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US 5,970,628 AGranted
Athletic shoe with improved heel structure
AssigneeAkeva L.L.C.
InventorDavid F. Meschan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shoe includes a rear sole support for receiving a replaceable rear sole to provide longer wear. The shoe may also include a flexible plate supported by the rear sole support between the heel and the rear sole to reduce midsole compression and provide additional spring. A mounting member secures the rear sole to the rear sole support, and a locking member prevents rotation of the rear sole relative to the rear sole support during use. The replaceable rear sole and the flexible plate allow the shoe to be adapted to different desired performance characteristics depending upon the intended activity and terrain or playing surface.
Claims46
A shoe comprising:
- an upper having a heel region;
- a rear sole secured below the heel region of the upper;
- a flexible plate having upper and lower surfaces and supported between at least a portion of the rear sole and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper, at least a portion of the lower surface of the flexible plate being concave in shape, at least a portion of the upper surface of the flexible plate being convex in shape, peripheral edges of the plate being restrained from movement relative to an 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;
- and
- a cushion contacting and conforming to the upper surface of the flexible plate to provide cushioning to the heel of a user, the cushion having a peripheral portion and an interior portion, the peripheral portion of the cushion being thicker than the interior portion of the cushion.
2 more elements
A shoe comprising:
- an upper having a heel region;
- a rear sole secured below the heel region of the upper;
- a flexible plate having upper and lower surfaces and supported between at least a portion of the rear sole and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper, at least a portion of the lower surface of the flexible plate being concave in shape, at least a portion of the upper surface of the flexible plate being convex in shape, peripheral edges of the plate being restrained from movement relative to an 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;
- a sock liner;
- and
- a cushion contacting and conforming to the upper surface of the flexible plate to provide cushioning to the heel of a user, the cushion having a peripheral portion and an interior portion, the peripheral portion of the cushion being thicker than the interior portion of the cushion, the cushion contacting the sock liner.
3 more elements
A shoe comprising:
- an upper having a heel region;
- a rear sole secured below the heel region of the upper;
- a flexible plate having upper and lower surfaces and supported between at least a portion of the rear sole and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper, at least a portion of the upper surface of the flexible plate being convex in shape, peripheral edges of the plate being restrained from movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to a 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;
- and
- a cushion contacting and conforming to the upper surface of the flexible plate to provide cushioning to the heel of a user, the cushion having a peripheral portion and an interior portion, the peripheral portion of the cushion being thicker than the interior portion of the cushion.
2 more elements
A shoe comprising:
- an upper having a heel region;
- a rear sole secured below the heel region of the upper;
- a flexible plate having upper and lower surfaces and supported between at least a portion of the rear sole and at least a portion of the heel region of the upper, at least a portion of the upper surface of the flexible plate being convex in shape, peripheral edges of the plate being restrained from movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to a 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;
- a sock liner;
- and
- a cushion contacting and conforming to the upper surface of the flexible plate to provide cushioning to the heel of a user, the cushion having a peripheral portion and an interior portion, the peripheral portion of the cushion being thicker than the interior portion of the cushion, the cushion contacting the sock liner.
3 more elements
A shoe comprising:
- an upper;
- a cushion positioned beneath at least a portion of the upper, the cushion having a top surface and a bottom surface, each of the top and bottom surfaces having a peripheral portion and an interior portion, a dimension between the peripheral portion of the top and bottom surfaces as measured in a substantially vertical line oriented perpendicularly to a major longitudinal axis of the shoe being greater than a dimension between the interior portions of the top and bottom surfaces as measured in a substantially vertical line oriented perpendicularly to the major axis of the shoe, at least a portion of the bottom surface of the cushion being concave in shape;
- and
- a flexible member positioned beneath the cushion, the flexible member having an upper surface at least a portion of which is convex in shape, the flexible member having peripheral edges and substantially conforming to the shape of the concave portion of the bottom surface of the cushion.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.