Shoe assembly with non-linear viscous liquid
Shoes and shoe sole assemblies and associated methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a shoe and shoe sole assembly made of a non-linearly viscous, SEBS block copolymer-based material that becomes more resilient as more energy is applied. The shoe and shoe sole assembly is configured with a heel and forefoot insert configured to fit within a recess in a midsole. In other embodiments, the non-linearly viscous, SEBS block copolymer-based material is mixed with at least one other polymer in a foam. The midsole is formed with a heel impact region and a forefoot region made of the foam.
1. A shoe sole assembly comprising:
a heel insert made of a non-linearly viscous, SEBS block copolymer-based material, the heel insert comprising:
a generally circular heel portion; and
a tapered protrusion extending forward from the heel portion;
a forefoot insert made of a non-linearly viscous, SEBS block copolymer-based material, the forefoot insert comprising:
a generally oval-shaped portion positioned under an inside metatarsal of a foot; and
an arcing protrusion extending laterally outwardly from the oval-shaped portion, wherein the forefoot extension is configured in an arcing pattern of metatarsals of a foot to substantially underlie the metatarsals; and
a midsole configured to receive the heel insert and the forefoot insert.
2. The shoe sole assembly of claim 1 wherein a top surface of the heel portion is generally flat, and a bottom surface is generally dome-shaped
3. The shoe sole assembly of claim 1 wherein the tapered protrusion tapers in at least one of a width direction and a thickness direction.
4. The shoe sole assembly of claim 1 wherein the oval-shaped portion is slightly thicker than the arcing protrusion.
5. The shoe sole assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-linearly viscous, SEBS block copolymer-based material is at least one of an injection molded material or a compression molded material.
6. The shoe sole assembly of claim 1 wherein the non-linearly viscous, SEBS block copolymer-based material is at least one of thixotropic, rheopectic, and pseudo-plastic.
7. The shoe sole assembly of claim 1 wherein the heel insert and the forefoot insert are configured to fit within recesses in the midsole.
8. The shoe sole assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the heel insert and the forefoot insert has a plurality of recesses configured to increase flexibility and decrease weight of the at least one insert.
9. The shoe assembly of claim 1 wherein the material has a first resiliency in response to a first impact and a second resiliency in response to a second impact.
10. The shoe assembly of claim 1 wherein the heel insert has a first resiliency and the forefoot insert has a second resiliency.