US 12,108,842 B2
Protective footwear
Andre Lee, Irvine, CA (US); Luis Cosio, Irvine, CA (US); David Durham, San Clemente, CA (US); and David Munn, Irvine, CA (US)
Assigned to Fox Head, Inc., Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Fox Head, Inc., Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/542,149.
Application 17/542,149 is a continuation of application No. 16/041,472, filed on Jul. 20, 2018, granted, now 11,202,486.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/535,721, filed on Jul. 21, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0160082 A1, May 26, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A43B 7/08 (2022.01); A43B 5/04 (2006.01); A43B 5/14 (2006.01); A43B 7/32 (2006.01); A43C 11/14 (2006.01); A43C 11/16 (2006.01); A43C 9/08 (2006.01)
CPC A43C 11/16 (2013.01) [A43B 5/145 (2013.01); A43B 7/08 (2013.01); A43B 7/32 (2013.01); A43C 11/1406 (2013.01); A43B 5/04 (2013.01); A43C 9/08 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A footwear comprising:
a foot engagement portion;
a lower-leg engagement portion; and
a pivotal hinge system positioned to pivotally couple the lower-leg engagement portion to the foot engagement portion, wherein the pivotal hinge system limits rotational movement of the lower-leg engagement portion relative to the foot engagement portion about a set range of motion, the pivotal hinge system comprising:
an ankle dampening system coupled with the pivotal hinge system and configured to allow for additional rotational movement of the lower-leg engagement portion relative to the foot engagement portion beyond a limit of the set range of motion, the ankle dampening system comprising:
a dampening system support having a recess,
a monolithic hinge bumper including a first leg and a second leg configured to reside within the recess, wherein the recess comprises a notch extending from an outer perimeter of the recess and configured to be positioned between the first leg and the second leg and limit an amount of the additional rotational movement of the lower-leg engagement portion relative to the foot engagement portion beyond the limit of the set range of motion and provide a dampening effect when one of the first leg and the second leg contacts the notch; and
an enclosure plate engaged to the dampening system support configured to enclose the hinge bumper, wherein the dampening system support, the hinge bumper, and the enclosure plate include central apertures that are axially aligned and configured to surround at least a portion of the pivotal hinge system.