Abstract: A midsole for footwear comprises an U-shaped shock absorbing device including a transparent housing, a plurality of tubes, letters or designs supported on a basic body, and a connecting member. The connecting member fixes the basic body to the transparent housing. The shock absorbing device will not twist and move during walking, will provide an excellent cushioning function and will have a fashion effect.

Abstract: An insole includes a heel portion defining a recess. A replaceable pneumatic buffer defining a first and a second tubular elements is received in the recess of the insole. A central tunnel communicating with the first tubular element defines a hole. A plurality of tunnels communicate the first tubular element with the second tubular element. When load is exerted on the buffer, the second tubular element abuts a surface of the shoe, thereby defining a chamber filled with air. When the load increases excessively, air is ventable through the hole of the central tunnel and further off the chamber.

Abstract: A self-reinitializing padding device having at least two fluidly connected chambers which contain flowable material for use in applications where it is desirable to reinitialize the padding device for subsequent use in absorbing and/or distributing impact forces. One application for which the padding device is particularly well suited is as a foot padding device in footwear. In this application, the device provides improved absorption and distribution of impact forces generated when the footwear contacts a surface, as well as improved lateral support for the foot. In a preferred embodiment, a primary chamber is positioned under the area to be padded, and a plurality of secondary chambers, each fluidly connected to the primary chamber, are positioned around the padded area. The impact force of the user's foot deforms the primary chamber, thereby forcing some of the flowable material contained therein to flow into the secondary chambers.

Abstract: A self-ventilating device for a shoe insole, which includes a heel chamber body having a spring disposed therein, an inlet valve having a plurality of sole aperture for communicating with a plurality of channels in the sole portion of the shoe insole, and a pair of outlet valves disposed in both side walls thereof for communicating to the atmosphere, whereby when each step is taken by the shoe user, a moisture and odor waste quantity of air is forced from the channels in the sole portion through the inlet valve to the heel chamber body when the pair of outlet valves are closed and expelled through the pair of outlet valves to the atmosphere automatically when the inlet valve is closed.

Abstract: An improved structure of the sole of shoes suitable for use in sports or any casual wear is characterized in that the mid-sole is provided with resilient spherical bodies within recesses in the front portion and/or the heel portion of the sole, and that the hardness of the resilient bodies can be adjusted to enhance the elasticity of the soles of the shoes by virtue of the fact that the spherical bodies can be inflated and deflated or can be bodily replaced, thereby enabling the requisite shock absorbing effect to relieve impact stress during running and fatigue during long walking to be obtained.

Abstract: A shoe sole includes a body portion which extends from a toe end of the shoe to a heel end and either two inflatable tubes that extend along the sides of the body portion or a single inflatable tube that extends around the periphery of the body portion so as to define an elongated recess that exposes the bottom surface of the body portion, the fluid in the inflatable tube(s) moving therewithin when more load is applied on one side of the shoe defining use than the other.

Abstract: There is a sports shoe with a sole (4) and an inflating device which is arranged under a convex part of the foot (3) and delimits a compression chamber (16) with a chamber body (1) as well as a chamber roof (14), the compression chamber having an inlet opening (17) and an outlet opening (18). It is desirable to improve the effect of the inflating device by minimizing the clearance space in the compression chamber. This is accomplished by forming the compression chamber (16) as a semi-lentil-shaped (dished) bowl which is conformed to fit the convex contour of the region of the foot (3) loading it and by having the inlet opening (17) as well as the outlet opening (18) arranged in the central area of the chamber (16). Since, on compression, the chamber cover will hug the bottom of the compression chamber, it is possible to produce a positive pressure commensurate with the down-stepping force applied.

Abstract: An article of footwear has a heel upper (1)(1b)(1c)(1d) components and lower (2) components of which are spring loaded apart to limit stop positions either by a volume of elastomeric material (5)(7)(70b) or by a gas spring. In accordance with the invention means (48)(48a)(48b) (48c)(48d) is provided which is adjustable to vary the rate of the spring without alteration of the limit stop position to which the components (1)(1b)(1c)(1d) and (2) of the heel are urged by the spring (5)(70)(70b).

Abstract: A sport shoe sole having a ground sole rigid and of excellent abrasion resistance and an elastic interlayer body bonded to the ground sole, in which the interlayer body is provided at its heel portion with an air inclusion means such as grooves and apertures that open at least to one side of the interlayer body.

Abstract: A sport shoe sole having a ground sole rigid and of excellent abrasion resistance and an elastic interlayer body bonded to the ground sole, in which the interlayer body is provided at its heel portion with an air inclusion means such as grooves and apertures that open at least to one side of the interlayer body.

Abstract: A shoe sole having ventilating openings between the atmosphere and the interior of the shoe. The air flows through sealable openings in the heel and enters the interior of the shoe through further openings in the foot engaging portions of the sole. The openings in the heel are sealable by keys which close the openings upon application of pressure by the heel of the user when walking.

Abstract: A pair of thin-walled hollow partially liquid-filled cushions are enclosed in cavities formed in the sole of a shoe. The first cushion is positioned to coincide with the plantar pads on the lower sides of the wearer's metatarsals; the second to coincide with the tuberosity of the wearer's calcaneum.

Abstract: A shoe sole construction designed so as to be biodynamically shock-absorbing.In the sole are provided two cushions which are filled with a fluid and interconnected by means of a number of channels. One cushion is positioned underneath the heel of the foot and the other cushion is positioned underneath the transverse forward arch of the foot.When the wearer of the shoe sets down his foot into contact with the ground, the heel strikes the ground first and a shock-absorbing effect is then obtained as the rear cushion is compressed. Upon this compression, fluid flows from the rear cushion to the front cushion, which expands and lifts the front arch of the foot, releaving the weight thereon and supporting the front arch when the forefoot is set down on the ground. When the wearer continues the walking cycle, the forward cushion is compressed, causing the rear cushion to expand and the latter is again ready to provide a shock-absorbing effect upon the next step and heel strike.

Abstract: A shoe fitted with an inflatable sole. One or more air valves joined to the shoe permit inflating the interior of the sole to a desired pressure of air proportional to the weight of the wearer of the shoe. The sole is formed of an upper liner joined to a lower liner along their respective common periphery, with a plurality of spaced resilient pegs joined between the said liners in the interior so as to maintain the said liners in alignment with the sole inflated, and to provide a uniform air pressure throughout the interior of the sole. Alternatively the sole may be formed of a solid section of flexible or elastomeric material formed with a plurality of intersecting through longitudinal and transverse cylindrical air passages joined to one or more valves.

Abstract: A shoe, particularly a sport shoe, has a sole with a shallow recess therein that is closed by a lining impervious to air. The upper of the shoe also has air chambers therein, in surrounding relationship to the heel, these latter chambers also communicating with the air chamber of the sole. A crescent-shaped piece at the rear of the upper protects the Achilles' tendon of the wearer and is hollow and flexible and communicates with the air chamber in the shoe sole. As a result, the air chambers can deform substantially so as to absorb shock and protect the rear of the foot of the wearer, at the same time that the pressure in the various chambers does not greatly change.

Abstract: A sport shoe sole having a ground sole rigid and of excellent abrasion resistance and an elastic interlayer body bonded to the ground sole, in which the interlayer body is provided at its heel portion with an air inclusion means such as grooves and apertures that open at least to one side of the interlayer body.

Abstract: A thrust producing shoe sole and heel having fluid-proof cavities located in the heel portion and in the sole portion which underlies the metatarsal ball area of a foot for which the sole and heel is sized, the cavities being connected by restricted passageways. The material underlying the cavities at the bottom of the sole and heel is resilient and wear-resistant. Fluid is contained within the cavities and passageways in such pressure and amount as to cause bulges below the normal bottoms of the sole and heel, whereby at rest a foot on the sole and heel is cushioned comfortably on the fluid in the bulges, and in walking and running, fluid under bulge producing pressure alternates through the passageways between the cavities, producing shock absorption and an alternate lifting effect by the sole and heel bulges which provides forward thrust both in the heel portion and in the metatarsal ball area that facilitates walking and running.

Abstract: A biochemically tuned shoe has a heel construction that provides a force-deflection response which is optimal for a particular person and a particular use. The heel construction features a main spring that is characterized by a large vertical compliance while at the same time exhibiting an extremely high resistance to a lateral shear (horizontal compliance). The main spring is preferably a coned disk spring formed of a plastic material or a vertical stack of operatively coupled coned disk springs. The main spring can be embedded in a conventionally shaped heel formed of a resilient material such as an open or closed cell foamed rubber or plastic secured to the sole of the shoe. In other forms, the heel construction is replaceably secured to the sole by a threaded stud with or without an intermediate assembly. In a preferred form, the main spring acts in cooperation with a resilient member to extend the characteristic load deflection curve of the main spring.

Abstract: A thin-walled hollow partially liquid-filled cushion is permanently enclosed in a cavity formed in the sole of a shoe. Preferably, the cushion is produced by vacuum-forming a pan, having a continuous circumferential lip, from a sheet of durable, flexible, resilient, non-porous thermoplastic material, heat sealing a sheet of similar material to all but a small region of the lip, partially filling the pan with a low-viscosity liquid by means of a fine tube inserted between the unsealed lip and sheet, and sealing the sheet to the previously unsealed region of the lip. A critical feature of the invention resides in the formation of the cavity in the shoe sole to contain the cushion with the cushion walls, top and bottom in intimate contact with, and the contents of the cushion under pressure exerted by, the walls, top and bottom of the cavity.

Abstract: An elastomeric enclosure is initially inflated to a desired pressure by a gas having large molecules incapable of diffusing outwardly from the enclosure, except at a relatively slow rate. When the enclosure is surrounded by ambient air at atmospheric pressure, such air passes into the enclosures by reverse diffusion, thus extracting energy from the ambient sea of air to progressively increase the total pressure in the enclosure to a substantial extent over a period of several months, the pressure then decreasing very slowly over an extended period to its initial inflation pressure, such extended period being as much as about two years or more. This added energy may be used to perform useful work or used in various pneumatic devices to achieve essentially permanent inflation.

Abstract: A sport shoe sole having a ground sole rigid and of excellent abrasion resistance and an elastic interlayer body bonded to the ground sole, in which the interlayer body is provided at its heel portion with an air inclusion means such as grooves and apertures that open at least to one side of the interlayer body.

Abstract: A sport shoe sole having a ground sole rigid and of excellent abrasion resistance and an elastic interlayer body bonded to the ground sole, in which the interlayer body is provided at its heel portion with an air inclusion means such as grooves and apertures that open at least to one side of the interlayer body.

Abstract: A sport shoe sole having a ground sole rigid and of excellent abrasion resistance and an elastic interlayer body bonded to the ground sole, in which the interlayer body is provided at its heel portion with an air inclusion means such as grooves and apertures that open at least to one side of the interlayer body.

Abstract: A sole body for footwear including a longitudinally extending body having an upturned fore part extending rearwardly from the front end of the sole body which terminates in a front groove extending transversely of and in the bottom thereof. A central rocker portion is formed on the bottom of the sole body substantially midway between the front end and the rear end of the sole body and connecting with said front groove with a heel formed on the rear part of the sole body. The heel includes a compressible insert intermediate the upper and lower surfaces of the heel portion. The rocker portion is arcuate convexly outwardly of the sole body on an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sole body and extending outwardly beyond a plane connecting the outermost surface of said fore part portion and said heel whereby a roll action of the sole body is provided between the initial contact of the compressible heel and the fore part in the gait of the user.

Abstract: A thrust producing shoe sole and heel having fluid-proof cavities respectively located in the heel portion and in the sole portion which underlies the metatarsal ball area of a foot for which the sole and heel is sized, the two cavities being connected by a restricted passageway. The material underlying the two cavities at the bottom of the sole and heel is resilient and wear-resistant. Fluid, either gas or liquid, is contained within the cavities and passageway in such pressure and amount as to cause bulges below the normal bottoms of the sole and heel, whereby at rest a foot on the sole and heel is cushioned comfortably on the fluid in the bulges, and in walking fluid under bulge producing pressure alternates through the passageway between the two cavities, producing shock absorption and an alternate lifting effect by the bulges which provides forward thrust both in the heel portion and the metatarsal ball area that facilitates walking.

Abstract: A sport shoe sole having a ground sole rigid and of excellent abrasion resistance and an elastic interlayer body bonded to the ground sole, in which the interlayer body is provided at its heel portion with an air inclusion means such as grooves and apertures that open at least to one side of the interlayer body.

Abstract: Heel supporting and cushioning member for footwear controlling the movement of foot/leg muscles in the form of removable, preferably disposable heel and foot shock absorber comprising a pliable coil filled with an elastomeric material resiliently flexing with the movement of the heel.

Abstract: A thrust producing shoe sole and heel having fluid-proof cavities respectively located in the heel portion and in the sole portion which underlies the metatarsal ball area of a foot for which the sole and heel is sized, the two cavities being connected by a restricted passageway. The material underlying the two cavities at the bottom of the sole and heel is resilient and wear-resistant. Fluid, either gas or liquid, is contained within the cavities and passageway in such pressure and amount as to cause bulges below the normal bottoms of the sole and heel, whereby at rest a foot on the sole and heel is cushioned comfortably on the fluid in the bulges, and in walking fluid under bulge producing pressure alternates through the passageway between the two cavities, producing shock absorption and an alternate lifting effect by the bulges which provides forward thrust both in the heel portion and the metatarsal ball area that facilitates walking.