WO2007099226A2

WO2007099226A2 - Universal sole

Info

Publication number: WO2007099226A2
Application number: PCT/FR2007/000359
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Biesse
Original assignee: Philippe Biesse
Priority date: 2006-03-03
Filing date: 2007-02-28
Publication date: 2007-09-07
Also published as: EP1991079B1; FR2898017B1; WO2007099226A3; ATE437582T1; FR2898017A1; US20120084998A1; EP1991079A2; DE602007001792D1

Abstract

Universal sole designed to help a user adapt his walking or running gait to the surface over which he is moving or to the peculiarities of his individual leg/foot system by individually adjusting the hardness and thickness of several areas of the sole. Each area consists of one or more layers of a flat coil of elastic extensible airtight and optionally reinforced rubber tube which may be flattened or inflated beyond its nominal diameter as a function of the pressure introduced by the action, as the user walks, of a small pump located inside the sole underneath the user's heel and adjustments and isolations performed manually with a system of valves built into the thickness of the sole. The coils, the valve system and the pumping system are either located and bonded between layers of foam containing the impression of the coils and filling the spaces between laces or placed in a mould or in a sole in the shape of a boat, a filling material then being introduced to fill the empty spaces. The resulting soles or sole elements can be used on all kinds of shoes.

Description

Universal sole. Technical area.

The present invention applies to shoe soles and relates to a device intended to help a user to adapt his walking or his race to the type of terrain traveled or the particularities of his leg / foot system. The type of terrain is characterized by its hardness, its forward inclination positive upward, negative downhill, inclined to one side or the other for a course on hillside field or road shoulder. The peculiarities of the leg / foot system refer to a form of arched legs for example, a position to correct, or muscles or joints to relieve or stimulate in a particular way. The invention also applies to a method of manufacturing the elements of the sole.

Prior art.

This type of situation is traditionally managed by the acquisition of different shoes type, stiffness and thickness of different soles and in some cases significant corrections, by the adoption of orthopedic type shoes.

The major drawbacks of the existing solutions are the need to have several pairs of shoes that each partially answer the problem, and not to be able to adapt differently to a single equipment during an outing on which one would find different types of terrain and of circumstances. Although it is easy to find appropriate corrective shoes on models of city shoes, it is also not always possible to find on the market and at an affordable price shoes having both corrective and sporting characters. In addition, in the long run, the wear of the sole of the shoes in all cases is the opposite of the expected result and the existing solutions cover only a small part of the possible applications of the invention.

In the sports sector in particular, the manufacturers offer models adapted particularly to each discipline or each type of terrain, thus specializing shoes for the main benefit of performance and not the particularities of an individual user. They have also recently developed adaptable or even automated models equipped with sensors, microprocessors, actuators, batteries, communication interface. These models respond to a particular niche and rely on relatively expensive advanced technologies. In addition their application is oriented for the sports field and focus on the comfort of the shoe and shock absorption. They operate either on a mechanical element such as patent EP1582108, or externally closed pneumatic elements such as US Pat. No. 6,630,843, or elements that can be inflated to atmospheric pressure when the soleplate is no longer in contact with the ground such as US Pat. No. 5,813,142, and whose air can escape when the foot contacts the ground by controlled opening of vent valves. Other non-automated models make it possible to adjust comfort or height of the soles according to a mechanical principle by inserts being intrinsically adjustable or interchangeable such as the patent EP1530913, or the comfort and hardness of the heel area for the application WO 90/00866.

Other patents use the pneumatic support of a sole formed of pockets pre-inflated by construction and manufactured for most cases by welding two sheets of elastomer in a pattern determining the periphery of these pockets or by welding or gluing of two parts in half shells. Areas that can be in communication or isolated from each other. US Patents 900867, US 5199191, US 4129951 are examples thereof. Patent No. US 5406719 has a configuration in which 4 chambers can be isolated or placed in communication and where, thanks to the use of reservoirs, the pressure of the chambers whose pressure range is given during manufacture can be adjusted by the user a few tens of percent by maneuvering valves and the stroke of the pistons of the tanks. The sole is made of two sheets of elastomer welded following the layout of the zones.

A configuration using a pump actuated by the support of the foot on the floor is described in US Patent No. 6785985. The pump which is a bladder with a non-return valve acts on the swelling of the whole of the shoe, sole and slipper, in order to maintain the foot in an envelope tightening up comfort pressure, a leakage flow is maintained to limit this pressure to a relatively low value.

Finally, US Pat. No. 5,177,992 discloses a system in which pockets of the soleplate which, thanks to a valve, allow themselves to be filled at atmospheric pressure at each break in contact with the ground, are alternately and pseudo-randomly held in pressure. or free to deflate by a mechanical rotating winch system operated upon each contact of a push button with the ground. The purpose of this invention is to provide the wearer comfort and stimulate blood circulation by exercises. On the previous inventions, there is a set of problems related to production costs, changes in characteristics over time and the need to keep in stock replacement inserts for mechanical systems, bursting or rupture welds , a lack of stability in the horizontal lateral, longitudinal and oblique planes because of the non-shear strength of the air mattresses, blistering of the central areas of the pockets and the risk of torsion of the ankles for the pocket systems. This risk is due in particular to the fact that a large pocket of air will collapse under a local pressure of the corner of the heel while the rest of the pocket will lift at the same pressure the wider surface of the rest of the heel, thus aggravating a position initially inclined. In order to overcome all these disadvantages, it is necessary to make certain adjustments.

Presentation of the invention.

The device according to the invention overcomes these disadvantages, it consists in the establishment of a universal sole under the shoe that is of the city type, sport, hiking, rehabilitation or orthopedic and helping a user to adapt his walk or race to the type of terrain traveled or the particularities of his leg / foot system.

It comprises in general and for each shoe a sole consisting of flat serpentines tubes or elastic tubes, expandable and waterproof and each delimiting a zone or sealed pocket according to a marking front, rear, right and left sides of the foot, each coil, including the end is plugged, being filled with air, in independent quantity and pressure, by transfers from the outside to the coil, from the coil to the outside and from one coil to the other in multiple combinations controlled by a system of valves, connecting pipes, a collector, a venting and a pumping system with possibly overpressure protection, the whole being controlled manually. These areas may be for example 4 in number: the right front, and the left front at the sole of the foot, the right rear and the left back at the heel.

The advantage of these transfers is to be able firstly adjust the overall height and hardness of the sole to ensure comfort, rebound or damping depending on the nature of the activity, to compensate for different leg lengths; and on the other hand to adjust the relative heights of each zone in the right and left direction to walk on the roadside, to relieve or stimulate the knee joints, for rehabilitation or correction of bone deformities, or in the forward direction and back to rest or work the front or back muscles up or down. It also makes it possible to improve the sports performances by reactions adapted to the different impulses. These checks and adjustments will be made according to the case and according to the problems of the user and the skill of the operator, by the user himself, by his sports trainer or by his doctor. In addition, depending on the application, Hs will be performed at remote intervals for the case of corrections or several times per hour for an athlete working on different terrains or for different activities. The maintenance of characteristics for large intervals between adjustments is made possible by the tightness of the coils and the winnowing systems.

In particular, the pumping system can take a simple form and consist of a receiving nozzle with a valve located in the thickness of the sole, this nozzle being connected to the collector and connectable to an external pump which will be placed the flexible temporarily in the nozzle for the pumping operation. This pump is therefore independent of the sole and takes the form for example of a manual piston pump or an electric compressor or other compressed air production unit. A mini pump model can be manufactured and delivered with the footwear with little financial impact, the pump can even be sophisticated with a pressure gauge if it is used by an orthopedist or professional managing multiple users. The pumping system may also consist of a mini pump for example piston, integrated into the sole and having the outer shape of a capsule. It will be equipped on the discharge side to the common manifold, a check valve and possibly a safety valve, and the suction side of a connection to the air filter generally placed in a protected area of the shoe via an isolation valve and a non-return valve.

The external bearing surface of this pump is on the one hand much greater than the surface of its compression chamber, this in order to be able to deliver in the coils of any area of the air at a pressure greater than that due to the weight of the user compared to the total bearing surface of the boot on the ground, and secondly, so as to always be in contact with the ground, even when the sole around it is close to its maximum thickness , it is maintained at the bottom surface of the sole by virtue of its location and support under the lower generatrix of the pipes of the lower layer of the coils of the heel zones, which enables it to follow the increase in thickness of the the sole. The pumping action is done for example during a normal movement of the user, the pump being thus actuated by a portion of the weight of the user with each support of the foot on the ground. When the pumping action is completed and thanks to the return system, the pump keeps its retracted position with minimal thickness when its suction valve is closed. A configuration of the air transfer system consists of a simplest version of a set of valves with two open and closed positions controlled from control members located on the side in the thickness of the sole. Each valve is respectively assigned to an area, the venting, the suction of the pump. The bodies that are screws or rotary knobs are maneuvered by the user according to the desired diagram, each isolating valve or by communicating on the one hand and independently the different areas of the sole with the collector, and of on the other hand, this manifold with the vent through the vent valve, or isolating or opening the suction valve of the pumping system. For a four-zone sole, right heel, left heel, right front and left front, there will be 6 valves, 4 of which are assigned to zones.

For example, to go from a flat and thin sole state to a raised thick sole on the outer side and the heel, we will check that the vent is closed, open the suction valve of the pump, and the valves of the four zones. It is then necessary to walk a few meters in the case of the integrated pump or to pump a few shots in the case of the external pump. When the sole is a little thicker, close the valves of the interior areas, and resume a few meters of walking or pump stroke. Then close the valve in the front outer zone, re-walk or pump slightly and close the valve in the outer bead area. The suction valve of the pump will then be closed in order to prevent it from being operated during walking and to force it to keep its minimum thickness thanks to the vacuum created at its suction. During pumping operations, the valve limits the pressure in each of the components to a safety value well below the static resistance limit pressure. This margin will allow to collect without problems pressure peaks due to shocks during contact with the ground. For settings with small differences in thickness between zones, you can simply print the desired shape by tilting the foot during a phase of communication of zones and close the valves in positron.

Another configuration allowing the same type of adjustment consists of a transfer system comprising a plurality of four-position valves and several orifices controlled from control members located on the side in the thickness of the sole of the boot, these members being rotational maneuvering by the user according to the desired diagram, the first isolating valve or placing in communication the manifold, the vent, the suction and the discharge of the pump, the other valves isolating or placing in communication independently groups areas of the sole. Each valve consists of a rotating inner cylinder pierced by two coplanar radial bores forming a 90 ° angle and ending at their point of intersection on the axis of the inner cylinder, the valve block being pierced with four orifices placed at 90 ° in the same plane as the bores, the first valve having bores and block orifices placed in two different parallel planes. For a 4-zone configuration there are therefore 3 valves, the order of the holes in the valve block of the first manifold valve being manifold-vent-suction pump-discharge pump, manifold-manifold- front left- front right for the valve the front zones of the sole, and the rear left-rear right-hand rear-collection manifold for the valve of the rear areas of the sole. Whatever the configuration chosen, it is possible to control the pressure by probes mounted at any point of the circuit, however, the use of a single probe at the common collector allows the most economical control of all these points. A probe can be mounted permanently, for example with a visual indication or piezoelectric type with pins accessible on the edge of the soleplate for electrical measurements.

The streamers are of several characteristics. Generally tubular elastic extensible and airtight rubber family, generic term including natural rubbers, synthetic, elastomeric, thermoplastic, neoprene, butyl, polyurethane, silicone, fluoro elastomer ... or any other type of mixtures based on these materials whether opaque or transparent. They may possibly be armed by braiding elastic fibers and stretchable stiffer than the main material, such as for example non-limiting fibers made of nylon, polyester, lycra and other materials in combinations. The main axis of these reinforcements being the longitudinal axis as for example for a diamond-shaped mesh elongated in the direction of the axis of the pipe. This allows a favored elongation in the diametral direction and gives more significant stiffness of the pipe in the longitudinal direction. In all cases, the longitudinal stiffness of the pipe is used, with or in the absence of pressurization, to stabilize the soleplate with respect to the lateral forces which are therefore preferentially taken up by the portions of pipes whose axis is parallel to these forces . The outline of the coil providing for all possible directions lateral forces a minimum amount of these portions. This is why mono-directional plots are avoided and the combination of laces and straight pipes in their axial direction gives superior lateral stability to that obtained by other types. pneumatic soles. It should be noted that if the combined lateral shear / flexural stresses increase with the thickness, the lateral stiffness effect due to the pipe increases with increasing pressure, guaranteeing good results in all configurations. inflation. The operating pressures of the pipes are

5 commonly between a vacuum of a few tenths of a bar and a pressure of a few bars up to about 6 bar for the hoses. In this case, the bursting pressure is at least 10 bars.

The pipes can work in a non-pressure zone. They are indeed mounted empty, flat in the thickness of foam between the shoe and the outsole, and in the absence of

This pressure keeps this flat shape maintained by the foam or the filling material outside the coil. This is the area of minimal thickness of the soleplate equal to the thickness of the outsole plus the thickness of the foam at the top and bottom of the pipes plus twice the nominal thickness of the pipe walls for a configuration with a layer of pipes. By inflation, the tubes will progressively change from a flat to circular shaped section, the foam or filler material providing relatively little resistance to the increase in thickness, making this work area a fairly soft area with large thickness variations for small pressure variations. Then, as soon as the section of circular shape said pipe, this sorrt the walls of the pipe with possibly its reinforcements which offer the main resistance to swelling, giving a

20 great stability to the sole with small variations in thickness for large pressure variations. This makes it possible to have a sole thickness that is dependent on the inflation pressure and relatively unaffected by the load. When the reinforced pipe is inflated to its optimum diameter pressure for which the rhombus of the reinforcements deforms and the direction of #esfews fibers becomes more radiaie, thus working better against the increase of diameter,

The thickness of the sole is capped and becomes very stable with respect to the loads.

One way to stabilize the thickness of the sole at low pressures is to use tuyaaK filled with a rubber or foam insert. In absence of air, or at low pressure, the sole acts as several superimposed layers of rubber and foam materials. The addition of pressure increases the thickness steadily with respect to the load. This

• 3® esnffgttrattoff does not, however, make it possible to exploit the variation of maximum sole thickness.

In any case, the use of a vent valve provided with a non-return valve makes it possible to completely exhaust the air contained in the pipes in order to be able to operate the working zone in a stable manner for minimum thickness. In the absence of an insert, the flattened pipes then act

As rubber inserts with a thickness equal to twice the thickness of their wall. These spaces are left between the different serpentine laces. These spaces will be filled with foam in cut and glued sheets or in rubber-like material or cast foam during the finishing of the sole. In this document, the generic term cast repolishes all techniques using a material or a mixture of materials having

40 moment of manufacture a fluidity allowing it to be introduced between the empty spaces between; laces or through a wide mesh, whether the product is in liquid, pasty, gaseous, granular or locally pasty form. This fluidity may be due to temperature as for the injection, vulcanization, hot pressing and the like processes or the nature of the materials before polymerization transformation, setting, drying, stabilization or any other physical or chemical phenomenon making the materials stable and with the desired properties at the end of production. This not only allows for a compact and lightweight assembly, but also to control the lateral expansion of the entire sole. Indeed, for a configuration with a layer of pipes the natural tendency would lead to a lateral expansion equal to the expansion in height multiplied by the number of passages of the coil in 0 the lateral direction. The foam gap being energized during the vertical expansion of the coil, it will lengthen and narrowing effect will decrease thickness between two laces while exerting on each of them a lateral force due to the resistance to The compression will make them slightly oblong. Each zone may contain several superimposed layers of the same flat coil, the use of a multi-layer configuration makes it possible, among other things, also to limit the tendency towards lateral enlargement. It is thus possible to have, according to the diameter of the pipes two, trofe or more layers of coils. The choice of the diameter, the number of layers and possibly the possible diameter variations of the pipes for each zone of the coil thus allows many combinations. The standard diameters are essentially between 4 and 2θ 0 mm, the number of layers between one and five. The configurations with micro-tubes of 2 mm and up to 10 layers concern particularly impervious materials. It is also possible to limit lateral expansion by bandaging the parallel laces with a coarse mesh. A large-meshed canvas is furthermore tapered between each layer in order to increase the lateral stiffness and to prevent the sole from buckling under the effect of its various stresses.

The purpose of the control of the lateral expansion is to reduce the stress and the eissf itemeπt stresses at the level of the connections of the various components of the soleplate, in particular at the level of the contact with the first assembly and at the contact with the soleplate. 'wear. On the other hand, an expansion is advantageous for increasing the support surface of the soleplate on the sides, and it may be advantageous to let it occur if the outsole is sufficiently extensible to avoid being hampered by this expansion or if its shape in a tray on the sides allows to take the shearing efforts and contain the swelling of the material. Whichever arrangement is chosen, care should be taken to always leave a relatively rigid element on the outer sides of the soleplate so as not to reduce the effective width of the soleplate, which would pose a risk to your ankles.

For configurations where the inter-pipe filling is done with bonded foam boards, foams with good compressive, but also shear and extension characteristics will be selected. Indeed, this foam participates in the recovery and the distribution of the weight of the user between essentially the zones of lower generators and top of the pipes and the outsole, first mounting or between intermediate plates. It also participates in the transmission of lateral forces and partially resumes by its tension the forces produced by the pipes when they tend to increase the thickness of the sole. This recovery makes it possible to maintain an acceptable stiffness during operation in low pressure zone with flattened pipes. In order to help the plates with their work of recovery of lateral forces and extension and to avoid the accumulation of stresses at their glued connection, it will be possible to use longitudinally striated plates with important glue thicknesses. For configurations where inter-pipe filling is done with cast material, this material will also meet good compression, shear and extension characteristics. For injected or vulcanized materials, the working temperature will always be below the maximum temperature of the materials used for the coils, their reinforcements, the valve block and the pump. The fluidity during the filling phase will be sufficient to pass between the pipes of even small diameter and the mesh of the canvases. In order to break in some places the stiffness in the plane of the sole introduced by the pressurization of the coils, it is possible to make readings of the coil at the desired location, for example at the level of the arch.

The splicing of tubes or their connection to the winnowing system is done by insertion into a metal or hard plastic end piece with circumferential groove and banding with a flange made of nylon material. This arrangement allows quick assembly, economic and waterproof over time even at high inflation pressures. Special tips allow the joining of pipes of different diameters. The number of zones can vary between 1 and 8, with 4 being the most standard configuration. The number of valves, according to the selected winnowing principle, will then correspond to the cutting, the other characteristics remaining applicable for any configuratten,

All the explanations given on the different features of the invention in this chapter or in the other chapters of this document, including the drawings and their explanations, are not limiting and are sufficient for a person skilled in the art to make invention or to deduce from it other variants or extensions derived from it and deemed to be included in its general spirit. These characteristics and configurations are not exclusive and can instead be complementary and combined with each other and according to their different alternatives to form families of variants. Dimensions, when mentioned, are for order of magnitude only and are not limiting.

Brief description of the drawings. your drawings are not represented in scale, they respect if necessary an order of magnitude related to the average size of a foot (about 30 cm) for the general forms, they are sometimes enlarged locally to show the details of parts small dimensions. Benchmarks of the same coin or coins with the same functions are designated by the same number in all figures. In case of variations in the construction of the same piece represented in different figures, pieces composed of several blocks or multiple identical parts on the same figure, the numbered designations will be followed by a letter of the Latin alphabet to differentiate the variants. The pieces of a given subset take the number of this subset followed by a period and a serial number. Fig.1: Exploded overview of the different elements constituting a shoe.

The shoe (1) has a lower surface (1.1) on which will be mounted the sole. The assembly of the coil (3) is sandwiched between the two plates of upper foam (2.1) and lower (2.2) whose faces are striated and have the imprint of the coil. The pump (4) and the valve block (5) are pre-mounted on the coil (3). The tray-shaped outsole (6) will receive the set judiciously inserted and glued. The top of the edges of the sole will be attached to the lower part of the shoe by the proper method of assembly (gluing, sewing ...). A hole for the passage of the contact surface of the pump and holes for the passage of the valves operating buttons are provided on the sole. A very similar design would correspond to the case where the foam plates (2.1) and (2.2) would be injected or vulcanized depending on the melting temperatures of the different materials, likewise the use of a flat wear outsole fits following the same principle,

Fig.2: Simplified sectional view at the heel representing shoe models I and II, differentiated by the number and diameter of the pipes of the coils, according to their different configurations: 0 A sole at maximum thickness, B sole at minimum thickness, C sole with maximate inclination,

The example shows a type I soleplate with large diameter pipes on one layer, and an H type with medium diameter pipes on two layers. 5 Fig.3: Simplified sectional view at the heel representing Type I footwear models in configurations A (sole thickness), B (sole thickness) and C (sole with maximum angle) and models type D with classic high sole and type E with classic low sole. The shoes are shown in position with vertical force on column III and with lateral efforts on IV. The oblique lines on the IV column represent the maximum inclination obtained (short line) with respect to the best inclination obtained with the shoe Type I configuration C (long line at the outermost). The shoe sole type D gives you a worse result.

Fig. 4: Simplified sectional view at the heel representing models of Type II shoes with medium diameter two-layer pipes with interposed grooved foam plates for gluing. The representation of the top shows a theoretical configuration with pipes in line, that of the bottom a theoretical configuration with offset pipes. Perfect alignment or offset in transverse planes of the coils is not possible due to the serpentine pattern of the coils, but can be searched for or not. 0 The bottom foam plate (2.2) is glued to the outsole (6.1), its footprint upper housing the first layer of pipes on the right side (3.2a) and the left side (3.1a) and the grooves will accommodate the thickness of adhesive (2.5) which will weld to the intermediate plate (2.3) itself supporting the second right pipe layer (3.2b) and left (3.1b), the upper grooves housing the thickness of glue (2.4) which welds the intermediate plate (2.3) to the upper plate (2.1) which is glued directly on the lower part of the shoe (1.1) taking for example the form of a first assembly.

Fig.5; General view of a serpentine block.

The 4 zones consist of the front right and front left coil (3.4) and (3.3) each having a lyre (3.5) intended to break the longitudinal stiffness of the assembly, the first and the second second layer of the right zone of the heel (3.2a) and (3.2b), and layers of the left side of the heel (3.1a) and (3.1b). A large mesh (2.6) is located between the two layers of the rear pipes and on the front pipe layer. The block of the valves (5) is integral with the coil block.

Fig.6: Sectional view of a pipe connector. The two parts of the pipe (3.1) are threaded onto a rigid corrugated connector (3.6) and are then banded by a flexible but non-stretchable collar (3.7), for example made of nylon.

Fig.7: Sectional view of an angled pipe connector. The two parts of the pipe (3.1) are threaded onto a rigid elbow connector (3.8) and are then banded by flexible but non-extensible collars (3.7), for example made of nylon. 0 Fig.8: schematic diagram of a set of universal sole.

The 4 zones (3.1), (3.2), (3.3) and (3.4) are connected to the collector of the block (5.1) via their isolation valves (5.2a), (5.2b), (5.2c), (5.2) d). The manifold of the block (5.1) is connected to the filter (7) by the isolation valve (5.2e). This filter (7) is also connected to the pump suction isolation valve (5.2f), then the suction non-return valve (8.1), the pump (4), then the non-return valve (5). discharge return (8.2) which leads to the manifold of the block (5.1). The discharge of the pump is also connected to the safety valve (8.3).

Fig.9: Sectional view of the upper row of a block of single valves according to the sehéma of Fig.8. The valve block (5.1) has tapped holes in which the valve screws (5.3a) to 0 (5.3f) are inserted. These screws are terminated by a needle (5.2a) to (5.2f) which will seal the pipe end (5.6a) to (5.6f) which is the seat of the valve and on which will be fitted the pipe to be closed. In order to seal the manifold outwards, the screw rods are smooth over a length and pass through an O-ring (5.4a) to (5.4f>.) The valves (5.2a) (5.2e) are housed in the same cavity of the block (5.1) which constitutes the manifold, this sealing does not need to be as perfect as that of the valves since the collector is not left in pressure for long periods or is in communication with the pump The valve (5.2f) is housed individually in another cavity which is connected to the valve (8.1).

Fig. 10 and 11: side and top sectional views of the lower row of a block 0 of a variant of simple valves according to the diagram of Fig.8. The valve block (5.1) has tapped holes in which the valve screws (5.3a) to (5.3f) are inserted. These screws are terminated by a rod which will push the punch (5.2a) to (5.20) which will seal the pipe (5.6a) to (5.6f) by pinching, thereby constituting the valve. outward, the screw rods are smooth over a length and pass through an O-ring seal (5.4a) to (SAf) One end of the hoses (5.6a) to (5.6e) is connected at the collector forming the same cavity of the block (5.1) or are simply connected to one another.An end of the pipe (5.6f) is connected individually to the valve (8.1) The flexible plate (5.5a) holds in position without hindering their movement several Fig.12: schematic diagram of a universal sole assembly,

The 4 zones (3.1), (3.2), (3.3) and (3.4) are connected to the collector of the block (5.1) via their isolation valves (5.21) and (5.22) with 4 positions each. The 4-position valve (5.23) connects according to these positions and these different variants, the manifold of the block (5.1) to the filter (7) or the pump (4), the filter (7) to the suction valve (8.1) from the pump (4) or the discharge non-return valve (8.2) to the manifold of the block (5.1). The discharge of the pump is provided with a safety valve (8.3). The integral openings of the valve block (5.21) and (5.22) are in the same plane as the communication elbow integral with their rotating part. The integral orifices of the block of the valve (5.23) are located in two parallel planes and each coinciding with a plane of the elbows of the rotating part. Fig.13: schematic representation of the connections made by the valve (5.23).

Three variants (5.23a), (5.23b), and (5.23c) are represented according to the 4 positions V for vent, S1 for sectioning 1, S2 for sectioning 2, and P for pumping, of principle of aw together. universal sole. The integral openings of the block are represented by the straight segments outside the circle and the communication bends by the arcs of circles or segments inside the circle. The arcs and segments in continuous lines are located in the foreground, those in broken lines in the second plane. The vent through the filter is at the top of the circle, suction pump on the left, pump discharge on the bottom, and the manifold on the right. The variant valve (5.23a) communicates the collector to the filter, the pump discharge to the filter and to its suction when in position V; isolates the collector and the filter and puts the pump discharge and suction into communication when in position S1; isolates the manifold and suction of the pump, and puts the pump discharge in communication with the filter Jor S2 position; puts the pump suction in communication with the filter, and the pump discharge with the manifold when in position P. This variant makes it possible to put the discharge of the pump to the vent in order to avoid using the safety valve ( 8.3) during normal operation in position S2.

The variant valve (5.23b) communicates the collector to the filter, isolates the pump discharge and suction when in position V; isolates the collector filter, the discharge and the suction of the pump when in position S1; isolates the filter, the collector, the suction and the discharge of the pump when in position S2; puts the pump suction in communication with the filter, and pump discharge with the manifold when in position P, The variant valve (5.23c) communicates the collector with the filter in the vent direction, isolates the filter, the discharge and the pump suction when in position V; isolates the collector and the filter, the discharge and the suction of the pump when in position S1; isolates the filter, the collector, the discharge and the suction of the pump, when in position S2; puts the pump suction in communication with the filter, and the pump discharge with the manifold when in position P. This variant allows thanks to the nonreturn valve, to better expell the air of the coils to obtain the low sole thicknesses.

Fig.14 and 15: representation of a variant of valve block (5.21), (5.22) and (5.23) in front view and in side section. The side view is a simplified representation along the section plane DD, the front view is a simplified representation, the part corresponding to the valve (5.21) seen along the plane AA, the part of the valve (5.22) seen according to the plane BB, and the part of the valve (5.23) seen along the plane CC. Only the main dots are represented for understanding. The block (5.1) consists of the lower (5.1a) and upper (5.1b) parts, secured by gluing after centering by the centering pins (5.10). In terms of manufacturing, all the holes and machining of the half-blocks are made prior to this assembly, including the bearing faces of the O-ring seals (5.41) and with the exception of the finish of the borehole. the rotating part (5.21, 5.22 or 5.23) of the valves which is made last. The cylindrical then tapered portion (5.236) of the end of the rotating parts of the valves (5.21, 5.22, 5.23) allow its mounting in the block already provided with O-rings without removing them from the counterbore and by promoting the compression of these joints for sealing and slight rotational locking. The manifold (5.1c) consists here of an orifice communicating on the 3 parts of the valves. El is closed by the plug (5.1d) after drilling. The pins (5.10) can be replaced or supplemented by pins (5.11) which, housed in the groove (5.231) allow locking in translation of the rotating parts. An O-ring (5.42) housed in the groove (5.233) achieves the appearance of the sensitive parts with respect to the outside. The knob (5.232) of the rotating parts is provided with knurls and a visual position indicator. The angled communication orifices of the rotating parts (5.234) and (5.235) are located in the first or second plane. The pipes are connected to the outlet inserts of the orifices (5.6). The zone (5.1e) may be provided with a non-return valve for the execution of the valve variant (5.23c) of FIG. 13.

Fig, 16 and 17: Side sectional view and exploded perspective valves and non-return valves. The ball valve (8d) is housed in the hole of the pump block (4), blocked at the diameter reduction. The insert (δa) provided with the spider (8b) with its contact point (8c) is inserted and fixed in the hole of larger diameter. The choice of flexibility elements (8b) and (8c) and their possible pre-stress during assembly allow the ball to perform the functions of non-return valve or valve.

Fig.18: Side view of the side of the pump (4). The orientations of the discharge non-return valve (8.2) and discharge safety valve (8.3) and the inlet port (4.6) in the compression chamber are shown in plan to simplify the drawing but are in principle in a axis parallel to the direction of the pipes of the coil. The coils (3.1a) and (3.1b) are housed in the foam layer (2) between the first mounting under the shoe (1.1) and the outsole (6). The latter is provided with a hole in which is housed the pellet (4.1) of contact of the pump on the ground. The body of the pump (4.4) is supported on the coil hoses, thus changing dimension according to their swelling. The piston (4.3) of the pump slides tightly in the chamber through an O-ring (4.5), the sucked air passes through the orifice inlet (4.6) and then through the space between the body pump (4.4) and the return washer (4.2) before entering the compression chamber via the suction non-return valve (8.1). The return washer (4.2) is elastic and serves to open the pump during the suction phases, against the passage of air via the space between (4.4) and (4.2) allows the large surface then put in depression , maintain the piston at the bottom of the chamber to keep a minimum dimension when the air inlet is isolated mode of use of the shoe.

Fig.19: Alternative piston pump with membrane. Side section view of the pump (4). The orientations of the discharge non-return valve (8.2) and discharge safety valve (8.3) and the inlet port (4.6) into the compression chamber are shown in plan to simplify the drawing.

The coils (3.1a) and (3.1b) are housed in the foam layer (2) under the outsole (6). The body of the pump is split into two parts (4.4a) and (4.4b). The piston (4.3) of the pump slides tightly in the chamber through a membrane (4.51), the pellet (4.1) of contact of the pump on the ground, the orifice inlet (4.6), the return washer (4.2), the suction non-return valve (8.1) can be of the same type as in Fig.18. Fig.20: section of pipe (3.1a) with reinforcement (3.11) diamond-shaped.

Best way to realize the invention. The best standard way to achieve the invention is to manufacture a sole block using a coil consisting of four zones, right front, left front, right heel and left heel and made using a rubber hose reinforced with nylon with a nominal diameter of 8 mm and a wall thickness of 2 mm. The diameter at maximum pressure is 14 mm. A layer of pipes is used on the coil of the front zones and two layers on the zones of the heel. The valve block houses the six needle valves isolating each of the zones, the suction of the capsule type piston pump to be installed under the heel, the vent with its filter. The voids between the serpentine pipes are filled with cut foam plates of a given variety of an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer for example, striated and provided with serpentine imprints. Thus, a lower plate having its pre-glued top surface provided with grooves and the imprint of the coil will be arranged, the coil block mounted with valve block and pump will be affixed to it, and then an intermediate foam plate with its underside. striated and provided with impressions of the coil will be placed on the front and back zones, letting the second layer of heel pipes pass. The upper face will have streaks and the impression of the second layer at the heel and will be smooth on the front part, on its outer face. Finally, a foam plate with a face The lower striated and fingerprinted layer of the second layer of pipes will be placed on the heel area, this plate will be of reduced length and thickness decreasing from the back of the heel to the level of the arch. The upper face is smooth and joins the face of the second plate to form a continuous surface. In order to house the block of valves with dimensions of 30 mm long by 15 mm high and 20 mm deep under the arch, a cut was made beforehand in the intermediate plate and an impression left on the lower and upper plates . The underside of the bottom plate and the periphery of the outer pellet of the pump are glued and the plate disposed and pressed on a outsole. The product is ready to be distributed to a shoe manufacturer to be assembled for example under a first assembly. Height variations will be approximately 20 mm for the heel and 10 mm for the front of the shoe.

Another, more sophisticated way is the use of 6 mm nominal diameter and 1.5 mm thick pipes giving a maximum diameter of 10 mm on one layer for the two front zones, and three layers of the same pipe for both. heel areas. The valve block consists of 3 multi-position valves. A valve controls the connections between the collector and the front right and left front zones, a valve controls the connections between the collector and the rear right and left rear zones, the third valve controls the connections between collector, vent, pump suction and pump discharge. The valves are controlled by the rotation of their buttons on the front of the valve block. The outlet of the collector to the vent is via a non-return valve, the collector is equipped with an electric pressure sensor whose contacts are accessible externally for measurement with an instrument. The pump is a piston pump with the outer shape of a capsule. The set is mounted in a tray-like outsole with a rim extending up to the level of the future shoe, and a foam-like filling material is cast to near the top of the rim to fill the void space. between pipes.

The sole thus finished is distributed to a shoe manufacturer to be assembled under the shoe. Height variations will be approximately 20 mm for the heel and 7 mm for the front of the shoe.

Possibilities of industrial applications.

The products made based on the invention are classified into six sub-products of the family of insoles. All by-products have applications in the manufacture of shoes of all types, city, sport, hiking, rehabilitation or orthopedic, lilies make it possible to obtain for different zones of the foot thicknesses and characteristics of soles adjustable to different levels. Their manufacture and level of finish differs according to the type of sub-product that all use the concept based on the combination of single-layer and multi-layer elastic and expandable pipe coils, and valve block, pumping system, connectors ...: (a) Sole element consisting of a coil, a block of valves and a control system pumping. The whole is assembled and, depending on the complexity, possibly unified by bandages. The by-product is distributed to a sole manufacturer who will use it as a sole element. b) Sole element consisting of a coil, a block of valves, a pumping system and cut foam plates. The plates optionally striated and with imprint of the coils are in number corresponding to the maximum number of layers of pipes. The whole is assembled by gluing and the by-product is diffused to a manufacturer of insoles which will use it as intermediate element of sole. c) Sole element consisting of a coil, a valve block, a pumping system, foam-cut plates and a flat or tray-shaped outsole. The plates optionally striated and with imprint of the coils are in number corresponding to the maximum number of layers of pipes. The whole is assembled by gluing and the sub-product is a finished sole that will be distributed to a shoe manufacturer. d) Sole element consisting of a coil, valve block, pumping system, bandages or scrim, where the element is inserted in a mold and its voids are filled by a filling material poured in the general sense of the term such as by fluids before polymerization or setting, injection, vulcanization, hot pressing or other process maintaining a temperature sufficiently far from the maximum temperature of the inserts, the material having after transformation the desired characteristics. All this assembled is distributed to a manufacturer of insoles that will use it as an intermediate element sole. (e) Sole element consisting of a coil, valve block, pumping system, bandages or scrim, where the element is inserted into a mold and its voids are filled by a filling material sank. The whole assembled is applied and glued on a flat or tray-shaped outsole and the by-product is a finished sole that will be distributed to a shoe manufacturer. (f) Sole element consisting of a coil, valve block, pumping system, bandages or scrim, where the element is inserted in a tray-shaped base and its empty spaces are filled by a cast filling material. All this assembled is a finished sole that will be distributed to a shoe manufacturer.

In terms of manufacturing costs, the coil is manufactured in continuous lengths of several meters. It will be cut to order in different lengths to form the skeleton of all the coils. The valve blocks and pumping systems are very standard elements that can be used for various shoe sizes and do not require large tools. The coil assemblies and stop block can thus be pre-manufactured economically in large series.

In the manufacture of valve blocks, pumps and connectors, hard plastics will be preferred to metals over non-detection by safety sensors,

Claims

CLAIMS.

1/ Universal sole device for shoes intended to help a user adapt their walking or running to the type of terrain covered or to the particularities of their leg/foot system, characterized in that the sole is made up of flat serpentines (3,3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) made of elastic, expandable and waterproof pipes, each delimiting a zone according to a front, rear, right and left side of the foot, each coil whose end is blocked, being filled with air in quantity and pressure independent by transfers from the outside to the coil, from the coil to the outside and from one coil to another following multiple combinations controlled by a system of valves (5, 5.2a-d, 5.21, 5.22), pipes connection (3.6 and 3.7), a collector (5.1), a vent (5.2e) and a pumping system (4), all being controlled manually.

2/ Universal sole device for shoes according to claim No. 1 characterized in that each zone can contain several superimposed layers (3.1a, 3.1b, 3.2a, 3.2b) of the same flat coil.

3/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the elastic pipe of the serpentines (3.1a) is from the rubber family and is reinforced with extensible elastic fibers (3.11) stiffer than the main material following a diamond-shaped mesh elongated in the direction of the axis of the pipe. 4/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the pipes of the coils (3) are filled with a foam insert.

5/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the parallel laces of the coil pipes are held by bandages using a coarse mesh canvas (2.6) and that a canvas large mesh (2.6) is inserted between each layer of the coils.

6/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the pumping system consists of a receiving tip with valve located in the thickness of the sole and connected to the collector and connectable to an external pump of which the delivery hose will be temporarily placed in the nozzle for the pumping operation.

7/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of claims No. 1 to 5 characterized in that the pumping system consists of a mini pump (4) integrated into the sole and equipped on the discharge side towards the common collector a non-return valve (8.2) and a safety valve (8.3) and on the suction side a connection to the air filter (7) via an isolation valve (5.2f or 5.23) and a valve of non-return (8.1), the external support surface (4.1) of the pump being much greater than the surface of its compression chamber (4.3) and being maintained at the level of the lower surface of the sole thanks to its location and its support under the lower generatrix of the pipes of the lower layer of the coils of the heel zones. 8/ Universal sole device for shoes according to claim No. 7 characterized in that the pumping system is equipped with a discharge safety valve (8.3).

9/ Universal sole device for shoes according to claim No. 7 characterized in that the pumping system is equipped with a piston pump whose return system (4.2) maintains the retracted position when the suction valve is closed .

10/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the sole transfer system comprises a set of valves with two positions (5.2a-f), open and closed, controlled from control members. control (5.3a-f) located on the side in the thickness of the sole, these organs being operated by the user according to the desired diagram, each valve isolating or putting into communication on the one hand, and independently the different zones of the sole (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4) with the collector (5.1), and on the other hand, this collector (5.1) with the vent through the vent valve (5.2 e), or isolating or opening the valve suction (5.2f) of the pumping system (4).

11/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of the preceding claims No. 1 to 9 characterized in that the transfer system (5) comprises a set of several four-position valves (5.21, 5.22, 5.23) and several orifices controlled from control members (5.211, 5.221, 5.231) located on the side in the thickness of the sole of the shoe, these members being operated by rotation by the user following the desired diagram, the first valve (5.23 ) isolating or connecting the collector (5.1), the vent, the suction and discharge of the pump (4), the other valves (5.21 and 5.22) independently isolating or connecting groups of zones ( 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, 3.4) of the base, each valve consisting of an internal cylinder (5.23 for valve 5.23) rotating pierced with two coplanar radial bores (5.234 for valve 5.23) and forming a 90° angle ending in their point of intersection on the axis of the inner cylinder, the corresponding valve block (5.1a and 5.1b) being pierced with four 90° orifices placed in the same plane as the bores, the first valve (5.23) having it bores (5.234 and 5.235) and block holes placed in two different parallel planes. 12/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the collector is equipped with a pressure probe (not shown).

13/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that, the current number of zones (3) of the sole ranges from 1 to 8, 14/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of preceding claims characterized in that, the number of zones of the most standard sole is four, right front (3.

4 for left shoe), left front (3.3), right heel (3.2) and left heel (3.1).

15/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the elements of the serpentine system (3), valve block IS

(5), pumping system (4), is inserted between plates of foam (2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3) cut out, ribbed and having the imprint of the coils, the plates being glued, the whole constituting after gluing an element midsole.

16/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of the preceding claims No. 1 to 14 characterized in that all of the elements of the serpentine system (3), valve block (5), pumping system (4), bandages and possible canvas (2.6) is inserted into a mold, the empty spaces being filled by a cast filling material which will have the desired characteristics after transformation, the whole constituting an intermediate sole element. 17/ Universal sole device for shoes according to one of the preceding claims No. 1 to 14 characterized in that the elements of the serpentine system (3), valve block (5), pumping system (4), bandages and canvas possible (2.6) is inserted in a sole in the form of a tray (6), the empty spaces being filled by a poured filling material which will have the desired characteristics after transformation, the whole constituting a finished sole.