Shoe sole having improved lateral and medial stability

Claim 2

A shoe sole providing cushioning and enhanced lateral and medial stability to a foot supported on the shoe sole, the shoe sole comprising: a cushioned sole member having a vertical thickness, a longitudinal length and a lateral width, the sole member having opposite left and right sidewalls extending along its length and the sole member being formed of a resilient material having a first hardness; means for stabilizing the left side of the sole member, the left side stabilizing means being embedded within the sole member and extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length and at least a portion of the vertical thickness of the sole member juxtaposed adjacent the left sidewall, the left side stabilizing means being formed of a resilient material having a second hardness, different than the first hardness of the sole member; means for stabilizing the right side of the sole member, the right side stabilizing means being embedded within the sole member and extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length and at least a portion of the vertical thickness of the sole member juxtaposed adjacent the right sidewall, the right side stabilizing means being formed of a resilient material having the second hardness; a base connected to the left side stabilizing means and the right side stabilizing means, the base having a vertical thickness less than a vertical thickness of the left side stabilizing means and less than a vertical thickness of the right side stabilizing means, and the base having a lateral width spacing the left and right stabilizing means apart from each other and positioning the left and right stabilizing means adjacent the left and right sidewalls of the sole member, respectively; and means for containing a fluid are provided inside the sole member, the fluid containing means being positioned in a center portion of the sole member between the left and right side stabilizing means.

Claim 3

The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein: the second hardness is greater than the first hardness, and the left and right stabilizing means increase resistance to compression of the sole member adjacent the left and right sidewalls, respectively, while not effecting compression resistance of the sole member at an area of the sole member between the left and right stabilizing means.

Claim 4

The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein: the left and right side stabilizing means have longitudinal lengths substantially equal to each other, and have vertical thicknesses substantially equal to each other.

Claim 5

The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein: the sole member has a forefoot section, an arch section and a heel section and the left and right stabilizing means are contained in the heel section.

Claim 6

The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein: the sole member has a forefoot section, an arch section and a hell section and the left and right stabilizing means are contained in the arch section.

Claim 7

The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein: the sole member has a forefoot section, an arch section and a heel section and the left and right stabilizing means are contained in the forefoot section.

Claim 8

The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein: the left side stabilizing means and the right side stabilizing means are both transparent, enabling the fluid containing means to be viewed from outside the left and right sidewalls of the sole member through the left and right stabilizing means respectively.

Claim 9

The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein: the left side stabilizing means is a left side support wall formed of a material having a hardness greater than the hardness of the sole member to increase compression resistance of the sole member adjacent the left sidewall, the left side support wall has a longitudinal length that extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the sole member left sidewall and a vertical thickness that extends along at least a portion of the vertical thickness of the sole member left sidewall, the vertical thickness of the left side support wall being greater than the vertical thickness of the base; the right side stabilizing means is a right side support wall formed of a material having a hardness greater than the hardness of the sole member to increase compression resistance of the sole member adjacent the right sidewall, the right side support wall has a longitudinal length that extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the sole member right sidewall and a vertical thickness that extends along at least a portion of the vertical thickness of the sole member right sidewall, the vertical thickness of the right side support wall being greater than the vertical thickness of the base; and the base connects the left side support wall to the right side support wall with the base positioned therebetween, the lateral width of the base spacing the left and right side support walls laterally apart from each other and adjacent the left and right sidewalls of the sole member, respectively.

Claim 10

The shoe sole of claim 8, wherein: a fluid filled pad is contained inside the sole member and is positioned adjacent the base and between the left and right side support walls.

Claim 11

The shoe sole of claim 9, wherein: the left side support wall and the right side support wall are both transparent, enabling the fluid filled pad contained in the sole member to be viewed from outside the left and right sidewalls of the sole member through the left and right support walls, respectively.

Claim 12

A shoe sole providing cushioning and enhanced lateral and medial stability to a foot supported on the shoe sole, the shoe sole comprising: a cushioned sole member having a vertical height, a longitudinal length and a lateral width, the sole member having opposite left and right sidewalls extending along its length and the sole member being formed of a resilient material having a first hardness; means for stabilizing the left side of the sole member, the left side stabilizing means being embedded within the sole member and extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length and at least a portion of the vertical height of the sole member juxtaposed adjacent the left sidewall, the left side stabilizing means being formed of a resilient material having a second hardness, different than the first hardness of the sole member; means for stabilizing the right side of the sole member, the right side stabilizing means being embedded within the sole member and extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length and at least a portion of the vertical height of the sole member juxtaposed adjacent the right sidewall, the right side stabilizing means being formed of a resilient material having the second hardness; the left and right side stabilizing means are spaced laterally apart from each other and the left and right side stabilizing means have substantially equal longitudinal lengths and substantially equal vertical heights; and means for containing a fluid are provided inside the sole member, the fluid containing means being positioned in a center portion of the sole member between the left and right stabilizing means.

Claim 13

A shoe sole providing cushioning and enhanced lateral and medial stability to a foot supported on the shoe sole, the shoe sole comprising: a cushioned sole member having a vertical height, a longitudinal length and a lateral width, the sole member having opposite left and right sidewalls extending along its length and the sole member being formed of a resilient material having a first hardness; means for stabilizing the left side of the sole member, the left side stabilizing means being embedded within the sole member and extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length and at least a portion of the vertical height of the sole member juxtaposed adjacent the left sidewall, the left side stabilizing means being formed of a resilient material having a second hardness, different than the first hardness of the sole member; means for stabilizing the right side of the sole member, the right side stabilizing means being embedded within the sole member and extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal length and at least a portion of the vertical height of the sole member juxtaposed adjacent the right sidewall, the right side stabilizing means being formed of a resilient material having the second hardness; the left and right side stabilizing means are spaced laterally apart from each other and the left and right side stabilizing means have substantially equal longitudinal lengths and substantially equal vertical heights; and means for containing a fluid are provided inside the sole member, the fluid containing means being positioned in a center portion of the sole member between the left and right stabilizing means.

Claim 14

The shoe sole of claim 11, wherein: the second hardness is greater than the first hardness, and the left and right side stabilizing means increase resistance to compression of the sole member adjacent the left and right sidewalls, respectively, while not effecting compression resistance of the sole member at an area of the sole member between the left and right stabilizing means.

Claim 15

The shoe sole of claim 11, wherein: a base is connected to the left and right stabilizing means and extends laterally across the sole member between the left and right stabilizing means, the base has a vertical height less than the vertical height of the left and right stabilizing means and the base has a lateral width that spaces the left and right stabilizing means apart from each other and positions the left and right stabilizing means adjacent the left and right sidewalls of the sole member, respectively.

Claim 16

The shoe sole of claim 11, wherein: the sole member has a forefoot section an arch section and a heel section and the left and right stabilizing means are contained in the heel section.

Claim 17

The shoe sole of claim 11, wherein: the sole member has a forefoot section, an arch section and a heel section and the left and rights stabilizing means are contained in the arch section.

Claim 18

The shoe sole of claim 11, wherein: the sole member has a forefoot section, an arch section and a heel section and the left and right stabilizing means are contained in the forefoot section.

Claim 19

The shoe sole of claim 11, wherein: the left side stabilizing means and the right side stabilizing means are both transparent, enabling the fluid containing means to be viewed from outside the left and right sidewalls of the sole member through the left and right stabilizing means respectively.

Claim 20

The shoe sole of claim 11, wherein: the left side stabilizing means is a left side support wall formed of a material having a hardness greater than the hardness of the sole member to increase compression resistance of the sole member adjacent the left sidewall, the left side support wall has a longitudinal length that extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the sole member left sidewall and a vertical height that extends along at least a portion of the vertical height of the sole member left sidewall; the right side stabilizing means is a right side support wall formed of a material having a hardness greater than the hardness of the sole member to increase compression resistance of the sole member adjacent the right sidewall, the right side support wall has a longitudinal length that extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the sole member right sidewall and a vertical height that extends along at least a portion of the vertical height of the sole member right sidewall; and the longitudinal length and vertical height of the left side support wall and the right side support wall are substantially equal.

Claim 21

The shoe sole of claim 18, wherein: a fluid filled pad is contained inside the sole member and is positioned between the left and right side support walls.

Claim 22

The shoe of claim 19, wherein: the left side support wall and the right side support wall are both transparent, enabling the fluid filled pad contained in the sole member to be viewed from outside the left and right sidewalls of the sole member through the left and right side support walls, respectively.

Claim 23

A shoe sole providing cushioning and enhanced lateral and medial stability to a foot supported on the shoe sole, the shoe sole comprising: a cushioned sole member having a vertical height, a longitudinal length and a lateral width, the sole member having opposite left and right sidewalls extending along its length and the sole member being formed of a resilient material having a first hardness; a stabilizing means embedded within the sole member, the stabilizing means including a left side support wall formed of a material having hardness greater than the hardness of the sole member, the left side support wall having a longitudinal length that extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the sole member left sidewall and a vertical height that extends along at least a portion of the vertical height of the sole member left sidewall; the stabilizing means including a right side support wall formed of a material having a hardness greater than the hardness of the sole member, the right side support wall having a longitudinal length that extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the sole member right sidewall and a vertical height that extends along at least a portion of the vertical height of the sole member right sidewall; the stabilizing means including a base connecting the left side support wall to the right side support wall with the base positioned therebetween, the base having a vertical height less than the vertical height of the left and right side support walls and the base having a lateral width that spaces the left and right side support walls laterally apart from each other and positions the left and right side support walls juxtaposed adjacent the left and right sidewalls of the sole member, respectively, whereby the left and right side support walls increase compression resistance of the sole member adjacent the left sidewall and right sidewall respectively; and a fluid filled pad is contained inside the sole member and is positioned adjacent the base and between the left and right side support walls, and the stabilizing means is transparent enabling the fluid filled pad contained in the sole member to be viewed from outside the sole member through the stabilizing means.

Claim 24

A shoe sole providing cushioning and enhanced lateral and medial stability to a foot supported on the shoe sole, the shoe sole comprising: a cushioned sole member having a vertical height, a longitudinal length and a lateral width, the sole member having opposite left and right sidewalls extending along its length and the sole member being formed of a resilient material having a first hardness; a stabilizing means embedded within the sole member, the stabilizing means including a left side support wall formed of a material having hardness greater than the hardness of the sole member, the left side support wall having a longitudinal length that extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the sole member left sidewall and a vertical height that extends along at least a portion of the vertical height of the sole member left sidewall; the stabilizing means including a right side support wall formed of a material having a hardness greater than the hardness of the sole member, the right side support wall having a longitudinal length that extends along at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the sole member right sidewall and a vertical height that extends along at least a portion of the vertical height of the sole member right sidewall; the stabilizing means including a base connecting the left side support wall to the right side support wall with the base positioned therebetween, the base having a vertical height less than the vertical height of the left and right side support walls and the base having a lateral width that spaces the left and right side support walls laterally apart from each other and positions the left and right side support walls juxtaposed adjacent the left and right sidewalls of the sole member, respectively, whereby the left and right side support walls increase compression resistance of the sole member adjacent the left sidewall and right sidewall respectively; and a fluid filled pad is contained inside the sole member and is positioned adjacent the base and between the left and right side support walls, and the stabilizing means is transparent enabling the fluid filled pad contained in the sole member to be viewed from outside the sole member through the stabilizing means.