Shoe sole construction

A sole for an athletic shoe comprising:

• shock absorbing means for cushioning the foot and leg of the wearer against impact loads and for dissipating impact forces laterally outwardly upon impact of the shoe with the ground, said shock absorbing means comprising:
• a midsole having an upper surface, a concave lower surface, and peripheral and central portions, said upper surface adapted to be connected to an upper, said midsole having inclined side walls extending downwardly and outwardly from the periphery of said upper surface to the periphery of said concave lower surface;
• an outer sole having peripheral and central portions and top and bottom surfaces, said outsole being of substantially uniform thickness and connected to said concave lower surface of said midsole to define a general lateral concavity for the sole;
• said peripheral portions of said outer sole and said midsole cooperating to support said central portions of said outer sole and said midsole in a cantilever fashion;
• and
• a plurality of tread members disposed about said peripheral portion of said bottom surface of said outer sole, said tread members cooperating with said peripheral portions of said midsole to support said central portions in a cantilever fashion.