Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SPC'CIFICATION
BRIEF B;~C~GROUND, rIELD AND OE~JFCTIVE~-
OF THE I NVENT~: ON
~ his in~ention relates to improvements in
interchangeabl~ ir,serts for the midsole of shoes. In
particular, to shoes suitable for use by athletes and runners
and wlth res~ect to which the cushioning of the midsole may
ke interchangeably varied according to weather conditions,
the terrain, or other personal characteristics that the
wearer considers to be appropriate.
I am aware that others have provided different
types of midsole inserts for varying the resilience of the
m~dsole o running shoes. For instance, in Patents Nos.
~,573,279 and 4,624,061 there are provided various multi-part
inserts in which the parts are cooperatively interlocked with
each other in order to maintain the insert within the
midsole; and as shown by Patent No. 4,817,304 in which is
provided a fluid filled insert for which it is apparently
expected that frictional engagement will secure the insert
within the midsole.
;
~ he conventional running shoe is provided with a
padded sole, to soften the jarring to the body a~ cau~ed by
the repeated thumping of the feet against the ground. Since
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personal characteri~tics will change from wearer to wearer
and the shoes will be worn under various weather conditions
and will be used on differing~terrain, it is apDarent that a
sole of a given cus~.ioning may not be generallv acceptable
under all conditions of use.
~ hus, the primary object of this invention is the
provision of interchangeable inserts for the midsole of shoes
whereb~ the wearer ~ay customize the cushior.ing thereof to
suit individual needs.
A further object is the provision of a midsole
system for running shoes in which the wearer may vary the
resilience of the midsole by use of selectively
in~erchangeable inserts whereby to compensate for
overpronation or supination, which is a characteristic
~tendency that is typical to most runners and which leads no_
~only to discomfort, but also to injury.
Another object of the invention is the provision of
interchangeable inserts for the midsole of shoes and in which
the insert is configured to provide greater support for the
foot on the inside edge of the sole.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description,
t~en in connection with the accompanying drawings, and in
which drawings:
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Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe in which an
interchangeable insert according to my invention is
interfitted with~n the midsole thereof.
Fig. 2 is an exploded fragmentarv perspective view
of a midsole inc'uding an interchangeable insert according to
a preferre~ embcdiment of th~ invention.
Fiq. 3 is a top plan view of the midsole of Fig. 2
at the initial stage of interfitting an insert therewithin.
Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view as ta~en
substantiall~ along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a top plan view showir.g the insert of
Fig. 2 at approximately the midpoint of interfitting of the
same within the midsole.
Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken
sub-~tantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a top plan view showing the insert of
Fig. 2 as removably attached fully within the midsole.
. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view ta~en
substantially àlong the lines 8-8 of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view similar to
Fig. 2 and showing a modified embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view similar to
Fig. 2 and showing a still further modlfied embodiment of the
invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the drawings, wherein are shown a Dreferred and
modifie~ embodiments of my invention, and wherein similar
reference charactezs desi~nate correspondinq parts throughout
the several views, the letter A may qenerally designate a
shoe having a midsole B within which an insert C mav be
interchanseably received.
Shoe A mav inciude an upper 15 which mav be
provided with an insole 16 and stabilizer 17, as attached in
a conventional manner to midsole ~.
As shown in Figs. 2-8, midsole B may comprise a
main body portion 20 having a toe portion 21 and a heel
:portion 22. Heel portion 22 may have an inside edge 23 and
an outside edge 24, and is provided with transverse channel
means 26 which extends fully across the width thereof from
the in~ide edge 23 to the outside edge 24 thereof.
Transverse channel means 26 is preferably tapered
from one side edge of heel portion 22 to the other side edge
thereof, having side walls 30 and 31 which preferably define
an end of narrow width at the inside edge 23 of heel portion
22 and which therefrom diverge outwardly and define an end of
substantially greater width at the outside edge 24 of heel
portion 22. Transverse channel means 26 may alQo include
partition means 33 and 34 for dividing transverse channel
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means 26 into a plurality of passageways 35, 36 and 37 which
extend transversely across heel portion 22.
Partition ~eans 33 and 34 may be of triangular
configuration, each having an ape~ 40 which is spaced
ir.wardly CrGm insi2e edqe 23 of heel portion 22 whereby the
end of channel means 26 of narrow width has an entry portion
41 which i3 unencumbered thereacross by way of facilitating
the initial inter'itting of insert C therewithin, as will be
-~ubsesuently described.
Partition means 33 may be provided with side walls
44 and 45 which diverge from apex 40 thereof to adjacent
outside edge 24 of heel portion 22; and partition means 34
may be provided with side walls 46 and 47 which divergently
extend from ap~Y 40 thereof to adjacent outside ea~e 24 of
heel portion 22. Side wall 44 of partition means 33 is
~pre~erable substantially parallel to side wall 30 of
transverse channel means 26, defining therebetween passageway
35; s$~e wall 45 of partition means 33 is preferably
substantially parallel to side wall 46 of partition means 34,
defining therebetween passageway 36 of channel means 26; and
side wall 47 of partition means 34 is preferably
substantially parallel to side wall 31 of transverse channel
means 26, defining therebetween passageway 37 of channel
means 26.
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Insert C preferably comprises plu~ means 50 havinq
a tapered body Dortion 51 which may be of a bi'urcate~
con iquration havir.~ ~ron~ me~ans 54, 55 and ;6 which each
extend from first en2 means 58 thereof to respective head
~ortions 60, 61 and 6~ which define a second end means 63 of
plug means 50. ~nd means 58 and 63 may be respectively
provided with flanqe means 66 and 67 for purposes as will be
subsequentlv described. Pronq means 54, 55 and 56 are
preferably confi~ured to e~tend from end means 58 in
ju~tarelation so that head portions 60, 61 and 62 thereo~ mav
be laterallv compre~sed together for insertion within
unencumbered portion 41 of transverse channel means 26 (as
shown in Figs. 3 and 4). Prong means 54 is disposed to
interfit within passageway 35 of transverse channel means 26;
~,prong means 55 is disposed to interfit within passaqeway 36
'~'of transverse channel means 26; and pronq means 56 is
disposed to interfit within passaqeway 37 of transverse
channel means 26.
As Qhown in Figs. 5 and 6, on further insertion of
plug mean~ 50 into transverse channel means 26 from
unencumbered portion 41 thereof, pronq means 54 may be
slidably inserted through passageway 35; ~rong means 55 may
be slidably inserted through passageway 36; and prong means
56 may be ~lidably inserted through passageway 37.
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As shown in Fi~s. 7 and 8, when plu~ means 50 is
fully inserted within transverse channel means 26, flan~e
means 66 of first end means S8 of plua means 50 abuts aqains_
inside edse 23 of heel portion 2~ and flange means fi7 of
second end means 63 Oc head portions 60, 61 and 6~ of prol~
means 54, 55 and S6 res~ectively abut against outside edqe 24
o heel portion 22.
In order to remove insert C from midsole B,
pressuxe ma-~ be e~erted aqainst head portions 60, 61 and 62
in a manner such that each is at least sliqhtlv pushed into
respective passageways 35, 36 and 37, whereupon end means 5
may be grasped and insert C pulled out and removed from
midsole B.
Tapered body portion 51 of plug means 50 is
.~preferably of a material different from that of midsole B.
~For instance, main body portion 20 of midsole B mav be
comprised of a midsole havinq a Shore hardness of 30 and plug
. means 50 may be comprised of a body portion 51 havinq a Shore
hardness of from 35 to 55.
Under usual circumstances of use, insert C will be
made of a harder and/or denser material than is midsole a,
for addin~ increased firmness and suDport. Of course, it is
within the scope of this invention to construct insert C of a
material which i9 softer and less dense than that of midsole
B, should -quch need arise for some reason or situation which
is not presently apparent.
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In the ~mbodiment of Fig. 9, midsole B' thereof maycomprise a main body portion 20' having a toe portion 21' and
a heel portion 22'. Heel portion 22' may have an insi~e ed~e
23' and an outside edse 24', and is provided with ~ransverse
channel means 25' which extends fully across the width
thereof from the inside edge 23' to the outside edge 24'
thereof.
Transverse channel means 26' is preferably taDered
from one side edge of heel portion 22' to the other side edge
thereof, havir.g side walls 30' and 31' which preferably
define an end of naxrow width at the inside edge 23' of heel
portion 22' and which therefrom diverge outwardly and define
an end of substantially greater width at the outside edge 24'
of heel portion 22'. Transverse channel means 26' may also
include partition means 70 for dividing transverse channel
means 26' into a plurality of passageways 72 and 73 which
~extend transversely across heel portion 22'.
Partition means 70 may be of a truncated triangular
configuration having an apex 75 which is spaced inwardly from
inside edge 23' of heel portion 22' whereby the end of
channel means 26' of narrow width has an entry portion 41'
which is unencumbered thereacross by way of facilitating the
initial interfitting of insert C' therewithin, as will be
subsequently described.
Partition means 70 may be pr~vided with side walls
77 and 78 which diverge from apex 75 thereof to ad~acent
outside edge 24' of heel portion 22'~ Side wall 77 of
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partition means 70 is preferably substantially parallel to
side wall 30' of transverse channel means 26', ~efinin~
therebe ween passaseway 72; and side wall 78 of partition
means 7G is preferably substantiallv parallel to side wall
31' of transverse channel means 26', defining therebetween
passage~ay 73.
Insert C' of the embodiment of Fig. 9 preferably
com~rise~ plug ~eans 50', a tapered body portion 51' which
may be of a bifurcated configuration having pror.g means 83
and 84 which each extend from first end means 58' thereof to
respective head portions 86 and 87 which define a second end
means 63' of plug means 50'. End means 58' and 63' may be
respectiveiy provided with flange means 66' and 67' which
serve the same purposes as previously described with respect
to flange means 66 and 67 of insert C. Prong means 83 and 84
are preferably configured to extend from end means 58' in
juxtarelation so that head portions 86 and 87 thereof may be
laterally compressed together for insertion with~n-
unencumbered portion 41' of transverse channel means 26'.
Prong means 83 19 disposed to lnterflt wlthln passageway 72
of transverse channel means 26'; and prong means 84 is
disposed to interfit within passageway 73 of transverse
channel means 26'.
Insert C' may be inserted within and removed from
transverse channel means 26' of midsole B' in the same manner
as previously described in connection with the embodiment as
shown in Figs. 2-8.
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In the embodiment of Fig. 10, midsole B'' thereof
may comprise a main body portion 20'' having a toe portion
21'' and a heel portion 22''.~ Heel portion 22'' may ha.~e an
inside.edge 23'' and an outside edse 24'', and is provided
with transverse channel means 26'' which extends fully across
the width thereof from the inside edge 23'' to the outside
edge 24'' thereof.
Transverse channel means 26'' is preferably tapered
from one side edge of heel portion 22'' to the other side
edge thereo , having side walls 30'' and 31'' which
preferably define an end of narrow width at the inside edge
23'' of heel portion 22'' and which therefrom diver~e
outwardly and define an en~ of substantially greater width at
the outside edge 24'' of heel portion 22''. Transverse
channel means 26'' may also include partition means 90 for
~dividing transverse channel means 26'' into a plurality of
passageways 92 and 93 which extend transversely across heel
portion 22''.
Partition means 90 may be of a triangular
configuration having an apex 95 which is spaced inwardly from
inside edge 23'' of heel portion 22 " whereby the end of
channel means 26'' of narrow width has an entry portion 41''
which is unencumbered thereacross by way of facilitating the
initial interfitting of insert C " therewithin, as will be
subsequently described.
Partition means 90 may be provided with side walls
97 and 98 which diverge from apex 95 thereof to adjacent
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outside edge 24'' of heel portion 22''. Side wall 97 of
partition means 90 is preferably substantially parallel to
side wall 10'' of transverse channel means 26'', defining
therebetw~en passageway 92; and side wall 98 of partition
means 9C is preferably substantially parallel to side wall
31'' of transverse channel means 26'', defining therebetween
passageway 93.
Insert C'' of the embodiment of Fig. 10 preferably
comprises plug mear.s 50'', a tapered body portion 51'' which
may be Or a bifurcate2 configuration having prong means 103
and 104 wkich each extend from first end mèans 58'' thereof
to respective head portions 106 and 107 which define a second
end means 63'' of pluq means 50''. End means 58'' and 63''
may be respectively provided with flange means 66'' and 67''
which serve the same purposes as previously described with
Lrespect to flange means 66 and 67 of insert C. Prong means
103 and 104 are preferably configured to extend from end
means 58'' in juxtarelation 90 that head portions 106 and 107
thereof may be laterally compressed together for insertion
within unencumbered portion 41'' of transverse channel means
26''. Prong means 103 is disposed to interfit within
pa~sageway 92 of transverse channel means 26''; and prong
means 104 is disposed to interfit within passageway 93 of
transverse channel means 26''.
~ nsert C " may be inserted within and removed from
transverse channel means 26'' of midsole B'' in the same
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manner as previously described in connection with the
embodiment as shown in Figs. 2-8.
It is obvious that ~midsole ~ mav be provided ~ith
an undivided channel means 26, in which event insert c would
be of a one-piece truncated triangular configuration. In
this form, insert C would have to be inserted in midsole
from side 24 toward side 23 thereof.
Various changes may be made to the forms of the
invention as herein shown and described without departing
from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the
following claims.
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