Patent ID: 9232828
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: A43B

Claim Text:
1. An article of footwear comprising: an outer shell, the outer shell including an upper and a sole structure; an inner liner, the inner liner being configured to be removably inserted within an interior of the outer shell; wherein the inner liner comprises an upper liner portion and a lower liner portion; a first retaining enclosure comprising a first securing end and a first receiving end disposed on the upper liner portion of the inner liner; a second retaining enclosure comprising a second securing end and a second receiving end, wherein the second retaining enclosure is disposed across at least a portion of the upper liner portion and a portion of the lower liner portion; the second retaining enclosure extending in a longitudinal direction being disposed beneath the first retaining enclosure; a stiffener element comprising a first end shaped approximately the same as the first securing end, an opposite end shaped approximately the same as the second securing end, wherein the stiffener element has an oval shape with concavity on one side, and wherein the first end and the opposite end are curved; and wherein the first retaining enclosure and the second retaining enclosure are configured to receive the stiffener element that extends from the first retaining enclosure to the second retaining enclosure.