Patent ID: 7127835
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
1. A shoe comprising: an upper, and a rear sole 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 mid-longitudinal axis of the peripheral edges of the top wall including a point that is vertically aligned with 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, an curved walls being integral, the rearward regions of each of the top and bottom walls being separated from one another to define an open end therebetween, the open end being oriented away from the curved wall, at least a portion of the top and bottom walls being spaced a predetermined distance from each other such that during the wearer's 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 a top, a bottom and at least one interior sidewall; a void located beneath at least a portion of the top wall defined at least in part by the at least one interior sidewall of the at least one element; at least one opening on at least one of the medial and lateral sides of the shoe, the opening being in air communication with the void; and a bottom surface that is at least in part ground-engaging.