Ultralightweight adaptive heel member

• US 9,259,049 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Adami, Giovanni, Michielon, Renato, Minami, Tetsuya T., Smith, Timothy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US13/746,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20140202044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 36/68, 36/69, 36/89, 36/92, 36/76.HH
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/088 Heel stiffeners A43B23/10, A43B23/14, A43B23/16, A43B23/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/17 made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/141 having an anatomical or curved form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/19 engaging the ground directly
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/24 Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side , preventing supination or pronation

Abstract

A heel member includes a base portion, a medial portion and a lateral portion. The lateral portion is a wall-like portion including a plurality of windows. The medial portion comprises a plurality of projecting portions that extend upwardly from the base portion. The medial portion may be taller than the lateral portion. The medial portion may be more flexible than the lateral portion.

Claims

1. A heel member, comprising:

a base portion, a medial portion extending from the base portion, a lateral portion extending from the base portion and a rearward portion extending from the base portion;

wherein the rearward portion is positioned substantially along a longitudinal central axis of the heel member;

the medial portion comprising a plurality of projecting portions;

the rearward portion comprising a second projecting portion; and

wherein the medial portion is higher than the lateral portion along a majority of a length of the heel member.

2. The heel member according to claim 1, wherein an average height of the medial portion is greater than an average height of the lateral portion.

3. The heel member according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of projecting portions comprise finger-like projections.

4. The heel member according to claim 1, wherein a length of the projecting portions are substantially greater than a width of the projecting portions.

5. The heel member according to claim 1, wherein the medial portion is configured to be more flexible than the lateral portion.

6. The heel member according to claim 1, wherein the second projecting portion includes a finger-like projection disposed between the medial portion and the lateral portion along a peripheral portion of the base portion.

7. A heel member, comprising:

a base portion, a medial portion extending from the base portion and a lateral portion extending from the base portion;

wherein the medial portion is asymmetrical from the lateral portion;

the medial portion comprising a plurality of projecting portions;

the lateral portion including a continuous top edge that extends along the length of the lateral portion;

wherein only the lateral portion includes at least one window; and

wherein the at least one window has an approximately elongated rectangular shape.

8. The heel member according to claim 7, wherein the lateral portion includes two or more windows.

9. The heel member according to claim 8, wherein each of the two or more windows has an approximately elongated rectangular shape.

10. The heel member according to claim 7, wherein the lateral portion is more rigid than the medial portion.

11. The heel member according to claim 7, wherein a height of at least two of the plurality of projecting portions measured with respect to the base portion is substantially greater than a height of the lateral portion measured with respect to the base portion.

12. The heel member according to claim 7, wherein the base portion includes a central gap.

13. The heel member according to claim 7, wherein the medial portion is configured to bend during a medial motion.

14. A heel member, comprising:

a base portion, a medial portion extending from the base portion and a lateral portion extending from the base portion;

the medial portion comprising a plurality of projecting portions;

wherein only the lateral portion includes a plurality of elongated rectangular windows; and

wherein the lateral portion is substantially more rigid than the medial portion.

15. The heel member according to claim 14, wherein the medial portion comprises between two and four projecting portions.

16. The heel member according to claim 14, wherein a height of the plurality of projecting portions varies along a length of the medial portion.

17. The heel member according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of projecting portions are separated by a plurality of gaps.

18. The heel member according to claim 14, wherein a height of at least two of the plurality of projecting portions measured with respect to the base portion is substantially greater than a height of the lateral portion measured with respect to the base portion.

19. The heel member according to claim 14, wherein the lateral portion and the medial portion are made of the same material.

20. The heel member according to claim 14, wherein the geometry of the lateral portion may be characterized by a forward edge, a rearward edge and a top edge.