# US 2014/0196317 A1 · Athletic shoe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196317 A1 - Document ID: US20140196317A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/166,346 - Filed: 2014-01-28 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Ektio Inc. - Applicants: Ektio Inc. - Inventors: Barry H. Katz; Omar S. Bailey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196317A1 ## CPC - A43C 1/00: Shoe lacing fastenings (garment fastening devices A41F) - A43B 7/20: Ankle-joint supports or holders - A43B 13/145: {Convex portions, e.g. with a bump or projection, e.g. 'Masai' type shoes} - A43B 23/07: Linings therefor {(lining laminated with upper A43B23/026)} - A43C 11/008: {Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening} - A43C 11/1493: {Strap fastenings having hook and loop-type fastening elements} - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract An athletic shoe includes stabilization mechanisms designed to inhibit ankle sprains while also providing comfort for a wearer. Such mechanisms include inner and outer straps that overlie the instep of the athletic shoe and wrap around the wearer's ankle to provide ankle support and inhibit inversion of the ankle during athletic activity. The athletic shoe also includes an inner boot liner that stabilizes the wearer's foot within the athletic shoe, provides a comfortable buffer between the wearer's foot and the inner and outer straps, and wicks perspiration away from the wearer's foot during athletic activity. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An athletic shoe, comprising: an upper including a medial wall on one side of said shoe, said medial wall having a medial instep edge and a medial ankle edge, and a lateral wall on an opposite side of said shoe, said lateral wall having a lateral instep edge, a lateral ankle edge, an inner eyelet and an outer eyelet, said medial wall being joined to said lateral wall at an anterior end of said shoe to form a toe proximate said medial instep edge and said lateral instep edge, said medial wall further being joined to said lateral wall at a posterior end of said shoe to form a heel proximate said medial ankle edge and said lateral ankle edge; a sole fixedly attached to said upper; a tongue including one end attached to said upper proximate said toe, and a tongue edge opposite said one end of said tongue and proximate said medial ankle edge and said lateral ankle edge; an inner boot liner attached to said sole and positioned under said tongue, said inner boot liner extending laterally between said medial wall and said lateral wall and including a liner heel positioned adjacent said heel, and a front liner edge proximate said tongue edge and having an inner boot strap loop; an inner strap configured to wrap around and cover a wearer's ankle, said inner strap having one end attached to said lateral wall proximate said heel and extending between said heel and said liner heel, between said medial wall and said inner boot liner, over said tongue, and through said inner eyelet, wherein a portion of the inner strap extending through said inner eyelet is positionable over said medial instep edge, said tongue and said lateral instep edge; an outer strap configured to wrap around and cover a wearer's ankle mortise, said outer strap having one end attached to a junction between said sole and said medial wall at a point proximate said heel, and extending between said medial wall and said boot liner, between said boot liner and said tongue, through said inner boot strap loop and through said outer eyelet, said boot liner thereby providing a buffer between said inner and outer straps and the top of a wearer's foot, whereby said inner and outer straps may be cinched against the wearer's ankle without causing discomfort, and wherein a free end of said outer strap extending through said outer eyelet is positionable over said medial instep edge, said tongue and said lateral instep edge; and fastening means for fastening said inner strap and said outer strap in an overlapping relationship with respect to a wearer's ankle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein said sole includes an anterior lateral bumper support proximate said lateral wall and said toe, and a posterior lateral bumper support proximate said lateral wall and said heel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein said fastening means includes releasable hook-and-loop fastening mechanisms. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The athletic shoe of claim 3, wherein said releasable hook-and-loop fastening mechanisms include a first hook-and-loop fastening mechanism disposed on said inner strap, and a second hook-and-loop fastening mechanism disposed on said outer strap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The athletic shoe of claim 4, wherein said fastening means further includes a hook-and-loop fastener element disposed on said medial wall of said upper. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The athletic shoe of claim 4, wherein said first hook-and-loop fastening mechanism includes a first hook patch and a first loop patch arranged so as to be removeably attachable to said first hook patch, and wherein said second hook-and-loop fastening mechanism includes a second hook patch and a second loop patch arranged so as to be removeably attachable to said second hook patch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The athletic shoe of claim 6, wherein said first hook patch and said first loop patch are disposed on one side of said inner strap, and wherein said second hook patch and said second loop patch are disposed on one side of said outer strap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The athletic shoe of claim 7, wherein said inner strap includes a third loop patch disposed on a side opposite said one side of said inner strap, said third loop patch being arranged so as to be removeably attachable to said second hook patch. ### Claim 9 (depends on 4) The athletic shoe of claim 4, wherein said fastening means further includes a buckle, said buckle being attached to said medial wall and including a lower buckle slot and an upper buckle slot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The athletic shoe of claim 9, wherein said inner and outer straps are each passable through at least one of said lower buckle slot and upper buckle slot. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein said inner eyelet and said outer eyelet are located on said lateral wall of said upper, between said toe and said heel, and between said lateral instep edge and said sole of said shoe, and wherein said outer eyelet is intermediate said inner eyelet and said sole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein said one end of said inner strap is attached by rivets on the inside of said lateral wall, and wherein said one end of said outer strap is attached by a strap seam on the inside of said junction between said sole and said medial wall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein said heel includes a heel edge, and said inner boot liner includes a liner heel positioned adjacent said heel, a front liner edge proximate said tongue edge and a rear liner edge attached to said heel edge so as to be opposite said front liner edge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The athletic shoe of claim 13, wherein said front liner edge includes a front finger loop. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The athletic shoe of claim 13, wherein said heel edge includes a heel finger loop attached thereto. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The athletic shoe of claim 2, wherein said anterior lateral bumper support and said posterior lateral bumper support are slightly elevated from the ground by a distance in comparison with a bottom of said sole. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The athletic shoe of claim 16, wherein said distance is in a range from about 1 mm to about 3 mm. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The athletic shoe of claim 1, wherein said tongue includes a center tongue strip having a tongue strap loop that is sized and shaped to accommodate and secure said inner strap against said tongue, whereby said inner strap extends through said tongue strap loop when passing over said tongue. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The athletic shoe of claim 1, further comprising a shoelace insertably engaging said medial and lateral instep edges. ### Claim 20 A method for protecting a wearer's ankle from injury, comprising the steps of: providing an athletic shoe having an upper including a medial wall on one side of said shoe, said medial wall having a buckle including a lower buckle slot and an upper buckle slot, a medial instep edge and a medial ankle edge, and a lateral wall on an opposite side of said shoe, said lateral wall having a lateral instep edge, a lateral ankle edge, an inner eyelet and an outer eyelet, said medial wall being joined to said lateral wall at an anterior end of said shoe to form a toe proximate said medial instep edge and said lateral instep edge, said medial wall further being joined to said lateral wall at a posterior end of said shoe to form a heel proximate said medial ankle edge and said lateral ankle edge; a shoelace insertably engaging said medial and lateral instep edges; a sole fixedly attached to said upper; a tongue including one end attached to said upper proximate said toe, and a tongue edge opposite said one end of said tongue and proximate said medial ankle edge and said lateral ankle edge; wherein said medial ankle edge, said lateral ankle edge, said tongue edge and said heel edge form a foot opening; an anterior lateral bumper support proximate said lateral wall and said toe; a posterior lateral bumper support proximate said lateral wall and said heel; an inner boot liner attached to said sole and positioned under said tongue, said inner boot liner extending laterally between said medial wall and said lateral wall and including a liner heel positioned adjacent said heel, and a front liner edge proximate said tongue edge and a rear liner edge attached to said heel edge so as to be opposite said front liner edge, said front liner edge having a front finger loop and an inner boot strap loop; an inner strap configured to wrap around and cover a wearer's ankle, said inner strap having one end attached to said lateral wall proximate said heel and extending between said heel and said liner heel, between said medial wall and said inner boot liner, over said tongue, and through said inner eyelet, wherein a portion of the inner strap extending through said inner eyelet is positionable over said medial instep edge, said tongue and said lateral instep edge; an outer strap configured to wrap around and cover a wearer's ankle mortise, said outer strap having one end attached to a junction between said sole and said medial wall at a point proximate said heel, and extending between said medial wall and said boot liner, between said boot liner and said tongue, through said inner boot strap loop and through said outer eyelet, and wherein a free end of said outer strap extending through said outer eyelet is positionable over said medial instep edge, said tongue and said lateral instep edge; and fastening means for fastening said inner strap and said outer strap in an overlapping relationship with respect to a wearer's ankle; placing one finger in said front finger loop and a second finger in said heel finger loop; pulling said front and heel finger loops away from each other, thereby stretching said front ankle liner edge away from said rear liner edge; placing the wearer's foot into said opening of said shoe and between said front liner edge and said rear liner edge; pulling upwardly on said front and heel finger loops to facilitate full insertion of the wearer's foot into said inner boot liner, whereby the bottom of the wearer's foot is adjacent said sole of said shoe; tightening and tying said shoelace; and fastening said inner and outer straps, said fastening step including positioning said inner strap so as to be crossed over said medial and lateral instep edges, feeding said inner strap through said buckle via said lower buckle slot and said upper buckle slot, cinching said inner strap and fastening said inner strap to itself via said fastening means; and positioning said outer strap so as to be crossed over said medial and lateral instep edges, feeding said outer strap through said buckle via said upper buckle slot, cinching said outer strap and fastening said outer strap to itself via said fastening means, said boot liner thereby providing a buffer between said inner and outer straps and the top of a wearer's foot, whereby said inner and outer straps may be cinched against the wearer's ankle without causing discomfort.