Patent ID: 7743531
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: A43B,A43C

Abstract:
1. An article of footwear including an upper, comprising: a heel portion including a heel protector including an interior portion and a tab portion; an elastic member disposed across a cutout portion of the heel portion; wherein the interior portion of the heel protector is disposed inside the upper and adjacent to the interior face of the heel portion; wherein the heel protector folds around the edge of the heel portion such that the tab portion is disposed over a portion of the elastic member; and wherein the tab portion of the heel protector is coupled to the heel portion by an elastic coupling so that, in an initial resting condition, the tab portion is held over the exterior face of the heel portion in a first folded configuration with respect to the interior portion; wherein the elastic coupling stretches upon application of a pulling force to the tab portion to enable the tab portion to temporarily move away from the exterior face of the heel portion and to enable the tab portion of the heel protector to temporarily assume a second extended configuration with respect to the interior portion; and wherein, upon removal of the pulling force, the tab portion returns to the first folded configuration of the initial resting condition.