Guess?, Inc.

K-swiss, Inc.

William R Peterson

An athletic shoe having a spring cushioned midsole assembly which is advantageous from a combined stability and impact absorption/energy dissipation standpoint. A preferred form of the invention includes a spring foam midsole unit having plural spaced projections in forefoot and heel regions, with an additional spring foam heel unit having projections facing the projections of the heel portion of the midsole unit. In addition, the central region of the midsole unit is substantially flat to provide sufficient support and stability, while also providing advantageous impact/force absorption and energy dissipation in the front and heel regions of the shoe. By providing spaced projections, in combination with a modulator or base portion having a substantial thickness, the projections can act independently with respect to one another and can interact with the modulator portion to provide an advantageous stable cushioning effect. In an optional aspect of the invention, a mock window is disposed in the exterior of the shoe, and includes a mock representation of the cushioned midsole assembly.

Athletic shoe having spring cushioned midsole

A shoe having a support strap assembly which is advantageous in providing improved support and/or improved balance of the shoe, to assist in preventing ankle injury or in reducing the severity of an ankle injury. In a preferred form of the invention, an upper strap assembly extends adjacent a top region of the shoe, and side strap assemblies extend from the upper strap assembly and along each side of the shoe. With the arrangement, if the foot is tilted, the strap on the side of the foot opposite to the direction of tilting not only provides support to the wearer, but also can provide feedback to the wearer to inform the wearer of an improper foot position and thereby assist the wearer in returning the foot to a proper position. In a disclosed embodiment, the side strap assemblies extend in front of the ankle, and meet with a sole of the shoe in an arch region of the shoe, so that the support strap assemblies provides a stirrup-like balanced arrangement.

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Encino, CA, United States of America

William R Peterson