United States Patent [19] [ii] Patent Number: 4,924,605
Spademan [45] Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
[54] SHOE DYNAMIC FITTING AND SHOCK ABSORBTION SYSTEM
[76] Inventor: Richard G. Spademan, Box 6410, Incline Village, Nev. 89450
[21] Appl. No.: 11,409
[22] Filed: Feb. 4, 1987
Related U.S. Application Data
[63] Continuation of Set. No. 736,666, May 22, 1985, abandoned.
[51] Int. CI.5 A43B 5/00; A43B 7/14
[52] U.S.C1 36/114; 36/119;
36/88
[58] Field of Search 36/88, 114, 119, 121,
36/71.5, 70 R, 132, 50, 109, 58.5, 89
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
1,286,787 12/1918- Rakahr 36/114
3,828,448 8/1974 Leonildo 36/119
4,030,215 6/1977 Vogel 36/119
4,196,530 4/1980 Delery 36/119
4,222,184 9/1980 Kastinger 36/121
4,236,328 12/1980 Friedlander 36/58.5
4,342,161 8/1982 Schmohl 36/58.5
4,366,631 ' 1/1983 Larsen et al 36/114
4,446,634 5/1984 Johnson et al 36/28
4,447,968 5/1984 Spademan 36/119
4,546,555 10/1985 Spademan 36/29
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
0040782 12/1981 European Pat. Off. 36/88
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
WO 81/01645, 6/1981, PCT Spademan.
WO 80/02789, 12/1980, PCT Spademan.
Primary Examiner—Steven N. Meyers
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Townsend & Townsend
[57] ABSTRACT
A shoe having a dynamic fitting and shock absorption system. Disposed within the shoe is an insert defined by a sensing means including a U-shaped pivot bar that straddles a movable footbed. The bar has an upper end attached to a strap extending over the instep and forefoot. The opposite end of the strap is attached to the footbed. The bar is pivotally secured to the sides of the footbed. The lower end of the bar rests on the shoe sole. Movement of the footbed in a downward direction upon foot strike pivots the bar toward a position parallel to the footbed dynamically tightening the strap on the foot and distributing a portion of the shock load to the midfoot and forefoot.
23 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
