Sole and heel structure with premolded bulges and expansible cavities

A sole and heel structure comprising:

• an outsole having first interior and exterior surfaces and a bulge projecting from the first exterior surface, the bulge defining a first cavity opening at the first interior surface;
• a midsole overlying the outsole, the midsole having an outsole-facing surface, a foot-facing surface opposite the outsole-facing surface and a peripheral side surface disposed between the outsole-facing surface and the foot-facing surface;
• a blinker adjacent the peripheral side-surface of the midsole, the blinker having a second interior surface and a second exterior surface and forming a second cavity opening at the second interior surface,
• means for hermetically attaching the first interior surface of the outsole to the outsole-facing surface of the midsole to form a member having a sole portion and a heel portion, wherein the first cavity cooperates with a portion of the midsole to define a first pocket;
• means for hermetically attaching the second interior surface of the blinker to the peripheral side surface of the midsole, wherein the second cavity cooperates with a portion of the midsole to define a second pocket;
• a passageway in the member providing fluid communication between the first and second pockets;
• and
• fluid permanently disposed in the space jointly defined by the first and second pockets and the passageway, wherein when force is applied to the first pocket, fluid moves from the first pocket through the passageway to cause the second pocket to be pressurized and when force is removed from the first pocket, at least a portion of the fluid moves back into the first pocket, whereby the first pocket provides shock absorption to a foot in a shoe incorporating the structure.

A sole and heel structure comprising:

• an outsole having interior and exterior surfaces and a plurality of bulges projecting from the exterior surface, each bulge defining a first cavity opening at the interior surface;
• a midsole overlying the outsole, the midsole having an outsole-facing surface, and a foot-facing surface opposite the outsole-facing surface and a peripheral side surface disposed between the outsole-facing surface and the foot-facing surface;
• a plurality of blinkers adjacent the peripheral side surface of the midsole, each blinker having an interior surface, an exterior surface and a second cavity opening at the interior surface;
• means for hermetically attaching the interior surface of the outsole to the outsole-facing surface of the midsole to form a member having a sole portion and a heel portion, wherein the first cavity cooperates with a portion of the midsole to define a first pocket;
• means for hermetically attaching the interior surface of each blinker to the peripheral side surface of the midsole, wherein each second cavity cooperates with a portion of the midsole to define a second pocket;
• a plurality of passageways in the member, each passageway providing fluid communication between one of the first pockets and one of the second pockets;
• and
• fluid permanently disposed in the space jointly defined by the first and second pockets and the passageways, wherein when force is applied to one of the first pockets, fluid moves from the first pocket through the passageway in communication therewith to cause the respective second pocket in communication with the passageway to be pressurized, and when force is removed from the first pocket, at least a portion of the fluid moves back into the respective first pocket, whereby each first pocket provides shock absorption to a foot in a shoe incorporating the structure.