Patent ID: 7380350
Filing Date: 2008-06-03
Classification: A43B,A43D

Abstract:
1. A shoe comprising: an upper having a forward region, an arch region, a heel region and an open interior; a midsole below the upper, the midsole including a rear sole below at least a portion of the heel region of the upper, the rear sole having a thickness, the rear sole having a perimeter, a rearward portion and an opposite forward portion below the heel region, the rear sole having a bottom surface at least a portion of which is ground-engaging, the bottom surface of the rear sole including at least one substantially planar portion and at least two portions non-planar with the at least one substantially planar portion, the non-planar portions being positioned proximate the perimeter of the rear sole and separated from each other by other portions of the bottom surface of the rear sole, each of the non-planar portions being inclined upwardly from another portion of the bottom surface of the rear sole in a direction toward the perimeter of the rear sole, one of the at least two non-planar portions being proximate the rearward portion of the rear sole, and at least a portion of another of the at least two non-planar portions being proximate the forward portion of the rear sole; a flexible plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, an interior portion and peripheral portions, the plate being positioned between at least a portion of the bottom of the shoe and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper; and at least one opening extending from the bottom of the shoe into the midsole, the at least one opening being in air communication with the interior of the upper, the opening having a height as measured from the bottom of the shoe along a vertical central axis that is greater than one-half the thickness of the rear sole.