EP0298449A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tubular cushioning system for shoes
Assignee: Reebok International Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-07-06
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2008-07-06
Abstract
Abstract The present invention utilizes an upper (22) and a midsole (14) which is disposed in a conventional manner below the upper (22). The midsole includes an elastomeric material and has a number of spaced-apart horizontal tubes (28, 30) extending the width of the midsole (14) which are encapsulated in the elastomeric material. The tubes (28, 30) are hollow and lay side by side in a direction either perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoe (10), parallel to the axis, or in any other direction functional for foot and shoe mechanics. The elastomeric material has a hardness less than the tubes (28, 30) and fills the space between the tubes (28, 30).
Inventors
- 👤 Paul E. Litchfield
- 👤 Juan A. Diaz
- 👤 David E. Miller
- 👤 Tuan Le
- 👤 Steven J. Burris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:52
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B17/00; A43B17/02; A43B17/03; A43B13/00; A43B13/14; A43B13/18; A43B13/20; A43B13/206; A43B13/203; A43B17/035
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A midsole for an athletic shoe, comprising: elastomeric material and a plurality of spaced-apart, juxtaposed, hollow, horizontal tubes extending the width of said midsole, and encapsulated by said elastomeric material; said elastomeric material having a hardness less than said tubes and filling the space between said tubes, said tubes being spaced at a distance effective to compress said elastomeric material between said tubes when force is applied substantially perpendicular to said midsole due to deformation of said tubes, thereby inhibiting said tubes from further compressing said elastomeric material between said tubes which in turn inhibits further compression of said tubes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A midsole for an athletic shoe, comprising: elastomeric material and a plurality of spaced-apart, juxtaposed, hollow, horizontal tubes extending the width of said midsole, and encapsulated by said elastomeric material; said elastomeric material having a hardness less than said tubes and filling the space between said tubes, said tubes being spaced at a distance effective to compress said elastomeric material between said tubes when force is applied substantially perpendicular to said midsole due to deformation of said tubes, thereby inhibiting said tubes from further compressing said elastomeric material between said tubes which in turn inhibits further compression of said tubes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The midsole of claim 1, wherein said tubes have a Shore D Durometer hardness of between 55 and 72.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The midsole of claims 1 or 2, wherein said elastomeric material has an Asker C Durometer hardness of between 35 and 65.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The midsole of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said elastomeric material is polyurethane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The midsole of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said elastomeric material is ethylene vinyl acetate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The midsole of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said tubes are disposed in the heel and/or in the forefoot part of said midsole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The midsole of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said tubes are circular in cross-section and have an outside diameter of between 4 mm and 18 mm and a wall thickness of between 0.4 mm and 1.0 mm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The midsole of claim 7, wherein the spacing between said tubes is between 0.5 mm and 9.0 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The midsole of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said tubes comprise Hytrel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The midsole of any of claims 6 to 9, wherein said tubes disposed in the forefoot part of said midsole are disposed at an angle, substantially parallel to the line formed by the metatarsal joints of the foot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
An athletic shoe, comprising: (a) an upper; (b) a midsole according to any of claims 1 to 10 and being disposed below said upper.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
An athletic shoe, comprising: (a) an upper; (b) a midsole disposed below said upper, said midsole comprising an elastomeric material having a plurality of semicircular half-cylinder, spaced-apart seating grooves and a plurality of hollow tubes seated within the seating grooves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
An athletic shoe, comprising: (a) an upper; (b) a midsole disposed below said upper, said midsole comprising an elastomeric material having a plurality of semicircular half-cylinder, spaced-apart seating grooves and a plurality of hollow tubes seated within the seating grooves.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The athletic shoe of claim 12, wherein said tubes are spaced at a distance effective to compress elastomeric material between said tubes when force is applied substantially perpendicular to said midsole due to deformation of said tubes, thereby inhibiting said tubes from further compressing said elastomeric material between said tubes which in turn inhibits further compression of said tubes.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The athletic shoe of claims 12 or 13, wherein the midsole of the athletic shoe further comprises the features of any of claims 2 to 10, either alone or in combination.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.