US 2006/0130361 A1 · Torsion management outsoles and shoes including such outsoles

Abstract

The present invention is directed to an outsole for use with a shoe and a shoe having an improved outsole. The outsole includes a forward portion and a rearward portion that are connected by a ball-and-socket connection that allows the portions to move freely. The outsole may include flexible members disposed between discrete pieces of the forward portion to allow these pieces to flex freely. The outsole includes a pair of stabilizer rods. The outsole may be used with a sole construction that includes a gel cushion that is adjacent a transparent window member of the outsole. The outsole has areas of extension for improving the traction and balance of the user.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An outsole comprising:

a forward portion;
a rearward portion;
a torsion member having means for rotationally coupling the forward portion to the rearward portion at a pivot just behind a transverse arch of a user;
the torsion member including a plurality of shock absorbing angled stabilizer rods, the stabilizer rods having proximal ends telescopically disposed within channels defined in the rearward portion to provide a reciprocating movement therein,
wherein the forward and rearward portions are operatively connected and stabilized to freely allow independent and relative movement of the forward and rearward portions rotationally and about the pivot while walking.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/799,119Filed 12 Mar 2004

Priority

14 Jan 2002

Published

22 Jun 2006

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

A43B 5/001
Footwear for sporting purposes: golf shoes
A43B 1/0072
Footwear characterised by the material: made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
A43B 3/0078
Characterised by a special shape or design: provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration
A43B 7/144
Characterised by the location under the foot: situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone

Family

Application10/047,320Continuation in part · filed 14 Jan 2002

Application10/799,119Continuation in part · filed 12 Mar 2004

US 2003/0131501 A1Published application

US 6,708,426 B2Related patent

US 7,143,529 B2Related patent

US 2006/0130361 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Torsion management outsoles and shoes including such outsoles

Life of this patent

Torsion management outsoles and shoes including such outsoles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28