Articles of Footwear and Heel Suspension System Therefore

Abstract

A heel suspension system for an article of footwear includes a sling receiving and supporting a heel portion of an upper of the article of footwear. The sling has first and second end portions supported on lateral and medial sides of the upper. A remaining portion of the sling is suspended between the supported end portions.

1 . A heel suspension system for an article of footwear, the heel suspension system comprising:
 first and second sling supports spaced from each other; and   a sling having first and second end portions, the first end portion connected to the first sling support and the second end portion connected to the second sling support;   wherein the sling receives a heel portion of an upper of the article of footwear between the first and second sling supports.   
     
     
         2 . The heel suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the sling comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The heel suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the sling is positioned to receive vertical forces transmitted from the Calcaneus bone of a user wearing the article of footwear. 
     
     
         4 . The heel suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second end portions of the sling each define a Y-shape that provides two connections to each of the corresponding first and second sling supports. 
     
     
         5 . The heel suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the sling suspends at least a portion of the heel portion of the upper of the article of footwear above an outsole of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         6 . The heel suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sling supports each define an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         7 . The heel suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein each sling support comprises:
 a base; and   an arch disposed on the base, the arch connected to and supporting an end portion of the sling.   
     
     
         8 . The heel suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein each sling support comprises an elliptical ring portion connected to and supporting an end portion of the sling, the elliptical ring portion elastically deformable under a load greater than a threshold load. 
     
     
         9 . The heel suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sling supports are each received and supported by an outsole of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         10 . A heel suspension system for an article of footwear, the heel suspension system comprising a sling receiving and supporting a heel portion of an upper of the article of footwear, the sling having first and second end portions supported on lateral and medial sides of the upper, a remaining portion of the sling suspended between the supported end portions. 
     
     
         11 . The heel suspension system of  claim 10 , wherein the sling comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The heel suspension system of  claim 10 , wherein the sling is positioned to receive vertical forces transmitted from the Calcaneus bone of a user wearing the article of footwear. 
     
     
         13 . The heel suspension system of  claim 12 , wherein the sling elastically deforms to dissipate at least some of the transmitted forces. 
     
     
         14 . The heel suspension system of  claim 10 , wherein the sling suspends at least a portion of the heel portion of the upper of the article of footwear above an outsole of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         15 . The heel suspension system of  claim 10 , further comprising a suspension frame that supports the first and second end portions of the sling on lateral and medial sides of the upper. 
     
     
         16 . The heel suspension system of  claim 15 , wherein the suspension frame comprises lateral and medial sling supports, each sling support comprising:
 a base; and   an arch disposed on the base, the arch connected to and supporting an end portion of the sling.   
     
     
         17 . The heel suspension system of  claim 15 , wherein the suspension frame comprises lateral and medial sling supports, each sling support defining an elliptical ring portion connected to and supporting an end portion of the sling, the elliptical ring portion elastically deformable under a load greater than a threshold load. 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole;   a heel suspension system disposed on the outsole; and   an upper supported at least indirectly by the heel suspension system and the outsole;   wherein the heel suspension system comprises a sling receiving and supporting a heel portion of the upper, the sling having first and second end portions supported on lateral and medial sides of the upper, a remaining portion of the sling suspended between the supported end portions.   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the sling comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the sling is positioned to receive vertical forces transmitted from the Calcaneus bone of a user wearing the article of footwear. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , wherein the sling elastically deforms to dissipate at least some of the transmitted forces. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the sling suspends at least a portion of the heel portion of the upper above the outsole. 
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , further comprising a suspension frame that supports the first and second end portions of the sling on the lateral and medial sides of the upper. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , wherein the suspension frame comprises lateral and medial sling supports, each sling support comprising:
 a base; and   an arch disposed on the base, the arch connected to and supporting an end portion of the sling.   
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , wherein the suspension frame comprises lateral and medial sling supports, each sling support defining an elliptical ring portion connected to and supporting an end portion of the sling, the elliptical ring portion elastically deformable under a load greater than a threshold load. 
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the outsole includes at least one heel stop positioned below the heel portion of the upper to limit vertical movement of the heel portion of the upper as the sling elastically stretches during loading. 
     
     
         27 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an outsole;   first and second sling supports spaced from each other and supported by the outsole;   a sling having first and second end portions, the first end portion connected to the first sling support and the second end portion connected to the second sling support; and   an upper supported at least indirectly by the sling and the outsole;   wherein the sling receives a heel portion of the upper between the first and second sling supports.   
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein the sling comprises an elastic material. 
     
     
         29 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein the sling is positioned to receive vertical forces transmitted from the Calcaneus bone of a user wearing the article of footwear. 
     
     
         30 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second end portions of the sling each define a Y-shape that provides two connections to each of the corresponding first and second sling supports. 
     
     
         31 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein the sling suspends at least a portion of the heel portion of the upper above the outsole. 
     
     
         32 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second sling supports each define an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         33 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein each sling support comprises:
 a base; and   an arch disposed on the base, the arch connected to and supporting an end portion of the sling.   
     
     
         34 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein each sling support comprises an elliptical ring portion connected to and supporting an end portion of the sling, the elliptical ring portion elastically deformable under a load greater than a threshold load. 
     
     
         35 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein the outsole includes at least one heel stop positioned below the heel portion of the upper to limit vertical movement of the heel portion of the upper as the sling elastically stretches during loading.