Shoe Shaped with Bottom and Side Landing Areas to Guide Motion

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2024 109 114.2, filed Mar. 28, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates to a shoe in particular a sports shoe to control foot positioning of the user during exercise. In particular, the present disclosure relates to plane (including optionally microstructures), respectively flat control portions that are arranged on the lateral and/or medial as well as posterior and/or anterior surface of the shoe and are configured to contact a surface upon executing certain exercises.

One exercise method that has become increasingly popular in recent years is bodyweight exercise. Bodyweight exercises use the body weight as resistance, without the need for additional equipment or weights. These exercises are versatile, require minimal space and can be performed almost anywhere. Bodyweight training is an effective way to build strength, increase flexibility and improve overall fitness. High-intensity interval training (HIIT), for example, is a form of exercise that focuses on short, intense bursts of activity followed by short periods of rest. The aim is to maximize effort and intensity during exercise, often leading to more efficient and effective results. These exercises are often performed in gyms.

When exercising, for example in a gym, the most common sports shoes are running shoes or lifting shoes. Running shoes are designed to provide comfort, support and performance for runners. These shoes are designed for outdoor training and focus on dynamic movements and optimizing foot strike. However, they do not prioritize stability in a flat stance during quasi-static movements, bodyweight exercises or weightlifting activities. Specifically, running shoes have a rocker sole to improve cushioning, which does not support the athlete's stability and balance during certain quasi-static exercises. Dynamic and quasi-static strength and HIIT movements both typically involve body positions that are significantly different from standing or running. Thus, a disadvantage of these running shoes is that they are not optimized to stabilize an athlete e.g., during typical gym exercises such as HIIT or bodyweight exercises.

Weightlifting shoes have a flat sole with little or no cushioning. This provides a stable base for lifting heavy weights, especially during exercises such as squats and deadlifts. While the lack of cushioning helps maintain direct contact with the ground, it does not support the athlete's foot posture when using these shoes for dynamic movements. Similarly, weightlifting shoes are not optimized to support foot positioning and movement during fast and dynamic movements such as jumping or sprinting.

Normally, and when doing HIIT exercises, the athlete tires quickly as the HIIT exercises are very intense and strenuous. As an athlete tires, the ability to maintain proper form decreases significantly and the quality of the workout can be compromised. A disadvantage of the known soles and footwear in the art is that they do not sufficiently support the athlete's foot and posture when tired. As a result, the athlete will adopt incorrect postures during the exercise, which in the long run will lead to injury and damage to the athlete's health.

An improved shoe is needed in order to overcome the above-mentioned problems of conventional shoes.

The present disclosure is directed to a sole for a shoe (for example, a sports shoe). The sole may comprise plane control portions located on various portions of the sole (for example, a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, a heel portion, etc.). The plane control portions may provide a flat surface for the sole to engage with for example, a floor, the ground, etc., during exercises that may require the user to hold a certain position. In this manner, the shoe according to the present disclosure can allow the user to maintain proper form during exercises.

A first embodiment (I) of the present disclosure is directed to a shoe, comprising: one or more plane control portions configured to contact a surface upon executing certain exercises, to control foot positioning of a user during exercise.

In a second embodiment (II), the shoe according to the first embodiment (I) further comprises: a sole comprising a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion; and a shoe upper, wherein the sole is an outsole and/or a midsole, and wherein the one or more plane control portions are arranged on the sole or on the shoe upper, or both.

In a third embodiment (III), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(II), a normal of at least one of the one or more plane control portions is essentially perpendicular to a normal of a tread surface of the shoe.

In a fourth embodiment (IV), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(III), at least one of the one or more plane control portions has a surface area of at least 2 cm.

In a fifth embodiment (V), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(IV), at least one of the one or more plane control portions comprises a texture to enhance grip.

In a sixth embodiment (VI), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(V), at least one of the one or more plane control portions is smooth to reduce grip or to allow smoother gliding on a surface.

In a seventh embodiment (VII), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(VI), at least one of the one or more plane control portions has a surface texture different than a surface texture of a remaining sole surface or shoe upper.

In an eighth embodiment (VIII), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(VII), at least one of the one or more plane control portions is visually distinguished from a remaining sole surface or shoe upper.

In a ninth embodiment (IX), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(VIII), at least one of the one or more plane control portions is arranged proximally on a toe portion and is configured to control foot positioning of the user when doing push-ups.

In a tenth embodiment (X), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(IX), the shoe comprises at least first and second plane control portions that are arranged proximally on a heel portion and are configured to control foot positioning of the user when doing forward lunges.

In an eleventh embodiment (XI), in the shoe according to the tenth embodiment (X), the first and second plane control portions are directly adjacent to each other, and a normal of the first plane control portion is tilted in relation to a normal of the second plane control portion.

In a twelfth embodiment (XII), in the shoe according to the eleventh embodiment (XI), an internal angle between the first and second plane control portions is greater than or equal to 100° and less than or equal to 160°.

In a thirteenth embodiment (XIII), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(XII), at least one of the one or more plane control portions is arranged on a heel portion and is configured to control foot positioning of the user when doing handstand pushups.

In a fourteenth embodiment (XIV), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(XIII), at least one of the one or more plane control portions is arranged laterally on the sole, medially on the sole, or both laterally on the sole and medially on the sole, and is configured to control foot positioning of the user when doing side planks.

In a fifteenth embodiment (XV), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(XIV), the shoe comprises at least first and second plane control portions that are arranged laterally on a forefoot portion, medially on the forefoot portion, or both laterally and medially on the forefoot portion, and are configured to control foot positioning of the user when doing skater jumps.

In a sixteenth embodiment, (XVI), in the shoe according to the fifteenth embodiment (XV), the first and second plane control portions are directly adjacent to each other, and a normal of the first plane control portion is tilted in relation to the normal of the second plane control portion.

In a seventeenth embodiment, (XVII), in the shoe according to the sixteenth embodiment (XVI), an internal angle between the first and second plane control portions is greater than or equal to 100° and less than or equal to 160°.

In an eighteenth embodiment (XVIII), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(XVII), at least one of the one or more plane control portions has a length of at least 3 cm, and a width of at least 0.5 cm.

In a nineteenth embodiment (XIX), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(XVIII), at least one of the one or more plane control portions is made of one or more of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), liquid TPU, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), rubber, or foam composite.

In a twentieth embodiment (XX), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(XIX), at least one of the one or more plane control portions has a radius of curvature of at least 5 m.

In a twenty-first embodiment (XXI), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(XX), the at least one of the one or more plane control portions is laterally arranged on the shoe, medially arranged on the shoe, or both.

In a twenty-second embodiment (XXII), in the shoe according to any one of embodiments (I)-(XXI), the at least one of the one or more plane control portions is anteriorly arranged on the shoe, posteriorly arranged on the shoe, or both.

The indefinite articles “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless clearly contradicted or the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The term “comprising” is an open-ended transitional phrase. A list of elements following the transitional phrase “comprising” is a non-exclusive list, such that elements in addition to those specifically recited in the list can also be present. The phrase “consisting essentially of” limits the composition of a component to the specified materials and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the component. The phrase “consisting of” limits the composition of a component to the specified materials and excludes any material not specified.

The term “component” according to present disclosure may refer to, but is not limited to, a unit or module that performs a specific function within a larger system. A component may be, for example, a component used in the manufacturing process of a sporting good, such as a sole unit, a midsole, an outsole, an outsole element, a film or foil material, a sole plate, a shoe upper, a functional element.

The term “plane control portion” according to the present disclosure may be understood, for example, as a part of the shoe, which is arranged on the lateral, and/or medial, posterior and/or anterior side of the shoe. The plane control portion may comprise no significant curvature and may not follow the foot-shape but provides a flat and even surface. It may also be microstructured but still provide a flat and even surface. The plane control portion may be for example linked or connected to the sole of the shoe, or the plane control portion may be molded from the same material as the sole or otherwise incorporated to the sole. The plane control portions may be connected or incorporated into the shoe upper of the shoe, or any other part of the shoe.

The term “contacting” according to the present disclosure can be understood as any direct physical association that arises when performing a certain exercise.

The term “plane” according to the present disclosure may generally relate to smooth, level, even, and/or sheet-like characteristics, e.g., relating to any surface with no significant curvature. For example, a plane control portion may form part of the lateral side of the shoe but may not comprise any significant curvature.

The term “exercise” according to the present disclosure may be understood as any physical activity that is performed to maintain or improve health and fitness. Exercise may involve repetitive and planned movements, often with the goal of enhancing strength, endurance, flexibility, or overall well-being. For example, an exercise may be a workout, training, physical exercise, fitness regimen, conditioning, exercise routine or physical training. Exercises may be dynamic and/or quasi-static motions such as bodyweight exercises including High Intense Interval Training (HIIT) exercises, pushups, side planks, medial planks, backward planks, handstand pushups, skater jumps, forward lunges, Bulgarian lunges, and/or burpees.

The term “surface” according to the present disclosure may be any surface which is in contact with a user when the user performs an exercise. For example, a “surface” may refer to any natural or artificial surface or any construction such as a floor, wall or ceiling. When the term “surface” refers to a floor, the floor may be the floor on which the exercise is performed. The floor may be for example the ground itself when performing pushups, or a wall when performing handstand pushups. Further, “surface” may refer to any surface of an object. This object, for example, may be used during an exercise. For instance, and in this context the “surface” may be the surface of a device, e.g., a sport equipment that is used in the gym.

The term “executing certain exercises” according to the present disclosure may refer to the performance of a sport exercise. For example, this relates to the process in which the user performs certain sportive postures during a work-out. These exercises for example may be bodyweight exercises that comprise dynamic or quasi-static movements, such as pushups, side planks, medial planks, backward planks, handstand pushups, skater jumps, forward lunges, Bulgarian lunges, and/or burpees.

The term “control of foot positioning” according to the present disclosure may refer to the property of the shoe that allows for guiding and adjusting the foot position during the exercise. For example, when the user is doing pushups, the shoe may control the foot positioning with the plane control portions which support the user in finding the correct position during this exercise.

The term “laterally, medially, and posteriorly, anteriorly on the midfoot, forefoot and or heel portion” according to the present disclosure may refer to the arrangement on any portion on the outermost edge of the sole in the midfoot, forefoot and/or heel area.

The term “essentially perpendicular” according to the present disclosure may refer to a relationship between two surfaces that is within ten degrees of perpendicular.

The term “essentially parallel” according to the present disclosure may refer to a relationship between two surfaces that is within ten degrees of parallel.

Where a range of numerical values comprising upper and lower values is recited herein, unless otherwise stated in specific circumstances, the range is intended to include the endpoints thereof, and all integers and fractions within the range. It is not intended that the disclosure or claims be limited to the specific values recited when defining a range. Further, when an amount, concentration, or other value or parameter is given as a range, one or more ranges, or as list of upper values and lower values, this is to be understood as specifically disclosing all ranges formed from any pair of any upper range limit or value and any lower range limit or value, regardless of whether such pairs are separately disclosed.

Possible embodiments of the different aspects of the present disclosure and disclosure are described below, predominately with respect to sport shoes. It is, however, once again emphasized that the different aspects may also be practiced in different kinds of soles and shoes and are not limited to the specific embodiments set forth below.

Reference is further made to the fact that in the following only individual embodiments can be described in more detail. The skilled person will understand that the features and possible modifications described with reference to these specific embodiments may also be further modified and/or combined with one another in a different manner or in different sub-combinations, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure and disclosure. Individual features or sub-features may also be omitted if they are dispensable to obtain the desired result. In order to avoid redundancies, reference is therefore made to the explanations in the preceding sections, which also apply to the following detailed description.

The above-outlined problems with conventional shoes are addressed and are solved by the aspects of the present disclosure.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure a shoe such as a sports shoe, is provided, comprising a sole, an upper, and one or more plane (i.e., flat) control portions configured to contact a surface upon executing certain exercises, to control foot positioning of the user during exercise.

When the shoe according to the present disclosure is used on a flat surface, e.g., a flat piece of ground when standing or walking, plane control portions on the shoe will not engage with the flat surface. When the shoe is rolled or tilted upon one of its edges the plane control portions may contact and engage with the surface.

The present disclosure provides a shoe with one or more plane control portions on the lateral and/or medial surface, which helps the user to perform, e.g., bodyweight exercises while maintaining proper form during dynamic and quasi-static movements.