Athletic shoe

Abstract

A shoe including a heel support integrally formed of a material different from the midsole material of a rear sole for supporting the foot of a user. The heel support includes a wall along at least one of the medial side of the shoe, the lateral side of the shoe and the rear of the shoe that extends vertically at least in part and includes at least one window through which at least a portion of the midsole material of the rear sole is exposed to and visible from outside the shoe.

1 . A shoe comprising:
 a bottom, a medial side, a lateral side and a rear;   an upper having a forward region, an arch region and a heel region;   a forward sole secured below the forward region of the upper, the forward sole having a bottom surface that is at least in part ground-engaging;   a rear sole secured below the heel region of the upper, the rear sole including a midsole material, the rear sole having a bottom surface that is at least in part ground-engaging;   a heel support integrally formed of a material different from the midsole material of the rear sole, the heel support including a wall along at least one of the medial side of the shoe, the lateral side of the shoe and the rear of the shoe, the wall extending vertically at least in part and being exposed to and visible from outside the shoe, the wall including a top, a bottom and at least one window in the wall between the top and the bottom of the wall, at least a portion of the midsole material of the rear sole being exposed to and visible from outside the shoe through the at least one window in the wall, the heel support including a rim proximate the top of the wall, the rim extending inwardly at least in part and having a lower surface oriented toward at least a portion of the bottom of the shoe; and   an arch bridge integrally formed with the heel support, the arch bridge including a lower surface having a portion that is non-ground-engaging, the non-ground-engaging portion of the lower surface of the arch bridge being visible from the bottom of the shoe between the ground-engaging surfaces of the forward sole and the rear sole.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further including a substantially air-tight enclosure located at least in part between a portion of the upper and a portion of the bottom of the shoe, the air-tight enclosure having a top, a bottom and a vertical central axis passing through the top and the bottom of the air-tight enclosure. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the air-tight enclosure is located in the forward sole. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the air-tight enclosure is at least in part curved. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is curved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is curved in a direction substantially parallel with the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is curved in a direction substantially parallel with the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is arcuate in shape in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is arcuate in shape in a direction substantially parallel with the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the at least in part curved portion of the air-tight enclosure is arcuate in shape in a direction substantially parallel with the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the top and the bottom of the air-tight enclosure has a portion that is generally flat and perpendicular to the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure when the shoe is in an unloaded state. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein each of the top and the bottom of the air-tight enclosure has a portion that is generally flat and perpendicular to the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure when the shoe is in an unloaded state. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the bottom of the air-tight enclosure is generally flat and perpendicular to the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure when the shoe is in an unloaded state. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the top of the air-tight enclosure is generally flat and perpendicular to the vertical central axis of the air-tight enclosure when the shoe is in an unloaded state. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the air-tight enclosure is transparent. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the air-tight enclosure has at least one exterior portion that is exposed to and visible from outside the shoe. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further including an inflated cushion located at least in part between a portion of the upper and a portion of the bottom of the shoe, the inflated cushion having a top, a bottom and a vertical central axis passing through the top and the bottom of the inflated cushion. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the inflated cushion is located in the forward sole. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 17 , wherein the inflated cushion includes a bladder. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 19 , wherein the bladder is an air bladder.