Patent ID: 6330757
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A sole adapted for use with an article of footwear to be worn on a foot of a person while traversing along a support surface and operative to store and release energy resulting from compressive forces between the person and the support surface, comprising:(a) a first layer of stretchable resilient material having a first surface on a first side thereof and a second surface on a second side thereof opposite the first surface;(b) a first profile formed of a stiff material and positioned on the first side of said resilient layer, said first profile having a first profile chamber formed therein with the first profile chamber having a first interior region opening toward the first surface of said resilient layer, said first profile and said resilient layer positioned relative to one another such that said resilient layer spans across the first interior region; and(c) a second profile formed of a stiff material and positioned on the second side of said resilient layer, said second profile including a single primary actuator element positioned to substantially individually underlie a majority of the heel of the person's foot and sized for mated insertion into the first profile chamber, the primary actuator element facing the second surface of said resilient layer to define a static state, said first and second profiles positioned relative to one another with said primary actuator element being oriented relative to the first profile chamber such that the compressive force between the foot and the support surface moves said first and second profiles toward one another and moves said primary actuator element into the first profile chamber thereby stretching said resilient layer into the first interior region to define an active state wherein energy is stored by said resilient layer, said resilient layer operative to release the energy to move said first and second profiles apart from one another upon removal of the compressive force to return said first and second profiles to the static state.