Footwear devices

Abstract

Footwear devices having various shock absorbing configurations situated in the heal of the footwear and a plurality of regions on the bottom of the footwear defined by a plurality of compressibilities.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear device comprising:
 a sole, the sole having a bottom surface, an outer edge and an inner edge, the footwear device being defined by a plurality of regions between the outer edge and the inner edge, the footwear device being further defined by a plurality of compressibilities;   wherein a first of the plurality of regions is disposed nearer the outer edge than a second of the plurality of regions;   wherein the first of the plurality of regions has a first of the plurality of compressibilities;   wherein the second of the plurality of regions has a second of the plurality of compressibilities; and   wherein the first of the plurality of compressibilities is less than the second of the plurality of compressibilities.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear device of  claim 1  further comprising a heel portion, a vertically disposed bore within the heel portion, and a shock absorber at least partially disposed within the bore, wherein at least a bottom surface of the shock absorber comprises a third of the plurality of regions, wherein a fourth of the plurality of regions is disposed adjacent the third of the plurality of regions, and wherein the fourth of the plurality of regions has a compressibility that is less than a compressibility of the third of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear device of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom surface of the shock absorber further comprises a fifth of the plurality of regions, the fifth of the plurality of regions being interior to the third of the plurality of regions, and wherein the fifth of the plurality of regions has a compressibility that is greater or less than the compressibility of the third of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear device of  claim 3 , wherein the compressibility of the fifth of the plurality of regions is greater than the compressibility of the third of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear device of  claim 3 , wherein the compressibility of the fifth of the plurality of regions is less than the compressibility of the third of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear device of  claim 2 , wherein the shock absorber has a compressed state and a relaxed state, and wherein the shock absorber extends below the bottom surface of the sole when the shock absorber is in the relaxed state. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear device of  claim 6 , wherein the fourth of the plurality of regions contacts the ground before the third of the plurality of regions for a wearer of the footwear device having supination or pronation. 
     
     
         8 . A footwear device comprising:
 a sole, the sole having a bottom surface, an outer edge and an inner edge, the footwear device being defined by a plurality of regions between the outer edge and the inner edge, the footwear device being further defined by a plurality of compressibilities;   wherein a first of the plurality of regions is disposed nearer the inner edge than a second of the plurality of regions;   wherein the first of the plurality of regions has a first of the plurality of compressibilities;   wherein the second of the plurality of regions has a second of the plurality of compressibilities; and   and wherein the first of the plurality of compressibilities is less than the second of the plurality of compressibilities.   
     
     
         9 . The footwear device of  claim 8  further comprising a heel portion, a well within the heel portion having an open bottom and a closed top, and a shock absorber at least partially disposed within the well, wherein at least a bottom surface of the shock absorber comprises a third of the plurality of regions, wherein a fourth of the plurality of regions is disposed adjacent the third of the plurality of regions, and wherein the fourth of the plurality of regions has a compressibility that is less than a compressibility of the third of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear device of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom surface of the shock absorber further comprises a fifth of the plurality of regions, the fifth of the plurality of regions being interior to the third of the plurality of regions, and wherein the fifth of the plurality of regions has a compressibility that is greater or less than the compressibility of the third of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear device of  claim 10 , wherein the compressibility of the fifth of the plurality of regions is greater than the compressibility of the third of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear device of  claim 10 , wherein the compressibility of the fifth of the plurality of regions is less than the compressibility of the third of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear device of  claim 9 , wherein the shock absorber has a compressed state and a relaxed state, and wherein the shock absorber extends below the bottom surface of the sole when the shock absorber is in the relaxed state. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear device of  claim 13 , wherein the fourth of the plurality of regions contacts the ground before the third of a plurality of regions for a wearer of the footwear device having supination or pronation. 
     
     
         15 . A footwear device comprising:
 a sole, the sole having a bottom surface, an outer edge and an inner edge, the footwear device being defined by a plurality of regions between the outer edge and the inner edge, the footwear device being further defined by a plurality of compressibilities, the footwear device further comprising a heel portion, a vertically disposed well within the heel portion having an open bottom and a closed top, and a shock absorber at least partially disposed within the well;   wherein at least a bottom surface of the shock absorber comprises a first of the plurality of regions;   wherein a second of the plurality of regions is disposed adjacent the first of the plurality of regions; and   wherein the second of the plurality of regions has a compressibility that is less than a compressibility of the first of the plurality of regions.   
     
     
         16 . The footwear device of  claim 15 , wherein the bottom surface of the shock absorber further comprises a third of the plurality of regions, the third of the plurality of regions being interior to the first of the plurality of regions, and wherein the third of the plurality of regions has a compressibility that is greater or less than the compressibility of the first of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear device of  claim 16 , wherein the compressibility of the third of the plurality of regions is greater than the compressibility of the first of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear device of  claim 16 , wherein the compressibility of the third of the plurality of regions is less than the compressibility of the first of the plurality of regions. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear device of  claim 16 , wherein the shock absorber has a compressed state and a relaxed state, and wherein the shock absorber extends below the bottom surface of the sole when the shock absorber is in the relaxed state. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear device of  claim 19 , wherein the second of the plurality of regions contacts the ground before the first of the plurality of regions for a wearer of the footwear device having supination or pronation.