Abstract: A system for measurement of the geometries and axes of rotation of an object such as the human body is disclosed. The system includes fixtures which are employed in conjunction with sonic, infrared or other digitizer sources. In the case of the human body, the measurements are made by placing the digitizer sources at locations such as the shoulders, waist and legs to monitor the position of the body during various measuring sequences. The digitizer determines the position of the sources in space by measuring the time for the signal to reach an array of receivers. The fixtures employed in the invention include: a T-square foot reference; a single source digitizing strap; an offset digitizing wand; a base and angle fixture; a foot and hip rotation fixture; an ankle axis practice fixture; and an umbilicus reference bar.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the loaded axes of the foot is disclosed. The apparatus is particularly well suited for location of the ankle (talo-crural) and subtalar (talo-calcaneal) joint axes. The apparatus inludes a platform having one major axis of rotation to which either the ankle or subtalar axes can be aligned. The platform is hung from this fuxture axis and has adjustment for both height and pitch. The platform is adjustable from side to side and rotates about the perpendicular to the hanging support.

Abstract: An outsole construction for a shoe which provides all midsole and outsole functions with a single homogeneous moldable material thorough geometry alone is disclosed. The invention employs cut-out geometry for engineering various characteristics into an outsole of a uniform, monolithic material. Such characteristics are obtained by removing material or reinforcing the material so that it functions as if it had different densities. The invention is based on the principle of minimum sufficient thickness in order to maintain the foot as close to the ground as possible.

Abstract: A composite sheet material which yields under non-uniform pressures caused by irregularities of contact between two relatively hard surfaces adapted to provide a more uniform pressure distribution comprising the combination of relatively small granules and relatively small stiff fibers in a matrix of waxy material adhered to a web of flexible material.

Abstract: A sheet material which yields under non-uniform pressures caused by irregularities of contact between two relatively hard surfaces adapted to provide a more uniform pressure distribution comprising the combination of relatively small granules and relatively small stiff fibers in a matrix of waxy material adhered to a cover sheet of flexible material.

Abstract: A foot support structure which is attached to a shoe so as to provide support to the medial arch of a foot in a longitudinal direction while acting as a supplement to the longitudinal fascia, ligaments and tendons of the foot is disclosed. The structure includes a sling strap which is most effective when employed with and anchored to a relatively flexible outsole. On the medial side of the foot, the sling pulls from a point just forward of the first metatarsal head. On the lateral side, the sling pulls from a point adjacent the posterior portion of the fifth metatarsal. The sling could also be anchored to transverse shoe components in the midfoot region. In one embodiment, the longitudinal support sling of the present invention includes a medial-lateral connector strap which extends across the top of the foot in the forefoot region and interconnects the medial and lateral sling portions proximate to the anterior portions thereof.

Abstract: An insole base member in planar form for providing a mechanical interlock with a shoe insole is disclosed. The insole base provides a low volume, low profile molded pattern which contacts the underside of the insole material and prevents shearing shifts of the insole. In one embodiment, the insole base has a smooth upper surface in the region adjacent the metatarsal heads of the foot, with a plurality of raised ridges extending transversely across the smooth upper surface, and with the upper surface of the insole base having a cross hatch pattern extending over the remainder of the base anterior and posterior to the smooth upper surface portion. The raised ridges may be positioned so as to lie parallel to the transverse and oblique metatarsal axes of the foot. In alternative embodiments, a plurality of raised ridges are positioned adjacent to the heel or the ball of the foot, with such raised ridges being located outwardly of a central reference point in a pattern corresponding to the spokes of a wheel.

Abstract: A foot support structure attached to the outsole of a shoe to provide support to the medial arch and to girth the midfoot in a sling configuration is disclosed. The support structure includes a plurality of sling straps attached to the outsole in positions beneath the upper and lower columns of the foot. In one embodiment, the sling straps which are attached beneath the upper, medial column are mounted in an arcuate slot in the upper surface of the outsole. The sling straps attached beneath the lower, lateral column are mounted in a linear slot in the upper surface of the outsole. By the present invention, the position of the foot relative to the shoe is maintained due to anchoring of the transverse sling in the outsole, and this is accomplished without pulling or pushing the medial longitudinal arch to the shoe. the sling straps are positioned relative to the outsole so as to coincide with certain anatomical landmarks of the foot. The straps are each capable of being adjusted for length independently.

Abstract: An athletic running shoe having a polymeric foamed midsole and a special stiffening formation formed separately of the midsole and received between two layers of the midsole to reduce non-uniform midsole degradation.

Abstract: A shoe construction for providing girthing support to the midfoot region of the foot is disclosed. The present invention provides for adjusting the perimeter of the transverse girth of a shoe in the midfoot region under varying conditions of loading. When the foot is in an unloaded condition, the dynamic girth of the present invention has no effect on the original girthing tension. Then as the foot is loaded and everted, girthing fibers or straps are forced into an undulating surface. When the everted foot becomes loaded completely, the girthing straps become mated with the undulating surface in close contiguous contact, thus pulling in the girth straps and producing maximum tension on the midfoot region. The undulating surface may be provided in the outsole so as to be positioned below the girthing straps or, alternatively, in a portion of the shoe positioned above the girthing straps.

Abstract: A releasable fastening device for use in joining straps, laces, filaments and the like is disclosed. The fastening device may be used to join the laces or closure components of a shoe, for example, or in any of various devices in which filaments, straps and the like are advantageously bound in a quick release mechanism. The invention includes a pair of thin planar, elongated strips, each of which has a plurality of ribs positioned transversely along the length thereof. Each of the ribs has a planar side face positioned at an angle of about 45 to 75 degrees relative to the plane of the upper surface of the planar strip to which it is attached. The planar strips may be provided as part of the respective straps, laces or the like to be fastened. Alternatively, the ribs may be affixed to a separate strip and the strip then secured to a planar surface of the strap or lace.

Abstract: An athletic shoe wherein outward expansion of one or more portions of the shoe's foamed, closed cell polymeric midsole is constrained to increase the amount of energy absorbed by the midsole under a wearer-applied load. Various embodiments of this invention provide for the precompression of the constrained midsole portion to further enhance the midsole's energy-absorbing capability.

Abstract: A golf shoe or other spiked shoe having spike receptacles embedded in the shoe's outsole and an intermediate sole overlying the outsole and configured to relieve the spike-produced pressure points or zones which result from walking or standing on a hard surface.

Abstract: An athletic shoe having a sole bottom which is contoured in the region of first foot strike along the lateral border to provide an arcuate landing surface which curves upwardly toward the lateral side edge of the sole and away from the ground surface and which is radiused about an axis coinciding with an effective, average subtalar axis. The sole may additionally be contoured along the rear heel portion in the region of first foot strike for straight heel strikers to provide another arcuate landing surface which curves upwardly toward the rear edge of the sole and which is radiused about a transverse axis coinciding with an average ankle axis. The sole bottom is formed with separate sets of gripping ribs which are oriented in such a manner that traction is enhanced for a range of toe out angles in the toe off range, is maximized for an average toe out angle along the lateral border and is maximized for a zero toe out angle in the rear heel region.

Abstract: An athletic type tennis or court shoe wherein spaced apart forefoot and rearfoot sole units are connected together only through a flexible soleless coupling to allow the wearer's forefoot and rearfoot to act independently of each other, wherein each sole unit has a resilient, shock-absorbing midsole, and wherein the sole units are sufficiently thin to place the wearer's foot close to the ground while maintaining sufficient cushioning for the wearer's foot.

Abstract: A tubular, nonhazardous projectile having a ring airfoil shape has a plurality of recessed pockets circumferentially disposed around the body, each adjacent pair of pockets being separated by a longitudinal rib. Payload material is held in discrete compartments of a payload package, one compartment being held in each pocket of the projectile. The assembly is held together by wrapping the projectile. The projectile is propelled from a suitable launching device and, upon direct or glancing impact with a target, the wrapping breaks and the payload material is dispersed in the area of impact.

Abstract: A plurality of tubular projectiles are held in a container. A stem is withdrawn from one end of the container until it engages a plunger. After the other end of the container is placed in a launcher, the stem is pushed into the container forcing the plunger to move the projectiles toward the launcher, the projectile closest to the launcher being transferred from the container and properly positioned in the launcher for firing.