US 12,250,993 B2
Footwear heel spring device
Tiffany A. Beers, Portland, OR (US); John T. Dimoff, Portland, OR (US); Wade Flanagan, Portland, OR (US); Austin Orand, Portland, OR (US); and George A. Xanthos, Beaverton, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Dec. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/545,305.
Application 16/720,387 is a division of application No. 15/793,008, filed on Oct. 25, 2017, granted, now 10,568,385, issued on Feb. 25, 2020.
Application 18/545,305 is a continuation of application No. 18/475,045, filed on Sep. 26, 2023, granted, now 12,121,103.
Application 18/475,045 is a continuation of application No. 18/329,705, filed on Jun. 6, 2023, granted, now 11,957,210.
Application 18/329,705 is a continuation of application No. 17/532,394, filed on Nov. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,707,112, issued on Jul. 25, 2023.
Application 17/532,394 is a continuation of application No. 16/720,387, filed on Dec. 19, 2019, granted, now 11,213,097, issued on Jan. 4, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/532,449, filed on Jul. 14, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/413,062, filed on Oct. 26, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2024/0115003 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. A43B 11/00 (2006.01); A43B 3/00 (2022.01); A43B 11/02 (2006.01); A43B 13/18 (2006.01); A43B 13/28 (2006.01); A43B 13/41 (2006.01); A43B 21/28 (2006.01); A43B 23/08 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 21/28 (2013.01) [A43B 3/0036 (2013.01); A43B 3/0063 (2013.01); A43B 11/00 (2013.01); A43B 11/02 (2013.01); A43B 13/181 (2013.01); A43B 13/28 (2013.01); A43B 13/41 (2013.01); A43B 23/08 (2013.01); A43B 23/088 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of footwear comprising:
a footwear upper defining a foot-receiving cavity with a heel region and defining an ankle opening;
a sole structure secured to the footwear upper and underlying the foot-receiving cavity; and
a device surrounding a portion of the foot-receiving cavity at the heel region, the device extending between a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear, and extending from the sole structure toward the ankle opening;
wherein the device includes a center portion, a medial side portion extending forwardly from the center portion, and a lateral side portion extending forwardly from the center portion;
wherein the medial side portion and the lateral side portion taper in height in a direction away from the center portion; and
wherein the footwear upper is joined with the device such that the article of footwear comprises an exterior-facing corrugated surface in the heel region in an unloaded position with an absence of applied downward force on the device.