Energy translating platforms incorporated into footwear for enhancing linear momentum

Abstract

The present invention provides soles or platforms incorporated into footwear, preferably athletic footwear, designed to promote a more efficient running technique by an energy-translating sole comprising one or more foot-strike member, angular displacement member and balance-thrust member, as well as other conventional features. Systems and methods of the present invention promote more efficient running technique by facilitating foot-strike to occur at a point under and behind the runner's center of gravity. This may be accomplished, for example, by a foot-strike member, angular displacement member and balance-thrust member working cooperatively to displace the runner's center of gravity and translate gravitational, inertial and ground reaction forces, as well as muscular tension forces, into linear momentum.

What I claim:  
     
         1 . A shoe having a sole unit, the sole unit comprising: 
 a rigidifying element disposed between at least a sesamoidal line and a balance-thrust line;    an angular displacement member disposed at the sesamoidal line;    and a balance-thrust member disposed at a balance thrust line, the angular displacement member and balance thrust member being positioned and adapted so that when both members are in contact with ground, the sesamoid apparatus of the wearer's foot is elevated with respect to the digits, placing the wearer in a digitigrade stance during at least a substantial portion of the support-propulsive phases of the gait cycle.    
     
     
         2 . A shoe according to  claim 1  wherein the rigidifying element comprises a plate.  
     
     
         3 . The shoe according to  claim 1  wherein the plate has a contoured surface to facilitate rotation of the foot about the sesamoidal line.  
     
     
         4 . The shoe according to  claim 2  wherein the plate comprises carbon fiber.  
     
     
         5 . The shoe according to  claim 1  wherein the plate extends to a heel portion of the sole unit.  
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 2  wherein the angular displacement member comprises a semi-deformable material and has relatively less compliancy and resiliency than that of a rearwardly adjacent foot-strike member.  
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 2  wherein the angular displacement member comprises an essentially non-deformable material.  
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the angular displacement member comprises a rigid material that is disposed along a sesmoidal line and has relatively less rigid material disposed forward or rearward of the sesamoidal line.  
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the angular displacement member comprises a plurality of rib elements oriented along the sesamoidal line to facilitate fore-aft pivoting of the foot of a wearer about the sesmoidal line.  
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the sole unit includes a balance-thrust member disposed generally on a lateral or medial side of the sole unit in a forefoot portion of the sole unit.  
     
     
         11 . A method of making a shoe comprising: 
 providing a sole unit, the sole unit comprising: 
 a rigidifying element disposed between at least a sesamoidal line and a balance-thrust-line;  
 an angular displacement member disposed at the sesamoidal line; and a balance-thrust member disposed at a balance thrust line, the angular displacement member and balance thrust member being positioned and adapted so that when both members are in contact with ground, the sesamoid apparatus of the wearer's foot is elevated with respect to the digits, placing the wearer in a digitigrade stance during at least a substantial portion of the support-propulsive phases of the gait cycle;  
   providing an upper for covering at least a portion of a top surface of a wearer's foot; and    physically associating the sole unit with the upper.    
     
     
         12 . A sole unit for a shoe comprising: 
 a rigidifying element disposed between at least a sesamoidal line and a balance-thrust line;    an angular displacement member disposed at the sesamoidal line;    and a balance-thrust member disposed at a balance thrust line, the angular displacement member and balance thrust member being positioned and adapted so that when both members are in contact with ground, the sesamoid apparatus of the wearer's foot is elevated with respect to the digits, placing the wearer in a digitigrade stance during at least a substantial portion of the support-propulsive phases of the gait cycle.    
     
     
         13 . A sole unit according to  claim 12  wherein the rigidifying element comprises a plate.  
     
     
         14 . A sole unit according to  claim 13  wherein the plate has a contoured surface to facilitate rotation of the foot about the sesamoidal line.  
     
     
         15 . A sole unit according to  claim 12  wherein the plate extends to a heel portion of the sole unit.  
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the angular displacement member comprises a section of midsole material and the rigidifying element.  
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the angular displacement member comprises a section of midsole material and the rigidifying element, the section of midsole material being disposed substantially above the rigidifying element.  
     
     
         18 . The sole unit of  claim 12  wherein the angular displacement member comprises a section of midsole material and the rigidifying element.  
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 12  wherein the angular displacement member comprises a section of midsole material and the rigidifying element, the section of midsole material being disposed substantially above the rigidifying element.  
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 12  wherein the angular displacement member comprises a section of midsole material and the rigidifying element, the section of midsole material being disposed substantially above the rigid plate and the sole unit including a section of outsole materials disposed below the rigidifying element.  
     
     
         21 . A shoe having an upper and a foot supporting member, the foot supporting member comprising: 
 a substantially rigid member having a dorsal surface and a plantar surface;    the plantar surface having an angular displacement member comprising a convex portion and a forwardly disposed balance-thrust member comprising a concave portion, the concave portion extending forward past the tips of the digits and terminating distally at a downwardly projecting balance-thrust member, the convex portion and the concave portion cooperating to accommodate the wearer in a digitigrade stance during at least a substantial portion of the support-propulsive phases of the running cycle.    
     
     
         22 . A shoe according to  claim 21  further comprising the plantar surface convex includes a curved angular displacement surface below the sesamoid apparatus of the first metatarsal phalangeal joint and defining a first axis of rotation of the foot.  
     
     
         23 . A shoe according to  claim 22  further comprising the balance-thrust member defining a second axis of rotation of the foot forward of the wearer's foot.  
     
     
         24 . A shoe according to  claim 22  further wherein curved angular displacement surface and balance thrust member are positioned so that when both are in contact with ground, the sesamoid apparatus is elevated with respect to the digits.  
     
     
         25 . A shoe according to  claim 21  further comprising a foot strike member adjacent the convex surface.  
     
     
         26 . A shoe according to  claim 21  further comprising the dorsal surface including a concave portion having a curvature selected to support the digits of the wearer's foot in a dorsiflexed position relative to the metatarsals.  
     
     
         27 . A shoe having an upper and a foot supporting member, the foot supporting member comprising: 
 a substantially rigid member having a dorsal surface and a plantar surface;    the plantar surface having a convex portion and an adjacent concave portion, the concave portion extending forward past the tips of the digits and terminating distally at a downwardly projecting balance-thrust member;    the plantar surface convex portion including a curved angular displacement surface below the sesamoid apparatus of the first metatarsal phalangeal joint and defining a first axis of rotation of the foot; and,    the balance-thrust member defining a second axis of rotation of the foot forward of the wearer's foot.    
     
     
         28 . A shoe having an upper and a sole member, the sole member comprising: 
 a dorsal surface and a plantar surface;    the plantar surface having an angular displacement member and a forwardly disposed balance-thrust member, the angular displacement member and the balance-thrust member cooperating to accommodate the wearer in a digitigrade stance during at least a substantial portion of the support-propulsive phases of the running cycle.    
     
     
         29 . A shoe according to  claim 28  wherein the angular displacement is disposed at least in part below the sesamoid apparatus of the first metatarsal phalangeal joint and defining a first axis of rotation of the foot.  
     
     
         30 . A shoe according to  claim 28  wherein the angular displacement has a convexly curved surface, the angular displacement member and the balance-thrust member being positioned so that when both are in contact with ground, the sesamoid apparatus is elevated with respect to the digits.  
     
     
         31 . A shoe according to  claim 28  further comprising a foot strike member rearwardly adjacent the angular displacement member.  
     
     
         32 . A shoe according to  claim 28  wherein the shoe includes a sole member comprising a substantially rigid material having a plantar surface; the plantar surface having the angular displacement member disposed thereon.  
     
     
         33 . A shoe according to  claim 28  wherein the shoe includes a foot supporting member comprising a substantially rigid member having a dorsal surface and a plantar surface; the plantar surface having the angular displacement member disposed thereon and the dorsal surface above the plantar surface having a concave shape for receiving at least a portion of the forefoot.  
     
     
         34 . A sole member for a shoe comprising: 
 a foot strike member, an angular displacement member, and a balance-thrust member, the aforesaid members cooperating during at least a portion of the support-propulsive phases of the running cycle to facilitate linear momentum, the angular displacement member being positioned at least in the metatarsal area of a foot and substantially underlying at least an area under the sesamoid apparatus of the first metatarsal, the balance-thrust member being located forward of the angular displacement and is at least in an area underlying or ahead of the distal phalanges.    
     
     
         35 . The sole member of  claim 34  wherein the dorsal surface has a convex shape above the angular displacement member for receiving at least a portion of the forefoot.  
     
     
         36 . The sole member of  claim 35  wherein the angular displacement member comprises a semi-deformable material and has relatively less compliancy and resiliency than that of the foot-strike member.  
     
     
         37 . The sole member of  claim 34  wherein the angular displacement member comprises an essentially non-deformable material.  
     
     
         38 . The sole member of  claim 34  wherein the angular displacement member comprises a semi-deformable material that has relatively less compliancy and resiliency than that of the foot-strike member.  
     
     
         39 . The sole member of  claim 38  wherein the angular displacement member comprises an essentially non-deformable material.