US 12,082,651 B2
Footwear article including cushion management system
Andrew Edward Grever, Columbus, OH (US); Luke M. Spoerlein, Columbus, OH (US); and Lee F. Smith, Pickerington, OH (US)
Assigned to R. G. BARRY CORPORATION, Pickerington, OH (US)
Filed by R. G. BARRY CORPORATION, Pickerington, OH (US)
Filed on Sep. 20, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/577,497.
Prior Publication US 2021/0085020 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. A43B 7/142 (2022.01); A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 13/40 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 7/142 (2013.01) [A43B 13/125 (2013.01); A43B 13/40 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A footwear article comprising: a sole defining a heel portion and a ball portion, the sole comprising an outsole, a midsole, and an insole;
an arch support member entirely and directly connected to and provided above an upper surface of the midsole confined to a medial side arch region of the midsole, wherein the upper surface of the midsole surrounds the medial side arch region of the midsole; the arch support member comprising a plurality of arch cushion towers extending upwards from the upper surface of the midsole, the plurality of arch cushion towers beginning and terminating within the medial side arch region of the midsole, and the upper surface of each of the plurality of arch cushion towers slopes downward toward the upper surface of the midsole surrounding the medial side arch region of the midsole, and wherein the arch cushion towers have flat lateral sides extending along the direction extending between the heel portion and the ball portion, each arch cushion tower elongated in a direction extending between the heel portion and the ball portion, and each having an elongated upper surface that is arcuate and/or angled to be contoured to interface with an arch of a foot, and the plurality of arch cushion towers each having a lower portion integrally connected to the midsole;
and an upper affixed to the midsole;
wherein the insole is disposed such that the insole rests on the upper surface of the midsole and covers the arch support member, and wherein the outsole is disposed such that an upper surface of the outsole covers the midsole including the lower portions of the arch cushion towers.