US2011314699A1PendingUtilityA1

Footwear With Rocker Sole

47
Assignee: BYRNE RICHARDPriority: Jun 24, 2010Filed: Jun 24, 2010Published: Dec 29, 2011
Est. expiryJun 24, 2030(~3.9 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Richard Byrne
A43B 7/149A43B 23/22A43B 13/145A43B 7/141A43B 7/16A43B 7/1445
47
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

An article of footwear with a rocker sole has an outsole with a rocker sole element that has a rear apex located 20 to 45 millimeters, preferably, 35 to 40 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area of the footwear and a generally curved surface extending forwardly and upwardly from the apex to a toe area of the footwear.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole having a rearward heel section and a forward rocker section, separated by a raised arch section, the outsole having a stiff shank extending from the heel section to the rocker section, the rocker section having a rocker sole element having a rear apex located 20 to 45 millimeters rearwardly of a metatarsophalangeal joint area of the article of footwear and a generally curved surface extending forwardly and upwardly from the apex to a toe area of the article of footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  further comprising an insole. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2  wherein the insole has a thickness, and the metatarsophalangeal joint area of the insole has an increased thickness to provide a metatarsal support pad. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 2  wherein the insole has a rearward heel section and a forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section, and upper surfaces of the insole rearward heel section and the insole forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section have about the same elevation. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 2  wherein the insole has a rearward heel section and a forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section, and an upper surface of the insole rearward heel section has a greater elevation than an upper surface of the insole forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 4  further including a wedge-shaped heel lift located between the insole and the outsole in the heel sections thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 5  further including a wedge-shaped heel lift located between the insole and the outsole in the heel sections thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said rocker sole element comprises a rubber rocker insert. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein said forward rocker section of said outsole comprises a thickness which is about 80% rubber rocker insert and about 20% EVA outsole. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the apex of the rocker sole element is located 35 to 40 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the apex of the rocker sole element is located 35 to 40 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the apex of the rocker sole element is located 35 to 40 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the apex of the rocker sole element is located 35 to 40 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area. 
     
     
         14 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole having a rearward heel section and a forward rocker section, separated by a raised arch section, the outsole having a stiff shank extending from the heel section to the rocker section, the rocker section having a rocker sole element having a rear apex located 20 to 45 millimeters rearwardly of a metatarsophalangeal joint area of the article of footwear, and a generally curved surface extending forwardly and upwardly from the apex to a toe area of the article of footwear; and   an insole.   
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14  wherein the insole has a rearward heel section and a forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section, and upper surfaces of the insole rearward heel section and the insole forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section have about the same elevation. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 14  wherein the insole has a rearward heel section and a forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section, and an upper surface of the insole rearward heel section has a greater elevation than an upper surface of the insole forward metatarsophalangeal joint area section. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 15  further including a wedge-shaped heel lift located between the insole and the outsole in the heel sections thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 16  further including a wedge-shaped heel lift located between the insole and the outsole in the heel sections thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein said rocker sole element comprises a rubber rocker insert. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein said forward rocker section of said outsole comprises a thickness which is about 80% rubber rocker insert and about 20% EVA outsole. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 15  wherein the insole has a thickness, and the metatarsophalangeal joint area of the insole has an increased thickness to provide a metatarsal support pad. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the apex of the rocker sole element is located 35 to 40 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area. 
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the apex of the rocker sole element is located 35 to 40 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the apex of the rocker sole element is located 35 to 40 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area. 
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , wherein the apex of the rocker sole element is located 35 to 40 millimeters rearwardly of the metatarsophalangeal joint area. 
     
     
         26 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an outsole having a rocker outsole element;   an apex of the rocker outsole element located between a heel and metatarsophalangeal joints of a foot of a user wearing the footwear;   wherein the article of footwear supports the heel at at least the same elevation as metatarsophalangeal joints when the user is in a typical mid-stance posture, and rocks forward along a profile of the rocker element when the user takes a step.   
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear of  claim 26 , wherein the apex of the rocker element is located 20 to 45 millimeters behind the metatarsophalangeal joints. 
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein the apex of the rocker element is located 35 to 40 millimeters behind the metatarsophalangeal joints. 
     
     
         29 . The article of footwear of  claim 26 , further comprising a heel lift located underneath the heel of the foot.

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