United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 5,400,526
Sessa [45] Date of Patent: Mar. 28,1995
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
1432811 2/1966 France .
2226216 12/1973 Germany 36/3 B
3330060A 2/1985 Germany .
3432-629A 3/1986 Germany .
16143 of 1894 United Kingdom 36/3 R
2165439 4/1986 United Kingdom 36/3 B
2193426 2/1988 United Kingdom .
WO81/02828 10/1981 WIPO .
8603951 7/1986 WIPO 36/3 B
Primary Examiner—Steven N. Meyers
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Waters & Morse
[57] ABSTRACT
A sole for an article of footwear includes a heel area, an arch area, and a ball area, each defined on the top surface and corresponding to the respective areas of the foot. Each of the areas has a plurality of bulbous protrusions extending upwardly to contact the respective areas of the foot. A toe area is also defined on the top surface including a plurality of cavities in anatomical relation to the toes of the foot. The sole also has an air passage disposed between the top surface of the sole and the bottom surface of the sole. A plurality of upwardly extending sections connect the air passage to the top surface of the sole. The upwardly extending sections are disposed about the top of the sole between the bulbous protrusions and communicate ambient air surrounding the sole with ambient air above the top surface of the sole through repeated compression and expansion of the air passage. A liquid barrier is also inserted within the front and rear sections of the air tunnel for prohibiting contamination by dirt or liquid. The sole is formed from an abrasion resistant outer sole with a recess in the top surface, with an insert of a softer material fitting in the recess and forming the air tunnels therebetween. An insole fits on the outer sole and insert, the bulbous protrusion being on the upper surface of the insole.
