Sole construction for footwear

US5797199A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• American Sporting Goods Corporation · US

Inventors

• Todd A. Miller · West Linn, 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: Dec 20, 1996
• Grant date: Aug 25, 1998
• Expiry date: Dec 20, 2016

Classification

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

Abstract

A footwear sole construction has a cavity. The footwear sole construction includes pods disposed on the medial and lateral sides of the heel region of the sole. The pods may be formed independent from the sole or integral with the sole. In addition, the pods may be disposed on the forefoot region of the sole, as well as, around the entire periphery. The placement of the cavities directly control the degree of shock absorption. The pods may be disposed such that at least one of the cavities may be disposed to have an open end on one of the medial and lateral sides of the sole and another open end on the lower surface of the sole. The cavities also may be formed directly in the sole material. In such case, a support piece can be disposed in the cavities or a reinforcement piece can be disposed on the bottom of the sole. The cavities also may be formed in a support element disposed in the sole.