Footwear with integrated biased heel fit device

• US 8,020,317 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Sokolowski, Susan
• Primary Examiner(s): MOHANDESI, JILA M
• Application Number:
  US11/696,733
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 36/89, 36/90, 36/92, 36/93, 361/02, 36/585, 36/586, 36/69
• US Class Current: 36/69
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/17 made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/28 Adapting the inner sole or the side of the upper of the shoe to the sole of the foot

Abstract

A shoe structure specifically designed to more securely fit a wider range of feet widths and proportions by providing an integrated resilient heel device in the rearfoot region of the upper. The heel device extends upward and rearward toward the back of the foot to avoid the bulbous end of the calcaneus but also to engage the area just above the heel bone. The heel device has opposing portions that are biased toward one another and provide a secure but comfortable engagement of the shoe onto the wearer'"'"'s heel. The heel device is smaller than the size of the shoe into which it is incorporated to enhance the biasing effect of the opposing portions.

Claims

1. An athletic shoe defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region and a rearfoot region and adapted to receive a wearer'"'"'s foot having corresponding anatomical regions, said shoe comprising:

an upper for surrounding at least a portion of the midfoot region of the wearer'"'"'s foot, and including an insole forming a bottom of said upper providing a receiving surface for the sole of the wearer'"'"'s foot;

a midsole attached to said upper for providing cushioning and stability;

an outsole having a tread surface for providing ground-engaging traction and stability; and

a resilient heel device attached to and incorporated into said shoe in the rearfoot region, said heel device having a medial portion and a lateral portion biased towards each other and attached to said upper, and a bridge portion spanning between the lateral portion and the medial portion underlying said upper and attached to said shoe between said upper and said midsole,

wherein the medial portion and the lateral portion are spaced farther apart at a bottom than at a top.

2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a rear portion extending from each of said opposing portions and together engaging the heel of the wearer to provide a more secure fit.

3. The shoe of claim 2, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a rear bridge portion connecting said rear portions and attached to said upper and midsole.

4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein each of said opposing portions of said heel device includes an upwardly extending forward leg having a forwardmost point at a front transition angle, and an inclined portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said front transition angle.

5. The shoe of claim 4, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a rear portion extending from each of said opposing portions and together engaging the heel of the wearer to provide a more secure fit.

6. The shoe of claim 5, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a rear bridge portion connecting said rear portions and attached to said upper and midsole.

7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said shoe has a size and said heel device is sized smaller than the size of said shoe to enhance the biasing effect of said opposing portions.

8. The shoe of claim 7, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a rear portion extending from each of said opposing portions and together engaging the heel of the wearer to provide a more secure fit.

9. The shoe of claim 8, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a rear bridge portion connecting said rear portions and attached to said upper and midsole.

10. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said heel device comprises separate lateral and medial segments attached to one another at a joint along said bridge portion.

11. The shoe of claim 10, wherein said shoe has a size and said heel device is sized smaller than the size of said shoe to enhance the biasing effect of said opposing portions.

12. The shoe of claim 11, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a rear portion extending from each of said opposing portions and together engaging the heel of the wearer to provide a more secure fit.

13. The shoe of claim 12, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a rear bridge portion connecting said rear portions and attached to said upper and midsole.

14. An athletic shoe defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region and a rearfoot region, said rearfoot region comprising a heel cup and adapted to receive a wearer'"'"'s foot having corresponding anatomical regions, said heel cup adapted to receive a bulbous end of a wearer'"'"'s heel bone, said shoe comprising:

an upper for surrounding at least a portion of the midfoot region of the wearer'"'"'s foot, and including an insole forming a bottom of said upper providing a receiving surface for the sole of the wearer'"'"'s foot;

a midsole attached to said upper for providing cushioning and stability;

an outsole having a tread surface for providing ground-engaging traction and stability; and

a resilient heel device attached to and incorporated into said shoe in the rearfoot region by attachment to said upper and to said midsole, said heel device having lateral and medial opposing portions biased toward each other and attached to said upper in proximate the heel cup, said opposing portions each including an upwardly extending forward leg having a forwardmost point at a front transition angle, an upwardly extending rear portion spaced from the forward leg, having an uppermost point at a rear transition angle and an inclined portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from said front transition angle to said rear transition angle, the forward leg, rear portion, and incline portion defining an aperture.

15. The shoe of claim 14, wherein said rear portion is capable of engaging the heel of the wearer to provide a more secure fit.

16. The shoe of claim 15, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a rear bridge portion connecting said rear portions and attached to said upper and midsole.

17. The shoe of claim 15, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a lower bridge portion underlying said upper and integrated with said opposing portions and merging with same through said forward legs at said front transition angle.

18. The shoe of claim 15, wherein said resilient heel device is padded along its interior surface to comfortably engage the heel area of the wearer.

19. The shoe of claim 14, wherein said shoe has a size and said heel device is sized smaller than the size of said shoe to enhance the biasing effect of said opposing portions.

20. The shoe of claim 19, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a rear portion extending from each of said opposing portions and together engaging the heel of the wearer to provide a more secure fit.

21. The shoe of claim 20, wherein said resilient heel device also comprises a rear bridge portion connecting said rear portions and attached to said upper and midsole.