Field of the invention
5 The present invention relates to the field of sports shoes, and particularly to
the field of racket sports shoes, such as tennis and badminton.
Background of the invention
10 It is known to manufacture sports shoes by providing for a m idsole including
a damping element at the level of the heel. The damping element is generally
made of a deformable material, and is intended to reduce the stresses
exerted on the heel of the user when the latter presses his foot on the ground
when he is running, jumping or pressing his foot again.
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20
25
It is thus known to provide for a damping element integrated into the midsole
and positioned in line with the heel. Such damping elements are positioned
and held in the midsole and allow damping the forces exerted on their upper
surface, in particular by elastic deformation.
There are also damping elements in the form of reservoirs containing a fluid.
Such damping elements can in particular comprise several individual means
separated from each other and with spaces left empty therebetween in order
to allow their deformation during a stress.
Individual means can in particular have a surface exposed to the outside, to
be visible to the user or to increase the damping effect.
However, such damping elements are not entirely satisfactory, either
30 because the damping effect is not as great as the one expected during sports
practice, or because the damping effect is not suitable. Particularly, the
damping elements are only provided to allow a deformation of a part of the
sole located under the heel, without taking into account the motions of the
user that lead to urge the damping element. Furthermore, when the damping
35 elements have parts exposed to the outside, the purpose is only aesthetic, or
this also weakens the construction of the sole by reducing the holding of the
damping element relative to the other components of the sole.
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Summary of the Invention
The present invention aims at solving the various technical problems
5 mentioned above. Particularly, the present invention aims at proposing a sole
for footwear, making it possible to obtain effective cushioning adapted to the
user's practice, particularly depending on the sport practiced. The present
invention aims in particular at proposing a sole for footwear having
cushioning properties suitable for axial movements or lateral movements.
10
Thus, according to one aspect, a midsole for footwear is proposed,
comprising a main part extending substantially from the rear to the front of
the footwear, and a damping insert positioned at the rear of the midsole, in a
housing of the main part, the insert including:
15 - a central portion, for example in the form of a disc, intended to be
positioned under the user's heel,
- a peripheral portion intended to extend on the medial, lateral or rear side of
the m idsole and of the footwear, and
- an intermediate, for example annular, portion linking the central portion to
20 the peripheral portion.
Particularly, the central portion has a thickness greater than the thickness of
the intermediate portion, at least part of the peripheral portion has a
thickness greater than the thickness of the intermediate portion, and the main
part of the midsole comprises a portion cooperating with the intermediate
25 portion of the damping insert.
Thus, the midsole according to the present invention includes a damping
insert at the level of the heel that has different portions of different
thicknesses and making it possible to obtain the desired cushioning and
30 holding properties peculiar to sports practice. The insert thus includes a
central portion intended to be positioned in line with the heel and intended to
limit the stresses exerted on the heel when the user places his foot on the
ground.
35 But the insert also includes a peripheral portion intended to also damp the
stresses when the user does not press his foot perpendicularly to the ground,
but on the contrary obliquely. Thus, when playing tennis for example, the
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user, when pressing again his foot at the end of run, may have to place it on
the ground on the inner or medial side of the shoe, in order to be able to
move then in the opposite direction. Likewise, when playing badminton for
example, the user, on a forward run to catch a drop shot, may have to place
5 his foot on the ground from the back of the shoe, in order to be able to jerk
rapidly forward. In these cases, the peripheral portion of the insert is provided
to damp such motions that are peculiar to sports practice and to provide
more comfort to the user in his classic and repetitive gestures related to the
specific sport he is practicing.
10
Furthermore, and in order to also provide support to the shoe, including at
the level of the heel, in addition to the cushioning, the insert includes an
intermediate portion disposed between the central portion and the peripheral
portion, and which has a smaller thickness. The peripheral portion forms in
15 particular a hollow area between the central portion and the peripheral
portion, intended to cooperate with the main part of the midsole. More
specifically, the intermediate portion is intended to cooperate with a portion of
the main part having a complementary shape. The main part has in particular
a housing in which the insert is positioned, for example from below or from
20 beneath. The housing can be a blind hole or a through housing. Thus, thanks
to its specific shape, the insert allows providing both vertical and oblique
cushioning, that is to say axial, medial and/or lateral cushioning, while
allowing integration with the main part of the midsole which cooperates with
the insert via the intermediate portion thereof. The insert is therefore not
25 mechanically retained in the sole only by its upper and lower faces, but also
by the intermediate portion which cooperates with a rear portion of the main
part of the midsole. The rear portion of the main part of the midsole is in
particular positioned between the central portion and the peripheral portion of
the insert, and therefore allows exerting holding stresses on the sides of the
30 central and peripheral portions of the insert. The rear portion of the main part
ensures holding the insert in position in the midsole, and also allows partly
dissociating the damping properties from the central portion and the
peripheral portion of the insert.