Patent ID: 6557271
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
An article of footwear comprising:a sole; an upper portion comprising a shell for enclosing a user's foot therein, said shell having a portion for extending at least partially around a user's ankle, the user's ankle having an ankle joint at a height above the sole; and a suspension system extending between said upper portion and said sole, said suspension system including an energy storage member, said energy storage member transferring reaction forces generated at said sole from said sole to said shell generally at said portion for extending to thereby transfer the reaction forces to the height of the ankle joint of the user's ankle whereby said energy storage member eliminates/reduces overturning moment forces on the user's ankle when lateral forces are applied in said article of footwear wherein said energy storage member comprises a first energy storage member, said article comprising a second energy storage member, said first energy storage member having a first spring constant, and said second energy storage member having a second spring constant.