GB2200030A

GB2200030A - Hinged, sprung heel

Info

Publication number: GB2200030A
Application number: GB08630785A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kwaun Peng Koh
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-12-23
Filing date: 1986-12-23
Publication date: 1988-07-27
Also published as: GB8630785D0

Abstract

The sole structure 10 for a boot or shoe comprises an instep portion 11 at which an upper heel component 12 is formed integral with the sole portion 13 and at which a lower heel component 14 is hingedly connected for limited angular movement relative to the upper component. The lower heel component 14 is hingedly connected to the instep portion 11 by pivot means 14 whereby the upper and lower heel components are able to move angularly relative to one another about a pivot axis which extends transversely relative to the direction of the length of the article of footwear and which lies substantially perpendicular to the general direction D of said limited angular movement. <IMAGE>

Description

"AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR" This invention relates to an article of footwear and in particular, though not exclusively, to an article of footwear of the kind comprising a ground-engaging foot comprising upper and lower components eapable of limited relative movement.

An article of footwear of the aforementioned kind comprising said upper and lower components commonly is provided with spring medium between the components for the absorption of shock and comfort of the wearer. The upper and lower components commonly are interconnected for relative telescopic movement and maintained within certain limits of relative orientation perpendicular to said direction of relative movement by the interposed spring medium and by the components which are arranged to extend in a direct sliding relationship with one another.

When the wearer tends to twist or pivot his foot there is nevertheless a risk of one of the components falling out of alignment with the other. In some circumstances this can create a risk of damage to the spring medium or the components.

The present'invention seeks inter alia to eliminate or reduce possible misalignment of the components' by providing that in an article of footwear of the kind comprising a ground-engaging foot comprising upper and lower components capable limited relative movement hinge means is provided and arranged to hingedly interconnect said upper and lower components whereby one component may move angularly relative to the other component about at least one axis which lies substantially perpendicular to the general direction of said limited relative movement.

Preferably said at least one axis extends in a direction generally transverse relative to the length of the article of footwear and more preferably said axis lies at or in the vicinity of'a.forwards portion of each of said components.

Preferably the upper and lower components are interconnected by hinge means which extends across substantially the entire width of the article of footwear and is arranged to provide good:resistance to relative movement of the components sconsidered in any plane which contains said at least one axis.

Said upper and lower components may have a spring medium interposed therebetween and arranged to urge said components'to rotate relatively away from one another in the absence of externally applied load. Limit means may be provided to restrict relative angular separation of the components.

Movement of the components angularly one towards the other may be limited directly by the compression resistance of a spring medium or by interengagement of rigid abutment means associated with the components.

The present invention is suitable for use in conjunction with an article of footwear of the kind having a spring medium.'provided between said upper and lower components, a compression element movable relative to one of said components, an adjustable member which is rotatable but not axially displaceable relative to said comp'onent and means operatively connecting the adjustable member and the compression element whereby rotation of the adjustable member displaces the compression element toward or away from said one component thereby to vary the rate of the spring medium without altering the limit stop positions between which the components. are relat,l.vely 'movable by, or against the action of, the spring medium.

The Specification of my International Patent Publication WO 85/02328 describes in more detail constructions of articles of footwear of the kind specified in the preceding paragraph and'this invention is well suited for application to such kinds of footwear.

In addition to the upper and lower components being hingedly interconnected it is preferred that at least one of the components is provided with guide means and that at least the other.of the components is provided with a guide member, said guide means.-and guide member being positioned remote from said at least one axis about which the components are hingedly interconnected and the guide means and guide member being arranged to co-operate to assist in restraining,relative movement of the components in any plane which contains 'said'at least one axis.

Preferably the guide means is elongate and dimensioned so as to receive as a close sliding fit therein.an elongate guide member.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1A and 1B are longitudinal side viewsof or part of an article of footwear in accordance wih the present invention and showing the article' respectively in an unloaded condition and in a fully loaded condition; Figure 2 is an exploded'perspective view of part of the article of footwear shown'in Figures 1A and 1B;; Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to that of,Figure 1A and respectively showing parts of two.other articles of footwear in accordance with the present invention, ad Figures 5A and 5B show an alternative guide assembly,for use with the embodiments of Figures 1A to 4 with the article respectively in an;u,n,loaded and in a fully loaded.condition.

The sole structure 10 (see Figures 1A, 1B and 2)' for a boot or shoe comprises an instep portion 11 which an upper heel component 12 is formed integral with the sole portion 13 and a.t which a lower heel component 14 i.s hingedly connected for limited angular movement relative to the upper component.

The lower heel component 14 is hingedly connected to the instep portion 11 by pivot means 15 whereby the upper and':lower heel one components are able to move angularly relative tolanother.about a pivot axis which extends transversely relative to the direction of the length of the article of footwear and which lies substantially perpendicular to the general direction (D) (see Figures 1A and 1B) of said limited angular movement.

The pivot means 15 comprises a steel pin 16 which is,suProunded by three axially abutting steel sleeves. 17 individually rotatable relative to the pin 16 (see Figure 2).

The upper heel component 12 comprises a pair of transversely spaced shoulder portions 18 each formed with a passage 19 for' location and retention of two respective sleeves 17. The lower heel component 14 comprises a head portion 20 which on assembly fits closely between the shoulder portions 18 and is also formed with a passage 19 in which the third sleeve 17 is located and retained. The sleeves.17;are each an interference fit in a heel component and -in the assembled condition the pin 16 extends through the three sleeves. Relative angular movement of the upper and lower components 12,14 therefore results in relative movement of the pin and sleeves; in consequence such angular movement does not result in the pin causing wear to the shoulder portion 18 or the head portion 20.

A flexible hinge cover 21 of flexible plastics material is glued to the bottom of the sole structure,10 and lower heel component 14 so as- to cover the pivot means 15 and assist in restraining ingress of dirt to the pivot means.

The lower heel component 14 is of a hollow coristruction and serves to house part of a spring medium comprised by a soft sponge or foam rubber element 22 of suitable soft stiffne'ss ,and .proyided between the heel components. The spring element 22 normally urges the components angularly apart to the position shown in Figure 1A, in the absence of externally applied load, and also serves t'o'absorb shock loads when the heel is impacted on the' ,ground. Movement of the heel components towardskone another is restricted by side-wall portions of the lower component 14 abutting the upper component 12.

Separation of.the heel components is limited by an elongate guide assembly 23 provided at a rear region of the heel components. The guidance assembly comprises in the lower heel component an elongate groove 24 which provides location for a pair of steel plate inserts 25 which help to prevent wear of the lower component. An elongate steel slide bar link lever 26 is a sliding fit in a groove defined by the steel plate inserts 25. The link lever 26 is.provided at each end with a retention pin 27. One pin serves to secüre'.the.link lever to the upper heel component and the other pin runs in auxiliary grooves defined by the steel inserts 25. The pins 27 extend parallel with the hinge pin 16.The auxiliary grooves have end abutments 28 arranged to co-operate with said other pin 27 to limit angular'movement of the lower heel component away from the upper heel c'omponent.

The elongate wide assembly limits separation of.the,heel components and also assists the pivot means 15 in'restraining relative movement of the components in any plane which contains the pivot axis.

Good alignment of the heel components is thereby facilitated.

The spring medium 22 and pivot means 15 are protected from the external environment by the aforementioned cover 21 and by a flexible skirt 29 which extends between and is sealed to each of the heel components.

In a rest condition, in the absence of significant externally applied load, the spring medium 22 is in an expanded condition as shown in Figure 1A. When weight is placed on the heel the components 12,14 move angularly towards one another as viewed, and tp the position shown, in Figure 1B. By flexing between these two positions the spring medium absorbs the shocks inherent in walking or running.

In the embodiment of Figure 3 the pivot means 15 of Figures 1A, 1B and 2 is replaced by a hinge comprised by a portion 30 off flexible material between the sole structure 10 and lower heel component 14.

The lower component 14 has shoulder portions 31 ,which locate in recesses 33 in the sole structure and is held in position bya pin 33.

During angular movement the axis about:which the lowerwcomponent moves angularly will move slightly with change of angular movement; this construction may therefore be regarded as having a plurality of hinge axes.

In the embodiment of Figure 4 the alignment: func.tion.performed by the guide assembly 23 of Figures 1A, 1B and 2 is replaced or supplemented by complementary shaped teeth.formatwons 40 dn confronting surfaces of the upp.er and lower heel components.

In the embodiment of Figures 5A and 5B the guide assembly 23 of Figures 1B, 1B and 2 is replaced by an articulated guide comprising a pair of links 50 pivotally interconnected and pivotally secured to a respective heel component. The pivot axes of the links 50 are parallel with the pivot axis or axes of the hinge means 51.

Claims

1. An article of footwear of the kind comprising a ground-engaging foot comprising upper and lower components capable of limited relative movement hinge means is provided and arranged to hingedly 'interconnect said upper and lower components whereby one component may move angularly relative to the other component about at least one axis which lies substantially perpendicular to the general direction of said limited relative movement.

2. An article of footwear according to Claim 1, wherein said at least one axis extends in a direction generally transverse relative tc. the length of the article of footwear and more preferably said axis lies at or in the vicinity of a forwards portion of each of said components.

3. An article of footwear according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper and lower components are interconnected by hinge means which extends across substantially the entire width of the article of footwear and is arranged to provide good resistance to relative movement of the components as considered in any plane which contains said at least one axis.

4. An article of footwear according to any preceding claim, wherein said upper and lower components have a spring medium interposed therebetween and arranged to urge said components to rotate relatively away from one another in the absence of externally applied load and limit means may be. provided to restrict relative angular separation of the components.