WO2008143465A1

WO2008143465A1 - A midsole for masai walking specialized footwear having an airbag and tunnel

Info

Publication number: WO2008143465A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/002841
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ho-Hyoung Lee
Original assignee: Rynkorea Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2007-05-21
Filing date: 2008-05-21
Publication date: 2008-11-27
Also published as: KR100800063B1; CA2683891A1

Abstract

This invention relates to a midsole in use for Masai walking specialized rolling footwear, having an upper pad in where an airbag and tunnel are formed; the midsole can be easy and simply produced because at least one supporting projection made of polyurethane is formed on the airbag and tunnel; superior shape recovery of a bottom piece bending frequently during walking is accomplished and an effect of the walk stability increases, as well as keeping the bottom piece and footwear initial forms by preventing the supporting projection made of polyurethane from hydrolysis reaction.

Description

A MIDSOLE FOR MASAI WALKING SPECIALIZED FOOTWEAR HAVING AN AIRBAG AND TUNNEL

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a midsole for a Masai walking specialized rolling footwear having an airbag and tunnel, particularly the midsole can be easy and simply produced because at least one supporting projection made of polyurethane is formed on the airbag and tunnel, superior shape recovery of a bottom piece bending frequently during walking is accomplished and an effect of the walk stability increases, as well as keeping the bottom piece and footwear initial forms by preventing the supporting projection made of polyurethane from hydrolysis reaction. Background Art

[2] In Korean Patent 10-377822, the numbers '1, 2, 3, 10, 12 and 13' indicate footwear, leather, bottom piece, insole, midsole and outsole respectively. Referring to description of the Korean Patent 10-377822, the term Masai walking specialized 'active rolling footwear' indicates footwear having an effect of Masai tribal walking where the bottom piece has a curved shape with no heeltap, and 'Masai walking' is illustrated in Fig.2 to 4, as followings:

[3] Korea Walking Association, World Walking Association and common consumers name the footwear having an effect of Masai walking without the heeltap and having a curve shaped bottom piece "Masai Bearfoot Technology Footwear", and it is also called "Masai Walking specialized Shoes" or "Masai tribal walking specialized shoes" in general books, newspapers, magazines, as well as internet.

[4] In general, the foot's motion on the ground carries out repeatedly typical 3 steps, namely, landing step by the heel, center moving step from the heel to the toe, and leaving step from the ground. Since conventional footwear has a heeltap at a right angle to the ground, and conventional shoes have a sharp edge on the heeltap and the edge touches firstly with the ground during landing step, the impact during landing step is large because of the narrow liner shape of the heeltap's landing surface, and as the next center moving step is carried out at a stroke, a sudden impact is transferred to each joint of the body and legs, resulting in bad landing sensitivity and unnatural walking.

[5]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] In case that a soft bearfoot of hardness 15-30 is used, since the soft bearfoot is made of soft sponge material and hydrolysis reaction occurs in water or wet ground, there is a problem that the bearfoot become ragged less than a month in case of walking in a wet ground or a farm, and another problem that the footwear comprised of a soft bearfoot made of soft sponge with hardness 15-30 can absorb water and the water ?absorbed sponge is continuously forced by a body weight 60-100 Kg all day, possibly more than several tens thousands times per a day during a month, resulting in the bearfoot' s ragging. Furthermore, in case that a marathon or running is carried out with a footwear comprised of a bearfoot material having hardness 15-30, the bearfoot is torn out from the footwear because the sponge is forced by the heeltap pressed with a body weight 100 - 300 Kg. In particular, there is occurred a problem of recall for repairing the bottom piece because the bearfoot was ragged less than one month even so the footwear was gave parents as a presents.

[7]

Technical Solution

[8] The present invention is provided for solving the above problems occurred in the conventional footwear, and an object of the invention is to provide a midsole for use in Masai walking specialized rolling footwear having an airbag and tunnel, while the midsole can be easy and simply produced because at least one supporting projection made of polyurethane is formed on the airbag and tunnel, superior shape recovery of the bottom piece bending frequently during walking is accomplished and an effect of the walk stability increases, as well as keeping the bottom piece and footwear initial forms by preventing the supporting projection made of polyurethane from hydrolysis reaction.

Advantageous Effects

[9] In the rolling footwear having the midsole, since the initial forms of

[10] the bottom piece and footwear are kept well, the recovery of the bottom piece into the initial form is well carried out and the shape of the bottom piece remains the elastic and strong form, a light walking and superior walking effect are accomplished by pushing the toe forward with added repulsive force of the leaving step, as well as the walking stability is high.

[11] As described above, since an airbag and tunnel are formed on the upper

[12] pad and at least one supporting projection is formed in the airbag and tunnel according to the invention, the midsole for use in the rolling footwear can be made easy. Further, the polyurethane supporting projection is prevented from breakage caused by hydrolysis reaction because it does not absorb water or wet soil so that the bottom piece and footwear remain initial forms; the bottom piece's recovery is well accomplished from frequent bending during walking. Accordingly, the invention is very useful in the field of footwear industry. [13] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purpose, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. [14]

Brief Description of the Drawings [15] The above and other objection features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [16] Fig.1 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a bottom piece for conventional Masai walking specialized footwear,

[17] Fig.2 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled bottom piece according to Fig.l,

[18] Fig.3 is an exploded cross sectional view of a midsole for Masai walking footwear having an airbag and tunnel according to an embodiment of the present invention, [19] Fig.4 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled midsole according to Fig.3,

[20] Fig.5 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled midsole having an outsole according to Fig.4, [21] Fig.6 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a midsole for Masai walking specialized footwear including an outsole according to an embodiment of the invention, [22] Fig.7 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled midsole according to Fig.6,

[23] Fig.8 is a perspective view of Masai walking specialized footwear having a midsole according to the invention, [24] Fig.9 is an exploded view of a midsole having an airbag and tunnel according to another embodiment of invention,

[25] Fig.10 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled midsole according to Fig.9,

[26] Fig.11 is an exploded view of a midsole having an airbag and tunnel according to another embodiment of the invention,

[27] Fig.12 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled midsole according to Fig.11,

[28] Fig.13 is a perspective view of Masai walking specialized footwear having a midsole according to the invention, [29] Fig.14 is an exploded view of a midsole having an airbag and tunnel according to another embodiment of the invention,

[30] Fig.15 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled midsole according to Fig.14,

[31] Fig.16 is a bottom view of a midsole having a shank according to the invention, and

[32] Fig.17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B' of Fig.12 Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[34] According to the present invention, a Masai walking specialized rolling footwear comprises a leather, slipsole, insole, convex shaped midsole having high elastic shanks, and convex shaped outsole, wherein the midsole is made of polyurethane having hardness 50-70, a heeltap has a hole through from a side to the other side and the midsole has a curve shaped tunnel (112, 212) with a curved surface, at least one supporting projection made of polyurethane is formed on the upper surface of the tunnel, and furthermore the midsole features that the tunnel (112, 212) is formed under state a upper pad (110) and under pad (120) attached each other wherein the upper pad (110) has airbags (128, 128' 128-1, 128-1' 228, 228') on a side or both sides of the tunnel(l 12, 212); the under pad (120) covers the tunnel (112, 212) of the upper pad (110).

[35]

[36] The midsole for Masai walking specialized rolling footwear having an airbag and tunnel of the present invention features that the tunnel is formed unitary shape on the heeltap portion according to an embodiment; the tunnel is formed in several tunnels shape from the heeltap to the toe portion according to another embodiment; and the tunnel is formed in unitary from the heeltap to the toe portion. Further, The midsole for Masai walking specialized rolling footwear having an airbag and tunnel of the present invention features that the airbag is formed unitary shape on the heeltap according to an embodiment; the airbag is formed in several airbags shape from the heeltap to the toe portion according to another embodiment; and the airbag is formed in unitary from the heeltap to toe portion.

[37] The midsole for Masai walking specialized rolling footwear according to the invention features more that the upper pad (110) is forked by several slits (29a) opened into free ends at given positions and have a high elastic shank (29) having beed shaped ribs (29b) for enforcement formed on the inside part thereof.

[38] Rolling footwear according to the invention comprises leather (10), bottom piece and slipsole, the bottom piece consists of an insole (21), midsole (22) and outsole (24). In addition, the footwear has not the heeltap so that the curved bottom piece has the same effect as Masai walking. With reference to Fig.5, the heeltap of the outsole (24) is formed like curved shape with an inclination angle of 5-40 degrees. When the inclination angle is less than 5 degree, there is not the effect of Masai walking, whereas the pose becomes unstable during put on or standing due to the rapid inclination angle when the angle is more than 40 degree.

[39]

[40] According to the invention, a tunnel (112) is formed on the heeltap along the curved surface, as shown in Fig.3 to 4, and according to another embodiment, a tunnel (212) is formed across the heeltap to the toe portion of the midsole as shown in Fig.9 to 11. Preferably, several tunnels can be provided in the separated form in case of providing across the heeltap to the toe portion.

[41] As shown in Figs.3 to 8, for producing the midsole (22), the upper pad (110) and under pad (120) are independently made of polyurethane with hardness 50-70, and then an edge of the under pad (120) is attached to an edge of the tunnel (112) of the upper pad (110) in the condition the supporting projection (114) of the upper pad (110) and under pad (120) are placed each other in the corresponding positions, and finally the midsole (22) having the tunnel is mounted in a footwear. When the hardness of the midsole (22) is less than 50, the midsole cannot play the role of a support due to the over-softness, whereas over 70, the midsole cannot play the role of an elastic function due to over-hardness.

[42] The rolling footwear of the invention, as shown in Figs. 3 to 8, the supporting projection between one and twenty made of polyurethane are formed on the under surface of the upper pad (110) in order to increase elastic and recovery forces. According to the invention, airbags (128, 128-1, 228) are formed on an inside or outside of the tunnel (112, 212) of the upper pad (110), or formed on both sides. Alternatively, several airbags (128-1, 128'-I) can be preferably formed in case the airbags are formed across the heeltap portion to the toe portion as shown Fig.14.

[43] In a midsole having an airbag and tunnel according to the invention, the tunnel is formed on the heeltap portion as shown in Fig.3 to 8, formed across the heeltap portion to the toe portion, or formed on a portion between the heeltap and toe portion.

[44] As shown in Fig.3 to 8, the upper pad (110) has a heeltap tunneled through a side to the other side thereof, a curved tunnel (112, 212) is formed with a heeltap's inclination angle 5-40 on the pad, at least one polyurethane supporting projection (114) is formed on the upper surface of the tunnel (112, 212), and the projections comprise preferably one big size and the other smaller ranged 5 to 40.

[45] The midsole of the invention reduces the hardness to half and increase buffering effect due to the tunnel (112, 212) comparing with the without. In the upper pad (110)' s midsole of the invention, the common footwear shape with almost plat heeltap is formed in case of the inclination angle being zero degree, the bottom shape of the heeltap is formed in a curved surface in case of the inclination angle being 5-40, preferably 20-40 and the smooth curved shape is formed with increasing the angle rearward. The midsole' s curved shape (22), therefore, is smoothly formed with increasing the angle rearward. The curved shape is preferably formed along the heel and the heel's moving trace against the ankle joint during walking, and the inclination angle (R) is more effect in case of being 5-40 degrees. [46] Due to the upper pad (110) having the tunnel (112, 212) with supporting projection

(114) according to the invention, the tunnel (112, 212) is placed parallel with the ground in the condition of engaging with the under pad (120) during landing step so that the buffering effect increases, and the contracted tunnel during landing and center moving steps is recovered shapely so that the walking effect increases by generating a repulsive force. The tunnel of the midsole according to the invention can be produced in the manner that the supporting projection (114) of the upper pad (110) and the under pad (120) adhere closely to each other or glued by an adhesive.

[47] The midsole (22) is formed in panel style after patterning the bottom piece, a high elastic shank (29) is built in the upper of the midsole (22), and the bottom surface of heeltap is formed in a curved shape patterning the heel's shape and its moving trace, resulting in rolling effect against the ground during walking. The high elastic shank (29) built in the midsole according to the invention has several slits (29a) opened forward the free end at given positions and has beed shaped ribs (29) for an enforcement, and the bottom surface of heeltap is formed in a curved shape patterning the heel's shape and its moving trace, resulting in rolling effect against the ground during walking.

[48] Referring with Fig.3 to 17, a high elastic shank (29) keeping the initial forms of the bottom piece and footwear is formed, and recovers easy the bottom piece bending and stretching frequently during walking to be initial form and enhances the stability of walking and make walking nimble movement by generating repulsive force. The shank (29) built in the midsole of the invention can be made of any material or shape but preferably made of PVC material and panel style patterning the shape of the midsole, and preferably the forward portion of the shank (29) having a large bending angle is forked by several slits (29a) opened forward free end for allowing the toe's bending to be soft, and beed shaped ribs (29b) are formed in the center of the midsole for allowing the molding fluid to be flowed by the several formed holes (29c).

[49] The foot's movements are categorized by landing, center moving and leaving steps on the ground. During landing step, the impact of the landing is relatively reduced because of the bottom piece's large surface, the buffering effect is high and smooth landing is made because the airbag and tunnel are contracted parallel with the ground, and the midsole having the tunnel increase the buffering effect by reducing the hardness comparing with the without. In the rolling footwear having a midsole according to the invention, the under surface of the heeltap play a rolling movement along the ground and the impact is absorbed in dispersive. Further, in the rolling footwear having the midsole according to the invention, rapid impact does not occur in any joints of the leg and body and smooth walking is accomplished because the center moves slowly along the curved shape. As the heeltap of the bottom piece takes off from the ground during the leaving step, the contracted tunnel during prior step is recovered and the walking effect is high and becomes light due to the generated repulsive force.

[50] In the rolling footwear having the midsole, since the initial forms of the bottom piece and footwear are kept well, the recovery of the bottom piece into the initial form is well carried out and the shape of the bottom piece remains the elastic and strong form, a light walking and superior walking effect are accomplished by pushing the toe forward with added repulsive force of the leaving step, as well as the walking stability is high.

[51] As described above, since an airbag and tunnel are formed on the upper pad and at least one supporting projection is formed in the airbag and tunnel according to the invention, the midsole for use in the rolling footwear can be made easy. Further, the polyurethane supporting projection is prevented from breakage caused by hydrolysis reaction because it does not absorb water or wet soil so that the bottom piece and footwear remain initial forms; the bottom piece's recovery is well accomplished from frequent bending during walking. Accordingly, the invention is very useful in the field of footwear industry.

[52] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purpose, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

[53]

[54]

Claims

[1] 1. Masai walking specialized rolling footwear comprised of a leather, slipsole, insole, convex shaped midsole having a high elastic shank, and convex shaped outsole, wherein the midsole consists of a upper pad (110) and under pad (120), the upper pad (110) has a forward portion forked by several slits (29a) opened to free ends at given positions, a high elastic shank (29) having beed shaped ribs (29b) for enforcement built in the upper inner of the upper pad's center portion, is made of polyurethane with hardness 50-70, and has a half oval tunnel (112, 212) holed through a side to the other side of the heeltap and curved against the ground, at least one polyurethane supporting projection is formed, and airbags (128, 128', 128-1, 128-1', 228, 228') are formed on both side of the tunnel (112, 212); the under pad (120) covers the tunnel (112, 212) formed on the upper pad (110); and the midsole is formed by adhering the upper pad (110) and under pad (120) with an adhesive.

[2] Masai walking specialized rolling footwear according to claim 1, the tunnel is one selected from a tunnel formed unitary on the heeltap portion of footwear, a tunnel formed in several tunnels shape across the heeltap portion to the toe portion of footwear, or a tunnel formed unitary across the heeltap portion to the toe portion of footwear.

[3] Masai walking specialized rolling footwear according to claim 1, the airbag is one selected from an airbag formed unitary on the heeltap portion of footwear, an airbag formed in several airbags shape across the heeltap portion to the toe portion of footwear, or an airbag formed unitary across the heeltap portion to the toe portion of footwear.