Abstract: The present invention relates to the upper U of an athletic shoe comprising a first opening 1 out of which the foot sticks upwards during wearing and a second opening 2 which is closed with a tongue. The two openings 1, 2 are continuous with each other, and the upper U comprises a medial side stretchable part 51 which covers a part of a medial side face of an arch of the foot, a lateral side stretchable part 50 which covers a part of a lateral side face of a ball of a little toe (a fifth toe), a front part 3 located forward of the two stretchable parts 50, 51 and a rear part 4 located backward of the two stretchable parts. Each of the stretchable parts 50, 51 is provided so as to essentially cross one of side faces of the upper U from a top surface of a sole S to the second opening 2. Young's modulus along the lengthwise direction L of the foot of each of the stretchable parts 50, 51 is set smaller than that of the front part 3 and the rear part 4.

Abstract: This invention relates to a shoe sole that solves the problems on weight saving in shoes, prevention of distortion, improvement in the fitting property and prevention of upthrust simultaneously. The reinforcing member 3 for reinforcing a part of the midsole 2 is arranged so that the top surface 36 of the second arch 3c and the bottom surface 29 of the first arch 2c are opposite to each other. At least a part of the bottom surface 29 of the first arch is not in contact with a part of the top surface 36 of the second arch in vertically spaced relationship to each other, thereby that the non-contact areas of the first arch 2c and the second arch 3c can be deformed independently from each other when impact load of landing is applied.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a shock absorbing device for a shoe sole comprising a lower layer 2 having an upper face 21 and an upper layer 3 having a lower face 30. The two layers 2, 3 are both made of an elastomer. The faces 21, 30 are each formed to have substantially a corrugated section. The corrugated faces 21, 30 each have a plurality of top portions 22, 32, bottom portions 23, 33, and inclined portions 24, 34 joining the top portions 22, 32 and bottom portions 23, 33, with the corrugated faces 21, 30 each being formed from essentially a smooth surface. The corrugated faces 21, 30 mate with each other. The two mating faces 21, 30 are spaced apart from each other at the top portions 22, 32 and/or at the bottom portions 23, 33, with gaps 4 being formed at the spaced-apart portions.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a shock absorbing device for a shoe sole comprising a lower layer 2 having an upper face 21 and an upper layer 3 having a lower face 30. The two layers 2, 3 are both made of an elastomer. The faces 21, 30 are each formed to have substantially a corrugated section. The corrugated faces 21, 30 each have a plurality of top portions 22, 32, bottom portions 23, 33, and inclined portions 24, 34 joining the top portions 22, 32 and bottom portions 23, 33, with the corrugated faces 21, 30 each being formed from essentially a smooth surface. The corrugated faces 21, 30 mate with each other. The two mating faces 21, 30 are spaced apart from each other at the top portions 22, 32 and/or at the bottom portions 23, 33, with gaps 4 being formed at the spaced-apart portions.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a shock absorbing device for a shoe sole providing a lower layer 2 having an upper face 21 and an upper layer 3 having a lower face 30. The two layers 2, 3 are both made of an elastomer. The faces 21, 30 are each formed to have substantially a corrugated section. The corrugated faces 21, 30 each have a plurality of top portions 22, 32, bottom portions 23, 33, and inclined portions 24, 34 joining the top portions 22, 32 and bottom portions 23, 33, with the corrugated faces 21, 30 each being formed from essentially a smooth surface. The corrugated faces 21, 30 mate with each other. The two mating faces 21, 30 are spaced apart from each other at the top portions 22, 32 and/or at the bottom portions 23, 33, with gaps 4 being formed at the spaced-apart portions.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a shock absorbing device for a shoe sole comprising a lower layer 2 having an upper face 21 and an upper layer 3 having a lower face 30. The two layers 2, 3 are both made of an elastomer. The faces 21, 30 are each formed to have substantially a corrugated section. The corrugated faces 21, 30 each have a plurality of top portions 22, 32, bottom portions 23, 33, and inclined portions 24, 34 joining the top portions 22, 32 and bottom portions 23, 33, with the corrugated faces 21, 30 each being formed from essentially a smooth surface. The corrugated faces 21, 30 mate with each other. The two mating faces 21, 30 are spaced apart from each other at the top portions 22, 32 and/or at the bottom portions 23, 33, with gaps 4 being formed at the spaced-apart portions.

Abstract: A shoe is provided with a cushioning element, preferably a heel strike cushioning element for a sole portion of the shoe. The cushioning element includes a first chamber having substantially transparent flexible walls filled for example, with a liquid or gel cushioning material. A second chamber is provided having gas impervious, preferably substantially transparent walls which receive therebetween and enclose a portion of the first chamber. The first chamber is seated over the second chamber to form a gas filled cell between the walls of the enclosed portion of the first chamber and the walls of the second chamber. Preferably, a plurality of ribs project from the walls of the second chamber into the gas filled cell to form a plurality of gas filled pockets between the ribs, and the walls of the enclosed portion of the first chamber and the second chamber. The second chamber of the cushioning element is disposed over the sole portion.