Anti-fatigue ply rib construction

摘要

An improved welt construction for use in a welted shoe is disclosed, in which the construction contains a number of components, including: (1) an anti-fatigue layer with tapered recesses for providing cushioning; (2) a rigid shock diffusion welt-frame back part; (3) a flexible forepart welt-frame; (4) a torsional shank; and (5) a flexible ply rib, which may surround a periphery of the support system. Methods of: (1) constructing a shoe utilizing the aforementioned welt construction; and (2) manufacturing the aforementioned welt construction through the use of a mold(s) are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A cushioning support system for use in an article of footwear, the cushioning support system having a series of components comprising:
a cushioning layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein a pattern of frustum-shaped recesses is formed into at least one of the top and bottom surfaces, each of the frustum-shaped recesses having a substantially continuous internal wall surface defining the frustum shape of each recess; a welt-frame assembly attached to the bottom surface of the cushioning layer, the welt-frame assembly having a rear part and a separate forepart; and a flexible ply rib connected to a periphery of the cushioning support system for securing to a welt, wherein the cushioning support system includes toe, heel, and arch regions and a longitudinal and lateral axis, the longitudinal axis extending from the toe region to the heel region and the lateral axis extending transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein a first one of the frustum-shaped recesses extends into the top surface of the cushioning layer and a second one of the frustum-shaped recesses extends into the bottom surface of the cushioning layer, the second frustum-shaped recess being inverted with respect to the first frustum-shaped recess, and wherein the cushioning support system is a sole element shaped according to the perimeter of a foot, such that the cushioning support system is adapted for use in the article of footwear.