Abstract: A footwear structure includes an outsole having outwardly projecting heel and metatarsal bulges joined by a resticted channel, the bulges and channel all opening at an interior surface of the outsole. A flexible bladder is disposed against the interior surface of the outsole and has a generally horseshoe-shaped pocket straddling the heel cavity of the outsole and a pair of matatarsal pockets respective disposed upon opposite lateral sides of the metatarsal cavity of the outsole, the ends of the bladder heel pocket being respectively joined to the metatarsal pockets by restricted passageways to from a closed fluid-containing system. The bladder pockets are respectively accommodated in recesses in an inner surface of a midsole which is secured to the interior surface of the outsole for closing the outsole cavities and restricted channel to form another closed fluid-containing system.

Abstract: A sole and heel structure is provided. The structure includes an outsole having interior and ground contacting surfaces, a pocket-forming midsole overlying the outsole having an outsole-facing surface and an interior surface, first and second bulges projecting from the interior surface of the midsole away from the ground contacting surface and defining first and second cavities opening at the outsole-facing surface. The first and second bulges respectively cooperate with substantially flat portions of the outsole to respectively define first and second pockets. The structure also includes a cushioning midsole having first and second holes and an outsole-facing surface and a foot-facing surface. The first and second bulges respectively project into the first and second holes.

Abstract: A shoe sole and heel construction includes a midsole having a cavity formation therein opening at an outsole-facing surface thereof and lined with a thin perforated liner sheet. The cavity formation may include metatarsal and heel cavities and a restricted recess extending therebetween. The liner sheet covers not only the cavity walls but also portions of the outsole-facing surface immediately surrounding the cavity formation. An outsole is hermetically attached to the outsole-facing surface for closing the cavity formation to form a chamber formation with air at atmospheric pressure trapped therein. The outsole may also have a cavity formation therein which cooperates with the midsole cavity formation to define the chamber formation, and the outsole cavity formation may be congruent with the midsole cavity formation.

Abstract: A thrust-producing bladder for a shoe sole and heel structure is provided. The bladder includes a sole portion, a heel portion, first and second metatarsal pockets disposed in the sole portion for underlying the metatarsal ball area of a foot for which the bladder is sized, and first and second heel pockets disposed in the heel portion for underlying the heel area of a foot for which the bladder is sized. The bladder also includes a first restricted passageway providing fluid communication between the first metatarsal pocket and the first heel pocket and a second restricted passageway providing fluid communication between the second metatarsal pocket and the second heel pocket.

Abstract: A shoe sole and heel construction is provided. The construction includes a structure having an exterior ground-contacting surface, an elongated midsole disposed in the structure above the ground-contacting surface to avoid contact with the ground in use, the midsole having an outer periphery. The structure also includes a first flexible bulge formed therein and projecting from the exterior ground-contacting surface for contact with the ground in use and defining a first pocket, wherein at least a portion of the first pocket extends outwardly beyond the outer periphery of the midsole or imaginary extensions thereof whereby the portion does not underlie the midsole. The construction further includes fluid disposed in the first pocket, whereby at rest a foot in a shoe incorporating the structure is cushioned comfortably on the fluid in the first pocket.

Abstract: A shoe sole and heel structure is provided. The structure includes an outsole having interior and exterior surfaces and a bulge projecting from the exterior surface, the bulge defining a cavity opening at the interior surface, and a midsole overlying the outsole, the midsole having an outsole-facing surface and a foot-facing surface. The structure also includes a hermetic attachment between the interior surface of the outsole and the outsole-facing surface of the midsole to form a member having a sole portion and a heel portion, wherein the cavity cooperates with a portion of the midsole to define a pocket. The structure further includes an expandable bladder, a tube defining a passageway in the member providing fluid communication between the pocket and the bladder, and fluid permanently disposed in the space jointly defined by the pocket, the bladder and the passageway, whereby at rest a foot in a shoe incorporating the structure is cushioned comfortably on the fluid in the pocket and bladder.

Abstract: A shoe sole and heel structure is provided. The structure includes an outsole having interior and exterior surfaces, and a bulge projecting from the exterior surface, with the bulge defining a first cavity opening at the interior surface. The structure also includes a midsole overlying the outsole. The midsole has an outsole-facing surface and a foot-facing surface and a second cavity opening at the outsole-facing surface. The first cavity cooperates with a portion of the midsole to define a first pocket and the second cavity cooperates with a portion of the outsole to define a second pocket. The structure also includes a passageway disposed between the first and second pockets for fluid communication between the first pocket and the second pocket.

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.

Abstract: A shoe sole and heel construction is provided. The construction includes a structure having an exterior ground-contacting surface, a flexible bulge formed in the structure and projecting from the exterior ground-contacting surface for contact with the ground in use and defining a first pocket. The construction also includes a second resiliently expansible pocket formed in the structure and disposed to avoid contact with the ground in use and a passageway formed in the structure and communicating with each of the first and second pockets. Fluid is permanently confined in a space jointly defined by the pockets and the passageway whereby when an external force is applied to the bulge, fluid is forced from the first pocket through the passageway to expand the second pocket and when the external force is removed, the expanded second pocket resiliently forces fluid back to the first pocket.

Abstract: A plurality of bulges is molded into the heel portion or metatarsal portion of the bottom member of a shoe, the bulges respectively defining cavities. At least one restricted passageway is molded into the portion between the cavities. A sealing member is attached to the outer member by adhesive, whereby air at atmospheric pressure is permanently located in the space jointly defined by the passageway and the cavities.

Abstract: A shoe sole and heel member has a sole portion and a heel portion. Bulges are molded into the heel portion and the metatarsal region of the sole portion defining heel and metatarsal cavities. Passageways between the cavities enable air to move back and forth therebetween. A sealing member is attached to the sole and heel member to hermetically seal the air in the cavities and the passageways. In one embodiment, a single U-shaped heel cavity communicates with a single metatarsal cavity through a Y-shaped passageway. Rigid stabilizers laterally flank the cavity-defining bulges. In another embodiment the heel cavity has forward and rearward portions interconnected by a narrow channel, the portions respectively communicating through separate passageways with opposite sides of the metatarsal cavity, with oppositely-directed one-way valves in the passageways. In a third embodiment, there are two separate metatarsal cavities and two separate heel cavities respectively intercommunicating through two passageways.

Abstract: A shoe sole and heel member has a sole portion and a heel portion. Bulges are molded into the heel portion and the metatarsal region of the sole portion defining heel and metatarsal cavities. Passageways between the cavities enable air to move back and forth therebetween. A sealing member is attached to the sole and heel member to hermetically seal the air in the cavities and the passageways. In one embodiment, a single U-shaped heel cavity communicates with a single metatarsal cavity through a Y-shaped passageway. Rigid stabilizers laterally flank the cavity-defining bulges. In another embodiment the heel cavity has forward and rearward portions interconnected by a narrow channel, the portions respectively communicating through separate passageways with opposite sides of the metatarsal cavity, with oppositely-directed one-way valves in the passageways. In a third embodiment, there are two separate metatarsal cavities and two separate heel cavities respectively intercommunicating through two passageways.

Abstract: A shoe sole and heel member has a sole portion and a heel portion. Bulges are molded into the heel portion and the metatarsal region of the sole portion defining heel and metatarsal cavities. Passageways between the cavities enable air to move back and forth therebetween. A sealing member is attached to the sole and heel member to hermetically seal the air in the cavities and the passageways. In one embodiment, a single U-shaped heel cavity communicates with a single metatarsal cavity through a Y-shaped passageway. Rigid stabilizers laterally flank the cavity-defining bulges. In another embodiment the heel cavity has forward and rearward portions interconnected by a narrow channel, the portions respectively communicating through separate passageways with opposite sides of the metatarsal cavity, with oppositely-directed one-way valves in the passageways. In a third embodiment, there are two separate metatarsal cavities and two separate heel cavities respectively intercommunicating through two passageways.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the sole-and-heel structure includes an outer member having a sole portion and a heel portion. A bulge is molded into the heel portion and a bulge is molded into the sole portion in the metatarsal region thereof. A thin sealing member is attached to the outer member with adhesive to hermetically seal the cavities defined by the two bulges. A passageway between the two cavities enables air to move back and forth during movement of a person wearing shoes incorporating such sole-and-heel structure.

Abstract: A thrust producing shoe sole and heel having fluid-proof cavities respectively located in the heel portion and in the sole portion which underlies the metatarsal ball area of a foot for which the sole and heel is sized, the two cavities being connected by a restricted passageway. The material underlying the two cavities at the bottom of the sole and heel is resilient and wear-resistant. Fluid, either gas or liquid, is contained within the cavities and passageway in such pressure and amount as to cause bulges below the normal bottoms of the sole and heel, whereby at rest a foot on the sole and heel is cushioned comfortably on the fluid in the bulges, and in walking fluid under bulge producing pressure alternates through the passageway between the two cavities, producing shock absorption and an alternate lifting effect by the bulges which provides forward thrust both in the heel portion and the metatarsal ball area that facilitates walking.