초록 ▼

The invention relates to a sliding element for a shoe sole. The sliding element includes an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface so as to be slideable in at least two directions. The upper sliding surface can

The invention relates to a sliding element for a shoe sole. The sliding element includes an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface so as to be slideable in at least two directions. The upper sliding surface can form a lower side of an upper heel cup and the lower sliding surface can form an upper side of a lower heel cup, wherein the upper heel cup and the lower heel cup have corresponding substantially spherical shapes. Complex multi-dimensional sliding and cushioning movements between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are made possible by the corresponding three-dimensional shapes of the two substantially spherical surfaces.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A sliding element for a sole of an article of footwear, comprising: an upper sliding surface disposed within the sole of the article of footwear; a lower sliding surface disposed within the sole of the article of footwear, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below t

What is claimed is: 1. A sliding element for a sole of an article of footwear, comprising: an upper sliding surface disposed within the sole of the article of footwear; a lower sliding surface disposed within the sole of the article of footwear, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface and at least in partial sliding contact with the upper sliding surface such as to be rotatably slideable about at least two axes; and at least one elastic element slideably coupling the upper sliding surface to the lower sliding surface. 2. The sliding element of claim 1, wherein the lower sliding surface is configured to slide relative to the upper sliding surface from a first position to a second position upon impact between the sole and a ground surface when the sliding element is disposed in a sole, and wherein the elastic element provides a restoring force to slide the lower sliding surface relative to the upper sliding surface from the second position to the first position. 3. The sliding element of claim 2, wherein the elastic element is pretensioned when the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are in a neutral position. 4. The sliding element of claim 1, wherein the sliding element is configured to be disposed in at least one of a forefoot portion and a heel portion of a sole. 5. The sliding element of claim 1, wherein the upper sliding surface conforms to the lower side of a corresponding portion of a wearer's foot. 6. The sliding element of claim 1, wherein the upper sliding surface is defined by a first curvature and the lower sliding surface is defined by a second curvature, and wherein the first curvature and the second curvature are complementary. 7. The sliding element of claim 6, wherein the first curvature and the second curvature comprise substantially spherical surfaces. 8. The sliding element of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface comprises a low friction material. 9. The sliding element of claim 1, wherein the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are rotatably slideable about at least three axes. 10. The sliding element of claim 1, further comprising a seal disposed at least partially about the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface to seal an intermediate space between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface. 11. The sliding element of claim 1, wherein the upper sliding surface defines at least one opening for receiving a first end of the at least one elastic element and the lower sliding surface defines at least one opening for receiving a second end of the at least one elastic element. 12. The sliding element of claim 1, wherein at least one end of the elastic element is enlarged relative to a central part of the elastic element. 13. A sole for an article of footwear including a sliding element, the sliding element comprising: an upper sliding surface disposed within the sole of the article of footwear; a lower sliding surface disposed within the sole of the article of footwear, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface and at least in partial sliding contact with the upper sliding surface such as to be rotatably slideable about at least two axes; and at least one elastic element slideably coupling the upper sliding surface to the lower sliding surface. 14. The sole of claim 13, wherein an impact between the sole of the article of footwear and a ground surface causes the lower sliding surface to slide relative to the upper sliding surface from a first position to a second position, and wherein the elastic element provides a restoring force to slide the lower sliding surface relative to the upper sliding surface from the second position to the first position. 15. The sole of claim 14, wherein the elastic element is pretensioned when the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are in a neutral position. 16. The sole of claim 13, wherein the sliding element is disposed in at least one of a forefoot portion and a heel portion of the sole of the article of footwear. 17. The sole of claim 13, wherein the upper sliding surface conforms to the lower side of a corresponding portion of a wearer's foot. 18. The sole of claim 13, wherein the upper sliding surface is defined by a first curvature and the lower sliding surface is defined by a second curvature, and wherein the first curvature and the second curvature are complementary. 19. The sliding element of claim 18, wherein the first curvature and the second curvature comprise substantially spherical surfaces. 20. The sole of claim 13, wherein at least one of the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface comprises a low friction material. 21. The sole of claim 13, wherein the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are rotatably slideable about at least three axes. 22. The sole of claim 13, further comprising a seal disposed at least partially about the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface to seal an intermediate space between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface. 23. The sole of claim 13, wherein the upper sliding surface defines at least one opening for receiving a first end of the at least one elastic element and the lower sliding surface defines at least one opening for receiving a second end of the at least one elastic element. 24. The sole of claim 13, wherein at least one end of the elastic element is enlarged relative to a central part of the elastic element. 25. A shoe sole comprising: a first sole unit; an extension comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion is secured to the first sole unit; and a second sole unit discrete from the first sole unit, wherein the second sole unit is slideably engaged with the second end portion, and wherein the second sole unit is adapted for slideable rotational movement relative to the second end portion along all possible arbitrary trajectories when the first sole unit is coupled to the second sole unit. 26. The shoe sole of claim 25, wherein the second end portion comprises at least a portion of a substantially spherical surface. 27. The shoe sole of claim 26, wherein the second sole unit comprises at least a portion of a substantially spherical surface, wherein a curvature of the surface of the second sole unit substantially corresponds to a curvature of the surface of the second end portion. 28. The shoe sole of claim 25, wherein the second sole unit is disposed substantially within a heel of the shoe sole.