Patent ID: 6061928
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A shoe comprising:a sole assembly, said sole assembly having at least one pocket therein, said at least one pocket having a bottom surface and side surfaces inside of said pocket;a plurality of separately formed cylindrical cushioning elements disposed in said at least one pocket, wherein adjacent cushioning elements are in contact with each other such that when a force is applied to a top of said cushioning elements said cushioning elements are deformed between said bottom surface of said pocket and said top of said cushioning elements, and wherein said cushioning elements are expandable in a lateral direction, such that upon application of said force said cushioning elements transfer said force to said side surfaces of said pocket:wherein said plurality of cylindrical cushioning elements have a cylindrical shape in an uncompressed state, and wherein at least some of said cushioning elements are disposed in said pocket under compression such that adjacent cushioning elements are compressed and deformed against each other and a planar contact surface is provided between adjacent contacting cushioning elements.