Patent ID: 7624516

Claim:
A component for use in a shoe, the component comprising: first and second tubular portions having resilient load-bearing first and second hollow tubular walls, respectively, one of the walls having a shape for extending generally along a lateral side of a wearer's foot and the other having a shape for extending generally along a medial side of the wearer's foot, the tubular walls having a thickness, material, and shape providing sufficient strength for supporting and cushioning the lateral and medial sides of the wearer's foot, the tubular walls having an exterior surface with an outwardly oriented portion and an inwardly oriented portion, the inwardly oriented portion of the first and second tubular walls being oriented toward one another; and a central portion having a resilient load-bearing central surface disposed between and joined with the first and second tubular portions, the central portion having a strength for supporting and cushioning a width-wise central part of the foot, the central portion not forming a portion of an air-tight enclosure, the central portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, the lower surface of the central portion having a plurality of ribs.