Sole for hiking boots and the like

Claim 2

A sole member adapted to be affixed to an upper portion of a hiking boot and the like, the sole member having a heel portion at a rear end thereof, a toe portion at a front end thereof, a top surface and a bottom tread surface, the tread surface between first and second locations intermediate the ends of the sole member being disposed in a base plane of the sole member, the rear end of the sole member having a distinct substantially straight extent substantially perpendicular to the length of the sole member whereby the sole member has a substantially square heel when viewed from the top, the tread surface being curved concave upward proceeding rearwardly therealong from the first location so that the heel portion when viewed from the side along a line substantially parallel to the top surface has a first curved configuration in which the tread surface extends substantially cylindrically curvilinearly away from the base plane substantially to the top surface to the substantially straight extent of the sole member at the rear end thereof, the tread surface being curved concave upward proceeding forwardly therealong from the second location so that the toe portion when viewed from the side along said line has a second curved configuration in which the tread surface extends curvilinearly away from the base plane substantially to the top surface, whereby in use of a hiking boot and the like incorporating the sole member the configuration of the sole member tread surface adjacent the rear end of the member affords substantially line contact between the sole and a ground surface and tends to direct the boot and the like to roll straight ahead.

Claim 3

A sole member according to claim 1 wherein the sole member is substantially stiff and resistant to flexing in directions transversely of its elongate extent.

Claim 4

A sole member according to claim 1 wherein the curvatures of the tread surface in the first and second configurations are substantially cylindrical, each cylinder having a directrix substantially parallel to the base plane and substantially perpendicular to the elongate extent of the sole member.

Claim 5

A sole member according to claim 3 wherein each cylinder is of progressively greater curvature proceeding therealong toward the sole end associated therewith.

Claim 6

A sole for hiking boots and the like comprising an elongate sole member adapted to be affixed to an upper portion of a boot, the sole member having a heel portion at a rear end thereof, a toe portion at a front end thereof, an arch portion intermediate the heel and toe portions along the length of the sole member, a top surface and a bottom tread surface, the tread surface forwardly and rearwardly of the arch portion being disposed in a base plane of the sole member, the rear end of the sole member having a distinct substantially straight extent substantially perpendicular to the length of the sole member whereby the sole member has a substantially square heel shape when viewed along a line substantially normal to the top surface, the tread surface being curved concave upward proceeding rearwardly therealong from adjacent the arch portion through the rear extent of the heel portion so that the heel portion, when viewed from the side along a line substantially parallel to the top surface, has a first curved configuration in which the tread surface extends substantially cylindrically curvilinearly away from the base plane substantially to the top surface to the substantially straight extent of the sole member at the rear end thereof, the tread surface being curved concave upward proceeding forwardly therealong from adjacent the arch portion so that the toe portion, when viewed from the side along said parallel line, has a second curved configuration in which the tread surface extends away from the base plane substantially to the top surface, the top surface at the front and rear ends of the sole member being spaced substantially equally from the base plane, whereby in use of a hiking boot and the like incorporating the sole member the configuration of the sole member tread surface adjacent the rear end of the member affords substantially line contact between the sole and a ground surface and tends to direct the boot and the like to roll straight ahead.

Claim 7

A sole for hiking boots and the like comprising an elongate sole member adapted to be affixed to an upper portion of a boot, the sole member having a heel portion at a rear end thereof, a toe portion at a front end thereof, an arch portion intermediate the heel and toe portions along the length of the sole member, a top surface and a bottom tread surface, the tread surface forwardly and rearwardly of the arch portion being disposed in a base plane of the sole member, the rear end of the sole member having a distinct substantially straight extent substantially perpendicular to the length of the sole member whereby the sole member has a substantially square heel shape when viewed along a line substantially normal to the top surface, the tread surface being curved concave upward proceeding rearwardly therealong from adjacent the arch portion through the rear extent of the heel portion so that the heel portion, when viewed from the side along a line substantially parallel to the top surface, has a first curved configuration in which the tread surface extends substantially cylindrically curvilinearly away from the base plane substantially to the top surface to the substantially straight extent of the sole member at the rear end thereof, the tread surface being curved concave upward proceeding forwardly therealong from adjacent the arch portion so that the toe portion, when viewed from the side along said parallel line, has a second curved configuration in which the tread surface extends away from the base plane substantially to the top surface, the top surface at the front and rear ends of the sole member being spaced substantially equally from the base plane, whereby in use of a hiking boot and the like incorporating the sole member the configuration of the sole member tread surface adjacent the rear end of the member affords substantially line contact between the sole and a ground surface and tends to direct the boot and the like to roll straight ahead.

Claim 8

A sole according to claim 5 wherein the straight extent of the sole member at the rear end thereof is a substantial fraction of the overall width of the sole member.

Claim 9

A sole according to claim 6 wherein said fraction is on the order of at least about one-half.

Claim 10

A sole according to claim 5 wherein the sole member is substantially stiff and resistant to flexing in directions transversely of its elongate extent.

Claim 11

A sole according to claim 8 wherein the top surface is recessed over a substantial portion of its area, and rib means raised from the bottom of the recess toward the top surface and extending substantially parallel to the elongate extent of the sole member.

Claim 12

A sole according to claim 5 wherein the top surface is recessed over a substantial portion of its area inwardly of the periphery thereof.

Claim 13

A sole according to claim 10 wherein the sole member is defined of a relatively hard material, and including a quantity of resilient cushion material disposed in the recess.

Claim 14

A sole according to claim 5 wherein the curvatures of the tread surface in the first and second configurations are substantially cylindrical, each cylinder having a directrix substantially parallel to the base plane and substantially perpendicular to the elongate extent of the sole member.

Claim 15

A sole according to claim 12 wherein the cylinders are substantially faired into the base plane at the ends of said configurations inwardly of the ends of the sole member.

Claim 16

A sole according to either one of claims 12 and 13 wherein each cylinder is of progressively greater curvature proceeding therealong toward the corresponding end of the sole member.

Claim 17

A sole according to claim 5 wherein, in the arch portion, the tread surface defines a recess which extends across the width of the sole member and for a selected distance along the length of the sole member.

Claim 18

A sole according to claim 15 wherein the recess has a rear wall disposed substantially normal to the base plane.

Claim 19

A sole according to claim 5 wherein the tread surface throughout the arch portion is disposed in the base plane.

Claim 20

In a hiking boot and the like having a substantially stiff and inflexible sole construction, an improved sole member having a bottom tread surface configured to provide substantial guided rolling action of the boot along a ground surface thereby to reduce muscle fatigue, the tread surface having a heel portion at a rear end thereof, a toe portion at a front end thereof, and a top surface connected to an inner sole of the boot, the tread surface between first and second locations intermediate the ends of the sole member being disposed in a base plane of the sole member, the rear end of the sole member having a distinct substantially straight extent substantially perpendicular to the length of the sole member whereby the sole member has a substantially square heel when viewed from the top, the tread surface being curved concave upward proceeding rearwardly therealong from the first location so that the heel portion when viewed from the side along a line substantially parallel to the top surface has a first curved configuration in which the tread surface extends substantially cylindrically curvilinearly away from the base plane substantially to the top surface to the substantially straight extent of the sole member at the rear end thereof, the tread surface being curved concave upward proceeding forwardly therealong from the second location so that the toe portion when viewed from the side along said line has a second curved configuration in which the tread surface extends curvilinearly away from the base plane substantially to the top surface.

Claim 21

In a hiking boot and the like having a substantially stiff and inflexible sole construction, an improved sole member having a bottom tread surface configured to provide substantial guided rolling action of the boot along a ground surface thereby to reduce muscle fatigue, the tread surface having a heel portion at a rear end thereof, a toe portion at a front end thereof, and a top surface connected to an inner sole of the boot, the tread surface between first and second locations intermediate the ends of the sole member being disposed in a base plane of the sole member, the rear end of the sole member having a distinct substantially straight extent substantially perpendicular to the length of the sole member whereby the sole member has a substantially square heel when viewed from the top, the tread surface being curved concave upward proceeding rearwardly therealong from the first location so that the heel portion when viewed from the side along a line substantially parallel to the top surface has a first curved configuration in which the tread surface extends substantially cylindrically curvilinearly away from the base plane substantially to the top surface to the substantially straight extent of the sole member at the rear end thereof, the tread surface being curved concave upward proceeding forwardly therealong from the second location so that the toe portion when viewed from the side along said line has a second curved configuration in which the tread surface extends curvilinearly away from the base plane substantially to the top surface.