US Patent Issued to Skechers U.S.A. Inc. II on May 5 for "Footwear heel counter for easier foot entry or removal" (Chinese, American Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 5 -- United States Patent no. 12,616,277, issued on May 5, was assigned to Skechers U.S.A. Inc. II (Manhattan Beach, Calif.).

"Footwear heel counter for easier foot entry or removal" was invented by John Maxwell Weeks (Los Angeles), Scott Kelley (Redondo Beach, Calif.), Frank Chuang (Cypress, Calif.), Pei-Chun Liao (Torrance, Calif.), Johnson Tja (Foshan, China), Hui Xie (Dongguan, China) and Kurt Stockbridge (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "The shoe includes a sole and a layer of elastic material positioned to stretch and create tension that enhances securement of a foot inserted into the shoe. A polymer heel cup is coupled to the sole and upp...