Patent ID: 6041522
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
In an improved structure for a shoe, includingA) an outsole having interior and exterior surfaces, the outsole having a resilient, metatarsal bulge projecting outwardly from the exterior surface and bounding a metatarsal cavity underlying a metatarsal ball area of a foot of a wearer of the shoe, the outsole having a resilient, heel bulge projecting outwardly from the exterior surface and bounding a heel cavity underlying a heel area of the foot;B) a midsole having a periphery and an inner face overlying the cavities and sealed in a leak-resistant manner to the interior surface of the outsole to seal fluid within the cavities; andC) a midsole channel opening onto the inner face of the midsole, the midsole channel overlying the interior surface of the outsole to bound an elongated passageway therewith, the passageway having opposite ends in constantly-open communication with the respective cavities, the passageway extending between the cavities for enabling the fluid to flow along the passageway between the cavities,wherein the improvement comprises:i) the metatarsal bulge being one in number;ii) the heel bulge being one in number;iii) the midsole channel being formed solely in the midsole and extending as a single groove entirely across the metatarsal cavity and the heel cavity; andiv) the midsole channel being spaced entirely within the periphery of the midsole to permanently seal the fluid within the cavities.