Footwear piece with cushioning system and method of absorbing impact forces on the feet of a walker or runner

Abstract

A footwear piece having a platform and a fluid assembly. The platform supports a wearer's foot and is engagable with an underlying surface. The platform has a rear heel region for engaging the wearer's heel and a sole region forwardly of the heel region for engaging a portion of the wearer's foot including the ball and toes of the wearer's foot. The fluid assembly has a first chamber containing a first quantity of a first fluid. The fluid assembly is provided on the platform and configured so that as the wearer of the footwear piece walks or runs, the wearer's heel is caused to apply a force to the first chamber that causes at least a portion of the first quantity of the first fluid to be discharged from the first chamber in such a manner that impact forces imparted from the platform to the wearer's heel are absorbed.

1 . A footwear piece comprising: 
 a platform for supporting a wearer's foot and engaging an underlying surface,    the platform having a) a rear heel region for engaging a wearer's heel and b) a sole region forwardly of the heel region for engaging a portion of a wearer's foot including the ball and toes of a wearer's foot; and    a fluid assembly comprising a first chamber containing a first quantity of a first fluid,    the fluid assembly provided on the platform and configured so that as a wearer of the footwear piece walks or runs, the wearer's heel is caused to apply a force to the first chamber that causes at least a portion of the first quantity of the first fluid to be discharged from the first chamber in such a manner that impact forces imparted from the platform to the wearer's heel are absorbed.    
   
   
       2 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid assembly comprises a second chamber into which the discharged fluid from the first chamber flows.  
   
   
       3 . The footwear piece according to  claim 2  wherein there is a restriction provided between the first and second chambers that controls flow of fluid from the first chamber into the second chamber.  
   
   
       4 . The footwear piece according to  claim 3  wherein the restriction is defined by a valve.  
   
   
       5 . The footwear piece according to  claim 4  wherein the valve is adjustable to vary a rate at which fluid flows from the first chamber into the second chamber for a given pressure in the first chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The footwear piece according to  claim 4  wherein the valve restricts fluid flow from the first chamber into the second chamber to a greater extent than fluid flow from the second chamber into the first chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The footwear piece according to  claim 2  wherein the second chamber is provided on the platform and configured so that as a wearer of the footwear piece walks or runs the ball of the wearer's foot is caused to apply a force to the second chamber that causes fluid in the second chamber to be discharged into the first chamber.  
   
   
       8 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1  wherein the first fluid comprises at least one of a liquid and a gas.  
   
   
       9 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1  wherein the first chamber is defined by a bladder made from at least one reconfigurable sheet layer.  
   
   
       10 . The footwear piece according to  claim 7  wherein the fluid flows in a first path in a first flow direction from the first chamber to the second chamber and oppositely to the first flow direction in the first flow path flowing from the second chamber to the first chamber.  
   
   
       11 . The footwear piece according to  claim 7  wherein the fluid flows in a first path from the first chamber to the second chamber and in a second path spaced from the first path from the second chamber to the first chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid assembly is repositionable relative to the platform to be installed in, and separable from, the platform as a unit.  
   
   
       13 . The footwear piece according to  claim 4  wherein the valve comprises a live hinge portion.  
   
   
       14 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid assembly comprises a closed system within which the first fluid circulates.  
   
   
       15 . A method of absorbing impact forces through a footwear piece on a wearer's foot, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a footwear piece comprising:    a) a platform for supporting a wearer's foot and engaging an underlying surface and having a rear heel region for engaging a wearer's heel and a sole region forwardly of the heel region for engaging a portion of a wearer's foot including the ball and toes of a wearer's foot; and    b) a first fluid assembly with a first chamber capable of containing a first quantity of a fluid; and    causing fluid in the first chamber to be discharged from the first chamber as a wearer of the footwear piece walks or runs and the wearer's heel applies a force to the first chamber such that impact forces imparted from the platform to the wearer's heel are absorbed.    
   
   
       16 . The method of absorbing impact forces through a footwear piece on a wearer's foot according to  claim 15  wherein the step of providing a footwear piece comprises providing a footwear piece with a second chamber and the step of causing fluid in the first chamber to be discharged comprises causing fluid in the first chamber to be discharged to the second chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The method of absorbing impact forces through a footwear piece on a wearer's foot according to  claim 16  further comprising the step of causing fluid in the second chamber to flow into the first chamber as a wearer of the footwear piece walks or runs and the ball of the wearer's foot is caused to apply a force on the second chamber.  
   
   
       18 . The method of absorbing impact forces through a footwear piece on a wearer's foot according to  claim 17  further comprising the step of providing a restriction to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.  
   
   
       19 . The method of absorbing impact forces through a footwear piece on a wearer's foot according to  claim 18  wherein the step of providing a restriction comprises providing an adjustable valve through which a variable restriction to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber can be selected.  
   
   
       20 . The method of absorbing impact forces through a footwear piece on a wearer's foot according to  claim 15  further comprising the steps of providing a second fluid assembly similar to the first fluid assembly but with different operating capabilities, selecting one of the first and second fluid assemblies based on an ability to absorb impact forces based on at least one of the foot size, weight, or body type of a wearer, and utilizing the selected one of the first and second fluid assemblies.