US20130318817A1 - Footwear with integrated energy wave sockliner - Google Patents

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
• 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
• 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.
• 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 the predominate focus relating to functionality. As people became more sophisticated, shoes became more than just a protective clothing item. In this regard, shoes were designed not only for day-to-day activities, but also for fashion. Shoe designers are thus required to balance function with form, as people desire shoes that are both comfortable and attractive. Because of these market demands, there are currently numerous kinds of shoes with a variety of styles, designs and purposes, varying in their degrees of functionality and fashionability.
• Throughout the years, in addition to changes in style, shoes have been made lighter, more durable and more comfortable. In fact, numerous patents have been issued relating to structural alternations of the shoe in furtherance of this goal. Oftentimes, individuals will add a removable cushioning device, such as a foam or gel insert, in the hopes of improving comfort. Numerous types of removable cushioning devices have been developed for use in shoes to provide such relief. Typically, layers of cushioning materials (which may include foam, cellulose, polyurethane, rubber, elastomer, plastic, etc.) are added to the sole construction to give the illusion of comfort. 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. This is because the foot comes into increasingly direct contact with the rigid structural components of the shoe which exist directly beneath the cushioning materials.
• Furthermore, in recent years, the “barefoot” running trend in footwear has been gaining popularity, with many examples of footwear coming onto the market with variations of this minimalist theme. Market leaders have created an iconic platform—a thin rubber outsole and elastic textile uppers that are assembled with individual toe segmentation to create “fingers.” Other brands have taken a similar approach without improving on the benefits delivered. 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.
• It is therefore desirable to provide an improved shoe construction for various types of footwear which promotes natural foot motion but yet provides improved comfort while still stimulating the barefoot experience. The most important factor to address in all footwear is the ability to provide comfort and support to the wearer as the shoe is worn throughout the day. Specifically, this invention improves upon the “barefoot” running trend without utilizing “fingers,” while still providing comfort benefits delivered in more standard running footwear. Furthermore, this invention introduces a cushioning device which allows for better distribution of foot pressure and which provides long lasting comfort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• Although the present invention will be described in connection with one embodiment of a typical shoe, it is likewise well-suited for use in essentially any type of shoe construction, including shoes having a midsole and/or shoe constructions having a high heel or no heel (flat) configuration. The present shoe assembly is designed to enable unhindered natural foot motion between the foot and the ground. To begin the design process, the shoe is constructed with a cupped heel, a contoured arch, a radiused forepart and neutral heel/forefoot position to create a foot bed that anatomically cradles a wearer's foot. An integrated sockliner/strobel insole is added, the sockliner/strobe insole including a plurality of grooves on its top face and it may optionally include a plurality of ridges and valleys on its bottom face. The integrated sockliner/strobel insole includes perimeter edges for attaching the sockliner/insole to the upper either by strobel stitching or cementing the upper edges under the perimeter of the sockliner/insole edges. The outsole is sculpted to have rounded natural edges and an anatomically correct flex location toward the forefoot of the shoe where softer, more flexible materials are used. The outsole is further designed with harder, protective materials strategically placed in high ground-contact areas to deliver protection and support. An optional midfoot support element (or support shank) may be positioned between the sockliner and outsole to control torsional stiffness. Upper materials are selected to minimize restriction of movement and promote breathability.
• The integrated sockliner of the present invention further includes a raised area in the midfoot region and a recessed area located in the hind foot region. The sockliner is preferably comprised of a base foam, including, but not limited to, EVA, polyurethane (PU), blended co-polymers and the like. Sockliner hardness would preferably be in the range of about 25C to 70C on an Asker C scale. The midfoot support element is preferably made from a material including, but not limited to, molded plastic, rigid EVA, Texon/tuck board and the like, with a thickness of between about 1 mm and 3 mm, and with a hardness of between about 50A and 90A on a Shore A scale. Such a construction allows for: (a) increased contact between the foot and shoe interior; (b) a flexibility improvement such that less foot force is required to bend the shoe; (c) an improved gait by enabling natural motion during walking; (c) promoting more midfoot versus heel strike; (d) reduced weight over conventional shoes; and (e) increased foot stimulation through more utilization of bones, tendons and muscles during footstrike. The raised area is positioned to underlie the medial arch of the wearer's foot and the recessed area is positioned to underlie the heel of the wearer's foot. The recessed area is defined by the peripheral edges formed around the hind foot region from the medial side to the lateral side of the heel. The peripheral edge in the hind foot region forms a raised portion where it wraps around the heel of the wearer's foot.
• The anatomically shaped and formed integrated sockliner has been designed to reflect the natural contours of the human foot. The sockliner of the present invention extends from the rear of the shoe forward, receiving the wearer's toes. The shaped plantar surface topography maximizes surface contact with the wearer's foot and increases comfort. The recessed area functions as an extended heel seat located in the distal portion of the sockliner, cradling the foot and bearing a majority of the weight while distributing pressure. A reduced heel center thickness is provided to avoid peak heel pressure during heel impact. The shape and outline of the sockliner reflects the natural contours of the human foot. As the foot is “loaded” with body weight during heel strike, the present sockliner compresses and expands within the shoe, supporting the foot and insuring maximum contact.
• The surface topography of the present invention includes a top face and a bottom face, each having a generally planar surface, extending along a base plane. On the top face, a plurality of grooves extend across the base plane in a generally undulating pattern for engagement with the sole of the foot. For the purposes of this disclosure, “undulating” describes a smooth, wavelike pattern, as further discussed below. On the bottom face, the integrated socket liner may include a plurality of alternating ridges and/or valleys extending from the inside of the foot to the outside of the foot in a generally undulating and/or sinusoidal pattern.
• For the purposes of this disclosure, all directions discussed hereinafter (up, down, etc.) use a frame of reference in which the top face of the sockliner faces “up” while the bottom face of the sockliner faces “down.” Thus, while grooves in the top face extend “downwardly” into the sockliner, the valleys in the bottom face extend “upwardly” into the sockliner and the ridges on the bottom face extend “downwardly” away from the sockliner.
• The optional ridge surfaces are positioned parallel and below the base plane, extending downwardly. The upward extension of the ridge surfaces forms the side walls of the ridges which are generally perpendicular to the base plane. The optional valley surfaces are positioned parallel and above the base plane, extending downwardly. The downward extension of the valley surfaces form the side walls of the valleys which are generally perpendicular to the base plane. On the bottom face, the ridge surfaces may come into direct or indirect contact with the upper surface of the outsole. The outsole is preferably constructed from rubber or polyurethane, in either single or dual compound areas. For example, a dual compound outsole may have high-traction compound at high ground-contact locations, and a wear-resistant compound toward the perimeter of the outsole. Preferably, the hardness of either or both of these compounds would be in the range of about 45A to 75A on a Shore A scale. Such configurations effectively lock in the anatomical shape within the shoe while providing cushioning and support to the wearer.
• When a foot is inserted into a shoe that houses the present shoe assembly, the recessed area of the integrated sockliner serves to receive and locate the heel in a recessed area which is substantially concaved, and the raised area acts to support the medial arch of the wearer's foot so that the integrated sockliner substantially contacts the entire bottom surface of the wearer's foot. The combination of a raised area under the medial arch, a recessed area immediately under the heel, and the use of a sockliner material that substantially maintains its form, improves the distribution of the pressure and the comfort of shoes made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. It is generally recognized that the integrated sockliner of the present invention is more resistant to “bottoming out,” which for purposes of this disclosure, means that the sockliner will not reach a threshold of force where the material comprising the sockliner will not further compress. As pressure is applied to the sockliner, the ridges compress vertically, causing them to expand horizontally. The valleys provide space for the ridges to expand horizontally, allowing for additional compression and cushioning.
• In still another embodiment, the present shoe assembly includes an energy wave sockliner, a strobel insole, and an outsole. In this embodiment, the strobe insole is provided as a separate layer and is positioned between the energy wave sockliner and the outsole. Preferably, the top surface of the outsole is shaped to conform to the bottom surface of the strobel insole and may be constructed of a high resiliency foam such as, but not limited to, neoprene, polyurethane, SEBS, EBA, rubber and the like. The energy wave sockliner, the strobel insole, and the outsole may be secured to one another using any suitable attachment means. An optional midfoot support element may likewise be positioned between the strobel insole and the outsole to again control tortional stiffness toward the midfoot region.
• Specific advantages and features of the present assembly will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description of several illustrative embodiments of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 illustrates a three dimensional perspective view of one embodiment of a shoe assembly including an upper, an integrated sockliner and an outsole constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a three dimensional perspective view of another embodiment of a shoe assembly including an upper, a sockliner, a strobel insole and an outsole constructed according to the teachings of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a sockliner ofFIGS. 1 and 2.
• FIG. 3A is a close up view of the top of the sockliner ofFIG. 3 taken atsection3A ofFIG. 3.
• FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of one embodiment of the sockliner ofFIGS. 1 and 2.
• FIG. 4A is a close up view of the bottom of the sockliner ofFIG. 3 taken at section4A ofFIG. 4.
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the sockliner ofFIG. 3 taken along line5-5 therein.
• It should be understood that the present drawings are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments disclosed herein are sometimes illustrated by fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should also be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. Like numbers utilized throughout the various figures designate like or similar parts or structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Referring now to the drawings, more particularly by reference numbers,FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of theshoe assembly10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. Thepresent shoe assembly10 is configured to provide improved comfort during running and other activities. Theshoe assembly10 includes an upper12 that can be formed in any suitable style or shape, an integrated sockliner/strobel layer14 and anoutsole16. Theoutsole16 is positioned on the underside of the shoe for engagement with a walking surface such as the ground, sidewalk, floor or other supporting surface. Preferably, the top surface of theoutsole16 is shaped to conform to the bottom surface of thesockliner14. Thesockliner14 andoutsole16 may be secured to one another using any suitable attachment means including, but not limited to, cement, adhesives, glue, welt, direct attachment constructions and the like.
• For ease of reference herein, the human foot may be generally considered to have three regions: the forefoot region (area adjacent the toes), the midfoot region (area adjacent the medial arch, between the forefoot and the hind foot regions) and the hind foot region (area adjacent the heel). As shown inFIG. 1, the integrated sockliner14 andoutsole16 similarly include three regions substantially underlying the above-referenced corresponding three regions of the wearer's foot: theforefoot region22A,22B of thesockliner14 andoutsole16 respectively; themidfoot region24A,24B of thesockliner14 andoutsole16 respectively; and thehind foot region26A,26B of thesockliner14 andoutsole16 respectively. It should be understood, however, that the boundaries between the forefoot, midfoot and hind foot areas are not precise and that these terms should be interpreted loosely and with a great deal of flexibility. The ball of the foot, located in the midfoot region, is generally the area of the foot at the juncture between the metatarsal bones and the phalanges bones. Theforefoot region22A,22B of the integrated sockliner14 andoutsole16 is positioned to underlie at least an area of the wearer's toes located at the proximate end of the shoe. Theforefoot region22A,22B includes a radiused forepart and a neutral heel/forefoot position. Themidfoot region24A,24B of thesockliner14 andoutsole16 is preferably raised to underlie at least an area of the medial arch of the wearer's foot. Thehind foot region26A,26B of thesockliner14 andoutsole16 is positioned and is cupped to underlie at least an area of the wearer's heel located at the distal end of the shoe. Thehind foot region26A,26B is defined by theperipheral edges28A,28B formed around thehind foot region26A,26B from the medial side to the lateral side of the heel. The hind footperipheral edge28A,28B forms a raised portion where it wraps around the heel of the wearer's foot. The anatomically shaped and formedintegrated sockliner14 andoutsole16 are thereby designed to reflect the natural shapes of the human foot. The shaped plantar surface topography maximizes surface contact with the wearer's foot and increases comfort. Themidfoot region24B ofoutsole16 may include a midfoot support element (or support shank)30 having a stiffness which is higher than the rest ofoutsole16 so as to properly provide arch support to the wearer.
• Theshoe assembly10 is constructed to enable unhindered natural foot motion between the foot and the ground. To this end, the soft, flexible strobel stitched insole18 referenced in Applicant's pending application Ser. No. 13/484,379 is now integrated intosockliner14, which disclosure is incorporated by reference herein. Theintegrated sockliner14 is made of a foam material such as EVA, PU, blown co-polymers and other suitable materials which are molded to fit the anatomical shapes of the upper12 and theoutsole16 and includes a stitching margin along the perimeter thereof. The perimeter edges ofintegrated sockliner14 are structured to enable thesockliner14 to be strobel stitched to form the bottom of the upper12. The perimeter edges of theintegrated sockliner14 are modified to enable strobel stitching to the upper12 thereby ensuring that the sockliner edge thickness and shape are conducive to stitching and having enough strength to avoid tearing. Thesockliner14 is stitched and turned to the bottom of the upper12 to close theshoe10. The shape and structure of theintegrated sockliner14 is substantially identical to the structure of the energy wave sockliner disclosed in Applicant's co-pending application Ser. No. 13/491,570, as will be hereinafter explained, which disclosure is likewise incorporated herein by reference and is further disclosed below.
• It is also recognized that theintegrated sockliner14 may likewise be attached to the upper12 by cementing the edges of the upper12 to the perimeter edges of theintegrated sockliner14.
• Theoutsole16 is sculpted to have rounded natural edges and an anatomically correct flex location toward theforefoot region22B of the shoe where softer, more flexible materials are used. Theoutsole16 is further designed with harder, protective materials strategically placed in high ground-contact areas to deliver protection and support. An optionalmidfoot support element30 may be positioned between theintegrated sockliner14 andoutsole16 to control torsional stiffness toward themidfoot region24A,24B. Upper materials are selected to minimize restriction of movement and promote breathability.
• As illustrated inFIGS. 3-5, theintegrated sockliner14 improves comfort and achieves this objective by providing a generally undulating geometry of grooves which are integrated into the top face of asockliner14 and an optional generally undulating geometry of ridges and/or valleys which can also be integrated into the bottom face of asockliner14. The generally undulating geometry which may be a generally sinusoidal wave pattern may be further combined with a raised area of thesockliner14 positioned to underlie the medial arch area, and/or a recessed area which is substantially concave and is formed to underlie the heel.
• The surface topography of thesockliner14 includes atop face32 and abottom face34, each having a generally planar surface extending along abase plane36. On thetop face32, a plurality of grooves38 (as illustrated inFIG. 3A) extend downwardly frombase plane36A across thesockliner14 in a generally undulatinggeometry40 for engagement with the sole of the wearer's foot. Thetop face32 preferably shaped to match the natural contour or silhouette of the wearer's foot, for example, by providing a recessedarea42 and/or a raised area44 (as will be hereinafter further explained) and is positioned and oriented for engagement with the wearer's foot. The generally undulatinggeometry40 of thetop face32 is designed to support the wearer's foot and is incorporated into the integrated sockliner/strobel14. Thetop face32 may be exposed for direct contact with the wearer's foot. Thetop face32 may further include aperipheral edge28A, extending upwardly, becoming the edge of thesockliner14. Thus, thetop face32 is positioned and oriented for engagement with the undersurface of the wearer's foot.
• In one embodiment of theintegrated sockliner14, thebottom face34 may be generally flat to facilitate attachment of thesockliner14 to the upper surface of theoutsole16. A flat bottom surface allows for maximum bonding contact with the upper surface of theoutsole16. In this embodiment, the bottom surface of thesockliner14 does not include theridges46 andvalleys48 discussed below and illustrated inFIGS. 4,4A and5.
• Although thebottom face34 of theintegrated sockliner14 may be generally flat as explained above, thebottom face34 may likewise optionally include a plurality of alternatingridges46 and/orvalleys48 which extend from the inside of the foot to the outside of the foot in a generally undulating or sinusoidal pattern as best illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 4A. Alternatively the alternatingridges46 and/or valleys48 (as illustrated inFIG. 4A) may extend from the heel to the toe and/or in a variety of other patterns which may provide comfort and support. It is preferable that theridges46 andvalleys48 alternate, however, in alternative embodiments, it would be possible to haveseveral ridges46 and/orvalleys48 in series without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention. Eachridge46 includes aridge surface50 which may be positioned parallel to and below thebase plane36B (FIG. 5). Upward extensions of eachridge surface50form side walls52A of eachridge46 which are generally perpendicular to thebase plane36B as best shown inFIG. 5. Eachvalley48 includes avalley surface54 which may be positioned parallel to and above thebase plane36B. Downward extensions of eachvalley surface54form side walls52B of eachvalley48 which are generally perpendicular to thebase plane36B. Thebottom face34 is positioned and oriented for direct engagement with the upper surface of theoutsole16.
• A pattern may therefore be formed in thebottom face34. The pattern beginning, for example, at aridge surface50, moving up aside wall52A, across abase plane36B, up aside wall52B, across avalley surface54, moving down aside wall52B, across abase plane36B, moving down aside wall52A and ending at aridge surface50. Thesockliner14 is designed to support the foot and is generally foot-shaped. It is understood that theintegrated sockliner14 may be fashioned into other shapes, as desired, to accommodate various alternative designs of the shoe assembly.
• In one embodiment of the present invention, thegrooves38 of thetop face32 and theridges46 and thevalleys48 of thebottom face34 are integrated into the structure of thesockliner14 by unitary construction (as shown inFIG. 5, taken along line5-5 ofFIG. 3), however, it is envisioned that thegrooves38, theridges46 and thevalleys48 may be integrated into the surfaces of thesockliner14 in any conventional manner. In the present embodiment, thegrooves38 of thetop face32 are off-set from theridges46 and thevalleys48 of thebottom face34. However, it is envisioned that thegrooves38 of thetop face32 could be substantially aligned with theridges46 or thevalleys48 of thebottom face34. On thebottom face34, the generallysinusoidal geometry56 may come into direct contact with the upper surface of the outsole, and may be secured to the outsole in any conventional manner.
• It is also recognized that theintegrated sockliner14 may include a plurality of grooves on itstop face32 and/or a plurality of ridges and valleys on itsbottom face34.
• Thesockliner14 includes a recessedarea42 located in thehind foot region26A. Thetop face32 of thehind foot region26A forms a recessed portion positioned at the distal end of the shoe so as to receive the wearer's heel. The recessedarea42 is formed by aperipheral edge28A which wraps about the heel of the wearer's foot. The depth of the recessedarea42 is typically in the range of approximately 3 mm to 20 mm as measured from the top of theperipheral edge28A on the medial and lateral sides, extending downward to the lowest portion of the recessedarea42 of thetop face32. This depth may vary across thehind foot region26A due to the anatomical shape of the foot, shoe size and/or shoe type. The area covered by the recessedarea42 may also be modified to accommodate a variety of shoe sizes, with the size of the recessedarea42 increasing with increasing length and/or width of the shoe. When the wearer's foot is inserted into the shoe, the recessedarea42 serves to locate the heel in this substantially concaved area located at thehind foot region26A. Thehind foot region26A further includes an extended heel seat design of thesockliner14 for evenly distributing pressure through the foot's complete contact with the generallysinusoidal geometry56, maximizing cushioning and comfort for the wearer. The recessedarea42 comprises a generally rounded or ellipsoid shape. Becausesockliner14 is generally made of a cushioning material (as will be hereinafter further explained), the cushioning material specifications for thesockliner14 are engineered to adequately support body weight in critical areas throughout the complete gait cycle without bottoming out. By not fully compressing, peak plantar pressures are avoided and the cushioning material provides long lasting comfort and support to the wearer.
• Thesockliner14 may further include a raisedarea44 in themidfoot region24A. The raisedarea44 is positioned to underlie the medial arch of the wearer's foot. The raisedarea44 comprises a generally rounded or ellipsoid shape, preferably having a narrower portion located towards the distal end of the shoe and a wider portion located toward the proximate end of the shoe. The raisedarea44 is for positioning and supporting the medial arch so thatsockliner14 is in direct contact with the entire bottom face of the wearer's foot.
• The dimensions of the present integratedsockliner14 as well as the specific shape and configuration of the various regions thereof are subject to wide variation and may be sized and/or shaped into a variety of different sizes and/or configurations. Such variations are necessary to make thesockliner14 compatible with the size and/or shape of the particular footwear into which thesockliner14 is to be integrated, conforming with any space limitations associated therewith without departing from the teachings and practice of the present invention.
• Thesockliner14 may be made from a variety of cushioning materials, such as any type of non-rigid, cellular type foam, which may be open cell or closed cell, such as EVA, PU and/or blown co-polymers, depending on the specific characteristics desired. In another embodiment, thesockliner14 may be formed from any flexible cushioning material, including but not limited to, molded plastic, natural or synthetic rubber, cellulose, thermoplastic rubber, rubber sponge, polyurethane, thermoplastic elastomer, latex, ethylene vinyl acetate and the like.
• When installed, theintegrated sockliner14 is located within the shoe, itshind foot region26A at the distal end of the shoe so that the recessedarea42 substantially underlies and receives the heel of the wearer and theperipheral edge28A wraps around a substantial portion of the wearer's foot. The raisedarea44 substantially underlies the medial arch of the wearer's foot and tapers toward the proximate end of the shoe. Thus, when the wearer's foot is inserted into the shoe that houses the present integratedsockliner14, thetop face32 is designed to match the natural contours of the foot for optimal cushioning and support. Thesockliner14 thus engages the entire bottom of the foot with the recessedarea42 receiving the heel, securing it into its substantially concave surface and the raisedarea44 positioning and supporting the medial arch. This complete engagement in combination with the use of cushioning material integrating the generally sinusoidal geometry onto thetop face32 and/or thebottom face34 prevents bottoming out and provides sustainable cushioning and support to the wearer of the shoe.
• Such a construction allows for: (a) increased contact between the foot and shoe interior; (b) a flexibility improvement such that less foot force is required to bend the shoe; (c) an improved gait by enabling natural motion during walking; (c) promoting more midfoot versus heel strike; (d) reduced weight over conventional shoes; and (e) increased foot stimulation through more utilization of bones, tendons and muscles during footstrike.
• FIG. 2 illustrates still another alternative embodiment of the present shoe assembly18 where thestrobel insole20 is not incorporated into thesockliner14′ but is provided as a separate layer. In embodiment18, the assembly includes anenergy wave sockliner14′ as fully described in Applicant's co-pending application Ser. No. 13/491,570, which disclosure is fully incorporated herein, and as disclosed above with respect toFIGS. 3-5, a strobel stitchedinsole20, and anoutsole16. Theoutsole16 is constructed and functions as previously described with respect toshoe assembly10. The strobel stitched insole (or strobel sock insole)20 is positioned between the sockliner14 and theoutsole16. Preferably, the top surface of thestrobel sock insole20 is shaped to conform to the bottom surface of thesockliner14′ regardless of whether the bottom surface of thesockliner14′ is substantially flat or includes a plurality ofridges46 and/orvalleys48 as explained above. Preferably, the top surface of theoutsole16 is shaped to conform to the bottom surface of the strobel stitchedinsole20. Thesockliner14′, strobel stitchedinsole20 andoutsole16 may be secured to one another using any suitable attachment means including, but not limited to, cement, adhesives, glue, welt, direct attachment constructions and the like.
• The strobel insole (or strobel sock insole)20 utilizes encapsulated high resiliency foam and preferably includes a foam interior sandwiched between fabric layers on the top and bottom. More specifically, thestrobel insole20 may be constructed from, but is not limited to, non-woven textiles, fiber boards, polyester knit or wovens, composite textile and fiber packages, an EVA/rubber blended sheet and the like. In one embodiment, these materials would have a hardness of between about 10C and about 60C on an Asker C scale. Theinsole20 may be formed and shaped to provide a consistent foundation within the shoe for supporting the anatomicallyshaped sockliner14′. Theoutsole16 is sculpted to have rounded natural edges and an anatomically correct flex location toward the forefoot26 of the shoe where softer, more flexible materials are used. The optionalmidfoot support element30 may be positioned between theinsole20 andoutsole16 to control torsional stiffness toward the midfoot region.
• Further, the overall dimensions of thepresent shoe assemblies10 and18 as well as the specific shape and configuration of the various sections thereof are also subject to wide variations and may be sized and shaped into a wide variety of different sizes and configurations so as to be compatible with the size and shape of the particular footwear onto which the present structures may be mounted, or to conform with any space limitations associated therewith without impairing the teachings and practice of the present invention.
• It is also understood that various modifications may be made to all of the various embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
• Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a shoe assembly which provides improved comfort and promotes a natural foot motion. As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. The terms “having” and “including” and similar terms as used in the foregoing specification are used in the sense of “optional” or “may include” and not as “required.” Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims (34)

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe assembly comprising:

an anatomically shaped sockliner having a top face and a bottom face, said sockliner having a plurality of grooves on said top face, at least some of said grooves forming a generally undulating geometry;

said sockliner further having a perimeter edge shaped to enable said sockliner to be strobel stitched to an upper; and

an anatomically shaped outsole.

2. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the sockliner further includes a plurality of ridges and valleys on said bottom face, at least some of said ridges and valleys extending across said sockliner in a generally undulating pattern.

3. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the sockliner includes a raised portion at the midfoot region to underlie a medial arch of a wearer's foot.

4. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the top face of the sockliner further includes a recessed area to receive the heel of the foot.

5. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the top face of the sockliner conforms to the general shape of the human foot.

6. The shoe assembly ofclaim 2 wherein the ridges and valleys of the sockliner alternate with one another.

7. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the sockliner is formed from a cushioning material.

8. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the sockliner is formed in unitary construction with an outsole.

9. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the outsole includes a raised portion at the midfoot region to underlie a medial arch of a wearer's foot.

10. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the sockliner includes raised peripheral edges around the hind foot region thereof to receive and wrap around a heel of a wearer's foot.

11. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the outsole includes raised peripheral edges around the hind foot region thereof to receive and wrap around a heel of a wearer's foot.

12. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the sockliner includes a radiused portion at the forefoot region.

13. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 wherein the outsole includes a radiused portion at the forefoot region.

14. The shoe assembly ofclaim 1 including a midfoot support element located between the sockliner and the outsole, the midfoot support element having a higher stiffness than the outsole.

15. The shoe assembly ofclaim 2 wherein the bottom face of said sockliner further includes a base plane, each ridge further including a ridge surface and a ridge sidewall, the ridge surface being positioned parallel and below the base plane, said ridge sidewall extending upwardly towards said base plane, each valley further including a valley surface and a valley sidewall, said valley surface being positioned parallel and above said base plane, said valley sidewall extending downwardly towards said base plane.

16. The shoe assembly ofclaim 2 wherein the top face of said sockliner includes a first base plane, said plurality of grooves extending downwardly below said first base plane, each said groove in said top face including opposing sidewalls and a bottom, the bottom of each groove in said top face residing generally in a first lower plane; and

wherein the bottom face of said sockliner includes a second base plane, said plurality of valleys extending upwardly above said second base plane, each said valley in said bottom face including opposed sidewalls and a top, the top of each valley in said bottom face residing generally in a first upper plane;

said plurality of ridges extending downwardly below said second base plane, each said ridge in said bottom face including opposing sidewalls and a bottom, the bottom of each ridge in said bottom face residing generally in a second lower plane.

17. The shoe assembly ofclaim 2 wherein at least some of said ridges and valleys extend across the sockliner in a generally sinusoidal pattern.

18. A shoe assembly comprising:

an atomically shaped sockliner having a top face and a bottom face;

a plurality of grooves on said top face;

a plurality of alternating ridges and valleys on said bottom face, at least some of said ridges and valleys extending across said sockliner in a generally undulating pattern; and

an anatomically shaped outsole.

19. The shoe assembly ofclaim 18 wherein the sockliner includes a raised portion at the midfoot region to underlie a medial arch of a wearer's foot.

20. The shoe assembly ofclaim 18 wherein the top face of the sockliner further includes a recessed area to receive the heel of the foot.

21. The shoe assembly ofclaim 18 wherein the sockliner is formed from a cushioning material.

22. The shoe assembly ofclaim 18 including a midfoot support element positioned and located between said sockliner and said outsole, said midfoot support element having a higher stiffness than said outsole.

23. The shoe assembly ofclaim 18 wherein said sockliner includes a perimeter edge shaped to enable said sockliner to be strobel stitched to an upper.

24. The shoe assembly ofclaim 18 wherein said sockliner includes a perimeter edge shaped to enable cementing the edges of an upper under the perimeter edge of the sockliner.

25. A shoe assembly comprising:

an anatomically shaped sockliner having a top face and a bottom face, said sockliner having a plurality of grooves on said top face, at least some of said grooves forming a generally undulating geometry;

a strobel insole including a foam inner layer sandwiched between top and bottom fabric layers; and

an anatomically shaped outsole.

26. The shoe assembly ofclaim 25 wherein said sockliner further includes a plurality of ridges and valleys on said bottom face, at least some of said ridges and valleys extending across said bottom face in a generally undulating pattern.

27. The shoe assembly ofclaim 25 wherein the sockliner includes a raised portion at the midfoot region to underlie a medial arch of a wearer's foot.

28. The shoe assembly ofclaim 25 wherein the top face of the sockliner further includes a recessed area to receive the heel of the foot.

29. The shoe assembly ofclaim 25 wherein the sockliner is formed from a cushioning material.

30. The shoe assembly ofclaim 26 wherein the ridges and valleys of the sockliner alternate with one another.

31. The shoe assembly ofclaim 26 wherein said plurality of ridges and valleys extend across said sockliner in a generally sinusoidal wave pattern.

32. The shoe assembly ofclaim 25 wherein said plurality of grooves form a generally sinusoidal wave pattern.

33. The shoe assembly ofclaim 25 including a midfoot support element located between said strobel insole and said outsole, said midfoot support element having a higher stiffness than said outsole.

34. The shoe assembly ofclaim 25 wherein said strobel insole has a hardness in the range of between about 10C and 60C on an Asker Scale.

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