Sole construction for footwear

US5628128A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• American Sporting Goods Corporation · US

Inventors

• Todd A. Miller · West Linn, US
• David W. Gasparovic · Lake Oswego, US
• Craig Feller · Randolph, US
• Daniel Wickemeyer · Santa Monica, US
• David Potter · Los Angeles, US
• Erik Purdom
• Tuan N. Le · Portland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 7, 1995
• Grant date: May 13, 1997
• Expiry date: Jun 7, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A43B21/44
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

The footwear sole construction has a sole element disposed in the heel region of the sole. The sole element includes a first pod disposed on the medial side of the sole and a second pod disposed on the lateral side of the sole. The first pod is connected to the second pod by a web. A lower side of the sole element defines a concavity such that a lower surface of the first and second pods are disposed for contacting a ground surface. The first and second pods each include cavities extending therethrough such that a first open end of a cavity is disposed on one of the medial and lateral sides of the pod and a second open end of that cavity is disposed on the lower surface of such pod. The placement of the cavities and the orientation of the pods allow for tailoring and control of shock absorption.