Thrust producing multiple channel-multiple chamber shoe and bladder

A shoe sole and heel structure comprising:

• an outsole having interior and exterior surfaces;
• a midsole overlying the outsole, the midsole having an outsole-facing surface and a foot-facing surface;
• means for 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;
• and
• a thrust-producing bladder disposed between the midsole and the outsole, the bladder including laterally spaced-apart first and second metatarsal pockets disposed in the sole portion underlying the metatarsal ball area of a foot for which the bladder is sized wherein a first portion of at least one of the midsole and outsole is disposed between the first and second metatarsal pockets,
• laterally spaced-apart first and second heel pockets disposed in the heel portion underlying the heel area of a foot for which the member is sized wherein a second portion of at least one of the midsole and outsole is disposed between the first and second heel pockets,
• a first restricted passageway having an inner diameter providing fluid communication between the first metatarsal pocket and the first heel pocket, the first heel pocket, the first metatarsal pocket and the first restricted passageway defining a first fluid system having a length,
• a second restricted passageway having an inner diameter providing fluid communication between the second metatarsal pocket and the second heel pocket, the second heel pocket, the second metatarsal pocket and the second restricted passageway defining a second fluid system having a length, wherein the first fluid system is separated along its entire length from the second fluid system by a distance substantially greater than the inner diameter of the first restricted passageway, and
• fluid sealed in the pockets and passageways, whereby at rest a foot on the member is cushioned comfortably on the fluid in the pockets and in motion the fluid alternates between the first metatarsal pocket and the first heel pocket and between the second metatarsal pocket and the second heel pocket, so as to provide shock absorption and to produce an alternating lifting effect by the pockets which provide forward thrust both in the heel portion and in the sole portion that facilitates moving.

A shoe comprising:

• a foot-receiving upper and an elongated sole and heel structure secured to the upper;
• the structure including:
• an inside lateral edge and an outside lateral edge;
• an outsole having interior and exterior surfaces;
• a midsole overlying the outsole, the midsole having an outsole-facing surface and a foot-facing surface;
• means for 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;
• and
• a thrust-producing bladder disposed between the midsole and the outsole, the bladder including laterally spaced-apart first and second metatarsal pockets disposed in the sole portion underlying the metatarsal ball area of a foot for which the bladder is sized wherein a first portion of at least one of the midsole and outsole is disposed between the first and second metatarsal pockets,
• laterally spaced-apart first and second heel pockets disposed in the heel portion underlying the heel area of a foot for which the member is sized, the first heel pocket being disposed closer to the outside lateral edge and than the second heel pocket and rearward of the second heel pocket, wherein a second portion of at least one of the midsole and outsole is disposed between the first and second heel pockets,
• a first restricted passageway providing fluid communication between the first metatarsal pocket and the first heel pocket,
• a second restricted passageway providing fluid communication between the second metatarsal pocket and the second heel pocket, and
• fluid sealed in the pockets and passageways, whereby at rest a foot in the shoe is cushioned comfortably on the fluid in the pockets and in motion the fluid alternates between the first metatarsal pocket and the first heel pocket and between the second metatarsal pocket and the second heel pocket, so as to provide shock absorption and to produce an alternating lifting effect by the pockets which provide forward thrust both in the heel portion and in the sole portion that facilitates moving.