Patent ID: 6557274
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A supportive upper for an athletic shoe having toe, midfoot and heel regions, said upper comprising:a foot conforming support member having an interior surface in facing relationship with the foot of a wearer and an exterior surface which forms a portion of the outermost surface of the upper; an inflatable exoskeleton attached to a portion of said exterior surface of said foot conforming support member, said inflatable exoskeleton comprising two thin films which are bonded along their peripheral edges to form at least one fluid impervious compartment; an overlay positioned over said inflatable exoskeleton to inhibit outward bulging of said inflatable exoskeleton away from a surface of a wearer's foot, said overlay allowing visualization of said inflatable exoskeleton through said overlay; and an inflation mechanism for inflating said inflatable exoskeleton.