Patent ID: 6553692
Filing Date: 2003-04-29
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A shock absorbing mechanism for a shoe comprising a plurality of connected structural members, at least one of said structural members defining an upper support surface of an upper pedestal, at least another of said structural members defining a lower support surface of a lower pedestal, means including said plurality of connected structural members for spacing said upper and lower support surfaces apart and for allowing said upper and lower support surfaces to be movable toward and away from each other, said upper and lower support surfaces defining the exterior length, width and height dimensions of said mechanism, said means including a plurality of expandable and collapsible members being connected to said structural members between said upper and lower support surfaces within said length, width and height dimensions of said mechanism, said extendable and collapsible members being moveable between an extended position and a collapsed position without increasing said length and width dimensions of said mechanism as defined by said upper and lower support surfaces, means including each of said extendable and collapsible members for resisting the force applied to compress said upper and lower support surfaces together by a force less than the force applied between said upper and lower support surfaces, each of said extendable and collapsible members having a spring associated therewith urging said connected structural members into an at rest position, said spring both supporting the wearer of the shoe and cushioning all impacts on the wearer of the shoe by decreasing the velocity of all movement from said at rest position between said connected structural members in accordance with Hook's law, a pin and a pair of sliders, said pin extending between said one and another of said connected structural members, said upper and lower support surfaces being moveable toward and away from each other guided by said pin, said pin holding said one and another of said connected structural members together, said sliders being positioned between said upper and lower support surfaces, said extendable and collapsible members being pivotally connected to said sliders, said sliders and said extendable and collapsible members being movable from said at rest position when said upper and lower support surfaces move with respect to each other from said at rest position, said spring of each of said extendable and collapsible members urging said extendable and collapsible members into said at rest position.