Patent ID: 6944972
Filing Date: 2005-09-20
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
1. An article of footwear comprising: a first energy return plate extending from a toe area of the foot and terminating at an arch area of the foot; a second energy return plate independent from the first plate and spaced a predetermined distance from the first plate, the second energy return plate extending from the toe area of the foot and terminating at the arch area of the foot; a first elastomeric separating element connecting the first and second plates forward of an area of the footwear corresponding to the ball of the foot; a second elastomeric separating element connecting the first and second plates behind the area corresponding to the ball of the foot and forward of an area corresponding to the heel to maintain the spacing between said plates during a gait cycle of a wearer comprising a toe strike and a toe off the first and second elastomeric elements forming a void between the first and second plates and wherein; during toe strike the toe portion of both the first and second plates deforms upward; and during toe off the first and second plates recover to the non-deformed state releasing stored energy into a step forward and upward propelling the wearer forward.