Patent ID: 6021588
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A shoe assembly for containing and supporting the foot of a human and for use while standing and striding, the shoe assembly having an upper portion connected to a sole portion, the sole portion comprising interconnected portions including at least a midsole portion and an outer sole portionthe midsole portion being of a resilient material;the outer sole portion being of a durable material and comprising a sequence of pads bonded to the midsole portion, the resiliency of the midsole portion being such that the pads are movable relative to one another, the pads including at least a heel pad located to underlie the heel of a foot received in the shoe, a lateral arch pad located to underlie the lateral arch of a foot received in the shoe, a medial arch pad located to underlie the medial arch of a foot received in the shoe, and a pattern of forefoot pads located to underlie the forefoot of a foot received in the shoe, the forefoot pads including at least some which underlie and support the pressure points exerted by the skeletal structure of a human foot received in the shoe during a stride;the sole portion of the shoe permitting the lateral arch of the foot to pronate during a stride, the medial arch to pronate during a stride and the forefoot to splay during a stride;the sole portion having a heel area, a lateral arch area and a toe area, the thickness of the heel area, the lateral arch area and the toe area being approximately the same such that no appreciable forward or backward tilt is imparted to the skeletal and muscular structures above the foot;side wall portions extending upwardly from the sole portion adjacent the lateral arch and the medial arch areas,whereby the shoe assembly when receiving, containing and supporting a human foot allows its normal and unconstrained pronation and supination motion during a stride.