Patent ID: 6796056
Filing Date: 2004-09-28
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A sole component for footwear comprising:a sealed chamber containing a fluid, said chamber having a first major surface with a first perimeter border, an opposing second major surface with a second perimeter border and a sidewall surface connecting the first and second perimeter borders of said major surfaces, said first and second major surfaces being devoid of internal connection, said second perimeter border located inward of said first perimeter border such that said sidewall surface contours outwardly from said second major surface to said first major surface; and a resilient material surrounding at least a portion of said chamber, said resilient material covering a substantial portion of at least one of said major surface, wherein said first major surface is connected to said second major surface solely by said sidewall, surface, and said first and second borders each have first and second narrow sides and first and second long sides, said first narrow side being longer than said second narrow side so that said first and second long sides angle toward one another extending from said first narrow side to said second narrow side, and said first and second narrow sides are curved so that said chamber has a pear shape, a substantial portion of said first major surface being substantially planar, and a substantial portion of said second major surface being substantially planar and with less than 50% of the area of said substantially planar portion of said first major surface.