Heel/metatarsal structure having tapered stabilizing bulges

• US 5,679,439 A
• Filed: 01/02/1996
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Energaire Corporation
• Original Assignee: Energaire Corporation
• Inventors: Jenkins, Stuart E., Cole, George S., Schmidt, Karl M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LONEY, DONALD J
• Application Number:
  US08/582,109
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 428/178, 428/76, 428/172, 428/72, 428/212, 428/192, 428/156, 36/35 B, 36/29, 36/35 R, 36/44, 36/30 R, 36/37
• US Class Current: 428/178
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2006/041 combined with a protective garment, e.g. underpants or mask
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2006/042 covering the mouth, e.g. oral condom
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2006/043 with more than one barrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2006/048 with surface protuberances
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/04 Condoms, sheaths or the like , e.g. combined with devices protecting against contagion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 6/06 for use by females A61F6/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 13/08 the plastics spring forming at least a part of the wall of the fluid chamber of the damper F16F13/20 - F16F13/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/023 using fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/239 Complete cover or casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24612 Composite web or sheet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24661 Forming, or cooperating to form cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24777 Edge feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree

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.

Claims

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.

2. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 1, wherein said cavity has a substantially vertical depth in use which tapers from a maximum value at said first end to a minimum value at said second end of said leg portion.

3. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 1, wherein the portion of said cavity defined by said leg portion has a substantially horizontal width in use which tapers from a maximum value at said first end to a minimum value at said second end of said leg portion.

4. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 3, wherein said cavity has a substantially vertical depth in use which tapers from a maximum value at said first end to a minimum value at said second end of said leg portion.

5. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 1, wherein said outer member has an interior surface with said cavity opening at said interior surface, and further comprising a sealing member impermeable to air and fixedly secured to said interior surface for closing and hermetically sealing said cavity, and fluid disposed in said sealed cavity.

6. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 5, wherein said fluid is air at atmospheric pressure.

7. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 1, wherein said bulge is disposed only in a heel portion of said outer member with said first end of said leg portion disposed rearwardly and said second end of said leg portion disposed forwardly of said heel portion.

8. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 1, wherein said bulge is disposed only in a metatarsal portion of said outer member with said first end of said leg portion disposed forwardly and said second end of said leg portion disposed rearwardly.

9. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 8, and further comprising a second elongated bulge molded into a heel portion of said outer member and projecting from said exterior surface and defining an elongated fluid-containing cavity, said second bulge having a leg portion being disposed closely adjacent to the peripheral edge and extending therealong from a first end to a second end, the cavity defined by said second bulge having a cross-sectional area which tapers from a maximum value at the first end of said leg portion of said second bulge to a minimum value at the second end of said leg portion of said second bulge, said first end of said leg portion of said second bulge extending rearwardly and said second end of said leg portion of said second bulge extending forwardly.

10. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 1, wherein said first end of said leg portion of said bulge is disposed in a heel portion of said outer member, said second end of said leg portion of said bulge being disposed in a metatarsal portion of said outer member.

11. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 1, wherein said bulge includes two elongated leg portions respectively extending along opposite sides of said outer member, 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 first end to a second end, said cavity having a cross-sectional area which tapers from a maximum value at the first ends of said leg portions to a minimum value at the second ends of said leg portions, each of said leg portions having a width substantially less than the distance therebetween.

12. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 11, wherein said bulge is generally U-shaped.

13. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 11, wherein said cavity has a substantially vertical depth in use which tapers from a maximum value at said first ends to a minimum value at said second ends of said leg portions.

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.

15. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 14, wherein said restricted passageway communicates with said first cavity at the bight portion of said first bulge.

16. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 14, wherein said first and second bulges are disposed only in a heel portion of said outer member.

17. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 14, wherein said first and second bulges are disposed only in a metatarsal portion of said outer member.

18. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 17, and further comprising third and fourth bulges formed in a heel portion of said outer member and projecting from said exterior surface and respectively defining third and fourth elongated fluid-containing cavities, said third bulge being generally U-shaped and having a bight portion and two elongated leg portions, each of said leg portions of said third bulge being disposed closely adjacent to the peripheral edge and extending therealong from a bight end to a distal end, said third cavity having a cross-sectional area which tapers from a maximum value at the bight ends of said leg portions of said third bulge to a minimum value at the distal ends of said leg portions of said third bulge, each of said leg portions of said third bulge having a width substantially less than the distance therebetween, said fourth bulge being disposed between said leg portions of said third bulge, and a second restricted passageway formed in said outer member and communicating with each of said third and fourth cavities.

19. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 14, wherein said second bulge projects from said exterior surface a distance substantially greater than does said first bulge.

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.

21. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 20, wherein said plurality of bulges includes two bulges other than said one bulge.

22. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 21, wherein said two other bulges are respectively disposed in heel and metatarsal portions of said outer member.

23. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 22, and further comprising a restricted passageway formed in said outer member and communicating with each of the cavities defined by said two other bulges.

24. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 20, wherein said one bulge is disposed only in a heel portion of said outer member.

25. The shoe sole and/or heel structure of claim 20, wherein said bight portion is disposed in a heel portion of said outer member, said leg portions extending forwardly from said heel portion and into a metatarsal portion of said outer member.