Abstract

An athletic shoe includes a substantially flat pump chamber in the sole of the shoe under the heel of the user, with a one-way valve permitting the drawing in of air when pressure is taken of the heel, and second one-way valve at the outlet from the flat pump which comes into play as air is being exhausted from the chamber. One or more pressure bladders for receiving air from the pump mentioned above, are mounted in the sidewalls of the shoe, toward the rear thereof adjacent the ankle. When the user is active, and is walking or running, the pump is automatically actuated to inflate the air bladders and to provide additional support for the foot and the ankle. The air bladders may be provided with a relief valve to prevent overpressure, and/or with arrangements for slowly leaking air out of the bladder so that when the user is resting, pressure on the foot and ankle is minimized. This last function may be accomplished, either by a bleed valve, or by a series of fine perforations in the walls of the bladder.