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 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 valve cartridge is provided. The valve cartridge includes a cartridge retainer having a cartridge axis and a generally cylindrical sidewall having first and second openings and first and second pinch tubes disposed within the cartridge retainer. The pinch tubes respectively have tube axes substantially parallel to the cartridge axis and axial bores therethrough. The valve cartridge also includes first and second poppets disposed in the first and second openings and movable in a direction not parallel with the tube axes for engagement respectively with the pinch tubes, and an actuator rotatable about and movable along the cartridge axis and encircling the cartridge retainer.

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 pinch tube proportioning valve includes support structure defining an elongated valve cavity having a longitudinal axis and a pair of spaced resilient valve tubes disposed in the cavity and respectively providing communication between two fluid supply conduits and a fluid outlet. A control cam cartridge is receivable in the valve cavity between the valve tubes. The cartridge includes a cylindrical housing closed at one end and carrying at its closed end a guide pin extending axially up through the housing and receivable in an axial bore in an elongated tapered cam member, which is telescopically received in the open end of the housing. Diametrically opposed openings are formed in the side wall of the housing for receiving the valve tubes to permit engagement thereof by the cam member, which is axially and rotatably movable to control proportioning and flow rate through the valve tubes.

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 pinch valve includes a generally tubular housing including coupling members respectively defining coaxial passages therethrough and adapted for coupling to associated conduits. The passages have tapered seating surfaces which respectively receive the opposite ends of a flexible, resilient, tubular valve member. A two-part housing body is ultrasonically welded together for clamping the coupling members in position and defining a cavity receiving the valve member and an opening into the cavity, the body pivotally supporting a valve lever which projects out of the opening and is movable between an open position leaving the valve member unconstricted and a closed position pinching the valve member closed. In a dual-valve embodiment, two of the valves are supported in parallel relationship at opposite ends of a bridge member.

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: The valve has flexible resilient tubes which respectively communicate with the fluid supply conduits and which are pinched by control members to control fluid flow. Each tube has a reduced-diameter center or neck portion intermediate its ends which is engaged by the control member. The internal cross section of the neck portion is circular when relaxed and when pinched closed does not require any greater cross-sectional space than do the tube ends. Single-control and dual-control embodiments are disclosed. In the dual-control embodiment the two tubes are carried in a single cartridge assembly which is removable as a unit.

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 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 cavities being connected by restricted passageways. The material underlying the cavities at the bottom of the sole and heel is resilient and wear-resistant. Fluid is contained within the cavities and passageways 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 and running, fluid under bulge producing pressure alternates through the passageways between the cavities, producing shock absorption and an alternate lifting effect by the sole and heel bulges which provides forward thrust both in the heel portion and in the metatarsal ball area that facilitates walking and running.

Abstract: A simplified, economical and improved single control proportioning valve for liquids which is devoid of a conventional valve body and which responds accurately to actuation of the single control despite no requirement for close tolerances in the component parts.

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.

Abstract: A reinforced stamped valve cover including an elongated housing having a trough-like configuration including an elongated base wall, a pair of spaced, elongated side walls attached to and extending from one side of the base wall, and a pair of spaced, relatively short end walls extending from the base wall and adjoining the end walls. The walls are stamped from a single sheet of metal and are provided with an outwardly directed ledge substantially surrounded by a peripheral flange. A pair of spaced, U-shaped strengthening members are disposed within the housing with each having a bight and a pair of legs extending therefrom. Each bight is configured to substantially conform to the base wall and is in substantial abutment therewith. Each leg abuts a corresponding one of the side walls along substantially the entire extension thereof from the base wall and past the ledge to define with the flange a gasket-receiving pocket.

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.