[0001] The present invention relates to shoes having heel counters.
[0002] Both interior and exterior heel counters are known and used for a variety of reasons
but chiefly in athletic shoes for added foot support to inhibit tendency to overpronation.
Such heel counters generally extend upwardly from the sole around the heel of the
shoe to stiffen that portion and stabilize the foot. Although such heel counters function
generally satisfactorily, certain problems are experienced with shoes incorporating
heel counters, particularly after extended use of such shoes. The repeated bending
of the shoe and sole has a tendency to cause the shoe counter to fracture or separate
from the sole at the base. Further, such extensive use causes the base of the counter
itself to soften and thereby reduce its effectiveness in providing support to the
shoe. Such wear and breaking down of the counter and shoe reduces the stability and
support provided by the shoe to the wearer's foot.
[0003] Accordingly, the present invention corrects the problems noted above by the provision
of an external heel counter formed integrally with the shoe outsole. The integral
heel counter provides stability to the shoe and foot of the wearer while cooperating
with the remainder of the shoe sole and upper to prevent breakdown in the heel portion
of the shoe. The integral, external heel counter also cooperates with any other external
or internal heel counters to prevent fracturing, separation or other breakdown and
failure of the counters or shoe in this location.
[0004] The invention may be carried into practice in various ways but one integral outsole
and heel counter support and a shoe incorporating the outsole will now be described
by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the shoe having the integral outsole
and heel counter support embodying the present invention;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the outsole of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the outsole taken along plane III-III of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view of the shoe of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a sectional view of an assembled shoe taken along plane V-V of Figure
2; and
Figure 6 is a fragmentary, sectional view of an assembled shoe taken along plane VI-VI
of Figure 2.
[0005] The athletic shoe 10 shown in Figure 1 is of the type having a semi-rigid outsole
12, such as those used for football. Better shown in Figures 5 and 6, the shoe 10
has an upper 14, an insole 16, a midsole 18 and the outsole 12. Integrally formed
with the outsole 12 is an external semi-rigid heel counter support 20 that extends
around behind the heel portion and along the sides of the shoe. The shoe 10 also includes
an exterior fabric or leather heel counter .2 that extends above the heel counter
support 20, and an internal fibreboard or leather heel counter 24 that extends above
both heel counter support 20 and heel counter 22 behind the heel of the shoe 10.
[0006] More specifically, the upper 14 is of conventional design having two layers of leather
or fabric 14a and 14b which envelope the internal heel counter 24 in the heel region
of the shoe 10, Figures 5 and 6. The upper 14 forms a lower peripheral lip 26 that
extends beneath the entire perimeter of the midsole 18 and is glued in place to secure
upper 14 to the remainder of shoe 10. Midsole 18 is a relatively stiff compressed
fibreboard or leather sheet, also of conventional design, which underlies the entire
foot of the wearer and provides a support surface for insole 16. Insole 16 is a foam
or resilient insole pad having a nylon or other synthetic fibre upper surface that
cushions the foot of the wearer as well as conforming somewhat to the shape of the
wearer's foot. Insole 16 is bonded to midsole 18 by an adhesive, while lip 26 of upper
14 is adhered to outsole 12 as is known in the art. Additionally, stiff midsole 18
is secured to outsole 12 by metal fasteners or the like located at both the toe and
heel, thus pinning lip 26 between midsole 18 and outsole 12.
[0007] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, outsole 12 comprises a generally flat, unitarily moulded
polymeric element, preferably of graphite-reinforced nylon. Outsole 12 is a fairly
thin layer or sheet of material forming a body 30 configured to that of the outsole
profile. Extending about the perimeter at the rear of outsole 12 is an upstanding
ridge 32 having a flat upper support surface which forms a hollow heel portion 34,
as shown in Figures 5 and 6. Stiff midsole 18 is supported on the planar upper surface
of ridge 32 to provide the inside of shoe 10 with a flat foot support surface. Raised
ridge 32 and hollow heel portion 34 provide shoe 10 with a raised heel while maintaining
a relatively lightweight construction. Further, since ridge 32 increases and reinforces
the moulded polymeric material in this region, outsole 12 flexes far more easily in
the forward, flat body region 30. Also moulded with body 30 and ridge 32 are part-cylindrical
plugs 35, Figure 2, which protrude into the hollow heel portion 34. Plugs 35 form
reinforced bases in which cleats or studs may be anchored or through which outsole-midsole
fasteners may pass.
[0008] As shown in Figure 3, heel counter support 20 is integrally moulded with outsole
18 from the relatively stiff polymeric material to extend outward slightly from ridge
32, and then form a smoothly curved transition 36 into a generally upstanding peripheral
flange 38. Heel counter support 20 extends around behind the heel region and forwardly
along both the medial and lateral sides of outsole 12. Counter support 20 terminates
in a pair of front edges 40 that are spaced to the rear of the arch area of the shoe.
Upstanding flange 38 has a smoothly upwardly narrowing taper from curved transition
36 to a top edge 42, thus giving counter support 20 a generally bowl-shaped, slightly
upwardly diverging configuration that forms a pocket at the rear of outsole 12.
[0009] The exterior heel counter or reinforcing element 22 includes an underlying lip 44
that extends beneath the foot of the wearer and the peripheral edge of the heel region
of midsole 18. Lip 44 is adhered to both outsole ridge 32 and the undersurface of
lip 26 on shoe upper 14, thus being pinned between outsole 12 and midsole 18. As shown
in Figures 5 and 6, heel counter 22 is a relatively thick section of leather or textile
fabric which conforms to the curvature of underlying counter support 20 in order to
contact and be supported by the entire inner surface of counter support 20. The heel
counter 22 extends around behind the heel region along both the medial and lateral
sides of shoe upper 14 and extends forwardly just past front edges 40 of counter support
20. Heel counter 22 extends upwardly from lip 44 along the outside of shoe upper 14
to a generally horizontal upper edge 46 spaced above counter support top edge 42.
[0010] Internal heel counter 24 is sheathed within shoe upper 14 between inner and outer
layers 14a and 14b. Heel counter 24 is a relatively rigid element formed from compressed
fibreboard or hardened leather similar to the material of midsole 18. Internal counter
24 forms an upstanding flange from an underlying lip 50 that extends under the periphery
of the heel region of midsole 18. Internal counter 24 has an upper edge 52 having
a maximum height in the counter portion that curves behind the heel area of shoe 10.
The upper edge of counter 24 tapers forwardly and downwardly in a smooth arcuate taper
to terminate at or slightly to the rear of front edges 40 on counter support 20.
[0011] When assembled, the heel region of shoe upper lip 26, exterior counter lip 44 and
internal counter lip 50, along with midsole 18 nest down inside the bowl-shaped pocket
formed by counter support 20 to lie beneath counter support top edge 42. Counter support
20 itself acts as an external heel counter to stabilize the shoe and foot of the wearer
while running.
[0012] Further, heel counter support 20 strengthens the other external and internal heel
counters to prevent the breakdown and separation of these counters from the shoe sole.
As the shoe 10 is flexed, the curvature of the shoe sole causes a rearward force to
be placed on upper 14 acting across the inner surface of outsole 12, depicted in Figure
6, as the direction of arrow "A". In shoes which do not include heel counters and
therefore have more flexible heels, the flexing and stretching of the material between
the upper and outsole absorbs this rearward force. In shoes having a heel counter
the stiffness of the upper in this area does not permit as much flexing of material
to absorb this force. Shoes which have relatively stiff outsoles, such as those to
which -leats are anchored, compound the problem by permitting little or no flexing
between the heel counter and outsole. Although not initially a problem, continued
wear and flexing of the shoe can cause the joint between the sole and heel counter
to fracture or separate in order to permit the counter to slide upon the inner surface
of the outsole. The separation problem is exacerbated in shoes with hard outsoles
which may only be bounded by adhesive to the remainder of the shoe rather than stitched
together.
[0013] In addition to the problems of fracturing and separation, the repeated rearward force
may cause the counter to soften at its base due to the stretching and absorption of
this rearward force. As the counter softens at the base, the counter is allowed to
collapse downwardly slightly and thus reduces the stability of the shoe.
[0014] With shoe upper 14 and heel counters 22 and 24 seated within bowl-shaped counter
support 20, counter support 20 forms a relatively rigid vertical stop that prevents
the rearward forces from stretching and sliding the shoe upper across outsole 12.
Since counter support 20 cannot separate from outsole 12, counter support 20 prevents
separation or fracture along the joint between outsole 12 and upper 14 as well as
preventing the softening and breakdown of heel counter 24 at its base.
[0015] A similar fracturing and breakdown problem is experienced due to the pronation of
the shoe wearer. A person that overpronates first strikes the lateral side of the
heel against the ground and then rolls onto the remainder of the sole. Similar to
the rearward force generated by a person's stride in the shoe, this rolling from side
to side also causes flexing and lateral forces to be generated within the shoe sole.
These lateral forces are directed from one side of the shoe to the other as indicated
by arrow "B" in Figure 5, rather than from the front to the rear of the shoe. This
lateral force operates in a similar manner to cause fracture in the joint between
the counter and sole as well as causing the breakdown of the heel counter along its
base. The medial and lateral forwardly extending flanges of counter support 20 form
relatively rigid vertical stops which abut the shoe upper to prevent the lateral separation
and breakdown of the heel counter. In this manner, counter support 20 extends the
life of the shoe in addition to stabilizing the shoe while in use.
[0016] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications or
improvements may be made on the preferred embodiment described above.
1. A shoe sole, comprising an outsole (12), characterised by an external heel counter
(20) formed integrally with the outsole, the heel counter upstanding around the heel
portion of the sole and extending along the medial and lateral sides thereof.
2. A shoe sole according to Claim 1 in which the outsole (12) and heel counter (20)
are formed from an at least semi-rigid polymeric material.
3. A shoe sole according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the outsole (12) and heel
counter (20) have a smoothly curved, integral juncture, the counter having a thickness
which tapers narrower from the juncture upward.
4. A shoe sole according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 or Claim 3 which includes a second
heel counter (22) overlying the external heel counter, the second heel counter extending
above the upper edge of the external heel counter (20).
5. A shoe sole according to Claim 4 which includes a midsole (18), the second counter
(24) having an undersurface portion (50) disposed between the outsole and the midsole.
6. A shoe sole according to Claim 5 which includes an external reinforcing element
(22) which extends upwardly above the upper edge of the external heel counter (20)
and is disposed between the external heel counter (20) and the second heel counter
(24).
7. A shoe sole according to any of Claims 4 to 6 in which the second heel counter
(24) has a maximum height behind the heel region of the sole and tapers downwardly
along the medial and lateral sides of said sole.
8. An athletic shoe comprising an outsole according to any of Claims 1 to 7, a midsole
(18), an insole (16), and an upper (14), the heel counter (20) being external to the
upper, insole and midsole around the heel portions thereof.