Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Oh, Patents! Saucony® strike pad soles!

Copyright©  Françoise Herrmann
To absorb the shocks of repetitive impact when feet strike with the ground, Saucony® has developed a strike pad sole technology with a slight (8 mm) elevation of the heel compared to the forefoot. The strike pad is strategically positioned in the heel only section of the shoe, or extending from the heel to the forefoot, and strategically crescent-shaped, with a patented thickness ranging from about 5 mm to 40 mm that decreases in a variety of gradual, linear, non-linear or exponential ways, or in step.Together with the strike pad, the heel to toe drop-geometry is designed to better align the runner’s gait, including ankles, calves, knees, quadriceps and/or hamstrings in a position to better receive the forces from striking the ground. 
Although this technology is illustrated for running shoes, the scope of this patented technology extends beyond running, and is envisioned for all types of footwear, including but not limited to boots, sandals, flip-flops, clogs, etc…Accordingly, the title of the invention is simply “Footwear”.
Here are patent drawings of the strike pad design and sole, as well as of the marketed 2013 Saucony® Hurricane sole and upper designs.
[US2013019497]
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Saucony® Hurricane 15alt
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