Abstract: An integral sole for a shoe includes a base plate, a stabilizing plate, and a heel member. The base plate is made of a cushioning material and includes a lower surface having a footprint embossing which engages a walking surface providing traction and comfort for the user. The stabilizing plate is horizontally located about and surrounding the footprint embossing and is made of a material which is harder than the material of the base plate. The stabilizing plate also engages the walking surface and includes a bridge portion extending outwardly from a toe and ball portion of the footprint embossing to provide lateral stability for the sole. The heel member is located peripherally about a heel portion of the stabilizing plate. The heel member is made of a material which is harder than the material of the stabilizing plate to provide a firm heel stability for the shoe. Preferably, the toe portion of the footprint embossing includes five separate toe-print areas.

Abstract: A cycling shoe having a bottom sole. The bottom sole includes a plate member having a cleat-attaching portion and a cover member for covering at least a cleat-attaching area including the cleat-attaching portion and its periphery of the plate member. A portion of the cover member overlapping the cleat-attaching area is rendered removable.

Abstract: A suspension system for shoe soles includes an insole mounted on the upper surface of an outsole and containing shock absorbing inserts in forepart and heel areas thereof. The forepart insole insert comprises a shock foam and the heel insole insert comprises polyurethane. Above the forepart area of the insole is provided a midsole containing a polyurethane shock absorbing insert which abuts against the foam insert in the insole to increase the cushioning effect on the forepart area of the foot. A two-layer socklining completes the suspension system. It includes a lower layer of shock absorbing foam and an upper cover of coagulated urethane. The socklining completely covers the footbed. The suspension system provides greater comfort, shock absorption, and cushioning to the wearer and is particularly suitable for women's dress and casual shoes.

Abstract: A sole having an articulated forefoot includes a flex joint extending generally longitudinally between the hallux and the second toe and at least one additional flex joint extending transversely across the sole. The flex joints can intersect with each other to form substantially separated sections in the sole by for facilitating relatively independent movement of selected toes.

Abstract: A shoe sole insert has foam-filled independently compressible regions that extend through a midsole and beyond an outsole bottom surface so a particular region, when it strikes a traversed surface, is compressed vertically and expands horizontally against the midsole. In one embodiment, five groups of such regions are beneath the metatarsal bones and proximal phalanges. In a second embodiment, two transversely extending regions are beneath forward and rearward portions of the metatarsals. The rearward transverse region has a ridge that is farther from the outsole bottom face than a ridge of the forward transverse region. In another aspect, an array of regions below the tarsal and calcaneus bones is arranged so a region at the very rear of the heel compresses vertically to a greater extent than a lateral side region in response to the same striking force, so pronation tends to be corrected.

Abstract: An athletic shoe is disclosed having a midsole which is substantially devoid of cushioning material in the arch region. An arch member is located in the arch region to provide support to the foot of a wearer.

Abstract: A construction for a shoe, particularly an athletic shoe such as a running shoe, includes a sole that conforms to the natural shape of the foot, particularly the sides, and that has a constant thickness in frontal plane cross sections. The thickness of the shoe sole side contour equals and therefore varies exactly as the thickness of the load-bearing sole portion varies due to heel lift, for example. Thus, the outer contour of the edge portion of the sole has at least a portion which lies along a theoretically ideal stability plane for providing natural stability and efficient motion of the shoe and foot particularly in an inverted and everted mode.

Abstract: There is disclosed an athletic shoe having grooves in a ground engaging surface of a sole formed concentrically about a pivot point in the ball portion and having traction projections in the form of bristles or columns embedded in the bottom of the grooves. Free ends of the traction projections protrude from the ground engaging surface whereby forces on the free ends of the traction projections perpendicular to the grooves, as when a player is accelerating, causes the projections to bend against the side walls of the grooves which thus support the projections against further bending with the free ends of the projections protruding from the outsole to provide traction. Forces on the free ends of the projections tangentially to the grooves, as when a player pivots, cause the projections to bend into or lay down in the grooves and thus offer little or no traction.

Abstract: A cushioning sole for use in footwear, in particular athletic shoes, is disclosed. The cushioning sole includes a rearfoot motion control device incorporated into a sole member. The device preferably functions to gradually control pronation motion. The device includes generally vertically extending rigid members and a plurality of horizontally extending plate members. In other preferred embodiments, a cushioning sole for use in footwear includes a rearfoot motion control device formed integrally with a heel supporting element, substantially rigid and generally vertical members of the rearfoot motion control device being perpendicular to each other, or an external surface of the rearfoot motion control device being visible from outside of the footwear.

Abstract: An athletic shoe (10) having interchangeable components for the customizing to the particular needs of a wearer. The wearer's weight, weight distribution, type and level of activity, and other variables are considered when determining the degree and location of support. The athletic shoe (10) includes a base portion (12) which defines a sole member (14) and an upper (16). A plurality of recesses (24) are defined at selected locations by the sole (14) for the receipt of sole inserts (18). The upper (16) defines a plurality of indicia receiving regions. The sole inserts (18) and the indicators (20) may be permanently attached to the athletic shoe (10) by any selected process such as ultrasonic welding. Additional support members may be placed within the athletic shoe (10) as desired to provide further support for selected portions of the foot, including the ankle and the arch.

Abstract: A cushioning sole for use in footwear, in particular athletic shoes, is disclosed. The cushioning sole includes a pronation control device incorporated into the midsole. The device functions to gradually increase the resistance to compression of the midsole from the lateral side to a maximum along the medial side. The device includes generally vertically extending rigid members and a plurality of horizontally extending plate members.

Abstract: An athletic shoe sole comprising a midsole and an outsole. The midsole has a longitudinally concave shaped ball portion which is thinnest along a transverse metatarsal line, such that a longitudinal concavity is formed facing downwardly and crossing the entire width of the ball portion of the midsole. The outsole has a longitudinally convex shaped ball portion which is thickest along the transverse metatarsal line, such that a longitudinal convexity is formed facing upwardly and crossing the entire width of the ball portion of the outsole. The longitudinally convex shaped ball portion of the outsole has numerous conical shaped hollow tread members aligned in a plurality of transverse rows, and two longitudinally elongated edgewise non-hollow tread members each having a plurality of transverse grooves.

Abstract: A sole for an article of footwear, such as an athletic shoe, comprises a mass of sole-forming material having provided therein a block of material functioning harmoniously with the remaining mass of material and providing a receptacle in the sole; and a user-selectable, removable insert fitted in the receptacle to impart desired energy characteristics to the sole. The insert can be selected by the user according to his particular needs.

Abstract: An outsole for sports shoes comprising a carrier element (1) of relatively hard material and relatively soft sole portions (2, 3) which are secured to the carrier element on the outward side thereof. The carrier element (1) comprises a sole plate (11) which is stiffened by stiffening wells which are disposed approximately perpendicular to the surface of the plate and which substantially follow the contour of the edge of the sole. To provide for deformability of the carrier element (1), in the shank region (4) the height of the stiffening walls (13, 14) is at least locally markedly lower than in the heel region of the sole plate (FIG. 1).

Abstract: A method of correcting read channel signal compensation in magnetic storage data storage systems with calibration data stored on select portions of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A shoe consisting of an outsole and an upper, especially a children's shoe, is configured so that in a simple, inexpensive and unobtrusive way, it is possible to regularly accurately monitor or measure the distance of the toe tips of a wearer from a portion of the upper adjacent to the tip of the outsole to see in good time whether the shoe has become too small. This is achieved in that a transparent area (3) is placed within outsole (1) and extends at least over about the front third of the outsole (1). The front part of transparent area (3) serves as a support for calibrated markings (6, 7).

Abstract: A shoe that reduces the likelihood of stress fractures occurring in the wearer's metatarsals. The shoe includes a midsole made of (i) a stress modulation layer that is made of material of relatively high duromoeter in the region of the first, fourth and fifth metatarsal, and a material of medium durmoeter in the region of the second and third durometer, and (ii) a stress moderation layer made mostly of a material of relatively low durometer.

Abstract: The sole comprises two superposed layers made of different materials: a) a bottom layer (1) of a material which is firm and strong, and provided with projections for bearing against the ground such as studs (13, 14) disposed around the periphery of the sole; and b) a top layer of a material which is flexible and resilient, and which serves as a bearing surface for the user's foot, with said layer carrying flexible projection (20, 21, 22) which project beneath the bottom sole (1) by passing through openings (10, 11, 12) provided therethrough.

Abstract: A cushioning sole for use in footwear, in particular athletic shoes, is disclosed. The cushioning sole includes a pronation control device incorporated into the midsole. The device functions to gradually increase the resistance to compression of the midsole from the lateral side to a maximum along the medial side. The device includes generally vertically extending rigid members and a plurality of horizontally extending plate members.

Abstract: A unitary multilayer sole construction for an athletic shoe in which a stiffening board member is provided between the outsole and the mid-sole of the shoe. The stiffening board member is placed in the rear foot portion of the shoe and immediately adjacent the inner surface of the outsole.

Abstract: A composite shoe bottom is disclosed comprising a lower layer of firm material and an upper softer layer superposed thereon. Each layer has an upper contoured surface such that the total compressibility of the shoe bottom, as determined by the relative thicknesses of the layers, is predetermined and differs along the surface. The upper layer has an uppermost surface which is shaped to fit against and be complemental to the bottom of the foot of a wearer.

Abstract: A walking sole for a sport shoe, and especially a golf shoe, comprising a main element made of a relatively rigid molded plastic material, having, in the front portion of at least one of its lateral edges (1a) extending along the front area of the sole on which the front part of the wearer's foot gains support, a succession of notches (2). This shoe has, associated with at least one of these notches (2), at least one opening (6) elongated substantially transversely and in alignment with this notch (2) in the lateral edge (1a) and at a distance from it, and an element made of an elastic material (8) which fills the elongated opening (6).

Abstract: A doll support apparatus including a ferromagnetic base having an upwardly facing support surface for receiving the bottom surface of a doll foot device incorporating a magnetic insert which, when supported on such surface, is disposed in close proximity to the ferromagnetic base to thereby maintain the doll in an erect position. The foot device may be in the form of a foot having a magnetic insert embedded directly there into or may be in the form of a removable shoe having the magnetic insert embedded therein. The foot or shoe may incorporate a hinge element which incorporates a releasable lock for locking the shoe or foot in selected different positions.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes an upper and a midsole which is disposed in a conventional manner below the upper. The midsole includes an elastomeric material and has a number of spaced-apart horizontal tubes extending the width of the midsole which are encapsulated in the elastomeric material. The tubes are hollow and lay side by side in a direction either perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoe, parallel to the axis, or in any other direction functional for foot and shoe mechanics. The elastomeric material has a hardness less than the tubes and fills the space between the tubes. To visualize the midsole, a transparent window may be utilized.

Abstract: The present invention provides an orthotic support construction that is attachable to the undersurface of the front portion of the sole of the shoe for treating a disorder of the foot by supporting a selected region of the foot when the shoe is worn. The support construction comprises an elongated planar sheet, preferably of rectangular form, adapted to be mounted on the shoe sole with one of its major surfaces against the undersurface of the shoe sole. The sheet is preferably formed from a flexible, resilient, shearable, and essentially inelastic material that is trimmed to the outline of the front portion of the shoe sole and cemented in place. The sheet has an elevated portion of increased thickness projecting from the other of its major surfaces so as to underlie and thereby, to support the selected region by exerting pressure through the shoe sole against the selected region.

Abstract: An orthopedic restraint apparatus having lower leg brace members, a contoured foot support, an adjustable ankle joint articulation system, and a hingedly mounted toe member. The ankle joint articulation system is easily adjustable to a multiplicity of discrete flexion angles by the appropriate placement of limit pins in the ankle joint. The limit pins are removable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the leg brace members.

Abstract: A split sole shoe has a front outer sole with an outwardly facing recessed section and a heel member with an inwardly facing recessed section, the outwardly facing recessed section being connected to the inwardly facing recessed section in an overlapping configuration so as to form an interior relief groove exposing a portion of the inwardly facing recessed section and an exterior relief groove exposing a portion of the outwardly facing recessed section, thereby increasing the flexibility of the shoe in the region which flexes while taking a heel-to-toe step. A toe cap portion is formed together with the front outer sole so as to provide a smooth and continuous transition from the top of the toe cap to the bottom of the front outer sole, thereby enabling an infant or child to drag the toe portion of the shole without stumbling or tripping on a protuberance in the transition region.

Abstract: A novel athletic shoe is disclosed which has a midsole in which is provided a resilient member having parallel grooves which in cross-section have a triangular profile.

Abstract: An insole is provided for a shoe, particularly for a welted shoe which insole is composed of at least three longitudinally arranged sections, adjacent sections being connected at transverse lines of flexure to impart a degree of flexibility to the insole. Preferably the transverse lines of flexure are produced by sewing together three separate sections forming respectively a toe section a center section and a waist section of alternate methods of producing transverse lines of flexure are suggested. The invention also provides a welted shoe incorporating such an insole, said shoe according to a preferred embodiment being provided with such an insole having a projecting rib to which the shoe upper a lining for the shoe upper (if present) and a welt are affixed, in which shoe, before application of the sole of the shoe, the rib and that portion of the upper adjacent the rib are deformed inwardly so as to lie adjacent to the lower surface of the insole.

Abstract: The shoe sole (12) includes an insole (18), an outsole (16) and a midsole (20). The outsole includes openings (28, 30) at the ball of the foot and the heel of the foot and the midsole, of EVA material, is provided with cavities (46, 48) receiving polyurethane inserts (50, 52) disposed concentrically with respect to associated outsole openings. The inserts are larger in diameter than the outside openings and include a domed central portion (58) projecting through said openings.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an asymmetric shoe which provides greater support, proper flexion and a more accurate fit than conventional shoes. The shoe of the present invention structures one or more of the following portions of the shoe upper and sole asymmetrically between the medial and lateral sides. First, a lateral stability strap is positioned immediately posterior of the fifth metatarsal-phalanges joint while a medial stability strap is positioned posterior of the first metatarsal-phalanges joint. Second, a lateral flex notch is aligned with the fifth metatarsal-phalanges joint and a medial flex notch is aligned with the first metatarsal-phalangess joint to allow the shoe to flex along the foot's natural flex line. Third, a medial quarter notch is positioned anterior of a lateral quarter notch to accommodate the difference between the medial and lateral malleolar lengths.

Abstract: An inside boot sole, comprising separate support zones distributed under the surface of the foot, at least two support zones (3, 4) having different mechanical characteristics and each extending at most from the heel (5) to the front end (6) of the sole on both sides of the dividing line (10) located near the median longitudinal axis (7) of the sole.

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 walking sole for sports shoes, particularly golf shoes, having, on at least one of its lateral edges, a series of substantially transverse grooves, filled with a material having a degree of elasticity superior to that of the material making up the sole. The grooves are provided in the front portion of at least one of the lateral edges (1a,1b) which extends the length of the frontal area of the sole (1) which provides support for the front part of the foot of the wearer of the shoe, and they mark the boundaries of at least one flexible tongue (7) transversally around an axis of flexion (X) joining the internal ends of the grooves (3). (FIG. 1).

Abstract: This invention relates to a midsole for sports shoes, which comprises a hard elastic member and a soft elastic member which has a lower hardness than that of said hard elastic member, one surface of said hard elastic member being joined to one surface of said soft elastic member which is opposite to said one surface of said hard elastic member, said one surface of said hard elastic member having a wavy configuration at the outer area of the heel portion thereof with respect to a longitudinal direction of said midsole said one surface of said soft member having a complementary configuration to said one surface of said hard elastic member at the outer area of the heel portion thereof.

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: Shoe sole having a relatively inelastic portion, and at least one peripheral portion adapted to extend laterally beyond the insole of the shoe to which the sole is to be affixed. The lower surface of the sole has at least one edge which defines a pivot axis having a generally longitudinal orientation relative to the sole around which the foot of the wearer is adapted to pivot. The edge is positioned to be cushioned by a relatively elastic portion of the sole.

Abstract: A shoe sole construction especially designed for but not limited to walking shoes, comprising a sole having a midsole and two substantially U-shaped outer sole sections. One outer sole section is secured to the peripheral portion of the midsole in the rear portion and the second outer sole is secured to the peripheral portion of the midsole in the front portion leaving exposed the entirety of the midsole between the two U-shaped outer sole sections. An arch extension extends integrally from the middle portion of the midsole in the area below the arch of the wearer. The arch extension extends below the front and rear sections of the midsole and below the plane of the outer sole sections. The arch extension may further include an enlarged region adjacent the peripheral portion of the medial side of the shoe.

Abstract: A lightweight athletic shoe includes a midsole of compressible material having portions of differing hardness which limit overpronation and effectively absorb shock while conforming to the shape of the foot. The midsole includes a central portion of relatively soft material, a lower peripheral portion of intermediate hardness extending around the central portion in the heel region and forward along each side to the toe region, and a raised upper peripheral portion of relatively hard material located above the lower peripheral portion and extending forward to the ball region of the midsole. The central portion conforms to the contour of the foot so that the force is uniformly distributed, while the peripheral portions cradle the sides of the foot so as to limit overpronation and oversupination.

Abstract: A sole structure of a shoe, e.g. a sport shoe, comprising an outer wearing sole, an inner or intermediate layer, and additionally a cushioning and supporting structure between the sole and layer. The cushioning and supporting structure has a flexible toe portion extending substantially from a tip of the shoe to a ball area of a foot in the shoe, a resilient heel portion tapering in a wedge-like manner from a rear edge of the shoe towards the forward tip of the shoe, and extending at least over a heel area of the shoe, and additionally a body piece fitted above the heel portion and substantially extending from the rear edge of the shoe to the ball area of the foot, over a zone adapted to fit against the heel of the arch of the foot. The body piece is substantially stiffer and harder than the heel portion and the toe portion.

Abstract: Golf shoe (1), the sole (2) of which has two separate areas (3) and (4), one of which (4) is provided with a shock absorbing element (5) and a deformable structure (6) to allow the golfer's foot to roll on the outer edge of the sole.

Abstract: An athletic shoe having an inner, forefoot-enveloping and gripping, elastic slipper sock for encompassing the forepart of the foot, the bottom of the elastic slipper sock being anchored to the sole assembly and being independent of the shoe upper, to move simultaneously with the foot and keep the shoe in tune with the foot. An extended toe bumper has medial and lateral cutouts astraddle the metatarsalphalangeal joint line to form vertically narrower portions. These cooperate with flexible mesh interconnecting portions of a bifurcated vamp in the upper, to effect controlled forefoot independence.

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 having a midsole subassembly formed of a lower layer and an upper layer, the lower layer having a rear higher density portion terminating short of the front end and integrally bonded with a lower density toe off pad portion into which the toes can sink during toe off. The upper layer extends beneath the heel and forwardly, terminating short of the toe area. This upper layer and the toe off pad have cooperative transverse grooves which are located relative to each other and to vertical flex grooves in the medial and lateral sides of the shoe upper, to enable the shoe to flex in a smooth curve with the foot. This upper layer has overlapping, laterally tapered wedge portions of different density and an integral, upstanding heel stabilizing cup, one portion from each wedge. The outsole has portions of different densities, the heel and ball portions of greater density for wear durability.

Abstract: The diversifiable compliance sole structure comprises a sole portion, formed from a thermoplastic material and bonded to a sole element, formed by foaming. The structure has a bottom surface having a plurality of seats, adapted for removably accommodating reinforcing elements proximately to a peripheral region of a heel portion.

Abstract: A lightweight, flexible, resilient sole adapted for athletic footwear including a relatively soft midsole made of a synthetic such as ethylene vinyl acetate, the midsole being wedge-shaped and including a relatively thick heel section and a relatively thin and flexible forepart section, and a plurality of discontinuous independent outsole pieces made of a relatively hard and wear-resistant synthetic rubber, such as styrene-butadiene rubber, the outsole pieces being disposed across the forepart section of the midsole with open spaces between the outsole pieces to maintain the flexibility of the forepart section, with the outsole pieces being vulcanized to the lower surface of the midsole to form a composite sole.

Abstract: A shoe sole comprising a front sole portion passing over into a rear sole portion via an intermediate sole portion consists of an upper sole portion, being formed at the top surface of the sole facing the sole of the foot at least partially of wood or wood like materials, and of a lower sole portion connected with the bottom surface of the upper sole portion and consisting of an elastic material. The thickness of the lower sole portion within an area of the rear sole portion is, as measured in normal direction to the top surface of the sole, at least 1.5 times, preferably twice, the thickness of the lower sole portion within the area of the front sole portion.

Abstract: The shoe of the invention consists of a thermally-moldable material which is secured in a cut-out region of the shoe sole.

Abstract: A heat retention insole for shoes comprises a laminated structure incorporating a flexible plastic bottom sheet, a similar flexible plastic upper sheet, and a spacer sheet formed primarily of foamed organic plastic material. The spacer sheet is provided with large area apertures defined by bars extending transversely between portions of a perimetral band portion. The large area apertures are loosely filled with particles of insulating plastic material, thus assuring that the top and bottom sheets are maintained in spaced relationship even when subjected to foot pressure. The outer surfaces of the insole are preferably provided with a heat reflecting coating or film to minimize the loss of heat from the foot by radiation and reflect any such radiated heat back into the foot of the wearer.

Abstract: A slipper including an upper defining a cover for substantially encompassing a foot which is formed at least partially of elastomeric material, and a sole divided into discrete, spaced fore and aft sections secured to a base portion of the cover.