FOOTWEAR CONSTRUCTION WITH HEEL SUPPORT ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole;
an upper joined to the sole, the upper include a heel counter assembly disposed in the heel region of the upper, the heel counter assembly including a heel counter and a memory foam layer, the memory foam layer having a maximum thickness of at least 7 mm, the upper further including a transition foam layer disposed above the heel counter assembly having a maximum thickness less than the maximum thickness of the memory foam layer; and
a heel cradle extending around the heel region of the upper into the arch region of the upper.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear having a heel support assembly with a memory foam layer situated internally of a heel counter is provided. The memory foam layer may be laminated to the heel counter, for example, by adhesive or direct attachment. The heel memory foam layer may have a maximum thickness that is sufficient to embrace the heel of the wearer'"'"'s foot potentially cradling the calcaneus, the retrocalcaneal bursa and the base of the Achilles tendon. The heel support assembly may also include a heel cradle extending around an external portion of the upper and including a lasting allowance. The heel cradle can provide torsional support in the arch region (or waist) of the article of footwear, for example when the heel support assembly is incorporated into an article of footwear with a strobel construction.
22 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An article of footwear comprising:
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a sole; an upper joined to the sole, the upper include a heel counter assembly disposed in the heel region of the upper, the heel counter assembly including a heel counter and a memory foam layer, the memory foam layer having a maximum thickness of at least 7 mm, the upper further including a transition foam layer disposed above the heel counter assembly having a maximum thickness less than the maximum thickness of the memory foam layer; and a heel cradle extending around the heel region of the upper into the arch region of the upper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A heel support assembly for an article of footwear including an upper and a sole, the heel support assembly comprising:
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a heel counter assembly including; a heel counter disposed adjacent to a heel portion of the upper of the article of footwear, and a memory foam layer positioned internally of the heel counter, the memory foam layer being substantially coextensive with the heel counter; and a u-shaped heel cradle extending around an exterior portion of the upper and including a medial portion and a lateral portion each having a lasting allowance extending inwardly between the upper and the sole. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising:
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joining a memory foam layer to a heel counter to form a heel counter assembly; securing the heel counter assembly to a heel portion of an upper; positioning a u-shaped heel cradle over a base of the upper, the heel cradle including a medial portion, a lateral portion, and an intermediate portion therebetween; and securing a sole to the upper, the medial and lateral portions each including a lasting allowance disposed between the sole and the upper. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. (canceled)
Specification