Skateboard shoe
View Patent ↗A skateboard shoe comprising a plurality of fluid chambers able to move and flex independently from one another along the bottom portion of the midsole is shown and described. The midsole acts as both a stabilizing midsole and an impact cushioning midsole while improving the fit of the shoe so it moves with the foot.
1. A shoe comprising:
an upper;
a midsole connected to the upper including
a plurality of hollow ribs longitudinally spaced defining a plurality of hollow fluid chambers that are longitudinally spaced, the plurality of hollow ribs including a first hollow rib that is longitudinally spaced, and a second hollow rib that is longitudinally spaced,
wherein the plurality of hollow fluid chambers are able to flex independently along a bottom portion of the midsole, the second hollow rib is substantially parallel to the first hollow rib, and the first hollow rib and the second hollow rib define one of the plurality of fluid chambers, and
a conical support unit located within the one of the plurality of fluid chambers defined by the first hollow rib and the second hollow rib; and
an outsole comprising a plurality of segments that are longitudinally spaced,
wherein the plurality of segments are disposed below the plurality of hollow fluid chambers.
2. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the plurality of hollow fluid chambers are coupled to one another along a top portion of the midsole.
3. The shoe of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of hollow fluid chambers contain a fluid selected from the group consisting of an inert gas, an inert liquid and a gel.
4. The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a bridge member disposed between at least two of the plurality of segments in the outsole.
5. The shoe of claim 4 further comprising one or more elastomeric bridge members connecting adjacent outsole segments.
6. The shoe of claim 5 wherein the one or more elastomeric bridge members comprise a material of low modulus of elasticity relative to the outsole segments.
7. The shoe of claim 5 wherein the one or more elastomeric bridge members comprise a material of low spring strength relative to the outsole segments.
8. The shoe of claim 5 wherein the one or more elastomeric bridge members are formed integrally with the outsole segments, wherein the outsole segments are characterized by a lateral width relative to the shoe and the one or more elastomeric bridge members are characterized by a lateral width relative to the shoe, wherein the lateral width of at least one bridge member is smaller than the lateral width of adjacent outsole segments.
9. The shoe of claim 5 wherein the one or more elastomeric bridge members are formed integrally with the outsole segments, wherein the outsole segments are thicker than the one or more elastomeric bridge members, wherein the one or more elastomeric bridge members are more flexible than the outsole segments.
10. The shoe of claim 1 further comprising a web disposed between at least two of the plurality of segments in the outsole.
11. A shoe comprising:
a midsole including
a plurality of hollow ribs that are longitudinally spaced segmenting the midsole into a plurality of hollow fluid chambers and characterizing a plurality of troughs in a bottom portion of the midsole,
a first hollow rib that is longitudinally spaced,
a second hollow rib that is longitudinally spaced, the second hollow rib substantially parallel to the first hollow rib and defining at least one of the plurality of hollow fluid chambers, and
a conical support unit located within the at least one of the plurality of hollow fluid chambers defined by the first hollow rib and the second hollow rib; and
an outsole comprising a plurality of segments that are longitudinally spaced,
wherein the plurality of segments are disposed below the plurality of hollow fluid chambers, and
wherein the plurality of hollow fluid chambers are able to flex independently along the bottom portion of the midsole and the plurality of segments are able to flex with the plurality of hollow fluid chambers.
12. The shoe of claim 11 further comprising a bridge member disposed between at least two of the plurality of segments in the outsole.
13. The shoe of claim 11 further comprising a web disposed between at least two of the plurality of segments in the outsole.
14. A shoe comprising:
an upper;
a midsole connected to the upper including
a top portion,
a bottom portion,
a first hollow rib,
a second hollow rib substantially parallel to the first hollow rib, the first hollow rib and the second hollow rib defining a first hollow fluid chamber that is longitudinally spaced,
a third hollow rib,
a fourth hollow rib that is substantially parallel to the third hollow rib, the third hollow rib and the fourth hollow rib defining a second hollow fluid chamber that is longitudinally spaced, wherein the first hollow fluid chamber and the second hollow fluid chamber are connected at the top portion and the first hollow fluid chamber and the second hollow fluid chamber are able to flex independently of each other along the bottom portion,
a first conical support unit located within the first hollow fluid chamber, and
a second conical support unit located within the second hollow fluid chamber; and
an outsole including
a first segment disposed below the first hollow fluid chamber, the first segment being longitudinally spaced and able to flex with the first hollow fluid chamber,
a second segment disposed below the second hollow fluid chamber, the second segment being longitudinally spaced and able to flex with the second hollow fluid chamber,
a bridge member formed integrally with the first segment and the second segment connecting the first segment and the second segment, wherein the bridge member comprises a material of low modulus of elasticity relative to the first segment and the second segment, a lateral width of the bridge member is smaller than a lateral width of the first segment and a lateral width of the second segment, and the first segment and the second segment have a thickness greater than a thickness of the bridge member, whereby the bridge member is more flexible than the first segment and the second segment.
15. The shoe of claim 14 wherein the bridge member is an elastomeric bridge member.
16. The shoe of claim 15 wherein the bridge member comprises a material of low spring strength relative to the first segment and the second segment.
17. The shoe of claim 16 wherein the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber comprise a fluid selected from the group consisting of an inert gas, an inert liquid and a gel.