US5042175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
User-specific shoe sole coil spring system and method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1990-01-30
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Granted: 1991-08-27
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Expires: 2010-01-30
Abstract
Abstract A user-specific shoe sole coil spring system (10) provided as a customized layout of individual coil springs which are seated in a shoe sole cushion (12) having prefabricated circular depressions (14) on its surface. The coil spring system layout and stiffness characteristics may be customized to serve the needs of different users and different applications. A user's weight and particular comfort and/or orthopedic requirements are met in a given shoe size by fitting it with a greater or lesser quantity of springs with different levels of stiffness, or the layout may be a combination of levels. The result is a shock absorption distribution patterns and energy return system for the shoe sole cushion (12) to suit the requirements of a particular application. The sole cushion (12) has a cover strip (17) overlaying the coil spring system (10) which is openable and reclosable for allowing changes in the layout as required, or an entire sole cushion (12) may be replaced as a unit. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel Ronen
- 👤 Shoshana Talmor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:18
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B13/00; A43B13/14; A43B13/18; A43B13/181; A43B13/182
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A two-part shoe construction providing a coil spring system for absorbing shocks and returning energy in a shoe sole, said system comprising: a shoe body having a sealed bottom surface and a hollow base compartment; a flexible sole cushion having formed on a upper side thereof, a plurality of recesses; a plurality of coil springs arranged in a layout over the area of said flexible sole cushion, each of said coil springs being seated within one of said recesses; and a cover strip overlaying said flexible sole cushion and said coil springs to form a sealed unit, said coil spring layout providing shock absorption and energy return upon compression in accordance with a predetermined distribution pattern in relation to a stiffness characteristic associated with each of said coil springs, said sealed unit being removably insertable into said hollow base compartment via an opening in said shoe body, enabling replacement of said sealed unit with another and allowing variation of said coil spring layout and said predetermined distribution pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A two-part shoe construction providing a coil spring system for absorbing shocks and returning energy in a shoe sole, said system comprising: a shoe body having a sealed bottom surface and a hollow base compartment; a flexible sole cushion having formed on a upper side thereof, a plurality of recesses; a plurality of coil springs arranged in a layout over the area of said flexible sole cushion, each of said coil springs being seated within one of said recesses; and a cover strip overlaying said flexible sole cushion and said coil springs to form a sealed unit, said coil spring layout providing shock absorption and energy return upon compression in accordance with a predetermined distribution pattern in relation to a stiffness characteristic associated with each of said coil springs, said sealed unit being removably insertable into said hollow base compartment via an opening in said shoe body, enabling replacement of said sealed unit with another and allowing variation of said coil spring layout and said predetermined distribution pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of coil springs have varying stiffness characteristics each in relation to its associated spring constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said cover strip is attached to said flexible sole cushion in separable fashion so as to allow access to said coil spring layout for making changes therein in accordance with user-specific requirements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said cover strip is provided with a rib extending around its circumference and said flexible sole cushion is provided with a groove formed in its outer circumference, said rib being removably insertable into said groove for attaching said cover strip to said flexible sole cushion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said sealed unit is removably insertable into said hollow base compartment via a slotted opening in said shoe body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said sealed unit has formed on an outer edge thereof a set of grooves into which ribs provided on said slotted opening are insertable, for locking said sealed unit into position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 wherein each of said coil springs has mounted therein at an end thereof a substantially cylindrical plug formed with a shoulder upon which said coil spring end rests.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said plug has a flat head.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said plug has a rounded tip for providing stimulation of a particular area of the foot.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of assembling a two-part shoe construction to enable customizing a coil spring system layout designed to absorb shocks and return energy in a shoe sole in accordance with user-specific requirements, said method comprising the steps of: removing a shoe sole cushion from a shoe body having a sealed bottom surface and a hollow base compartment; separating from the shoe sole cushion a cover layer overlaying and enclosing the coil spring system in the shoe sole cushion; adjusting at least one of the layout and stiffness of coil springs in the opened shoe sole cushion, so as to customize it; replacing said cover layer on said customized shoe sole cushion; and replacing said customized shoe sole cushion in said shoe body.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of assembling a two-part shoe construction to enable customizing a coil spring system layout designed to absorb shocks and return energy in a shoe sole in accordance with user-specific requirements, said method comprising the steps of: removing a shoe sole cushion from a shoe body having a sealed bottom surface and a hollow base compartment; separating from the shoe sole cushion a cover layer overlaying and enclosing the coil spring system in the shoe sole cushion; adjusting at least one of the layout and stiffness of coil springs in the opened shoe sole cushion, so as to customize it; replacing said cover layer on said customized shoe sole cushion; and replacing said customized shoe sole cushion in said shoe body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said shoe sole cushion removal and replacement steps are performed by opening a slot formed in said base compartment of said shoe body, and sliding said shoe sole cushion therethrough.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said shoe sole cushion removal and replacement steps are performed by respectively pulling and pushing said shoe sole cushion through the top opening in said shoe body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said cover layer separating step is performed by prying a rib formed on the circumferential edge of said shoe sole cushion from a groove formed in the circumference of said cover layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said cover layer replacing step is performed by pressing a rib formed on the circumferential edge of said shoe sole cushion into a groove formed in the circumference of said cover layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
227 words
A two-part shoe construction providing a coil spring system for absorbing shocks and returning energy in a shoe sole, said system comprising: a shoe body having a sealed bottom surface and a hollow base compartment; a flexible sole cushion having formed on an upper side thereof, a plurality of recesses; a plurality of coil springs arranged in a layout over the area of said flexible sole cushion, each of said coil springs being seated within one of said recesses; and a cover strip overlaying said flexible sole cushion and said coil springs to form a sealed unit, a circumferential rib of said cover strip being provided with a rib extending around its circumference which is removably insertable into a groove formed in the circumference of said flexible sole cushion for attaching said cover strip to said flexible sole cushion, thereby allowing access to said coil spring layout for making changes therein in accordance with user-specific requirements, said coil spring layout providing shock absorption and energy return upon compression in accordance with a predetermined distribution pattern in relation to a stiffness characteristic associated with each of said coil springs, said sealed unit being removably insertable into said hollow base compartment via an opening in said shoe body, enabling replacement of said sealed unit with another and allowing variation of said coil spring layout and said predetermined distribution pattern.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
227 words
A two-part shoe construction providing a coil spring system for absorbing shocks and returning energy in a shoe sole, said system comprising: a shoe body having a sealed bottom surface and a hollow base compartment; a flexible sole cushion having formed on an upper side thereof, a plurality of recesses; a plurality of coil springs arranged in a layout over the area of said flexible sole cushion, each of said coil springs being seated within one of said recesses; and a cover strip overlaying said flexible sole cushion and said coil springs to form a sealed unit, a circumferential rib of said cover strip being provided with a rib extending around its circumference which is removably insertable into a groove formed in the circumference of said flexible sole cushion for attaching said cover strip to said flexible sole cushion, thereby allowing access to said coil spring layout for making changes therein in accordance with user-specific requirements, said coil spring layout providing shock absorption and energy return upon compression in accordance with a predetermined distribution pattern in relation to a stiffness characteristic associated with each of said coil springs, said sealed unit being removably insertable into said hollow base compartment via an opening in said shoe body, enabling replacement of said sealed unit with another and allowing variation of said coil spring layout and said predetermined distribution pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said sealed unit is removably insertable into said hollow base compartment via a slotted opening in said shoe body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said sealed unit is removably insertable into said hollow base compartment via the top opening of said shoe body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-26 | 1995-02-25 | 1995-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-26 | 1999-02-25 | 1999-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-26 | 2003-02-25 | 2003-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |