Mechanical cushioning system for footwear

An element forming at least part of a midsole for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a top portion;
• a bottom portion;
• and
• two strut members disposed between said top and bottom portions for supporting said top portion a distance away from said bottom portion;
• said two strut members being longitudinally adjacent to each other and having a C shaped cross-section facing in the same direction as viewed from a side of said element resting on one of said top portion and said bottom portion when intersected by an imaginary plane that intersects said top and bottom portions at approximate right angles, and wherein said two strut members are longitudinally separated by an open space.

An element forming at least part of a midsole for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a top portion;
• a bottom portion;
• and
• a plurality of strut members disposed between said top and bottom portions for supporting said top portion a distance away from said bottom portion;
• at least two of said plurality of strut members being longitudinally adjacently positioned in one of a forefoot and a heel region of said midsole and having a C shaped cross-section facing in the same direction as viewed from a side of said element resting on one of said top portion and said bottom portion when intersected by an imaginary plane that intersects said top and bottom portions at approximate right angles.

An element forming at least part of a midsole for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a top plate;
• a bottom plate;
• and
• a plurality of strut members disposed between said top and bottom plates for supporting said top plate a distance away from said bottom plate;
• at least two of said plurality of strut members being longitudinally adjacently positioned in one of a forefoot and a heel region of said midsole and having a C shaped cross-section facing in the same direction as viewed from a side of said element resting on one of said top portion and said bottom portion when intersected by an imaginary plane that intersects said top and bottom plates at approximate right angles.

An element forming at least part of a midsole for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a top portion;
• a bottom portion;
• and
• a plurality of strut members disposed between said top and bottom portions for supporting said top portion a distance away from said bottom portion;
• wherein at least one of said top portion, said strut members and said bottom portion is made of a material different from the others of said top portion, said strut members and said bottom portion.

An element forming at least part of a midsole for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a first element comprising:
• a first top portion;
• a first bottom portion;
• and
• a first plurality of strut members disposed between said top and bottom portions for supporting said top portion a distance away from said bottom portion;
• and wherein at least two adjacent strut members are oriented and adapted to preferentially deflect in the same direction in response to a force imparted on said midsole of said article of footwear during use;
• and
• a second element comprising:
• a second top portion;
• a second bottom portion;
• and
• a second plurality of strut members disposed between said top and bottom portions for supporting said top portion a distance away from said bottom portion;
• and wherein at least two adjacent strut members are oriented and adapted to preferentially deflect in the same direction in response to a force imparted on said midsole of said article of footwear during use;
• wherein at least one of said first top portion, said first bottom portion and said first plurality of strut members of said first element is made of a material different than at least one of said second top portion, said second bottom portion and said second plurality of strut members of said second element.