US4667423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Resilient composite midsole and method of making
Assignee: Autry Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1985-05-28
•
Granted: 1987-05-26
•
Expires: 2005-05-28
Abstract
Abstract A midsole (18) is formed from a first, interior member (26) and a second, exterior member (28) molded around the top and sides of the first member (26). The first and second members (26) and (28) are formed of cushionable material and the second member (28) has a higher hardness and resiliency than the first member (26).
Inventors
- 👤 James C. Autry
- 👤 Lin Yung-Mai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 18:54
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B13/00; A43B13/14; A43B13/141; A43B13/02; A43B13/12; A43B13/18; A43B13/187; A43B17/00; A43B17/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A midsole for a shoe, comprising: a first member having a top and a plurality of sides; a second member molded around the top and sides of said first member, said first and second members being formed of cushionable material, said second member having a higher hardness and resilience than said first member; a plurality of elongate first member stress bars formed transversely in said first member in an area underneath the metatarsal-phalangeal region of the foot, a plurality of elongate second member stress bars formed in said second member in substantial alignment with said first member stress bars, such that an easily flexing joint of said midsole is formed in conformance with the flexure of the matatarsal-phalangeal junction of the foot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A midsole for a shoe, comprising: a first member having a top and a plurality of sides; a second member molded around the top and sides of said first member, said first and second members being formed of cushionable material, said second member having a higher hardness and resilience than said first member; a plurality of elongate first member stress bars formed transversely in said first member in an area underneath the metatarsal-phalangeal region of the foot, a plurality of elongate second member stress bars formed in said second member in substantial alignment with said first member stress bars, such that an easily flexing joint of said midsole is formed in conformance with the flexure of the matatarsal-phalangeal junction of the foot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The midsole of claim 1, wherein said second member forms a peripheral ring of substantially uniform thickness laterally around said first member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The midsole of claim 1, wherein said first member is fabricated from lhtlon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The midsole of claim 1, wherein said second member is fabricated from polyurethane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The midsole of claim 1, wherein said second member has a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of exterior sides, said exterior sides sloping downwardly and outwardly from said second member top surface to said bottom surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The midsole of claim 1 wherein said second member has a top surface, a plantar region and a heel region, said top surface sloping downwardly longitudinally from the heel region to the plantar region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The midsole of claim 6, wherein said first member has a top surface, the top surface of the first member sloping downwardly longitudinally in a manner substantially parallel to said second member top surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The midsole of claim 1, wherein said second member includes a top surface, said second member stress bars being formed transversely in said top surface as a plurality of elongate indentations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The midsole of claim 8, wherein said stress bars are formed as segments of radial rays, the radial rays emanating from a point laterally inward from said midsole.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The midsole of claim 8, wherein said first member has a top surface and a bottom surface, said first member stress bars being divided from each other by elongate apertures between said first member top surface and said bottom surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The midsole of claim 10, wherein said first member stress bars are formed as segments of radial rays, said radial rays emanating from a point laterally inward from said midsole.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The midsole of claim 10, wherein said first member stress bars are filled with material forming said second member.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for fabricating a composite midsole allowing easy flexure of the metatarsal-phalangeal junction of the foot, comprising the steps of: forming a first cushionable midsole member having a top and a plurality of sides, the first member further having a plurality of transverse stress bars, the stress bars being situated in an area underneath the metatarsal-phalangeal junction of the wearer's foot; and molding a second cushionable midsole member around the top and sides of the first member, a plurality of stress bars formed in the second member in substantial parallel alignment with the first member stress bars, the second member being harder and more resilient than the first member.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for fabricating a composite midsole allowing easy flexure of the metatarsal-phalangeal junction of the foot, comprising the steps of: forming a first cushionable midsole member having a top and a plurality of sides, the first member further having a plurality of transverse stress bars, the stress bars being situated in an area underneath the metatarsal-phalangeal junction of the wearer's foot; and molding a second cushionable midsole member around the top and sides of the first member, a plurality of stress bars formed in the second member in substantial parallel alignment with the first member stress bars, the second member being harder and more resilient than the first member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the second member has a top surface and the first member has a top surface and a bottom surface, the method including the steps of: forming the second member stress bars as a plurality of elongate indentations in the second member top surface; forming a plurality of elongate apertures between the first member top surface and the first member bottom surface, the apertures defining the first member stress bars therebetween; suspending the first member in a mold; and molding the second member around the first member, the material used to mold the second member invading the cavities.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 13, wherein the stress bars are formed as segments in a plurality of radial rays, the rays emanating from a point laterally inward from the midsole.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the second member has a bottom surface flush with a bottom surface of the first member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the first member is fabricated of lhtlon and the second member is fabricated of polyurethane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2314237A
Cited
US2363995A
Cited
US2478664A
Cited
US3824716A
Cited
US4393605A
Cited
US4559723A
Cited
US4498251A
Cited
US4551930A
Cited
US4561140A
Cited
US4562651A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-25 | 1990-11-24 | 1991-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-25 | 1994-11-24 | 1995-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-25 | 1998-11-24 | 1999-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |