Abstract: Outsole for a shoe including a first sole component molded of a relatively dense natural or synthetic rubber composition and having a cut-out shank region and a second sole component of a relatively less dense organic plastic material filling the cut-out shank region of the first sole component.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved design associated with the fabrication and construction of an athletic shoe sole capable of minimizing stress and strain to the functioning portions of the human body associated with any athletic endeavor that utilizes an individual's lower extremities to participate in same. In accordance with the invention, there is created an athletic shoe sole that permits the mirroring as well as the complementing of the natural bend of the human foot at the metatarso-phalangeal joints in that the composition and construction of said athletic shoe sole coincident with its location at said metatarso-phalangeal joints varies from the overall composition of said athletic shoe sole so as to evidence compression and expansion characteristics different from that of the overall characteristics of the composition of material utilized in fabricating said athletic shoe sole thereby achieving the overall advantages of the invention.

Abstract: A running shoe having an outer sole and a midsole. The midsole comprises a forefoot portion, an arch portion and a heel portion all formed of a resilient material having a first durometer sufficiently low to provide good cushioning and impact absorption. Rear foot stabilization means in the form of a mass of resilient material is located and confined within the midsole adjacent the medial side of the heel portion. The durometer of the stabilization means is higher than the durometer of the midsole to provide resistance to compression at the medial side of the heel portion, thereby lessening the tendency of the shoe to overpronation. In one embodiment, the stabilization means comprises plural plugs confined fully within the midsole. In another embodiment, the stabilization means extend through the outsole and into the insole.

Abstract: A sports running shoe constructed to minimize impact shock and to maximize lateral stability. The shoe's midsole is formed with a medial layer portion having one overall firmness, and a lateral layer portion having a lesser overall firmness.

Abstract: A flexible shoe, preferably of the sport shoe variety, includes a resilient sole which incorporates one or two transverse hinge joints. The principal hinge joint extends across the ball of the foot and preferably passes under the first metatarso-phalangeal joint. An optional second hinge joint extends across the anterior heel region of the foot. Both hinge joints function to keep the effective sole levers short and thereby permit the foot to function in a natural and comfortable manner. The shank of the sole may be longitudinally stiffened for additional stability.

Abstract: A shoe sole having at least one strip of protuberant wall or ridge formed on its ground-contacting surface so as to divide said surface into at least two sections, said adjacent sections being made from different shoe sole materials in color or in quality.

Abstract: An athletic shoe having an upper, an outer sole, and an intermediate sole, the intermediate sole being made essentially of a peripheral portion extending the full length of the shoe and underlying the inner and outer peripheral sides and the periphery of the heel, and surrounding an inner core portion. The peripheral portion of the intermediate sole is made of a relatively hard closed cell foam and the core portion is made of a relatively soft closed cell foam.

Abstract: An improved athletic shoe in which the solepiece has a wedge to facilitate supporting the runner's foot when contacting the ground; the toe box section being provided with pleats to allow expansion for toe movement when the foot flexes; the solepiece is provided with a flexure break segment of reduced thickness following the phalangal-metatarsal joint line of action of the human foot to permit differential flexure of the solepiece in a manner following such lines of action; and the heel part of the solepiece is rounded for optimizing initial and following ground foot contact.

Abstract: This ski boot is intended for properly and automatically positioning same on the ski without any preliminary adjustment of the safety binding in the longitudinal direction, irrespective of the boot size. The boot comprises a sole truncated at either end so as to provide a ski-engaging bottom bearing surface having a constant length independent of the boot size, the middle point of the sole being adapted to register with a reference mark carried by the ski; the end faces of the truncated sole are provided with recesses, cavities, grooves or projections adapted to co-operate with corresponding elements of the toe-end and heel-end devices of the safety binding.

Abstract: To improve the walking motion of the foot in the area of the big toe, a foot-supporting sole features a rigid section which, in the area of the little toe extends further forward than in the area of the hallux ball.

Abstract: A solid "wedge-type" sole for shoes is provided, having a sponge-like and relatively resilient material in the toe and arch regions of the sole in combination with a lift of a comparatively rigid material in the heel regions of the sole.

Abstract: A composite mid-sole especially adapted for incorporation into platform shoes and consisting of a rigid heel and shank part interconnected with a flexible forepart. The mid-sole parts are composed of moldable plastic material of differing densities, the composite mid-sole being a unit to be lasted to a shoe upper and a shoe outsole in a subsequent manufacturing operation. An improved fastening means conjoining the heel and shank part to the forepart of the mid-sole is disclosed.