Pressure dissipating heel counter and method of making same

Abstract

A heel counter for a shoe and method of making the same is shown and described. The heel counter includes a pair of sidewalls and a deformation member between the sidewalls.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to heel counters for shoes, and more particularly, to a dual density heel counter and method of making the same. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Athletes subject their feet to a number of severe stresses. Certain activities, soccer for example, involve short, sharp bursts of energy and frequent directional changes that can cause the heels and the heel bone (the calcaneus) to experience significant stresses. Because the uppers of athletic shoes are typically soft and flexible, without some sort of additional support for the heels, the athlete may experience excessive supination or pronation or even twist or sprain an ankle. As a result, it is desirable to include a heel counter in the heel region of athletic shoes. However, the rigidity needed to provide heel support may also aggravate or injure the heel bone (calcaneus) and / or the achilles tendon. These areas of the feet tend to experience significant impact fr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a heel counter for a shoe that includes a support member of the heel with sidewalls and a deformation member between them. The deformation member has a lower density than the sidewalls. The heel counter also includes a flexing member attached to the heel that has a lower elasticity than the sidewalls. The shoe also includes a heel counter with asymmetrical deformation portions, such as a semicircular section or a lateral projection. The method of manufacturing the heel counter involves forming the sidewalls and deformation member and integrating them. The technical effects of the invention include improved stability, comfort, and shock absorption for the shoe's heel."

Problems solved by technology

Because the uppers of athletic shoes are typically soft and flexible, without some sort of additional support for the heels, the athlete may experience excessive supination or pronation or even twist or sprain an ankle.

However, the rigidity needed to provide heel support may also aggravate or injure the heel bone (calcaneus) and / or the achilles tendon.

These areas of the feet tend to experience significant impact from the heel region of the shoes, and the potential for injury from such impact may be exacerbated by a rigid heel counter.

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