FOOT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE OF A CYCLING SHOE WITH IMPROVED ERGONOMICS

Abstract

A foot supporting structure of cycling shoes with improved ergonomics is disclosed. The structure comprises a heel portion, having a first concave curved surface corresponding to and suitable for a heel of one human foot; an arch portion, connected with the heel portion with a first end thereof and having a first convex curved surface corresponding to and suitable for an arch of the foot; a metatarsus portion, connected with a second end of the arch portion opposite to the first end of the arch portion with a first end thereof and having a second concave curved surface corresponding to and suitable for a metatarsus of the foot; and a toe portion, connected with a second end of the metatarsus portion opposite to the first end thereof and having a second convex curved surface corresponding to and suitable for a location between the metatarsus and each toe of the foot.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to cycling shoes, and more particularly to a foot supporting structure of a cycling shoe with improved ergonomics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 3, which are showing a conventional sole with a cycling shoe. The conventional sole 100' has a heel area 1', an arch area 2', and a metatarsus 3', which are connected with one another.

[0003] The heel 301' of one human foot 300' is corresponding to the heel area 1', the arch 302' of the human foot 300' is corresponding to the arch portion 2', and the metatarsus 303' of the human foot 300' is corresponding to the metatarsus area 3'.

[0004] When the rider wants to speed up, the points to be forced suddenly are at the metatarsus 303' and the location 305' between metatarsus 303' and toes 304' of the human foot 300'.

[0005] However, the conventional sole corresponding to the location 305' between metatarsus 303' and toes 304' of the human foot 300' is flat. Therefore, it is easy to be slid and the force may be weak and ineffective to be used on the pedal (not shown). And furthermore, it is not very ergonomic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An objective of this invention is providing a foot supporting structure of a cycling shoe with improved ergonomics. When one human foot wears the cycling shoe having a bottom made by a hard material and then steps on a pedal of a bicycle, the location between the metatarsus and each toe of the human foot is stopped at the second convex curved surface of the toe portion made by a flexible or soft material to improve ergonomics. If the rider wants to speed up, the location between the metatarsus and each toe of the human foot has been stopped at the second convex curved surface of the toe portion without sliding while the cycling shoe is forced suddenly. And then, the force may be powerful and effective to be used on the pedal.

[0007] To achieve above objectives, a foot supporting structure of a cycling shoe with improved ergonomics is provided, the structure at least has a sole and the sole comprises: a heel portion, having a first concave curved surface corresponding to and suitable for a heel of one human foot; an arch portion, connected with the heel portion with a first end thereof and having a first convex curved surface corresponding to and suitable for an arch of the foot; a metatarsus portion, connected with a second end of the arch portion opposite to the first end of the arch portion with a first end thereof and having a second concave curved surface corresponding to and suitable for a metatarsus of the foot; and a toe portion, connected with a second end of the metatarsus portion opposite to the first end thereof and having a second convex curved surface corresponding to and suitable for a location between the metatarsus and each toe of the foot.

[0008] In some embodiments, the sole may be arranged and limited in a cycling shoe and disposed on a bottom plate of the cycling shoe, and a third convex curved surface any be formed at an upper portion of the bottom plate corresponding to the second convex curved surface.

[0009] The foot supporting structure of a cycling shoe as mentioned above may further comprise an insole which is disposed in the cycling shoe and arranged between the sole and the bottom plate of the cycling shoe.

[0010] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the detailed description of preferred embodiments which follows, when considered together with the attached drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] All the objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed descriptions when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0012] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional sole of a cycling shoe.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conventional sole of the cycling shoe.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional sole of the cycling shoe.

[0015] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a foot supporting structure of a cycling shoe with improved ergonomics according to present invention.

[0016] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the foot supporting structure of the cycling shoe with improved ergonomics according to present invention.

[0017] FIG. 6 is a different view from FIG. 5.

[0018] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the foot supporting structure with improved ergonomics according to present invention.

[0019] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of FIG. 5.

[0020] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 taken along lines A-A.

[0021] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 taken along lines B-B.

[0022] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 taken along lines C-C.

[0023] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the foot supporting structure arranged in the cycling shoe and stepped on a pedal of a bicycle according to present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Referring now to the drawings where like characteristics and features among the various figures are denoted by like reference characters.

[0025] Please refer to FIGS. 4 to 12, the foot supporting structure 100 of this invention may be arranged and limited in one cycling shoe 200. The foot supporting structure 100 may have a sole 10 and the sole 10 may comprise a heel portion 1, an arch portion 2, a metatarsus portion 3, and a toe portion 4.

[0026] The heel portion 1 may have a first concave curved surface 11 corresponding to and suitable for a heel 301 of one human foot 300.

[0027] The arch portion 2 may be connected with the heel portion 1 with a first end thereof and having a first convex curved surface 21 corresponding to and suitable for an arch 302 of the human foot 300. There may be a gap between the arch 302 of the human foot 300 and the arch portion 2 of the sole 10.

[0028] The metatarsus portion 3 may be connected with a second end of the arch portion 2 opposite to the first end of the arch portion 2 with a first end thereof and having a second concave curved surface 31 corresponding to and suitable for a metatarsus 303 of the human foot 300.

[0029] The toe portion 4 may be connected with a second end of the metatarsus portion 3 opposite to the first end thereof and having a second convex curved surface 41 corresponding to and suitable for a location 305 between the metatarsus 303 and each toe 304 of the human foot 300.

[0030] The sole 10 may be arranged and limited in the cycling shoe 200 and disposed on a bottom plate 201 of the cycling shoe 200, and a third convex curved surface is formed at an upper portion of the bottom plate corresponding to the second convex curved surface.

[0031] Furthermore, the foot supporting structure 100 of the cycling shoe 200 may further comprise an insole 5. The insole 5 may be arranged and limited in the cycling shoe 200 and disposed between the sole 100 and a bottom plate 201 of the cycling shoe 200. And a third convex curved surface 202 is formed at an upper portion of the bottom plate 201 corresponding to the second convex curved surface 41. Therefore, the portion between the second convex curved surface 41 and the third convex curved surface 202 may become a convex-curved shape.

[0032] In addition, the insole 5 may be made by a flexible or soft material.

[0033] The sole 10 may be made by a flexible or soft material, and the bottom of the cycling shoe 200 may be made by a hard material.

[0034] When one human foot 300 wears the cycling shoe 200 having the bottom made by the hard material and then steps on a pedal 400 of a bicycle 500, the location 305 between the metatarsus 303 and each toe 304 of the human foot 300 is stopped at the second convex curved surface 41 of the toe portion 4 made by the flexible or soft material to improve ergonomics. If the rider wants to speed up, the location 305 between the metatarsus 303 and each toe 304 of the human foot 300 has been stopped at the second convex curved surface 41 of the toe portion 4 without sliding while the cycling shoe 200 is forced suddenly. And then, the force may be powerful and efficient to be used on the pedal 400.

Claims

1. A foot supporting structure of a cycling shoe with improved ergonomics, the foot supporting structure at least having a sole, and the sole comprising: a heel portion, having a first concave curved surface corresponding to and suitable for a heel of one human foot; an arch portion, connected with the heel portion with a first end thereof and having a first convex curved surface corresponding to and suitable for an arch of the human foot; a metatarsus portion, connected with a second end of the arch portion opposite to the first end of the arch portion with a first end thereof and having a second concave curved surface corresponding to and suitable for a metatarsus of the human foot; and a toe portion, connected with a second end of the metatarsus portion opposite to the first end thereof and having a second convex curved surface corresponding to and suitable for a location between the metatarsus and each toe of the human foot; wherein the sole is arranged and limited in a cycling shoe and disposed on a bottom plate of the cycling shoe, and a third convex curved surface is formed at an upper portion of the bottom plate corresponding to the second convex curved surface.

2. The foot supporting structure of a cycling shoe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an insole, disposed in the cycling shoe and arranged between the sole and the bottom plate of the cycling shoe.

3. The foot supporting structure of a cycling shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sole is made by a flexible or soft material and a bottom of the cycling shoe is made by a hard material.

4. The foot supporting structure of a cycling shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sole is made by a flexible or soft material and a bottom of the cycling shoe is made by a hard material.

5. The foot supporting structure of a cycling shoe as claimed in claim 2, the insole is made by a flexible or soft material.

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