| 摘要 |
A shock absorption and energy return assembly for increasing the stability, shock absorption and energy return capabilities of a shoe. The assembly generally includes lower and upper guide members having a plurality of spring retainers, a plurality of springs positioned within the spring retainers, and a resilient connecting member which fixedly attaches the lower guide member to the upper guide member and serves to limit the separation between the guide members, preventing disengagement of the springs from within the guide members while simultaneously providing a means of allowing the springs to compress below their uncompressed height when a force is applied on the assembly. Alternatively, the assembly could be surrounded by a sealed, transparent encasement, which in one embodiment would comprise a lower portion and an upper portion surrounding the lower guide member and the upper guide member, and a plurality of lower extrusions and upper extrusions. The extrusions would extend into a plurality of apertures contained within the guide members as well as the plurality of compression springs positioned between the guide members, and would be adjoined. The encasement may also be filled with a pressurized gas for added stability and dampening of the springs. The inventive device is designed to be inserted or molded within the heel or forefoot portion of the mid-sole of a shoe, with the mid-sole optionally having one or more cutouts, thereby allowing a means of viewing the inventive device in operation.
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