Athletic shoe

• US 4,366,631 A
• Filed: 01/15/1981
• Issued: 01/04/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1979
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tretorn Aktiebolag (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: McGregor, Rob R., Larsen, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawson, Patrick D.
• Application Number:
  US06/225,171
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 36/50, 36/58.5, 36/114, 36/129, 36/83, 24/117 R, 24/140
• US Class Current: 36/50.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 11/00 Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/06 Running shoes; Track shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/004 Fastenings fixed along the upper edges of the uppers

Abstract

There is disclosed an athletic shoe that finds most efficacy with joggers. The shoe is supplied with a conventional upper and sole. The usual lacing arrangement is provided with the exception that additional lacing means is provided along both sides of the shoe whereby the counter containing heel portion of the shoe is constrained in a manner so that the heel portion of the athletic shoe is brought inward in the direction of the centerline of the shoe to effectively lock the heel portion with the front portion. The tying arrangement may be a continuation of the usual lacings or may be two separate laces, but in any event essentially locks the front and back of the shoe together. The lace arrangement extending to the counter or heel portion is positioned whereby the means is substantially parallel to a "spring" ligament as normally located in the foot.

Claims

1. An athletic shoe comprising:

(a) a sole;

(b) an upper affixed to the sole having a toe portion, a heel portion and a connecting portion therebetween;

(c) said heel portion having a heel portion embracing counter means having a forwardly extending portion at each side of the heel portion and a rearward portion;

(d) said shoe having a upwardly facing opening in said upper having an edge, through which the ankle portion of a foot protrudes when said shoe is worn;

(e) an eyelet-containing substantially U-shaped portion in said connecting portion extending from proximately rearward of said toe portion to said edge of said opening of said upper and having a row of spaced eyelets in each of said legs of said U-shaped portion by means of which said shoe is laced and tied;

(f) a first ring connecting means affixed to the forwardly extending portions of said counter means at each side of the upper;

(g) a second ring connecting means affixed to said U-shaped portion near said edge of said opening of said upper;

(h) an elongated lace having a portion threaded through said eyelets in said U-shaped portion and one end portion of the lace is threaded through said second ring connecting means, thereafter is threaded through said first ring connecting means and then again is threaded through said second ring connecting means all on the same side of the shoe; and

the other end portion of the lace is threaded through said second ring connecting means, thereafter is threaded through said first ring connecting means and then again is threaded through said second ring connecting means all on the other side of the shoe,

(i) the lace is of sufficient length whereby there are end portions capable of being tied over the top portion of the U-shaped eyelet portion to thereby produce drawing together stress between the first ring connecting means and the top portion of the U-shaped eyelet portion at each side of the shoe.

2. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the ring connecting means are metal rings.

3. The shoe of claim 2 wherein the ring means are affixed by loops sewn to said shoe.