Shoe sole comfort and support system containing blends of loose fill material

Abstract

A shoe is provided with an outsole that contacts the ground, an insole upon which a foot rests, and a midsole located between the outsole and the insole. The midsole cushions the wearer's foot by providing a loose fill having a size between −2 and −80 mesh, in a front compartment on which the toes and ball of the foot of the wearer rest and a heel compartment on which the heel of the wearer rests. The front compartment is divided into at least two sub compartments to keep the loose fill evenly distributed. The front compartment and the heel compartment are separated by an arch support section of the midsole. A blend of two or more mesh sizes of fill may also be used for the loose fill.

1 . A shoe comprising: 
 an outsole;    an insole; and    a midsole located between the outsole and the insole, wherein the midsole has a front compartment and a heel compartment filled with loose fill having a mesh size between −2 and −80.    
     
     
         2 . A shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the loose fill material has a mesh size between −4 and −20.  
     
     
         3 . A shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the loose fill material has a mesh size between −8 and −10.  
     
     
         4 . A shoe comprising: 
 an outsole;    an insole; and    a midsole located between the outsole and the insole, wherein the midsole has a front compartment and a heel compartment filled with a blend of two or more sizes of loose fill having mesh sizes between −2 and −80.    
     
     
         5 . A shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the loose fill material is a blend of 10 to 90% loose fill with a mesh size of −4 and 10% to 90% loose fill with a mesh size of −20.  
     
     
         6 . A shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the loose fill material is a blend of 10% to 90% loose fill with a mesh size of −8 and 10% to 90% loose fill with a mesh size of −10.  
     
     
         7 . A shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the loose fill material is a blend of 10% to 90% loose fill with a mesh size of −2 and 10% to 90% loose fill with a mesh size of −80.  
     
     
         8 . A shoe comprising: 
 an outsole;    an insole; and    a midsole located between the outsole and the insole, wherein the midsole has a front compartment and a heel compartment filled with a blend of more than one loose fill material having mesh sizes between −2 and −80.    
     
     
         9 . A shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein the loose fill is a blend of crumb rubber and plasticized polyvinyl chloride.  
     
     
         10 . A shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein the loose fill is a blend of crumb rubber and ethylene-vinyl acetate.  
     
     
         11 . A shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein the loose fill material is a blend of crumb rubber and polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         12 . A shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein the loose fill material is a blend of crumb rubber and ethylene vinyl chloride.  
     
     
         13 . A shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein the loose fill material is a blend of crumb rubber and ground rubber.  
     
     
         14 . A shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein the loose fill material is a blend of recycled and new materials.  
     
     
         15 . A shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein the loose fill material is a blend of natural and synthetic materials.