US 11,925,238 B2
Item of footwear
Kim Lilley, London (GB)
Assigned to FITFLOP LIMITED, (GB)
Appl. No. 16/338,737
Filed by FITFLOP LIMITED, London (GB)
PCT Filed Oct. 5, 2017, PCT No. PCT/GB2017/000148
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 2, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/065746, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 12, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1617082 (GB), filed on Oct. 7, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0267303 A1, Sep. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. A43B 7/16 (2006.01); A43B 3/00 (2022.01); A43B 7/14 (2022.01); A43B 7/1425 (2022.01); A43B 13/04 (2006.01); A43B 13/18 (2006.01); A43B 21/26 (2006.01); A43B 21/32 (2006.01); B29D 35/12 (2010.01)
CPC A43B 7/16 (2013.01) [A43B 3/0078 (2013.01); A43B 7/1425 (2013.01); A43B 13/04 (2013.01); A43B 13/186 (2013.01); A43B 13/188 (2013.01); A43B 21/26 (2013.01); A43B 21/32 (2013.01); B29D 35/122 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An item of footwear comprising:
a securing means for securing the item of footwear to a foot of a user; and
a sole for engaging the foot of the user in use, the sole having a heel region for supporting a heel of the user in use and a forward region for supporting a forefoot of the user in use,
wherein:
the sole has an integral raised protrusion forming an upper surface in a first portion of the heel region;
the raised protrusion is surrounded by an integral annular protrusion;
the sole has first and second lateral edges;
in the forward region:
a thickness of the sole along the first and second lateral edges tapers so as to reduce in a forward longitudinal direction; and
between the tapering first and second lateral edges, the sole comprises a first central region in which a thickness of the sole is maintained or increased in the forward longitudinal direction as the first and second lateral edges taper so as to reduce in the forward longitudinal direction, wherein the first central region is configured to be vertically beneath a ball of the user's foot in use; and
in a forwardmost tip portion the thickness of the sole along the first and second lateral edges does not taper in the forward longitudinal direction.