ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 25 -- United States Patent no. 12,714,198, issued on Aug. 25, was assigned to Walmart Apollo LLC (Bentonville, Ark.).
"Footwear heel counter" was invented by Salvo Farina (Cave Springs, Ark.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An article of footwear includes an upper and a heel counter operatively connected to a heel region of the upper. The heel counter includes a cradle having a body. The body of the cradle includes a base and a cradle arm extending outward from the base to a tip portion of the cradle arm. The tip portion of the cradle arm is moveable relative to the base between an expanded position and a collapsed position. A spring is encased within the body of the cradl...