US 12,213,558 B2
Footwear heel counter for easier foot entry or removal
John Maxwell Weeks, Los Angeles, CA (US); Scott Kelley, Redondo Beach, CA (US); Frank Chuang, Cypress, CA (US); Pei-Chun Liao, Torrance, CA (US); Johnson Tja, Foshan (CN); Hui Xie, Dongguan (CN); and Kurt Stockbridge, Palos Verdes Estates, CA (US)
Assigned to Skechers U.S.A., Inc. II, Manhattan Beach, CA (US)
Filed by Skechers U.S.A., Inc. II, Manhattan Beach, CA (US)
Filed on May 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/199,274.
Application 18/199,274 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2022/046726, filed on Oct. 14, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/256,521, filed on Oct. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0284745 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. A43B 21/24 (2006.01); A43B 11/00 (2006.01); A43B 23/08 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 23/08 (2013.01) [A43B 11/00 (2013.01); A43B 21/24 (2013.01); A43B 23/088 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper and sole structure
the upper defining a foot receiving shoe opening;
a rigid heel counter support situated on the upper and above the sole structure;
the heel counter support having a first hollow receptacle with a first rearward incline and a second hollow receptacle with a second rearward incline, the first rearward incline being parallel to the second rearward incline;
a compressible component having two ends;
each one of the two hollow receptacles receiving one end of the compressible component;
the compressible component having a first configuration;
the compressible component aligning on a plane defined by the first rearward incline and the second rearward incline while in the first configuration;
the compressible component capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear; and
the compressible component being capable of automatically returning to the first configuration after the user's foot in fully inserted into the footwear.