US5174049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shoe soles having a honeycomb insert and shoes, particularly athletic or rehabilitative shoes, utilizing same
Assignee: Puma SE
•
Filing: 1990-12-21
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Granted: 1992-12-29
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Expires: 2010-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A shoe, in particular an athletic or rehabilitative shoe having a resilient cushioning sole layer within which at least one insert part made of a honeycomb body of elastically compressive material is embedded with its central axes oriented perpendicular to the plane of the sole and honeycomb body. For improved resilient and energy return, the honeycomb body is made so that even the cells on the periphery of the body are closed in a gastight manner. Furthermore, in accordance with certain embodiments, the honeycomb insert is mounted in the shoe in a manner which permits endwise viewing of the cells of the honeycomb insert, while protecting the honeycomb against damaging ground contact during use. The honeycomb body can be embedded as an insert in a midsole or heel wedge layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Udo Flemming
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:34
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B13/00; A43B13/14; A43B13/18; A43B13/181; A43B1/00; A43B1/0009; A43B1/0072; A43B3/00; A43B3/0036; A43B3/0047; A43B7/00; A43B7/14; A43B7/1405; A43B7/1455; A43B7/1464; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24149
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
Shoe, in particular an athletic or rehabilitation shoe, with a shoe sole with at least one insert part formed of a planar honeycomb body of elastically compressible material, having gas-filled honeycomb cells with central axes that run at least approximately perpendicular to the plane of the insert, the honeycomb body being made as a self-contained unit having a molded body in which the honeycomb cells are sealed at the periphery of the honeycomb body as well as at upper and lower honeycomb cell openings, and wherein said at least one insert part is located within a cushioning sole layer that is connected to an outsole of the shoe in a manner causing at least top and peripheral sides of the self-contained unit to be enclosed by the cushioning sole material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
Shoe, in particular an athletic or rehabilitation shoe, with a shoe sole with at least one insert part formed of a planar honeycomb body of elastically compressible material, having gas-filled honeycomb cells with central axes that run at least approximately perpendicular to the plane of the insert, the honeycomb body being made as a self-contained unit having a molded body in which the honeycomb cells are sealed at the periphery of the honeycomb body as well as at upper and lower honeycomb cell openings, and wherein said at least one insert part is located within a cushioning sole layer that is connected to an outsole of the shoe in a manner causing at least top and peripheral sides of the self-contained unit to be enclosed by the cushioning sole material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the honeycomb body is provided in a central area below a wearer's heel bone.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
Shoe according to claim 1, wherein a second honeycomb body is provided in a forefoot area of the shoe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Shoe according to claim 1, wherein a second honeycomb body is provided in a ball area of the shoe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the honeycomb body has a substantially constant thickness.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of walls forming the perimeters of the cells vary in size in different areas of the honeycomb body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Shoe according to claim 1, wherein walls forming the honeycomb cells are made frustum-shaped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the honeycomb body is formed of an injection molded part having open-ended cells on the top and bottom of which a respective cover element is attached to render said cells substantially gastight.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
Shoe according to claim 8, wherein each cover element is made as a lid with projections corresponding to inside surfaces of the honeycomb body and which sealingly engage thereagainst.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the honeycomb body is formed of an injection molded part having cells that are open only on one end and wherein, on the one open end of honeycomb cells, a cover element is attached to render the cells substantially gastight.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Shoe according to claim 10, wherein the cover element is made as a lid with projections corresponding to inside surfaces of the honeycomb body and which sealingly engage thereagainst.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
Shoe according to claim 11, wherein the height of projections is about 1 mm to 4 mm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
Shoe according to claim 11, wherein the projections taper at least partially slightly conically.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
Shoe according to claim 1, wherein the shoe sole comprises the outsole, a midsole and an insole; and wherein the cushion sole layer in which the honeycomb body is located is said midsole.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
Shoe according to claim 14, wherein said midsole includes a heel wedge layer and said honeycomb body is provided in said heel wedge layer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
Shoe according to claim 15, wherein the midsole consists of foamed ethylene-vinyl-acetate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
Shoe according to claim 16, wherein the heel wedge layer is formed of foamed polyurethane.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
Shoe according to claim 17, wherein the honeycomb body is formed of a material from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutane, polyamide, polyurethane, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
Shoe according to claim 14, wherein the honeycomb body is inserted in a recess of the midsole.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
11 words
Shoe according to claim 19, wherein the recess is open downward.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
Shoe according to claim 19, wherein the recess is open laterally at least on one side of the sole for enabling insertion of the honeycomb body into the recess.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
Shoe according to claim 21, wherein the recess is sealed by a closure member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
Shoe according to claim 14, wherein the honeycomb body is surrounded on all sides by the material of which the midsole is formed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
Shoe according to claim 23, wherein the honeycomb body is encapsulated by injection molding or casting of the material of the midsole therearound.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
Shoe according to claim 14, wherein a portion of the sole comprised of at least the outsole is downwardly swingable relative to a fixed portion of the sole from approximately an arch area rearward to the heel as a means for enabling insertion of said honeycomb body.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
Shoe according to claim 25, wherein the honeycomb is formed of closed pore foamed material and has a higher density and a greater shore A hardness than at least one of the midsole and heel wedge layer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
Shoe according to claim 25, wherein the honeycomb body is inserted in a recess of the midsole that is exposed by downward swinging of the outer sole.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
Shoe according to claim 25, wherein a part of the midsole is downwardly swingable with the outer sole and wherein the honeycomb body is incorporated into a heel wedge layer which is disposable between the fixed and downwardly swingable portions of the sole.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
36 words
Shoe according to claim 14, wherein the outer sole has a window below the honeycomb body in a heel area and a cover element of elastic material is disposed on the underside of the honeycomb body.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
Shoe according to claim 29, wherein an underside of the cover element is recessed within the sole above the outsole.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
Shoe according to claim 30, wherein the cover element is formed of a translucent or transparent material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
Shoe according to claim 1, wherein inside of the honeycomb cells of the honeycomb body there is a gas pressure of from 1000 hPa to 3000 hPa.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-12-29 | 1996-06-29 | 1996-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-12-29 | 2000-06-29 | 2000-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-12-29 | 2004-06-29 | 2004-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |