Abstract: A shock absorption and energy return assembly for increasing the stability, shock absorption and energy return capabilities of a shoe. The assembly generally includes lower and upper guide members having a plurality of spring retainers, a plurality of springs positioned within the spring retainers, and a resilient connecting member which fixedly attaches the lower guide member to the upper guide member and serves to limit the separation between the guide members, preventing disengagement of the springs from within the guide members while simultaneously providing a means of allowing the springs to compress below their uncompressed height when a force is applied on the assembly. Alternatively, the assembly could be surrounded by a sealed, transparent encasement, which in one embodiment would comprise a lower portion and an upper portion surrounding the lower guide member and the upper guide member, and a plurality of lower extrusions and upper extrusions.

Abstract: A shock absorption and energy return assembly for increasing the stability, shock absorption and energy return capabilities of a shoe. The assembly generally includes lower and upper guide members having a plurality of spring retainers, a plurality of springs positioned within the spring retainers, and a resilient connecting member which fixedly attaches the lower guide member to the upper guide member and serves to limit the separation between the guide members, preventing disengagement of the springs from within the guide members while simultaneously providing a means of allowing the springs to compress below their uncompressed height when a force is applied on the assembly. Alternatively, the assembly could be surrounded by a sealed, transparent encasement, which in one embodiment would comprise a lower portion and an upper portion surrounding the lower guide member and the upper guide member, and a plurality of lower extrusions and upper extrusions.

Abstract: A shock absorption and energy return assembly for increasing the overall performance of a shoe by increasing the stability and shock absorption of the heel. The inventive device includes a lower guide member having a plurality of lower apertures and lower spring retainers, an upper guide member having a plurality of upper apertures and upper spring retainers, a plurality of compression springs positioned within the lower spring retainers and the upper spring retainers, a sealed encasement having a lower portion and an upper portion surrounding the lower guide member and the upper guide member, and a plurality of lower extrusions and upper extrusions. The lower guide member and the upper guide member are preferably U-shaped. The plurality of compression springs are aligned within the perimeter of the lower guide member and the upper guide member for providing maximum stability and response for the user.

Abstract: A shoe heel insert, especially suitable for athletic shoe applications, providing for superior shock absorption and energy return characteristics to the wearer, as well as a high degree of stability. The unit which is referred to as the SPRING-AIR SYSTEM, will consist of a substantially heel shaped outer spring mechanism which also serves as the internal spring housing by way of a plurality of internally formed projections, and a plurality of vertically affixed compression springs retained by the said projections with the springs biasing the outer spring mechanism. The entire unit will be filled with a pressurized gas and hermetically sealed with a clear, durable polyurethane material which completely encapsulates the device while still allowing the inner springs to be visible. The assembled unit will be molded within the heel section of the mid-sole of an athletic shoe, or any suitable type shoe, during the shoes manufacturing process.

Abstract: Combination athletic shoes and plyometric training devices are disclosed. The said shoes having removable heels that include a snap-lock track slide retainer fixedly disposed in the sole at the instep of the athletic shoe, a heel track slide retainer fixedly disposed in the sole at the heel of the athletic shoe and having a lower surface with a female portion of a dovetail joint therein, and a heel track slide with integral forward snap-lock insert fixedly attached to the heel of the athletic shoe and having a male portion of a dovetail joint on the top thereof that slidably engages the female portion of the dovetail joint in the lower surface of the heel track slide retainer and which is releasibly retained thereto by a release disposed on the bottom of the athletic shoe. This arrangement allows for the athletic shoe to function in a combination use in that without the heel in place the shoe can be used as plyometric type strength training device for the lower leg muscles.