predominantly in sharing the wearer's weight when walking or running.

[0003] In the design and construction of shoe soles, cushioning, traction, durability lightweightness and flexibility are important considerations. It is desirable to have a walking or running shoe which will facilitate greater flexibility about the ball of a wearer's foot when walking or running while still combining traditional features .

[0004] In use, shoes are of such construction and design that they may not readlily bend in the ball of foot region. The impact of the forces generated by running or walking is less on the wearer if the shoe can provide improved flexibility. The sole of a running shoe typically includes several layers, including resilient, energy-absorbent material generally referred to as the midsole and the ground-contacting outer sole or outsole, to provide a broad stable base to support balance during ground contact and usage .

[0005] Some prior shoe constructions use a softer, more resilient material, or incorporate gel or fluid filled pads or bladders in the midsole of the shoe. These designs may not provide greater flexibility in the frontal portion where the ball of the foot rests, particularly when the foot rocks forward, from the rear portion to the frontal portion upon heel strike to forefoot stance.

[0006] The present invention is believed to improve flexibility while retaining the benefits identified above by providing a shoe construction with frontalIy placed grooves that facilitate flexing about the ball of a wearer' s foot when walking or running, improving the range of motion and flexibility to the frontal portion of the shoe .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention relates to a shoe with an outer sole and a midsole which form a combined sole with a frontal portion. The frontal portion has a plurality of latitudinal grooves disposed across the width of the combined sole. At least one of these grooves has an apex recessed within the midsole which also traverses the entire gauge of the outer sole.

[0008] The depths of these grooves within the midsole can vary. For example, the depth can be less than, the same as, or greater than the gauge or thickness of the outer sole. The grooves can also be spaced apart at equal intervals at all points. Moreover, at least one of the grooves can taper to the apex such that the opening towards the outer sole is wider in dimension than the apex.

[0009] In another embodiment, the frontal portion's angle of inclination relative to the ground can progressively increase in dimension towards the toe portion, allowing for a rocking motion upon heel strike to forefoot stance when walking or running. [00010] Other embodiments can also have channels which form part of the outer sole, such channels running through the frontal portion of the combined sole and intersecting the grooves. These channels can extend through any length of the sole and be substantially across the entire longitudinal axis of the shoe.

[00011] These and other features of the invention, including various embodiments thereof, will be more fully described with reference to the following drawings and detailed description of the invention. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

DRAWINGS

[00012] FIGURE 1 is a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the shoe sole of the present invention;

[00013] FIGURE 2 is a right side elevational view of the shoe sole of FIGURE 1;

[00014] FIGURE 3 is a left side elevational view of the shoe sole of FIGURE 1; [00015] FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the toe portion and frontal portion of the shoe depicted in FIGURE 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[00016] While the present invention will be described in terms of the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention to that specific embodiment. The present invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims herein. Although the description of the present invention is directed toward athletic shoes used for running, and walking, it is understood that the present invention can be incorporated in many other types of foot coverings such as boots, hiking shoes, and sandals.

[00017] As used in the drawings, like reference numerals represent identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views of Figures 1 through 3. The shoe of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 5. The frontal portion, where the ball-of-foot is generally situated, is indicated by reference numeral 6. The rear portion, where the heel of the foot is situated, is indicated generally by reference numeral 7. The toe portion, where the toes are generally situated, is indicated by reference numeral 8. The upper 4, used in conjunction with the present invention may be any shoe upper now or hereafter known and used in the art .

[00018] Referring to FIGURE 1, a bottom view of a preferred embodiment of the shoe sole of the present invention, is depicted. The frontal portion 6 of the shoe 5 comprises a plurality of grooves 13a, 13b, 13c. These grooves are latitudinal and can be of any generally side- to- side orientation but are preferred to be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoe. The grooves 13a, 13b, 13c, are disposed across the width of the frontal portion 6 of the shoe 5, such as from one end (the left or the right side) to the other end (the right or the left side) of the shoe 5.

[00019] Referring to FIGURES 2 and 3, the shoe 5 includes a midsole 9 and an outer sole 10. The midsole 9 and the outer sole 10 are secured or affixed to each other in any conventional manner now or hereafter known in the art . The midsole 9 and outer sole 10 comprise the combined sole 20. The midsole 9 generally includes a peripheral surface 11, an inner surface 12 , and a top surface 14. The top surface 14 of the midsole 9 is designed to be secured in any conventional fashion to an upper 4, which receives the foot of the wearer.

[00020] The midsole 9 can be made of conventional materials such as blown plastic foam such as, by way of example but without limitation, polyurethane foam or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) . The outer sole 10 can be made of conventional materials such as, by way of example but without limitation, rubber.

[00021] The inner surface 12 of the midsole 9 extends inward from the outer portion 15 of the outer sole 10 through the depth of the midsole 9, forming each groove 13a, 13b, 13c. Each of the grooves 13a, 13b, 13c has an apex 16 recessed within the midsole 9 and traversing the entire gauge, or thickness, of the outer sole 10. The apex 16 is the deepest portion of the groove 13a, 13b, or 13c, and can be flat, linear, pointed, rounded or any other type of geometric terminus.

[00022] In various embodiments, the measurement of the dimension of the depth of at least one of the grooves 13a, 13b, or 13c within the midsole 9 can be the same as the gauge of the outer sole 10, greater than the gauge of the outer sole 10, or less than the gauge of the outer sole 10. [00023] In an alternative embodiment, the groove does not extend into the midsole 9 and the shoe 5 can have a thick outer sole 10, within which the entire depth of the grooves 13a, 13b, 13c is contained having them recessed solely within the outer sole 10.

[00024] Referring to FIGURE 4, the frontal portion 6 of the combined sole 20 angles upwards, allowing for a rocking motion upon heel strike to forefoot stance when walking or running. The angle (θ) of inclination of this combined sole 20 relative to the ground, progressively increases in dimension 30, 31, 32, 33 from the frontal portion 6 towards the toe portion 8.

[00025] In FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, the three grooves 13a, 13b, 13c extend or are disposed across the width of the combined sole 20 in the frontal portion 6 of the combined sole 20. While the preferred embodiment comprises three groves 13a, 13b, 13c, there can be differing numbers of grooves and there can be at least one groove which has a depth which varies from the depth of any other groove, latitudinally disposed through the frontal portion 6 of the combined sole 20. The grooves 13a, 13b, 13c are preferably spaced apart at substantially equal intervals at all points, and are continuous, with no breaks or interruptions within its opening, as can be seen in FIGURE 1. Each groove 13a, 13b, 13c also preferably tapers to the apex 16 such that the opening to the groove is wider at the outer sole 10, than it is at the apex as can be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. It is believed that these grooves 13a, 13b, 13c allow the midsole 9 and cooperating outer sole 17 to flex more easily.

[00026] In an alternative embodiment, the grooves 13a, 13b, 13c can be filled in whole or in part with other material such as, by way of example but without limitation, EVA, polyurethane, solid gel material, or shock-absorbing, resilient material to balance or adjust the flexibility imparted by the grooves 13a, 13b, 13c when walking or running.

[00027] The incorporation of grooves 13a, 13b, 13c and their orientation and location, such as depicted in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, provide flexibility to the frontal portion 6 of the combined sole 20 when walking or running. The presence of these grooves 13a, 13b, 13c and their orientation and location improve the range of motion by providing greater flexibility in the frontal portion 6 during motion from ground contact upon heel strike to forefoot stance. When the outer sole 10 contacts the ground, as the foot rocks forward, from the rear portion 7 to the frontal portion 6 upon heel strike to forefoot stance when running or walking, the presence of the grooves 13a, 13b _# 13c allows easier flexing and bending with less effort. As the frontal portion 6 of the shoe contacts the ground and flexes, the grooves 13a _# 13b, 13c will facilitate flexing about the ball of the wearer's foot. This is believed to reduce strain on the foot and leg of the wearer.

[00028] The shoe construction of the present invention is believed to also aid in traction when the outer sole 10 strikes a wet ground surface. The pressure during use created between the ground and the outer sole edges 17 force the liquid into the grooves 13a, 13b, 13c which then create a less wet surface by conducting the liquid to the perimeter away from the outer sole 10. The ground is left drier allowing the outer sole 10 and its treads to more effectively grab the ground surface.

[00029] In alternative embodiments, such as depicted in FIGURE 1, there are channels 16 which form part of the outer sole 10. These channels 16 run through the frontal portion 6 of the shoe 5, intersecting the grooves 13a, 13b, 13c. These channels 16 can extend through some portion, a substantial portion, or through the entire longitudinal axis of the shoe. These channels 16 also can assist in added flexibility and traction. [00030] This disclosure is illustrative only, and changes can be made, while remaining within the principle of the invention.