Cushioning system for shoe sole and method for making the sole

摘要

The present invention provides a cushioned shoe sole having an outer sole layer for contacting the ground surface and a midsole layer disposed above the outer sole layer including an opening formed vertically through at least the top surface thereof. An inflatable bladder element having an unobstructed interior cavity is inflatable with a fluid medium and removably positioned in the opening in the midsole layer. When inflated and snapped into position in the opening, the bladder is therefore visible through at least the top surface of the midsole. The present invention also provides a method of making a cushioned shoe sole by forming an inflatable bladder with a hollow interior cavity defined within the perimeter of the bladder forming a foam midsole having an opening generally extending in the vertical plane and a peripheral cavity around at least a portion of the perimeter of the opening. Thereafter, snapping the inflatable bladder into the preformed opening in the foam midsole such that the perimeter of the bladder is disposed within the cavity of the opening and a cushioned shoe sole is obtained. The bladder can also be viewed through an opening in the top and/or bottom surfaces of the midsole.