Self-reinitializing padding device

A heel padding device for use with footwear, comprising:

• a) a primary chamber designed to coincide with the heel of a foot, wherein said primary chamber covers about 30 to 100 percent of the inner portion of the heel, and wherein said primary chamber has at least a front portion, a rear portion, and two side portions;
• b) a plurality of secondary chambers positioned radially outward from said primary chamber and along at least portions of said two side portions and said rear portion;
• c) a conduit connecting each of said plurality of secondary chambers to said primary chamber;
• and
• d) a flowable material contained within said padding device;
• wherein said flowable material is capable of flowing out of said primary chamber and into at least one of said plurality of secondary chambers when a force is applied to said primary chamber and wherein said secondary chambers are capable of forcing at least a portion of said flowable material back into said primary chamber when at least a portion of the force is removed from said primary chamber.

A method of absorbing and distributing impact forces, comprising:

• a) providing a primary chamber having a front portion, two laterally displaced side portions, and a rear portion longitudinally displaced from said front portion, wherein said primary chamber contains a flowable material;
• b) positioning a plurality of secondary chambers around at least a portion of said primary chamber, at least a portion of one of said plurality of secondary chambers being positioned outwardly from each of said two side portions longitudinally between said front and rear portions, wherein said plurality of secondary chambers are each fluidly connected to said primary chamber;
• c) impacting said primary chamber with a force;
• d) deforming said primary chamber to transfer at least a portion of said flowable material from said primary chamber into at least one of said plurality of secondary chambers to absorb at least a portion of the force transferred to said primary chamber at impact, wherein the rate of deformation of said primary chamber is greater than the flow rate into said at least one of said plurality of secondary chambers;
• e) expanding said at least one of said plurality of secondary chambers upon receipt of said flowable material from said primary chamber to absorb at least a portion of the force transferred to said primary chamber at impact;
• and
• f) contracting said at least one of said plurality of secondary chambers when at least a portion of the force is removed from said primary chamber to transfer at least a portion of said flowable material contained in said at least one of said plurality of secondary chambers back into said primary chamber.

A method of reinitializing a padding device subjected to a force, comprising:

• a) providing a primary chamber having a perimeter defined by at least a front portion, a rear portion, and two side portions, wherein said primary chamber contains a flowable material;
• b) positioning at least one secondary chamber radially outward from at least portions of said rear portion and said two side portions, wherein said at least one secondary chamber is fluidly connected to said primary chamber;
• c) impacting said primary chamber;
• d) deforming said primary chamber to force at least a portion of said flowable material into said at least one secondary chamber to absorb at least a portion of the force transferred to said primary chamber upon impact;
• e) expanding said at least one secondary chamber upon receipt of said flowable material from said primary chamber, wherein at least a portion of the force transferred to said primary chamber at impact is absorbed;
• and
• f) contracting said at least one secondary chamber when at least a portion of said force is removed from said primary chamber to force at least a portion of said flowable material from said at least one secondary chamber back into said primary chamber.

A padding device, comprising:

• a) a primary chamber;
• b) at least one secondary chamber;
• c) means for connecting said primary chamber and said secondary chamber, wherein said connecting means includes a plurality of conduits connecting a plurality of locations on said secondary chamber to said primary chamber, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each of said conduits is dependent upon the length of a particular said conduit, the cross-sectional area being larger for longer said conduits;
• and
• d) a flowable material contained within said padding device;
• wherein said flowable material is capable of flowing out of said primary chamber and into said secondary chamber upon application of a force to said primary chamber and said secondary chamber is capable of forcing said flowable material back into said primary chamber upon removal of at least a portion of the force from said primary chamber.

A padding device, comprising:

• a) a primary chamber, said primary chamber being positioned to cushion at least a portion of a foot;
• b) a plurality of secondary chambers positioned radially outward from said primary chamber along a perimeter of said portion;
• c) means for connecting said primary chamber and said secondary chambers, wherein said connecting means includes a conduit connecting each of said secondary chambers to said primary chamber, and wherein the cross-sectional area of each of said conduits is dependent upon the length of a particular said conduit, the cross-sectional area being larger for longer said conduits;
• and
• d) a flowable material contained within said padding device, wherein said flowable material is capable of flowing out of said primary chamber and into said secondary chambers upon application of a force to said primary chamber, and wherein said secondary chambers are capable of forcing at least a portion of said flowable material back into said primary chamber upon removal of at least a portion of the force from said primary chamber.