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US 5,918,384 AGranted
Athletic shoe with improved sole
AssigneeAkeva L.L.C.
InventorDavid F. Meschan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shoe includes a heel/rear sole support receiving a rotatable and replaceable rear sole to provide longer wear. A flexible region positioned between the heel and the rear sole reduces midsole compression and provides additional spring. The flexible region is preferably curved or convex in shape and may be adapted to different desired performance characteristics depending upon the intended activity and terrain or playing surface.
Claims80
A shoe comprising:
- an upper having a heel region with an interior floor adapted to support the bottom of a user's heel;
- a rear sole secured below the heel region of the upper;
- and
- a flexible member positioned below at least a portion of the heel region of the upper and above at least a portion of the rear sole, the flexible member having a top surface, a bottom surface, a peripheral portion, and an interior portion, spokes extending from the interior portion toward the peripheral portion, the flexible member as measured about the periphery of the flexible member covering at least half of the area covered by the floor, the interior portion of the flexible member flexing in use in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe, the flexible member having a preselected stiffness and the interior portion having a preselected spacing relative to the rear sole such that the interior portion of the flexible member can deflect without the bottom surface of the interior portion of the flexible member contacting the rear sole.
1 more element
A shoe comprising:
- an upper having a heel region with an interior floor adapted to support the bottom of a user's heel;
- a rear sole secured below the heel region of the upper;
- and
- a flexible plate having upper and lower surfaces and peripheral edges positioned below at least a portion of the heel region of the upper and above at least a portion of the rear sole, the flexible plate as measured about the peripheral edges covering at least half of the area covered by the floor, spokes extending from an interior portion of the flexible plate toward the peripheral edges , peripheral edges of the plate being restrained from movement relative to the interior portion of the plate in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the shoe so that an interior portion of the plate is deflectable relative to the peripheral edges in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the shoe.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.