Article of footwear including a heel stabilizing element

Abstract

An article of footwear having a heel region with a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region with an anterior end of the article of footwear. The article of footwear also having a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; a sole structure, the sole structure coupled to the upper, and wherein the sole structure has; a midsole having a first cushioning element extending from the posterior end to the anterior end. The article of footwear also having a heel clip disposed adjacent to the first cushioning element in the heel region.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An 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 lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side;   an upper;   a sole structure, the sole structure coupled to the upper, and wherein the sole structure further comprises;
 a midsole having a first cushioning element extending from the posterior end to the anterior end; and 
   wherein the article of footwear further includes a heel clip disposed adjacent to the first cushioning element in the heel region.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the heel clip is disposed in the heel region, and wherein the heel clip extends from a first end on the medial side to a second end on the lateral side. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the heel clip includes:
 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; and   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.   
     
     
         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 protrusions curving away from the base. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the support has a parabolic shape, wherein a length of the parabolic shape decreases moving away from the base. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , further including:
 a heel wrap extending around the posterior end of the first cushioning element, the heel wrap coupled to the first cushioning element on the medial side and the lateral side, the medial side of the heel wrap including a first end and the lateral side of the heel wrap including a second end.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , further comprising a second cushioning element disposed in the heel region, the second cushioning element coupled to the bottom surface of the base, wherein a top surface of a medial portion, a top surface of a lateral portion, and a top surface of a base portion of the second cushioning element are covered by the base. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , 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. 
   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of a bottom surface of the first cushioning element is exposed through the cavity and forms a portion of the outsole. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the second cushioning element includes a fluid-filled bladder. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the heel wrap is U-shaped. 
     
     
         14 . 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. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , 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. 
     
     
         16 . 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:
 a first cushioning element extending from the posterior end to the anterior end; and 
   wherein the article of footwear includes a heel clip disposed adjacent to the first cushioning element in the heel region.   
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the heel clip is disposed in the heel region, wherein the heel clip extends 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;   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.   
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , 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.   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the heel clip is U-shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , 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 protrusions curving away from the base.