US4481727A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shoe sole construction
Assignee: Avia Group International Inc
•
Filing: 1982-06-21
•
Granted: 1984-11-13
•
Expires: 2002-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A shoe sole construction which features an outer sole (18) having at least one opening (26) through which a protrusion (30) of a less dense midsole (16) extends. The cutout area (26) of the more dense outsole (18) decreases the overall weight of the sole (12), while the less dense protrusion (30) aids in cushioning the foot to provide greater comfort and support. Other protrusions (32 and 68) may also be provided through other openings in the outsole to further lessen weight and increase the cushioning effect on the foot. Additionally, grooves (42) may be provided on the upper surface (40) of the midsole (16) to increase flexibility of the sole (12) and further aid in cushioning the foot and providing peripheral support where needed. The invention may be applied to athletic shoes (FIGS. 1-9), a woman's high-heeled shoe (FIGS. 10-14), or other footwear.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerry D. Stubblefield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:21
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B13/00; A43B13/28; A43B13/32; A43B13/14; A43B13/141; A43B13/37; A43B13/38; A43B7/00; A43B7/14; A43B7/1405; A43B7/1415; A43B7/144; A43B7/1445
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A shoe, which comprises: an upper; an outsole made of a material having a first density and including at least one generally oval cutout portion formed therethrough under the metatarsal arch portion of the foot of a wearer; and a midsole made of a material having a second density less than said first density and positioned between said upper and said outsole, said midsole including a lower surface having a protruding portion that extends through said cutout portion of said outsole, said protruding portion forming a continuous, generally oval expanse that is positioned in the forepart of said midsole under the approximate area of the metatarsal arch of a wearer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A shoe, which comprises: an upper; an outsole made of a material having a first density and including at least one generally oval cutout portion formed therethrough under the metatarsal arch portion of the foot of a wearer; and a midsole made of a material having a second density less than said first density and positioned between said upper and said outsole, said midsole including a lower surface having a protruding portion that extends through said cutout portion of said outsole, said protruding portion forming a continuous, generally oval expanse that is positioned in the forepart of said midsole under the approximate area of the metatarsal arch of a wearer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said outsole includes a bottom surface and wherein said protruding portion extends below a portion of said bottom surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said protruding portion includes a longitudinally formed concavity on its lower surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A shoe as set forth in claims 1 or 3, wherein said protruding portion includes a transversely formed concavity on its lower surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 2, wherein said protruding portion is adapted to contact the ground prior to said portion of said bottom surface upon foot-initiated ground impact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 5, wherein said portion of said bottom surface surrounds said protruding portion of said midsole and comprises the forefoot portion of said outsole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said outsole further includes a second cutout portion formed therethrough and said midsole further includes a second protruding portion that extends through said second cutout portion of said outsole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first protruding portion is formed in the forepart of said midsole in the approximate area of the metatarsal arch, while said second protruding portion is formed in the rear part of said midsole in the approximate area of the heel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 8, wherein the bottom surface of said second protruding portion of said midsole is approximately flush with the bottom surface of said outsole.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first protruding portion is formed in the forepart of said midsole in the approximate area of the metatarsal arch, while said second protruding portion is formed along the instep area of said midsole in the approximate area of the inner longitudinal arch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said midsole further includes an upper surface a portion of which is adapted to be compressed by the foot of a wearer upon foot-initiated ground impact, said portion of said upper surface including means for making said portion more compressible than the rest of said midsole.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 11, wherein said means comprises cut out areas formed in said upper surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 12, wherein said cut out areas comprise a plurality of substantially parallel grooves formed substantially transversely across said portion of said upper surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 13, wherein said grooves are substantially parallel to the lines of flexing of the metatarsal bones of the foot.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 13, wherein said grooves are formed on said portion of said upper surface at an angle to the centerline of said midsole which angle substantially corresponds to the lines of flexing of the metatarsal bones of the foot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
A shoe sole, which comprises: an outsole having a bottom portion adapted to contact the ground and an open area formed in the forepart of the outsole generally under the metatarsal arch; and a midsole secured to said outsole and including a protruding portion extending through said open area of said outsole for contacting the ground during ground impact for cushioning the foot of the wearer, said protruding portion forming a continuous, generally oval expanse that is positioned in the forepart of said midsole under the approximate area of the metatarsal arch of a wearer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
95 words
A shoe sole, which comprises: an outsole having a bottom portion adapted to contact the ground and an open area formed in the forepart of the outsole generally under the metatarsal arch; and a midsole secured to said outsole and including a protruding portion extending through said open area of said outsole for contacting the ground during ground impact for cushioning the foot of the wearer, said protruding portion forming a continuous, generally oval expanse that is positioned in the forepart of said midsole under the approximate area of the metatarsal arch of a wearer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A shoe sole as set forth in claim 16, wherein said midsole is made of a less dense material than said outsole.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
A shoe sole as set forth in claim 16, wherein said outsole includes a plurality of open areas and further comprising a plurality of integral portions of said midsole which respectively protrude through said plurality of open areas.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
96 words
A shoe, which comprises: an upper; an outsole having a bottom portion adapted to contact the ground and an open area formed in the forepart of the outsole generally under the metatarsal arch; and a midsole secured to said outsole and including a protruding portion extending through said open area of said outsole for contacting the ground during ground impact for cushioning the foot of the wearer, said protruding portion forming a continuous, generally oval expanse that is positioned in the forepart of said midsole under the approximate area of the metatarsal arch of a wearer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
96 words
A shoe, which comprises: an upper; an outsole having a bottom portion adapted to contact the ground and an open area formed in the forepart of the outsole generally under the metatarsal arch; and a midsole secured to said outsole and including a protruding portion extending through said open area of said outsole for contacting the ground during ground impact for cushioning the foot of the wearer, said protruding portion forming a continuous, generally oval expanse that is positioned in the forepart of said midsole under the approximate area of the metatarsal arch of a wearer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 19, wherein said midsole is made of a less dense material than said outsole.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 19, wherein said outsole includes a plurality of open areas and further comprising a plurality of integral portions of said midsole which respectively protrude through said plurality of open areas.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
82 words
A midsole, which comprises: an upper surface a portion of which is adapted to be compressed by the foot of a wearer upon foot-initiated ground impact, said portion of said upper surface including cut out groove means for making said portion more compressible than the rest of said midsole; and a lower surface including a continuous, generally oval protrusion extending under the metatarsal arch of a wearer for contacting the ground during foot-induced impact for cushioning the metatarsal arch of the wearer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
82 words
A midsole, which comprises: an upper surface a portion of which is adapted to be compressed by the foot of a wearer upon foot-initiated ground impact, said portion of said upper surface including cut out groove means for making said portion more compressible than the rest of said midsole; and a lower surface including a continuous, generally oval protrusion extending under the metatarsal arch of a wearer for contacting the ground during foot-induced impact for cushioning the metatarsal arch of the wearer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A midsole as set forth in claim 22, wherein said cut out groove means comprise a plurality of substantially parallel grooves formed substantially transversely across said portion of said upper surface.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
A midsole as set forth in claim 23, wherein said grooves are substantially parallel to the lines of flexing of the metatarsal bones of the foot.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
45 words
A midsole as set forth in claim 23, wherein said grooves are formed on said portion of said upper surface at an angle to the centerline of said midsole which angle substantially corresponds to the lines of flexing of the metatarsal bones of the foot.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
99 words
A shoe, which comprises: an upper; an outsole; and a midsole positioned between said upper and said outsole; said midsole including an upper surface a portion of which is adapted to be compressed by the foot of a wearer upon foot-initiated ground impact, said portion of said upper surface including cut out groove means for making said portion more compressible than the rest of said midsole; and a lower surface including a continuous, generally oval protrusion extending under the metatarsal arch of a wearer for contacting the ground during foot-induced impact for cushioning the metatarsal arch of the wearer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
99 words
A shoe, which comprises: an upper; an outsole; and a midsole positioned between said upper and said outsole; said midsole including an upper surface a portion of which is adapted to be compressed by the foot of a wearer upon foot-initiated ground impact, said portion of said upper surface including cut out groove means for making said portion more compressible than the rest of said midsole; and a lower surface including a continuous, generally oval protrusion extending under the metatarsal arch of a wearer for contacting the ground during foot-induced impact for cushioning the metatarsal arch of the wearer.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 26, wherein said cut out groove means comprise a plurality of substantially parallel grooves formed substantially transversely across said portion of said upper surface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 27, wherein said grooves are substantially parallel to the lines of flexing of the metatarsal bones of the foot.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 27, wherein said grooves are formed on said portion of said upper surface at an angle to the centerline of said midsole which angle substantially corresponds to the lines of flexing of the metatarsal bones of the foot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2199853A
Cited
DE680698C
Cited
US2201300A
Cited
US2745197A
Cited
US2931110A
Cited
FR2269881A1
Cited
US4124946A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-11-13 | 1988-05-14 | 1988-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-11-13 | 1992-05-14 | 1992-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-11-13 | 1996-05-14 | 1996-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |