Shoe Sole

Abstract

A midsole for an article of footwear comprising a bottom member and a cushioning member. The cushioning member comprising a perimeter element and a central lining element, is lined on top of the bottom member. The midsole is fashioned to provide increased support and improved aeration for the user's foot. The midsole may be easily adapted for use in a wide variety of women's and men's footwear.

1 . A midsole for an article of footwear, the midsole comprising: 
 a bottom member having a having a heel portion, an arch portion, a fore portion, and an outside edge; and    a cushioning member lined on top of the bottom member, the cushioning member having a perimeter element and a central lining element,    wherein the perimeter element is comprised of a substantially tubular chamber disposed about the entire outside edge of the bottom member, and the central lining element is comprised of a plurality of substantially tubular chambers in parallel arrangement and extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the midsole, the central lining element having a fluid connection with the perimeter element, and a plurality of protrusions fixedly securing to an outside surface of the central lining element.    
   
   
       2 . The midsole of  claim 1  wherein the bottom member is made up of material selected from the group consisting of plastic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, thermoplastic urethane, thermoplastic rubber, carbon-black rubber, and polyvinyl chloride.  
   
   
       3 . The midsole of  claim 1  wherein the perimeter element is made up of material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, and silicone.  
   
   
       4 . The midsole of  claim 1  wherein the central lining element is made up of material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, and silicone.  
   
   
       5 . The midsole of  claim 1  wherein the cushioning member contains a gas.  
   
   
       6 . The midsole of  claim 5  wherein the gas is pressurized above ambient air pressure.  
   
   
       7 . The midsole of  claim 1  wherein the tubular chambers in parallel arrangement comprising the central lining element have a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the tubular chamber comprising the perimeter element.  
   
   
       8 . The midsole of  claim 1  wherein the tubular chamber comprising the perimeter element has a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the tubular chambers in parallel arrangement.  
   
   
       9 . The midsole of  claim 1  wherein the tubular chambers in parallel arrangement fixed on top of the heel portion of the bottom member have a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the tubular chambers in parallel arrangement fixed on top of the fore portion of the bottom member.  
   
   
       10 . The midsole of  claim 1  wherein the protrusions are a plurality of dimples fixed on an outside surface of the tubular chambers in parallel arrangement.  
   
   
       11 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 an upper portion for covering a foot;    an outsole having an upper surface and a bottom surface;    a midsole assembly comprising: 
 a bottom member having a heel portion, an arch portion, a fore portion, and an outside edge, wherein the bottom member is attached to the upper surface of the outsole; and  
 a cushioning member lined on top of the bottom member, the cushioning member having a perimeter element and a central lining element,  
   wherein the perimeter element is comprised of a substantially tubular chamber disposed about the entire outside edge of the bottom member, and the central lining element is comprised of a plurality of substantially tubular chambers in parallel arrangement and extending generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the midsole, the central lining element having a fluid connection with the perimeter element, and a plurality of protrusions fixedly securing to an outside surface of the central lining element; and    an insole member fixed on top of the cushioning member, the insole member comprising a lower lining and an upper lining,    wherein the lower lining having a plurality of apertures is attached to an inner perimeter of the cushioning member, the inner perimeter is defined by a distance around an inside edge of the perimeter element, and the upper lining comprising of a substantially stretchable and breathable material is disposed on top of the lower lining and attaches to an outer perimeter of the cushioning member, the outer perimeter is defined by a distance around an outside edge of the perimeter element.    
   
   
       12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the bottom member is made up of material selected from the group consisting of plastic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, polyurethane, thermoplastic urethane, thermoplastic rubber, carbon-black rubber, and polyvinyl chloride.  
   
   
       13 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the perimeter element is made up of material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, and silicone.  
   
   
       14 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the central lining element is made up of material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, and silicone.  
   
   
       15 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the cushioning member contains a gas.  
   
   
       16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15  wherein the gas is pressurized above ambient air pressure.  
   
   
       17 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the tubular chambers in parallel arrangement comprising the central lining element have a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the tubular chamber comprising the perimeter element.  
   
   
       18 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the tubular chamber comprising the perimeter element has a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the tubular chambers in parallel arrangement comprising the central lining element.  
   
   
       19 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the tubular chambers in parallel arrangement fixed on top of the heel portion of the bottom member have a wall thickness greater than a wall thickness of the tubular chambers in parallel arrangement fixed on top of the fore portion of the bottom member.  
   
   
       20 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the protrusions are a plurality of dimples fixed on an outside surface of the tubular chambers in parallel arrangement.