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US 5,179,792 AGranted
Shoe sole with randomly varying support pattern
OwnerCharles R. Brantinghaminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shoe sole or insole incorporates an inflatable cell structure therein. The cells are sized and positioned to alter the angular orientation of a wearer's foot relative to a supporting surface upon inflation. A variable position valve causes the cells to inflate and deflate in a random or pseudo-random sequence. Such a sole when worn while standing on or traversing a flat, even, and unvarying terrain enhances the wearer's comfort, reduces fatigue and promotes control of veinous blood pressure in the legs.
Claims10
A sole for providing support to a foot within a shoe, comprising:
- an inflatable cell disposed within such sole wherein the angular orientation of a foot supported by such sole relative to a supporting surface under said sole is a function of said cell's degree of inflation;
- and
- means for inflating and deflating said cell such that said cell's state of inflation follows a sequence sufficiently complex to achieve a complex variation in the successive angular orientations of the foot, whereby the wearer may be substantially precluded from anticipating the sequence.
A sole for providing support to a foot within a shoe, comprising:
- a plurality of inflatable cells disposed within such sole wherein the angular orientation of a foot supported by such sole in relation to a supporting surface under said sole is a function of the pattern defined by combinations of inflate and deflated cells at any time;
- and
- means for sequentially inflating and deflating each of said cells in a sequence which defines said pattern as the sole is alternatively weighted and unweighted by said foot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.