Abstract: A shoe is provided having a sole that provides excellent shock absorption without reducing support and stability or such a shoe that is generally light in weight. The shoe may have a sole for supporting a foot of a wearer, and a shoe upper adjacent the sole. The sole may include an upper force-distribution plate portion, a lower force-distribution plate portion spaced below the upper plate portion, a lateral shell connecting the upper and lower force-distribution plate portions, and at least one resilient shock-absorber element in contact with and between both the upper and lower plate portions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a footwear sole including a midsole and an outsole. The midsole includes of a plurality of protrusions extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the midsole toward the outsole. The outsole may include a plurality of recesses positioned to mate with a corresponding protrusion from the midsole. The outsole may also include one or more protrusion extending downwardly from the bottom of the outsole. The outsole protrusions may correspond with an associated recess of the outsole top surface. The protrusions may be hemispherical in shape at their distal ends so that a portion of the distal end may be received by the corresponding recess of the outsole top surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a footwear sole including a midsole and an outsole. The midsole includes of a plurality of protrusions extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the midsole toward the outsole. The outsole may include a plurality of recesses positioned to mate with a corresponding protrusion from the midsole. The outsole may also include one or more protrusion extending downwardly from the bottom of the outsole. The outsole protrusions may correspond with an associated recess of the outsole top surface. The protrusions may be hemispherical in shape at their distal ends so that a portion of the distal end may be received by the corresponding recess of the outsole top surface.

Abstract: A shoe construction employs a midsole molded of flexible, resilient material around a rigid plate, where the midsole and encapsulated plate are insertable into a separately constructed outsole and shoe upper.

Abstract: A shoe is provided having a sole that provides excellent shock absorption without reducing support and stability or such a shoe that is generally light in weight. The shoe may have a sole for supporting a foot of a wearer, and a shoe upper adjacent the sole. The sole may include an upper force-distribution plate portion, a lower force-distribution plate portion spaced below the upper plate portion, a lateral shell connecting the upper and lower force-distribution plate portions, and at least one resilient shock-absorber element in contact with and between both the upper and lower plate portions.

Abstract: A shoe construction employs a midsole molded of flexible, resilient material around a rigid plate, where the midsole and encapsulated plate are insertable into a separately constructed outsole and shoe upper.

Abstract: A shoe construction employs a midsole molded of flexible, resilient material around a rigid plate, where the midsole and encapsulated plate are insertable into a separately constructed outsole and shoe upper.

Abstract: A Reactive Energy Fluid Filled Toroid Apparatus includes concentric fluid filled toroids that are contained in the midsole of a shoe. The toroid apparatus provides cushioning for the foot and dynamically reacts to off-center impacts from footsteps to redistribute impact forces and to stabilize and support the foot by cradling a portion of the foot in the shoe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid filled apparatus that reacts with the stimulus of outside forces, furnished at the instep area of a shoe upper and the forefoot area of the shoe sole. The apparatus provides cushioning and a custom fit to the shoe in an area surrounding the forward portion of the shoe wearer's foot. In particular, the present invention pertains to a reactive energy apparatus comprised of anatomically shaped fluid filled bladders or pads that are furnished at the instep area of the shoe upper and the forefoot area of the shoe sole. The bladders engage and assume a complimentary custom fitting configuration around the instep and ball of the shoe wearer's foot by displacement of fluid contained in the bladders, and thereby provide cushioning and a custom fit around the shoe wearer's foot.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a shoe sole containing a cushioning fluid filled bladder and a clip holding the bladder in a set position in the shoe sole and providing enhanced lateral and medial stability to the sole.

Abstract: A reactive energy fluid filled cushioning and stabilizing apparatus in a shoe is comprised of one or more anatomically shaped fluid filled bladders that are positioned in the forefoot, arch and/or heel areas of the shoe. The bladders assume a complementary custom fitting configuration to the contours of a foot inserted in the shoe. In variant embodiments of the apparatus, the fluid filled bladders are positioned separate from each other in the forefoot, arch and heel areas of the shoe and are interconnected in fluid communication by fluid conducting channels, or the bladders are positioned independent of each other in the forefoot, arch and heel areas of the shoe.

Abstract: A shoe sole having improved lateral and medial stability is comprised of a shoe sole formed from a material having a predetermined hardness and one or more stabilizer apparatus contained in the shoe sole, the stabilizer apparatus being formed from a material having a hardness different or the same as the hardness of the shoe sole. The stabilizer apparatus are formed with opposed support wall sections that are positioned adjacent the sidewalls of the shoe sole and resist the compression of the midsole in the areas adjacent the opposite left and right sidewalls. The spacing of the stabilizer support walls at the opposite left and right sides of the midsole prevents the support walls from appreciably affecting the cushioning ability of the portion of the midsole between the stabilizer sidewalls.