US5353523A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shoe with an improved midsole
Assignee: Nike Inc
•
Filing: 1993-10-13
•
Granted: 1994-10-11
•
Expires: 2013-10-13
Abstract
Abstract The invention is directed to a midsole for a shoe including one or more foam columns disposed between an upper and a lower plate. One or more elastomeric foam elements are disposed between the upper and lower plates. The foam elements are made of a material such as microcellular polyurethane-elastomer based on a polyester-alcohol and naphthalene-diisocyanate (NDI). In one embodiment, the foam, elements have the shape of hollow cylindrical columns, and may include grooves formed on the exterior surface. One or more elastic rings are disposed about the columns and are removably disposable in the grooves, allowing the stiffness of the columns to be adjusted. In a further embodiment, inflatable gas bladders are disposed in the hollow regions. The heights of the gas bladders may be less than the heights of the columns such that when the midsole is compressed, the wearer experiences a first stiffness corresponding to compression of the columns alone, and a second stiffness corresponding to compression of both the columns and the bladders. Alternatively, the bladders may be inflated so as to cause the columns to be stretched, even when no load is applied. Since the level of inflation of the bladders may be adjusted, the overall stiffness of the midsole may be tuned to the individual requirements of the wearer.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce J. Kilgore
- 👤 Thomas McMahon
- 👤 John C. Tawney
- 👤 Gordon Valiant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:46
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B13/00; A43B13/14; A43B13/18; A43B13/20; A43B13/206; A43B13/181; A43B13/183; A43B13/189
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A shoe having an upper and a sole connected to said upper, said sole including an outsole and a midsole, said midsole comprising a layer of resilient material and a substantially open space defined by an upper boundary and a lower boundary, a two-element cushioning component disposed within said open space between said upper boundary and said lower boundary and including a first compressible cushioning element made of a resilient material having an open space and a second compressible cushioning element comprising a pressurized bladder disposed within the open space of said first compressible element, an upper surface of said first compressible element secured at the location of said upper boundary, wherein, said open space between said upper boundary and said lower boundary is maintained substantially about said two-element cushioning component
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A shoe having an upper and a sole connected to said upper, said sole including an outsole and a midsole, said midsole comprising a layer of resilient material and a substantially open space defined by an upper boundary and a lower boundary, a two-element cushioning component disposed within said open space between said upper boundary and said lower boundary and including a first compressible cushioning element made of a resilient material having an open space and a second compressible cushioning element comprising a pressurized bladder disposed within the open space of said first compressible element, an upper surface of said first compressible element secured at the location of said upper boundary, wherein, said open space between said upper boundary and said lower boundary is maintained substantially about said two-element cushioning component
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The shoe recited in claim 1, further comprising an upper plate disposed so as to define the upper boundary of the open space and a lower plate disposed so as to define the lower boundary of the open space, the upper surface of said first compressible element secured to said upper plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The shoe recited in claim 2, said first compressible element having a predetermined relaxed height which is substantially equal to the height of said open space between said upper plate and said lower plate, said bladder pressurized so as to have a height which exceeds said predetermined relaxed height and thereby causing said first compressible element to be stretched beyond said predetermined relaxed height.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The shoe recite in claim 2, said upper plate comprising a semi-rigid material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The shoe recited in claim 1, said bladder containing a pressurized gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The shoe recited in claim 1, said bladder containing a gel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The shoe recited in claim 1, said bladder containing a liquid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The shoe recited in claim 1, said resilient material comprising an elastomeric foam material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The shoe recited in claim 8, said foam material comprising a microcellular polyurethane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
A shoe having an upper and a sole connected to said upper, said sole including an outsole and a midsole, said midsole comprising a layer of resilient material and a substantially open space defined by an upper boundary and a lower boundary, a two-element cushioning component disposed within said open space between said upper boundary and said lower boundary and including a first compressible cushioning element comprising a pressurized bladder having an open space and a second compressible cushioning element comprising a resilient material disposed within the open space of said bladder, an upper surface of said second compressible element secured at the location of said upper boundary, wherein, said open space between said upper boundary and said lower boundary is maintained substantially about said two-element cushioning component.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
128 words
A shoe having an upper and a sole connected to said upper, said sole including an outsole and a midsole, said midsole comprising a layer of resilient material and a substantially open space defined by an upper boundary and a lower boundary, a two-element cushioning component disposed within said open space between said upper boundary and said lower boundary and including a first compressible cushioning element comprising a pressurized bladder having an open space and a second compressible cushioning element comprising a resilient material disposed within the open space of said bladder, an upper surface of said second compressible element secured at the location of said upper boundary, wherein, said open space between said upper boundary and said lower boundary is maintained substantially about said two-element cushioning component.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The shoe recited in claim 10, said resilient material comprising an elastomeric foam material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The shoe recited in claim 11, said foam material comprising a microcellular polyurethane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The shoe recited in claim 10 further comprising an upper plate disposed so as to define the upper boundary of the open space and a lower plate disposed so as to define the lower boundary of the open space, the upper surface of said second compressible element secured to said upper plate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The shoe recite in claim 13, said upper plate comprising a semi-rigid material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
The shoe recited in claim 13, said second compressible element having a predetermined relaxed height which is substantially equal to the height of said open space between said upper plate and lower plate, said bladder pressurized so as to have a height which exceeds said predetermined relaxed height and thereby causing said second compressible element to be stretched beyond said predetermined relaxed height.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The shoe recited in claim 13, said bladder containing a pressurized gas.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The shoe recited in claim 13, said bladder containing a gel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The shoe recited in claim 13, said bladder containing a liquid.
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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) | 1997-10-10 | 1998-04-11 | 1998-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-10 | 2002-04-11 | 2002-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-10 | 2006-04-11 | 2006-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |