Self-inflating cushion and footwear including same

A shoe cushion comprised of:

• at least one chamber at least partially encapsulated by foam, said chamber comprised of a barrier material, said barrier material comprised of an elastomer, said elastorner being at least semi-permeable to at least a first reactant compound;
• at least a second reactant compound disposed within said at least one chamber;
• and
• wherein said first reactant compound and said second reactant compound interact to form a resultant inflatant compound selected from O2, N2, and CO2 at least partially inflating said cushion, wherein said at least one chamber is pressurized to greater than about 14.7 psi. gauge pressure by said resultant inflatant compound, and wherein a rate of diffusion of said resultant inflatant compound Through said barrier material is less than a rate of diffusion of said first reactant compound through said barrier material.

A shoe cushion comprised of:

• a plurality of chambers, at least one chamber comprised of a barrier material, said barrier material comprised of an elastomer, said elastomer being at least semi-permeable to at least a first reactant compound;
• at least a second reactant compound disposed within said at least one chamber;
• and
• wherein said first reactant compound and said second reactant compound interact to form a resultant gaseous compound selected from O2, N2, and CO2 inflating said at least one chamber, wherein said at least one first chamber is pressurized to greater than about 14.7 psi. gauge pressure by said resultant gaseous compound, and wherein a rate of diffusion of said resultant gaseous compound through said barrier material is less than a rate of diffusion of said first reactant compound through said barrier material.

A shoe cushion comprised of:

• at least one chamber comprised of a barrier material, said barrier material comprised of an elastomer, said elastomer being at least semi-permeable to at least a first reactant compound;
• at least a second reactant compound disposed within said at least one chamber;
• wherein said first reactant compound and said second reactant compound interact to form a resultant inflatant compound selected O2, N2, and CO2 pressurizing said at least one chamber to greater than about 14.7 psi. gauge pressure thereby at least partially inflating the cushion, and wherein a rate of diffusion of said resultant inflatant compound through said barrier material is less than a rate of diffusion of said first reactant compound through said barrier material;
• and
• further comprising a mechanical cushioning member disposed within said chamber.

A shoe cushion comprised of:

• at least one chamber comprised of a barrier material, said barrier material comprised of an elastomer, said elastomer being at least semi-permeable to at least a first reactant compound;
• at least a second reactant compound disposed within said at least one chamber;
• wherein said first reactant compound and said second reactant compound interact to form a resultant inflatant compound selected from O2, N2 and CO2 pressurizing said at least one chamber to greater than about 14.7 psi. gauge pressure thereby at least partially inflating the cushion, and wherein a rate of diffusion of said resultant inflatant compound through said barrier material is less than a rate of diffusion of said first reactant compound through said barrier material;
• and
• further comprising fibrous interconnection between opposed walls of said chamber.