# US 10,765,171 B2 · Shoe having cushion within heel member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,171 B2 - Document ID: US10765171B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/996,916 - Filed: 2016-01-15 - Published: 2017-07-20 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-15 - Assignees: Cole Haan LLC - Applicants: Cole Haan LLC - Inventors: Aubert Shepherd; Raghu Yalamanchili; Narendran Jayavel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765171B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/186: {Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32)} - A43B 7/141: {having an anatomical or curved form} - A43B 13/12: Soles with several layers of different materials - B29C 44/12: Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or reinforcements - B29C 44/1271: {the preformed parts being partially covered} - B29C 45/40: Removing or ejecting moulded articles - B29D 35/08: having multilayered parts - A43B 3/0078: {provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration (A43B23/24 takes precedence)} - A43B 7/144: situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone - A43B 7/1445: situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal - A43B 13/04: Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre - A43B 13/188: {Differential cushioning regions} - A43B 13/41: combined with heel stiffener, toe stiffener, or shank stiffener - A43B 21/20: plastics - A43B 21/26: Resilient heels - A43B 23/22: Supports for the shank or arch of the uppers - A43B 23/24: Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function - B29C 44/08: using several expanding {or moulding} steps - B29D 35/061: {by injection moulding} - B29D 35/122: {Soles} - B29K 2075/00: Use of {PU, i.e.} polyureas or polyurethanes {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials - B29K 2675/00: Use of {PU, i.e.} polyureas or polyurethanes {or derivatives thereof,} for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts - B29L 2031/50: Footwear, e.g. shoes or parts thereof - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A shoe comprising a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The sole has a lower sole member, a heel member, a shank member, a heel cushion, and a foot pad. The heel member extends downwardly from the lower sole member. The heel member includes a heel outer peripheral surface and an open top heel cavity. The lower sole member includes a top surface and a lower sole cavity extending downwardly from the top surface. The shank member has a shank midfoot portion and a shank heel portion. The shank midfoot portion is in the lower sole cavity and the shank heel portion is in the heel cavity. The heel cushion is in the heel cavity. The shank heel portion is sandwiched between the heel cushion and the heel member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shoe comprising: a sole; and an upper secured to the sole; the sole extending longitudinally from a sole heel end to a sole toe end and extending transversely from a sole lateral edge to a sole medial edge, the sole including a heel region, a midfoot region, a ball region and a toe region, the heel region extending longitudinally from the sole heel end to the midfoot region, the midfoot region extending longitudinally from the heel region to the ball region, the ball region extending longitudinally from the midfoot region to the toe region, and the toe region extending longitudinally from the ball region to the sole toe end, the sole having a lower sole member, a heel member, a shank member, a heel cushion, and a foot pad, the lower sole member extending from the sole heel end to the sole toe end, the heel member being in the heel region and extending downwardly from the lower sole member, the heel member including a heel outer peripheral surface and an open top heel cavity, the open top heel cavity being spaced from the heel outer peripheral surface, the lower sole member including a top surface and a lower sole cavity extending downwardly from the top surface, the shank member having a shank midfoot portion and a shank heel portion, the shank midfoot portion being in the lower sole cavity and the shank heel portion being in the open top heel cavity, the heel cushion being in the open top heel cavity, the shank heel portion being sandwiched between the heel cushion and the heel member, the foot pad extending between the sole heel end and the sole toe end and having a heel pad portion, a midfoot pad portion, a ball pad portion, and a toe pad portion, the heel pad portion overlying and being in contact with the heel cushion, the midfoot pad portion overlying and being in contact with the shank midfoot portion, the midfoot pad portion, the ball pad portion, and the toe pad portion being in the lower sole cavity, the foot pad having a top surface in contact with the upper. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower sole member has an outer peripheral surface, and wherein the sole further comprises a veneer, the veneer comprising a lower sole veneer portion and a heel veneer portion, the lower sole veneer portion traversing along the outer peripheral surface of the lower sole member, the heel veneer portion traversing along the heel outer peripheral surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The shoe as set forth in claim 2 wherein the lower sole veneer portion comprises either natural leather or synthetic leather. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The shoe as set forth in claim 3 wherein the heel veneer portion comprises either natural leather or synthetic leather. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The shoe as set forth in claim 2 wherein the heel veneer portion comprises wood. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The shoe as set forth in claim 2 wherein the lower sole member is of a molded construction and wherein the heel member is of a molded construction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The shoe as set forth in claim 6 wherein the heel member is a one-piece member separate from the lower sole member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The shoe as set forth in claim 6 wherein the heel member is of a first material of a first durometer hardness, the heel cushion is of a second material of a second durometer hardness, and the foot pad is of a third material of a third durometer hardness, the first durometer hardness being greater than the second durometer hardness, the second durometer hardness being greater than the third durometer hardness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The shoe as set forth in claim 8 wherein the lower sole member is of the first material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The shoe as set forth in claim 8 wherein the foot pad comprises a single layer, the single layer of the foot pad being in contact with the upper and the heel cushion. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The shoe as set forth in claim 10 wherein the single layer of the foot pad is in contact with the shank midfoot portion and the lower sole member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The shoe as set forth in claim 11 wherein the third material is a cured-in-place foam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The shoe as set forth in claim 11 wherein the lower sole veneer portion comprises natural leather and wherein the heel veneer portion comprises natural leather. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The shoe as set forth in claim 8 further comprising a welt, the welt being adjacent the outer peripheral surface of the lower sole member, the welt being secured to at least one of the sole and the upper. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) A method of making the shoe as set forth in claim 2, the method comprising: placing the lower sole veneer portion in a mold; injecting a curable first material into the mold, the mold being of a shape to form the lower sole member; allowing the first material to cure to form the lower sole member; removing the lower sole veneer portion and the lower sole member from the mold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method as set forth in claim 15 further comprising: attaching the heel member to the lower sole member; placing the shank member relative to the heel member and the lower sole member such that the shank heel portion is in the open top heel cavity and the shank midfoot portion is in the lower sole cavity; inserting the heel cushion into the open top heel cavity, the heel cushion being of a second material different from the first material; causing a curable third material to flow into the lower sole cavity and atop the heel cushion; allowing the third material to cure to form the foot pad; attaching the upper to the sole. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower sole member is of a molded construction and wherein the heel member is of a molded construction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The shoe as set forth in claim 17 wherein the heel member is of a first material of a first durometer hardness, the heel cushion is of a second material of a second durometer hardness, and the foot pad is of a third material of a third durometer hardness, the first durometer hardness being greater than the second durometer hardness, the second durometer hardness being greater than the third durometer hardness. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The shoe as set forth in claim 18 wherein the lower sole member is of the first material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein the foot pad comprises a single layer, the single layer of the foot pad being in contact with the upper and the heel cushion. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The shoe as set forth in claim 20 wherein the single layer of the foot pad is in contact with the shank midfoot portion and the lower sole member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The shoe as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shank midfoot portion comprises a plurality of shank openings, the midfoot pad portion being located within at least some of the shank openings. ### Claim 23 A shoe comprising: a sole; and an upper secured to the sole; the sole extending longitudinally from a sole heel end to a sole toe end and extending transversely from a sole lateral edge to a sole medial edge, the sole including a heel region, a midfoot region, a ball region and a toe region, the heel region extending longitudinally from the sole heel end to the midfoot region, the midfoot region extending longitudinally from the heel region to the ball region, the ball region extending longitudinally from the midfoot region to the toe region, and the toe region extending longitudinally from the ball region to the sole toe end, the sole having a lower sole member, a heel member, a shank member, a heel cushion, and a foot pad, the lower sole member extending from the sole heel end to the sole toe end, the heel member being in the heel region and extending downwardly from the lower sole member, the heel member including a heel outer peripheral surface and an open top heel cavity, the open top heel cavity being spaced from the heel outer peripheral surface, the lower sole member including a top surface and a lower sole cavity extending downwardly from the top surface, the shank member having a shank midfoot portion and a shank heel portion, the shank midfoot portion being in the lower sole cavity and the shank heel portion being in the open top heel cavity, the heel cushion being in the open top heel cavity, the shank heel portion being sandwiched between the heel cushion and the heel member, the foot pad extending between the sole heel end and the sole toe end and having a heel pad portion, a midfoot pad portion, a ball pad portion, and a toe pad portion, the heel pad portion overlying the heel cushion and the midfoot pad portion overlying the shank midfoot portion, the midfoot pad portion, the ball pad portion, and the toe pad portion being in the lower sole cavity, the foot pad having a top surface in contact with the upper.