Patent ID: 7089688
Filing Date: 2006-08-15
Classification: A43C

Abstract:
1. A flexible footwear traction system oriented in a normal plane comprising a lightweight forefoot region constructed of a relatively inflexible material having multiple spikes; a lightweight heel region constructed of a relatively inflexible material having multiple spikes, the heel region including a heel piece on which the bottom of the wearer's heel would be placed, a heel support foldably mounted to the heel piece and being movable to and from a generally vertical orientation extending upwardly and outwardly from the heel piece to support the wearer's heel during use and to and from a generally horizontal orientation folded toward the heel piece for compactness during non-use; the heel support comprising a pair of heel bales each of which has an inward projection extending through a respective opening in the heel piece for permitting the heel bales to pivot, each of the openings being sufficiently larger than its respective heel bale to permit each of the heel bales to selectively move up and down in its respective opening whereby the heel support may be folded toward the heel piece during non-use and whereby the heel support may also be positioned at the generally vertical orientation of the heel support, the heel support including stop structure to limit the pivotal movement of the bales to a stop position at the generally vertical orientation of the heel support; a flexible linkage made of a springy material between the forefoot region and the heel region that allows the forefoot region and the heel region to be readily flexed relative to each other at least 20 degrees from the normal plane without damaging or permanently deforming the system; and a strap or harness attachment adapted to secure the traction system to flexible footwear.