US5243772A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shoe with external shell
Assignee: Converse Inc
•
Filing: 1992-03-13
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Granted: 1993-09-14
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Expires: 2012-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A shoe is provided comprising a sole, a sock attached to the sole, and a form-retaining shell attached to the sole, at least partially enclosing the sock, and not attached to the sock above the region of the sole, such that the sole may flex in use. The shell, an ankle restraint fastener and a heelband provide ankle support.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen A. Francis
- 👤 Eric Swartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:57
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B7/00; A43B7/14; A43B7/18; A43B7/20; A43B5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
387 words
A shoe comprising: a sole; a sock, attached to the sole; a substantially rigid form-retaining shell, including (a) a medial forefoot portion, having a medial topmost edge, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the medial forefoot, (b) a lateral forefoot portion, having a lateral topmost edge, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the lateral forefoot, (c) a heel portion, including a medial heel portion having a medial forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the medial topmost edge, and a lateral heel portion having a lateral forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the lateral topmost edge, wherein the heel portion at least partially encloses the sock in the region of the heel, (d) a medial flexure portion between the medial heel portion and the medial forefoot portion, and (e) a lateral flexure portion between the lateral heel portion and the lateral forefoot portion, wherein the medial forefoot portion, the lateral forefoot portion, and the heel portion are each attached to the sole, and the medial and lateral flexure portions are shaped such that the medial topmost edge may move longitudinally with respect to the medial forward edge and the lateral topmost edge may move longitudinally with respect to the lateral forward edge as the sole flexes in use; and means for attaching the medial forefoot portion to the lateral forefoot portion across the top of the foot; wherein the heel portion further includes: a heelband portion; a medial cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region forward of the ankle, the medial cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the medial forward edge; a lateral cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region forward of the ankle, the lateral cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the lateral forward edge; and ankle restraint fastening means for fastening under tension the attachment points so as to form with the heelband portion a structure for inhibiting displacement of the ankle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
387 words
A shoe comprising: a sole; a sock, attached to the sole; a substantially rigid form-retaining shell, including (a) a medial forefoot portion, having a medial topmost edge, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the medial forefoot, (b) a lateral forefoot portion, having a lateral topmost edge, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the lateral forefoot, (c) a heel portion, including a medial heel portion having a medial forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the medial topmost edge, and a lateral heel portion having a lateral forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the lateral topmost edge, wherein the heel portion at least partially encloses the sock in the region of the heel, (d) a medial flexure portion between the medial heel portion and the medial forefoot portion, and (e) a lateral flexure portion between the lateral heel portion and the lateral forefoot portion, wherein the medial forefoot portion, the lateral forefoot portion, and the heel portion are each attached to the sole, and the medial and lateral flexure portions are shaped such that the medial topmost edge may move longitudinally with respect to the medial forward edge and the lateral topmost edge may move longitudinally with respect to the lateral forward edge as the sole flexes in use; and means for attaching the medial forefoot portion to the lateral forefoot portion across the top of the foot; wherein the heel portion further includes: a heelband portion; a medial cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region forward of the ankle, the medial cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the medial forward edge; a lateral cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region forward of the ankle, the lateral cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the lateral forward edge; and ankle restraint fastening means for fastening under tension the attachment points so as to form with the heelband portion a structure for inhibiting displacement of the ankle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A shoe according to claim 1, wherein each cantilever torsion bar portion includes a stiffening portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A shoe according to claim 1, wherein each flexure portion includes a bellows structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A shoe according to claim 1, wherein the medial flexure portion includes a notch located between the medial heel portion and the medial forefoot portion, and the lateral flexure portion includes a notch located between the lateral heel portion and the lateral forefoot portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
298 words
A shoe comprising: a sole; a sock, attached to the sole; a substantially rigid form-retaining medial forefoot shell, attached to the sole, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the medial forefoot, having a medial topmost edge; a substantially rigid form-retaining lateral forefoot shell, attached to the sole, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the lateral forefoot, having a lateral topmost edge; a substantially rigid form-retaining heel shell, attached to the sole, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the heel, including (a) a heelband portion, (b) a medial heel shell portion having a medial forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the medial topmost edge, (c) a lateral heel shell portion having a lateral forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the lateral topmost edge, (d) a medial cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region of the ankle, the medial cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the medial forward edge, and (e) a lateral cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region forward of the ankle, the lateral cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the lateral forward edge; means for attaching the medial forefoot shell to the lateral forefoot shell across the top of the foot; and ankle restraint fastening means for fastening under tension the attachment points so as to form with the heelband portion a structure for inhibiting displacement of the ankle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
298 words
A shoe comprising: a sole; a sock, attached to the sole; a substantially rigid form-retaining medial forefoot shell, attached to the sole, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the medial forefoot, having a medial topmost edge; a substantially rigid form-retaining lateral forefoot shell, attached to the sole, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the lateral forefoot, having a lateral topmost edge; a substantially rigid form-retaining heel shell, attached to the sole, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the heel, including (a) a heelband portion, (b) a medial heel shell portion having a medial forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the medial topmost edge, (c) a lateral heel shell portion having a lateral forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the lateral topmost edge, (d) a medial cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region of the ankle, the medial cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the medial forward edge, and (e) a lateral cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region forward of the ankle, the lateral cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the lateral forward edge; means for attaching the medial forefoot shell to the lateral forefoot shell across the top of the foot; and ankle restraint fastening means for fastening under tension the attachment points so as to form with the heelband portion a structure for inhibiting displacement of the ankle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
332 words
A shoe comprising: a sole; a sock, attached to the sole; a substantially rigid form-retaining shell, including a medial forefoot portion at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the medial forefoot, a lateral forefoot portion at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the lateral forefoot, and a heel portion at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the heel, the medial forefoot portion, the lateral forefoot portion, and the heel portion each attached to the sole, the medial forefoot portion having a medial topmost edge, and the lateral forefoot portion having a lateral topmost edge; means for attaching the medial forefoot portion to the lateral forefoot portion across the top of the foot; a substantially rigid form-retaining heel shell, attached to the sole, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the heel, including (a) a heelband portion, (b) a medial heel shell portion having a medial forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the medial topmost edge, (c) a lateral heel shell portion having a lateral forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the lateral topmost edge, (d) a medial cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region of the ankle, the medial cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the medial forward edge, and (e) a lateral cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region forward of the ankle, the lateral cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the lateral forward edge; and ankle restraint fastening means for fastening under tension the attachment points so as to form with the heelband portion a structure for inhibiting displacement of the ankle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
332 words
A shoe comprising: a sole; a sock, attached to the sole; a substantially rigid form-retaining shell, including a medial forefoot portion at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the medial forefoot, a lateral forefoot portion at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the lateral forefoot, and a heel portion at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the heel, the medial forefoot portion, the lateral forefoot portion, and the heel portion each attached to the sole, the medial forefoot portion having a medial topmost edge, and the lateral forefoot portion having a lateral topmost edge; means for attaching the medial forefoot portion to the lateral forefoot portion across the top of the foot; a substantially rigid form-retaining heel shell, attached to the sole, at least partially enclosing the sock in the region of the heel, including (a) a heelband portion, (b) a medial heel shell portion having a medial forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the medial topmost edge, (c) a lateral heel shell portion having a lateral forward edge located forward of the ankle and proximate to the lateral topmost edge, (d) a medial cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region of the ankle, the medial cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the medial forward edge, and (e) a lateral cantilever torsion bar portion substantially parallel to a vertical plane aligned with the direction of the foot, extending upward from the region of the sole proximate to the instep to a region forward of the ankle, the lateral cantilever torsion bar portion having an attachment point proximate to the lateral forward edge; and ankle restraint fastening means for fastening under tension the attachment points so as to form with the heelband portion a structure for inhibiting displacement of the ankle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A shoe according to claim 6, wherein each cantilever torsion bar portion includes a stiffening brace portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-09-13 | 1997-03-15 | 1997-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-09-13 | 2001-03-15 | 2001-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-09-13 | 2005-03-15 | 2005-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |