Patent ID: 6842999

Claim:
A sole construction for underlying at least a portion of a human foot, comprising: a generally horizontal layer of stretchable material having a first side and a second side; a chamber layer having a chamber therein positioned on the first side of the layer of stretchable material, the chamber having at least one opening facing the first side of the layer of stretchable material; and an actuator positioned on the second side of the layer of stretchable material, the actuator sized such that when the sole construction is compressed, the actuator presses against the second side of the layer of stretchable material and moves at least partially into the chamber of the chamber layer; wherein the actuator is at least partially tapered such that the height of the actuator at a rear end thereof is larger than the height of the actuator at a front end thereof, wherein the height of the actuator is defined by the portion of the actuator capable of being inserted into the chamber of the chamber layer.