Articulated shank

摘要

Shoes and/or shoe elements facilitate natural foot motion and/or reduce forces tending to fight natural foot motion. In at least some such structures, a wearer's heel is secured to the hindfoot region of a shoe (e.g., by a strap system) in a manner that permits heel/forefoot rotation and that allows the lower leg to remain straight. In other structures, a shoe can include a heel supporting component that is separate from a midsole component, and this heel supporting component can move toward the lateral side and/or medial side of the shoe along an interface between the heel supporting component and the midsole component. Other suitable shoe and shoe component structures also are described.

主权项

1. A support member for a plantar surface of a foot, comprising:
a heel support region in a rear portion of the support member; a forefoot support region in a front portion of the support member; a lateral side member extending between and fixed to the heel support region and the forefoot support region; and a medial side member extending between the heel support region and the forefoot support region, wherein the medial side member is fixed to the heel support region at a rear end of the medial side member, wherein the medial side member includes a free end that is not fixed to the forefoot support region and partially overlaps with a major surface of the forefoot support region, wherein an intermediate portion of the medial side member separates the rear end and the free end, and wherein the intermediate portion extends forward from the rear end.