Running Shoe Having a Progressive Compression Attachment

Abstract

A cushioning attachment for shoes including athletic shoes and, in particular, running shoes includes two component features: a cushioning feature, and a resilient/traction feature. In addition, the cushioning attachment can include a securing feature for securing the device to the outsole of the shoe of a wearer. In the cushioning attachments, the cushioning feature is typically a first layer of the attachment while the resilient/traction feature is typically a second layer of the attachment. The attachment can also include a heel addition layer attached to the top of the first layer.

1 . A combination of an athletic shoe having a sole, which athletic shoe is suitable for use in at least one of running and jogging, and an attachment which is capable of providing for an increase in the progressive compression of the athletic shoe when worn, which attachment comprises
 (a) a first layer comprising a progressive compression providing material, which first layer has a shape corresponding to the sole of the athletic shoe and has a thickness not greater than about 2 inches and which is tapered so as to provide a narrower portion at both the front, toe, end of the attachment and the rear, heal, end of the attachment;   (b) a second layer attached to the first layer; and   (c) securing means for attaching the attachment to the shoe such that the attachment will not detach from the shoe when a person wearing the shoe is running or jogging, the securing means comprising at least one strap;   
       and wherein the first layer also includes a curved portion at the front, toe, end of the attachment and a curved portion at the rear, heal, end of the attachment such that a portion of the second layer is not in contact with the ground during a running step when the shoe is being worn. 
     
     
         2 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the shoe is a running shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the narrowed tapered portion of the first layer at the front end is about 2 inches, and at the rear end is about 1 inch. 
     
     
         4 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the progressive compression providing material is a closed cell cellular material. 
     
     
         5 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the first layer further includes at least one reinforcement layer attached to each side of the progressive compression providing material. 
     
     
         6 . The combination according to  claim 5  wherein the at least one reinforcement layer comprises nylon fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the curved portion at the front end of the first layer is not less than 0.5 inch from the front end of the attachment, and the curved portion at the rear end is not less than 0.25 inches from the rear end of the attachment. 
     
     
         8 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the second layer comprises a solid rubber material. 
     
     
         9 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the securing means (c) comprises a hook and loop fastener attachment means. 
     
     
         10 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the securing means (c) comprises a framework having a shape with a toe section and a heel section, where the toe section and the heel section provide a means for attaching the attachment onto the shoe. 
     
     
         11 . The combination according to  claim 1 , wherein the securing means (c) comprises two straps for attaching the attachment to a foot. 
     
     
         12 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the progressive compression providing material comprises a polyethylene, a polyvinyl chloride, a polychloroprene, a nitrile, a nitrile-butadiene a urethane, a latex, a polyethylene-vinyl acetate material, a polyvinyl chloride-nitrile material, a vinyl-nitrile material, a nitrile-butadiene material, Duralon® or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the progressive compression providing material comprises at least one polymer, which is in its viscoelastic state between the temperatures of 10 F and 120 F, and which has been blown into a closed-cell cellular material. 
     
     
         14 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the progressive compression providing material comprises at least one polymer, which is in its viscoelastic state between the temperatures of 10 F and 120 F, and which has been blown into a closed-cell cellular material. 
     
     
         15 . The combination according to  claim 1  wherein the second layer comprises two or more pieces of material that together form the desired shape of the second layer. 
     
     
         16 . The combination according to  claim 7  wherein the curved portion of the first layer at the front end is not less than 1 inch, and at the rear end is not less than 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         17 . A combination of an athletic shoe having a sole, which athletic shoe is suitable for use in at least one of running and jogging, and an attachment which is capable of providing for an increase in the progressive compression of the athletic shoe when worn, which attachment comprises
 (a) a first layer comprising a progressive compression providing material, which first layer has a shape corresponding to the sole of the athletic shoe and has a thickness not greater than about 2 inches and which is tapered so as to provide a narrower portion at both the front, toe, end of the attachment and the rear, heal, end of the attachment;   (b) a second layer attached to the first layer;   (c) securing means for attaching the attachment to the shoe such that the attachment will not detach from the shoe when a person wearing the shoe is running or jogging; and   (d) an anti-sliding device that is capable of decreasing outward lateral sliding of the shoe when worn by a person;   
       and wherein the first layer also includes a curved portion at the front, toe, end of the attachment and a curved portion at the rear, heal, end of the attachment such that a portion of the second layer is not in contact with the ground during a running step when the shoe is being worn. 
     
     
         18 . The combination according to  claim 17  wherein the anti-sliding device comprises a piece of material attached to an outside edge of the first layer of the attachment. 
     
     
         19 . A combination of an athletic shoe having a sole, which athletic shoe is suitable for use in at least one of running and jogging, and an attachment which is capable of providing for an increase in the progressive compression of the athletic shoe when worn, which attachment comprises
 (a) a first layer comprising a progressive compression providing material, which first layer has a shape corresponding to the sole of the athletic shoe and has a thickness not greater than about 2 inches and which is tapered so as to provide a narrower portion at both the front, toe, end of the attachment and the rear, heal, end of the attachment;   (b) a heel addition layer comprising a solid rubber material having thickness of about 1/16″ to about ½″, which heel addition layer is attached to the top of the first layer at the heel end thereof;   (c) a second layer attached to the bottom of the first layer; and   (d) securing means for attaching the attachment to the shoe such that the attachment will not detach from the shoe when a person wearing the shoe is running or jogging;   
       and wherein the first layer also includes a curved portion at the front, toe, end of the attachment and a curved portion at the rear, heal, end of the attachment such that a portion of the second layer is not in contact with the ground during a running step when the shoe is being worn. 
     
     
         20 . The combination according to  claim 19  wherein the heel addition layer is circular, oval, square or H-shaped.