# US 7,743,531 B2 · Article of footwear with expandable heel portion > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,531 B2 - Document ID: US7743531B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/613,951 - Filed: 2006-12-20 - Published: 2008-06-26 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-12-20 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Michael A. Aveni; Steven C. McDonald - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743531B2 ## CPC - A43C 11/002: {Fastenings using stretchable material attached to cuts in the uppers} - A43B 23/024: {Different layers of the same material} - A43B 23/0245: {characterised by the constructive form} - A43B 23/0255: {assembled by gluing or thermo bonding} - A43C 11/006: {Elastic fastenings} - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract An article of footwear with heel webbing is disclosed. The article of footwear includes an elastic member along a heel portion. The elastic member is associated with a heel protector. The heel protector is attached to the outsole of the article of footwear at one end and to a portion of the elastic member at another end. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of footwear including an upper, comprising: a heel portion including an interior face, an exterior face opposite to the interior face, and an edge between the interior face and the exterior face at an entry region of the upper; a heel protector including an interior portion and a tab portion; an elastic member disposed across a cutout portion of the heel portion; wherein the interior portion of the heel protector is disposed inside the upper and adjacent to the interior face of the heel portion; wherein the heel protector folds around the edge of the heel portion such that the tab portion is disposed over a portion of the elastic member; and wherein the tab portion of the heel protector is coupled to the heel portion by an elastic coupling so that, in an initial resting condition, the tab portion is held over the exterior face of the heel portion in a first folded configuration with respect to the interior portion; wherein the elastic coupling stretches upon application of a pulling force to the tab portion to enable the tab portion to temporarily move away from the exterior face of the heel portion and to enable the tab portion of the heel protector to temporarily assume a second extended configuration with respect to the interior portion; and wherein, upon removal of the pulling force, the tab portion returns to the first folded configuration of the initial resting condition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is an elastic lace, and wherein the elastic coupling comprises a portion of the elastic lace. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the elastic lace is woven across the cutout portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the weave is a plain weave. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the cutout portion has a circular shape. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein a first end of the heel protector is attached to an outsole, and wherein the heel protector is attached to the upper only by the elastic coupling. ### Claim 7 An article of footwear including an upper, comprising: a heel portion including an interior face, an exterior face opposite to the interior face, and an edge between the interior face and the exterior face at an entry region of the upper; a heel protector including an interior portion and a tab portion; the heel protector including a first hole and a second hole in the tab portion; an elastic member disposed along a cutout portion of the heel portion; wherein the interior portion of the heel protector is disposed inside the upper and adjacent to the interior face of the heel portion; wherein the heel protector folds around the edge of the heel portion such that the tab portion is disposed over the exterior face of the heel portion; wherein a portion of the elastic member is disposed through the first hole and the second hole of the heel protector; wherein the elastic member elastically couples the heel protector to the heel portion so that, in an initial resting condition, the tab portion is held over the exterior face of the heel portion in a first folded configuration with respect to the interior portion; wherein the elastic member stretches upon application of a pulling force to the tab portion to enable the tab portion to temporarily move away from the exterior face of the heel portion and to enable the heel protector to temporarily assume a second extended configuration with respect to the interior portion; and wherein, upon removal of the pulling force, the tab portion returns to the first folded configuration of the initial resting condition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the cutout portion has a circular shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the portion of the elastic member is a loop. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein a first end of the heel protector is associated with an outsole, and wherein the heel protector is attached to the user only by the elastic member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the first end is attached to the outsole by stitching. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the elastic member is an elastic lace. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The article of footwear according to claim 12, wherein the elastic lace is woven. ### Claim 14 An article of footwear including an upper, comprising: a heel portion including an elastic member disposed over a cutout portion of the heel portion, wherein the heel portion includes an inner side, an outer side opposite to the inner side, and an edge between the inner side and the outer side; a heel protector associated with the inner side of the heel portion; a first end of the heel protector disposed inside the upper and associated with an outsole; and wherein the heel protector folds around the edge of the heel portion such that a second end of the heel protector is disposed over the outer side of the heel portion, wherein the second end is attached to a coupling portion of the elastic member, wherein the coupling portion elastically couples the second end of the heel protector to the heel portion so that, in an initial resting condition, the second end of the heel protector is held over the outer side of heel portion in a first folded configuration with respect to the first end; and wherein the coupling portion stretches upon application of a pulling force to the second end to enable the second end to temporarily move away from the outer side of the heel portion and to enable the second end to temporarily assume a second extended configuration with respect to the first end; and wherein, upon removal of the pulling force, the second end returns to the first folded configuration of the initial resting condition. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the cutout portion has a circular shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the elastic member is an elastic lace. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The article of footwear according to claim 16, wherein the elastic lace is woven. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the weave of the elastic lace is a diamond weave. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the first end of the heel protector is attached to the outsole, and wherein the heel protector is attached to the upper only by the coupling portion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the first end of the heel protector is attached to the outsole by stitching.