Midsole
AssigneeThe Summa Group Limited
InventorStephen C. Brown
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Abstract
A molded midsole encapsulating a series of parallel, spaced-apart tubes for shock absorption. The tubes are disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sole. The tubes are constructed from a material somewhat more rigid than the surrounding molded material. The tubes may be arranged in the forefoot region, or in the heel region, or throughout the longitudinal span of the midsole. Transverse strips of tubing material may be used to space apart and join tubes to fabricate separate tube assemblies which are inserted directly in the midsole mold.
Claims7
A midsole for a shoe, said shoe having a toe, a heel, an upper and an outsole, comprising:
- a molded midsole element having embedded within it a forefoot tube assembly and a heel tube assembly;
- said midsole element being characterized by a sole axis extending from said heel to said toe;
- and
- wherein said forefoot tube assembly and said heel tube assembly further comprise a plurality of tubes in parallel arrangement, each tube sealed at both ends, each tube having a longitudinal tube axis, said tubes maintained in a diametrically spaced apart relation by spacing means integrally formed as part of each tube assembly, with said tube axes generally perpendicular to said sole axis, said midsole element sandwiched between said upper and said outsole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.