Boots with external heel counters

Abstract

Boots with external heel counters are disclosed herein. An external heel counter can include a heel counter body that is configured to form at least a portion of an external surface of a boot, where the heel counter body is configured to extend around a heel portion of the boot between an outsole of the boot and an upper of the boot. An external heel counter can further include a spur rest configured to support a yoke of a spur. Boots having an outsole and an upper, where the upper is configured to receive a wearer's foot, can receive and couple with an external heel counter according, wherein the external heel counter is configured to support the wearer's heel when the wearer wears the boot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An external heel counter, comprising:
 a heel counter body that is configured to form at least a portion of an external surface of a boot, wherein the heel counter body is configured to extend around a heel portion of the boot between an outsole of the boot and an upper of the boot.   
     
     
         2 . The external heel counter according to  claim 1 , wherein the external heel counter further includes a spur rest that is configured to support a yoke of a spur. 
     
     
         3 . The external heel counter according to  claim 2 , wherein the spur rest is located at least partially between the yoke and the outsole when the spur is operatively attached to the boot. 
     
     
         4 . The external heel counter according to  claim 2 , wherein the spur rest is sized to resist motion of a portion of the yoke that is in contact with the spur rest toward the outsole. 
     
     
         5 . The external heel counter according to  claim 2 , wherein the spur rest is defined by a protrusion on an external surface of the external heel counter. 
     
     
         6 . The external heel counter according to  claim 2 , wherein the spur rest is defined by the heel counter body. 
     
     
         7 . The external heel counter according to  claim 2 , wherein the external heel counter further includes a spur biasing structure. 
     
     
         8 . The external heel counter according to  claim 7 , wherein the spur biasing structure is configured to permit motion of the yoke toward the spur rest responsive to application of a first force of greater than a first threshold magnitude to the yoke in a direction that is generally toward the spur rest. 
     
     
         9 . The external heel counter according to  claim 7 , wherein the spur biasing structure is configured to permit motion of the yoke away from the spur rest responsive to application of a second force of greater than a second threshold magnitude to the yoke in a direction that is generally away from the spur rest. 
     
     
         10 . The external heel counter according to  claim 9 , wherein the second threshold magnitude is greater than the first threshold magnitude, wherein the second threshold magnitude is at least 2 times greater than the first threshold magnitude. 
     
     
         11 . The external heel counter according to  claim 9 , wherein the second threshold magnitude is greater than the first threshold magnitude, wherein the second threshold magnitude is at least 3 times greater than the first threshold magnitude. 
     
     
         12 . The external heel counter according to  claim 9 , wherein the second threshold magnitude is greater than the first threshold magnitude, wherein the second threshold magnitude is at least 5 times greater than the first threshold magnitude. 
     
     
         13 . The external heel counter according to  claim 9 , wherein the second threshold magnitude is greater than the first threshold magnitude, wherein the second threshold magnitude is at least 10 times greater than the first threshold magnitude. 
     
     
         14 . The external heel counter according to  claim 7 , wherein the spur biasing structure is configured to preferentially permit motion of the yoke toward the spur rest and resist motion of the yoke away from the spur rest. 
     
     
         15 . The external heel counter according to  claim 7 , wherein the spur biasing structure is configured to bias the yoke toward the spur rest. 
     
     
         16 . The external heel counter according to  claim 7 , wherein the spur biasing structure is defined by a plurality of serrations on an external surface of the external heel counter. 
     
     
         17 . The external heel counter according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of serrations define a first angle of approach on a side that faces generally toward the spur rest and a second angle of approach on a side that faces generally away from the spur seat, and wherein the first angle of approach is different from the second angle of approach. 
     
     
         18 . The external heel counter according to  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of serrations define a first angle of approach on a side that faces generally toward the spur rest and a second angle of approach on a side that faces generally away from the spur seat, and wherein the first angle of approach is greater than the second angle of approach. 
     
     
         19 . The external heel counter according to  claim 7 , wherein the spur biasing structure is defined by the heel counter body. 
     
     
         20 . The external heel counter according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel counter body is formed from at least one of a polymeric material, rubber, a polyurethane, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a flexible material, a resilient material, a rough material, a textured material, and/or a knurled material. 
     
     
         21 . A boot, comprising:
 an upper that is configured to receive a wearer's foot;   an outsole that is operatively attached to the upper and is configured to contact a ground surface when the wearer wears the boot; and   an external heel counter comprising a heel counter body that is configured to form at least a portion of an external surface of a boot, wherein the heel counter body is configured to extend around a heel portion of the boot between an outsole of the boot and an upper of the boot and support the wearer's heel when the wearer wears the boot.   
     
     
         22 . The boot according to  claim 21 , wherein the external heel counter defines at least a portion of an external surface of the boot. 
     
     
         23 . The boot according to  claim 22 , wherein the portion of the external surface of the boot extends between the outsole and the upper. 
     
     
         24 . The boot according to  claim 22 , wherein the portion of the external surface of the boot extends around the heel portion of the boot. 
     
     
         25 . The boot according to  claim 21 , wherein the upper defines an outer surface, and further wherein the external heel counter is secured to at least a portion of the outer surface. 
     
     
         26 . The boot according to  claim 21 , wherein the boot does not include an inner heel counter. 
     
     
         27 . The boot according to  claim 21 , wherein the external heel counter is the only heel counter that is associated with the boot. 
     
     
         28 . The boot according to  claim 21 , wherein the boot further includes a spur that is operatively attached to the heel portion of the boot. 
     
     
         29 . A method of assembling a boot, the method comprising:
 operatively attaching an upper, which is configured to receive a wearer's foot, to an outsole, which is configured to contact a ground surface when the wearer wears the boot, to define an upper-outsole assembly; and   securing an external heel counter to an outer surface of the upper-outsole assembly.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the operatively attaching includes welting the upper to the outsole. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the securing is subsequent to the operatively attaching. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the securing includes adhering the external heel counter to the outer surface of the upper-outsole assembly. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the securing includes forming the external heel counter on the outer surface of the upper-outsole assembly. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the securing includes securing the external heel counter to the outer surface of the upper-outsole assembly with at least one mechanical fastener, and optionally with stitches.