Structural elements or support elements with internal flexibility sipes
Devices with internal flexibility sipes, such as slits, provide improved flexibility, improved cushioning to absorb shock and/or shear forces, and improved stability of support. Siped devices can be used in any existing product that provides or utilizes cushioning and stability. These products include human and other footwear, both soles and uppers, as well as orthotics; athletic, occupational and medical equipment and apparel; padding or cushioning, such as for equipment or tool handles, as well as furniture; balls; tires; and any other structural or support elements in a mechanical, architectural, or any other product.
1. A structural element or support element comprising:
at least one inner compartment, chamber or bladder;
at least one outer compartment, chamber or bladder outside said inner compartment, chamber or bladder,
said outer compartment chamber or bladder and said inner compartment, chamber or bladder being separated at least in part by an internal sipe;
said inner compartment, chamber or bladder includes at least one structural element comprising at least a foamed plastic or a blown rubber and being located inside said at least one inner compartment, chamber, or bladder; and
wherein said internal sipe is formed by at least a portion of an inner surface of said outer, compartment, chamber or bladder and at least a portion of an outer surface of said inner compartment, chamber, or bladder; and the inner and outer surface portions forming the at least a portion said internal sipe oppose each other and are configured to move relative to each other in a sliding motion, and the internal sipe contains a lubricating media.
2. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of one of said opposing surfaces of the internal sipe that can move relative to each other is in contact with a portion of the other of said opposing surfaces of the internal sipe that can move relative to each other, when said structural element or said support element is in an unloaded condition.
3. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal sipe extends continuously without any attachments between the inner and outer surface portions forming the at least one internal sipe from at least a sidemost extent of a first side of the inner surface of the outer compartment, chamber or bladder to at least a midpoint of the inner surface the outer compartment, chamber or bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the structural element or the support element is in an unloaded position.
4. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , including at least two said inner compartments, chambers, or bladders.
5. The structural element or the support element of claim 4 , further comprising at least one duct, valve or a combination of a duct and a valve providing fluid communication between said at least two inner compartments, chambers or bladders.
6. The structural element or the support element of claim 5 , further comprising at least one electronic control system for controlling the valve.
7. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein the at least one internal sipe completely encapsulates a portion of the structural element or support element, as viewed in a cross-section.
8. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein said at least one inner compartment, chamber or bladder is defined at least by a non-foamed plastic material, a non-blown rubber or a combination of a non-foamed plastic material and a non-blown rubber, and having at least one cavity or void that least partially encloses at least one gas, as viewed in a cross-section.
9. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein said at least one internal sipe separates most but not all of said inner surface of said outer compartment, chamber or bladder and said outer surface of said inner compartment, chamber or bladder.
10. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein said inner and outer surface portions forming said at least one internal sipe are in contact with each other.
11. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein said at least one internal sipe is a slit.
12. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein said inner and outer surface portions forming said at least one internal sipe are parallel.
13. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein said inner compartment, chamber or bladder is completely surrounded by said outer compartment, chamber or bladder, as viewed in a cross-section.
14. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein said inner compartment, chamber or bladder is integrally formed by one or more additional structural elements of a foamed plastic material, a blown rubber material or a combination of foamed plastic material and blown rubber material.
15. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein said structural element or said support element forms a part of a mechanical, electro-mechanical, architectural electronic, optical or biological device.
16. The structural element or the support element of claim 1 , wherein said structural element or said support element is selected from the group consisting of a beam, a strut, a tool, a racquet handle, a grip, a shaft, a body and a head of the structural element or the support element.
17. The structural element or support element of claim 1 , wherein said lubricating media comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
18. A structural element or support element comprising:
at least one inner compartment, chamber or bladder;
at least one outer compartment, chamber or bladder outside said inner compartment, chamber or bladder,
said outer compartment chamber or bladder and said inner compartment, chamber or bladder being separated at least in part by an internal sipe;
wherein said internal sipe is formed by at least a portion of an inner surface of said outer, compartment, chamber or bladder and at least a portion of an outer surface of said inner compartment, chamber, or bladder; the inner and outer surface portions forming the at least a portion said internal sipe oppose each other and are configured to move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and one or more resilient structural elements are contained within the inner compartment, chamber or bladder, and said one or more resilient structural elements extend from proximate of an upper inner surface of the compartment, chamber, or bladder to proximate of a lower inner surface of the inner compartment, chamber, or bladder.
19. A structural element or support element comprising:
at least one inner compartment, chamber or bladder;
at least one outer compartment, chamber or bladder outside said inner compartment, chamber or bladder,
said outer compartment chamber or bladder and said inner compartment, chamber or bladder being separated at least in part by an internal sipe;
said inner compartment, chamber, or bladder includes one or more openings such that a gas located inside the inner compartment, chamber, or bladder is not contained by the inner compartment, chamber, or bladder and that the gas in the structural element or support element is contained only by the outer compartment, chamber, or bladder; and
wherein said internal sipe is formed by at least a portion of an inner surface of said outer, compartment, chamber or bladder and at least a portion of an outer surface of said inner compartment, chamber, or bladder; and the inner and outer surface portions forming the at least a portion said internal sipe oppose each other and are configured to move relative to each other in a sliding motion.