# US 11,026,473 B2 · Foot support article > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,473 B2 - Document ID: US11026473B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/619,894 - Filed: 2017-06-12 - Published: 2017-09-28 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-19 - Assignees: Under Armour, Inc. - Applicants: Under Armour, Inc. - Inventors: Jason A. Berns; Alan Guyan; Justin Schlothhauer; Kevin Fisher; Michael White - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026473B2 ## CPC - A43B 7/14: with foot-supporting parts - A61F 5/0127: {for the feet (A61F5/0111 takes precedence)} - A43B 7/20: Ankle-joint supports or holders - A43C 1/003: {Zone lacing, i.e. whereby different zones of the footwear have different lacing tightening degrees, using one or a plurality of laces (laces combined with another system A43C11/008; zone tightening using straps A43C11/14)} - A43C 11/14: Clamp fastenings {, e.g. strap fastenings}; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers - A43C 11/1493: {Strap fastenings having hook and loop-type fastening elements} - A61F 5/0111: {for the feet or ankles} - A61F 13/066: {for the ankle} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL ## Abstract An article of footwear includes a sole, an upper defining a foot cavity, and a brace member. The brace member is comprised of a non-elastic resilient material. The brace member is positioned within a pocket in the upper and extends from a heel portion to above an ankle portion of the upper. The brace member may be provided with a top plate member and a base plate member with a central shaft extending between the top plate member and the base plate member. The central shaft may have a C-shape that curves around an ankle of a human foot positioned within the foot cavity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cleated article of footwear comprising: a sole including a cleat; an upper coupled to the sole to form a foot cavity configured to receive a foot of a person wearing the cleated article of footwear, wherein the upper defines an outer surface, an inner surface, a forefoot region, a midfoot region oriented rearward of the forefoot region, a tongue slot, an ankle region oriented rearward of the forefoot region, a lateral side and a medial side; a plurality of side-by-side tensioning straps positioned inside the foot cavity and movably coupled to the upper, the tensioning straps being present within the midfoot region of the upper, each of the tensioning straps including a first end attached to a lower lateral side inside the foot cavity and engaging the inner surface of the upper, a second end positioned outside the foot cavity on the medial side of the upper and engaging the outer surface of the upper, and a middle portion extending between the first end and the second end and across the tongue slot; a plurality of side-by-side elongated channels positioned on the inner surface on the lateral side of the upper, each of the elongated channels designed and dimensioned such that said each elongated channel respectively encloses one of the tensioning straps with a width of each tensioning strap retained within a width of one of the elongated channels and extending from a first open end to a second open end of said elongated channel; and an adjustment tab in contact with the second end of each of the tensioning straps and disposed rearward of the midfoot region on the outer surface of the upper, the adjustment tab being moveable relative to the outer surface of the upper and operable to manipulate tension applied to the foot by the tensioning straps. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cleated article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning straps are configured to apply a selected compressive force to a midfoot region of the foot positioned inside the foot cavity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cleated article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment tab maintains and locks applied tension of the tensioning straps. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cleated article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein: the outer surface of the upper is provided on an outer shell and the inner surface of the upper is provided on an inner layer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cleated article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein each of the tensioning straps is attached to the inner layer such that the tensioning strap travels from the foot cavity, through an opening in the upper, and terminates outside of the outer shell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The cleated article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning straps are inelastic tensioning straps formed from an inelastic fabric material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cleated article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein: the tensioning straps are first tensioning straps; and the cleated article of footwear further comprises a plurality of second side-by-side tensioning straps that extend from the medial side to the lateral side of the article of footwear and crisscross the plurality of first tensioning straps. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The cleated article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the channels are defined by a sleeve disposed upon the inner surface of the upper within the foot cavity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The cleated article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning straps are configured to apply compression to the foot positioned within the foot cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cleated article of footwear according to claim 1 wherein the adjustment tab is configured to lock the tensioning straps in place to apply continuing compressive force to the foot within the foot cavity. ### Claim 11 An article of footwear comprising: a sole; an upper coupled to the sole to form a foot cavity configured to receive a foot of a person wearing the article of footwear, wherein the upper defines an outer surface, an inner surface, a forefoot region, a midfoot region oriented rearward of the forefoot region, an ankle region oriented rearward of the forefoot region, a tongue slot, a medial side and a lateral side; a plurality of aligned elongated channels arranged on the inner surface on the lateral side of the upper; a plurality of aligned tensioning straps inside the foot cavity and movably coupled to the upper, the tensioning straps being present within the midfoot region of the upper, each of the tensioning straps including a first end attached inside the foot cavity on a lower portion of the lateral side of the upper, a channel portion extending through and enclosed by a respective one of the elongated channels, a tongue portion extending across the tongue slot, and a second end positioned outside the foot cavity and engaging the outer surface of the upper on the medial side of the upper; and an adjustment tab in contact with the second end of each tensioning strap and disposed in the ankle region on the outer surface of the upper, the adjustment tab being operable to manipulate tension applied to the foot by the tensioning straps. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The article of footwear of claim 11 wherein the adjustment tab is moveable relative to the outer surface of the upper. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The article of footwear of claim 11 wherein the tensioning straps are configured to apply a selected compressive force to a midfoot region of the foot positioned inside the foot cavity, and wherein the adjustment tab maintains and locks applied tension of the tensioning straps. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The article of footwear of claim 11 wherein the plurality of tensioning straps is a first plurality of tensioning straps, the article of footwear further comprising a second plurality of side-by-side tensioning straps extending from the medial side to the lateral side of the upper and crisscrossing the first plurality of tensioning straps. ### Claim 15 An article of footwear comprising: a sole; an upper coupled to the sole to form a foot cavity configured to receive a foot of a person wearing the article of footwear, wherein the upper defines an outer surface, an inner surface, a forefoot region, a midfoot region oriented rearward of the forefoot region, an ankle region oriented rearward of the forefoot region, a tongue slot, a first side and a second side; a plurality of side-by-side elongated channels positioned on the inner surface of the upper on the first side of the upper; a plurality of side-by-side tensioning members inside the foot cavity and movably coupled to the upper, the tensioning members being present within the midfoot region of the upper, the tensioning members including a first end attached inside the foot cavity on a lower portion of the first side of the upper, a channel portion extending through and enclosed within a respective one of the elongated channels, a tongue portion extending across the tongue slot, and a second end positioned outside the foot cavity and engaging the outer surface on the second side of the upper; and an adjustment member in contact with the second end of the tensioning members on the second side of the upper and moveable relative to the outer surface of the upper, the adjustment member being operable to manipulate tension applied to the foot by the tensioning members. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The article of footwear of claim 15 wherein the adjustment member is disposed rearward of the midfoot region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The article of footwear of claim 15 wherein the tensioning members are configured to apply a selected compressive force to a midfoot region of the foot positioned inside the foot cavity, and wherein the adjustment member maintains and locks applied tension of the tensioning members. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The article of footwear of claim 15 wherein the plurality of tensioning members is a first plurality of tensioning members, the article of footwear further comprising a second plurality of side-by-side tensioning members extending from the second side to the first side of the upper and crisscrossing the first plurality of tensioning members.