US 12,408,732 B2
Footwear heel counter for easier foot entry or removal
John Maxwell Weeks, Los Angeles, CA (US); Scott Kelley, Redondo Beach, CA (US); Frank F 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 Apr. 18, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/639,764.
Application 18/639,764 is a continuation of application No. 18/199,262, filed on May 18, 2023, granted, now 12,011,064.
Prior Publication US 2024/0381977 A1, Nov. 21, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A43B 23/08 (2006.01); A43B 11/00 (2006.01); A43B 21/24 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 23/08 (2013.01) [A43B 11/00 (2013.01); A43B 21/24 (2013.01); A43B 23/088 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shoe comprising a heel counter;
the heel counter comprising a heel cup;
the heel cup being uniformly molded with an upper portion, a midportion, and a lower portion;
wherein the upper portion has a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion;
wherein the upper portion of the heel cup is located below an ankle collar of the upper;
wherein a rearmost portion of the heel cup has an overall vertical S wave cross-sectional shape;
wherein the heel cup includes at least one reduced cross-sectional thickness region below the upper portion providing flexibility to the heel cup when donning or removing the shoe.