Patent ID: 8561323
Filing Date: 2013-10-22
Classification: A42B,A43B,B32B,F16F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A footwear or orthotic sole, comprising: an outer sole; and a footwear or orthotic device, the device including at least one bladder having side portions, an uppermost surface and a lowermost surface, both said surfaces being curved concavely on both said side portions to define concavely curved side portions of the at least one bladder, so that said concavely curved side portions, together with a middle portion extending between the side portions, form said at least one bladder in a U-shape, the concave curvature and the U-shape being determined relative to a central portion of an intended wearer's foot location on said footwear or orthotic sole, as viewed in a frontal plane cross-section when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition; at least two internal structures, wherein said at least two internal structures are interconnected to each other, and each said interconnected internal structure is formed by a flexible, resilient midsole material including at least a foamed plastic, a plastic composite and/or a blown rubber, said two interconnected internal structures being substantially surrounded on at least a top, bottom and sides by said at least one bladder; said at least one bladder and said two interconnected internal structures being separated at least in part by at least one internal sipe; wherein said at least one internal sipe is formed by an inner surface of said at least one bladder and an opposing surface of said two interconnected internal structures; and the opposing surfaces forming the sipe can move relative to each other in a sliding motion; said at least one bladder including at least one media selected from a gas, a liquid, and a gel located inside said at least one bladder, and at least a part of each of two or more of said interconnected internal structures is proximate to both an upper inner surface and a lower inner surface of the at least one bladder when the footwear or orthotic sole is upright and in an unloaded condition.