Air cushion having support pin structure for shock-absorbing, method for manufacturing the air cushion, and footgear comprising the air cushion

A method for manufacturing an air cushion having a support pin structure for absorbing shock, comprising the steps of:

• molding an upper plate having a plurality of support pins arranged in a downward direction on the bottom surface thereof;
• molding a lower plate having a plurality of pin receiving bodies on the top surface thereof opposite to said upper plate, each of said pin receiving bodies extending from said top surface toward the upper plate and having a groove into which each of said support pins is inserted;
• coupling said upper plate and lower plate to receive and fix said support pins into said pin receiving bodies such that distal ends of said support pins do not extend beyond said top surface of said lower plate;
• and
• sealing the coupled upper and lower plates by means of a cushion body to maintain the air-tightness therein.

An air cushion of a foot gear for absorbing shock applied to a sole of a foot, the foot gear having a sole portion for supporting the foot and an outer surface portion for surrounding the foot, the sole portion having an outsole and an insole with the air cushion disposed therebetween, the air cushion comprising:

• a cushion body having a membrane outer surface and a membrane inner surface defining an air chamber therein;
• a first interior plate disposed within the air chamber having a first outer surface fixedly engaged against a side of the membrane inner surface, and a first inner surface having a plurality of support pins extending from the first inner surface toward an interior of the air chamber;
• and
• a second interior plate disposed within the air chamber having a second outer surface fixedly engaged against an opposing side of the membrane inner surface, and a second inner surface having a plurality of pin receiving bodies extending from the second inner surface toward the interior of the air chamber, each pin receiving body having a groove into which a distal end of each support pin is fixedly inserted such that the distal ends of the support pins do not extend beyond the second inner surface.

A foot gear for absorbing shock applied to a sole of a foot, the foot gear comprising:

• an outer surface portion for surrounding the foot;
• and
• a sole portion for supporting the foot, the sole portion having an outsole and an insole with an air cushion disposed therebetween, the air cushion including,
• cushion body having a membrane outer surface and a membrane inner surface defining an air chamber therein,
• a first interior plate disposed within the air chamber having a first outer surface fixedly engaged against a side of the membrane inner surface, and a first inner surface having a plurality of support pins extending from the first inner surface toward an interior of the air chamber, and
• a second interior plate disposed within the air chamber having a second outer surface fixedly engaged against an opposing side of the membrane inner surface, and a second inner surface having a plurality of pin receiving bodies extending from the second inner surface toward the interior of the air chamber, each pin receiving body having a groove into which a distal end of each support pin is fixedly inserted such that the distal ends of the support pins do not extend beyond the second inner surface.