US 12,419,386 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. 18/199,250.
Application 18/199,250 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 2023/0284748 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
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)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An upper of an article of footwear comprising:
a foot receiving shoe opening;
a U-shaped foamed ankle collar that is substantially tubular in shape;
the ankle collar forming the topmost region of the foot receiving shoe opening; the foamed ankle collar extending at least partially around and over the foot receiving shoe opening;
the ankle collar capable of being compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion and wherein the ankle collar may exert pressure on the user's ankle once the foot is inserted;
the ankle collar having a flattened region along its length forming a downward angle from the topmost region toward a front of the article of footwear;
the ankle collar located along at least a portion of an inner surface of a heel cup;
the heel cup configured to have a shoe-horn like configuration;
the heel cup having an S wave shape in a vertical cross-section;
the heel cup having a rearward facing upper concavity with a first amplitude;
the heel cup having a forward facing lower concavity with a second amplitude;
the second amplitude being greater than the first amplitude;
the ankle collar reducing the dimensions of the shoe opening when not compressed;
the heel cup having a first configuration;
the heel cup capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot; and
the heel cup capable of automatically returning to the first configuration after the load has been removed from the heel cup.