Patent ID: 7587841
Filing Date: 2009-09-15
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
1. A shoe adapted to be worn on a foot of a wearer, comprising, a sole for underlying the wearer's foot, an upper for receiving the wearer's foot, said upper having its periphery attached to the sole so that the upper and the sole enclose the wearer's foot, an ankle support member formed of a stiff resilient bendable material including a base portion which is U-shaped in horizontal cross section so as to extend laterally of, behind, and medially of a heel of the wearer's foot, said ankle support member having a plurality of lateral strips and a plurality of medial strips, said lateral and medial strips having their lower ends attached to said base portion and being inclined upwardly and rearwardly, at least one of said lateral strips and at least one of said medial strips being heel strips which are connected together in a rear part of the shoe to form an inverted loop behind the wearer's heel, at least two of said strips being top strips which are located medially and laterally of the wearer's ankle and extend vertically higher than said heel strips, said heel strips and top strips having a stiffness which deters lateral movement of the ankle to reduce a risk of ankle injury, and an artificial spider web silk member disposed on and fastened to at least a portion of said plurality of lateral strips and at least a portion of said plurality of medial strips of said ankle support member, said artificial spider web silk member binding said plurality of lateral strips to said plurality of medial strips.