Shock-absorbing shoe construction
OwnerAntonio Signoriinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention contemplates a shock-absorbing shoe sole which provides adjustably inflated pneumatic support at the rear half of the sole, and a graduated reduction of shock-absorbing from the inflated support region, to a forefoot-support region of minimum compliant yieldability. The construction involves two separate parts, one of which is molded with surface configurations to confront the other part, and the graduated-support action derives from bonding these two parts to each other, with an inflatable bladder substantially conforming to and deriving peripherally confining restraint from at least one such surface configuration. In one embodiment, a removable in-sole panel provides access for repair and/or replacement of the inflatable bladder.
Claims18
A shoe having a sole characterized by a first or forefoot region of relatively low compliant yieldability, and a second or heel region of relatively great compliant yieldability;
- said heel region comprising a single pocket defined (1) by flexible upper and lower panels extending for substantially the rear half of the sole and (2) by peripheral sidewalls including an internal wall at an intermediate region of the sole, an inflatable bladder retained within said pocket and conforming to adjacent surfaces of said walls and panels, said bladder having an inflation device including a check valve and projecting for external access through one of said sidewalls, and said upper panel comprising a stiffly compliant plate peripherally secured to said sidewalls and centrally open for access to said bladder, said upper panel further including means providing removable closure of the opening in said plate, whereby to provide maintenance and/or replacement access to said bladder.
A shoe having a sole characterized by a first or forefoot region of relatively low compliant yieldability, a second or heel region of relatively great compliant yieldability, and a transitional intermediate region between said first and second regions;
- said heel region comprising a single pocket defined (1) by flexible upper and lower panels extending for substantially the rear half of the sole and (2) by peripheral sidewalls including an internal wall at juncture with said intermediate region, a single inflatable bladder retained within said pocket and peripherally conforming generally to adjacent surfaces of said walls and panels, said bladder having an inflation device including a check valve projecting for external access through one of said sidewalls, said inflation device being the only means of pressurizing-gas delivery to and retention within said bladder;
- said forefoot region comprising stiffly flexible and relatively void-free material;
- and said upper panel being a removably fitted part of said sole, whereby to provide maintenance and/or replacement access to said bladder.
A shoe having a sole characterized by a first or forefoot region of relatively low compliant yieldability, a second or heel region of relatively great compliant yieldability, and a transitional intermediate region between said first and second regions;
- said heel region comprising a single pocket defined (1) by flexible upper and lower panels extending for substantially the rear half of the sole and (2) by peripheral sidewalls including an internal wall at juncture with said intermediate region, a single inflatable bladder retained within said pocket and peripherally conforming generally to adjacent surfaces of said walls and panels, said bladder having an inflation device including a check valve projecting for external access through one of said sidewalls, said inflation device being the only means of pressurizing-gas delivery to and retention within said bladder;
- said forefoot region comprising stiffly flexible and relatively void-free material;
- and said intermediate region comprising a distributed cluster of sealed pockets.
A shoe having a sole characterized by a first or forefoot region of relatively low compliant yieldability, a second or heel region of relatively great compliant yieldability, and a transitional intermediate region between said first and second regions;
- said heel region comprising a single pocket defined (1) by flexible upper and lower panels extending for substantially the rear half of the sole and (2) by peripheral sidewalls including an internal wall at juncture with said intermediate region, a single inflatable bladder retained within said pocket and peripherally conforming generally to adjacent surfaces of said walls and panels, said bladder having an inflation device including a check valve projecting for external access through one of said sidewalls, said inflation device being the only means of pressurizing-gas delivery to and retention within said bladder;
- said forefoot region comprising stiffly flexible and relatively void-free material;
- and said intermediate region being characterized by a distributed plurality of sealed pockets providing transitional compliant action between the first or forefoot region and the second or heel region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.