Footwear with integrated biased heel fit device
First Claim
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, the 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 the upper providing a receiving surface for the sole of the wearer'"'"'s foot;
a midsole attached to the 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 the shoe in the rearfoot region, the heel device having a medial segment and a lateral segment biased towards each other and attached to the upper, the medial segment and the lateral segment attached to one another at a first joint along a bottom bridge of the heel device and at a second joint along a rear bridge of the heel device, the bottom bridge and the rear bridge both underlying the upper and attached to the shoe between the upper and the midsole.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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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, the shoe comprising:
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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 the upper providing a receiving surface for the sole of the wearer'"'"'s foot; a midsole attached to the 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 the shoe in the rearfoot region, the heel device having a medial segment and a lateral segment biased towards each other and attached to the upper, the medial segment and the lateral segment attached to one another at a first joint along a bottom bridge of the heel device and at a second joint along a rear bridge of the heel device, the bottom bridge and the rear bridge both underlying the upper and attached to the shoe between the upper and the midsole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An athletic shoe defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region and a rearfoot region, the rearfoot region comprising a heel cup and adapted to receive a wearer'"'"'s foot having corresponding anatomical regions, the heel cup adapted to receive a bulbous end of a wearer'"'"'s heel bone, the shoe comprising:
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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 the upper providing a receiving surface for the sole of the wearer'"'"'s foot; a midsole attached to the upper for providing cushioning and stability; an outsole having a tread surface for providing ground-engaging traction and stability; a resilient heel device attached to and incorporated into the shoe in the rearfoot region by attachment to the upper and to the midsole, the heel device having a lateral segment and a medial segment biased toward each other and attached to the upper proximate the heel cup; wherein the lateral segment includes an upwardly extending lateral forward leg having a forwardmost point at a front transition angle and an upwardly extending lateral rear portion spaced from the lateral forward leg and having an uppermost point at a lateral rear transition angle and a lateral inclined portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the lateral front transition angle to the lateral rear transition angle; wherein the medial segment includes an upwardly extending medial forward leg having a forwardmost point at a front transition angle and an upwardly extending medial rear portion spaced from the medial forward leg and having an uppermost point at a medial rear transition angle and a medial inclined portion extending upwardly and rearwardly from the medial front transition angle to the medial rear transition angle; and wherein the lateral segment and the medial segment are attached to one another by a first joint disposed between the lateral rear portion and the medial rear portion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An athletic shoe defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region and a rearfoot region, the rearfoot region comprising a heel cup and adapted to receive a wearer'"'"'s foot having corresponding anatomical regions, the heel cup adapted to receive a bulbous end of a wearer'"'"'s heel bone, the shoe comprising:
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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 the upper providing a receiving surface for the sole of the wearer'"'"'s foot; a midsole attached to the upper for providing cushioning and stability; an outsole having a tread surface for providing ground-engaging traction and stability; a resilient heel device attached to and incorporated into the shoe in the rearfoot region by attachment to the upper and to the midsole, the heel device having a lateral segment and a medial segment biased toward each other and attached to the upper proximate the heel cup; wherein the lateral segment includes an upwardly extending lateral forward leg, an upwardly extending lateral rear portion configured to engage the back of the heel of the wearer, a lateral rear bridge portion extending from the lateral rear portion, and a lateral inclined portion joining the lateral forward leg to the lateral rear portion; wherein the medial segment includes an upwardly extending medial forward leg, an upwardly extending medial rear portion configured to engage the back of the heel of the wearer, a medial rear bridge portion extending from the medial rear portion, and a medial inclined portion joining the medial forward leg to the medial rear portion; and wherein the lateral segment and the medial segment are attached to one another by a first joint disposed between the lateral rear bridge portion and the medial rear bridge portion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification