Suspension heel

A suspension heel for use with a shoe, the suspension heel comprising:

• a heel shaft having a first end and a second distal end remote from the first end, the first end being configured to affix to a sole portion of the shoe, and the distal end of the heel shaft having a heel cavity therein, the heel cavity having one or more interior sidewalls;
• and
• a compressible compliant heel plug having a base section for contacting the ground and a connecting section attached to the base section, the connecting section extending from the base section, a first part of the connecting section fitting within the heel cavity of the distal end of the heel shaft, the first part of the connecting section being rigidly affixed to the one or more interior sidewalls of the heel cavity,
• wherein the base section of the compressible compliant heel plug and the distal end of the heel shaft form a relief detail there between, exposing a second part of the connecting section, the relief detail being configured to provide force attenuation by decreasing in size by at least 20 percent due to flexing of one or both of the base section and at least a portion of the second part of the connecting section of the compliant heel plug exposed by the relief detail upon application of force to the upper or compliant heel plug.

A method of assembling an article of footwear, comprising:

• affixing an upper having a covering for receiving a foot to a first surface of a sole of the article of footwear;
• affixing a first end of a heel shaft to a second surface of the sole of the article of footwear remote from the first surface of the sole, the heel shaft having a heel cavity in a distal end of the heel shaft remote from the first end and adapted to receive a compliant heel plug therein and the heel cavity having one or more interior sidewalls;
• wherein the compliant heel plug has a base section for contacting the ground and a connecting section attached to the base section, the connecting section extending from the base section, a first part of the connecting section fitting within the heel cavity of the distal end of the heel shaft;
• and
• adherently affixing the first part of the connecting section of the compliant heel plug to the one or more interior sidewalls of the heel cavity;
• wherein a relief detail is formed between the base section of the compliant heel plug and the distal end of the heel shaft, exposing a second part of the connecting section of the compliant heel plug, the relief detail at least partially circumscribing the heel shaft and being configured to decrease in size by at least 20 percent due to flexing of one or both of the base section and at least a portion of the second part of the connecting section of the compliant heel plug exposed by the relief detail upon the application of force to the upper or the compliant heel plug.