Shoe with internal dynamic rocker element

Claim 2

A shoe comprising: (i) a substantially planar outsole including a sole portion and a heel portion; (ii) a flexible midsole attached to the top of the outsole, and having a forefoot area; and (iii) an internal rocker element disposed in the forefoot area of the midsole, the internal rocker element having a substantially planar upper surface and a convexly curved lower surface disposed so as to form a geometrical solid and fabricated out of a material which renders the internal rocker element less flexible and substantially more rigid than adjacent portions of the midsole, so as to assist in thrusting the forefoot downward and the heel upward in the course of the wearer's gait, when the region of the shoe portion proximate to such element is in contact with the ground.

Claim 3

A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the forefoot area of the midsole has a recess disposed across its width and the internal rocker element is disposed in the recess.

Claim 4

A shoe comprising: (i) an outsole including a sole portion and a heel portion, the heel portion including an aperture therein having side walls; (ii) a flexible midsole having a central axis and two sides attached to the top of the outsole, the midsole including a heel portion with an aperture therein having sidewalls and the midsole further including a forefoot area with a first recess disposed across the width of the forefoot area; (iii) an internal rocker element disposed in the first recess of the forefoot area, the internal rocker element having a planar upper surface and a convexly curved arcuate lower surface, and fabricated out of a material which renders the internal rocker element less flexible than the midsole; (iv) an anti-torsion member with a central axis lying in a complementarily shaped second recess along the central axis of the midsole, the rear portion of the anti-torsion member lying proximate to the upper portion of the heel capsule, such member further including two integrally formed arms transversely disposed with respect to the central axis of the shank, and extending towards the sides of the midsole; (v) a heel capsule having side walls and extending through the apertures in the heel portion of the midsole and the outsole, wherein the side walls are generally conformable to those of the apertures; and (vi) such midsole including an energy efficient forefoot section, nested within a higher density perimeter, adjoining the anti-torsion member.

Claim 5

A shoe comprising: (i) an outsole including a sole portion and a heel portion, the heel portion including an aperture therein having side walls; (ii) a flexible midsole having a central axis and two sides attached to the top of the outsole, the midsole including a heel portion with an aperture therein having sidewalls and the midsole further including a forefoot area with a first recess disposed across the width of the forefoot area; (iii) an internal rocker element disposed in the first recess of the forefoot area, the internal rocker element having a planar upper surface and a convexly curved arcuate lower surface, and fabricated out of a material which renders the internal rocker element less flexible than the midsole; (iv) an anti-torsion member with a central axis lying in a complementarily shaped second recess along the central axis of the midsole, the rear portion of the anti-torsion member lying proximate to the upper portion of the heel capsule, such member further including two integrally formed arms transversely disposed with respect to the central axis of the shank, and extending towards the sides of the midsole; (v) a heel capsule having side walls and extending through the apertures in the heel portion of the midsole and the outsole, wherein the side walls are generally conformable to those of the apertures; and (vi) such midsole including an energy efficient forefoot section, nested within a higher density perimeter, adjoining the anti-torsion member.

Claim 6

A shoe according to claim 3, wherein the heel capsule extends most of the way through the aperture in the heel portion of the shoe, leaving a gap between the capsule and a walking surface.

Claim 7

A shoe according to claim 3, wherein the anti-torsion member is resilient.

Claim 8

A shoe according to claim 3, further including a perimeter support wedge in the heel portion thereof between the outsole and midsole and made of material less flexible than the midsole, wherein the perimeter support wedge has an aperture in the heel portion thereof.

Claim 9

A shoe according to claim 3, further including a rear foot stabilizer above the midsole and curving around the perimeter of the heel capsule, wherein the rear foot stabilizer has sidewalls extending around the heel of the foot of the wearer.

Claim 10

A shoe according to claim 3, wherein the midsole is composed of two layers, an upper midsole layer and a lower midsole layer and wherein, (i) the anti-torsion member is disposed in the upper midsole layer (ii) the first recess is disposed in the lower midsole layer and (iii) the internal rocker element is disposed in the first recess between the upper midsole layer and the lower midsole layer.

Claim 11

A shoe according to claim 4, wherein the midsole is composed of two layers, and upper midsole layer and a lower midsole layer and wherein, (i) the anti-torsion member is disposed in the upper midsole layer (ii) the first recess is disposed in the lower midsole layer and (iii) the internal rocket element is disposed in the first recess between the upper midsole layer and the lower midsole layer.

Claim 12

A shoe according to claim 5, wherein the midsole is composed of two layers, an upper midsole layer and a lower midsole layer and wherein, (i) the anti-torsion member is disposed in the upper midsole (ii) the first recess is disposed in the lower midsole layer and (iii) the internal rocker element is disposed in the first recess between the upper midsole layer and the lower midsole layer.

Claim 13

A shoe according to claim 6, wherein the midsole is composed of two layers, an upper midsole layer and a lower midsole layer and wherein, (i) the anti-torsion member is disposed in the upper midsole layer (ii) the first recess is disposed in the lower midsole layer and (iii) the internal rocker element is disposed in the first recess between the upper midsole layer and the lower midsole layer.

Claim 14

A shoe according to claim 7, wherein the midsole is composed of two layers, an upper midsole layer and a lower midsole layer and wherein, (i) the anti-torsion member is disposed in the upper midsole layer (ii) the first recess is disposed in the lower midsole layer and (iii) the internal rocker element is disposed in the first recess between the upper midsole layer and the lower midsole layer.