Cushioning system for footwear

Abstract

A shoe having a shock absorbing bottom comprising one or more compartments filled with gas, for example air or nitrogen and which functions as a spring and one or more dampers which function to control rebound and vibrations. The damper can be viscoelastomeric material.

1 . A shoe having a shock absorbing bottom comprising a compartment filled with gas and an integrated damper.  
   
   
       2 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the compartment is sealed or unsealed and formed by a sheet or web of material.  
   
   
       3 . The shoe of  claim 1  comprising an array of compartments, the array resembling a “bubble-pack.” 
   
   
       4 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the integrated damper comprises a viscoelastic material.  
   
   
       5 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein comprising an array of integrated dampers and a viscoelastic material disposed over the integrated dampers.  
   
   
       6 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the shock absorbing bottom has a top facing surface and a ground facing surface, and the compartments and integrated damper are interposed between the top and ground facing surfaces.  
   
   
       7 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the entire structure is made of a material comprising a thermoplastic.  
   
   
       8 . The shoe of  claim 1  comprising gas chamber and/or damper projections from a top or bottom surface completely through to an opposite surface.  
   
   
       9 . The shoe of  claim 1  comprising gas chamber and/or damper projections from a top or bottom surface completely through to an opposite surface wherein one or more of the projections is empty, filled with gas, or filled with damper material.  
   
   
       10 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the gas chamber and damper are tuned to provide selected strength, support, cushioning and/or performance properties.  
   
   
       11 . The shoe of  claim 1  having an array of compartments that contain gas and/or damper material.  
   
   
       12 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the integrated damper comprises a visco-elastomer.  
   
   
       13 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the compartment filled with gas functions as a spring and the damper functions to control rebound, oscillations, and or vibration.  
   
   
       14 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the compartment and damper are contained by film.  
   
   
       15 . The shoe of  claim 1  having an array of compartments and dampers, the array captured or contained by film.  
   
   
       16 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the damper comprises a gel of viscoelastomeric material, sponge, injection molded material, or liquid.  
   
   
       17 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the shock absorbing bottom functions as a cushioning element.  
   
   
       18 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the bottom is either a heel section, sole section, or a combination heel and sole.  
   
   
       19 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the compartments are filled with a gas selected from air and nitrogen.