EP0377781A2

EP0377781A2 - Footwear outsole member

Info

Publication number: EP0377781A2
Application number: EP89112419A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Keith Ashton Rimmer
Original assignee: Dunlop Ltd
Current assignee: Dunlop Ltd
Priority date: 1989-01-10
Filing date: 1989-07-07
Publication date: 1990-07-18
Also published as: GB2226746A; DK5490D0; GB8900521D0; EP0377781A3; DK5490A; NO893539D0; KR900011419A; NO893539L

Abstract

A footwear outside member (10) is provided with an elongate flexible region (e.g. a channel 11) extending longitudinally of the outsole. Preferably, the channel (11) extends from the toe (12) to the arch (13) of the outsole (10) and suitably the channel (11) is located in an area corresponding to the area defined between the first and third toes of a wearer. The channel (11) provides flexibility which facilitates the movement of the forefoot of a wearer during the course of walking, running, jumping or the like and thus enhances balance.

Description

This invention relates to footware outsole members and to articles of footware containing them.
Movement of the human foot during the course of walking, running, jumping and similar exercises, involves the transference of pressure from one side of the forefoot to the other as the toes move to provide balance. The greater degree of movement of the forefoot under such conditions is known to occur between the first and third toes.
It has been found that the provision of an elongate flexible region in the outside of an article of footware can facilitate the movement of the forefoot and thus enhance balance.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a footware outsole member having an elongate flexible region extending longitudinally of the outsole.
The longitudinal flexible region may comprise a channel and may suitably extend over an area substantially corresponding to the forefoot area of the outsole (for example, from the toe to the arch of the outsole).
In particular, the longitudinal flexible region may extend over an area substantially corresponding to the area defined by the first and third toes of a wearer.
The present invention also provides an outsole member which also includes an elongate flexible region extending laterally of the outsole. This lateral flexible region may likewise comprise a channel.
Finally, the present invention provides an article of footwear including an outsole member as hereinbefore described.
The present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings (wherein like numerals denote like parts) :

Figure 1 is a view of an outsole member according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a view of an outsole member according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

An outsole member, shown generally at 10, is provided with an elongate flexible region comprising a channel 11 extending longitudinally of the outsole. In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, the longitudinal channel 11 extends from the toe 12 to the arch 13 of the outsole and is located in an area substantially corresponding to the area defined between the first and third toes of a wearer.
In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the outsole also includes a further elongate flexible region comprising a channel 21 extending laterally of the outsole.
The outsole 10 may further be provided with relief patterning (shown schematically at 30, 31 and 32) to enhance its performance when used as a component of an article of footwear.

Claims

1. A footwear outsole member characterised by an elongate flexible region extending longitudinally of the outsole (10).

2. An outsole member according to Claim 1, characterised in that the elongate flexible region comprises a channel (11) which extends over the fore-foot area of the outsole (10).

3. An outsole member according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the elongate flexible region extends from the toe (12) to the arch (13) of the outsole (10).

4. An outsole member according to Claim 3, characterised in that the elongate flexible region is located in an area which substantially corresponds to the area defined between the first and third toes of a wearer.

5. An outsole member according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised by an additional elongate flexible region extending laterally of the outsole (10).

6. An outsole member according to Claim 5, characterised in that the additional elongate flexible region comprises a channel (21).