FOOTWEAR

• US 20120137544A1
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Published: 06/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deckers Outdoor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Deckers Outdoor Corporation
• Inventors: Rosa, Adriano, Shao, Ken, Crary, Nathan W., Gallant, Phil, Jenkins, Stuart, Labarbera, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,938,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/105
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/122 characterised by the outsole or external layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/145 Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/143 situated under the lateral arch, i.e. the cuboid bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/24 Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side , preventing supination or pronation

Abstract

A shoe has a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion and comprises a sole having a base layer, a heel pedestal extending from the base layer, a lateral stabilizer pedestal extending from the base layer and positioned at least partially beneath the cuboid bone, and a medial stabilizer pedestal extending from the base layer and positioned at least partially beneath the navicular bone. During bipedal locomotion, the weight of a person wearing the shoe is supported on at least one of the heel pedestal, the lateral stabilizer pedestal, and the medial stabilizer pedestal, thereby transferring the person'"'"'s weight from the heel pedestal, to the lateral stabilizer pedestal, and to the medial stabilizer pedestal. The heel pedestal, the lateral stabilizer pedestal, and the medial stabilizer pedestal include an outsole and a compressible base layer between the outsole and the wearer'"'"'s foot.

Claims

1. A shoe having a sole including a platform for supporting a wearer'"'"'s foot upon a surface, the shoe comprising:

a heel pedestal extending from the platform beneath a wearer'"'"'s heel;

a lateral stabilizer pedestal extending from the platform at least partially beneath a wearer'"'"'s cuboid bone; and

a medial stabilizer pedestal extending from the platform at least partially beneath a wearer'"'"'s navicular bone;

wherein the heel pedestal, the lateral stabilizer pedestal, and the medial stabilizer pedestal include an outsole for contacting the surface and a single compressible layer between the outsole and the wearer'"'"'s foot.

2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the compressible layer comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate.

3. The shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a heel stabilizer extending at least partially along the perimeter of the heel portion.

6. The shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a stability shell having a plantar portion for supporting a wearer'"'"'s forefoot, and a heel cup for cradling a wearer'"'"'s heel.

7. The shoe according to claim 6, wherein the stability shell is integral with the sole.

8. The shoe according to claim 1, and further comprising a bridge coupling the heel pedestal, the medial stabilizer pedestal, and the lateral stabilizer pedestal into an integral, 3-point structure for supporting the wearer'"'"'s foot.

5. The shoe according to claim 5, wherein the heel stabilizer comprises the same material as the compressible base layer.

4. The shoe according to claim 5, wherein the heel stabilizer is integral with the base layer.

9. A shoe having a sole including a platform for supporting a wearer'"'"'s foot upon a surface, the shoe comprising:

a heel pedestal extending from the platform beneath a wearer'"'"'s heel;

a lateral stabilizer pedestal extending from the platform at least partially beneath a wearer'"'"'s cuboid bone; and

a medial stabilizer pedestal extending from the platform at least partially beneath a wearer'"'"'s navicular bone;

wherein the heel pedestal, the lateral stabilizer pedestal, and the medial stabilizer pedestal include an outsole for contacting the surface, a first compressible base layer between the outsole and the wearer'"'"'s foot and a second compressible layer between the first compressible layer and the wearer'"'"'s heel.

10. The shoe of according to claim 9, wherein the first and second compressible layers are made of different materials.

11. The shoe of according to claim 9, wherein the second compressible layer includes a gel.

12. The shoe of according to claim 9, wherein the first and second compressible layers include materials having different densities.

13. The shoe according to claim 9, wherein the first and second compressible layers include ethylene vinyl acetate.

14. The shoe according to claim 9, and further comprising a bridge coupling the heel pedestal, the medial stabilizer pedestal, and the lateral stabilizer pedestal into an integral, 3-point structure for supporting the wearer'"'"'s foot.

15. A shoe having a sole including a platform for supporting a wearer'"'"'s foot upon a surface, the shoe comprising:

a heel pedestal extending from the platform beneath a wearer'"'"'s heel;

a lateral stabilizer pedestal extending from the platform at least partially beneath a wearer'"'"'s cuboid bone; and

a medial stabilizer pedestal extending from the platform at least partially beneath a wearer'"'"'s navicular bone;

wherein the heel pedestal, the lateral stabilizer pedestal, and the medial stabilizer pedestal include a single compressible layer, said compressible layer including a bottom surface having tread.

16. The shoe according to claim 15, wherein said compressible layer is made of a foam material.

17. The shoe according to claim 15, wherein said compressible layer made of a material having different densities.