阅读说明：本技术 鞋的中底组件和包括该中底组件的鞋 (Midsole assembly for a shoe and shoe comprising the same ) 是由 布莱恩·P·奥博伊尔 克拉斯·P·哈森伯格 格雷戈里·L·道尔顿 方秀一 于 2021-05-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及鞋的中底组件和包括该中底组件的鞋。公开了一种鞋的中底组件,所述中底组件为具有鞋面的鞋提供缓冲功能。所述中底组件包括：联接构件,其联接至鞋面以支撑鞋面；以及缓冲构件,其联接至联接构件的侧表面,弯曲成向外凸出地弯曲,并沿远离鞋面的方向延伸,以在联接构件下方形成空的空间。(The present invention relates to a midsole assembly for a shoe and a shoe including the midsole assembly. A midsole assembly for a shoe is disclosed that provides a cushioning function for a shoe having an upper. The midsole assembly includes: a coupling member coupled to the upper to support the upper; and a cushioning member coupled to a side surface of the coupling member, bent to be convexly curved outward, and extended in a direction away from the upper to form an empty space under the coupling member.)

1. A midsole component of a shoe, the midsole component providing a cushioning function for the shoe having an upper, the midsole component comprising:

a coupling member coupled to the upper to support the upper; and

a cushioning member coupled to a side surface of the coupling member, curved to curve convexly outward, and extending in a direction away from the upper to form an empty space below the coupling member.

2. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 1,

the shoe includes an outsole under the upper, an

The cushioning member extends from the coupling member toward the outsole.

3. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 1,

the coupling member is configured to be coupled under at least a rearfoot portion of the upper to support the rearfoot portion.

4. The midsole assembly of a shoe of claim 1, wherein the coupling member comprises:

a base plate supporting a bottom of the upper; and

a side coupling portion supporting a side surface of the upper.

5. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 4,

the base plate is configured to be coupled under a hindfoot portion of the upper to support the hindfoot portion,

wherein the side coupling portion is formed to be bent to surround a side surface of the rear foot portion and a heel of the upper.

6. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 1,

the coupling member includes a side coupling portion configured to support a side surface of the upper;

wherein the side coupling parts are formed as a single body or divided into a plurality to be coupled to the upper, an

Wherein the buffer member is divided into a plurality of buffer members, and the divided buffer members are coupled to the single body or coupled to the divided side coupling portions, respectively.

7. The midsole assembly of a shoe of claim 1, wherein the cushioning member comprises:

an upper end coupled to a side surface of the coupling member;

a support post having a first end connected to the upper end, a second end disposed opposite the first end, and a post portion convexly curved outward and extending from the first end to the second end; and

a lower end spaced from the coupling member and connected to the second end of the support post.

8. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 7,

the support columns are arranged in plurality to be spaced apart from each other at intervals along the side surface of the coupling member.

9. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 8,

at least one of the plurality of support posts comprises a plurality of vertical sections having different centers of curvature,

wherein the plurality of vertical sections include vertical sections having centers of curvature disposed opposite one another relative to the support column.

10. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 8,

at least one of the plurality of support posts has a width at the post portion that is different from a width at the first end or the second end.

11. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 8,

each of the plurality of support posts having a rectangular shape with a cross-sectional thickness that is a different size than a width measured along an edge of the coupling member,

wherein the plurality of support columns are spaced at different intervals between adjacent support columns or the plurality of support columns have different widths from each other.

12. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 7,

the shoe includes an outsole below the cushioning member,

wherein the lower end of the cushioning member is attached to the outsole.

13. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 7,

the coupling member includes a coupling protrusion protruding outward on a side surface of the coupling member,

wherein the upper end of the buffer member includes a concave coupling groove to receive the coupling protrusion of the coupling member.

14. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 7,

the support pillar of the cushioning member has an opening formed in the pillar portion.

15. The midsole assembly of a shoe of claim 1, further comprising:

a first assembly portion including a first coupling member supporting a heel of the upper and a first cushioning member formed below the first coupling member; and

a second assembly portion including a second coupling member supporting a side surface of the upper and a second cushioning member formed below the second coupling member.

16. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 1,

the coupling member includes a pocket opened downward,

wherein the cushioning member includes an upper end received in the pocket.

17. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 16,

the pocket is provided to protrude from an outer surface of the coupling member.

18. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 16,

the pocket is configured to be inserted inside a skin of the upper.

19. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 1,

the coupling member includes a base plate that supports a bottom of the upper,

wherein the substrate is configured to have at least one through hole.

20. A shoe comprising the midsole assembly of claim 1.

21. The shoe of claim 20, wherein,

the midsole component is coupled under at least a rearfoot portion of the upper to support the rearfoot portion.

22. A midsole assembly for a shoe having an upper and an outsole, the midsole assembly comprising:

a support supporting a side surface of the upper, being convexly curved outward from the side surface of the upper and extending to the outsole to form an empty space between the upper and the outsole.

23. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 22, wherein,

the support is divided into a plurality of portions along the edges of the upper,

wherein the plurality of portions are spaced apart from one another and supported between the upper and the outsole.

24. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 23,

each of the plurality of portions of the support has a strip-like shape having a width measured along an edge of the upper.

25. The midsole assembly of footwear according to claim 22, wherein,

the support body comprises a plurality of vertical sections having different centers of curvature,

wherein the plurality of vertical sections include vertical sections having centers of curvature disposed opposite each other with respect to the support.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a midsole assembly for a shoe and a shoe including the midsole assembly.

Background

Typically, shoes have a construction that includes an upper that receives a user's foot and a midsole that is disposed beneath the upper to provide cushioning. The shoe may further include an outsole stacked below the midsole to be in direct contact with the ground. Midsoles have been developed that employ various structural and material modifications (e.g., foam and air chambers) to provide improved cushioning to the user. The cushioning effect of a conventional midsole may be affected by the overall height of the midsole and the compressive strain determined by the structural and/or material properties of the midsole.

However, conventional midsoles have a separate structure between the upper and the outsole. Because the midsole structure occupies space between the upper and the outsole, the degree of compression and recovery is limited when a load is applied to or removed from the top of the upper. That is, even when the middle sole structure is compressed to the maximum, it inevitably maintains a minimum thickness, and thus the range of compression and recovery is limited. Thus, the ability to provide cushioning to the wearer is inevitably impaired.

The above information disclosed in this background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art in this country.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a midsole component of a shoe that performs an improved cushioning function by applying a member disposed under the bottom of an upper of the shoe to attenuate impact generated by a user's load.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a shoe including a midsole assembly that includes a cushioning system that is capable of individually and stably responding to loads of various angles and various magnitudes.

However, the problems to be solved by the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described problems, and various extensions may be made within the scope of the technical idea included in the present invention.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a midsole assembly for a shoe that provides a cushioning function for a shoe having an upper. The midsole assembly includes: a coupling member coupled to the upper to support the upper; and a cushioning member coupled to a side surface of the coupling member, bent to be convexly curved outward, and extended in a direction away from the upper to form an empty space under the coupling member.

The shoe includes an outsole beneath the upper, and the cushioning member extends from the coupling member toward the outsole.

The coupling member may be configured to be coupled under at least a rearfoot portion of the upper to support the rearfoot portion.

The coupling member may include a base plate (base plate) supporting a bottom of the upper and a side coupling portion supporting a side of the upper.

The base plate may be configured to be coupled under a hindfoot portion of the upper to support the hindfoot portion, and the side coupling portion is formed to be bent to surround a side surface of the hindfoot portion and a heel of the upper.

The coupling member may include a side coupling portion configured to support a side surface of the upper, and the side coupling portion may be formed as a single body or divided into a plurality to be coupled to the upper. The buffer member may be divided into a plurality of buffer members, and the divided buffer members may be coupled to a single body or coupled to divided coupling members, respectively.

The buffer member may include: an upper end coupled to a side surface of the coupling member; a support column having a first end connected to the upper end, a second end disposed opposite the first end, and a column portion convexly curved outward and extending from the first end to the second end; and a lower end spaced from the coupling member and connected to the second end of the support post.

The support columns may be arranged in plurality to be spaced apart from each other at intervals along the side surface of the coupling member.

At least one of the plurality of support columns may include a plurality of vertical sections having different centers of curvature, and the plurality of vertical sections may include vertical sections having centers of curvature disposed opposite each other with respect to the support columns.

At least one of the plurality of support posts may have a width at the post portion that is different from a width at the first end or the second end.

Each of the plurality of support posts may have a rectangular shape with a cross-sectional thickness that is different in magnitude from a width measured along an edge of the coupling member, and the plurality of support posts may be spaced at different intervals between adjacent support posts, or the plurality of support posts may have different widths from one another.

The shoe may include an outsole below the cushioning member, and the lower end of the cushioning member may be attached to the outsole.

The coupling member may include a coupling protrusion protruding outward on a side surface of the coupling member, and the upper end of the buffer member may include a concave coupling groove to receive the coupling protrusion of the coupling member.

The support post of the cushioning member may have an opening formed in the post portion.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a midsole component of a shoe, including a first component part including a first coupling member supporting a heel of an upper and a first cushioning member formed under the first coupling member, and a second component part including a second coupling member supporting a side surface of the upper and a second cushioning member formed under the second coupling member.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a midsole assembly of a shoe, wherein the coupling member may include a pocket opened downward, and the cushioning member may include an upper end received in the pocket.

The pocket may be provided to protrude from an outer surface of the coupling member.

The pocket may be configured to be inserted inside the exterior skin of the upper.

The coupling member may include a base plate that supports a bottom of the upper, and the base plate may be configured with at least one through-hole.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a shoe including a midsole assembly having the above-described features.

A midsole component of the footwear may be coupled under at least a rearfoot portion of the upper to support the rearfoot portion.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a midsole assembly of a shoe having an upper and an outsole, the midsole assembly including a support supporting a side surface of the upper, the support being convexly curved outward from the side surface of the upper and extending to the outsole to form an empty space between the upper and the outsole.

The support may be divided into a plurality of portions along an edge of the upper, and the plurality of portions may be spaced apart from one another and supported between the upper and the outsole.

Each of the plurality of portions of the support may have a strip-like shape having a width measured along an edge of the upper.

The support body may include a plurality of vertical sections having different centers of curvature, and the plurality of vertical sections may include vertical sections having centers of curvature disposed opposite to each other with respect to the support body.

In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, the midsole component of the footwear may provide a significant impact-attenuation effect. That is, impact loads are attenuated by compressing and restoring the cushioning member during all athletic activities, which may provide further improved cushioning for the wearer.

In addition, due to the structural characteristics of the cushioning members (i.e., the empty spaces between the support columns, the upper end and the lower end), lightweight footwear may be manufactured.

In the midsole assembly of a shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention, energy return may be provided to a wearer while running and walking due to the material and shape of the pillar portion of the cushioning member.

Depending on the midsole assembly of an embodiment, the design of the support columns may vary for each zone, and thus a shoe having a desired cushioning capacity for each zone may be designed. In addition, shoes equipped with such midsole assemblies may provide increased stability during running and walking.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a shoe having a midsole assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating a shoe having a midsole assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the rear.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the shoe shown in fig. 1, taken along its longitudinal axis.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view illustrating a vertical cross-sectional profile of a cushioning member in a midsole assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a midsole component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6A-6C are views illustrating variations of a support column of a midsole assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein fig. 6A is a front view, fig. 6B is a side view, and fig. 6C is a perspective view.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the cushioning member of the midsole assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, schematically illustrating a state seen from a side of the shoe.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating another variation of a cushioning member of a midsole assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, schematically illustrating a state as viewed from a side of a shoe.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a medial side of a shoe having a midsole assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the lateral side of the shoe shown in fig. 9.

Fig. 11A is an exploded perspective view and fig. 11B is a combined perspective view illustrating a midsole assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side view illustrating a shoe having a midsole assembly according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling member of a midsole assembly according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a side view illustrating a shoe having a midsole assembly according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the exemplary embodiments. The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. In addition, the drawings are for easy understanding of exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification, and the technical concept disclosed in the present specification is not limited by the drawings, and should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, or substitutes included within the concept and technical scope of the present invention.

Although terms such as "first", "second", and "third" may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers or sections should not be limited by these terms. Rather, these terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section.

Throughout the specification, when an element such as a layer, region or substrate is described as being "on," "connected to" or "coupled to" another element, it may be directly on, "connected to" or "coupled to" the other element or one or more other elements may be present therebetween. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" another element, there may be no other element between them.

It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, values, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, values, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof. Unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.

Fig. 1 is a side view illustrating a shoe having a midsole assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating the shoe having the midsole assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the rear.

Referring to fig. 1, a shoe 10 according to this embodiment may include an upper 12, a midsole 14 coupled to a bottom of the upper 12 to provide a cushioning function, a midsole assembly 100, and an outsole 16. Upper 12 may have a configuration that surrounds a foot of a user and may be formed from leather, textile, or synthetic resin. Outsole 16 may be formed to have durability against ground contact because outsole 16 is the portion that contacts the ground while being spaced apart from and disposed in a lower portion of upper 12. A material such as rubber having frictional durability may be used in the portion of outsole 16 that directly contacts the ground. Midsole 14 may be attached to the bottom of upper 12 corresponding with forefoot FF and midfoot MF to provide cushioning. For example, the midsole 14 may be formed from a foam material that provides a cushioning function between the upper 12 and the outsole 16.

The midsole assembly 100 may include a coupling member 110 coupled to the upper 12 and a cushioning member 120 extending below the coupling member 110 while forming an empty void E. Coupling member 110 may be coupled under upper 12 to support upper 12, and cushioning member 120 may extend from a side surface of coupling member 110 in a direction away from upper 12. In this case, the shock-absorbing member 120 is curved to be convexly curved outward while being away from the empty space E.

Since footwear 10 according to this embodiment includes outsole 16 below upper 12, midsole component 100 may be disposed between upper 12 and outsole 16. In this case, cushioning members 120 of midsole assembly 100 may extend from coupling members 110 toward outsole 16. Midsole assembly 100 may be disposed under a rearfoot portion RF of upper 12, with coupling member 110 coupled to and supporting the rearfoot portion RF of upper 12. As another example, the midsole component 100 may be disposed in any area between the upper 12 and the outsole 16. Midsole element 100 may be attached under forefoot FF, under forefoot FF and midfoot MF, or under forefoot FF, midfoot MF, and hindfoot RF of upper 12.

Referring to fig. 2, the coupling member 110 may include a base plate 112 supporting the bottom of the upper 12 and a side coupling portion 114 supporting a side surface of the upper 12. The base plate 112 may be coupled under the hindfoot portion RF of the upper 12 to support the hindfoot portion RF, and the side coupling portion 114 may be formed to be bent so as to surround the side surface and heel of the upper 12.

The support columns 124 of the buffering member 120 may be arranged in plurality to be spaced apart from each other at intervals along the side surface of the coupling member 110. Each of the plurality of support columns 124 may provide cushioning to the wearer while distributing and supporting pressure according to the load of the wearer between upper 12 and outsole 16.

The plurality of support columns 124 may be provided, for example, two on the inner side, two on the outer side, and two on the heel side, so that a total of six may be formed. However, the number of the support columns 124 in the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the support column 124 may be formed as a single body, and may be formed in plural numbers of more or less than six.

Each support column 124 constructed in this manner is fixed to the side coupling portion 114 of the coupling member 110, and the side coupling portion 114 is coupled around the side circumference (side circumference) of the upper 12, thereby attenuating impact transmitted from the ground during athletic activities. That is, the structural shape of the support column 124 as described above may direct impact transmission in a vertical direction toward the sole of the wearer to attenuate it.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the shoe shown in fig. 1, taken along its longitudinal axis.

Referring to fig. 3, the cushioning member 120 may include an upper end 121 coupled to the coupling member 110 and a lower end 126 spaced apart from the coupling member 110, and a support post 124 connected between the upper end 121 and the lower end 126. That is, support column 124 has a first end 124a adjacent upper 12 and a second end 124b disposed opposite upper 12, and support column 124 of cushioning members 120 may include a column portion 124c that is convexly curved outward between first end 124a and second end 124 b. Even at this time, it is within the scope of the present invention that the pillar portion 124c is partially bent convexly inward.

Referring to the enlarged view of fig. 3, the first end 124a is connected to the upper end 121 and the second end 124b is connected to the lower end 126. In addition, post portion 124C may include a transition portion a extending downward from first end 124a while changing direction, a curved portion B extending downward and outward from transition portion a, and a lower connecting portion C extending horizontally inward to second end 124B and connected to lower end 126 of cushioning member 120.

An upper end 121 of the buffering member 120 may be coupled to the side coupling portion 114 of the coupling member 110. To this end, the coupling member 110 may include a coupling protrusion 115 protruding outward on one side thereof, and the buffering member 120 may include a concave coupling groove 122 at the upper end 121 to receive the coupling protrusion 115. The coupling protrusion 115 may have a first horizontal portion and a first vertical portion, and the coupling groove 122 may include a second horizontal portion and a second vertical portion. When the upper end 121 of the buffering member 120 is coupled to the side coupling portion 114 of the coupling member 110, the first horizontal portion of the coupling protrusion 115 is in contact with the second horizontal portion of the coupling groove 122, and the first vertical portion of the coupling protrusion 115 is in contact with the second vertical portion of the coupling groove 122. The coupling may be accomplished, for example, by adhesive, but alternatively, may be accomplished using a variety of methods, including snap-fit engagement, rivet engagement, engagement by a hinge pin, and optional combinations thereof.

When footwear 10 includes outsole 16 under cushioning members 120, lower ends 126 of cushioning members 120 may face and be attached to outsole 16. That is, outsole 16 may extend upwardly along cushioning members 120. In this case, outsole 16 may be attached to lower end 126 of cushioning member 120 and midsole 14, and outsole 16 attached in this manner may be manufactured as a unitary type or as a separate type. When outsole 16 is manufactured as a split type, the portion of outsole 16 attached to lower end 126 of cushioning member 120 and the portion of outsole 16 attached to midsole 14 of footwear 10 may be split. As another example, an integral outsole may be attached to both the lower end 126 of the cushioning member 120 and the midsole 14. In addition, footwear 10 may also include an insole 13 inside upper 12.

In the midsole assembly 100 according to this embodiment, the support column 124 may have a rectangular shape with a width measured along an edge of the coupling member 110 and a cross-sectional thickness that is different in size from the width. For example, the support posts 124 may have a ribbon-like shape. The support columns 124 of the cushioning members 120 may be configured to have different widths and different thicknesses for each supported area. At this time, the "width" of the support column 124 is defined as a length measured in a lateral direction along the outer circumference of the shoe when taken along a lateral cross section of the support column 124, and the "thickness" of the support column 124 is defined as a length measured in a lateral direction from the outside to the inside of the shoe when taken along a lateral cross section.

For example, the width and thickness of the support column 124 on the medial side M may be set to be different from the width and thickness of the support column 124 on the heel side H. Likewise, the width and thickness of support post 124 on lateral side L can be configured to be different from that of heel side H and medial side M. Accordingly, different settings of the width and thickness of the support column 124 may be determined for each region of the shoe depending on the placement location. Variations in the shape in the height direction, the cross-sectional thickness, the cross-sectional width, and the cross-sectional shape according to the support columns for each region are within the scope of the present invention. Variations of these elements or combinations of these elements may also alter the cushioning provided by the midsole component.

The cross-sectional thickness of each of the support pillars 124 constituting the cushioning member 120 of the midsole assembly 100 according to the present embodiment may be formed in the range of 1mm to 15 mm. In addition, the width of each support column 124 of the cushioning member 120 may be formed in the range of 2mm to 250 mm. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these numerical ranges.

For example, the width W1 of the first pillar may be set to 25mm, the width W2 of the second pillar may be set to 35mm, and the width W3 of the third pillar may be set to 50 mm. As another example, when the width of each support column is set to 2mm, the number of support columns may be further increased. As still another example, when the width of the support post is set to 250mm, it may be formed as one support post. Accordingly, one or more support posts of the cushioning member may be provided, and all such are within the scope of the present invention. In addition, by differently setting the number of support columns and the thickness and width of each support column on the inner or outer side, various static and dynamic loads can be coped with.

Each of the support columns 124 constituting the cushioning member 120 of the midsole assembly 100 according to this embodiment may have a different distance or spacing between the support columns 124 adjacent to each other. That is, the distance D1 between the center line L1 of the first column and the center line L2 of the second column adjacent to each other, and the distance D2 between the center line L2 of the second column and the center line L3 of the third column adjacent to each other may be differently set. For example, D1 may be set to 40mm and D2 may be set to 80 mm. The distance between the support columns adjacent to each other may vary depending on the number of support columns, the separation distance, etc., and may be set in the range of 10mm to 200 mm.

In the support column 124 disposed on the heel side, the width of the first end 124a and the width of the second end 124b may be the same, and the width of the column portion 124c therebetween may be formed to vary with the height. Support posts 124 may also be formed on the inner and outer sides. Further, the pillar portion 124c of the support column 124 in each region may have an outwardly protruding shape, wherein the width of the pillar portion 124c may have a width greater than the width of the first and second ends 124a and 124 b. That is, when a horizontal cross section of the pillar portion 124c is taken, the length of the outer surface of each cross section may have a different length according to the height of the pillar portion 124c (see fig. 2 and 3).

According to another example, the side coupling portion 114 of the coupling member 110 may be divided into a plurality of coupling portions, and each coupling portion may be arranged and attached to a side surface of the upper 12. It is also within the scope of the present invention that each coupling portion may be configured to couple to the upper end 121 of each cushioning member 120 corresponding thereto.

According to yet another example, the base plate 112 of the coupling member 110 may extend from the hindfoot portion RF to the midfoot portion MF, or may extend from the hindfoot portion RF to the forefoot portion FF via the midfoot portion MF. In this case, the base plate 112 may have a cushioning capability, and therefore, when a load is applied to the forefoot portion FF, the midfoot portion MF, and/or the hindfoot portion RF, the base plate 112 will deform, and when the load is removed, the base plate 112 will return to its original shape. The cushioning capacity of the base plate 112 may assist the wearer during athletic activities including walking and running.

Meanwhile, the present invention is not limited to the shape in which the pillar portion of the support pillar is convexly curved outward, and thus, the pillar portion may have a shape that is convexly curved partially inward. This structure will be further described below with reference to fig. 4.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view illustrating a vertical cross-sectional profile of a cushioning member in a midsole assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The plurality of support columns 124 of cushioning members 120 may have different curved profiles for each region of hindfoot portion RF. For example, as shown in fig. 4, the curved profile of one support column 124 of the plurality of support columns 124 may be divided into 14 segments having a plurality of curved profiles, each curved profile having a different radius of curvature. A segment with a large radius of curvature r may have a curved surface close to a plane, while a segment with a small radius of curvature r may have a curved surface that is sharply curved.

The plurality of vertical sections may include vertical sections in which centers of curvature are disposed opposite each other with respect to the support column 124. That is, the center of curvature of some vertical sections may be disposed outside of the support column 124, and the center of curvature of some other vertical sections may be disposed inside the support column 124. Referring to fig. 4, it is shown that the centers of curvature C1 to C3 of three segments S1 to S3 adjacent to the upper end 121 are formed outside, and the centers of curvature C4 to C11 of the remaining segments S4 to S11 are formed inside. The segments S1 to S3 are concave to the outside of the support column 124, that is, convex to the inside, and the segments S4 to S11 are convex to the outside of the support column 124. This is merely an exemplary illustration and the present invention is not limited to the location of the center of curvature described above. The drawings may be shown in an exaggerated manner. For example, in fig. 4, segments S1 through S14 forming the curved surface of the support post 124 are shown to describe an example of the support post. If the segment S8 is close to a straight line, the center of curvature C8 may be disposed further than shown in FIG. 4.

Meanwhile, a portion of the support column 124 may be constituted by a straight section, and sections S1 and S14 provided at both ends of the support column 124 are connected to the upper end 121 and the lower end 126, respectively, and the upper end 121 and the lower end 126 may correspond to the straight section.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a midsole component according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The midsole assembly 100 according to this embodiment may include an empty space E formed between the base plate 112 of the coupling member 110 supporting the bottom surface of the upper (12; see fig. 3) and the lower end 126 of the cushioning member 120 to form a hollow structure in the rearfoot portion RF of the shoe 10. The empty space E is an empty space in which there is no other element. The height of this empty space may be equal to the distance between upper 12 and lower end 126 of cushioning members 120, which are spaced apart by plurality of support columns 124. Adjacent support columns 124 are connected to each other by upper and lower ends 121, 126 of cushioning members 120. As another example, the plurality of support columns 124 may not be connected to each other at the upper end, and each support column 124 may be directly coupled to the side coupling portion 114 of the coupling member 110.

Lower end 126 of cushioning member 120 may have a solid flat surface to cover the entire area of contact with outsole 16. As another example, lower end 126 of cushioning members 120 may be formed with a horseshoe-shaped flat surface having a removed center along the edge of outsole 16 to join second ends 124b of support columns 124.

The coupling member 110 may be formed of an elastic material, and may be coupled to the upper end 121 of the buffering member 120. In addition, the cushioning member 120 may also be formed of an elastic material. The support post 124, the upper end 121, and the lower end 126 that make up the cushioning member 120 may be molded as a single piece, or each component may be separately molded and combined together. At this time, the coupling member 110 and the upper end 121 of the buffer member 120 may be coupled to each other by a welding method, an adhesion method using an adhesive, or sewing or riveting. The material of the coupling member and the cushioning member is not limited to an elastic material, and may include various elastic materials or carbon fiber reinforced materials and other materials.

The support columns 124 that make up the cushioning members 120 of the midsole assembly 100 may be arranged two on the medial side, two on the lateral side, and two on the heel side. Each of these support posts 124 may be designed to attenuate impacts due to different loads according to their characteristics.

Each of the coupling member 110 and the cushioning member 120 that make up the midsole assembly 100 may be made from a mold to couple to each other. The midsole component 100 may then be attached to the upper 12 (see fig. 3), and the outsole 16 may be further attached to a lower portion thereof. At this time, upper end 121 and lower end 126 of cushioning members 120 may perform the function of connecting upper 12 and outsole 16, and support columns 124 of cushioning members 120 may perform the impact-attenuating function.

The support columns 124 of the cushioning member 120 may be formed, for example, of thermoplastic elastomers based on TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), PEBA (polyether block amide), or TPEE (thermoplastic polyester elastomer). Thermoplastic elastomers are advantageous for injection molding and can perform a cushioning function by their ability to compress when loaded and recover their original shape when the load is removed. As another example, the support posts 124 of the cushioning member 120 may be fabricated using carbon fiber and/or nanotube materials. As another example, support columns 124 of cushioning members 120 may be manufactured using a material in which carbon fibers are reinforced in a material such as TPU, PEBA, TPEE, or the like. The present invention is not limited to these types of materials, and various materials may be used to achieve the desired function as a cushioning member.

The upper and lower ends 121 and 126 of the cushioning member 120 may be formed of the same material as the support column 124, or may be formed using a different material than the support column 124. When the upper and lower ends 121, 126 are formed of different materials than the support posts 124, the material forming the upper and lower ends 121, 126 may be a material having a relatively smaller degree of deformation and recovery than the material forming the support posts 124.

The coupling member 110 may also be formed of the same or similar material as the support column 124, or may be formed using a different material, and may be formed by selecting a material with suitable deformability compared to the material of the support column 124.

The plurality of support columns 124 of the buffering member 120 are connected to each other at the upper end 121 of each support column 124, but the upper end 121 may be separated for each support column 124 and attached to the side coupling portion 114 of the coupling member 110. A method of attaching the cushioning member 120 to the side coupling portion 114 of the coupling member 110 may be to engage them using an adhesive, an insert, a protrusion, and a hole. In addition, bonding methods such as laser bonding and High Frequency (HF) pulse bonding may be used in combination.

Meanwhile, the base plate 112 and the side coupling portion 114 constituting the coupling member 110 may be manufactured as a single molded article. The molding may include products manufactured by injection molding, 3D printing, or other various molding techniques.

Fig. 6A-6C are views illustrating variations of a support column of a midsole assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein fig. 6A is a front view, fig. 6B is a side view, and fig. 6C is a perspective view.

Referring to fig. 6A to 6C, in the support column 124 'according to this modified embodiment, the width of the first end 124 a' and the width of the second end 124b 'are the same, and the column portion 124C' may have a width smaller than the width of the first end 124a 'and the second end 124 b'. In addition, the pillar portion 124 c' may have a narrower width in the middle portion than in the lower portion, and the lower portion may be formed thicker than the middle portion.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the cushioning member of the midsole assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, schematically illustrating a state seen from a side of the shoe.

Referring to fig. 7, in the cushioning member 120 ″ according to this modification, the support columns may have different widths and thicknesses according to their positions. For example, assuming that the midfoot portion is disposed on the left side and the heel side is disposed on the right side in the drawing, the support column 1241 near the midfoot portion may be formed to have a wider width and a thinner thickness than the support column 1242 near the heel side. Alternatively, the support columns near the heel side may have a wider width and a thinner thickness than the support columns near the midfoot.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating another variation of a cushioning member of a midsole assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, schematically illustrating a state as viewed from a side of a shoe.

Referring to fig. 8, in the buffering member 120' ″ according to this modified embodiment, the supporting column may have different shapes according to its position. For example, in the case where the midfoot portion is disposed on the left side and the heel side is disposed on the right side in the drawing, the support column 1244 near the midfoot portion may be formed to have a shape curved to one side when viewed from the side of the shoe, and the support column 1245 near the heel side may form the through hole 129 in the center. In this case, although the support post 1244 bent to one side is illustrated as having a shape convexly bent toward the heel side, it may alternatively have a shape convexly bent toward the midfoot.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating the inside of a shoe having a midsole assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 10 is a perspective view of the outside of the shoe illustrated in fig. 9.

Referring to fig. 9 and 10, the cushioning member 220 of the midsole assembly 200 of the shoe 20 according to this embodiment may include support columns 224 divided into five, and in this case, the width and thickness of each support column 224 may be formed to be different from each other.

Additionally, each support post 224 may have an opening 229 formed therethrough. One or more openings 229 may be formed in the pillar portion of the support pillar 224, and may be formed at the second end (lower end) of the support pillar 224. The opening 229 formed in each support post 224 may be formed to have a different shape. That is, each support post 224 may be designed to withstand different bending moments, including compressive and tensile loads, by varying the shape, width, height, and number of openings 229. In this case, the width and height of the opening 229 may be set to be smaller than the width and height of each support post 224.

In this embodiment, the plurality of support posts 224 may include a plurality of posts spaced apart from one another, and the plurality of posts may be gathered at the second (lower) end to form a bottom plate molded as a single body. The floor formed in this manner may form a lower end 226 of cushioning members 220. Upper ends 221 of the buffering member 220 adjacent to first ends (upper ends) of the plurality of supporting columns 224 are separated from each other and coupled to the side coupling portions 214 of the coupling member 210.

Fig. 11A is an exploded perspective view and fig. 11B is a combined perspective view illustrating a midsole assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to fig. 11A-11B, a midsole component 300 according to this embodiment may be formed by joining portions to one another in a longitudinal direction of upper 12. Each of the plurality of portions may be integrally formed with a portion of the coupling member 310 and a portion of the cushioning member 320. That is, the hindfoot RF may be divided into a first region RF1, a second region RF2, and a third region RF3, and may be divided into a first component part 301, a second component part 302, and a third component part 303, respectively.

First assembly portion 301 may be formed from a unit in which first coupling member 310a and first cushioning member 320a are integrally formed to support the heel of upper 12 and provide a cushioning function. Second assembly portion 302 may be formed from a unit in which second coupling member 310b and second cushioning member 320b are integrally formed adjacent to first assembly portion 301 and support a side surface of upper 12. Additionally, third assembly portion 303 may be formed from a unit in which third coupling member 310c and third cushioning member 320c are integrally formed adjacent second assembly portion 302 and support sides of midfoot portion MF of upper 12. Each of first component portion 301, second component portion 302, and third component portion 303 may be formed in a separate mold. Alternatively, they may be formed in a single mold or formed in multiple molds at once.

First assembly portion 301, second assembly portion 302, and third assembly portion 303 may be coupled to one another to form midsole assembly 300 and may be coupled to a rearfoot portion RF of upper 12 to support same.

In this embodiment, an embodiment has been described in which the hindfoot portion RF is divided into three regions and three component portions 301, 302, and 303 corresponding thereto, respectively. However, the midsole component may also be formed by combining one integrally molded part, or two or more separate component parts, and the midsole component may be separated in a direction different from the medial-lateral direction as in the above embodiment (lateral direction of the upper).

Each of the moldings of the first, second, and third assembly parts 301, 302, and 303 according to the present embodiment may be manufactured in an integral structure using injection molding, 3D printing, and various other molding methods. At this time, the first component part 301, the second component part 302 and the third component part 303 may be formed of, for example, a thermoplastic elastomer based on TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), PEBA (polyether block amide) or TPEE (thermoplastic polyester elastomer).

Fig. 12 is a side view illustrating a shoe having a midsole assembly according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling member of the midsole assembly according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

In the midsole assembly 400 of the shoe 40 according to this embodiment, the coupling member 410 may be divided into a plurality of portions each coupled to the upper 12, and the cushioning member 420 may be divided into a plurality of portions each coupled to the coupling member 410. In this case, the coupling member 410 may include a base plate 412 and a side coupling portion 414.

The base plate 412 of the coupling member 410 may constitute a bottom portion of the coupling member 410 coupled to the bottom surface of the upper 12, and may have the same planar shape as the bottom surface of the upper 12 corresponding to the base plate 412. Substrate 412 may be formed in a lattice shape having one or more through-holes and may be coupled to a bottom surface of upper 12. However, the present invention is not limited to the lattice shape on the bottom, and the substrate may have cutouts on the inner and outer sides. The coupling member may cause a certain degree of deformation according to the configuration, based on the material properties and pattern of the substrate 412. The material of the substrate 412 may be fabric, leather, or thermoplastic resin. Substrate 412, which is coupled to upper 12, may be configured with one or more through-holes rather than a lattice shape, or may be formed from a combination of materials.

The substrate having the lattice shape described with reference to fig. 13 is not limited to this embodiment, and thus, the lattice panel may be applied to all embodiments including fig. 1, which also falls within the scope of the present invention.

The side coupling portions 414 of the coupling member 410 may be bent upward from the edges of the base plate 412 and may be coupled to the outer circumference of the upper 12. The side coupling portion 414 may include a pocket 414a opened downward, and the pocket 414a may be formed of a plurality of portions separated from each other and may be disposed along the outer circumference of the base plate 412. The pocket 414a may be provided to protrude from an outer surface of the coupling member 410. The side coupling portion 414 may be formed of a soft material such as fabric or leather, or may be formed of a nylon-based elastomer having a certain strength level. As another example, it is also within the scope of the present invention that the side coupling portion 414 of the coupling member 410, when coupled to the side surface of the upper 12, may be attached by a reinforcing member.

The buffering member 420 may include: an upper end 421, the upper end 421 being received in the pocket 414a of the coupling member 410; a lower end 426, the lower end 426 being spaced apart from the coupling member 410 and formed in a planar shape; and a support post 424, the support post 424 extending from the lower end 426 and being connected to the upper end 421. An upper end 421 of the shock-absorbing member 420 may extend from the support column 424, for example, in a vertical direction, to be fitted and coupled to the pocket 414a of the coupling member 410. The upper ends 421 extending from the plurality of support columns 424 may be individually inserted and fixed into the corresponding pockets 414a, respectively.

FIG. 14 is a side view illustrating a shoe having a midsole assembly according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

In the midsole component 500 of the shoe (50) according to this embodiment, the pocket 514a is provided inside the side of the upper 52. The upper 52 may include an inner skin 52a, an outer skin 52c, and a middle skin 52b, and the middle skin 52b may have a form in which a plurality of pockets 514a are connected to each other and are fitted between the inner skin 52a and the outer skin 52 c. The lower end of the middle skin 52b may be connected to the outer skin 52c, and a slit 52d capable of communicating with the pocket 514a may be cut through the outer skin 52 c.

The buffering member 520 may include: an upper end 521, the upper end 521 being received in the pocket 514a of the coupling member 510; a lower end 526, the lower end 526 being spaced apart from the coupling member 510 and formed in a planar shape; and a support post 524, the support post 524 extending from the lower end 526 and connected to the upper end 521.

Referring to a cross-section taken along line a-a' shown in fig. 14, an upper end 521 of the cushioning member 520 may pass through a slit 52d formed in the outer skin 52c of the upper 52 to be coupled to the pocket 514a of the middle skin 52 b. Thus, in this embodiment, the middle leather 52b may perform a function corresponding to the side coupling portion 514 of the coupling member 510. The pocket 514a provided on the middle leather 52b is formed in plurality, and may receive the upper ends 521 extending from the plurality of support pillars 524, respectively. The joining of the coupling member 510 and the buffer member 520 may use an adhesive joining, a laser joining, or an HF pulse joining method, but the present invention is not limited to this joining method. The material of the middle skin 52b may be rubber, elastomer, resin, fiber, fabric, or a combination thereof, but the present invention is not limited to these materials.

In this embodiment, the middle skin 52b of the upper 52 performs the function of the coupling member 510 connected with the cushioning member 520, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Similar to other embodiments, the substrate may be mounted separately under the upper or with the medial skin 52b or the lateral skin 52c of the upper 52.

In all embodiments of the invention, the cushioning member is coupled to a side surface of the upper. In addition, the cushioning member may be coupled to a side surface of the upper through an existing stiffener on the heel side.

In the midsole assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention described with reference to fig. 1 to 14, it has been described that the cushioning member is mounted on the hindfoot portion of the shoe, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the cushioning member may be mounted to extend to the midfoot or forefoot portion of the shoe. When a midsole assembly as described above is installed on the lower boundary of the entire area of the shoe including the hindfoot, forefoot and midfoot portions, the width, distance and number of at least one support column may naturally be set differently than as described above.

Meanwhile, when the outsole is omitted according to the type of footwear, the lower end of the cushioning member of the midsole assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention may be configured to directly contact the ground. In this case, the lower end of the cushioning member may be formed of a solid plate or a horseshoe plate to which the support columns of the cushioning member are gathered and connected.

With regard to the coupling members described in the above embodiments, if a structure is coupled to an upper to support the upper and a cushioning member may be coupled to the structure, naturally, the structure may be understood as a coupling member of the present invention regardless of the name used in the conventional footwear structure or its inherent function.

It is also within the scope of the present invention that all components, such as the midsole component, the upper, and the outsole, may be manufactured using a 3D printer, or that the entire shoe including this construction may be manufactured by molding with a 3D printer.

Although the invention has been described with emphasis on athletic footwear for athletic activities such as running, the invention may be applied to other types of footwear.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, the specification of the present invention, and the drawings, and naturally fall within the scope.