Motion control device for athletic shoe
AssigneeNew Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
InventorsEdward J. Norton, Kenneth W. Graham
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control device for footwear, such as an athletic shoe, including a body having a base with relatively flat upper and lower surfaces and a wall extending upwardly around a heel portion to extend along both a medial and lateral portion to an end. The body is formed of plastic to be yieldable, but relatively sturdy for support of the foot in a neutral plane and control roll of the foot during a running cycle.
Claims16
For use in footwear, a control device adapted to reside in a disposition above the sole of the footwear at least in the region of the heel and provide support for the lasted upper of the footwear, said control device including a body having a base with relatively flat upper and lower surfaces, and a wall extending upwardly from the upper surface around the heel and along both a medial and lateral side of the body, said wall throughout its length being of a height to confine the heel and along the medial side and around the heel the wall extends substantially vertically from the upper surface, and said lateral side has greater slope, said body being formed of a yieldable, but relatively sturdy material for support of the foot in a neutral plane, and said medial wall introducing a degree of rigidity in the maintenance of a normal range of motion of the foot during a running cycle.
Footwear including a sole, a lasted upper and a control device adapted to be received on said sole within a region extending from the heel portion of the sole forwardly toward the toe portion, said control device including a body having a base with relatively flat upper and lower surfaces, said lower surface being mounted on said base, and a wall extending upwardly from the upper surface around the heel and along both a medial and lateral side of the body, said wall throughout its length being of a height to confine the heel and along the medial side and around the heel extending substantially vertically from the upper surface, said lasted upper being mounted on said control device for support by said wall and upper surface, said body being formed of a yieldable, but relatively sturdy material for support of the foot in a neutral plane, and said medial wall introducing a degree of rigidity in the maintenance of a normal range of motion of the foot during a running cycle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.