Rear entry footwear
AssigneeReebok International Ltd.
InventorsMark Busse, William Marvin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of footwear includes a sole having a shank area located between a forefoot portion and a rear foot portion of the sole, an upper including an inner counter and an outer counter, and a pivot mechanism attaching the outer counter to the sole so as to permit the outer counter to pivot relative to the inner counter at a pivot point located at the shank area of the sole. The outer counter pivots between an open position away from the inner counter and a closed position in supporting engagement with the inner counter. The pivot mechanism may be a mechanical, composite, or living hinge. The article of footwear may further include a locking mechanism for selectively securing the outer counter in the closed position in supporting engagement with the inner counter.
Claims19
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a sole having a shank area located between a forefoot portion and a rear foot portion of the sole;
- an upper attached to the sole, including:
- an inner counter for surrounding at least a part of the heel of a foot;
- and
- an outer counter for surrounding at least a part of the heel of the foot;
- and
- a pivot mechanism connecting the outer counter to the inner counter so as to permit the outer counter to pivot relative to the inner counter at a pivot point located at the shank area of the sole, the outer counter pivoting between an open position away from the inner counter and a closed position in supporting engagement with the inner counter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.