US20130185955A1

US20130185955A1 - Ergonomic footwear

Info

Publication number: US20130185955A1
Application number: US13/745,035
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsien-Hsiung Cheng
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-01-19
Filing date: 2013-01-18
Publication date: 2013-07-25
Also published as: TW201330791A; DE102013200701A1; TWI609643B; CN103211348A; JP2013146563A; CN103211348B; JP5785963B2

Abstract

An ergonomic footwear at least includes an outsole having a top surface including a datum plane and at least one contacting portion such configured that a difference in elevation is formed between the contacting portion and the datum plane, wherein the contacting portion is located at a place to which a force is applied by a treading human foot sole of a wearer. Accordingly, such structure can prevent the wearer's sole from sliding with respect to the outsole, thereby facilitating stable treading of the wearer's sole and further enhancing the wearer's walking smoothness.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to footwear, and more particularly to an ergonomic footwear for helping wearers walk with improved smoothness.
2. Description of Related Art
Human walking is an arc-shaped motion achieved by using the hip joint as a pivot and the leg as a swinging arm and making the leg bent, lifted, and put on the ground. When treading against the ground, the human foot sole applies force from different regions as the treading motion proceeds. Therefore, the stableness of the treading process can have significant effect on the smoothness of the foregoing arc motion.
Footwear manufacturers usually make outsoles from very flexible materials or form some spaced, transversely extending grooves at the bottom surface of the outsole in order to make the resultant outsoles more tensible, thereby improving the footwear in flexibility, for better conformity to the treading motion of the human foot sole, and further supporting wearers' walking smoothness. However, since the existing grooves are typically randomly distributed over the bottom surface of the outsole, the force-exerting regions may not necessarily act on the grooves when the wearers are treading. Thus the conventional footwear is ineffective in improving wearers' walking smoothness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic footwear, which is helpful to preventing a human foot sole from sliding with respect to the outsole, thereby enhancing stability of treading of the human foot sole and further improving wearers' walking smoothness.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a footwear having improved outsole flexibility, so as to further improve wearers' walking smoothness. Still another objective of the present invention is to provide footwear that give support to a human foot sole at an inner arch, so as to make the human foot sole tread on the ground more stably.
For achieving the foregoing objectives, according to the present invention, an ergonomic footwear primarily comprises an outsole that has an inner arch segment, an outer arch segment, a heel segment located behind the outer arch segment, a toe segment located before the outer arch segment and corresponding to human first, second, third, fourth, and fifth toes, and a metatarsus segment located between the outer arch segment and the toe segment, all corresponding to regions of a human foot sole, respectively, wherein the toe segment includes an inner toe segment and an outer toe segment, and the metatarsus segment includes an inner metatarsus segment and an outer metatarsus segment. The footwear is characterized in the outsole having a top surface, which includes a datum plane, and at least one contacting portion such configured that a difference in elevation is formed between the contacting portion and the datum plane. The contacting portion is located in at least one of the heel segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment. In the present invention, the contacting portion of the footwear different from the datum plane in the top surface of the outsole in elevation can prevent a walking wearer's foot sole from sliding with respect to the outsole, so as to make the wearer's foot sole tread more stably and further make the wearer walk more smoothly.
In the ergonomic footwear provided by the present invention, the contacting portion of the outsole may be a top-surface depression depressed from the top surface of the outsole, or a top-surface bulge protruding from the top surface of the outsole.
According to one embodiment of the ergonomic footwear of the present invention, the outsole has at least one bottom-surface recesses formed at a bottom surface thereof and corresponding to the top-surface depression or the top-surface bulge. Thereby, the disclosed footwear additionally has a cushioning function.
Where the contacting portion of the outsole is a top-surface depression, the contacting portion is preferably located in at least one of the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, the outer toe segment, the outer arch segment, and the heel segment. Where the contacting portion of the outsole is a top-surface bulge, the contacting portion is preferably located in the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, the outer toe segment, the heel segment, and/or the inner and outer arch segments.
The disclosed ergonomic footwear may further comprise a pad containing but not limited to a midsole, an insole or other thin lining deposited on the top surface of the outsole, or may comprise a midsole deposited on the top surface of the outsole and an insole deposited on the top surface of the midsole. The top surface of the midsole includes a datum plane and at least one contacting portion different from the datum plane in elevation. The contacting portion is located corresponding to at least one of the heel segment, the inner arch segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the outsole. In addition, the contacting portion of the midsole is preferably configured to match the contacting portion of the outsole. In one embodiment of the present invention, the contacting portion of the midsole may be a top-surface depression depressed from the top surface of the midsole, or a top-surface bulge protruding from the top surface of the midsole.
The top surface of the insole has at least one hollow bowl or at least one hollow dome that is located corresponding to at least one of the heel segment, the inner arch segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the outsole. The hollow bowl has a sagged surface integrally depressed from the top surface of the insole and a raised surface corresponding to the sagged surface and integrally raised from the bottom surface of the insole. The hollow dome has a raised surface integrally raised from the top surface of the insole and a sagged surface corresponding to the raised surface and integrally depressed from the bottom surface of the insole. Preferably, the insole has the hollow bowl and the hollow dome configured to match the contacting portion of the outsole.
For example, where the contacting portion of the outsole is a top-surface depression, the contacting portion of the midsole is also a top-surface depression, while the insole has a hollow bowl. On the other hand, where the contacting portion of the outsole is a top-surface bulge, the contacting portion of the midsole is also a top-surface bulge, while the insole has a hollow dome.
In addition, the raised surface of the hollow dome of the insole may have a reinforcing groove, and the sagged surface of the hollow bowl may have a reinforcing rib for preventing the hollow dome and the hollow bowl from deformation due to long time of use.
In one embodiment of the ergonomic footwear of the present invention, the top surface of the outsole may have at least one top-surface trough near the at least one contacting portion. The top-surface trough is formed as starting from a place near a front periphery of the toe segment, proceeding between the inner and outer toe segments and going lengthwise toward the heel segment; or starting from a place near a periphery of the outer toe segment, proceeding between the toe segment and the metatarsus segment transversely, and reaching a place near a periphery of the inner toe segment; or starting from a place near a periphery of the outer metatarsus segment, proceeding between the metatarsus segment and the outer arch segment transversely, and reaching a place near a periphery of the inner metatarsus segment; and or starting from a place near a periphery of the heel segment, extending transversely along the heel segment to a place near an opposite periphery of the heel segment. The bottom surface of the outsole has at least one bottom-surface trough corresponding to the top-surface trough. This configuration can improve the flexibility of the outsole and further ensure the wearers' walking smoothness. In one embodiment of the ergonomic footwear of the present invention, the outsole may further have a protuberance protruding from the top surface of the outsole. The protuberance is located the inner arch segment for supporting the wear's foot sole at the inner arch, thereby facilitating stable tread of the wearer's sole and further enhancing the wearer's walking smoothness.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned ergonomic footwear according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one aspect of an outsole according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another aspect of the outsole according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another aspect of the outsole according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another aspect of the outsole according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6A is a side view of another aspect of the outsole according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6B is a partially sectioned side view of another aspect of the outsole according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of another aspect of the outsole according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of another aspect of the outsole according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7B is a perspective view of another aspect of the outsole according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic drawing showing how the troughs on the top and bottom surface of the outsole as shown in FIG. 6 changes when affected by external force;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an outsole of a footwear according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one aspect of the outsole having bottom-surface troughs according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the outsole and a midsole of the footwear according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one aspect of the midsole according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another aspect of the midsole according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 14A is a side view of another aspect of the midsole according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 14B is a side view of another aspect of the midsole according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 14C is a side view of another aspect of the midsole according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view, of the outsole and the insole of the footwear according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one aspect of the insole according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of another aspect of the insole according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 18A is a side view of another aspect of the insole according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 18B is a side view of another aspect of the insole according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 18C is a side view of one aspect of the insole having reinforcing grooves/protuberances according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled outsole, midsole and insole of the footwear according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20A is a perspective view of the outsole of the footwear according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20B is a perspective view of another aspect of the outsole according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a schematic drawing showing a human foot sole treading on the assembled outsole and thin lining according to the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled outsole, midsole and insole of the footwear according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 shows another aspect of the outsole of the present invention;

FIG. 24 shows another aspect of the outsole of the present invention;

FIG. 25 shows another aspect of the outsole of the present invention; and

FIG. 26 shows another aspect of the outsole or pad of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is to be first stated that for the embodiments described in detail below, the same numeral will be used to denote the identical or similar components.
Referring first to FIG. 1, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, an ergonomic footwear 1 primarily comprises an outsole 10.
The outsole 10 is made of a PU foam material and possesses resilience. Of course, in practical manufacturing, the outsole 10 may be made of any materials known to be used in making footwear outsoles, such as latex or thermoplastic rubber (TPR). As shown in FIG. 2, the outsole 10 may be divided, according to regions of a human foot sole that apply treading force, into an inner arch segment 19, an outer arch segment 11, a heel segment 12 that is located behind the outer arch segment 11, an inner toe segment 13 that is located in front of the outer arch segment 11 and corresponds to the human, an outer toe segment 14 that is located in front of the outer arch segment 11 and corresponds to the second through fourth toes, a toe segment 15 comprising the inner and outer toe segments 13, 14, a metatarsus segment 16 that is located between the outer arch segment 11 and the toe segment 15, and an inner and outer metatarsus segments 17, 18 jointly forming the metatarsus segment 16. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, top surface 101 of the outsole 10 includes a datum plane D and a plurality of contacting portions 102 that are configured to be different from the datum plane D in terms of elevation. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the contacting portions 102 are top-surface depression 102 a depressed downward from the top surface 101 of the outsole 10 and located in the outer arch segment 11, the heel segment 12, the toe segment 15 and the metatarsus segment 16, respectively. Thus, when a wear wears the footwear and walks, force-exerting regions of his/her foot sole can sink into the top-surface depressions 102 a formed on the outsole 10, and get secured from sliding with respect to the outsole 10, thereby facilitating stable tread of the wearer's sole and further enhancing the wearer's walking smoothness.
Of course, in practical manufacturing, the top-surface depression 102 a on the outsole 10 are not limited to be formed in the outer arch segment 11, heel segment 12, toe segment 15, and metatarsus segment 16 of the outsole 10. They can be alternatively formed in the outer arch segment 11, the heel segment 12, the inner toe segment 13, the outer toe segment 14, the inner metatarsus segment 17 and the outer metatarsus segment 18 of the outsole 10, as shown in FIG. 3. Yet alternatively, such depression 102 a on the top surface of the outsole 10 may be formed solely in any of the foregoing segments as needed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, a plurality of bottom-surface recesses 104 may be formed on the bottom surface 103 of the outsole 10. Each of the bottom-surface recesses 104 may be aligned with one said top-surface depression 102 a, so as to provide the disclosed footwear with additional cushioning effect. In a different aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6A, the contacting portions 102 on the top surface 101 of the outsole 10 may be protruding top-surface bulges 102 b located in the outer arch segment 11, the heel segment 12, the inner toe segment 13, the outer toe segment 14, the toe segment 15, the metatarsus segment 16, the inner metatarsus segment 17, and the outer metatarsus segment 18, respectively. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C, in the case that the contacting portions 102 of the outsole 10 are said top-surface depressions 102 a, they are preferably located in the metatarsus segment 16, the inner metatarsus segment 17, the outer metatarsus segment 18, the toe segment 15, the inner toe segment 13 and the outer toe segment 14. In the case the contacting portions 102 of the outsole 10 are said top-surface bulges 102 b, they are preferably located in the heel segment 12 and the outer arch segment 11. Of course, as shown in FIG. 6C, the bottom surface 103 of the outsole 10 may be also provided with the bottom-surface recesses 104 corresponding to those top-surface bulges 102 b, so as to provide a footwear using the outsole 10 as shown in FIG. 6C with cushioning effect. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the outsole 10 is substantially similar to the outsole 10 shown in FIG. 3 except that the top surface 101 of the outsole 10 has a plurality of top-surface troughs 105 a˜105 d on bordering the contacting portions 102 (i.e. top-surface depressions 102 a) while the bottom surface 103 of the outsole 10 has two bottom-surface troughs 106 corresponding to the top- surface troughs 105 a, 105 b, respectively. Therein, the top-surface troughs 105 a˜105 b are each extending from an end near the outer toe segment 14, along the toe segment 15 and the metatarsus segment 16, transversely to an end near the inner toe segment 13, and the bottom-surface troughs 106 are each extending from an end near the outer metatarsus segment 18, along the metatarsus segment 16 and the outer arch segment 11, transversely to an end near the inner metatarsus segment 17. The top-surface troughs 105 c starts from a point near a front periphery of the toe segment 15 and goes lengthwise between the inner and outer toe segments 13, 14 to end at the heel segment 12. The top-surface trough 105 c′ starts from the top-surface trough 105 b and goes lengthwise along the outer arch segment 11 toward the heel segment 12. The top-surface trough 105 d extends from one end of the heel segment 12 transversely to an opposite end of the heel segment 12. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 8, when a force F exerted by the wearer's treading down foot sole against the outsole 10, the unaffected outsole 10 becomes the affected outsole 10′. At this time, the bottom-surface trough 106 deforms into the expanded bottom-surface troughs 106′, and the top-surface trough 105 a deforms into the expanded top-surface troughs 105 a′. This configuration enhances the flexibility of the outsole 10 and further improves the wearer's walking smoothness and comfort. In practical manufacturing, it is sufficient for the top surface 101 of the outsole 10 to have any one of the foregoing top-surface troughs 105 a˜105 d.
Then referring to FIG. 9, for realizing the spirit of creation as reflected by the outsole 10 of FIG. 7, in a second embodiment of the present invention, a footwear 1 has an outsole 20, which simply has two top-surface troughs 203 on its top surface 201 and two bottom-surface troughs 207 on its bottom surface 205 corresponding to the top-surface troughs 203. As these bottom- surface troughs 203, 207 are identical to their counterparts described previously, repeated description is omitted herein. With the configuration, when the wear's foot sole applies a force on the outsole 20 of the second embodiment of the present invention, the bottom-surface troughs 207 and the top-surface troughs 203 also deform to provide the outsole 20 with improved flexibility, thereby improving the wearer's walking smoothness and comfort.
Of course, in practical manufacturing, the bottom-surface troughs of the outsole 20 may be configured as those shown in FIG. 10. Particularly, the bottom surface of the outsole 20 has a first bottom-surface trough 207 a, a second bottom-surface trough 207 b, a third bottom-surface trough 207 c and a fourth bottom-surface trough 207 d. Therein, the bottom-surface trough 2.07 a starts from an end near the outer toe segment 14 and proceed transversely between the toe segment 15 and the metatarsus segment 16 to end at a place near the outer toe segment 14. The second bottom-surface trough 207 b corresponds to the first bottom-surface trough 207 a, and starts from one end near the inner toe segment 13 to extend transversely between the toe segment 15 and the metatarsus segment 16 before stopping at a place near the inner toe segment 13. The third bottom-surface trough 207 c starts from one end near the outer metatarsus segment 18 to go between the metatarsus segment 16 and the outer arch segment 11 transversely, and reaches a place near the outer metatarsus segment 18. The fourth bottom-surface trough 207 d corresponds to the third bottom-surface trough 207 c by extending from one end near the inner metatarsus segment 17 along a transverse path between the metatarsus segment 16 and the outer arch segment 11 and ending at a place near the inner metatarsus segment 17. With this configuration, the present embodiment can also improve the outsole 20 in flexibility.
Now referring to FIG. 11, in a third embodiment of the present invention, the footwear 1 comprises the outsole 10 and a pad which is a midsole 30 in this embodiment. The outsole 10 is configured according to the above embodiments and thus needs not to be discussed in any length herein.
The midsole 30 is deposited on the top surface 101 of the outsole 10. As shown in FIG. 12, the top surface 301 of the midsole 30 includes a datum plane D, and a plurality of contacting portions 302 that are configured to be different from the datum plane D in terms of elevation. In FIG. 12, the contacting portion 302 are top-surface depressions 302 a depressed downward from the top surface 301 of the midsole 30 and located corresponding to the outer arch segment 11, the heel segment 12, the toe segment 15 and the metatarsus segment 16 of the outsole 10, respectively. Also, as shown in FIG. 11, each of the top-surface depressions 302 a are corresponding to one said top-surface depression 102 a of the outsole 10, respectively. Thus, when a wear wears the footwear and walks, force-exerting regions of his/her foot sole can sink into the top-surface depressions 302 a formed on the midsole 30, and get secured from sliding with respect to the midsole 30, thereby facilitating stable tread of the wearer's sole and further ensuring the wearer's smooth and comfort walk.
Of course, as stated in the in description of the first embodiment, in practical manufacturing, the top-surface depressions 302 a of the midsole 30 are not limited to be formed on the midsole 30 at places corresponding to the outer arch segment 11, the heel segment 12, the toe segment 15, and the metatarsus segment 16 of the outsole 10. Instead, as shown in FIG. 13, they can be formed to correspond to the outer arch segment 11, the heel segment 12, the inner toe segment 13, the outer toe segment 14, the inner metatarsus segment 17 and the outer metatarsus segment 18 of the outsole 10, respectively. Alternatively, only one of the foregoing segments has the top-surface depression 302 a as needed. Yet alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14A, the contacting portions 302 of the midsole top surface 301 may be top-surface bulges 302 b protruding from the top surface 301 of the midsole 30, and correspond to the outer arch segment 11, the heel segment 12, the inner toe segment 13, the outer toe segment 14, the toe segment 15, the metatarsus segment 16, the inner metatarsus segment 17, and the outer metatarsus segment 18 of the outsole 10, respectively. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 14B, in the case where the contacting portions 302 of the midsole 30 are top-surface depressions 302 a, that are preferably arrange to correspond to the metatarsus segment 16, the inner metatarsus segment 17, the outer metatarsus segment 18, the toe segment 15, the inner toe segment 13 and the outer toe segment 14 of the outsole 10, respectively. In the case where the contacting portions 302 of the midsole 30 are top-surface bulges 302 b, they preferably correspond to the heel segment 12 and the outer arch segment 11 of the outsole 10. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14C, the top-surface bulges 302 b′ of the midsole 30 may have a hollow structure formed by a raised surface 303 a raised from the top surface 301 of the midsole and a sagged surface 303 b that corresponds to the raised surface 303 a and integrally formed by depressing on the bottom surface 304 of the midsole. It is to be noted that when the midsole 30 is deposited on the top surface 101 of the outsole 10, the contacting portions 302 of the midsole 30 may have their form complementary or symmetrical to that of the contacting portions 102 of the outsole 10.
Referring to FIG. 15, in a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the footwear 1 comprises the outsole 10 and a pad which is an insole 40 in this embodiment. The detailed description of the outsole 10 is herein omitted for eliminating repetition.
The insole 40 is deposited on the top surface 101 of the outsole 10. As shown in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the insole 40 has a plurality of hollow bowls 402 corresponding to the outer arch segment 11, the heel segment 12, the toe segment 15 and the metatarsus segment 16 of the outsole 10, respectively, and corresponding to the top-surface depression 102 a of the outsole 10, respectively. Additionally, in FIG. 15, the hollow bowls 402 each have a sagged surface 402 a integrally depressed from the top surface 401 of the insole and a raised surface 402 b that corresponds to the sagged surface 402 a and integrally raised from the bottom surface of the insole 403. Thus, when a wear wears the footwear and walks, force-exerting regions of his/her foot sole can sink into the top-surface depression hollow bowls 402 formed on the insole 40, and get secured from sliding with respect to the insole 40, thereby facilitating stable tread of the wearer's sole and further ensuring the wearer's smooth and comfort walk.
Of course, as stated in the in description of the third embodiment, in practical manufacturing, the hollow bowls 402 of the insole 40 are not limited to be formed on the insole 40 at places corresponding to the outer arch segment 11, the heel segment 12, the toe segment 15, and metatarsus segment 16 of the outsole 10. Instead, as shown in FIG. 17, they can be formed to correspond to the outer arch segment 11, the heel segment 12, the inner toe segment 13, the outer toe segment 14, the inner metatarsus segment 17 and the outer metatarsus segment 18 of the outsole 10, respectively. Alternatively, the insole 40 may only have any one of the foregoing segments formed with the hollow bowl 402. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18A, the insole 40 may have a plurality of hollow domes 404 corresponding to the outer arch segment 11, the heel segment 12, the inner toe segment 13, the outer toe segment 14, the toe segment 15, the metatarsus segment 16, the inner metatarsus segment 17, and the outer metatarsus segment 18 of the outsole 10, respectively. Each of the hollow domes 404 is formed by a raised surface 404 a integrally raised from the top surface 401 of the insole and a sagged surface 404 b that corresponds to the raised surface 404 a and is integrally depressed from the bottom surface of the insole 403. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 18B, in the case where the insole 40 has both the hollow bowls 402 and the hollow domes 404, the hollow bowls 402 are preferably located at places corresponding to the metatarsus segment 16, the inner metatarsus segment 17, the outer metatarsus segment 18, the toe segment 15, the inner toe segment 13 and the outer toe segment 14 of the outsole 10, while the hollow domes 404 are preferably located at places corresponding to the heel segment 12 and the outer arch segment 11 of the outsole 10.
In addition, for enhancing the hollow bowls 402 and the hollow domes 404 of the insole 40 in durability, as shown in FIG. 18C, a reinforcing rib 405 may be provided on the sagged surface 402 a of the hollow bowl 402, while a reinforcing groove may be provided on the raised surface 404 a of the hollow domes 404. It is to be noted that, when the insole 40 is deposited on the top surface 101 of the outsole 10, the insole 40 may be configured to be complementary or symmetrical to the contacting portions 102 of the outsole 10.
Now referring to FIG. 19, keeping on the spirit of the third and fourth embodiments of present invention, a fifth embodiment of the present invention provides a footwear 1 comprises the outsole 10, the midsole 30 deposited on the top surface 101 of the outsole 10, and the insole 40 deposited on the top surface 301 of the midsole 30. Since the outsole 10, the midsole 30 and the insole 40 are identical to their counterparts in the embodiments described above, no repeated discussion is made herein. What is to be noted is that, as mentioned previously, since the contacting portions 102 of the outsole 10 and the contacting portions 302 of the midsole 30 may be in the form of the top- surface depressions 102 a, 302 a or top-surface bulges 102 b, 302 b, and the insole 40 may have the hollow bowls 402 or the hollow domes 404, when the insole 40 is deposited on the top surface 301 of the midsole 30, and the midsole 30 is deposited on the top surface 101 of the outsole 10, the form of the contacting portions 302 of the midsole 30 and the arrange of the hollow bowls/ domes 402, 404 of the insole 40 may be complementary or symmetrical to the configuration of the contacting portions 102 of the outsole 10. For example, “complementary” means, as shown in FIG. 19, where the contacting portions 102 of the outsole 10 are top-surface depressions 102 a, the contacting portions 302 of the midsole 30 are top-surface depression 302 a, and the insole 40 is provided with the hollow bowls 402. The term “symmetrical” means that, as shown in FIG. 22, where the contacting portions 102 of the outsole 10 are top-surface depressions 102 a, the contacting portions 302 of the midsole 30 are hollow top-surface bulges 302 b′, and the insole 40 is provided with the hollow domes 404. In addition, it is to be noted that, when the outsole 10, the midsole 30 and the insole 40 are configured as shown in FIG. 22, the sagged surface 303 b of the midsole 30 and the top-surface depression 102 a of the outsole 10 can define an accommodating space S therebetween for accommodating a cushioning member 70 and/or an elastomer 70, so as to improve the impact-absorbing and/or springing function of the disclosed footwear.
Referring to FIG. 20A, FIG. 20B and FIG. 21, in a sixth embodiment of the present invention, a footwear comprises an outsole 50 and a pad which is a thin lining 60 in this embodiment. In the present embodiment, the outsole 50 is one for a high-heeled shoe. As shown in FIG. 20A, the contacting portions are top-surface depressions 502 depressed from the top surface 501 of the outsole 50, and located in the heel segment 12, the inner and outer toe segments 13, 14 and the inner and outer metatarsus segments 17, 18. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 20B, the top-surface depressions 502 are located in the heel segment 12, the toe segment 15 and the metatarsus segment 16. The thin lining 60 may be a ventilative cotton pad, or may be made of any materials known to be used as lining of high-heeled shoes. As shown in FIG. 21, when a wear walks with the thin lining 60 and the outsole 50 under his/her sole, the thin lining 60 over the top-surface depressions 502 of the outsole 50 can sink into the top-surface depressions 502, and, as a result, the force-exerting regions of wearer's foot sole can also sink into the top-surface depressions 502 formed on the outsole 10, and get secured from sliding with respect to the outsole 50, thereby improving stability of the wearer's tread.
It is to be additionally remarked that, for making the footwear as light as possible by lightening the outsole, the outsole 10′ may be further provided with a plurality of dents 107 below the top-surface depressions 102 a, as shown in FIG. 23.
Moreover, FIG. 24 shows another aspect of the outsole of the present invention. Particularly, in the case where the disclosed footwear is realized by a slipper, the outsole 10 may have the inner arch segment 19 formed with a protruding protuberance 80 raised from the top surface 101 of the outsole 10. The protruding protuberance 80 can be connected with the outsole 10 adhesively or integrally. Thereby, the wearer's inner arch can get supported by the protuberance 80 and the wear can tread with improved stability. Of course, the protuberance 80 may be used together with the foregoing contacting portions 102. Further referring to FIG. 25, a slipper which is structurally different from that of FIG. 24 includes a hollow protuberance integrally molded at the bottom surface of the outsole 10 relative to the inner arch segment 19.
Referring to FIG. 26 finally, the difference between the outsole or the insole (including but not limited to another aspect like the midsole, the insole, or other thin lining) and the ambient contacting portions (located inside the ambience of the outsole or the insole) disclosed in the aforesaid embodiment lies in that the contacting portions in this embodiment (recessed inward or protruding outward from the top surface of the outsole or the pad) is provided with a breakthrough hole communicating with external open contacting portions. It is worth mentioning that the open contacting portions of the outsole or the pad is freely variable in number not limited to what FIG. 26 discloses. In other words, the scope of the present invention also includes that at least one open contacting portion is located in the heel segment, the inner arch segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the aforesaid embodiment.
Last but not the least, it is to be noted that the above embodiments are described for illustrate but not limit the present invention, and there may be more aspects of the disclosed footwear than those discussed. Particularly, the top-surface depressions of the outsole, the midsole, the insole, the thin lining, or the like of the aforementioned embodiments may be configured according to the practical needs. All equivalent changes, substitution or modifications made by people of ordinary skill in the art not departing from the concept of the present invention should be encompassed by the appended claims.
To sum up, the ergonomic footwear provided by the present invention features those depressions formed on the outsole and/or the midsole and/or the insole at exactly where a wearer's treading force is applied, so the force-exerting regions on the wearer's foot sole can sink into the top-surface depressions and get secured from sliding with respect to the outsole and/or the midsole and/or the insole. Thus, the present invention is helpful to enhance wearers' treading stability, allowing wearers to walk with smoothness and comfort. Where the disclosed footwear has its outsole provided with the bottom-surface recesses, the footwear additionally possesses buffering benefits. Furthermore, the disclosed footwear may have the outsole provided with vertically aligned top-surface troughs and bottom-surface troughs, so as to exhibit excellent flexibility, thereby further improving the wearers' walking smoothness and comfort. The disclosed footwear may further have the outsole provided with protuberances in the inner arch segment, for supporting its wearer's foot sole at his/her inner arch, thereby facilitating stable tread of the wearer's sole.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An ergonomic footwear, comprising an outsole, the outsole having an inner arch segment, an outer arch segment, a heel segment located behind the outer arch segment, a toe segment located before the outer arch segment and corresponding to human first, second, third, fourth and fifth toes, and a metatarsus segment located between the outer arch segment and the toe segment, all configured to correspond to regions of a human foot sole, respectively, wherein the toe segment includes an inner toe segment and an outer toe segment, with the inner toe segment corresponding to the human first toe and the outer toe segment corresponding to the human second, third, fourth and fifth toes, and the metatarsus segment includes an inner metatarsus segment and an outer metatarsus segment, and the footwear being characterized in:

the outsole having a top surface that includes a datum plane and having at least one contacting portion such configured that a difference in elevation is formed between the contacting portion and the datum plane, in which the contacting portion is formed in at least one of the heel segment, the inner arch segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment.

2. The ergonomic footwear of claim 1, wherein the contacting portion of the outsole is a top-surface depression depressed from the top surface of the outsole, or is a top-surface bulge protruding from the top surface of the outsole.

3. The ergonomic footwear of claim 2, wherein the outsole has at least one bottom-surface recess formed at a bottom surface thereof and corresponding to the top-surface depression or the top-surface bulge.

4. The ergonomic footwear of claim 2, wherein the contacting portion of the outsole is the top-surface depression and located in at least one of the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, the outer toe segment, and the heel segment.

5. The ergonomic footwear of claim 2, wherein the contacting portion of the outsole is the top-surface bulge and located in the heel segment, the inner arch segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment.

6. The ergonomic footwear of claim 1, further comprising a midsole that is deposited on the top surface of the outsole, wherein the midsole has a top surface including a datum plane and has at least one contacting portion such configured that a difference in elevation is formed between the contacting portion and the datum plane, in which the contacting portion is located to correspond to at least one of the heel segment, the inner arch segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the outsole.

7. The ergonomic footwear of claim 6, wherein the contacting portion of the outsole and the contacting portion of the midsole are top-surface depressions depressed from the top surface of the outsole and from the top surface of the midsole, respectively, or are top-surface bulges protruding from the top surface of the outsole and from the top surface of the midsole, respectively.

8. The ergonomic footwear of claim 7, wherein the contacting portion of the outsole is the top-surface depression located in at least one of the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the outsole, while the contacting portion of the midsole is the top-surface depression located corresponding to at least one of the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the outsole.

9. The ergonomic footwear of claim 7, wherein the contacting portion of the outsole is the top-surface bulge located in the heel segment and/or the outer arch segment of the outsole, while the contacting portion of the midsole is the top-surface bulge located corresponding to the heel segment and/or the outer arch segment of the outsole.

10. The ergonomic footwear of claim 6, further comprising an insole that is deposited on the top surface of the midsole and has at least one hollow dome and/or at least one hollow bowl located corresponding to at least one of the heel segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the outsole, wherein the hollow dome is formed by a raised surface raised from a top surface of the insole and a sagged surface corresponding to the raised surface and integrally depressed from a bottom surface of the insole, while the hollow bowl has a sagged surface integrally depressed from a top surface of the insole and a raised surface corresponding to the sagged surface and raised from the bottom surface of the insole.

11. The ergonomic footwear of claim 10, wherein the contacting portion of the outsole is the top-surface depression depressed from the top surface of the outsole and located in at least one of the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the outsole, while the contacting portion of the midsole is the top-surface depression depressed from the top surface of the midsole and located corresponding to at least one of the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the outsole, and the insole has the hollow bowl located corresponding to at least one of the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the outsole.

12. The ergonomic footwear of claim 10, wherein the contacting portion of the outsole is the top-surface bulge protruding from the top surface of the outsole and located in the heel segment and/or the outer arch segment of the outsole, while the contacting portion of the midsole is the top-surface bulge protruding from the top surface of the midsole and located corresponding to at least one of the heel segment and/or the outer arch segment of the outsole, and the insole has the hollow dome located corresponding to the heel segment and/or the outer arch segment of the outsole.

13. The ergonomic footwear of claim 10, wherein the raised surface of the hollow dome of the insole has a reinforcing groove, and the sagged surface of the hollow bowl of the insole has a reinforcing rib.

14. The ergonomic footwear of claim 1, further comprising an insole that is deposited on the top surface of the outsole and has at least one hollow dome and/or at least one hollow bowl located corresponding to at least one of the heel segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the outsole, in which the hollow dome has a raised surface integrally raised from a top surface of the insole and a sagged surface corresponding to the raised surface and integrally depressed from a bottom surface of the insole, and the hollow bowl has a sagged surface integrally depressed from the top surface of the insole and a raised surface corresponding to the sagged surface and integrally raised from the bottom surface of the insole, and the hollow dome and the hollow bowl of the insole are arranged to match the contacting portion of the outsole.

15. The ergonomic footwear of claim 14, wherein the contacting portion of the outsole is a top-surface depression depressed from the top surface of the outsole and located in at least one of the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment and the outer toe segment of the outsole, while the insole has the hollow bowl located corresponding to at least one of the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment of the outsole.

16. The ergonomic footwear of claim 14, wherein the contacting portion of the outsole is a top-surface bulge protruding from the top surface of the outsole and located in the heel segment and/or the outer arch segment, while the insole has the hollow dome located corresponding to the heel segment and/or the outer arch segment.

17. The ergonomic footwear of claim 14, wherein the raised surface of the hollow dome of the insole has a reinforcing groove, and the sagged surface of the hollow bowl of the insole has a reinforcing rib.

18. The ergonomic footwear of claim 1, wherein the inner arch segment of the outsole comprises a protuberance raised from the top surface of the outsole.

19. The ergonomic footwear of claim 1, further comprising a thin lining deposited on the top surface of the outsole.

20. The ergonomic footwear of claim 1, wherein the outsole comprises at least one top-surface trough formed at the top surface thereof.

21. The ergonomic footwear of claim 20, wherein the outsole comprises at least one top-surface trough formed at the top surface thereof and located close to at least one of the contacting portions of the outsole.

22. The ergonomic footwear of claim 21, wherein the top-surface trough is formed as starting from a place near a front periphery of the toe segment, proceeding between the inner and outer toe segments and going lengthwise toward the heel segment or starting from a place near a periphery of the outer toe segment, proceeding between the toe segment and the metatarsus segment transversely, and reaching a place near a periphery of the inner toe segment, or starting from a place near a periphery of the outer metatarsus segment, proceeding between the metatarsus segment and the outer arch segment transversely, and reaching a place near a periphery of the inner metatarsus segment, or starting from a place near a periphery of the heel segment, extending transversely along the heel segment to a place near an opposite periphery of the heel segment.

23. The ergonomic footwear of claim 22, wherein the outsole comprises at least one bottom-surface trough formed at the bottom surface thereof and corresponding to the top-surface trough.

24. A ergonomic footwear comprising an outsole, the outsole having an outer arch segment, a heel segment located behind the outer arch segment, a toe segment located before the outer arch segment and corresponding to human first, second, third, fourth, and fifth toes, and a metatarsus segment located between the outer arch segment and the toe segment, all configured to correspond to regions of a human foot sole, respectively, wherein the toe segment includes an inner toe segment and an outer toe segment, with the inner toe segment corresponding to the human first toe and the outer toe segment corresponding to the human second, third, fourth, and fifth toes, and the metatarsus segment includes an inner metatarsus segment and an outer metatarsus segment, and the footwear being characterized in that:

the outsole further comprises at least one top-surface trough formed at the top surface of the outsole.

25. The ergonomic footwear of claim 24, wherein the top-surface trough is formed as starting from a place near a front periphery of the toe segment, proceeding between the inner and outer toe segments and going lengthwise toward the heel segment or starting from a place near a periphery of the outer toe segment, proceeding between the toe segment and the metatarsus segment transversely, and reaching a place near a periphery of the inner toe segment, or starting from a place near a periphery of the outer metatarsus segment, proceeding between the metatarsus segment and the outer arch segment transversely, and reaching a place near a periphery of the inner metatarsus segment, or starting from a place near a periphery of the heel segment, extending transversely along the heel segment to a place near an opposite periphery of the heel segment.

26. The ergonomic footwear of claim 25, wherein the outsole comprises at least one bottom-surface trough formed at the bottom surface thereof and corresponding to the top-surface trough.

27. The ergonomic footwear of claim 26, wherein the bottom-surface trough of the outsole has at least one form of: (a) having a first bottom-surface trough and a second bottom-surface trough, the first bottom-surface trough starting from the place near the periphery of the outer toe segment, proceeding between the toe segment and the metatarsus segment transversely, and reaching the place near the periphery of the outer toe segment, and the second bottom-surface troughs corresponding to the first bottom-surface trough and starting from the place near the inner toe segment, proceeding between the toe segment and the metatarsus segment transversely, and reaching the place near the periphery of the inner toe segment; and (b) having a third bottom-surface trough and a fourth bottom-surface trough, the third bottom-surface trough starting from the place near the periphery of the outer metatarsus segment, proceeding between the metatarsus segment and the outer arch segment transversely, and reaching the place near the outer metatarsus segment, and the fourth bottom-surface trough corresponding to the third bottom-surface trough, and starting from a place near the periphery of the inner metatarsus segment, proceeding between the metatarsus segment and the outer arch segment transversely, and reaching the place near the inner metatarsus segment.

28. An ergonomic footwear, comprising an outsole that has an inner arch segment corresponding to a human foot sole, and the footwear being characterized in that:

the inner arch segment of the outsole has a protuberance protruding from a top surface of the outsole.

29. An ergonomic footwear, comprising an outsole, the outsole having an inner arch segment, an outer arch segment, a heel segment behind the outer arch segment, a toe segment located before the outer arch segment and corresponding to human first, second, third, fourth and fifth toes, and a metatarsus segment located between the outer arch segment and the toe segment, all configured to correspond to regions of a human foot sole, respectively, wherein the toe segment includes an inner toe segment and an outer toe segment, with the inner toe segment corresponding to the human first toe and the outer toe segment corresponding to the human second, third, fourth and fifth toes, and the metatarsus segment includes an inner metatarsus segment and an outer metatarsus segment, and the footwear being characterized in:

the outsole having a top surface that includes a datum plane and at least one contacting portion such configured that a difference in elevation is formed between the contacting portion and the datum plane, in which the contacting portion is formed in at least one of the heel segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment, and the inner arch segment of the outsole has a protuberance protruding from the top surface of the outsole.

30. An ergonomic footwear comprising an outsole and a pad mounted above the outsole, the outsole having an inner arch segment, an outer arch segment, a heel segment located behind the outer arch segment, a toe segment located before the outer arch segment and corresponding to human first, second, third, fourth and fifth toes, and a metatarsus segment located between the outer arch segment and the toe segment, all configured to correspond to regions of a human foot sole, respectively, wherein the toe segment includes an inner toe segment and an outer toe segment, with the inner toe segment corresponding to the human first toe and the outer toe segment corresponding to the human second, third, fourth and fifth toes, and the metatarsus segment includes an inner metatarsus segment and an outer metatarsus segment, and the footwear being characterized in:

the pad having a top surface that includes a datum plane and having at least one contacting portion such configured that a difference in elevation is formed between the contacting portion and the datum plane, in which the contacting portion is formed in at least one of the heel segment, the inner arch segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment.

31. The ergonomic footwear of claim 30, wherein the at least one contacting portion of the pad is a top-surface depression depressed from the top surface of the outsole or a top-surface bulge protruding from the top surface of the outsole.

32. The ergonomic footwear of claim 31, wherein the pad comprises at least one bottom-surface recess formed at a bottom surface thereof and corresponding to the top-surface depression or the top-surface bulge.

33. The ergonomic footwear of claim 31, wherein the at least one contacting portion is the top-surface depression corresponding to at least one of the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, the outer toe segment, the outer toe segment, and the heel segment.

34. The ergonomic footwear of claim 31, wherein the at least one contacting portion of the pad is the top-surface protuberance corresponding to at least one of the heel segment, the inner arch segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment.

35. The ergonomic footwear of claim 30, wherein the pad is a midsole or a insole or a thin lining.

36. The ergonomic footwear of claim 35, wherein the at least one contacting portion of the pad is a top-surface depression depressed from the top surface of the outsole or a top-surface bulge protruding from the top surface of the outsole.

37. The ergonomic footwear of claim 35, wherein the pad comprises at least one bottom-surface recess formed at a bottom surface thereof corresponding to the top-surface depression or the top-surface bulge.

38. The ergonomic footwear of claim 35, wherein the at least one contacting portion of the pad is the top-surface depression corresponding to at least one of the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, the outer toe segment, and the heel segment.

39. The ergonomic footwear of claim 35, wherein the at least one contact portion of the pad is the top-surface bulge corresponding to at least one of the heel segment, the inner arch segment, the outer arch segment, the metatarsus segment, the inner metatarsus segment, the outer metatarsus segment, the toe segment, the inner toe segment, and the outer toe segment.

40. The ergonomic footwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one contacting portion of the outsole is an ambient contact portion or communicates with an external open contacting portion.

41. The ergonomic footwear of claim 30, wherein the at least one contacting portion of the outsole or the insole is an ambient contact portion or communicates with an external open contacting portion.

42. The ergonomic footwear of claim 35, wherein the at least one contacting portion of the insole is an ambient contact portion or communicates with an external open contacting portion.