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US 4,794,707 AGranted
Shoe with internal dynamic rocker element
AssigneeConverse Inc.
InventorsCraig A. Franklin, Rui M. Parracho, Lloyd S. Smith, Richard P. Bunch, Jack A. Boys, II, Alexander L. Gross, Robert W. Pagluiso
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shoe for casual or athletic footwear which provides support cushioning and walking comfort due to the presence of an internal dynamic rocker element disposed in a forefoot area of the midsole.
Claims12
A shoe comprising:
- (i) a substantially planar outsole including a sole portion and a heel portion;
- (ii) a flexible midsole attached to the top of the outsole, and having a forefoot area;
- and
- (iii) an internal rocker element disposed in the forefoot area of the midsole, the internal rocker element having a substantially planar upper surface and a convexly curved lower surface disposed so as to form a geometrical solid and fabricated out of a material which renders the internal rocker element less flexible and substantially more rigid than adjacent portions of the midsole, so as to assist in thrusting the forefoot downward and the heel upward in the course of the wearer's gait, when the region of the shoe portion proximate to such element is in contact with the ground.
1 more element
A shoe comprising:
- (i) an outsole including a sole portion and a heel portion, the heel portion including an aperture therein having side walls;
- (ii) a flexible midsole having a central axis and two sides attached to the top of the outsole, the midsole including a heel portion with an aperture therein having sidewalls and the midsole further including a forefoot area with a first recess disposed across the width of the forefoot area;
- (iii) an internal rocker element disposed in the first recess of the forefoot area, the internal rocker element having a planar upper surface and a convexly curved arcuate lower surface, and fabricated out of a material which renders the internal rocker element less flexible than the midsole;
- (iv) an anti-torsion member with a central axis lying in a complementarily shaped second recess along the central axis of the midsole, the rear portion of the anti-torsion member lying proximate to the upper portion of the heel capsule, such member further including two integrally formed arms transversely disposed with respect to the central axis of the shank, and extending towards the sides of the midsole;
- (v) a heel capsule having side walls and extending through the apertures in the heel portion of the midsole and the outsole, wherein the side walls are generally conformable to those of the apertures;
- and
- (vi) such midsole including an energy efficient forefoot section, nested within a higher density perimeter, adjoining the anti-torsion member.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.