Patent ID: 6338206
Filing Date: 2002-01-15
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A sole assembly for an athletic shoe comprising a midsole member and a cover portion, wherein:said midsole member is formed of a soft elastic material, includes a midsole forefoot portion and a midsole heel portion, terminates along a medial side edge and a lateral side edge, and is bounded by a midsole top surface and a midsole bottom surface, said midsole member has therein a curved transverse groove formed in said midsole bottom surface of said midsole forefoot portion and extending along a curve in a transverse direction between said medial side edge and said lateral side edge of said midsole forefoot portion, said midsole member has a first groove end opening at a first side edge selected from said medial side edge and said lateral side edge of said midsole forefoot portion through which said curved transverse groove is in communication outwardly through said first side edge with an ambient atmosphere surrounding said sole assembly, said cover portion is arranged adjoining said midsole bottom surface, and spanning and covering said curved transverse groove so as to define a transverse air tube in said curved transverse groove covered by said cover portion, said cover portion has an arched sectional shape arching into said curved transverse groove toward said midsole top surface, said midsole member has a protrusion of said midsole forefoot portion protruding into said curved transverse groove toward said cover portion proximate to said first groove end opening at said first side edge, said protrusion and said cover portion protrude toward each other and cooperate with each other to form a valve arrangement that selectively varies a cross-sectional opening area of said first groove end opening, and said midsole forefoot portion has a hole passing therethrough from said midsole top surface into said curved transverse groove.