Composite sole assembly

Abstract

A composite sole assembly for attachment to an outsole of suitable material, the sole assembly including a chassis, a forefoot pad and a heel pad. The chassis includes an opening for receiving the heel pad and further includes two peripheral flanges for securing attachment with the shoe upper. A cushioning forefoot pad is positioned between the chassis and the outsole and between the two peripheral flanges and is formed of a soft cushioned foam material. The top surface of the chassis and the heel pad define a raised area in the midfoot region and a recessed area in the heel region of the assembly to better conform to the anatomical shape of a wearer's foot. The combination of the raised and recessed areas along with the positioning of the heel and forefoot pads improves comfort and provides for a better distribution of foot pressure during a normal gait.

1 . A sole assembly for use in a shoe having an upper and an outsole, the sole assembly comprising:
 a chassis extending from a heel region to a toe region, the chassis including an opening;   a heel pad insertably receivable into the opening in said chassis, the heel pad being positioned to underlie at least an area of a wearer's heel, said heel pad being made of a foam type material;   a forefoot pad positioned in underlying relation to a bottom surface of said chassis, said forefoot pad being made of a foam type material.   
     
     
         2 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein said chassis further includes two flanges, each flange extending toward an outsole located below a bottom surface of said chassis, said forefoot pad being positionable between said flanges. 
     
     
         3 . The sole assembly of  claim 2  wherein a shoe upper is attachable to said two flanges. 
     
     
         4 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein said heel pad has a top surface that forms a recessed portion for receiving a wearer's heel. 
     
     
         5 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein said chassis has a top surface forming at least a portion of a raised area which gradually rises to an apex positioned to underlie a medial arch of a wearer's foot. 
     
     
         6 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein said heel pad has a durometer hardness in the range of about 15-60 Asker C. 
     
     
         7 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein said forefoot pad has a durometer hardness in the range of about 15-60 Asker C. 
     
     
         8 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein said heel pad and said forefoot pad are made of the same foam type material. 
     
     
         9 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein said chassis has a durometer hardness in the range of about 30-100 Shore A. 
     
     
         10 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein said chassis is made of a rigid material. 
     
     
         11 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein said shoe is a sandal. 
     
     
         12 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein said chassis is comprised of a forefoot portion and heel portion wherein the forefoot portion is attached to the heel portion. 
     
     
         13 . The sole assembly of  claim 1  wherein the heel pad extends less than fully into the opening of the chassis when the heel pad is received within the chassis opening.