US 7,536,809 B2
Athletic shoe with visible arch bridge
David F. Meschan, Greensboro, N.C. (US)
Assigned to Akeva L.L.C., Greensboro, N.C. (US)
Filed on Dec. 28, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/646,770.
Application 11/646770 is a continuation of application No. 11/196578, filed on Aug. 03, 2005, granted, now 7,155,843.
Application 11/196578 is a continuation of application No. 10/735343, filed on Dec. 11, 2003, granted, now 7,127,835.
Application 10/735343 is a continuation of application No. 09/419641, filed on Oct. 18, 1999, granted, now 6,662,471.
Application 09/419641 is a continuation of application No. 09/149142, filed on Sep. 08, 1998, granted, now 5,970,628.
Application 09/149142 is a continuation of application No. 08/542251, filed on Oct. 12, 1995, granted, now 5,806,210.
Prior Publication US 2007/0101614 A1, May 10, 2007
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A43B 13/18 (2006.01); A43B 13/28 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 36—25R  [36/30 R; 36/35 R; 36/28] 122 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly for use with an athletic shoe comprising:
a heel region, a mid-foot region located forward of the heel region, a medial side, a lateral side, and a width between the medial and lateral sides;
a heel support having at least one integrally formed upwardly-extending wall configured to at least partially surround a rear portion of an upper of the shoe, the heel support having an integrally formed downwardly-extending wall adjacent a rear portion of the heel region of the assembly, the heel support having at least one integrally formed downwardly-extending wall adjacent a forward portion of the heel region of the assembly, the downwardly-extending wall adjacent the rear portion of the heel region and the downwardly-extending wall adjacent the forward portion of the heel region being separate walls;
a flexible plate comprising a peripheral portion and an interior portion, at least a portion of the plate extending across a majority of the width of the assembly, at least a portion of the peripheral portion of the plate being proximate the medial side of the assembly and at least a portion of the peripheral portion of the plate being proximate the lateral side of the assembly, the flexible plate extending from a point proximate the downwardly-extending wall adjacent the rear portion of the heel region to a point proximate the downwardly-extending wall adjacent the forward portion of the heel region; and
an arch bridge comprising at least a portion of the mid-foot region of the assembly, the arch bridge being integral with the heel support and extending from a point proximate a forward portion of the heel support in a direction away from the heel region of the assembly, at least a portion of the arch bridge being non-ground-engaging when assembled into the shoe, the arch bridge and the heel support and the flexible plate being made of the same material.