Stabilizing element for a shoe upper

Abstract

A shoe may include a shoe upper, an outsole, and a stabilizing element. The stabilizing element may extend from the outsole upward towards a step-in opening of the shoe upper and rearward towards a heel region of the shoe. Further, the stabilizing element may include an outer layer. The stabilizing element may extend along an outside of the shoe upper. Moreover, an area of the outside of the shoe upper that is not covered by the stabilizing element may be located between the stabilizing element and the outsole. Furthermore, the area may continuously transition into a further area of the outside of the shoe upper which is not covered by the stabilizing element. That further area may extend into a portion of the shoe upper which is configured to receive an Achilles area and/or an Achilles tendon insertion.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe comprising:
 a shoe upper;   an outsole; and   a stabilizing element,
 wherein the stabilizing element extends from the outsole upward towards a step-in opening of the shoe upper and rearward towards a heel region of the shoe, 
 wherein the stabilizing element comprises an outer layer, 
 wherein the stabilizing element extends along an outside of the shoe upper, 
 wherein a first area of the outside of the shoe upper is not covered by the stabilizing element, 
 wherein the first area is located between the stabilizing element and the outsole, 
 wherein the first area continuously transitions into a second area of the outside of the shoe upper which is not covered by the stabilizing element, wherein the second area extends into a portion of the shoe upper which is configured to receive an Achilles area and/or an Achilles tendon insertion, and 
 wherein the outer layer of the stabilizing element is integrally formed with the outsole of the shoe. 
   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the second area extends from a lateral side of the shoe to a medial side of the shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the first area has a size of at least 200 mm 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing element comprises a wing shape, a parallelogram shape, a trapezoid shape, an elliptical shape, and/or a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a line on the outside of the shoe upper which extends substantially straight along the Achilles area, from the outsole to the step-in opening is not covered by the outer layer, wherein said line is not covered by the stabilizing element. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing element is a first stabilizing element and the shoe comprises a second stabilizing element, wherein the first stabilizing element is arranged on a lateral side of the shoe, wherein further the second stabilizing element is arranged on a medial side of the shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the first stabilizing element and the second stabilizing element are configured to clasp a Calcaneus bone and thereby do not apply a pressure to the Achilles area and/or the Achilles tendon insertion. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the first stabilizing element and the second stabilizing element do not cover a portion of the shoe upper which is configured to receive the Achilles area and/or the Achilles tendon insertion. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the first stabilizing element and the second stabilizing element are spaced apart by a distance which extends along the outside of the shoe upper and at least partly along the Achilles area. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a shape of the stabilizing element is at least limited by two straight edges which extend along the outside of the shoe upper upward towards the step-in opening and rearward towards the heel region, wherein the two edges have a length of at least 10 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizing element comprises an inner layer. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer comprise different materials. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe comprising:
 a shoe upper;   an outsole; and   a stabilizing element,
 wherein the stabilizing element extends from the outsole upward towards a step-in opening of the shoe upper and rearward towards a heel region of the shoe, 
 wherein the stabilizing element comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, 
 wherein the inner layer and the outer layer comprise different materials, and 
 wherein the stabilizing element extends along an outside of the shoe upper. 
   
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the outer layer of the stabilizing element is integrally formed with the outsole of the shoe. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein a first area of the outside of the shoe upper is not covered by the stabilizing element, wherein the first area is located between the stabilizing element and the outsole. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the first area continuously transitions into a second area of the outside of the shoe upper which is not covered by the stabilizing element, wherein the second area extends into a portion of the shoe upper which is configured to receive an Achilles area and/or an Achilles tendon insertion, wherein the second area extends from a lateral side of the shoe to a medial side of the shoe. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the outer layer comprises a thickness from 0.01 mm to 3 mm. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the shape of the inner layer corresponds to the shape of the outer layer. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the inner layer extends beyond the outer layer. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the inner layer comprises a composite layer, wherein the composite layer comprises a carbon fiber reinforced layer.