# US 10,306,948 B2 · Footwear with tapered heel and methods of manufacture and measurement

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- Number: US 10,306,948 B2
- Document ID: US10306948B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/494,724
- Filed: 2017-04-24
- Published: 2017-08-10
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-03-23
- Applicants: Karl Stien
- Inventors: Karl Stien
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10306948B2

## CPC

- A43B 13/125: {characterised by the midsole or middle layer}
- A43B 7/223: {characterised by the constructive form}
- A43B 7/24: Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side {, preventing supination or pronation}
- A43B 13/12: Soles with several layers of different materials
- A43B 13/143: {provided with wedged, concave or convex end portions, e.g. for improving roll-off of the foot}
- A43B 13/145: {Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes}
- A43B 13/148: {Wedged end portions}
- A43B 13/185: {Elasticated plates sandwiched between two interlocking components, e.g. thrustors}
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR

## Abstract

A method of manufacturing footwear and an article of footwear having a tapered heel in part defining an impact point associated with a padded impact zone which first strikes a surface upon a foot plant and a plate embedded within a sole of the article such that the plate supports the heel of the sole from flexing or collapsing. The impact point is part of an impact area (F) positioned adjacent an ankle pivot axis of the wearer's ankle, and in one aspect is positioned at or slightly posterior the ankle pivot axis. In one aspect the method includes configuring a sole of the footwear based on an ankle pivot characteristic or balance pivot characteristic of a wearer in a custom manufacture or based on the same of a typical or an ordinary wearer in a non-custom manufacture.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a shoe or boot into which a wearer inserts a foot, the foot associated with an ankle having an ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis, the method comprising:
ascertaining a wearer's ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis; and
configuring a sole of the shoe or boot with an impact point being a posterior-most aspect of the sole in contact with a surface when the shoe or boot rests naturally upon the surface, the impact point positioned on the sole substantially in alignment with the pivot axis or balance pivot axis and within a rear one-third of the sole.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 where the step of ascertaining the wearer's pivot axis or balance pivot axis includes measuring or calculating the ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 where the measured or calculated ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis is used to configure the impact point of the sole.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 where the impact point is part of an impact profile of the sole.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 where the impact point is a posterior-most aspect of the sole in contact with a surface when the shoe or boot is subject to a normal standing load of the wearer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 where the measured or calculated ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis is used to configure a plate to be used with the sole.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 where the measured or calculated ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis is used to configure a heel taper of the sole.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 where the impact point in part defines an impact profile, the impact profile comprising a line oriented generally transverse a length of the shoe or boot.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 where the balance pivot axis is determined by use of a balance pivot axis measuring device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising measuring or calculating the ankle pivot axis or the balance pivot axis of a wearer and manufacturing the sole by positioning the impact point based at least in part upon such measurement or calculation of the ankle pivot axis or the balance pivot axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 where the impact point is located posterior the ankle pivot axis or the balance pivot axis no greater than 1 cm when the shoe or boot is subject to a normal standing load of the wearer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 where the sole includes a tapered heel and a plate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 where the plate is configured based upon the ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 where the step of ascertaining the ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis includes analysis of ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis of a pool of wearers.

### Claim 15

A method of manufacturing a shoe or boot into which a wearer inserts a foot, the foot associated with an ankle having an ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis, the method comprising:
ascertaining the wearer's ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis;
configuring a sole of the shoe or boot with an impact point being a posterior-most aspect of the sole in contact with a surface when the shoe or boot is subject to a normal standing load of an ordinary wearer, the impact point positioned substantially in alignment with the ankle pivot axis of an ordinary wearer of the shoe or boot, the impact point positioned within a rear one-third of the sole; and
configuring the sole with a rigid plate extending from a midfoot portion of the sole to posterior the impact point such that compression or sag of a heel of the sole is reduced or eliminated, the impact point positioned on the sole such that an ordinary wearer of the shoe or boot will avoid tipping backwards when standing naturally.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 where the impact point is positioned at or between a balance pivot axis of an ordinary wearer and within at least 1 cm posterior of an ankle pivot axis of an ordinary wearer.

### Claim 17

A method of fitting a foot of a person with a shoe or boot, the method comprising:
ascertaining a measured or calculated ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis of the wearer; and
matching the foot with a shoe or boot having a sole with an impact point substantially in alignment with the ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis, the impact point being a posterior-most aspect of the sole in contact with a surface when the shoe or boot rests naturally upon the surface, the impact point positioned at a rear third of the sole.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 where the impact point aligns along the ankle pivot axis or the balance pivot axis.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 where the impact point is positioned anterior the ankle pivot axis or the balance pivot axis.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 where the impact point is positioned posterior the ankle pivot axis or the balance pivot axis.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 further comprising inserting the foot into the shoe or boot having the sole with the impact point corresponding to the ankle pivot axis or the balance pivot axis.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 where a central vertical axis of a tibia of the user is utilized as the measured or calculated ankle pivot axis of the wearer.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 where the impact point is positioned a distance from a rear terminal end of the sole at or between 18 to 32 percent of the length of the sole.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 where a midfoot of the sole includes a void defined in part by a heel wall extending only at a medial portion of the midfoot, the midfoot includes a flat region at a lateral portion of the sole.

### Claim 25 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 where ascertaining the ankle pivot axis or balance pivot axis includes sampling a variety of footwear having a same fit size and having different impact point characteristics.