US Patent 6951066 Cushioning sole for an article of footwear

Disclosed herein is a shoe construction for providing increased cushioning effects. The shoe includes a sole, a footbed, and a layer of a plurality of deformable protrusions disposed between at least a portion of the sole and the footbed, particularly in the heel and the forefoot area of the shoe. Each of the protrusions includes a tip facing and freely movable with respect to a lower surface of the footbed. Each of the protrusions also includes a base fixedly attached to the sole so that the base does not move relative to said sole. The protrusions provide cushioning by bending when a foot presses down upon them. An alternate embodiment shows the cushioning sole adapted for use in a sandal.