US Patent 7784196 Article of footwear having an inflatable ground engaging surface

An article of footwear has an upper and a sole. The sole has at least one inflatable bladder wherein said at least one inflatable bladder has an inflated state and a deflated state. A ground engaging surface of the sole has a first profile in the deflated state and a second profile in the inflated state. The first profile is different from the second profile. Varying the profile of the ground engaging surface varies the amount of cushioning in the sole so that the shoe can serve as a multipurpose shoe for activities requiring different amounts of cushioning.