US5572804A — Shoe sole component and shoe sole component const…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 111 words

A shoe sole structure, comprising: (a) a flexible sole-shaped top sheet of thermoplastic and having a plurality of indentations therein; (b) a flexible sole-shaped bottom sheet of thermoplastic and having a plurality of indentations therein; the bottom sheet joined at its periphery to the top sheet to form a cavity therebetween; (c) the indentations in the top sheet having sufficient depth to form projections extending inwardly into the cavity to abut indentations in the bottom sheet to retain the top member and bottom member in spaced relationship, each indentation forming a recess facing outwardly; at least one of the indentations in the top sheet or bottom sheet being hemispherical in shape.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 111 words

A shoe sole structure, comprising: (a) a flexible sole-shaped top sheet of thermoplastic and having a plurality of indentations therein; (b) a flexible sole-shaped bottom sheet of thermoplastic and having a plurality of indentations therein; the bottom sheet joined at its periphery to the top sheet to form a cavity therebetween; (c) the indentations in the top sheet having sufficient depth to form projections extending inwardly into the cavity to abut indentations in the bottom sheet to retain the top member and bottom member in spaced relationship, each indentation forming a recess facing outwardly; at least one of the indentations in the top sheet or bottom sheet being hemispherical in shape.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 16 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 1 wherein the indentations are resiliently deformable to provide cushioning.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 1 wherein a plurality of indentations in the top sheet are attached to indentations in the bottom sheet.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 1 wherein at least one of the top and bottom members includes a passageway between the cavity and ambient air.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 27 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 1 further comprising at least one hemisphere-shaped plug insertable into one of the indentations in the bottom member or top member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 123 words

A shock absorbing apparatus, comprising: (a) a first flexible high polymer resin sheet having an outer periphery and a plurality of hemispherical shaped indentations therein; and (b) a second flexible high polymer resin sheet coextensive with and attached to the first sheet and having an outer periphery and a plurality of hemispherical shaped indentations therein; (c) at least one hemispherical shaped insert configured for insertion into a hemispherical shaped indentation in the second sheet; and (d) a cavity between the first sheet and second sheet, the cavity coextensive with the first and second sheets, each of the plurality of hemispherical shaped indentations in the first and second sheets having sufficient depth to project inwardly into the cavity and having a recess facing outwardly.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 123 words

A shock absorbing apparatus, comprising: (a) a first flexible high polymer resin sheet having an outer periphery and a plurality of hemispherical shaped indentations therein; and (b) a second flexible high polymer resin sheet coextensive with and attached to the first sheet and having an outer periphery and a plurality of hemispherical shaped indentations therein; (c) at least one hemispherical shaped insert configured for insertion into a hemispherical shaped indentation in the second sheet; and (d) a cavity between the first sheet and second sheet, the cavity coextensive with the first and second sheets, each of the plurality of hemispherical shaped indentations in the first and second sheets having sufficient depth to project inwardly into the cavity and having a recess facing outwardly.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 39 words

The shock absorbing apparatus of claim 6 wherein at least one of the indentations in the first sheet is aligned with and abuts an indentation in the second sheet, the indentations being resiliently deformable upon application of force thereto.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The shock absorbing apparatus of claim 6 wherein at least one of the indentations in the first sheet is joined to an indentation in the second sheet.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 23 words

The shock absorbing apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first sheet and second sheet are joined at the outer periphery of said sheets.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 175 words

A shoe sole component configured for incorporation into a shoe sole, comprising: (a) a top member formed of a flexible high polymer resin sheet; (b) a bottom member formed of a flexible high polymer resin sheet and being in at least partially coextensive relationship to said top member, said top and bottom members opposing one another and being in at least partially spaced relation to one another to define an interval therebetween; (c) a plurality of support members comprising inwardly directed indentations in the top member and opposing inwardly directed indentations in the bottom member, said indentations in each of said top and bottom members being integral with each of said members respectively and having sufficient depth to form a projection configured to extend into said interval and an outwardly facing recess, at least one of said inwardly directed indentations in each of said top and bottom members having a hollow hemispherical shape; (d) at least one insert having a hemispherical shape insertable into the recess of an inwardly directed indentation in the bottom member.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 175 words

A shoe sole component configured for incorporation into a shoe sole, comprising: (a) a top member formed of a flexible high polymer resin sheet; (b) a bottom member formed of a flexible high polymer resin sheet and being in at least partially coextensive relationship to said top member, said top and bottom members opposing one another and being in at least partially spaced relation to one another to define an interval therebetween; (c) a plurality of support members comprising inwardly directed indentations in the top member and opposing inwardly directed indentations in the bottom member, said indentations in each of said top and bottom members being integral with each of said members respectively and having sufficient depth to form a projection configured to extend into said interval and an outwardly facing recess, at least one of said inwardly directed indentations in each of said top and bottom members having a hollow hemispherical shape; (d) at least one insert having a hemispherical shape insertable into the recess of an inwardly directed indentation in the bottom member.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 36 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein each inwardly directed indentation having a hollow hemispherical shape in the top member abuts a corresponding inwardly directed indentation having a hollow hemispherical shape in the bottom member.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 39 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein at least one inwardly directed indentation having a hollow hemispherical shape in the top member is joined to an inwardly directed indentation having a hollow hemispherical shape in the bottom member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 43 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein at least one of the inwardly directed indentations having a hollow hemispherical shape in one member is more resistant to compression that the inwardly directed indentation having a hollow hemispherical shape in the opposing member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 37 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein at least one of the inwardly directed indentations having a hollow hemispherical shape in one member has a greater radius than the inwardly directed indentation in the opposing member.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein at least one of the inserts has a greater resistance to compression than another insert.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein at least one of the inserts has a greater hardness than another insert.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 22 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein at least one of the inserts has a greater radial thickness than another insert.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein at least one of the inserts has a greater radius than another insert.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 50 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein the shoe sole component comprises a medial side and a lateral side, the inwardly directed indentations on the medial side of the shoe sole component are more resistant to compression than the inwardly directed indentations on the lateral side of the shoe.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 50 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein the shoe sole component comprises a medial side and a lateral side, the inwardly directed indentations on the lateral side of the shoe sole component are more resistant to compression than the inwardly directed indentations on the medial side of the shoe.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 47 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein the shoe sole component comprises a forefoot and a heel portion, the inwardly directed indentations in the forefoot of the shoe sole component are more resistant to compression than the inwardly directed indentations in the heel of the shoe.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 47 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein the shoe sole component comprises a forefoot and a heel portion, the inwardly directed indentations in the heel of the shoe sole component are more resistant to compression than the inwardly directed indentations in the forefoot of the shoe.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 42 words

The shoe sole component of claim 10 wherein the shoe sole component comprises a heel portion, the inwardly directed indentations each having a hollow hemispherical shape are arranged in a generally circular pattern in the heel portion of the shoe sole component.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 130 words

A shoe sole structure, comprising: (a) a flexible top sheet having a plurality of indentations therein, each indentation including a recess on one surface of the sheet and a projection on the opposite surface of the sheet; (b) a flexible bottom sheet in parallel spaced relation with the top sheet and having an outer periphery and a plurality of indentations therein, each indentation including a recess on one surface of the sheet and a projection on the opposite surface of the sheet; (c) the projections of the indentations in the top sheet abutting the projections in the indentations in the bottom sheet; (d) a plurality of inserts insertable into the recesses of the indentations in one of the sheets; and (e) a webbed structure linking the plurality of inserts together.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 130 words

A shoe sole structure, comprising: (a) a flexible top sheet having a plurality of indentations therein, each indentation including a recess on one surface of the sheet and a projection on the opposite surface of the sheet; (b) a flexible bottom sheet in parallel spaced relation with the top sheet and having an outer periphery and a plurality of indentations therein, each indentation including a recess on one surface of the sheet and a projection on the opposite surface of the sheet; (c) the projections of the indentations in the top sheet abutting the projections in the indentations in the bottom sheet; (d) a plurality of inserts insertable into the recesses of the indentations in one of the sheets; and (e) a webbed structure linking the plurality of inserts together.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 46 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 24 wherein at least one of the indentations is hemispherical in shape, and at least one of the inserts is hemispherical in shape, the outer surface of the hemispherical shaped insert conforming to the recess of the hemispherical shaped indentation.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 17 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 25 wherein the hemispherical shaped indentations are in the top sheet.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 32 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 26 wherein the shoe sole structure comprises a shoe heel portion, and the hemispherical shaped indentations are in the shoe heel portion of the top sheet.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 19 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 25 wherein the hemispherical shaped indentations are positioned in a generally circular pattern.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 35 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 28 wherein the plurality of inserts insertable into the recesses of the indentations are in a generally circular pattern and are attached to the webbed structure linking the inserts.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 17 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 25 wherein the hemispherical shaped indentations are in the bottom sheet.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 32 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 30 wherein the shoe sole structure comprises a shoe heel portion, and the hemispherical shaped indentations are in the shoe heel portion of the bottom sheet.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 22 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 24 wherein the top sheet and bottom sheet each have a plurality of hemispherical shaped indentations.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 86 words

A shoe sole structure comprising: (a) a flexible top sheet having a plurality of indentations therein; a flexible bottom sheet having a plurality of indentations therein, the indentations in the bottom sheet abutting the indentations in the top sheet; (c) a plurality of the indentations in one of the sheets having a hemispherical shape; (d) a plurality of hemispherical shaped inserts insertable into the hemispherical shaped indentations and conforming to the surface of the indentations; and (e) a web-like structure linking the inserts to each other.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 86 words

A shoe sole structure comprising: (a) a flexible top sheet having a plurality of indentations therein; a flexible bottom sheet having a plurality of indentations therein, the indentations in the bottom sheet abutting the indentations in the top sheet; (c) a plurality of the indentations in one of the sheets having a hemispherical shape; (d) a plurality of hemispherical shaped inserts insertable into the hemispherical shaped indentations and conforming to the surface of the indentations; and (e) a web-like structure linking the inserts to each other.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 34 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 33 further comprising means for joining at least a portion of the top sheet with the bottom sheet, and a cavity between the top sheet and bottom sheet.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 36 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 33 wherein the top sheet and bottom sheet each have an outer periphery, and the top sheet is joined to the bottom sheet at the outer periphery of each sheet.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 38 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 33 wherein the plurality of hemispherical shaped indentations are arranged in a generally circular pattern, and the inserts are arranged in a generally circular pattern and are attached to the web-like structure.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 19 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 33 wherein the plurality of hemispherical shaped indentations are in the top sheet.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 19 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 33 wherein the plurality of hemispherical shaped indentations are in the bottom sheet.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 23 words

The shoe sole structure of claim 33 wherein the plurality of hemispherical shaped indentations are in the top sheet and the bottom sheet.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-11-12	2000-05-13	2000-11-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-11-12	2004-05-13	2004-11-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-11-12	2008-05-13	2008-11-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Shoe sole component and shoe sole component construction method

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