Cushioning member for an article of footwear

Abstract

A cushioning member for an article of footwear is provided having a series of interconnected chambers filled with ambient or slightly pressurized air. Impedance means is provided between selected chambers, in order to restrict the flow of air between the chambers. The shape and structure of the impedance means determines the nature of the air flow between chambers, such that the cushioning member can be tailored for various types of activities and body weights, by offering varying degrees of cushioning.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 a sole;    a resilient cushioning member containing air at ambient pressure disposed within said sole, said cushioning member including a first chamber, a second chamber, and a communication chamber connecting said first chamber and said second chamber, said communication chamber having an average cross-sectional area which is less than the average cross-sectional area of both said first chamber and said second chamber; and    impedance means for restricting the flow of air between said first chamber and said second chamber disposed within said communication chamber and having an average cross-sectional area less than the remainder of said communication chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said sole further comprises a midsole having a cavity portion, and wherein said cushioning member is disposed within said cavity portion of said midsole.  
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said sole further comprises an outsole having a cavity portion, and wherein said cushioning member is disposed within said cavity portion of said outsole.  
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said sole further comprises an insole having a cavity portion, and wherein said cushioning member is disposed within said cavity portion of said insole.  
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a sockliner having a cavity portion disposed within an upper, and wherein said cushioning member is disposed within said cavity portion of said sockliner.  
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning member is formed of a blow-molded elastomeric material.  
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a moderating member disposed above said cushioning member for diffusing impact forces upon the cushioning member and providing support to a foot of a wearer.  
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein said moderating member comprises a material having of a Shore A hardness of 75-95 or Shore C hardness of 55-75.  
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein said moderating member and said sole are integral with one another.  
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said sole further comprises a heel portion and a forefoot portion, and wherein said first chamber and said second chamber are disposed adjacent said heel portion and said forefoot portion, respectively.  
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising flexure grooves disposed on said second chamber.  
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a partition disposed within one of said first and second chambers for altering the direction of the air flow within said cushioning member.  
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said impedance means is substantially hourglass-shaped.  
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said impedance means is substantially “z”-shaped.  
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said impedance means is substantially “w”-shaped.  
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said impedance means is substantially “s”-shaped.  
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said cushioning member further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion and said lower portion being mirror images of one another, such that said cushioning member may be readily disposed in either a left shoe or a right shoe.  
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 a sole having a heel portion, an arch portion, and a forefoot portion;    a cavity portion formed within said sole extending substantially from said heel portion to said forefoot portion;    a non-permeable, resilient first chamber containing ambient air disposed within said cavity portion adjacent said heel portion, said first chamber having an upper surface, a lower surface, a lateral side surface and a medial side surface;    a non-permeable, resilient second chamber containing ambient air disposed within said cavity portion adjacent said forefoot portion, said second chamber having an upper surface, a lower surface, a lateral side surface and a medial side surface;    a non-permeable communication chamber containing ambient air disposed within said cavity portion adjacent said arch portion, said communication chamber connecting said first chamber and said second chamber and having an upper surface, a lower surface, a medial side surface and a lateral side surface; and    impedance means disposed within said communication chamber and having an average cross-sectional area which is smaller than the average cross-sectional area of the remainder of said communication chamber, wherein said impedance means restricts the flow of air between said first chamber and said second chamber and provides enhanced cushioning to said article of footwear by controlling the velocity at which the air moves between said first chamber and said second chamber.    
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein said cushioning member is formed of a unitary piece of blow-molded elastomeric material.  
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein said impedance means increases the velocity and turbulence of the air as it moves between said first chamber and said second chamber.  
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein said communication chamber is sized and shaped to provide turbulent air flow between said first chamber and said second chamber when the weight of a wearer applies downward pressure to said first chamber.  
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein said communication chamber is sized and shaped to provide laminar air flow between said first chamber and said second chamber when the weight of a wearer applies downward pressure to said first chamber.  
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein said communication chamber is sized and shaped to provide transitional air flow between said first chamber and said second chamber when the weight of a wearer applies downward pressure to said first chamber.  
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , further comprising ridges disposed on said upper surface and said lower surface of said communication chamber.  
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the vertical distance between said upper surface and said lower surface of said second chamber is less than the vertical distance between said upper surface and said lower surface of said first chamber.  
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , further comprising a moderating member disposed above said cavity portion for diffusing impact forces upon said cushioning member and providing support to a foot of a wearer.  
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear of  claim 26 , wherein said sole further comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, said cavity portion is formed within said lower surface of said sole, and said moderating member comprises said upper surface of said sole.  
     
     
         28 . An article footwear comprising: 
 a sole;    a resilient cushioning member containing pressurized air disposed within said sole, said cushioning member including a first chamber, a second chamber and a communication chamber connecting said first chamber and second chamber, said communication chamber having an average cross-sectional area which is less than the average cross-sectional area of both said first chamber and said second chamber; and    impedance means for restricting the flow of air between said first chamber and said second chamber disposed within said communication chamber and having an average cross-sectional area less than the remainder of said communication chamber.