Patent ID: 7788824
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
1. A shoe comprising: an upper having a generally horizontal bottom wall, the bottom wall having an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the upper comprises a forward region having a forward center of loading and a rear region having a rear center of loading; and, a sole comprising a midsole and an outsole, the outsole having a rear lateral center position below the rear center of loading and a forward lateral center position below the forward center of loading, wherein the outsole follows a rocker curve from the rear lateral center position substantially toward a heel position of the outsole and from the forward lateral center position substantially toward a front end position of the outsole, the midsole comprising a first composite suspension element and a second composite suspension element, each of the first and second composite suspension elements constructed of a material having a substantially lower hysteresis than adjacent midsole materials and having a generally elliptical shape defined by a generally convex upper suspension arm and a generally concave lower suspension arm, each of the first and second composite suspension elements having a center of compression, wherein the center of compression of the first composite suspension element is generally aligned with the forward center of loading of the upper and wherein the center of compression of the second composite suspension element is generally aligned with the rear center of loading of the upper, the generally concave lower suspension arm of the first composite suspension element having a first radius of curvature generating a first curve and the generally concave lower suspension arm of the second composite suspension element having a second radius of curvature generating a second curve, wherein the first curve is generally parallel to the rocker curve of the outsole from the forward lateral center position substantially toward a front end position of the outsole, and wherein the second curve is generally parallel to the rocker curve of the outsole from the rear lateral center position substantially toward a heel position of the outsole.