Resilient pad for footwear

Abstract

A resilient pad for an article of footwear comprises a plurality of pocketed coil springs each of which is located in discrete pocket formed between two layers of material bonded or otherwise attached together at least at locations between the springs. The springs are preferably coil springs which may be of wire and are preferably of stainless steel or titanium. The springs are preferably wider than they are tall, i.e. they have a diameter which is greater than the height of the spring when the spring is in the pocket. The pad or panel may be substantially co-extensive in plan with a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear.

1 - 17 . (cancel) 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising inserting into a cavity in the sole and/or heel of the article of footwear a resilient pad or panel, the pad or panel comprising a plurality of pocketed springs, each of which is located in a discrete pocket formed between two layers of material, the two layers of material being bonded or otherwise attached together at least at locations between the springs, wherein the pad or panel is flexible in a lateral direction, generally perpendicular to the axis of the springs. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to claim  1  wherein the springs are wider than they are tall and have a diameter which is greater than the height of the spring when in the pocket. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to claim  1  wherein the pad or panel is substantially co-extensive in plan with a heel of a wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         21 . A method according to claim  1  wherein the pad or panel is substantially co-extensive in plan with a ball of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         22 . A method according to claim  1  wherein the pad or panel is substantially co-extensive in plan with a foot of the wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         23 . A method according to claim  1  wherein the pad or panel includes a plurality of zones in which springs from different zones have at least one different characteristic. 
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the characteristic is the height of the spring. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the characteristic is the stiffness of the spring. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 23  wherein the zones are arranged to accommodate the profile of a foot of the wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         27 . A method according to claim  1  further comprising inserting at least one additional substrate layer above or below a layer of springs and comprising natural material. 
     
     
         28 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising molding a sole and/or upper portion of the article of footwear around a resilient pad or panel, the pad or panel comprising a plurality of pocketed springs, each of which is located in a discrete pocket formed between two layers of material, the two layers of material being bonded or otherwise attached together at least at locations between the springs, and wherein the pad or panel is flexible in a lateral direction, generally perpendicular to the axis of the springs. 
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the springs are wider than they are tall and have a diameter which is greater than the height of the spring when in the pocket. 
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the pad or panel is substantially co-extensive in plan with a heel of a wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the pad or panel is substantially co-extensive in plan with a ball of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the pad or panel is substantially co-extensive in plan with a foot of the wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the pad or panel includes a plurality of zones in which springs from different zones have at least one different characteristic. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 33  wherein the characteristic is the height of the spring. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 33  wherein the characteristic is the stiffness of the spring. 
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 33  wherein the zones are arranged to accommodate the profile of a foot of the wearer of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 28  further comprising molding at least one additional substrate layer above or below a layer of springs and comprising natural material.