Abstract: Footwear providing enhanced protection against extreme landing impacts includes a sole having an elastomeric mid-sole with elastomeric pads combined in a heel recess thereof such that the pads act in series with each other and in parallel with the mid-sole during conjoint compression thereof. At least one of the pads includes a solid gel having a relatively high damping coefficient. In another embodiment, the heel of the mid-sole is replaced by a toroidal gas cushion and an elastomeric pad including a solid gel having a relatively high damping coefficient disposed in a central recess of the cushion such that the pad is recessed a selected distance below the upper surface of the cushion. The resilient pads may advantageously incorporate a plurality of gas-filled cells, and a solid gel pad may also be disposed in the mid-sole of the footwear below the ball of the wearer's foot for increased protection.

Abstract: Footwear providing enhanced protection against extreme landing impacts includes a sole having an elastomeric mid-sole with elastomeric pads combined in a heel recess thereof such that the pads act in series with each other and in parallel with the mid-sole during conjoint compression thereof. At least one of the pads includes a solid gel having a relatively high damping coefficient. In another embodiment, the heel of the mid-sole is replaced by a toroidal gas cushion and an elastomeric pad including a solid gel having a relatively high damping coefficient disposed in a central recess of the cushion such that the pad is recessed a selected distance below the upper surface of the cushion. The resilient pads may advantageously incorporate a plurality of gas-filled cells, and a solid gel pad may also be disposed in the mid-sole of the footwear below the ball of the wearer's foot for increased protection.

Abstract: Footwear providing enhanced protection against extreme landing impacts includes a sole having an elastomeric mid-sole with elastomeric pads combined in a heel recess thereof such that the pads act in series with each other and in parallel with the mid-sole during conjoint compression thereof. At least one of the pads includes a solid gel having a relatively high damping coefficient. In another embodiment, the heel of the mid-sole is replaced by a toroidal gas cushion and an elastomeric pad including a solid gel having a relatively high damping coefficient disposed in a central recess of the cushion such that the pad is recessed a selected distance below the upper surface of the cushion. The resilient pads may advantageously incorporate a plurality of gas-filled cells, and a solid gel pad may also be disposed in the mid-sole of the footwear below the ball of the wearer's foot for increased protection.

Abstract: A housing including a sleeve portion having an interior bend configured to receive a knuckle on a wearer's finger such that the housing can be securely mounted on the wearer's finger. The housing also includes a cavity configured to receive an electronics module therein, and a control access configured to align with controls of the electronics module such that the wearer can operate the electronics module when contained in the recess. The housing may include an electronics module such a watch or medical monitoring device.

Abstract: A device for measuring the speed of a person while running along a surface is disclosed. A pressure switch or transducer located in a shoe senses when a foot of the runner is in contact with the surface and produces a foot contact signal having a duration proportional to the time the foot is in contact with the surface. A radio frequency transmitter is coupled to the pressure switch or transducer and transmits the foot contact signal. A radio frequency transmitter receives the foot contact signal transmitted by the frequency transmitter and a microprocessor coupled to the radio frequency receiver calculates, solely from the foot contact signal, an output speed signal representing the speed of the runner. A liquid crystal display coupled to the output of the microprocessor displays the speed of the runner in accordance with the output speed signal.

Abstract: An improved sole for use with footwear is disclosed. The sole includes at least one layer of material which is adapted to be attached to an upper of the footwear. A distal flex groove is formed in the sole and is coextensive with a medial metatarsal-phalanges line which extends between the first and second metatarsal-phalanges joints. A proximal flex groove is also formed in the sole and extends substantially parallel to a lateral metatarsal-phalanges line which extends along the second through fifth metatarsal-phalanges joints. The proximal and distal grooves join on another at the medial edge of the sole adjacent the first metatarsal-phalanges joint.

Abstract: A shock absorbing sole member used in an athletic shoe having an upper and a sole is disclosed. The shock absorbing sole member is comprised of an insert member and elastomeric foam encasing the insert member. The insert member is formed of resilient plastic material and includes a plurality of transversely and longitudinally spaced discrete shock absorbing projections. The elastomeric foam has a low hardness, less than 70 on the Asker C scale.

Abstract: An athletic shoe (10) having an upper (12) and a sole (14) is disclosed. The sole (14) includes an intermediate sole layer (16) of a resilient cushioning material. A bead (46) is disposed about the perimeter of the shoe in the heel spring section to enhance the heel stability.