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US 6,557,271 B1Granted
Shoe with improved cushioning and support
OwnerRobert B. Weaver, IIIinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear of the present invention includes a sole and an upper portion, which forms a shell for enclosing a user's foot therein. The shell has a collar for extending around a user's ankle and a suspension system extending between the upper portion and the sole. The suspension system including an energy storage member, which transfers reaction forces from the sole to the shell generally at the collar whereby the energy storage member reduces overturning moment forces on the user's ankle when lateral forces are applied to the article of footwear.
Claims36
An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole;
- an upper portion comprising a shell for enclosing a user's foot therein, said shell having a portion for extending at least partially around a user's ankle, the user's ankle having an ankle joint at a height above the sole;
- and
- a suspension system extending between said upper portion and said sole, said suspension system including an energy storage member, said energy storage member transferring reaction forces generated at said sole from said sole to said shell generally at said portion for extending to thereby transfer the reaction forces to the height of the ankle joint of the user's ankle whereby said energy storage member eliminates/reduces overturning moment forces on the user's ankle when lateral forces are applied in said article of footwear wherein said energy storage member comprises a first energy storage member, said article comprising a second energy storage member, said first energy storage member having a first spring constant, and said second energy storage member having a second spring constant.
1 more element
An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole;
- an upper portion coupled to said sole, said upper portion comprising a shell for enclosing a user's foot therein and having a portion for extending at least partially around a user's ankle, the user's ankle having an ankle joint at a height from said sole;
- and
- a suspension system extending between said upper portion and said sole, said suspension system including a first energy storage member and a second energy storage member, said suspension system transferring reaction forces generated at said sole from said sole to said shell generally at said portion for extending to thereby transfer the reaction forces to the height of the ankle joint of the user's ankle whereby said suspension system eliminates/reduces overturning moment forces on the user's ankle when lateral forces are applied in said article of footwear, and said first energy storage member providing a first resistance over a first range of motion for a wearer of said article, and said second energy storage member providing a second resistance over a second range of motion for the wearer of said article.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.