SHOE OUTER SOLE WITH SURFACE PORTIONS FOR FLOCKING

Abstract

The shoe outer sole includes a ball region and a heel region. The ball region includes a first and second longitudinally extending lobes, with a narrower third middle lobe connected therebetween, for adhering flocking to the shoe outsole. The heel region includes fourth and fifth lobes connected together and forming a J-shape conforming to an outside area of a heel of a wearer, for adhering flocking to the shoe outsole.

Claims

1. A shoe outsole having a front toe, a rear heel, and medial and lateral side edges therebetween, a length with a longitudinal axis, a width, and a main bottom surface, comprising: a main common region including a tread pattern including first ridges and grooves extending laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a ball region of the shoe outsole in an area of a ball of a wearer's foot, said ball region having a contiguous butterfly shape with a first longitudinally extending lobe, a second longitudinally extending lobe, and a narrower third middle lobe connected therebetween, said ball region of the shoe outsole including a tread pattern including first ridges and grooves extending laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and a heel region of the shoe outsole in an area of a heel of the wearer's foot, said heel region having a contiguous shape with fourth and fifth lobes connected together and forming the heel region in a J-shape conforming to an outside area of a heel of the wearer, said fourth lobe extending generally longitudinally along the outside area of the heel of the wearer, and said fifth lobe extending generally perpendicular to the fourth lobe generally along a rear area of the wearer's heel, said heel region including a surface having said tread pattern including first ridges and grooves extending laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

2. The shoe outsole of claim 1, wherein the first ridges located in the main common region have a particular height and the first ridges in the ball region have a particular height, the height of the first ridges in the ball region being greater that the height of the first ridges in the main common region.

3. The shoe outsole of claim 1, wherein the first ridges located in the main common region have a particular height and the first ridges in the heel region have a particular height, the height of the first ridges in the heel region being greater that the height of the first ridges in the main common region.

4. The shoe outsole of claim 1, wherein said first ridges of the ball region and heel region additionally include second ridges and grooves which project from the surface of the ridges and extend longitudinally with the longitudinal axis.

5. The shoe outsole of claim 1, wherein said first longitudinally extending lobe is disposed on a medial side of said ball region of the shoe outsole.

6. The shoe outsole of claim 5, wherein said first longitudinally extending lobe is longer than the second longitudinally extending lobe.

7. The shoe outsole of claim 1, wherein said second longitudinally extending region is disposed on a lateral side of said ball region of the shoe outsole.

8. The shoe outsole of claim 1, wherein said second ridges extend outwardly beyond said first ridges and grooves.

9. The shoe outsole of claim 1, further comprising flocking material adhered to the bottom surface of said ball region.

10. The shoe outsole of claim 1, further comprising flocking material adhered to the bottom surface of said heel region.

11. A shoe outsole having a front toe, a rear heel, and medial and lateral side edges therebetween, a length with a longitudinal axis, a width, and a main bottom surface, comprising: a main common region including a tread pattern including first ridges and grooves extending laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; a ball region of the shoe outsole in an area of a ball of a wearer's foot, said ball region having a contiguous butterfly shape formed by a channel which extends into the main common region, the contiguous butterfly shape including a first longitudinally extending lobe, a second longitudinally extending lobe, and a narrower third middle lobe connected therebetween, said ball region of the shoe outsole including a tread pattern including first ridges and grooves extending laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and a heel region of the shoe outsole in an area of a heel of the wearer's foot, said heel region having a contiguous shape formed by a channel which extends into the main common region, the contiguous shape including fourth and fifth lobes connected together and forming the heel region in a J-shape conforming to an outside area of a heel of the wearer, said fourth lobe extending generally longitudinally along the outside area of the heel of the wearer, and said fifth lobe extending generally perpendicular to the fourth lobe generally along a rear area of the wearer's heel, said heel region including a surface having said tread pattern including first ridges and grooves extending laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

12. The shoe outsole of claim 11, wherein the channels forming the shapes of the ball region and heel region are cut into the first ridges of the main common region.

13. The shoe outsole of claim 11, wherein the first ridges located in the main common region have a particular height and the first ridges in the ball region have a particular height, the height of the first ridges in the ball region being greater that the height of the first ridges in the main common region.

14. The shoe outsole of claim 11, wherein the first ridges located in the main common region have a particular height and the first ridges in the heel region have a particular height, the height of the first ridges in the heel region being greater that the height of the first ridges in the main common region.

15. The shoe outsole of claim 14, wherein the first ridges located in the main common region have a particular height and the first ridges in the heel region have a particular height, the height of the first ridges in the heel region being greater that the height of the first ridges in the main common region.

16. The shoe outsole of claim 11, wherein said first ridges of the ball region and heel region additionally include second ridges and grooves which project from the surface of the ridges and extend longitudinally with the longitudinal axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe outsole for a shoe, according to the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the shoe outsole of FIG. 1, of which a matching shoe of a pair is a mirror image;

[0017] FIG. 3A is cross-sectional view of the shoe outsole of FIG. 2 taken along line 3A-3A;

[0018] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the shoe outsole of FIG. 2 taken along line 3B-3B;

[0019] FIG. 3C is a side, elevational view of the shoe outsole of FIG. 1; and

[0020] FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the shoe outsole of FIG. 2 showing flocking which has been placed on the bottom ball region and heel region of the shoe outsole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Referring to the drawings, which are provided for purposes of illustration and by way of example, the present invention provides for a shoe outsole to which flocking is to be adhered or otherwise affixed in particular regions of pressure or stress to which many common types of feet of users have been found to be most subjected, in the heel and ball areas of the shoe outsole, in order to improve cushioning and traction, at least in those particular regions of the shoe outsole.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the shoe outsole 10 is typically formed as one piece, with no split or seam in the front or back, and is typically provided for attachment to midsole and upper portions of a shoe 12. The shoe outsole has a front toe 14, a rear heel 16, and medial and lateral side edges 18, 20 therebetween. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the shoe outsole 10 has a length 22 with a longitudinal axis 24, a width 26, and a main common region 28 having a tread pattern.

[0023] The tread pattern in the main common region 28 preferably includes first raised portions or ridges 30, and first recessed portions or grooves 32. The first raised ridges 30 and the first recessed grooves 32 preferably extend laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. These first raised portions or ridges 30 in the main common region 28 generally have the same height although the height of raised ridges at the very front of the toe 14 and at the back edge of the heel 16 could be somewhat smaller to create a rocker sole or bottom.

[0024] Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3B, the tread pattern may include second raised portions or ridges 34, which are typically thinner than the first raised portions or ridges 30, located on the surface of the first raised ridges 30 and which extend longitudinally with the longitudinal axis 24. Spaces 36 are formed between adjacent second raised 34 and extend likewise longitudinally with the longitudinal axis 24. In FIG. 2, these second raised ridges 34 are shown placed on only one of the first ridges 30 located in the main common region 28 for illustrative purposes. However, it should be appreciated that second raised ridges 34 could be placed on additional or all of the first raised ridges 30 located in the main common region 28. Additionally, it should be appreciated that these second raised ridges 34 could be selectively placed on the first raised ridges 30 to create a pattern which could help prevent slipping and wear.

[0025] The shoe outsole bottom surface preferably includes a first region or ball region 38 of the shoe outsole in an area corresponding to and supportive of a ball of a user's or wearer's foot. The first region or ball region 38 is preferably delineated by a first channel 40. The first region or ball region 38 preferably has a contiguous shape, generally having a butterfly shape, with a first longitudinally extending lobe 42, a second longitudinally extending lobe 44, and a narrower third middle lobe 46 connected between the first and second longitudinally extending lobes. The first longitudinally extending lobe 42 preferably is located on a medial side of the first region or ball region 38 of the shoe outsole, the second longitudinally extending lobe 44 preferably is located on a lateral side of the first region or ball region 38 of the shoe outsole, and the first longitudinally extending lobe 42 preferably is longer than the second longitudinally extending lobe 44.

[0026] The first region or ball region 38 of the shoe outsole 10 also preferably includes first raised portions or ridges 48 and first recessed portions or grooves 50 extending laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 24. The height of the first raised portions or ridges 48 in the ball region 38 can be greater than the height of the first raised portions or ridges 30 located in the main common bottom surface 28 to provide additional cushioning to the wearer's foot in the ball area. (See FIG. 3A) Additionally, the longer height of the first raised ridges 48 in the ball region 38 creates a longer projection which can be used to secure the flocking (described below) to the shoe outsole 10. Generally, the height of the first raised ridges 48 in the ball region 38 is about 0.5 to 2.0 millimeters greater that the height of the first raised ridges 20 located in the main common region 28.

[0027] The first raised portions or ridges 48 in the ball region 38 can likewise include second raised portions or ridges 52 extending longitudinally to provide surfaces for adhering flocking to the ball region 38 of the shoe outsole. Spaces 54 are formed between adjacent second raised ridges 52. These second raised portions or ridges 52 also preferably extend outwardly beyond the first raised portions or ridges. Additionally, second raised ridges 52 could be placed on the surface of the recessed portions or grooves 50 formed in the ball region (not shown in the drawings) in order to improve adhesion of flocking to the shoe outer sole. In FIG. 2, these second raised ridges 52 are shown placed on only one of the first ridges 48 located in the ball region 38 for illustrative purposes. However, it again should be appreciated that second raised ridges 52 could be placed on additional or all of the first raised ridges 48 located in the ball region 38.

[0028] In a presently preferred embodiment, the shoe outsole additionally may include flocking 55 (See FIG. 4) provided on the surface of the ball region 38 by adhering or otherwise affixing the flocking material to the surface of the ball region 38 to provide increased cushioning, and traction or friction. It should also be appreciated that the shoe outsole 10 could be manufactured without placing flocking in the ball region 38 since the tread pattern formed in the ball region will provide adequate cushioning and traction for the wearer.

[0029] The shoe outsole bottom surface preferably includes a second region or heel region 56 of the shoe outsole in an area of a heel of a user's or wearer's foot. The second region or heel region 56 preferably has a contiguous shape with a fourth lobe 58 and a fifth lobe 60 that are connected together to form a right angle shape or J-shaped region conforming to an outside area of a heel of the wearer. The second region or heel region 56 is preferably delineated by a second channel 62. The fourth lobe 58 preferably extends substantially longitudinally along the outside area 64 of the heel, corresponding to and provided for supporting and cushioning of the heel of the user or wearer, and the fifth lobe 60 preferably extends substantially perpendicular to the fourth lobe, substantially along a rear area of the heel, for supporting and cushioning of the heel of the user, as well as providing improved traction.

[0030] The heel region 56 of the shoe outsole preferably has a bottom surface including the first raised portion or ridges 66 and first recessed portions or grooves 68 extending laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and additionally preferably includes second raised portions or ridges 70 extending longitudinally to provide a surface for adhering flocking to the heel region 56 of the shoe outsole. Spaces 72 are formed between adjacent second ridges 70. These second raised portions or ridges 70 preferably extend outwardly beyond the first raised portions or ridges 66 in the heel region 56. Additionally, second raised ridges 70 could be placed on the surface of the recessed grooves 68 formed in the heel region 56 (not shown in the drawings) in order to improve adhesion of flocking to the shoe outer sole. In FIG. 2, these second raised ridges 70 are shown placed on only one of the first raised ridges 66 located in the heel region 56 for illustrative purposes. However, it again should be appreciated that second raised ridges 70 could be placed on additional or all of the first raised ridges 66 located in the heel region 56. The height of the first raised portions or ridges 66 in the heel region 56 can be greater than the height of the first raised portions or ridges 30 located in the main common region 28 to provide additional cushioning to the wearer's foot in the heel area. Additionally, the longer height of the first raised ridges 66 in the heel region 56 creates a longer projection which can be used to secure the flocking (described below) to the show outsole 10. Generally, the height of the first raised ridges 66 in the heel region 56 is about 0.5 to 2.0 millimeters greater that the height of the first raised ridges 30 located in the main common bottom region 28.

[0031] In a presently preferred embodiment, the shoe outsole additionally includes flocking 74, shown in FIG. 4, provided on the surface of the heel region 56 by adhering or otherwise affixing the flocking material to the surface of the heel region to provide increased cushioning, and traction or friction. It should also be appreciated that the shoe outsole 10 could be manufactured without placing flocking in the heel region 56 since the tread pattern formed in the ball region will provide adequate cushioning and traction for the wearer.

[0032] The channels, raised portions or ridges, and recessed portions or grooves, can be formed during molding of the outsole, or by cutting, etching or other similar suitable methods, for example. The flocking material can be, for example, Nylon fluff or any other suitable fluff material. Typically, the flocking material can be applied using adhesives using known techniques that may include high voltage electrostatic discharge. Any of the methods described above in the Background section could be used for applying the flocking to the ball and heel regions 38, 56 of the shoe outsole.

[0033] The height of the second raised ridges utilized in the above-described embodiment can be about 0.10 to 0.50 millimeters above the surface of the first raised ridge upon which the second raised ridge is placed. It should be further recognized that the particular shape of the first and second raised ridges shown in the disclosed embodiment can be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0034] It will be apparent from the foregoing that, while particular forms of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.