The sole comprises two superposed layers made of different materials: a) a bottom layer (1) of a material which is firm and strong, and provided with projections for bearing against the ground such as studs (13, 14) disposed around the periphery of the sole; and b) a top layer of a material which is flexible and resilient, and which serves as a bearing surface for the user's foot, with said layer carrying flexible projection (20, 21, 22) which project beneath the bottom sole (1) by passing through openings (10, 11, 12) provided therethrough.
This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 458,752 filed as PCT/FR89/00132, on Mar. 22, 1989, published as WO89/08996, Oct. 5, 1989, now abandoned.
An outer-sole to be worn over footwear is characterized by having a curled forward or toe portion, and optionally heel portion as well, that holds the front portion of the outer-sole in contact with the footwear to which it is attached.
An outer-sole to be worn over footwear is characterized by having a curled forward or toe portion, and optionally heel portion as well, that holds the front portion of the outer-sole in contact with the footwear to which it is attached.
The present invention relates to a directionally yieldable cleat assembly attached to an athletic shoe having an upper and a sole with a longitudinal axis. A plurality of spaced cleats are mounted to the sole so that the cleats protrude outwardly from the bottom of the sole. In one embodiment, a bumper is provided between the cleat and the sole for enabling a greater magnitude of deformation or deflection of the cleat in response to a predetermined lateral force imposed upon the cleat in a first laterally inward direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shoe than the deformation or deflection of the cleat in response to the same predetermined force imposed on the cleat in direction other than the first lateral direction. Deflection of the cleat is also minimized or eliminated in response to forces imposed on the cleats in a parallel direction to the longitudinal axis of the sole to ensure that traction for the shoe is uncompromised.
A shoe with permeable/breathable upper that covers, at least partially, an impermeable breathable sole, comprising a sole layer made of rubber connected internally to a wraparound upper made of synthetic or natural leather, the sole layer having nubs that pass through holes of the upper to constitute a tread, at least some of the nubs having at least one through hole, a breathable or perforated protective layer, a membrane permeable to vapor and impermeable to water and a breathable or perforated insole or anatomical inner sole being arranged in succession from below, at least at the holes of the nubs, above the sole layer, the protective layer and the membrane having edges substantially adjacent and joined hermetically to the sole layer and to the inner sole.
An article of footwear comprising relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials chemically bonded together is disclosed. In one embodiment, the relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials are arranged in such a fashion to impart flexibility to the article of footwear. In particular, plastic and rubber materials are bonded together to improve the flexibility of an outsole of an article of footwear. The invention also is directed to the fabrication of new or improved devices and elements for use in articles of footwear and their associated methods of construction such as closure mechanisms comprising relatively elastic straps bonded to relatively inelastic anchor portions and vice versa, articulating inelastic and elastic exoskeleton constructions useful in skates and ski boots, and elastic or inelastic eyelets surrounded by inelastic or elastic materials. The invention also is directed to chemically bonding relatively elastic to relatively inelastic materials for contemplated use in protective athletic equipment such as helmets and protective padding, and for use in prosthetic devices.
