Footwear heel spring device
First Claim
1. A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear, the device comprising:
- a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment;
a continuous base supporting the control bar and connected to both of the first side arm and the second side arm; and
wherein the control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment of the control bar a first distance from the base, the control bar elastically deforms under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment of the control bar a second distance from the base less than the first distance, and the device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unstressed position upon removal of the applied force;
wherein;
the control bar has an extension that extends from the center segment of the control bar toward the base;
the extension is spaced apart from the base when the control bar is in the unstressed position;
the extension contacts the base when the control bar is in the loaded position, limiting further depression of the control bar;
the base has a recess; and
the extension protrudes into the recess when the control bar is in the loaded position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear, the device comprising:
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a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment; a continuous base supporting the control bar and connected to both of the first side arm and the second side arm; and wherein the control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment of the control bar a first distance from the base, the control bar elastically deforms under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment of the control bar a second distance from the base less than the first distance, and the device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unstressed position upon removal of the applied force; wherein; the control bar has an extension that extends from the center segment of the control bar toward the base; the extension is spaced apart from the base when the control bar is in the unstressed position; the extension contacts the base when the control bar is in the loaded position, limiting further depression of the control bar; the base has a recess; and the extension protrudes into the recess when the control bar is in the loaded position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An article of footwear comprising:
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a device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of the article of footwear, a footwear sole structure having an outer wall with a recess in the heel region; the device comprising; a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment; a continuous base supporting the control bar and connected to both of the first side arm and the second side arm; wherein the control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment of the control bar a first distance from the base, the control bar elastically deforms under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment of the control bar a second distance from the base less than the first distance, and the device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unstressed position upon removal of the applied force; wherein; the control bar has an extension that extends from the center segment of the control bar toward the base; the extension is spaced apart from the base when the control bar is in the unstressed position; the extension contacts the base when the control bar is in the loaded position, limiting further depression of the control bar; the base has a recess; the extension protrudes into the recess of the base when the control bar is in the loaded position; and wherein the base of the device at least partially nests in the recess of the outer wall of the sole structure and is secured to the outer wall of the sole structure.
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14. An article of footwear comprising:
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a device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of the article of footwear; a footwear upper that defines at least a portion of an ankle opening; the device comprising; a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment; a continuous base supporting the control bar and connected to both of the first side arm and the second side arm; wherein the control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment of the control bar a first distance from the base, the control bar elastically deforms under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment of the control bar a second distance from the base less than the first distance, and the device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unstressed position upon removal of the applied force; wherein; the control bar has an extension that extends from the center segment of the control bar toward the base; the extension is spaced apart from the base when the control bar is in the unstressed position; the extension extends from the center segment of the control bar toward the base; the extension contacts the base when the control bar is in the loaded position, limiting further depression of the control bar; the base has a recess; and the extension protrudes into the recess when the control bar is in the loaded position; and wherein the base underlies the control bar with the first side arm at a medial side of the footwear upper, the second side arm at a lateral side of the footwear upper, and the center segment of the control bar rearward of the ankle opening. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification