Shoe spring sole insert

Abstract

A spring cushioned shoe insert is disclosed. The sole insert includes an insert that has a first wave spring disposed within a vacuity of the heel region and a second wave spring disposed within a vacuity of the toe region. The springs are, e.g., wave springs that extend to the upper and lower boundaries of the spring enclosure. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fluid flow passageway facilitates the movement of air from the heel to toe regions of the insert. In a second embodiment, the wave springs are fully contained within encapsulating enclosures.

1 . A sole insert assembly for an article of footwear, the sole insert assembly having a heel and toe region. 
     
     
         2 . The sole insert assembly of  claim 1  wherein the sole insert assembly comprises:
 a first wave spring disposed within the heel region;   a second wave spring disposed within the toe region, and   a fluid flow passageway between the first and second wave springs.   
     
     
         3 . A shoe comprising a shoe sole including outer sole, an inner sole, and a mid sole disposed above the outer sole and inner sole; the middle sole defining a vacuity. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 3  further comprising an encapsulating spring enclosure disposed within such vacuity. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 4  wherein a first wave spring is disposed within the heel region of the encapsulating spring enclosure. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein a second wave spring is disposed within the toe region of the encapsulating spring enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 6  further comprising a fluid flow passageway between the first and second wave springs. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein the spring is a crest to crest multi-turn spring. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein the encapsulating spring enclosure is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein the encapsulating spring enclosure contains air at atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe comprising a shoe sole including outer sole, an inner sole, and a mid sole disposed above the outer sole and inner sole; the middle sole defining a first vacuity within the heel region and second vacuity within the toe region. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 11  further comprising an encapsulating spring enclosure containing a wave spring, disposed within the heel region vacuity. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 12  wherein the spring is a crest to crest multi-turn spring. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 12  wherein the encapsulating spring enclosure is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 12  wherein the encapsulating spring enclosure contains air at atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         16 . A shoe comprising a shoe sole including outer sole, an inner sole, and a mid sole disposed above the outer sole and inner sole; the middle sole defining a first vacuity within the heel region and second vacuity within the toe region further comprising an encapsulating spring enclosure containing a wave spring, disposed within the heel and toe region vacuities. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 16  wherein the spring is a crest to crest multi-turn spring. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 16  wherein the encapsulating spring enclosure is hermetically sealed. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 16  wherein the encapsulating spring enclosure contains air at atmospheric pressure.