Internal collar device for an article of footwear
First Claim
1. An article of footwear for accommodating malleoli flex, comprising:
- an external portion having a heel portion and a toe portion; and
an internal collar device disposed adjacent to said heel portion of said external portion, said internal collar device having a pivoting spine, a heel cup rigidly attached to a lower portion of said pivoting spine, and an ankle wrap rigidly attached to an upper portion of said pivoting spine, wherein said internal collar device pivots about a pivot axis independent of said external portion and said heel cup of said internal collar device is rigidly attached to said heel portion of said external portion.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An internal collar device for an article of footwear. The internal collar device includes ankle wraps, a pivoting spine and a heel cup. The pivoting spine is a relatively narrow portion of the internal collar device which is flexible so that it pivots with the wearer'"'"'s movement. The internal collar device is disposed in an external boot of the article of footwear so that the internal collar device pivots about a pivot axis near the wearer'"'"'s malleoli. The article of footwear is configured so that internal collar device pivots almost entirely independently from the external boot. As such, the internal collar devices controls the forward and rearward flex of the wearer'"'"'s ankle and provides support to the wearer'"'"'s foot and ankle within the article of footwear. Further, forward and rearward flex of the wearer'"'"'s ankle does not result in a crease or wear area forming in the external boot so that the present invention prevents premature wear of the boot material.
86 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An article of footwear for accommodating malleoli flex, comprising:
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an external portion having a heel portion and a toe portion; and an internal collar device disposed adjacent to said heel portion of said external portion, said internal collar device having a pivoting spine, a heel cup rigidly attached to a lower portion of said pivoting spine, and an ankle wrap rigidly attached to an upper portion of said pivoting spine, wherein said internal collar device pivots about a pivot axis independent of said external portion and said heel cup of said internal collar device is rigidly attached to said heel portion of said external portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An in-line skate having an internal collar package, comprising:
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a rigid external skate boot having a heel portion and a toe portion; and a rigid internal collar device adjacent to said heel portion of said rigid external skate boot, said rigid internal collar device having a pivoting spine, a heel cup, and an ankle wrap wherein said pivoting spine and said ankle wrap pivot independent of said rigid external skate boot and said heel cup of said rigid internal collar device is rigidly attached to said heel portion of said rigid external skate boot. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification