Heel Counter Structure for a Shoe

• US 20120304491A1
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Inventors: KIMURA, Takaya, DAZAI, Tatsuya, ODA, Takao
• Granted Patent: US 9,232,831 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/69
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/027 with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/087 made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/088 Heel stiffeners A43B23/10, A43B23/14, A43B23/16, A43B23/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders

Abstract

The heel counter structure includes a sole plate provided at least at the heel region of the shoe and having a peripheral portion. The peripheral portion is upraised along the heel region of the shoe so as to enclose the lower portion of the heel portion of the foot of the wearer. The heel structure also includes a pair of heel counter portions provided on the medial and lateral sides of the heel region of the shoe so as to sandwich the heel portion of the foot sideways. The heel counter portions are coupled to the peripheral portion of the sole plate at the lower ends of the heel counter portions so that the heel counter portions can tilt inwardly and outwardly independently of the sole plate. The heel counter portions are separated from the peripheral portion of the sole plate except the lower ends of the heel counter portions.

Claims

1. A heel counter structure for a shoe, said shoe including at least a heel region, said heel counter structure comprising:

a sole plate that is provided at least at the heel region of the shoe and that has a peripheral portion upraised along the heel region of the shoe so as to enclose a lower portion of a heel portion of a foot of a shoe wearer; and

a pair of heel counter portions provided on a medial side and a lateral side of the heel region of the shoe respectively so as to sandwich the heel portion of the foot sideways,

wherein said heel counter portions are coupled to said peripheral portion of said sole plate at lower ends of said heel counter portions so that said heel counter portions can tilt inwardly and outwardly independently of said sole plate.

2. The heel counter structure according to claim 1, wherein said sole plate has a round shape along a shape of a sole of the heel portion of the foot.

3. The heel counter structure according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral portion of said sole plate has an inverted V-shape such that its height is higher at a central portion of said sole plate at a rear end of the heel region of the shoe and it gradually lowers toward a medial end and a lateral end of said sole plate.

4. The heel counter structure according to claim 1, wherein said heel counter portions are separated from said peripheral portion of said sole plate except said lower ends of said heel counter portions.

5. The heel counter structure according to claim 3, wherein said central portion of said inverted V-shape of said peripheral portion of said sole plate at the rear end of the heel region of the shoe extends to or in the vicinity of the most protruded position at a rear end of the heel portion of the foot.

6. The heel counter structure according to claim 4, wherein starting points of separation of said heel counter portions on rear sides thereof from said peripheral portion of said sole plate are disposed downward and rearward from prominences of the heel portion below malleoli of the heel portion on a medial side and a lateral side of the foot.

7. The heel counter structure according to claim 1, wherein said heel counter portions are spaced away from said peripheral portion of said inverted V-shape of said sole plate.

8. The heel counter structure according to claim 1, wherein upper end edges of said heel counter portions extend to lower portions of malleoli of the heel portion of the foot.

9. The heel counter structure according to claim 1, wherein each of said heel counter portions covers a prominence of the heel portion below a malleolus of the heel portion on the medial side and the lateral side of the foot.

10. The heel counter structure according to claim 1, wherein either or both of said heel counter portions are formed integrally with said sole plate.

11. The heel counter structure according to claim 1, wherein either or both of said heel counter portions are fixedly attached to said sole plate directly or through another member.

12. The heel counter structure according to claim 11, wherein said another member is an upper for the shoe.