# US 8,782,929 B2 · Shoe outsole with cut-out heel region > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,782,929 B2 - Document ID: US8782929B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/291,873 - Filed: 2008-11-13 - Published: 2010-05-13 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-11-13 - Applicants: Don Taicher - Inventors: Don Taicher - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8782929B2 ## CPC - A43B 21/26: Resilient heels - A43B 7/144: situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone - A43B 13/146: {Concave end portions, e.g. with a cavity or cut-out portion} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract The present invention relates to an outsole for a shoe which lessens the impact on a wearer's heel region to aid in preventing and treating heel spurs. The rear portion of the outsole comprises a heel region having a cut-out in a center part of the heel region such that the center part of the heel region never contacts a surface when worn. This aspect is central to the function of the present invention since the positioning of the cut-out eliminates impact on a wearer's heels. Rather, pressure from impact is distributed from the center of the heel to the outer edges of the heel region which symmetrically flank the cut-out. Finally, the present invention relates to a shoe comprising an upper attached with an outsole or formed as one piece with an outsole as previously described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An outsole for a shoe which lessens the impact on a wearer's heel region, the outsole comprising: a top and a bottom, a front portion, a rear portion, and a center portion located between the front portion and the rear portion; wherein the rear portion of the outsole comprises a heel region having a cut-out in a center part of the heel region; and wherein the cut-out extends from an epicenter of the heel region to an end of a rear of the heel region through a portion of the outsole between the top and through the bottom of the outsole and opens only toward the rear portion and bottom of the outsole, forming sidewall portions about the cut-out which are open toward and proximate the rear and toward the bottom of the outsole, where the sidewalls have a ground contacting surface, leaving a portion of the bottom of the outsole and a portion of the rear portion of the outsole open. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cut-out comprises a rounded portion proximate the center portion of the outsole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An outsole for a. shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cut-out extends through the rear portion of the outsole. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 2, wherein the cut-out is U-shaped. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) An outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 2, wherein the cut-out is horseshoe-shaped. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) An outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 2, wherein the cut-out extends through the rear portion of the outsole. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A shoe, comprising: an upper attached with an outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A shoe, comprising: an upper and an outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 1 formed as one piece. ### Claim 9 A method for forming an outsole for a shoe which lessens the impact on a wearer's heel region, comprising acts of: forming an outsole having a top and a bottom, a front portion, a rear portion, and a center portion located between the front portion and the rear portion; forming the rear portion of the outsole to comprise a heel region having a cut-out in a center part of the heel region; and forming the cut-out to extend from an epicenter of the heel region to an end of a rear of the heel region through at least a portion of the outsole between the top and through the bottom of the outsole and opening only toward the rear portion and bottom of the outsole, forming sidewall portions about the cut-out which are open toward and proximate the rear and toward the bottom of the outsole where the sidewall portions have a ground contacting surface, leaving a portion of the bottom of the outsole and a portion of the rear portion of the outsole open. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method for forming an outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the act of forming the cut-out to have a rounded portion proximate the center portion of the outsole. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A method for forming an outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 9, further comprising the act of forming the cut-out such that it extends through the rear portion of the outsole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A method for forming an outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 10, further comprising the act of forming the cut-out to be U-shaped, ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A method for forming an outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 10, further comprising the act of forming the cut-out to be horseshoe-shaped. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A method for forming an outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 10, further comprising the act of forming the cut-out such that it extends through the rear portion of the outsole. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An outsole as set forth in claim 1, where the cut-out is formed of a shape selected from a group consisting of square shapes, rectangular shapes, trapezoidal shapes, and horse-shoe shapes with an apex of the horse-shoe shape proximate the epicenter of the heel region and the opening of the horse-shoe shape opening at the rear portion of the outsole. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) A method for forming an outsole for a shoe as set forth in claim 9, where the cut-out is formed of a shape selected from a group consisting of square shapes, rectangular shapes, trapezoidal shapes, and horse-shoe shapes with an apex of the horse-shoe shape proximate the epicenter of the heel region and the opening of the horse-shoe shape opening at the rear portion of the outsole.