US 12,714,199 B2 · Cushioning heel band for footwear

Abstract

A cushioning heel band for footwear and an article of footwear are provided. The article of footwear has an upper configured to engage with a wearer's foot when worn on the wearer's foot and a sole having a heel portion and a forefoot portion. The heel band is U-shaped and is positioned on the heel portion. The heel band has opposing first and second surfaces, and a perimeter wall that define a channel adapted to retain cushioning material. The cushioning material may have resilient balls. The heel band contacts a midsole heel portion upper surface which is lower than a midsection upper surface. The footwear may have a forefoot cavity and/or a heel cavity. Each is adapted to retain a cavity cushion. The heel cavity is defined by the heel band, midsole heel portion, and a front wall positioned at a juncture of the midsole heel portion and the midsection.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An article of footwear, comprising:

a) an upper configured to engage with a wearer's foot when the article of footwear is worn on the wearer's foot;
b) a sole having a heel portion and a forefoot portion, the upper connected to the sole;
c) a heel band positioned on the heel portion, the heel band comprising a U-shaped configuration and a first surface, a second surface, a first end wall, a second end wall, and a perimeter wall, the second surface being opposite the first surface, the perimeter wall spanning between and joining the first and second surfaces to one another;
d) wherein the first surface, the second surface, the first end wall, the second end wall, and the perimeter wall define a channel, the channel having a lateral channel opening that extends from the first end wall to the second end wall to permit a cushioning material to be inserted into the channel.

1 more element

An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper configured to engage with a wearer's foot when the article of footwear is worn on the wearer's foot;
a sole having a heel portion and a forefoot portion, the upper connected to the sole;
a heel band positioned on the heel portion, the heel band comprising a U-shaped configuration, a first surface, a second surface, a first end wall, a second end wall, and a perimeter wall, the second surface being opposite the first surface, the perimeter wall spanning between and joining the first and second surfaces to one another;
the first surface, the second surface, the first end wall, the second end wall, and the perimeter wall define a channel, the channel having a lateral channel opening that extends from the first end wall to the second end wall to permit a cushioning material to be inserted into the channel, the channel retaining the cushioning material.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Cushioning heel band for footwear

Life of this patent

Cushioning heel band for footwear

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24