Fluid filled support system for footwear

• US 5,784,807 A
• Filed: 09/18/1996
• Issued: 07/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Todd A. Pagel
• Original Assignee: Todd A. Pagel
• Inventors: Pagel, Todd A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STASHICK, ANTHONY D
• Application Number:
  US08/715,244
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 36/28, 36/29, 36/35 R, 36/35 B, 36/37, 36/43, 36/44, 36/3 B, 36/54, 36/141, 36/153, 36/93, 36/88, 36/55, 2/239, 2/DIG. 3, 5/707, 5/706, 5/711, 5/655.3, 5/655.5
• US Class Current: 36/93
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0009 made at least partially of alveolar or honeycomb material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/40 with cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/026 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/03 filled with a gas, e.g. air
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/028 Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026

Abstract

A fluid filled support system for footwear having a closed system of interconnected pods filled with fluid for providing enhanced cushioning, support, and fit. The fluid filled support system includes a support member which completely surrounds a wearer'"'"'s foot to provide cushioning and support to the wearer'"'"'s entire foot. A plurality of fluid-containing pods are positioned within the support member spaced apart from one another and at least partially filled with a fluid for absorbing shocks encountered by the footwear. A plurality of fluid communication channels are positioned between the fluidcontaining pods for interconnecting the pods and maintaining all of the pods in fluid communication with one another. Each fluid-containing pod includes at least three fluid communication channels extending from the pod to attach the pod to at least three adjacent fluid-containing pods. The fluid communication channels may intersect with one another to provide additional fluid pathways for connecting additional fluid-containing pods to each pod. As pressure is applied by a wearer'"'"'s foot, the support member reacts by forcing the entrapped fluid to redistribute through the interconnected pods. Once the area of high pressure is relieved, the shoe again reaches a level of equilibrium. This flow of redistributing fluid between interconnected pods provides the desired cushioning and support of the wearer'"'"'s foot, wherein the multiple fluid paths connected to each pod provide a more responsive cushioning system.

Claims

1. A fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear, comprising:

a support member of a shape to cushion a foot, said support member surrounding a substantial portion of the foot including an upper portion of the foot;

a plurality of fluid-containing pods spaced apart from one another formed throughout said support member for absorbing shocks encountered by the footwear; and

a plurality of fluid communication channels positioned between said fluid-containing pods for traversely interconnecting said fluid-containing pods and maintaining said fluid-containing pods in fluid communication;

wherein said plurality of fluid-containing pods includes a first set of fluid-containing pods having two fluid communication channels attached thereto for directly connecting each of said first set of fluid-containing pods to two adjacent fluid-containing pods;

a second set of fluid-containing pods having three fluid communication channels attached thereto for directly connecting each of said second set of fluid-containing pods to three adjacent fluid-containing pods; and

a third set of fluid-containing pods having four fluid communication channels attached thereto for directly connecting each of said third set of fluid-containing pods to four adjacent fluid-containing pods and

wherein at least one of said plurality of fluid communication channels extending between a first pair of fluid-containing pods transversely intersects another of said fluid communication channels extending between a second pair of fluid-containing pods wherein said second pair of fluid-containing pods is different from said first pair of fluid-containing pods.

2. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said fluid communication channels intersects with at least one other of said fluid communication channels.

3. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 1, wherein support member is integrally formed within a shoe.

4. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 3, wherein said fluid-containing pods extend an entire length of said shoe, including the sole, sides, heel, forefoot, and tongue portions of the said shoe.

5. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid contained within said fluidcontaining pods is a liquid.

6. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 1, wherein said fluid contained within said fluidcontaining pods is a gas.

7. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 1, wherein the size and diameter of said fluid communication channels are varied to regulate the volume and speed of fluid flow between said fluid-containing pods.

8. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said fluid-containing pods are substantially filled with fluid when said fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus is in an equilibrium state.

9. A fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear, comprising:

a support member shaped to cushion a foot;

a plurality of fluid-containing pods spaced apart from one another formed throughout said member for absorbing shocks encountered by the footwear, wherein said fluid-containing pods extend around substantially the entire periphery of said foot;

a plurality of fluid communication channels including at least first fluid communication channels positioned between first pairs of said plurality of fluid-containing pods and second fluid communication channels positioned between second pairs of said plurality of fluid-containing pods, said second pairs being different from said first pairs;

wherein at least one of said first fluid communication channels transversely intersects in fluid communication with one of said second fluid communication channels to interconnect in fluid communication at least one of said first pairs of said plurality of fluid-containing pods and at least one of said second pairs of said plurality of fluid-containing pods.

10. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear sa defined in claim 9, wherein at least one of said fluid-containing pods has four first fluid communication channels extending therefrom directly connecting to at least four adjacent fluid-containing pods to form four first pairs.

11. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 10, wherein said four first fluid communication channels transversely intersects four second fluid communication channels, such that said at least one of said plurality of fluid-containing pods is interconnected to eight adjacent fluid-containing pods.

12. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 9, wherein said support member is constructed from a flexible, fluid-tight barrier material which is capable of being bonded to the material of a shoe.

13. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 9, wherein support member is integrally formed within a shoe.

14. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 13, wherein said fluid-containing pods extend the entire length of said shoe, including the sole, sides, heel, forefoot, and tongue portions of the said shoe.

15. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 9, wherein said fluid contained within said fluidcontaining pods is a liquid.

16. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 9, wherein said fluid contained within said fluidcontaining pods is a gas.

17. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 9, wherein the size and diameter of said fluid communication channels are varied to regulate the volume and speed of fluid flow between said fluid-containing pods.

18. The fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus for an article of footwear as defined in claim 9, wherein each of said fluid-containing pods are substantially filled with fluid when said fluid cushioning and supporting apparatus is in an equilibrium state.