Patent ID: 6662471
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A shoe comprising:an upper, and a rear sole secured below a portion of the upper, the rear sole comprising: a member having a top wall with a lower surface, the top wall having at least one peripheral edge proximate a medial side of the shoe and at least one peripheral edge proximate a lateral side of the shoe, the peripheral edges of the top wall having a mid-longitudinal axis therebetween, the top wall having an opening beneath the wearer's heel, the mid-longitudinal axis of the peripheral edges of the top wall including a point that is vertically aligned with the approximate center of the opening in the top wall and the approximate center of the wearer's heel, the member having a bottom wall with an upper surface, the bottom wall having at least two portions approximately planar with each other, parallel with the ground, and separated by a gap therebetween, the top wall and the bottom wall each having a forward region and a rearward region, the forward regions of the top and bottom walls being connected at a closed end by a curved wall; the top, bottom, and curved walls being integral, the rearward regions of the top and bottom walls being oriented toward a back of the shoe, at least a portion of the top and bottom walls being spaced a predetermined distance from each other such that during the wearers gait cycle when the shoe is in contact with the ground the predetermined distance between the at least a portion of the top and bottom walls is reduced; at least one element positioned between at least a portion of the top wall and at least a portion of the bottom wall, the at least one element having at least one interior sidewall; a void located beneath the opening in the top wall defined at least in part by the at least one interior sidewall of the at least one element, at least a portion of the void being vertically aligned with the approximate center of the opening in the top wall; at least one opening on at least one of the medial and lateral sides of the shoe, the opening being in communication with the void; and a bottom surface that is at least in part ground-engaging.