Patent ID: 9125453
Filing Date: 2015-09-08
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
1. A shoe having a longitudinal axis, comprising: an upper; an outsole secured to the upper; and a plurality of cushioning elements attached to a bottom surface of the outsole, wherein the plurality of cushioning elements extend partially across a width of the outsole so that cushioning elements provided on a lateral side of the shoe are spaced apart in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis from cushioning elements provided on a medial side of the shoe, wherein a longitudinal axis of a first one of the cushioning elements is oriented at a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shoe, and a longitudinal axis of a second one of the cushioning elements formed adjacent the first one of the cushioning elements is oriented at a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shoe different than the first angle, wherein the outsole and each of the plurality of cushioning elements form a plurality of tubes designed to compress to absorb loads associated with foot impact, each of the plurality of tubes including a substantially circular inner tubular surface formed by a downwardly curved inner surface of the outsole joined to an upwardly curved inner surface of the cushioning element, wherein each of the plurality of cushioning elements includes a ground-facing surface including a first portion that is concentric with the upwardly curved inner surface of the cushioning element, and a second portion that radially extends from the first portion such that an outer surface of the second portion extends radially beyond an outer surface of the first portion, and wherein the second portion is arranged to contact a ground surface, and wherein the first portion of the ground facing surface includes a recess therein, and wherein the second portion protrudes from the recess.