Patent ID: 7552546

Claim:
An article of foot apparel, the article comprising: a platform for receiving a foot, the platform comprising a forward portion and a heel pad, the heel pad defining a first heel contact area and a second heel contact area inwardly offset from the first heel contact area, wherein the heel pad is inwardly curved relative to the forward portion to define the second heel contact area, the second heel contact area being defined about an approximate geometric center of the heel pad; and a retaining covering connected to the platform and configured to retain a foot at the front of the platform, the article being open-heeled to allow the heel of a foot retained by the retaining covering to move freely relative to the heel pad; wherein the retaining covering is further configured to position the heel of a foot retained by the retaining covering substantially over the first heel contact area of the heel pad when the foot is initially retained by the retaining covering prior to a stepping event; and wherein during a stepping event, the retaining covering causes the platform to move outwardly away from the foot such that after the stepping event the heel of the foot is substantially over the second heel contact area.