US5255451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Insert member for use in an athletic shoe
Assignee: American Sporting Goods Corp
•
Filing: 1991-09-03
•
Granted: 1993-10-26
•
Expires: 2011-09-03
Abstract
Abstract An insert member for use in an athletic shoe. The insert member is made of a material which includes a plurality of rows of alternating peaks and valleys.
Inventors
- 👤 James K. Tong
- 👤 David Cousin
- 👤 Dan Richard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:39
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B13/00; A43B13/14; A43B13/18; A43B13/181; A43B3/00; A43B3/0036; A43B3/0057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A sole for an athletic shoe comprising: a. an outsole having a heel portion, and a metatarsal area, said heel portion including a central heel portion and a plurality of lugs forming the periphery of said heel portion for contacting the ground and maintaining said central heel portion at a spaced relationship from the ground; and b. a midsole disposed above said outsole and including a forefoot component which includes a forefoot foam member defining a recess; and an insert member disposed within said recess, said insert member being formed from a resilient material which tends to return to its original shape when deformed, said insert member comprising a plurality of undulations, wherein undulations spread laterally when compressed by vertical forces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A sole for an athletic shoe comprising: a. an outsole having a heel portion, and a metatarsal area, said heel portion including a central heel portion and a plurality of lugs forming the periphery of said heel portion for contacting the ground and maintaining said central heel portion at a spaced relationship from the ground; and b. a midsole disposed above said outsole and including a forefoot component which includes a forefoot foam member defining a recess; and an insert member disposed within said recess, said insert member being formed from a resilient material which tends to return to its original shape when deformed, said insert member comprising a plurality of undulations, wherein undulations spread laterally when compressed by vertical forces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The sole as defined by claim 1, wherein said insert member includes a plurality of rows of undulations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The sole of claim 2, wherein each row is substantially sinusoidal in cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The sole of claim 3, wherein each row is 180° out of phase from an adjacent row.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The sole as defined in claim 2 wherein said insert member comprises a plurality of substantially circular peaks and valleys.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The sole as defined in claim 1 wherein said insert is made from a thermoplastic material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The sole as defined in claim 1, wherein said insert has a uniform local thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A shoe, comprising: a midsole; an outsole; and an insert member positioned above said outsole, said insert member comprising a sheet of resilient material, said sheet having a plurality of substantially circular peaks forming a continuous quincunx arrangement and substantially circular valleys formed between the substantially circular peaks forming the corners of the quincunx arrangement, said circular peaks and circular valleys deforming laterally when compressed by vertical forces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
A shoe, comprising: a midsole; an outsole; and an insert member positioned above said outsole, said insert member comprising a sheet of resilient material, said sheet having a plurality of substantially circular peaks forming a continuous quincunx arrangement and substantially circular valleys formed between the substantially circular peaks forming the corners of the quincunx arrangement, said circular peaks and circular valleys deforming laterally when compressed by vertical forces.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 8, wherein said circular peaks are a uniform size.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 8, wherein said sheet comprises a thermoplastic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 8, wherein said insert member is positioned in the forefoot of said shoe between said outsole and said midsole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 8, wherein said insert member is at least partially encapsulated in said midsole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
An athletic shoe, comprising: a midsole; an outsole; and an insert member positioned above said outsole, said insert member comprising a sheet of resilient material, said sheet having a plurality of parallel rows of alternating peaks and valleys which have a substantially sinusoidal cross section, said rows being interleaved such that adjacent rows are 180° out of phase from each other, said rows of peaks and valleys deforming laterally when compressed by vertical forces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
An athletic shoe, comprising: a midsole; an outsole; and an insert member positioned above said outsole, said insert member comprising a sheet of resilient material, said sheet having a plurality of parallel rows of alternating peaks and valleys which have a substantially sinusoidal cross section, said rows being interleaved such that adjacent rows are 180° out of phase from each other, said rows of peaks and valleys deforming laterally when compressed by vertical forces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 13, wherein said sheet comprises a thermoplastic material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 13, wherein said peaks and valleys are substantially circular.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 13, wherein said sheet has a uniform local thickness.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 13, wherein said peaks have a substantially uniform height and said valleys have a substantially uniform depth.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 13, wherein said insert member is at least partially encapsulated in said midsole.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said insert member is at least partially encapsulated in said midsole.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-10-25 | 1997-04-26 | 1997-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-25 | 2001-04-26 | 2001-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-25 | 2005-04-26 | 2005-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |