Sole construction for footwear

• US 5,625,963 A
• Filed: 11/01/1994
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wells Fargo Capital Finance, LLC (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Original Assignee: American Sporting Goods Corporation (Sequential Brands Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Le, Tuan, Potter, David, Miller, Todd, Feller, Craig, Purdom, Erik, Wickemeyer, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US08/332,041
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 36/103, 36/114, 36/25 R, 36/27, 36/28, 36/34 R, 36/35 R, 36/36 R, 36/142, 36/143, 36/144, 36/128
• US Class Current: 36/28
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/143 provided with wedged, concave or convex end portions, e.g. for improving roll-off of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/148 Wedged end portions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/26 Resilient heels
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/44 by claw-like means
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1495 with arch-supports of the bracelet type

Abstract

A footwear sole construction has a cavity. The footwear sole construction includes pods disposed on the medial and lateral sides of the heel region of the sole. The pods may be formed independent from the sole or integral with the sole. In addition, the pods may be disposed on the forefoot region of the sole, as well as, around the entire periphery. The placement of the cavities directly control the degree of shock absorption. The pods may be disposed such that at least one of the cavities may be disposed to have an open end on one of the medial and lateral sides of the sole and another open end on the lower surface of the sole. The cavities also may be formed directly in the sole material. In such case, a support piece can be disposed in the cavities or a reinforcement piece can be disposed on the bottom of the sole. The cavities also may be formed in a support element disposed in the sole.

Claims

1. Footwear, comprising:

a midsole formed from a shock absorbing material, said midsole having a medial side, a lateral side, and an upper surface;

a first pod disposed on said lateral side of said midsole, said first pod having a lower surface for contacting a contact surface, said lower surface being substantially abrasive resistant, wherein at least one first cavity extends through said first pod, and wherein said first cavity has an open first end and an open second end, and said open first end and said open second end of said first cavity are in tapered communication with one another extending transversely across the midsole; and

a second pod disposed on said medial side of said midsole, said second pod having a lower surface for contacting a contact surface, said lower surface being substantially abrasive resistant, wherein at least one second cavity extends through said second pod, and wherein said second cavity has an open first end and an open second end, and said open first end and said open second end of said second cavity are in tapered communication with one another extending transversely across the midsole,

wherein said first pod and said second pod provide shock absorption upon contact with a contact surface.

2. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said first and second pods extend downwardly and outwardly relative to said midsole.

3. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said first pod is formed from a material that is harder than the material of said second pod.

4. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said first pod and a portion of said midsole are monolithic.

5. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein a portion of said second pod and a portion of said midsole are monolithic.

6. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second pods is removable.

7. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second pods has at least one lug.

8. Footwear according to claim 7, wherein said at least one lug comprises more than one lug, said more than one lug moves substantially independently of another lug.

9. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second pods comprise at least one strut.

10. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second pods comprise a V-shaped strut.

11. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said midsole includes a heel region, said first and second pods are disposed on said heel region of said midsole.

12. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said midsole includes a forefoot region, said first and second pods are disposed on said forefoot region of said midsole.

13. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said first and second pods are connected.

14. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said first pod comprises one of rubber-like and elastomeric material.

15. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said first and second pods each have a length, said first pod has a longer length than said length of said second pod.

16. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said first pod has a greater quantity of cavities than said second pod.

17. Footwear according to claim 1, wherein said first and second pods each have a thickness, said thickness of said first pod is greater than said thickness of said second pod.

18. Footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a support strap, said support strap extends through said cavity.

19. Footwear, comprising:

a midsole formed from a shock absorbing material, said midsole having a medial side, a lateral side, and an upper surface;

a first pod disposed on said lateral side of said midsole, said first pod having a lower surface for contacting a contact surface, said lower surface being substantially abrasive resistant, wherein said first pod is removable and has a first cavity having an open first end and an open second end, and wherein said open first end and said open second end are in tapered communication with one another extending transversely across the midsole; and

a second pod disposed on said medial side of said midsole, said second pod having a lower surface for contacting a contact surface, said lower surface being substantially abrasive resistant, wherein said second pod is removable and has a second cavity having an open first end and an open second end, and wherein said open first end and said open second end are in tapered communication with one another extending transversely across the midsole;

wherein said first pod and said second pod provide shock absorption and stability upon contact with a contact surface.

20. Footwear according to claim 19, wherein at least one of said first and second pods includes at least one cavity.

21. Footwear, comprising:

a midsole being formed from a shock absorbing material, said midsole having a medial side, a lateral side, an upper surface and a lower surface;

a first pod disposed on said lateral side of the lower midsole surface, said first pod having a substantially abrasive resistant surface for contacting a contact surface, wherein said first pod includes at least one first cavity extending through said first pod, said first cavity having an open first end and an open second end in tapered communication with each other extending transversely across the midsole, and wherein said open first end and said open second end of said first cavity are open to the exterior of the footwear; and

a second pod disposed on said medial side of the lower midsole surface, said second pod having a substantially abrasive resistant surface for contacting a contact surface, wherein said second pod includes at least one second cavity extending through said second pod, said second cavity having an open first end and an open second end in tapered communication with one another extending transversely across the midsole, and wherein said open first end and said open second end of said second cavity are open to the exterior of the footwear,

wherein said first pod and said second pod provide shock absorption upon contact with a contact surface.

22. Footwear according to claim 21, wherein said lower midsole surface is substantially planar.

23. Footwear according to claim 21, wherein said lower midsole surface is substantially non planar.

24. Footwear according to claim 21, wherein said lower midsole surface is substantially concave.

25. Footwear according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said first and second pods and said midsole are monolithic.

26. Footwear according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said first and second pods and said midsole are separate and connected by connecting means.

27. Footwear comprising:

a midsole being formed from a shock absorbing material, said midsole having a medial side, a lateral side, an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein a portion of said lower surface is concave;

an outsole having upper and lower surfaces, said upper surface being disposed adjacent at least a portion of said lower surface of said midsole and said lower surface being substantially abrasive resistant; and

at least one cavity extending through said midsole, said cavity having a first open end extending through at least one of said medial and lateral sides and a second open end extending through said lower surface of said midsole and wherein said first and second open ends are in tapered communication with one another extending transversely across the midsole.

28. Footwear according to claim 27, wherein a support piece is disposed in said cavity.

29. Footwear according to claim 27, wherein said outsole comprises at least one protrusion on said upper surface, said protrusion being formed to be disposed in said cavity.

30. Footwear according to claim 27 further comprising, a midsole support disposed between said midsole and said outsole.

31. Footwear, comprising:

a midsole being formed from a shock absorbing material, said midsole having a medial side, a lateral side and a lower surface;

an outsole disposed on said lower surface of said midsole; and

a shock absorption element disposed between said midsole and said outsole, said shock absorption element having a medial side, a lateral side, a lower surface, and at least one cavity, said cavity having a first open end extending through at least one of said shock absorption element medial and lateral sides and a second open end extending through said shock absorption element lower surface.

32. Footwear according to claim 31, wherein said shock absorption element has a forefoot end and a heel end and said first open end of one of said at least one cavities extends through said heel end and said second open end extends through said shock absorption element lower surface.

33. Footwear comprising:

a sole, said sole comprising,

a medial side, and

a lateral side;

a first pod disposed on said lateral side, wherein at least one first cavity extends through said first pod, said first pod having a longitudinal axis that is substantially non-perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of the footwear, said first cavity having an open first end and an open second end, said open first end and said open second end being in tapered communication with one another along the longitudinal axis of said first pod and extend transversely across the sole; and

a second pod disposed on said medial side of said sole, wherein at least one second cavity extends through said second pod, said second pod having a longitudinal axis that is substantially non-perpendicular with a longitudinal axis of the footwear, said second cavity having an open first end and an open second end, said open first end and said open second end being in tapered communication with one another along the longitudinal axis of said second pod and extend transversely across the sole,

wherein said first pod and said second pod provide shock absorption upon contact with a contact surface.

34. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein said first pod has a lower surface for contacting a contact surface, said first pod lower surface being substantially abrasive resistant, and said second pod has a lower surface for contacting a contact surface, said second pod lower surface being substantially abrasive resistant.

35. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein the portion of said first pod and a portion of said sole are monolithic.

36. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein a portion of said second pod and a portion of said sole are monolithic.

37. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein at least one of said first and second pods is removable.

38. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein said first pod is formed from a material that is harder than the material of said second pod.

39. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein said sole includes a heel region, said first and second pods are disposed on said heel region of said sole.

40. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein said sole includes a forefoot region, said first and second pods are disposed on said forefoot region of said sole.

41. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein said first and second pods are connected.

42. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein said first and second pods extend around an entire periphery of said sole.

43. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein said first and second pods each have a length, said first pod has a longer length than said length of said second pod.

44. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein said first pod has a greater quantity of cavities than said second pod.

45. Footwear according to claim 33, wherein said first and second pods each have a thickness, said thickness of said first pod is greater than said thickness of said second pod.

46. Footwear according to claim 33, further comprising a support strap, said support strap extends through said cavity.

47. Footwear comprising:

a sole for being disposed on a wearer, said sole comprising,

a medial side,

a lateral side, and

a lower surface; and

at least one cavity disposed in said sole having first and second ends wherein said first end of said cavity is open on one of said medial and lateral sides and said second end of said cavity is open on said lower surface, the first and second ends of said cavity being in tapered communication with one another and extend transversely across the sole.

48. Footwear according to claim 47, further comprising a shock absorption element disposed in said sole and said at least one cavity passes through said shock absorption element.

49. Footwear according to claim 48, wherein said sole comprises a forefoot region and a heel region, said support element being disposed in at least one of said forefoot and heel regions.