Importance

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Abstract

A shoe sole having improved lateral and medial stability is comprised of a shoe sole formed from a material having a predetermined hardness and one or more stabilizer apparatus contained in the shoe sole, the stabilizer apparatus being formed from a material having a hardness different or the same as the hardness of the shoe sole. The stabilizer apparatus are formed with opposed support wall sections that are positioned adjacent the sidewalls of the shoe sole and resist the compression of the midsole in the areas adjacent the opposite left and right sidewalls. The spacing of the stabilizer support walls at the opposite left and right sides of the midsole prevents the support walls from appreciably affecting the cushioning ability of the portion of the midsole between the stabilizer sidewalls. In variant embodiments of the invention, the medial portions of the midsole between the stabilizer left and right support wall sections is occupied by a fluid filled pad provided as a cushion in the midsole, or is occupied by the material of the midsole having a different or the same hardness value than the support walls of the stabilizer. In a still further variant, ports are provided in the sidewalls of the midsole corresponding to the positions of the stabilizers, and the support wall sections of the stabilizers are transparent to enable viewing of a fluid pad positioned between the opposed support wall sections from outside the sidewalls of the midsole.

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First Claim