Shoe Containing A Progressive Compression Element

Abstract

A cushioning component for use in shoes including athletic shoes and, for example, running shoes includes a cushioning layer including a first zone and a second zone where the first zone comprises a progressive compression material. In one aspect, the first zone can comprise one or more areas defined within the second zone. For example, the first zone can comprise two areas, one area in a relative front portion of the shoe component and another area in a relative rear portion of the shoe component. Alternatively, in another aspect, the first zone and second zone can be arranged in a laminate-type relationship in the shoe component. In this regard, the first zone can be located either above or below the second zone. The shoe component can be employed as a traditional element of a shoe, such as a midsole or the outsole. Alternatively, the shoe component can comprise an additional component, for example, the shoe component can be employed between the midsole and outsole of a shoe or an insert located above the midsole.

1 . A shoe component comprising a cushioning layer, which layer comprises a first zone and a second zone where the first zone comprises a progressive compression material. 
     
     
         2 . The shoe component according to  claim 1  wherein the first zone comprises one or more areas defined within the second zone. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe component according to  claim 2  wherein the first zone comprises at least two areas including at least one area in a front portion of the shoe component and at least one area in a rear portion of the shoe component. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe component according to  claim 1  wherein the first zone and second zone are arranged in a laminate-type relationship in the shoe component. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe component according to  claim 4  wherein the first zone is located above the second zone. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe component according to the  claim 1  wherein the component is the midsole of a shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe component according to  claim 1  wherein the component is the outsole of a shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe component according to  claim 1  wherein the shoe component is employed between the midsole and outsole of a shoe. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe component according to  claim 1  wherein the shoe component is employed above the midsole of a shoe. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe component according to  claim 1  wherein the component is employed in an athletic shoe. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe component according to  claim 1  wherein the component is employed in a running shoe. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe component according to  claim 1  wherein the progressive compression material comprises a cellular material. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe component according to  claim 12 , wherein the cellular material comprises a closed cell material. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe component according to  claim 12  wherein the cellular material comprises an open-cell material. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe component according to  claim 12  wherein the cellular material comprises a foam material. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe component according to  claim 12  wherein the cellular material comprises a polyethylene, a polyvinyl chloride, a polychloroprene, a nitrile, a nitrile-butadiene a urethane, a latex, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe component according to  claim 12  wherein the cellular material comprises a polyethylene-vinyl acetate material, a polyvinyl chloride-nitrile material, a vinyl-nitrile material, or a nitrile-butadiene material. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe component according to  claim 12  wherein the cellular material comprises a rubber. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe component according to  claim 18  wherein the rubber comprises a neoprene rubber, a nitrile rubber, a natural rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, or an ethylene propylene-diene rubber. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe component according to  claim 1  wherein the progressive compression material is a cushioning material. 
     
     
         21 . The shoe component according to  claim 20  wherein the cushioning material comprises at least one polymer, which is in its viscoelastic state between the temperatures of 10 F and 120 F, and which has been blown into a closed-cell cellular material. 
     
     
         22 . The shoe component according to  claim 20  wherein the cushioning material comprises a modified polymer or a blend of two or polymers. 
     
     
         23 . The shoe component according to  claim 20  wherein the cushioning material comprises one or more of foamed ethylene vinyl acetate, foamed polyurethane, foamed polyvinylchloride-polyacrylonitrile copolymer, foamed elastomeric polypropylene or Duralon®. 
     
     
         24 . The shoe component according to  claim 1  wherein the second zone includes one or more additional cushioning elements. 
     
     
         25 . A shoe comprising an insole, midsole and outsole, wherein at least one portion of the shoe includes a cushioning layer, which layer comprises a first zone and a second zone where the first zone comprises a progressive compression material.