Footwear system and method having footwear upper linings for cushioning and shock absorption

Abstract

A footwear systems utilizing silica derived gel sheets used as a footwear component in upper linings of the footwear. The upper linings provide a cushioning and shock absorption system, particularly in inclined high-heel shoes where the toes and MTP (metatarsophalangeal) joints typically bear most of the weight in such shoes and come in contact with the footwear linings. The material advantageously not only provides padding, but also absorbs shock to further reduce force placed on the foot by dissipating energy of each footstep. In addition like material may be disposed in the sole of the shoe under the ball of the foot to provide shock absorption and cushioning below as well.

1 . A pressure-responsive footwear system, comprising:
 a substantially-inclined shoe having a posterior portion and an anterior portion and a middle portion disposed there between, and further having a foot-supporting portion comprising:   a unitary, rigid sole portion that is generally incompressible in response to a force applied by a user's foot during use,   wherein:   the rigid sole portion is either a midsole, or an outsole, or a unitary combination of a midsole and an outsole;   the rigid sole portion includes and extends for at least a first thickness between each of an upwardly-orientated foot-engaging surface and a downwardly-orientated ground-engaging surface,   the foot-engaging surface includes a first outer boundary, and   either or both of a posterior portion and a middle portion of the foot-engaging surface is inclined at an angle equal to or greater than approximately fifteen degrees along an approximately anterior-posterior axis,   a first recess formed into the foot-engaging surface of the rigid sole portion and positioned within the outer boundary thereof, the recess presenting an opening at the foot-engaging surface and further extending into but not fully through the rigid sole portion, wherein:   a cross-sectional depth profile of the recess is asymmetric along an anterior-posterior plane extending through the recess,   a deeper first portion or the recess is disposed closer to the anterior end of the shoe than is a second shallower portion of the recess, and   inner surfaces of the recess are concavely curved rather thin angular;   a first leak-resistant, flexible bladder disposed mainly within and conforming dimensionally relative to an inner configuration of the recess;   a volume of relatively viscous filler material disposed within and filling the bladder, wherein:   the filler material imparts a suitably high tension at a surface of the bladder, a portion of the bladder extends above the foot-engaging surface immediately surrounding the opening of the recess, and   in response to a three applied downwardly by a portion of a user's foot upon a portion of the bladder during use, the rigid sole portion prevents downward and lateral displacement of the filler material, and instead redirects displacement of the filler material upwardly toward portions of the user's foot located adjacently to the force-applying portion of the user's foot and   a shock absorbing toe box.   
     
     
         2 . A shoe, comprising:
 a rigid sole portion including a ground-engaging surface, an opposing foot-engaging surface, and a rigid foot-supporting material disposed there between, wherein: the rigid sole portion is either a midsole, or an outsole, or a unitary combination of a midsole and an outsole;   a first thickness of an anterior portion of the rigid sole portion is equal to or greater than one quarter inch, and   one or both of a posterior portion and a middle portion of the foot-engaging surface is inclined at an angle equal to or greater than approximately fifteen degrees (1 5. degree.) along an approximately anterior-posterior axis of the shoe;   a recess formed into the rigid sole portion with an opening thereto presented at the foot-engaging surface and having an asymmetrical depth profile, wherein;   a first portion of the recess is formed to a greater depth into the rigid sole portion of the shoe than is at least a second portion of the recess,   the first portion of the recess is disposed more toward the anterior of the shoe than is the second portion of the recess,   the recess does not extend fully through the rigid sole portion from the opening at the foot-engaging surface to the ground-engaging surface, and   adjacent inner surfaces of the recess are coupled by a curved junction disposed there between;   a replaceable, force-deformable bladder disposed mainly within the recess, wherein a portion of the bladder extends downwardly into the recess below the foot-engaging surface and another portion thereof protrudes upwardly through the opening and above the foot-engaging surface;   a volume of relatively viscous filler material disposed within the bladder, wherein: the filler material imparts a suitably high tension at a surface of the bladder,   a portion of the bladder extends above the foot-engaging surface immediately surrounding the opening of the recess, and   in response to a force applied downwardly by a portion of a user's foot upon a portion of the bladder during use, the rigid sole portion prevents downward and lateral displacement of the filler material, and instead redirects displacement of the filler material upwardly toward portions of the user's foot located adjacently to the force-applying portion of the user's foot; and   an upper portion coupled with the rigid sole portion and configured to receive and retain a user's foot in position relative to both the foot-engaging surface and the cushioning device, wherein the bladder underlies either or both of a metatarsal-phalangeal junction or a posterior portion of the calcaneus bone of the foot and   a shock absorbing toe box.   
     
     
         3 . A shoe toe box comprising:
 an outer decorative piece; and   an inner shock absorbing sheet, in which the sheet is coupled to the outer decorative piece.   
     
     
         4 . A shoe comprising
 a shock absorbing toe box   a shock absorbing pad disposed in a shoe sole and positioned under a ball of the foot.