Article of footwear including a heel stabilizing element

Abstract

An article of footwear, with an upper; a heel region including a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, a forefoot region including an anterior end of the article of footwear, a medial side, and a lateral side. A sole structure is coupled to the upper, having a midsole having an outer side surface. The midsole has a first cushioning element extending from the posterior end toward the anterior end, with one or more engagement areas. The article of footwear further includes a heel clip extending from a first end on the medial side to a second end on the lateral side, the heel clip including an outer surface, an inner surface, a base extending from a first end to a second end and the base including a bottom surface, and a support, the base and the support forming the outer surface of the heel clip.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper;   a heel region including a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, a forefoot region including an anterior end of the article of footwear, a medial side, and a lateral side;   a sole structure coupled to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
 a midsole having an outer side surface, the midsole comprising:
 a first cushioning element extending from the posterior end toward the anterior end, the first cushioning element including one or more engagement areas; and 
 
   wherein the article of footwear further includes a heel clip extending from a first end on the medial side to a second end on the lateral side, the heel clip including an outer surface, an inner surface, a base extending from a first end to a second end and the base including a bottom surface, and a support, wherein the base and the support together form the outer surface of the heel clip.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fluid-filled bladder disposed in the heel region;   a heel wrap disposed in the heel region, the heel wrap disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the heel clip, and the heel wrap coupled to the one or more engagement areas of the first cushioning element,
 wherein the fluid-filled bladder is coupled to the bottom surface of the heel clip. 
   
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , the heel clip further including:
 a recess disposed between the support and the base within the outer surface of the heel clip, and a receiving area disposed between the support and the base on the inner surface of the heel clip,
 wherein the heel wrap is coupled to the outer surface of the heel clip, and wherein the heel clip is coupled to the first cushioning element via the receiving area. 
   
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the support of the heel clip includes an inner surface having a rim extending from a third end to a fourth end, the rim forming a first boundary of the receiving area;   the base includes an upper surface extending from the first end to the second end, the upper surface including one or more raised portions and forming a second boundary of the receiving area; and   the first cushioning element includes a top surface and one or more receiving areas, the top surface including a first flange, wherein the first flange and the rim are complementary in shape and the first flange abuts the rim, and wherein the one or more receiving areas and the one or more raised portions are complimentary in shape and the one or more raised portions abuts the one or more receiving areas.   
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the heel clip is U-shaped. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the heel clip includes a pair of opposing protrusions extending from the first end of the base and the second end of the base, the pair of opposing protrusion curving away from the base. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the heel clip includes a gap extending from the first end to the second end. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the support has a parabolic shape, and wherein a length of the parabolic shape decreases moving away from the base. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the heel clip includes a flange at a periphery of the base, the heel wrap includes a bottom surface, and the bottom surface of the heel wrap abuts the flange at the periphery of the heel clip. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , further comprising a second cushioning element disposed in the heel region, the second cushioning element coupled to a bottom surface of the base, wherein a top surface of a medial portion, a lateral portion, and a base portion of the second cushioning element are covered by the base. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the sole structure further comprises:
 an outsole coupled to the midsole forming a ground-engaging surface, the outsole comprising:
 an outsole layer extending from a first end disposed in the heel region toward a second end disposed at the anterior end, the outsole layer including a cavity and a recess; 
 a heel pad disposed on a bottom surface of the outsole layer; and 
 a heel cup coupled to a bottom surface of the second cushioning element. 
   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein a portion of a bottom surface of the first cushioning element is exposed through the cavity and forms a portion of the outsole. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the second cushioning element includes a fluid-filled bladder. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the heel wrap is U-shaped. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the heel clip is coupled to the first cushioning element between the first boundary of the receiving area and the second boundary of the receiving area. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the first cushioning element and the heel wrap are coupled so that the midsole has a continuous and flush outer side surface, wherein the outer side surface extends between top and bottom surfaces of the midsole. 
     
     
         17 . An article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising:
 a heel region including a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region including an anterior end of the article of footwear;   a midsole having an outer side surface, the midsole comprising:
 a first cushioning element extending from the posterior end toward the anterior end, the first cushioning element including one or more engagement areas; and 
   wherein the article of footwear further includes a heel clip extending from a first end on the medial side to a second end on the lateral side, the heel clip including an outer surface, an inner surface, a base extending from a first end to a second end and the base including a bottom surface, and a support, wherein the base and the support together form the outer surface of the heel clip.   
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a fluid-filled bladder disposed in the heel region;   a heel wrap disposed in the heel region, the heel wrap disposed adjacent to the outer surface of the heel clip, and the heel wrap coupled to the one or more engagement areas of the first cushioning element,
 wherein the fluid-filled bladder is coupled to the bottom surface of the heel clip. 
   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , the heel clip further including:
 a recess disposed between the support and the base within the outer surface of the heel clip, and a receiving area disposed between the support and the base on the inner surface of the heel clip,
 wherein the heel wrap is coupled to the outer surface of the heel clip, and wherein the heel clip is coupled to the first cushioning element via the receiving area. 
   
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the support of the heel clip includes an inner surface having a rim extending from a third end to a fourth end, the rim forming a first boundary of the receiving area;   the base includes an upper surface extending from the first end to the second end, the upper surface including one or more raised portions and forming a second boundary of the receiving area; and   the first cushioning element includes a top surface and one or more receiving areas, the top surface including a first flange, wherein the first flange and the rim are complementary in shape and the first flange abuts the rim, and wherein the one or more receiving areas and the one or more raised portions are complimentary in shape and the one or more raised portions abuts the one or more receiving areas.