Footwear devices with an outer bladder and a foamed plastic internal structure separated by an internal flexibility sipe
First Claim
1. A footwear or orthotic sole, comprising:
- an outer sole; and
a footwear or orthotic device, the device includingat least one bladder having side portions, an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, both said surfaces being curved concavely on both said side portions to define concavely curved side portions of the at least one bladder, so that said concavely curved side portions, together with a middle portion extending between the side portions, form said at least one bladder in a U-shape, the concave curvature and the U-shape being determined relative to a central portion of an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;
at least two internal structures, wherein said at least two internal structures are interconnected to each other, and each said interconnected internal structure is formed by a flexible, resilient midsole material including at least a foamed plastic, a plastic composite and/or a blown rubber,said two interconnected internal structures being substantially surrounded on at least a top, bottom and sides by said at least one bladder;
said at least one bladder and said two interconnected internal structures being separated at least in part by at least one internal sipe;
wherein said at least one internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said at least one bladder and an opposing surface of said two interconnected internal structures; and
the opposing surfaces forming the sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion;
said at least one bladder including at least one media selected from a gas, a liquid, and a gel located inside said at least one bladder, andat least a part of each of two or more of said interconnected internal structures is proximate to both an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface of the at least one bladder when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A footwear or orthotic sole including an outer sole and a footwear or orthotic device that includes a bladder having an uppermost surface being curved concavely relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location and interconnected internal structure formed by a foamed plastic, a plastic composite and/or a blown rubber. The internal structures are substantially surrounded on at least the top, bottom and sides by the bladder. The bladder and internal structures are separated by an internal sipe. The internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of the bladder and an opposing surface of the internal structures; and the opposing surfaces forming the sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion. The bladder includes inside at least one media selected from a gas, a liquid, and a gel. The internal structures are proximate to both an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface of the bladder.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A footwear or orthotic sole, comprising:
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an outer sole; and a footwear or orthotic device, the device including at least one bladder having side portions, an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, both said surfaces being curved concavely on both said side portions to define concavely curved side portions of the at least one bladder, so that said concavely curved side portions, together with a middle portion extending between the side portions, form said at least one bladder in a U-shape, the concave curvature and the U-shape being determined relative to a central portion of an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition; at least two internal structures, wherein said at least two internal structures are interconnected to each other, and each said interconnected internal structure is formed by a flexible, resilient midsole material including at least a foamed plastic, a plastic composite and/or a blown rubber, said two interconnected internal structures being substantially surrounded on at least a top, bottom and sides by said at least one bladder; said at least one bladder and said two interconnected internal structures being separated at least in part by at least one internal sipe; wherein said at least one internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said at least one bladder and an opposing surface of said two interconnected internal structures; and
the opposing surfaces forming the sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion;said at least one bladder including at least one media selected from a gas, a liquid, and a gel located inside said at least one bladder, and at least a part of each of two or more of said interconnected internal structures is proximate to both an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface of the at least one bladder when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A footwear or orthotic sole, comprising:
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an outer sole; and a footwear or orthotic device, the device including at least one bladder having side portions, an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, both said surfaces being curved concavely on both said side portions to define concavely curved side portions of the at least one bladder, so that said concavely curved side portions, together with a middle portion extending between the side portions, form said at least one bladder in a U-shape, the concave curvature and the U-shape being determined relative to a central portion of an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on the footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition; at least one internal structure formed by a flexible, resilient midsole material including at least a foamed plastic, a plastic composite and/or a blown rubber, said internal structure being substantially surrounded on at least a top, bottom and sides by said at least one bladder; said at least one bladder and said internal structure being separated at least in part by at least one internal sipe formed by an inner surface of said at least one bladder and an opposing surface of said internal structure; and
the surfaces forming the sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion;said at least one bladder further including one or more voids filled with at least one media selected from a gas, a liquid, and a gel located inside said at least one bladder, and all said gas, liquid or gel is contained exclusively by said at least one bladder; at least a part of said internal structure is proximate to both an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface of the at least one bladder when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition; and at least one said void does not extend to one of an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface of said at least one bladder, as viewed in a sagittal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A footwear or orthotic sole, comprising:
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an outer sole; and a footwear or orthotic device, the device including at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder having side portions, an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, both said surfaces being curved concavely on both said side portions to define concavely curved side portions of the at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder, so that said concavely curved side portions, together with a middle portion extending between the side portions, form said at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder in a U-shape, the concave curvature and the U-shape being determined relative to a central portion of an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on the footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition; at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder inside said at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder; said at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder and said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder being separated at least in part by at least one internal sipe; wherein said at least one internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder and an outer surface of said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder; and
the inner and outer surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other and can move relative to each other in a sliding motion;said at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder further including one or more voids filled with at least one media selected from a gas, a liquid, and a gel located inside said at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder, and all said gas, liquid or gel is contained exclusively by said at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder; said at least one inner chamber, compartment or bladder being formed by at least one internal structure, wherein at least one said internal structure includes a flexible, resilient midsole material selected from a foamed plastic and a blown rubber, at least a part of said internal structure is proximate to both an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface of the at least one outer chamber, compartment or bladder when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition; and at least one said void does not extend to one of an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface of said at least one chamber, compartment or bladder, as viewed in a sagittal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A footwear or orthotic sole, comprising:
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an outer sole; and a footwear or orthotic device, the device including at least one bladder having side portions, an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, both said surfaces being curved concavely on both said side portions to define concavely curved side portions of the at least one bladder, so that said concavely curved side portions, together with a middle portion extending between the side portions, form said at least one bladder in a U-shape, the concave curvature and the U-shape being determined relative to a central portion of intended wearer'"'"'s foot location on the footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition; at least two internal structures, wherein said at least two internal structures are interconnected to each other; said two interconnected internal structures being located inside said at least one bladder, and each said interconnected internal structure is formed by a flexible, resilient midsole material including at least a foamed plastic, a plastic composite and/or a blown rubber; said at least one bladder and said two interconnected internal structures being separated at least in part by at least one internal sipe; wherein said at least one internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said at least one bladder and an opposing surface of said two interconnected internal structures; and
the opposing surfaces forming the sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion;at least one of said internal structures forms at least one gas, liquid, or gel-filled void that is in fluid communication with said at least one internal sipe; said at least one bladder including at least one media selected from a gas, a liquid, and a gel located inside said at least one bladder, and at least a part of each of two or more of said interconnected internal structures is proximate to both an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface of the at least one bladder when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A footwear or orthotic device, comprising:
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a footwear or orthotic sole; and a fixed or removable insert including at least one outer bladder having side portions, an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, both said surfaces being curved concavely on both said side portions to define concavely curved side portions of the at least one outer bladder, so that said concavely curved side portions, together with a middle portion extending between the side portions, form said at least one outer bladder in a U-shape, the concave curvature and the U-shape being determined relative to a central portion intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the footwear or orthotic device, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;
said at least one outer bladder forming a component of the footwear or orthotic sole; andat least one inner bladder inside the at least one outer bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section, said at least one inner bladder including at least a gas located at least inside of said at least one inner bladder, said at least one outer bladder and said at least one inner bladder being separated at least in part by at least one internal sipe, said internal sipe including a media comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a gas, a gel, a foamed plastic, a rubber, and a coating; wherein said internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said at least one outer bladder and an outer surface of said at least one inner bladder; and
the inner and outer surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other, are separate from each other and therefore can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and
at least a portion of each of said surfaces forming the sipe are proximate to each other in an unloaded condition. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A footwear or orthotic device, comprising:
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a footwear or orthotic sole; and an insert including at least one outer bladder having side portions, an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, both said surfaces being curved concavely on both said side portions to define concavely curved side portions of the at least one outer bladder, so that said concavely curved side portions, together with a middle portion extending between the side portions, form said at least one outer bladder in a U-shape, the concave curvature and the U-shape being determined relative to an intended wearer'"'"'s foot location in the footwear or orthotic device, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition;
said at least one outer bladder forming a component of the footwear or orthotic sole; andat least one inner bladder inside the at least one outer bladder, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section, said at least one inner bladder including at least a gas located at least inside of said at least one inner bladder, said at least one outer bladder and said at least one inner bladder being separated at least in part by at least one internal sipe, said internal sipe including a media comprising two or more materials selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a gel, a gas, a foamed plastic, a rubber, and a coating; wherein said internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said at least one outer bladder and an outer surface of said at least one inner bladder; and
the inner and outer surfaces forming the sipe oppose each other, are separate from each other and therefore can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; and
at least a portion of each of said surfaces forming the sipe are proximate to each other in an unloaded condition. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50)
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Specification