SPRING MECHANISM IN A SHOE
A shoe can include a sole, a cavity defined in the sole, and a spring plate disposed within the cavity. The spring plate can include an elongated shape with a central axis where the central axis is aligned with length of the sole and a flat profile in the midfoot region of the sole.
1 . A shoe, comprising:
a sole;
a cavity defined in the sole;
a spring plate disposed within the cavity, the spring plate including:
an elongated shape with a central axis;
the central axis being aligned with length of the sole; and
a flat profile in a midfoot region of the sole.
2 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the sole includes an outsole, wherein the cavity is defined in the outsole.
3 . The shoe of claim 2 , wherein the cavity is open to an exterior of the outsole.
4 . The shoe of claim 3 , wherein the spring plate is adhered to the cavity with an adhesive.
5 . The shoe of claim 3 , wherein a covered portion of the spring plate is covered with the outsole and an exposed portion of the spring plate is exposed through the outsole.
6 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the spring plate includes a characteristic of flexing into a bended orientation under a load when worn by a user during an ambulatory foot movement and returning to the flat profile in an absence of the load.
7 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the cavity is defined in the midfoot region of the sole.
8 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein:
the spring plate includes a plate width that is transverse the central axis;
the sole includes a sole width in the midfoot region of the sole; and
the plate width is a less than a third of the sole width.
9 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein:
the spring plate includes a plate length aligned with the central axis;
the sole includes a sole length; and
the plate length is less than half of the sole length.
10 . The shoe of claim 9 , wherein the plate length is less than a third of the sole length.
11 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the spring plate has an overall profile that is flat.
12 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the spring plate comprises a pre-pregnated composite material.
13 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the spring plate is isolated to the midfoot region of the sole.
14 . A running shoe, comprising:
a sole including an outsole;
an upper connected to the sole;
an inside surface of the upper defining a foot cavity with the sole;
a cavity defined in the outsole;
a spring plate disposed within the cavity, the spring plate including:
an elongated shape with a central axis; and
the central axis being aligned with length of the sole;
wherein the cavity is open to an exterior of the outsole.
15 . The running shoe of claim 14 , wherein the spring plate has a flat profile in a midfoot region of the sole.
16 . The running shoe of claim 14 , wherein the spring plate includes a characteristic of flexing into a bended orientation under a load when worn by a user during an ambulatory foot movement and returning to a flat profile in an absence of the load.
17 . The running shoe of claim 14 , wherein the spring plate is flat and has a uniform thickness.
18 . The running shoe of claim 14 , wherein the spring plate includes a plate width that is transverse the central axis;
wherein the sole includes a sole width in a midfoot region of the sole; and
wherein the plate width is a less than a third of the sole width.
19 . The running shoe of claim 14 , wherein
the spring plate includes a plate length aligned with the central axis;
the sole includes a sole length; and
the plate length is less than half of the sole length.
20 . A running shoe, comprising:
a sole including an outsole;
an upper connected to the sole;
an inside surface of the upper defining a foot cavity with the sole;
a cavity defined in the outsole;
a spring plate disposed within the cavity, the spring plate including:
an elongated shape with a central axis;
a flat profile in a midfoot region of the sole;
the central axis being aligned with length of the sole;
a characteristic of flexing into a bended orientation under a load when worn by a user during an ambulatory foot movement and returning to the flat profile in an absence of the load;
a uniform thickness;
a plate width that is transverse the central axis;
wherein the sole includes a sole width in the midfoot region of the sole;
wherein the plate width is a less than a third of the sole width;
a plate length aligned with the central axis;
wherein the sole includes a sole length;
wherein the plate length is less than half of the sole length; and
wherein the cavity is open to an exterior of the outsole.