Abstract: A thermoplastic bladder and pump combination comprises three coextensive superposed layers of thermoplastic material peripherally sealed to one another to thereby form a bladder having upper and lower co-extensive air chambers. The upper chamber is defined by the upper and intermediate layers and the lower chamber is defined by the intermediate and lower layers. The lower chamber is permanently inflated at the time of manufacture or assembly into a final product and the fluid pressure in the upper chamber can be modulated by the user who may alternately inflate and deflate the chamber by using an integral pump and release valve which are each disposed on the upper layer. The lower chamber may be filled using a thermoplastic intake check valve sealed between the layers defining that chamber and the superposed layers may be peripherally fused together, as by heat sealing or the like.

Abstract: An inflatable air cushion has an integrally formed extension tube of zig-zag form with its free end attached to another cushion or to a pump assembly for inflating the cushion. By separating the limbs of the zig-zag tube, the cushions, or the cushion and pump assembly can be spaced apart at different distances to suit different applications. The pump may include a pressure limiting chamber integrated therewith for limiting the maximum inflation pressure of the cushion.

Abstract: A reactive energy fluid filled cushioning and stabilizing apparatus in a shoe is comprised of one or more anatomically shaped fluid filled bladders that are positioned in the forefoot, arch and/or heel areas of the shoe. The bladders assume a complementary custom fitting configuration to the contours of a foot inserted in the shoe. In variant embodiments of the apparatus, the fluid filled bladders are positioned separate from each other in the forefoot, arch and heel areas of the shoe and are interconnected in fluid communication by fluid conducting channels, or the bladders are positioned independent of each other in the forefoot, arch and heel areas of the shoe.

Abstract: A foot supporting orthotic having parallel, separately flexing rays extending forwardly from an arch region which in use underlies the arch of a wearer's foot. The rays are bowed by spring-like elastomers and facilitate the shock absorbing and adaptation stages of walking.

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.