Shoe sole with low profile integral spring system

Claim 1

An article of footwear, comprising (a) an upper portion for engaging the top of a foot on which said footwear is worn, (b) a bottom portion connected to said upper portion for engaging the sole of said foot, (c) said bottom portion including at least a pair of upper and lower strata generally conforming to the outline of said sole and spaced from one another to define a chamber therebetween, and, (d) spring means of relatively low profile mounted in said chamber and adapted to provide a spring action perpendicular to said sole, (e) spring means including a plurality of individual spring units arranged in closely spaced side by side relation within said chamber, (f) each of said spring units comprised of a relatively wide annular support mounted to one of said strata, a hub mounted to the other of said strata in opposing coaxial relation to said support and a relatively narrow disc spring element mounted coaxially to said hub and engaging said support, said support providing axial clearance for said disc when the center thereof is deflected axially by applied force.