Heel/metatarsal structure having tapered stabilizing bulges
First Claim
1. Shoe sole and/or heel structure comprising:
- an outer member including a heel portion and/or a metatarsal portion and having an exterior surface and a peripheral edge and a longitudinal axis, and an elongated bulge formed in one of said portions and projecting from said exterior surface and defining an elongated fluid-containing cavity, said bulge having an elongated leg portion disposed closer to the peripheral edge than to the longitudinal axis and extending along the peripheral edge from a first end to a second end, said cavity having a cross-sectional area which tapers from a maximum value at the first end of said leg portion to a minimum value at the second end of said leg portion.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A generally U-shaped bulge having a bight portion and elongated leg portions and defining a correspondingly-shaped cavity is molded into the heel portion and/or the metatarsal portion of the outer bottom member of a shoe, the cavities tapering in depth and width from the bight portion to the distal ends of the leg portions. The bulge is disposed and oriented so as to provide a cushioning and lifting effect, and the leg portions are spaced apart a distance substantially greater than their width and are disposed closer to the peripheral edge of the member than to the longitudinal axis thereof for providing improved lateral stability. The bulges may communicate with associated cavities by narrow passageways or may function independently of other bulge structures formed in the member.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. Shoe sole and/or heel structure comprising:
- an outer member including a heel portion and/or a metatarsal portion and having an exterior surface and a peripheral edge and a longitudinal axis, and an elongated bulge formed in one of said portions and projecting from said exterior surface and defining an elongated fluid-containing cavity, said bulge having an elongated leg portion disposed closer to the peripheral edge than to the longitudinal axis and extending along the peripheral edge from a first end to a second end, said cavity having a cross-sectional area which tapers from a maximum value at the first end of said leg portion to a minimum value at the second end of said leg portion.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. Shoe sole and/or heel structure comprising:
- an outer member including a heel portion and/or a metatarsal portion and having an exterior surface and a peripheral edge and a longitudinal axis, first and second bulges formed in one of said portions and projecting from said exterior surface and respectively defining first and second fluid-containing cavities, said first bulge being generally U-shaped and having a bight portion and two elongated leg portions, each of said leg portions being disposed closer to the peripheral edge than to the longitudinal axis and extending along the peripheral edge from a bight end to a distal end, said first cavity having a cross-sectional area which tapers from a maximum value at the bight ends of said leg portions to a minimum value at the distal ends of said leg portions, each of said leg portions having a width substantially less than the distance therebetween, said second bulge being disposed between said leg portions of said first bulge, and a restricted passageway formed in said outer member and communicating with each of said first and second cavities.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Shoe sole and/or heel structure comprising:
- an outer member including a heel portion and/or a metatarsal portion and having an exterior surface and a peripheral edge and a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of bulges formed in said member and projecting from said exterior surface and respectively defining fluid-containing cavities, one of said bulges being generally U-shaped and having a bight portion and two elongated leg portions, each of said leg portions being disposed closer to the peripheral edge than to the longitudinal axis and extending along the peripheral edge from a bight end to a distal end, the cavity defined by said one bulge having a cross-sectional area which tapers from a maximum value at the bight ends of said leg portions to a minimum value at the distal ends of said leg portions, each of said leg portions having a width substantially less than the distance therebetween, the cavity defined by said one bulge being isolated from any other cavity.
- View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification