Abstract: A sole component for an article of women's footwear intended to address biomechanical characteristics unique to women. The sole component includes a lateral alignment portion underlying and extending through a region beneath the distal head of the second metatarsal, the distal head of the fifth metatarsal and the proximal head of the fifth metatarsal, and not into the flex zone ahead of the distal heads of metatarsals. The lateral alignment portion provides relatively firm resistance to compression. The sole component may further include a forefoot fixing portion underlying the distal head of the fifth metatarsal. The forefoot fixing portion provides relatively soft resistance to compression. In some embodiments, the sole component may also include a medial alignment portion extending along the medial side of the component from the heel through the arch.

Abstract: A sole component for an article of women's footwear intended to address biomechanical characteristics unique to women. The sole component includes a lateral alignment portion underlying and extending through a region beneath the distal head of the second metatarsal, the distal head of the fifth metatarsal and the proximal head of the fifth metatarsal, and not into the flex zone ahead of the distal heads of metatarsals. The lateral alignment portion provides relatively firm resistance to compression. The sole component may further include a forefoot fixing portion underlying the distal head of the fifth metatarsal. The forefoot fixing portion provides relatively soft resistance to compression. In some embodiments, the sole component may also include a medial alignment portion extending along the medial side of the component from the heel through the arch.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic pad including fluid-filled inner and outer bladders interconnected by fluid channels and configured such that displacement of fluid from the center of pressure distribution generated by foot impact radiates from the inner bladder outwardly to the outer bladder through one or more of the fluid channels causing the outer bladder to expand to an expanded condition. The expanded outer bladder seats the wearer's heel in the hydrodynamic pad, thereby stabilizing the foot of the wearer, and the controlled flow of fluid through the fluid channels to the outer bladder dissipates the impact loads, thereby cushioning the wearer's heel. When the pressure is released from the inner bladder, by lifting the wearer's heel, the expanded outer bladder forces at least a portion of the displaced fluid to the inner bladder, such that the hydrodynamic pad is reinitialized.

Abstract: A shoe and polymeric shoe sole having a heel portion slanted upwardly at a small acute angle from the medial side to the lateral side relative to the horizontal support surface, a forefoot portion slanted upwardly at a small acute angle from the lateral side to the medial side relative to the support surface, and a diagonally crossing neutral zone in the midfoot portion. The heel portion has a central, resilient, compressible, calcaneal pad which is substantially unslanted, preferably with a downward, slightly convex configuration. The calcaneal pad protrudes downwardly below the slanted bottom surface at the lateral side of the heel portion and is recessed upwardly above the slanted bottom surface at the medial side of the heel portion. The metatarsal head pad extends downwardly below the slanted bottom surface at the medial side of the forefoot portion and is recessed above the slanted bottom surface at the lateral side of the forefoot portion.

Abstract: An athletic shoe with a teardrop shaped spring plate in combination with a dynamic fluid heel pad and a viscoelastic midsole, such spring plate being basically symmetrical about its longitudinal axis, and lying forwardly of the fluid pad, having its widest dimension beneath the metatarsal head area and curving gradually up and beneath the phalanges. The spring plate, of multiple layers of parallel fibers embedded in polymer, combines with the heel pad to effect foot control stability, as well as extending useful life to the midsole and footwear.

Abstract: A walking shoe and walking shoe sole with the sole heel portion and forefoot portion having integral resilient flexible compression protrusions having maximum extension at the rear edge of the protrusion, curving upwardly forwardly therefrom, and bounded by a groove that extends along both side edges and across the rear vertically offset edge of the protrusion, the groove increasing in depth toward the rear of the protrusion. The rear of at least the forefoot protrusion is undercut. The upper surface of the sole has at least one transverse cavity just forwardly of the rear edge of the protrusion.

Abstract: An athletic shoe having a hydrodynamic heel insert pad in the midsole to above a specially configurated spring plate which extends beneath the medial but not the lateral portion of the heel, through the arch region, to and beneath the metatarsal head region and toe region, serving to eliminate the force spike at heel impact in combination with foot control as the foot proceeds via complex movements through the gait cycle, and efficient toe off.

Abstract: A shoe and shoe sole for accommodating forefoot strike activities such as aerobics, and forefoot strike tendencies of runners and the like, to forestall stress features, tendonitis and muscle tears, by incorporating a special forefoot pad in the midsole. The pad has a forward chamber and a rearward chamber, separated by an internal wall with restricted orifices therein, the forward chamber being larger and extending curvilinearly beneath the five metatarsal heads of the foot, and the rearward chamber being smaller and extending behind the second, third and fourth metatarsal heads in the arch region of the foot. Impact compression by the metatarsal heads on the forward chamber causes controlled viscous liquid flow into the rearward chamber to absorb impact force, and such that the amount of liquid in the rearward chamber is temporarily greater than its at rest volume, causing the walls of that chamber to bulge and form a temporary arch support.

Abstract: A special sealed heel bladder defining a space divided into a rear heel chamber positioned in the main heel strike area and a front heel chamber. The rear heel chamber comprises about 60 percent of the total volume. The front heel chamber comprises about 40 percent of the total volume. These chambers are divided by a diagonal interior wall at an angle of 35 degrees to a transverse line or plane and having controlled flow orifice means which regulates rate of flow of a viscous liquid from the rear heel chamber to the front heel chamber upon heel strike. The chambers are filled with a mixture of viscous liquid and a gas, typically air. The volume of viscous liquid is greater than the volume of the front heel chamber and preferably is about 80 to 90 percent of the total volume.