Patent ID: 8082684

Claim:
A sole unit for a shoe comprising: at least one decoupling track between regions of the sole unit allowing for the decoupling of the regions in response to forces from foot-ground contact; a plurality of bridge elements connecting opposite sides of the track so that when forces from foot-ground contact are alleviated, there is a recoupling of the decoupled regions; a tendon for controlling force along a defined path in the sole unit and wherein the bridge elements have first ends connected to the tendon, the tendon having at least one section disposed substantially along one side section of the decoupling track and the bridge elements extend from the tendon and are connected to the opposite side of the section of the decoupling track; and wherein the tendon extends lengthwise along the sole unit from one side of the sole unit in a heel region, across a midfoot region, to an opposite side of the sole unit in a forefoot region.