Abstract: An athletic shoe incorporating a cushioning and gait-adapting device which provides resilient cushioning while adapting to the gait of the user during running and other athletic activities. The shoe comprises an upper and a sole with the sole having a heel with medial and lateral ground-engaging elements. A cushioning and energy return and gait-adapting device is provided and comprises a support structure and one or more spring devices. Each spring device has a generally U-shaped pivot or swivel section and lateral and medial resiliently flexible pods. The pivot section has a midportion which is supported by the pivot cradle of the support structure. Resilient flexing of the lateral pod responsive to weight-bearing forces causes reaction forces to be applied across to the medial pod which is then caused to flex so that the medial pod is brought into an orientation for contact with the ground.

Abstract: The invention concerns an article of footwear comprising a footwear upper attached to a footwear base, said footwear base comprising a sole part and a heel part, said heel part having an upper surface on which the weight of a person's foot will press and a lower surface adapted to contact the ground, the area of the lower surface being greater than the area of the upper surface, said lower surface extending outside vertical planes passing through the upper surface at the periphery of the upper surface on both sides of the heel part and behind the heel part, and a peripheral ridge extending upwardly from the surface on which the weight of a person's foot will press, said peripheral ridge flaring outwardly on both sides of the heel part and behind the heel part. The flaring occurs from the top of the ridge to the lower surface of the heel part. The upper inner surface of the heel part is attached to the footwear upper. The article of footwear may be a shoe, especially a running shoe.