Resilient pad for footwear

Abstract

A resilient pad for an article of footwear comprises a plurality of pocketed coil springs each of which is located in a discrete pocket formed between two layers of material bonded or otherwise attached together at least at locations between the springs. The springs are preferably coil springs which may be of wire and are preferably of stainless steel or titanium. The springs are preferably wider than they are tall, i.e. they have a diameter which is greater than the height of the spring when the spring is in the pocket. The pad or panel may be substantially co-extensive in plan with a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear.

1 . A resilient pad or panel for an article of footwear, the pad or panel comprising a plurality of pocketed springs. 
     
     
         2 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad or panel comprises a plurality of springs, each of which is located in a discrete pocket formed between two layers of material. 
     
     
         3 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 2 , wherein the two layers of material are bonded or otherwise attached together at least at locations between the springs. 
     
     
         4 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the springs are wider than they are tall, i.e. they have a diameter which is greater than the height of the spring when in the pocket. 
     
     
         5 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad or panel is substantially co-extensive in plan with a heel of a wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         6 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad or panel is substantially co-extensive in plan with a ball of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         7 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad or panel is substantially co-extensive in plan with a foot of the wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         8 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 , Wherein the pad or panel is flexible in a lateral direction, generally perpendicular to the axis of the springs. 
     
     
         9 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the pad or panel includes a plurality of zones in which springs from different zones have at least one different characteristic. 
     
     
         10 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 9 , wherein the characteristic is the height of the spring. 
     
     
         11 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 9 , wherein the characteristic is the stiffness of the spring. 
     
     
         12 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 9 , wherein the zones are arranged to accommodate the profile of a foot of the wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         13 . A resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one additional substrate layer above or below a layer of springs and comprising natural material. 
     
     
         14 . An article of footwear having at least one resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . An insert for an article of footwear, the insert comprising a resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising inserting into a cavity in the sole and/or heel of the article of footwear a resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising moulding a sole and/or upper portion of the article of footwear around a resilient pad or panel according to  claim 1 .