Footwear with heel lift

Abstract

Footwear includes a sole, an upper secured to the sole for covering a portion of a foot of a wearer, and a heel. The heel includes a heel base secured to and downwardly extending from a rearward end of the sole and a heel lift located at a bottom of the heel base. The heel lift includes a bottom surface and a bevel is formed at the bottom surface and at a rear end of the heel lift so that the wearer has a normal or near normal stride. A top surface of the heel lift has a step so that a rear portion of the top surface is raised above a forward portion of the top surface and the wear life of the heel lift is not reduced by the provision of the bevel and the weight of the footwear is not substantially increased.

1 . Footwear comprising, in combination:
 a sole;   an upper secured to the sole for covering a portion of a foot of a wearer; and   a heel including a heel base secured to and downwardly extending from a rearward end of the sole and a heel lift located at a bottom of the heel base;   wherein the heel lift includes a bottom surface and a bevel is formed at the bottom surface and at a rear end of the heel lift; and   wherein a thickness of the heel lift at the rear end of the heel lift is at least equal to a thickness of the heel lift at a forward end of the heel lift.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper includes a shaft for covering a portion of a lower leg of the wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel lift and the heel base comprise different materials. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the heel lift comprises rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the bevel is curved. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the heel lift has a step so that a rear portion of the top surface is raised above a forward portion of the top surface. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein the step is angled. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear according to  claim 7 , wherein the step is angled upward in a rear direction. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the bevel is not formed between the side surface and the bottom surface at lateral sides of the heel lift. 
     
     
         10 . Footwear comprising, in combination:
 a sole;   an upper secured to the sole for covering a portion of a foot of a wearer; and   a heel including a heel base secured to and downwardly extending from a rearward end of the sole and a heel lift located at a bottom of the heel base; and   wherein a top surface of the heel lift has a step so that a rear portion of the top surface is raised above a forward portion of the top surface.   
     
     
         11 . The footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the upper includes a shaft for covering a portion of a lower leg of the wearer. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the heel lift and the heel base comprise different materials. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear according to  claim 12 , wherein the heel lift comprises rubber. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the heel lift includes a bottom surface and a bevel is formed at the bottom surface and at a rear end of the heel lift. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the bevel is curved. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein a thickness of the heel lift at the rear end of the heel lift is at least equal to a thickness of the heel lift at a forward end of the heel lift. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the bevel is not formed between the side surface and the bottom surface at lateral sides of the heel lift. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the step is angled. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear according to  claim 18 , wherein the step is angled upward in a rear direction. 
     
     
         20 . Footwear comprising, in combination:
 a sole;   an upper secured to the sole for covering a portion of a foot of a wearer; and   a heel including a heel base secured to and downwardly extending from a rearward end of the sole and a heel lift located at a bottom of the heel base;   wherein the heel lift includes a bottom surface and a bevel is formed at the bottom surface and at a rear end of the heel lift; and   wherein a top surface of the heel lift has a step so that a rear portion of the top surface is raised above a forward portion of the top surface.