Abstract: A shoe for casual or athletic footwear which provides support cushioning and walking comfort due to the presence of an internal dynamic rocker element disposed in a forefoot area of the midsole.

Abstract: A shoe includes a midsole with an anti-G-force heel capsule that nests in a corresponding aperture in the heel. The heel capsule interacts with an anti-torsion member, the rearmost portion of which lies proximate to the heel plug, and with an energy-efficient forefoot midsole section, thus providing a support and cushioning system that absorbs shocks associated with walking, and also prevents excessive pronation.

Abstract: In an athletic shoe, an external counter and cushion assembly includes a substantially rigid external counter extending medially to approximately the front flex line, and a rearfoot cushion member is mounted within the rigid counter. This assembly mounts externally to the heel and counter region of a lasted upper. The floor of the cushion member also extends forwardly toward the front-flex region of the shoe and is preferably wedge-shaped to serve as a heel-lift layer. The cushion walls are generally coextensive with the counter walls, insulating the upper from the rigid counter in this region. The external counter construction includes a base flange which mounts atop the midsole periphery on a plane substantially below the bottom surface of the foot.

Abstract: In an athletic shoe, an external counter and cushion assembly includes a substantially rigid external counter extending medially to approximately the front flex line, and a rearfoot cushion member is mounted within the rigid counter. This assembly mounts externally to the heel and counter region of a lasted upper. The floor of the cushion member also extends forwardly toward the front-flex region of the shoe and is preferably wedge-shaped to serve as a heel-lift layer. The cushion walls are generally coextensive with the counter walls, insulating the upper from the rigid counter in this region. The external counter construction includes a base flange which mounts atop the midsole periphery on a plane substantially below the bottom surface of the foot.

Abstract: An athletic shoe is provided with means for increasing lateral stability of the heel area to increase ankle stability and reduce the possibility of ankle fatigue due to misalignment of the ankle joint and the possibility of promotion or supination injury. The heel peripheral area of a midsole or heel lift portion is made of a harder material than the heel central area, and extensions of the outsole are provided at the sides of the heel portion to interconnect the outsole and a heel counter member to stabilize the heel counter, without inhibiting heel cushioning, and may be glued to a covering of the heel counter, and to the peripheral edges of the midsole and heel lift portions.