Shoe chassis

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shoe chassis. In one embodiment, the present invention is a shoe chassis including a board with a first end and a second end, the board having a portion defining a first hole at the second end. The shoe chassis also includes a stabilizing unit beneath the board and a pod beneath the stabilizing unit. A flexible membrane is positioned within the first hole to allow the heel to flex past or through the first hole and compress a cushioning material located within the pod and positioned under the flexible membrane.

1 . A shoe chassis comprising:
 a toe pod;   a heel pod having a first surface and enclosed walls surrounding the first surface forming a cavity, the heel pod further having a second surface for contacting a ground surface;   a heel cushion sized to fit within the cavity of the heel pod and having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the heel cushion contacting the first surface of the heel pod; and   a footbed including a first end configured to contact the toe pod and to support a plurality of toes of a foot, and a second end configured to support a heel of a foot, the footbed contacting the top surface of the heel cushion.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the heel cushion is constructed out of a material selected from a group consisting of EVA, a foam, a plastic, a rubber, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the footbed is constructed out of a material selected from a group consisting of paper, cardboard, wood, rubber, plastic, foam, leather, synthetic leather, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the toe pod is constructed out of a material selected from a group consisting of rubber, plastic, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the heel pod is constructed out of a material selected from a group consisting of rubber, plastic, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the toe pod and the heel pod are attached. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe chassis of  claim 1 , wherein the toe pod and the heel pod are separated. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe chassis comprising:
 an outsole having a ground contact surface and an upper surface;   a midsole defining a heel cavity and a toe cavity, the midsole for contacting the upper surface of the outsole;   a first cushioning member for substantially filling the heel cavity;   a second cushioning member for substantially filling the toe cavity; and   a foam insert having an inner surface for covering the midsole, the first cushioning member and the second cushioning member, the foam insert further having a foot surface for contacting a user's foot.   
     
     
         9 . The shoe chassis of  claim 8 , wherein the first cushioning member is constructed out of a material selected from a group consisting of EVA, a gel, a foam, a plastic, a rubber, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cushioning member is constructed out of a material selected from a group consisting of EVA, a gel, a foam, a plastic, a rubber and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe chassis of  claim 8 , wherein the second cushioning member has a footprint substantially similar in shape and size to a footprint of the heel cavity. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe chassis comprising:
 a heel pod defining a cavity therein, the heel pod including:
 a top outer surface for defining an upper boundary of the cavity, 
 a bottom outer surface for contacting a ground, 
 a bottom inner surface positioned between the top outer surface and the bottom outer surface, the bottom inner surface for defining a lower boundary of the cavity, and 
 a side wall positioned between the top outer surface and the bottom inner surface for connecting the top outer surface and the bottom inner surface, and for defining a side boundary of the cavity; and 
   a cushioning member configured to fit within the cavity of the heel pod.   
     
     
         12 . The shoe chassis of  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning member has a first depth and the side wall defines a second depth, and further wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe chassis of  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning member has a first depth and the side wall defines a second depth, and further wherein the first depth is lesser than the second depth. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe chassis of  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning member has a first depth and the side wall defines a second depth, and further wherein the first depth is substantially equal to the second depth. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe chassis of  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning member further includes a contacting surface defined as the portion of the cushioning which contacts the bottom inner surface, the contacting surface having a first surface area and a bottom inner surface having a second surface area, further wherein the first surface area is equal to or lesser than the second surface area. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe chassis of  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning is constructed out a material selected from a group consisting of EVA, a foam, a plastic, a rubber, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A shoe chassis comprising:
 an outsole including a bottom surface for contacting a ground, the outsole further defining a first cavity and a second cavity;   a first cushion sized to fit within the first cavity of the outsole;   a second cushion sized to fit within the second cavity of the outsole; and   a footbed including a first end configured to support a plurality of toes of a foot, and a second end configured to support a heel of a foot, the footbed contacting the top surface of the first cushion and contacting the top surface of the second cushion.   
     
     
         18 . The shoe chassis of  claim 17 , wherein the first cushion is constructed out of EVA or gel, and wherein the second cushion is constructed out of EVA or gel. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe chassis of  claim 17 , wherein the footbed and the first cushion are constructed out of different materials. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe chassis of  claim 17 , wherein the first cushion and the second cushion are constructed out of different materials.