Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPORTING FOOTWEAR AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCING FORCE TRANSFER
Field of the invention:
The present invention relates to footwear for sports or activities. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a sporting footwear and to a
system
for enhancing a force transfer, from a foot of a wearer of the footwear, to a
playing
surface.
Background of the invention:
In the field of footwear, especially in high-performance sports, it is often
desirous to optimize certain parameters of the footwear so as to improve the
performance of the user or athlete. Some of these parameters include the
weight
of the footwear, its engagement with the ground or floor, its breathability,
etc.
Another such parameter is the effectiveness of the footwear in transferring
the
force exerted by the foot to the ground on which the footwear is used.
It is known that the amount of force a foot applies to the ground can affect
the speed at which the user moves, or the height the user can jump, for
example.
In the field of sprinting, as but one example, the force applied by the user's
foot
can significantly affect the time it takes for a sprinter to exit the starting
blocks. In
the field of ice hockey, as another example, the force applied by the user's
feet
contained in a hockey skate can affect the speed at which the user moves on
the
ice.
Some examples of footwear can be found in the following US patents:
8,112,905; 7,827,707; 7,343,701; 7,254,904; 7,140,127; 6,895,694; 6,746,027;
6,505,422; 6,082,027; 6,029,374; 5,740,618; 5,701,686; 5,343,636; 5,129,165;
5,111,597; 5,090,138; 5,074,060; 4,901,453; 4,822,363; 4,428,089; 4,120,064;
4,026,046; 3,325,919; 3,165,841; 2,810,214; 2,210,304; 1,996,083; 1,744,122;
and 979,243.
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Other examples of footwear can be found in the following Canadian patent
documents and/or industrial designs: 2,292,996; 2,205,388; 327,201; 300,838;
and
273,845.
Consider further the example of a hockey skate. Modern hockey skates are
typically hard-shell structures. This is beneficial because hard-shell hockey
skates
protect the user's foot from impact with sticks, the puck, and other skates,
and
reinforce the user's foot and ankle. However, hockey skates which are hard-
shell
do not effectively respond to the movements of the user's foot within the
skate
itself.
In a typical skating stride, both the user's foot and the end of the user's
foot
(i.e. the balls of the foot and the toes) contribute to propelling the user
forward. As
the user's foot reaches the end of her/his stride, the end of the foot applies
the
majority of the pressure to the sole of the skate, thereby providing an
additional
propulsive force to move the user forward. Most rigid hockey skates have
excess
space or "wiggle room" between the top of the foot and the inside of the upper
of
the skate boot, which is not optimal to the use of the hockey skate.
Hence, in light of the aforementioned, there is a need for a device which, by
virtue of its design and components, would be able to overcome or at least
minimize some of the aforementioned prior art drawbacks.
Summary of the invention:
One object of the present invention is to provide a solution to at least one
of
the above-mentioned prior art drawbacks.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
sporting footwear for enhancing a force transfer, from a foot of a wearer of
the
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sporting footwear, to a playing surface on which the sporting footwear is
used, the
sporting footwear comprising:
a shell comprising a heel portion, and opposite sole and upper portions, for
receiving and at least partially enclosing the foot of the wearer upon
insertion into
the shell; and
a force-transferring member comprising opposite first and second contact
surfaces, the first contact surface being fixedly connectable to an inner side
of the
upper portion, and the second contact surface configured for abutting against
at
least a part of the top of the wearer's foot when inserted into the shell, the
force-
transferring member being positioned, shaped and sized within the shell so as
to fill
a void between the top of the wearer's toes and the inner side of the upper
portion
of the sporting footwear, thereby enabling an increased operative contact
surface
within the sporting footwear between toes and shell, so as to enhance force
transfer
between said foot and shell, and onto the playing surface.
In some optional embodiments, the force-transferring member can take
many different shapes and configurations on the top of the foot, and can also
be
located on different parts of the foot. Moreover, there can be more than one
force-
transferring member, such as a force-transferring member for each toe, for
example. Alternatively, a single force-transferring member may cover and/or
wrap
around all the toes. The force-transferring member can be made of multiple
materials such as, but not limited to, gels, foam, air packs, rubber, cork,
etc.
Moreover, the force-transferring member can consist of individual loops for
housing
the toes. The force-transferring member may include a breathing mechanism,
such
as aeration holes disposed about the force-transferring member, so as to
aerate the
foot.
In other possible embodiments, the force-transferring member is an insert
which can be inserted into the footwear along with the foot, and which may be
connected to the footwear by any suitable technique. The insert may be molded
so
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as to contour to that part of the wearer's foot covered by the force-
transferring
member, thereby providing an efficient fit.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
system for enhancing a force transfer, from a foot of a wearer to a playing
surface,
the system comprising:
a footwear for receiving and at least partially enclosing the foot of the
wearer
upon being inserted therein, the footwear comprising a heel portion, and
opposite
sole and upper portions; and
a removable force-transferring member comprising opposite first and second
contact surfaces, the first contact surface being removably mountable to an
inner
side of the upper portion of the footwear such that the second contact surface
is
configured for abutting against at least a part of the top of the wearer's
foot when
inserted into the footwear, the force-transferring member being positioned,
shaped,
and sized within the footwear so as to fill a void between the top of the
wearer's
toes and the inner side of the upper portion of the footwear, thereby enabling
an
increased operative contact surface between foot and footwear, so as to
enhance
force transfer between said foot and footwear, and onto the playing surface.
Optionally, the force-transferring member is positioned within the footwear so
as to expand that part of the foot in contact with the footwear, thus
improving the
force transfer from the foot of the wearer to the footwear, and ultimately the
playing
surface. This may be achieved because the force-transferring member can
protrude
inwardly from the upper portion of the footwear towards the top of the foot,
at least
from a part of the upper portion near the toes and end of the foot. The force-
transferring member in such an embodiment is a solid (i.e. integral,
consistent,
uniform, etc.) material, which can be pre-inserted and permanently integrated
into
the upper portion of the footwear, or alternatively, provided as an insert
being sold
separately and for adding to the upper portion.
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According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
sporting footwear for enhancing a force transfer, from a foot of a wearer of
the
sporting footwear, to a playing surface on which the sporting footwear is
used, the
sporting footwear comprising:
a shell comprising a heel portion, and opposite sole and upper portions, for
receiving and at least partially enclosing the foot of the wearer upon
insertion into
the shell, and further comprising a toe box configured for enclosing the toes
of the
foot when inserted into the shell; and
a force-transferring member being integral with the toe box and comprising
opposite first and second contact surfaces, the first contact surface being
fixedly
connectable to an inner surface of the toe box, and the second contact surface
configured for abutting against at least a part of the top of the wearer's
toes when
inserted into the shell, the force-transferring member being positioned,
shaped and
sized relative to the toe box so as to fill a void between the top of the toes
and the
upper portion, thereby enabling an increased operative contact surface within
the
sporting footwear between foot and shell, so as to enhance force transfer
between
said foot and shell, and onto the playing surface.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
force-transferring member for enhancing a force transfer, from a foot of a
wearer of
a sporting footwear to a playing surface on which the sporting footwear is
used, the
sporting footwear having a shell comprising a heel portion, and opposite sole
and
upper portions, for receiving and at least partially enclosing the foot of the
wearer
upon insertion into the shell, the force-transferring member comprising a pad
having opposite first and second contact surfaces, the first contact surface
being
removably connectable to an inner side of the upper portion of the shell, and
the
second contact surface configured for abutting against at least a part of the
top of
the wearer's foot when inserted into the shell, the pad being positioned,
shaped and
sized within the shell so as to fill a void between the top of the wearer's
toes and
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the inner side of the upper portion of the sporting footwear, thereby enabling
an
increased operative contact surface within the sporting footwear between foot
and
shell, so as to enhance force transfer between said foot and shell, and onto
the
playing surface.
In so doing, the force-transferring member may provide reinforcement to at
least the end of the foot inside a hockey skate, for example, thus reducing
any
wiggling of toes or "play" within the hockey skate which does not contribute
to the
skating stride of the wearer.
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The components, advantages and other features of the sporting footwear
and system will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-
restrictive description of some optional configurations, given for the purpose
of
5 exemplification only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings:
Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a
sporting footwear provided with a force-transferring member, according to an
optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a top view of the force-transferring member of Figure 1 covering
a part of the foot, according to an optional embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a
sporting footwear provided with a force-transferring member, according to
another
optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a top view of the force-transferring member of Figure 3 covering
a part of the foot, according to an optional embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a
sporting footwear provided with a force-transferring member, according to yet
another optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a top view of the force-transferring member of Figure 5 covering
a part of the foot, according to an optional embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a
sporting footwear provided with a force-transferring member, according to yet
another optional embodiment of the present invention.
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Figure 8 is a top view of the force-transferring member of Figure 7 covering
a part of the foot, according to an optional embodiment of the present
invention.
Figure 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a
sporting footwear provided with a force-transferring member, according to yet
another optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a top view of the force-transferring member of Figure 9
covering a part of the foot, according to an optional embodiment of the
present
invention.
Figure 11 is a top view of a force-transferring member covering a part of a
wearer's foot, according to an optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 12 is a partial cross-sectional view of the force-transferring member
and the foot of Figure 11 inserted within a sporting footwear, according to an
optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a sporting footwear provided with an inflatable force-transferring member,
according to an optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 14 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a sporting footwear provided with a force-transferring member having a
resilient
plate, according to an optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 15 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a sporting footwear provided with another force-transferring member having a
resilient plate, the sporting footwear having a tightening device, according
to an
optional embodiment of the present invention.
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Figure 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a sporting footwear provided with another force-transferring member having a
resilient plate, the sporting footwear having another tightening device,
according to
an optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 17 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a sporting footwear provided with another force-transferring member having a
resilient plate, the sporting footwear having yet another tightening device,
according to an optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figures 18 to 20 are partial cross-sectional views of a wearer's foot inserted
within a sporting footwear provided with a force-transferring member, the
sporting
footwear and the foot being shown moving through various stages of a stride,
according to an optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 21 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a sporting footwear provided with a force-transferring member, according to
yet
another optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 22 is a top view of the force-transferring member of Figure 21
covering a part of the foot, according to an optional embodiment of the
present
invention.
Figure 23 is a partial cross-sectional view of a wearer's foot inserted within
a sporting footwear provided with a force-transferring member, according to
yet
another optional embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 24 is a top view of the force-transferring member of Figure 23
covering a part of the foot, according to an optional embodiment of the
present
invention.
Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention:
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In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar
elements. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to
not
unduly burden the figures with several references numbers, not all figures
contain
references to all the components and features, and references to some
components and features may be found in only one figure, and components and
features of the present invention illustrated in other figures can be easily
inferred
therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned
and/or dimensions shown in the figures are optional, and are given for
exemplification purposes only.
Furthermore, although the present invention may be used in various sports,
such as in ice hockey, for example, and as a result, is sometimes described in
the
context of the present invention for a possible use with a hockey skate, it is
understood that it may be used with other footwear, and in other sports and/or
activities. Some of these footwear include, but are not limited to, downhill
ski
boots, track-and-field shoes, running shoes, figure skates, athletic shoes,
snowboarding boots, hiking boots, etc. For this reason, expressions such as
"ice",
"hockey", "skate", "blade", etc. as used herein should not be taken as to
limit the
scope of the present invention to the sport of hockey and/or hockey skates in
particular. These expressions encompass all other kinds of materials, objects
and/or purposes with which the present invention could be used and may be
useful, as can be easily understood.
List of numerical references for some of the corresponding optional components
illustrated in the accompanying drawings:
10. sporting footwear (or simply "footwear")
12. void (or "gap")
20. force-transferring member (or simply "member")
21. bottom force-transferring member (or simply "bottom member")
22. first contact surface (or simply "first surface")
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23. side surface (of member 20)
24. second contact surface (or simply "second surface")
25. aeration hole
26. resilient plate
27. comfort layer
28. tightening device
29. inflatable membrane
29a. pump
29b. supply line
30. ringlet
50. shell
51. tongue
52. heel portion
54. sole portion
54a. inner portion (of sole portion 54)
55. upper portion
56. ice-contactable portion (e.g. "blade")
57. inner side (of upper portion 55)
58. toe box
58a. inner surface (of toe box 58)
70. foot
71. bottom (of foot 70)
72. top (of foot 70)
74. toe (of foot 70)
76. heel (of foot 70)
78. ball (of foot 70)
80. ice
Broadly described, the sporting footwear 10, an example of which is shown
in Figure 1, is an article which, in some of its configurations, enhances the
force
transfer which occurs from the foot of a wearer of the footwear, to the
playing
surface upon which the footwear is being used. The sporting footwear 10 can be
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any suitable footwear which can be worn on the foot. Some non-limiting
examples
of the sporting footwear 10 are mentioned above. The expression "enhancing a
force transfer" refers to the optimization, improvement, augmentation,
amplification, etc. of the process by which force, which is generated by the
foot of
5 the wearer during use of the footwear, is transferred, conveyed,
transmitted, etc. to
the playing surface via the sporting footwear 10. The "playing surface" can be
any
ground and/or floor surface, either indoor or outdoor, upon which activities
(e.g.
play, sport, walking, running, etc.) can be conducted with the feet of the
wearer.
Some non-limitative examples of a playing surface include ice, dirt, gravel,
grass,
10 court surface, hardwood, artificial turf, etc.
Figures 1 and 2 provide an example of such a sporting footwear 10. The
footwear 10 is used by a foot 70 of the wearer. The footwear 10 enhances a
force
applied to the playing surface by the foot 70, as explained below.
The footwear 10 includes a shell 50. The shell 50 encloses, at least
partially, the foot 70 of the wearer. The shell 50 can be substantially rigid.
The
expression "substantially rigid" means that the shell 50 is made of any
suitable
material which offers at least some stiffness or inflexibility, and which
provides a
suitable medium through which force is transferred from the foot 70. One
example
of a rigid shell 50 includes the skate boot for an ice skate. Another example
of a
rigid shell 50 includes the exterior and/or body of an athletic shoe.
The shape and configuration of the shell 50 can determine the type of
footwear 10 being used. For example, a shell 50 which encloses the foot 70 and
ankle of the wearer, but not the lower part of the wearer's leg, can form a
"shoe"-
type of footwear 10. In another example, a shell 50 which encloses all of the
foot
70 as well as the lower part of the wearer's leg, can form a skate boot for an
ice
skate, an example of which is shown in Figure 1, and such an ice skate can
have
an ice-contactable portion 56 (e.g. blade). Therefore, any suitable shape and
configuration of the shell 50 can be used. The term "enclosing" used to
describe
the shell 50 refers not only to the shell's 50 ability to surround or envelop
the foot
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70 of the wearer when it is inserted into the shell 50, but also to the
shell's 50
ability to protect the foot 70 from impacts, nicks, scratches, cuts, bruises,
or any
other interference that may originate outside of the shell 50 and affect the
foot 70
therein.
The shell 50 has components that provide it with the form needed to
enclose the foot 70. These components include a heel portion 52, which forms
the
rear of the shell 50, and extends from the heel 76 of the foot 70 and up the
back of
the leg of the wearer, or any portion thereof. Another component is a sole
portion
54, which forms the bottom of the shell 50, and which extends along the bottom
71
of the foot 70 between the heel 70 and the end of the toes 74, or any portion
thereof. Yet another component is the upper portion 55, which forms the top of
the
shell 50, and which can extend along the entire top 72 of the foot 70 from the
end
of the toes 74 to the lower portion of the wearer's leg. The upper portion 55
is
disposed opposite to the sole portion 54. In the present disclosure, the use
of the
term "opposite" to explain the relationship of the upper and sole portions
55,54
refers to the fact that the upper portion 55 is disposed along a top 72 side
of the
foot 70, while the sole portion 54 is disposed along a bottom (i.e. opposite)
side of
the foot 70.
The upper portion 55 includes an inner side 57 which is in contact with the
foot 70 upon it being inserted into the shell 50. In some optional
embodiments, the
upper portion 55 can include a tongue 51, an example of which is provided in
Figure 12, which is fixed to the inner side 57, and which extends along the
top 72
of the foot 70 from the end of the toes 74 to the front of the wearer's leg.
The
tongue 51 can be used when the footwear 10 is an athletic shoe, or a skate,
for
example. The tongue 51 and/or the inner side 57 can be made of any suitable
material, or combination of materials, which can provide the following non-
limiting
functions: cushioning, comfort, support, etc. Further optionally, and
returning to
Figures 1 and 2, the upper portion 55 can include a toe box 58, which can form
the
end of the upper portion 55, and which can enclose the toes 74 when the foot
70 is
inserted in the shell 50. The toe box 58 can consist of any outer, hard-shell
surface
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to protect the toes 74 from impacts, and can also have an inner surface 58a,
which
can be in contact with the inside of the shell 50 and/or the foot 70.
The footwear 10 also includes a force-transferring member 20, an example
of which is also provided in Figures 1 and 2. The at least one member 20
reinforces at least a portion of the top 72 of the foot 70 inside the shell
50,
reducing relative movement of the foot 70 with respect to the interior of the
footwear 10 (i.e. with respect to the interior of the shell 50) and thus
allowing the
foot 70 to better "grip" (or "fill up") the footwear 10 so as to enhance the
force
transfer from the foot 70 to the playing surface. The expression "at least a
part of"
as used herein means that the member 20 can abut against all of, or only part
of,
the top 72 of the foot 70, which can depend on multiple factors such as the
degree
of force transfer required, the type of footwear 10 being used, the parts of
the foot
70 applying force, etc. For example, and as further explained below, the
member
20 can reinforce only the top of the toes 74, or the part of the top 72
between the
toes 74 and the ankle, and/or any combination thereof. There can also be more
than one member 20, depending on the particular configuration of the footwear
10,
among other factors. It is thus understood that the expression "abutting
against" to
describe the relationship between the top 72 of the foot 70 and the member 20
does not require that the skin of the foot 70 be in direct contact with the
surface of
the member, and that intermediate cloths, fabrics, items, etc. can be used
between
so as to improve the wearer's comfort, for example.
It is thus apparent that the member 20 provides support to the foot 70
and/or a part thereof (e.g. the toes 74), which, in turn, allows for the
application of
force to the shell 50 of the footwear 10, or a part thereof (e.g. the sole
portion 54)
more effectively. Such support can be located between the foot 70 of the
wearer
and the shell 50 of the footwear 10, such that the force generated by the foot
70
and/or any of its parts can be enhanced, with the addition of member 20, to
the
shell 50 of the footwear 10, and thus ultimately, to the playing surface.
Although
shown as being positioned substantially above the toes 74 in Figures 1 and 2,
the
member 20 can be positioned anywhere else within the shell 50, as will be
further
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explained below. It is thus apparent that the force transfer described herein
is not
limited to occurring only between the top 72 of the foot 70 and the upper
portion
55, and that the force transfer described herein can be effected by any part
of the
foot 70, and through any portion of the shell 50.
The member 20 can be made of any suitable material capable of achieving
such functionality. In some optional embodiments, the member 20 is made of
resilient material, such as rubber, foam, cork, synthetic material, air
bladder, etc.,
or any combination of these. The member 20 can also be enclosed in a fabric
material, which can be woven, knitted, spread, crocheted, and/or bonded, or
which
can be unwoven. Such a fabric can advantageously provide a measure of comfort
when the foot 70 of the wearer abuts against the member 20. In order to
further
advantageously improve comfort, the member 20 can be made of a breathable
material which allows for the foot 70 to remain dry and comfortable within the
footwear 10. Further optionally, the member 20 can include multiple aeration
holes
for enhancing the circulation of air between the foot 70 and the footwear 10.
The member 20 has a first contact surface 22 and an opposed second
contact surface 24. The surfaces 22,24 can be any planar surfaces, non-planar
20 surfaces (i.e. curved), and/or combination of these that forms an
area through
which force from the foot 70 is transferred. As such, the surfaces 22,24 can
take
any suitable configuration or form, be made of any suitable material, have any
suitable thickness, and/or have any suitable texture. The first surface 22 is
fixedly
connectable to the inner side 57 of the upper portion 55, which means that it
can
25 be permanently attached and/or integrated to the inner side 57, or
removable
therefrom as needed. The first surface 22 can be fixedly connected to the
inner
side 57 by any suitable connection technique, such as, but not limited to, the
following group: adhesive, hook and loop fastener, mechanical linkage, stitch,
integrated molding, etc. or any combination thereof.
The second surface 24 is opposed to the first surface 22, meaning that the
second surface 24 is separated by the body of the member 20 from the first
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surface 22, and that the second surface 24 faces in an opposite direction
(i.e.
toward the foot 70) from the first surface 22. Upon insertion of the foot 70
into the
shell 50, the second surface 24 is configured for abutting against the foot
70. The
term "abut" as used herein refers to the second surface 24 adjoining, touching
against, bordering, contacting, etc. some part of the top 72 of the foot 70 of
the
wearer when the foot 70 is inserted into the shell 50.
Such an abutment allows for the member 20 to be positioned, shaped,
and/or sized within the shell 50 such that when the foot 70 is inserted, the
member
20 fills a void 12 which forms between the top 72 of the foot 70 and the inner
side
57 of the shell 50. The expression "fill a void" refers to the member's 20
ability to
reduce, restrict, and/or eliminate the void 12, or merely some part thereof,
which
forms above the top 72 of the foot 70, and or between other parts of the foot
70
and the inside of the shell 50. In other words, the member 20 does not need to
completely fill the void 12, and can instead fill only that part of the void
12 which
can help to enhance force transfer. Some types of footwear 10 are mass
produced, and thus cannot be designed for the specific foot 70 of the wearer.
In
such footwear 10, there can exist a space or gap (i.e. void 12) within the
footwear
10, between the top 72 of the foot 70, and the upper inside part of the
footwear 10.
Ice skates are but one example of such footwear 10 having such a void 12. It
can
thus be appreciated that the void 12 is not limited to a particular
configuration or
type of footwear 10, and that it can vary in dimension, volume, and nature
depending on numerous factors such as, but not limited to: the type of
footwear
10, the wearer's foot 70, the activity being conducted, the design of the
footwear
10, etc.
The filling of the void 12 by the member 20 provides an increased operative
contact surface within the footwear 10 between the foot 70 and the shell 50.
The
expression "increased operative contact surface" refers to the contact area
formed
when the top 72 of the foot 70 abuts against the second surface 24 of the
member
20. Such a contact area is greater or "increased" in comparison to when the
foot
70 does not abut against the member 20. This greater contact area provides a
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support through which force can be transferred directly from the foot 70 to
the shell
50 during use, or "operation", of the footwear 10 by the wearer. Such use or
operation of the footwear 10 can result from the wearer pushing against the
footwear 10 and or components thereof (e.g. shell 50, upper portion 55, sole
5 portion
54, etc.), and pushing off and/or away from the playing surface. This
increased operative contact area may thus advantageously enhance force
transfer
from the foot 70 of the wearer to the shell 50, and ultimately, to the
footwear 10
and the playing surface through improved support of the foot 70 within the
footwear 10.
Having discussed some of the principal components and features of the
footwear 10, some of the other optional configurations will be further
discussed
hereinbelow in reference to the figures.
Figures 3 and 4 provide an example of a force-transferring member 20 that
abuts against a specific portion of the top 72 of the foot 70. As shown, the
force-
transferring member 20 may consist of a layer of material under which the toes
74
can be inserted. The member 20 can be any device and/or mechanism which
covers some of and/or all of the top 72 of the end of the foot 70 and/or toes
74 so
as to allow for enhanced force transfer. The member 20 can pad or cushion the
top 72 of the toes 74, filling at least some of the void 12 between the
interior of the
toe box 58 and the top of the toes 74, and can be disposed around the top and
sides of the toe box 58 so as to substantially wrap around the top 72 and
sides of
the foot 70 and/or toes 74, thereby reinforcing these parts of the foot 70 by
maintaining it in position. In this regard, the member 20 can have a side
surface 23
which can extend along at least one of the instep or outstep sides of the foot
70
when it is inserted into the shell 50. The top 72, sides and/or toes 74 are
thereby
restrained in position by being abutted against by the layer of member 20,
while
always remaining comfortable, which may allow for an efficient and enhanced
force transfer from the foot 70 to the playing surface.
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16
Although the optional embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 show the layer
covering only part of the top 72 of the end of the foot 70, such as the upper
surface of the toes 74, the layer can also cover the entire top 72 of the foot
70
inserted within the shell 50, or a greater portion thereof, as exemplified in
Figures
1 and 2. Other configurations of the member 20 are of course possible, and the
amount of the top 72 of the foot 70 covered can depend on numerous factors
such
as, but not limited to, the degree of force transfer required, the shape of
the shell
50 and/or foot 70, the configuration of the footwear 10, etc. Indeed, it is
possible
that the member 20 be integrated within the inner surface 58a of the toe box
58 so
as to abut against the top of the toes 74 and/or below the end of the foot 70
and/or
toes 74.
Figures 5 to 8 provide additional examples of optional embodiments of the
footwear 10. As shown, the force-transferring member 20 may consist of an
envelope into which the foot 70 and/or some part thereof (e.g. the end of the
foot
70 and/or toes 74) can be inserted. The envelope can be any device and/or
mechanism which wraps around some of and/or all of the end of the foot 70
and/or
toes 74. The member 20 can pad the bottom 71 of the foot 70, or some part
thereof, thus filling a void 12, and can also be disposed around the top 72
and
sides of the toe box 58 so as to substantially wrap around the end of the foot
70 so
as to reinforce it by maintaining it in position and/or filling the void 12.
The foot 70
is thereby restrained in position, while remaining comfortable, which allows
for an
efficient and enhanced force transfer from the foot 70 to the playing surface.
In the
configuration exemplified in Figures 7 and 8, the envelope member 20 covers
only
part of the top 72 of the foot 70, such as the upper surface of the toes 74.
Other
configurations of the envelope member 20 are of course possible, and the
amount
of and/or parts of the foot 70 covered can depend on numerous factors such as,
but not limited to, the degree of force transfer required, the shape of the
shell 50,
the configuration of the footwear 10, etc.
Optionally, the force-transferring member 20 can have a bottom force-
transferring member 21, an example of which is provided in Figures 7 and 8.
The
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17
bottom member 21 is fixedly connected to an inner portion 54a of the sole
portion
54. The bottom member 21 can abut against at least some part of the bottom 71
of
the foot 70 when it is inserted into the shell 50. Such a bottom member 21 is
positioned, shaped, and sized within the shell 50 such that it fills a bottom
void
12b, or some part thereof, between the bottom 71 of the foot 70 and the inner
portion 54a of the sole portion 54. This advantageously can allow for an
increased
bottom operative contact surface within the footwear 10 between the foot 70
and
shell 50, so as to further enhance force transfer between the foot 70 and
shell 50.
In some optional embodiments, the bottom member 21 abuts against the arch of
the bottom 71 of the foot 70. In another optional embodiment, the bottom
member
21 abuts against the bottom of the toes 74 of the foot 70, so as to fill the
void in the
arch formed between the toes and the inner portion 54a, for example.
Figures 9 and 10 provide yet another example of an optional embodiment of
the footwear 10. As shown, the force-transferring member 20 may consist of a
moldable block into which the foot 70 and/or any of its parts (e.g. the end
and/or
toes 74) can be inserted. In such a configuration, the moldable block member
20
can deform to accurately contour and reflect the profile of the foot 70
against
which it abuts. Optionally, the moldable block member 20 or object can be
formed
by being heated prior to the part of the foot 70 being inserted therein, or
can be
made from a suitably deformable material such as memory foam or gel, for
example. The moldable block member 20 can be contoured to the foot 70 outside
of the footwear 10, much like an insert mentioned above, or it can be
integrated
within the toe box 58 so as to abut against the desired part of the top 72 of
the foot
70. In the optional configuration where the moldable block member 20 is
integrated within the toe box 58, the member 20 can be made in a suitable
process simultaneously with the shell 50 of the footwear 10. It is thus
apparent
how the moldable block member 20 of this configuration can reduce the "wiggle
room" of the foot 70 within the shell 50, allowing for an enhanced force
transfer.
Figures 11 and 12 provide yet another example of an optional embodiment
of the footwear 10. As shown in Figure 11, the force-transferring member 20
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18
consists of a removable insert, which can be applied to the foot 70 outside of
the
footwear 10, and then subsequently inserted with the foot 70 into the footwear
10,
and removed therefrom after use. In such a configuration, the member 20 can be
molded about that part of the foot 70 through which force transfer will occur,
so as
to conform specifically to a wearer's foot 70, and remained secured thereto
through different use conditions (i.e. heavy sporting activity, leisurely
walking,
applying pressure, etc.). In so doing, the insert member 20 can occupy a void
12
within the toe box 58 and/or any other part of the shell 50, thus reinforcing
the foot
70 within the shell 50 and enhancing the force transfer. Alternatively, the
insert
member 20 can be fixed to a foot covering, such as a sock, for example, and
configured such that when the covered foot 70 is inserted into the shell 50,
the
member 20 can be removably attached to the inner side 57 of the upper portion
55.
Figure 13 provides yet another example of an optional embodiment of the
footwear 10. As shown, the footwear 10 can be an ice skate, such as a hockey
skate, a figure skate, etc. Such a skate 10 can be provided with the force-
transferring member 20 shown, but it is understood that the member 20 shown
can
be used on other types of footwear 10, and that an ice skate 10 can be used
with
other optional embodiments of the force-transferring member 20. In the
optional
embodiment provided in Figure 13, the force-transferring member 20 is an
inflatable membrane 29 in fluid connection with an inflation device. This
allows the
membrane 29 to be inflated and deflated by the inflation device, which can be
a
pump 29a, so as to provide the desired abutment of the member 20 against the
desired part of the top 72 of the foot 70. A supply line 29b can connect both
the
pump 29a, and the membrane 29. A relief valve can also be provided to deflate
the membrane 29 when required. The membrane 29 and/or pump 29a can be
integral with the hockey skate 10, or be inserted with the foot 70. In the
optional
configuration where the membrane 29 and pump 29a are integrated within the
upper portion 55 and/or shell 50, the membrane 29 and/or pump 29a can be
attached to the shell 50 through a chemical forming or bonding process, for
example.
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19
Figures 14 to 17 provide yet another example of an optional embodiment of
the footwear 10, being shown as an athletic shoe. The force-transferring
member
20 can include a resilient plate 26 which extends along the upper portion 55
of the
shell 50, optionally along the entire length of the foot 70 from the ankle to
the end
of the toes 74 when the foot 70 is placed into the shell 50. The shell 50 in
such an
embodiment can allow for flexion about the upper portion 55, and can thus be
similar to an athletic shoe. The plate 26 can be made of a resilient material,
such
as carbon fiber. A comfort layer 27 can be fixedly mounted to an inner part of
the
plate 26, between the top 72 of the foot 70 and the foot-facing side of the
plate 26,
thereby providing comfort and/or support to the foot 70 of the wearer. Such a
comfort layer 27 can be made of a foam material, as but one example of
possible
materials that can be used. The plate 26 can thus act as an extension of the
foot
70 when inserted into the shell 50, which can be achieved by tightly securing
the
plate 26 to the foot 70 and/or ankle through straps, toe loops, shoe laces,
etc., as
discussed below.
Although Figures 14 to 17 show the plate 26 being provided in an athletic
shoe, the plate 26 can be used in other types of footwear 10, such as in a
skate
boot of an ice skate, for example. When used in a skate boot, for example, the
plate 26 can support different areas of the foot 70, such as the ankle
portion, for
example. Such support may allow for additional force transfer to occur in the
ankle
area where the plate 26 could be loaded and unloaded with a force, as
discussed
below, throughout the skating stride of the wearer.
The plate 26 can advantageously help to enhance force transfer from the
foot 70 to the shell 50. In one possible embodiment, the force transfer may be
enhanced because the plate 26 provides support to the toes 74 in the footwear
10.
Such support allows the toes 74 to become more effective in exerting a force
on
the sole portion 54 of the footwear 10 and, in turn, to the playing surface.
In
another possible embodiment, the plate 26 may be charged, loaded, supplied,
etc.
with a load or force when the foot 70 is pivoted about the balls 78 of the
toes 74,
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which can occur whenever the wearer pushes off the playing surface with
her/his
feet 70. Since the plate 26 is made of a resilient and/or elastic material,
this load is
then transferred to the shell 50 of the footwear 10 as the foot 70 of the
wearer
separates from the ground at the end of a stride, for example, thereby
enhancing
5 the force transfer from the foot 70 to the playing surface.
Figure 15 provides another example of an optional configuration of a
footwear 10 provided with a resilient plate 26. As shown, the plate 26 extends
along the top 72 of the foot 70 from the end of the top of the toes 74 all the
way up
10 to the
lower part of the leg. On the rear side of the foot 70, in the heel portion 52
of
the shell 50, an additional comfort layer 27 is positioned, shaped, and sized
for
wrapping around at least some of the back of the foot 70, leg, and ankle of
the
wearer, providing further comfort when the foot 70 is inserted into the
footwear 10.
15 In such
an optional embodiment, the shell 50 can include a tightening
device 28 (e.g. a strap, lace, band, tie, etc.) for tightening the plate 26
and/or
comfort layer 27 around the foot 70 of the wearer. In some optional
embodiments,
the tightening device 28 is mounted near the comfort layer 27, and wraps
around
the lower leg of the wearer when the foot 70 is inserted in the shell 50. It
can thus
20 be
appreciated that such an embodiment can help to enhance force transfer by
providing an additional charge/discharge point at the ankle of the foot 70. As
the
ankle joint is flexed forward (i.e. at the end of a running stride or
beginning of a
skate stride in hockey, for example) the plate 26 becomes charged, in addition
to
the load generated by the top 72 of the foot 70. At the end of a running
stride as
the foot 70 leaves the playing surface, or during a skate stride extension,
for
example, the loaded force at the ankle location is discharged along with the
force
stored in the top 72.
In other optional embodiments, an example of which is provided in Figure
16, there can be multiple tightening devices 28, which can be integrated
within the
shell 50 and/or the upper portion 55 so as to tighten the foot 70 by wrapping
about
the arches between the bottom 71 of the foot 70 and an inner portion 54a of
the
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sole portion 51, and bringing the foot 70 toward the plate 26. Optionally, the
tightening devices 28 can be used for both the bottom 71 of the foot 70, and
its
rear, as exemplified in Figure 17.
In some optional embodiments, examples of which are provided in Figures
16 and 17, a carbon fiber resilient plate 26 can enter into direct contact
with the
playing surface. Such direct contact can occur via the sole portion 54, near
the
end of the plate 26. This can allow for an enhanced transfer of stored force
in the
plate 26. Such a transfer can occur when the plate 26 transfers the force to
the
sole portion 54. In another possible embodiment, the plate 26 can also extend
through the sole portion 54 and directly onto the playing surface. This can
advantageously further enhance force transfer from the foot 70 because the
force
generated by the foot 70 is transferred directly to the playing surface
because of
the plate's 26 direct contact with the playing surface. This can help to
eliminate
any lost energy due to the dampening effect of the sole portion 54. This is in
addition to the reduced "play" that can be achieved between the plate 26 and
the
foot 70 through the addition of tightening devices 28 (e.g. straps) within the
footwear 10, which may allow for the carbon fiber plate 26 to essentially
become
an effective extension of the foot 70, which can be considered somewhat
similar to
the effect of a swimming fin on a wearer's foot.
The above-described optional embodiments of the footwear 10 are not
exclusionary, and other embodiments can be used when desired. The choice of
embodiment, whether it is described or not, to use can depend on many factors
that relate to, among other things, the type of footwear 10 being used, the
sport/activity involved, the shape/profile of a wearer's foot 70, cost, ease
of
manufacturing, etc.
In this regard, another possible embodiment of the footwear 10 can include
a force-transferring member 20 consisting of one or many ringlets 30 into
which
the toes 74 of the foot 70 are inserted, as exemplified in Figures 21 to 24.
There
can be only one or a few ringlets 30, such as ringlets 30 which reinforce only
the
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22
big and the index toes 74, for example. Alternatively, the ringlets 30 can
reinforce
all the toes 74. Many such ringlet 30 configurations are possible. The
ringlets 30
can partially or fully encircle the toes 74, and can be connected to one
another so
as to allow the toes 74 to move as one appendage. Of course, only a few toes
74
could be connected as well, and only some toes 74 fully/partially encircled,
the
ringlets 30 being capable of having a variety of configurations. The ringlets
30 may
allow for an enhanced force transfer by linking the toes 74 so as to create a
"webbed-foot" configuration, thereby allowing all toes 74 to contribute to the
force
applied to the footwear 10 and ultimately the playing surface. The ringlets 30
can
be made of any suitable material such as fabric, plastics, metals, rubber,
leather,
vinyl, etc.
Moreover, the ringlets 30 can be joined to the shell 50 or any portion thereof
by an attachment mechanism, such as a bridging device, which can secure all or
some of the ringlets 30 to the interior of the shell 50 and/or any other part
of the
footwear 10. In such an optional configuration, the bridging device allows for
the
force applied by the toes 74 to the ringlets 30 to be applied to the footwear
10, and
ultimately to the playing surface. The bridging device can be any mechanical
linkage such as a tether, rod, connector, etc., of any suitable material,
which binds
the ringlets and/or any other configuration of the force-transferring member
20 to
the footwear 10.
Having described some of the features and components of the footwear 10,
its operation and some of its advantages will now be further explained.
Figures 18 to 20 provide examples of the motions a wearer/player will
undertake when skating along ice 80 when using a footwear 10 that is a hockey
skate, for example. The skate 10 is provided with a force-transferring member
20
such as any of the ones described herein. In Figure 18, the hockey skate 10 is
resting on the ice 80, and the wearer is not skating thereon. Once the wearer
begins her/his stride, as exemplified in Figure 19, the wearer applies an
initial push
with the leg and foot 70, the foot 70 at this juncture still remaining
substantially
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parallel with the ice 80. After the wearer has finished pushing with her/his
leg and
foot 70, the wearer prepares to apply a final push to complete the stride. At
this
juncture, and as exemplified in Figure 20, the foot 70 is at an angle to the
ice 80,
and the foot 70 and/or toes 74 are bent so as to form an angle with both the
rest of
the foot 70, and the ice 80. The wearer then applies a "push" or force P via
the
balls 78 and/or toes 74 of the foot 70, thereby providing an additional
impetus and
completing the stride. During, before, and/or after the application of this
final push
P, the member 20 provides support between the top 72 of the foot 70 and the
inner side 57, so that foot 70 and/or toes 74 can better "push", "feel", etc.
the shell
50 of the footwear 10, and thus better transfer the force P that is directly
transmitted to the skate 50 and onto the ice 80.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a provided a
system for enhancing a force transfer from a foot of a wearer to a playing
surface.
The system includes a footwear 10, such as any of the possible footwear 10
described above, which receives the foot 70 of the wearer and at least
partially
encloses it. The system also has a removable force-transferring member 20,
such
as any of the members 20 described above, which can attached to, and removed
from, the footwear 10 as desired. Alternatively, the member 20 can also be
permanently affixed to the footwear 10, depending upon any number of factors,
such as: the type of footwear 10, the nature of the activity, the wearer's
foot 70,
etc.
Furthermore, the present invention can provide advantages in that, by virtue
of its design and components, the force-transferring member 20 may expand the
surface area of the foot 70 or a portion thereof (e.g. top 72) in contact with
the
footwear 10, and thus enhance force transferred from the foot 70 to the
playing
surface. Moreover, the above-described member 20 can be an integral part of
the
footwear 10 and may be located in a manner that does not directly interfere
with
the ability of the player/wearer to use the footwear 10 in a normal manner. In
fact,
experimental use has resulted in a noticeable increase in the speed at which a
wearer skates on the ice, for example. At levels of extreme competiveness,
such
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as in professional and/or semi-professional sports, these increases, even if
minor,
can be extremely advantageous and can distinguish a merely exceptional player
from a top-of-class one.
In addition, a greater surface area of the foot 70 in contact with the
footwear
can result in better control of the footwear 10 and the force applied thereby,
which often improves performance for turns, crossovers, starts, etc. in
hockey, for
example.
10
Furthermore, the footwear 10 may have an ergonomic design that is
comfortable and that fits the natural contours of the foot 70 and/or the
interior of
the footwear 10, which facilitates its use.
In addition, the use of gel/air packs and/or memory foams for the force-
transferring member 20 can improve the comfort of the footwear 10 while still
allowing for an efficient transfer of force. The various types of force-
transferring
members 20 can help to reduce and/or remove the natural void 12 (space, gap,
etc.) created between the top 72 of the foot 70 and/or toes 74 and the inside
of
shell 50, which enhances the contact surface between foot 70 and footwear 10
and therefore the transfer of force between those two, and ultimately the
playing
surface. The use of foam and/or gel/air packs provides for a more pliable and
less
impactful feel than plastic, for example.
Thus, it can be appreciated that the present invention may help a wearer
improve the speed at which she/he runs, skates, etc. and the attendant control
of
their footwear 10. This is contrast to some conventional footwear, where a
wearer's foot or toes are not reinforced, such that they may flail about
uselessly
inside the footwear, and thus are prevented from efficiently transferring
force from
the foot to the surface.
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Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above-described
embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in
the
appended claims.
