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US 6,298,582 B1Granted
Article of footwear with heel clip
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsMichael R. Friton, Tobie D. Hatfield, David J. Schenone, John C. Tawney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of footwear, e.g., a shoe for running, jogging, and walling, that is designed to provide a better and more anatomical fit to the wearer's foot to enhance performance and provide better arch support. The shoe includes an articulated arch that is independent from the main sole unit to provide better arch support, optimal comfort, and enhanced articulation. A heel notch is cut in the medial and lateral quarter panels to enable the shoe to move in a manner more like the human foot. A heel clip is provided, in lieu of a traditional heel counter, to provide a secure fit in the heel region without the inflexibility and discomfort of a traditional heel counter.
Claims36
An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole having a midsole and an outsole;
- an upper, said upper attached to said sole forming an enclosure for securing a foot of a wearer to the sole, said upper having forward and rear sections;
- a heel clip, said heel clip having a base section, a lateral arm, and a medial arm, said lateral and medial arms each having a first end coupled to said base section and a second end distal from said base section, said second end of said lateral arm and said second end of said medial arm being located on opposite sides of the upper, said heel clip being attached to the upper at a location spaced entirely above the sole providing a space on the upper between the clip and the sole, said heel clip extending around the rear section of the upper, said heel clip being made from a metal, said heel clip being adapted for providing a heel-locking force facilitating an anatomical fit between the heel of the foot of the wearer and the rear section of the upper;
- a fastening system permitting the tightening of the upper around the foot of the user;
- and
- an articulated arch element;
- said articulated arch element attached to said upper and moves toward the foot of the user in response to the tightening of the fastening system.
4 more elements
An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole having a midsole and an outsole;
- an upper, said upper attached to said sole forming an enclosure for securing a foot of a wearer to the sole, said upper having forward and rear sections;
- and
- a heel clip, said heel clip having a base section, a lateral arm, and a medial arm, said lateral and medial arms each having a first end coupled to said base section and a second end distal from said base section, said second end of said lateral arm and said second end of said medial arm being located on opposite sides of the upper, said heel clip being attached to the upper at a location spaced entirely above the sole providing a space on the upper between the clip and the sole, said heel clip extending around the rear section of the upper, said heel clip being made from a metal, said heel clip being adapted for providing a heel-locking force facilitating an anatomical fit between the heel of the foot of the wearer and the rear section of the upper;
- wherein said upper includes a medial quarter panel, a lateral quarter panel, a generally vertical medial heel notch in the medial quarter panel having a depth of at least 40 mm, and a generally vertical lateral heel notch in the lateral quarter panel having a depth of at least 40 mm.
2 more elements
An article of footwear, said article of footwear comprising:
- a sole having a midsole and an outsole;
- an upper, said upper attached to said sole forming an enclosure for securing a foot of a wearer to the sole, said upper including a medial quarter panel and a lateral quarter panel, and forward and rear sections;
- a fastening system, said fastening system permitting the tightening of the upper around the foot of the wearer;
- an articulated arch element, said articulated arch element attached to said upper and moves toward the foot of the wearer in response to the tightening of the upper;
- a medial heel notch in the medial quarter panel having a depth of at least 40 mm;
- a lateral heel notch in the lateral quarter panel having a depth of at least 40 mm;
- and
- a heel clip, said heel clip having a base section, a lateral arm, and a medial arm, said lateral and medial arms each having a first end coupled to said base section and a second end distal from said base section, said second end of said lateral arm and said second end of said medial arm being located on opposite sides of the upper, said heel clip being attached to the upper at a location spaced above the sole and extending around the rear section thereof, said heel clip being made from a metal having a memory to provide a heel-locking force facilitating an anatomical fit between the heel of the foot of the wearer and the rear section of the upper.
5 more elements
An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole having a midsole and an outsole;
- an upper, said upper attached to said sole forming an enclosure for securing a foot of a wearer to the sole, said upper having forward and rear sections, said upper having lateral and medial heel notches formed therein, wherein the medial and lateral heel notches have a depth sufficient to effectively isolate the rear section from the rest of the upper;
- and
- a heel clip, said heel clip having a base section, a lateral arm, and a medial arm, said lateral and medial arms each having a first end coupled to said base section and a second end distal from said base section, said second end of said lateral arm and said second end of said medial arm being located on opposite sides of the upper, said heel clip being attached to the rear section of the upper at a location spaced entirely above the sole, said heel clip extending around the rear section of the upper, said heel clip being disposed to provide a heel-locking force to facilitate an anatomical fit between the heel of the foot of the wearer and the rear section of the upper.
1 more element
An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole having a midsole and an outsole;
- an upper, said upper attached to said sole forming an enclosure for securing a foot of a wearer to the sole, said upper having forward and rear sections, said upper having lateral and medial heel notches formed therein, wherein each of said medial and lateral heel notches has a base;
- a footbed upon which the foot of the wearer rests when the article of footwear is being worn;
- wherein the base of each of said medial and lateral heel notches is positioned at a height above the footbed of 15 mm or less;
- and
- a heel clip, said heel clip having a base section, a lateral arm, and a medial arm, said lateral and medial arms each having a first end coupled to said base section and a second end distal from said base section, said second end of said lateral arm and said second end of said medial arm being located on opposite sides of the upper, said heel clip being attached to the upper at a location spaced entirely above the sole, said heel clip extending around the rear section of the upper, said heel clip being made from a metal, said heel clip being adapted for providing a heel-locking force facilitating an anatomical fit between the heel of the foot of the wearer and the rear section of the upper.
3 more elements
An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole having a midsole and an outsole;
- an upper, said upper attached to said sole forming an enclosure for securing a foot of a wearer to the sole, said upper having forward and rear sections, said upper having lateral and medial heel notches formed therein and wherein each of said medial and lateral heel notches has side taper angles between 5-30 degrees from a vertical axis;
- and
- a heel clip, said heel clip having a base section, a lateral arm, and a medial arm, said lateral and medial arms each having a first end coupled to said base section and a second end distal from said base section, said second end of said lateral arm and said second end of said medial arm being located on opposite sides of the upper, said heel clip being attached to the upper at a location spaced entirely above the sole, said heel clip extending around the rear section of the upper, said heel clip being made from a metal, said heel clip being adapted for providing a heel-locking force facilitating an anatomical fit between the heel of the foot of the wearer and the rear section of the upper.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.