Patent ID: 6516540
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A ground contacting system comprising:a sole; and a first element depending from solely a portion of a bottom surface of the sole, the first element comprising: a ground-contacting member having a ground-contacting surface; at least one of a continuous sidewall and a top surface bonding the ground-contacting member to the portion of the bottom surface of the sole; an interior defined by the portion of the bottom surface of the sole, the sidewall and the top surface of the ground-contacting member and including at least one hollow portion; a perpendicular resistance to deformation relative to an axis perpendicular to the bottom surface of the sole; and a parallel resistance to deformation relative to a deformation surface parallel with the bottom surface of the sole, where the parallel resistance to deformation allows the sole to move relative to a ground-contacting surface of the ground-contacting member of the first element during foot fall, wherein the perpendicular resistance to deformation of the first element is greater than the parallel resistance to deformation of the first element.