Footwear with dynamically responsive sole construction

摘要

A footwear (10) and sole construction (14) having dynamically responsive spring devices (46-52 and 54) of relatively small and compact size mounted internally in either or both of the heel and forefoot portions of the sole (14). Each spring device (46-52 and 54) includes a plurality of annular frusto-conical skirts which are positioned in end-to-end relationship about an axis that extends at right angles to the surface contact plane of the sole (14). The skirts are formed of a material having an elasticity which is sufficient to enable contraction toward a loaded position responsive to a compression load while storing elastic energy. The elastic energy is released to expand the spring (46-52 and 54) toward its unloaded phase when the load is reduced.