(19)
(11) EP 0 298 449 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
23.08.1989 Bulletin 1989/34

(43) Date of publication A2:
11.01.1989 Bulletin 1989/02

(21) Application number: 88110786.6

(22) Date of filing: 06.07.1988
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)4: A43B 13/18, A43B 13/20, A43B 17/03
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH DE ES FR GB GR IT LI NL SE

(30) Priority: 06.07.1987 US 70214

(71) Applicant: REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LTD.
Canton Massachusetts 02021 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Litchfield, Paul E.
    South Grafton Massachusetts 01560 (US)
  • Diaz, Juan A.
    Weymouth Massachusetts 02190 (US)
  • Miller, David E.
    Carver Massachusetts 02330 (US)
  • Le, Tuan
    Cohasset Massachusetts 02025 (US)
  • Burris, Steven J.
    Newmarket New Hampshire 03857 (US)

(74) Representative: VOSSIUS & PARTNER 
Postfach 86 07 67
81634 München
81634 München (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Tubular cushioning system for shoes


    (57) The present invention utilizes an upper (22) and a midsole (14) which is disposed in a conventional manner below the upper (22). The midsole includes an elastomeric material and has a number of spaced-apart horizontal tubes (28, 30) extending the width of the midsole (14) which are encapsulated in the elastomeric material. The tubes (28, 30) are hollow and lay side by side in a direction either perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shoe (10), parallel to the axis, or in any other direction functional for foot and shoe mechanics. The elastomeric material has a hardness less than the tubes (28, 30) and fills the space between the tubes (28, 30).







    Search report